The Penn's Grove record., 1912-11-15
A SOUTH JERSEY BOY In BOLIVIA
The Work Done by Methodist
Missionaries Described

Mrs. TIllie Smith has received a letter
from her nephew S. 7. Smith who is a
missionary teacher in Cochahamba Insti-
tute, Bolivia. He was graduated at Rut-
gers College last June, left New York un-
der the Methodist Board of Mission OIL
July 9th and arrived at Cochahamba,
August 29th. The letter is dated Septem-
Der 10Th.
The missionary party consisted of five,
two young married couple and himself.
AT Panama they were joined by three
more, a young married couple and a
young He came by way OF New
Orleans. Three more from California,
four from Kansas, one from New Jersey,
all Methodists. They crossed the 18TH
mus by train and saw all the important
points along the canal.
From Panama they went to Mollendo,
Peru, by steamer. While the steamer
lay at Callao they visited a Methodist
School OF over 800 pupils. The Metho-
dist School at Panama was also visited,
While at Cailao, they visited Lima, the
beautiful capitol city OF Peru.
At Mollendo the steamer was left and a
train ken to Ariquipa which is 5000
feet al .e sea level; thence to Puno
which IS $4,000 feet above sea level
From Juno they went across lake Utica
co to Guaqui, Bolivia, thence to La Paz,
the capitol of Bolivia. While there they
visited another Methodist school with
over 500 pupils and called upon the
American minister to Bolivia, a very
pleasant gentleman. Mr.. II. &. Knowles,
of Wilmington, Delaware,
When Wm.J. Bryan visited this school
not long ago. lie offered to aid it, He re-
Gently sent them $500. While in La Paz.
Mr.. Bryan delivered a splendid Grafton
before the Bolivia Congress. In the
COURSE OF his speech they offered him
wine, the custom there. He pushed it
away and shouted ''aqua" %(water) to
the establishment of his audience. Since
We do not drink wine, beer, &C., we have
to be very careful when we go to social
affairs to leave before the liquors are
served. 1t is hard to refuse without Civ
ing otfense. Yet we must 60 occasional
ly because the government is aiding us
II We must stand well with the inhuen-
tlal people. They are beginning to learn
that we do not believe i'll drinking, SO
do not so much expect us TO drink
The other single fellow remained at
the school i'll Callao, one couple remain
ed at the school i'll La Paz, where we
stayed four days. The rest of us came to
C~ochabamba.
From La Paz We came within about
eighty miles from Cochabamba by train.
Seventy miles Of that was covered by
coach drawn by eight mules which were
kept on a run, but were changed often.
We got a good shaking up, but rather ELL
joyed the experience. We spent one
night on the coach trip at a little way
side inn. The last ten miles were by
trolley cars.
Our school has about 200 pupils, boys,
and will have about twice as many next
year. This is its first year. Many of
them are boarding students. | teach
mathematics and Engligh. They live in
a comfortable house and the cooking is
ably managed by an English lady.
Because our school receives some GOV
eminent aid we cannot give religious
training directly. However, outside of
school hours we are organizing Bible
classes, Epworth Leagues and Boy Scout
organizations with much success.
The other day in the English class a
boy practicing English asked another
boy, "What must you do to be good?'
The other boy could not think of the
correct word Tor a sensible answer.
wanted to suggest, 81 must read my
Bible" but ! did not dare, because that
is forbidden. 1t is said that strict Cath
olics from the United States are often
disgusted by what they see and hear of
their Church here.
Ii any ore thinks that missionaries are
not needed III South America, let him
come and learn how awful things really
are. | have learned enough to make me
thankful that l came to do what | can to
these people, what they have Iacked-an
open Bible and Christian education.
s. p. SMITH.