The Oskaloosa herald., 1912-02-22

array. Have seen nothing like ii be-
fore. The new flag is striking in
color. 1t is the shape of our flag, but
simply five bars across the full flag.
From top down they are red, yellow,
blue. white and black. The colors
used are bright and when the street
is full of flags it looks gay.
Thousands of troops are passing
here going north and west. If the
peace negotiations now going ON are
not successful the war will be pushed
with vigor. 1t will be in the north
chiefly. We do not expect any more
fighting here. The unexpected may
happen and If 1t does we will have
warning in time to move out again.
So whatever happens, do not worry
about us here. ~
We had merry Xmas this year
indeed. The ground was white with
snow. 1t was very unusual to have
three days snow at this time here.
Mr. and Mrs. Sarvis, our new mission
aries, were here for Xmas. They are
still making their homes in Shanghai
A language school is opened there
that they want to enter. When school
opens here they will come up. We
had fine tree in the morning and a
dinner with nearly all the mission
present in the evening.
All the missions of the city are
now uniting in an evangelistic cam.
paign that is supposed to last two
months. We have large grants OF
scriptures to be given away and also
a good supply of tracts. We visit the
camps and are well received. A
good many Christian men are found in
the army. Some of our men have
gone in. On all hands they agree that
the war is conducted on different
lines from tire old wars of China,
because of the influence on the people
of Christianity. The Chinese Red
Cross is prominent feature. The
treatment of the captured while some
times rather savage, is far better
than is the Chinese custom. A few OF
our day schools are running with a
reduced number of boys. but most all
not open before about the first OF
March. That is after Chinese New
Year. With the change of calendar
our Jan. LIST may be taken in the fu
ture as the Chinese New Year. That
is not decided. But with our work i'll
the chapels, where we have meeting
each day, and with the distribution
which is supposed to reach the whole
city as well as the soldiers. the whole
city being divided up for the various
missions and chapels, and with the
general oversight of the regular
evangelistic and school work, we are
not less busy than usual. This is
considered by all as time of excep
tional opportunity to influence fol
good the New China. The Federation
of churches of the city are planning
a, reception for the acting president
of the Republic of China, who lives
here, and the presentation of Bibles
OF all the higher officials now living
in the city. We are also establishing
a hospital in the Tarter city for the
sick there and expect to extend the
relief work we are doing, We have
been employing form 800 to 600 men
filling ponds and so forth. We hope
to get to WORK on canals in the city
and the merchants of the city promise
to contribute largely to the enter
prise. We want to get the poor onto
the land as quickly as we can, but the
best way to help them just now is to
give them work to do at fair wage
! There is not much personal in this
letter, but there is not much to say
except We are safe and we'll and busy
Write to us and we will try to answer
in more personal way. l am making
carbon copies of this for all the
home folks. Much love to you all
Yours as ever, FRANK.