Putnam patriot., 1913-08-15
My Fourth tn Feeeaow
Away to the mountains, away
 the Dlafn

! CAituleI HAS come Mlt0 vacation 3gain.
 After a second year of struggle with
 the language and of conflict with the
 climate, a year spent in our island Compound, the spirit of adventure
 awoke and stirred my blood to seek
 new scenes and cooler region for the
 sake of the coming years work. Nhith-
 CT should go to spend profitable va-
 cation? The Thai Yong mountains were delightful last summer, but the | kuliang mountains are higher and | present greater opportunities for fel- I lowship with more workers. as the for mer summer resort accommodates
 some thirty people and the latter sev-
 eral hundred. True the latter includes
 rough ocean voyage and traveling alone through the midst of strange 1 dialect, but oneis courage and adapta-
 bility to circumstances get we'll devel- | oped in China. 1 decided to engage
 by letter a room at Kuliang and pas
 sage on the best English steamer, Hai
 Yang, which is engaged in commerce
 between Hong Kong and Foochow. Accordingly on July End, 1913, I set
 out in quest of the hills, health and
 happiness. My teacher lad, two girls school graduates, two bamboo baskets, | a pig-skin box, a suitcase and chair &C., | companied me on my two months so-
 journ in the Fukien province. It was so restful to think of boarding and not having to bother with the. furniture, supplies, utensils and cook that usual | ly must go with the traveller in China
 was the only white passenger to
 Annoy but Capt. Hodgins, genial Scotchman, made the journey most pleasant and comfortable, and my
 Chinese companions joined in enjoying the strange new sights and customs
 and language for every province is quite different.
 The next day we anchored in Annoy, l30 miles up the coast from Swatow,
 and had delightful time poking about the old treaty port, which is so much like Swatow but more interesting and larger. Our bay is rough and danger
 ous, theirs is placid and smooth; our sampans are huge, awkward, unpaint. ed creatures, theirs are small, multi
 eolored affairs with seat in front
 ready for two, while single boatman
 mans the boat. Swatew is famous the world over for it's drawn-work. Annoy is rightfully proud of it's beautiful
 Amoy lace. Our Baptist mission is on
 an island, their corresponding island is the home of three missions, the American Dutch Reformed, the Lon- don mission and the English Presby-
 terian. 1 visited their schools and had
 l not set out to describe myIday in | Eoochow l could tell some attractive | anecdotes of Annoy. Didn't the Amer
 jean flag look good flying from our American consulate and the little launch in the harbor? There is no | flag like the +'stars and stripes.n
 Friday morning, the morning of the glorious Fourth, found us 200 miles | further up the coast and entering the | wide estuary of the Min river. How
 can l describe the scenery to those I who have newer seen some of China's matchless views? It WAS much like I the famous inland sea O. Japan in mountains, islands and color effects, but the boats were distinctively Chi nese. Ne enjoyed this beauty for 24 miles on a clear, calm, cloudless morn- ing. At Pagoda Anchorage the river became shallower and we had to change to a small launch which thread
 Chinese house boats and fishing craft up Ito Foochow, which we reached about noon. Hot. You never felt anything like it, neither did 1. The city is fiat on the river and the sur rounding mountains cut off the breeze. Amber glasses, pith hat, double um- brella, fans, and bamboo covered chair could not help much in keeping one comfortable the mile ride up to the Methodist compound where l was to be entertained. 1 had expected to spend the whole day travelling up the mountains but note was handed me as the steamer anchored inviting me to stay in Fooehow over night and start early the following morning for the hills. There is no hospitality like that of the Orient No matter if peo- pie are utter strangers the tie of d com- mon homeland is enough to insure most cordial welcome anywhere anu everywhere.
 The cold bath and the real American dinner, not British tiifin, were refresh ing indeed. My hostess was sunny, sweet-spirited body that wore her twenty i've years of service in China very gracefully. She was as vivacious as a school girl although carrying the burden of High school in crowded quarters and some missionaries newly arrived this last winter. The latter must be a care to their elders who are always patient with us. This senior missionary thought that we children would like to celebrate the Fourth and sent out for tire-crackers that the day
 would not be complete without. Guests were invited in and ice cream made. There were nine of us and we celebrat-