Catoctin clarion., 1917-02-22
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 1911.
News From The Orient,
Nanking, China, Oct. 13, 1917.

First day OF ScnOOl over. IL was
the experience of life time. have not
vet been assigned to an individual teach
er. We rotate week at time from
one teacher to another. My school books
were somewhat less expensive than in
America. In fact, we have none. No
pencils, no paper allowed in class. Every
thing depends on the ear and the capacity
for imitation. If you could have heard
the class of sixty-five blissfully bawling
out these awful sounds in different tones,
you would have thought it an insane
asylum. We learned nineteen characters
namely to speak them. Writing comes
later. Miss w. and were invited to
wedding next door today. Much to my
regret, we had to decline. Miss W. had
a meeting at school and did not feel
sufficiently acquainted with the language
to be the only foreigner present. The
children in the house are friendly little
folks One little fellow who attends the
High School is so delighted when l con-
verse with him in the sign language, and
throw in an occasional Chinese word. He
has very small command OF English,
but when can understand few of his
words, he radiates happiness.
October 3lst:
Everything is moving along splendidly
at the University. The Faculty is great.
DR.. Keen, our president, is the embodi-
ment of good humor, kindness and con-
sideration. Mr.. Gia Gah), the head
teacher, is a marvel. He is a natural
born teacher, so patient and helpful, and
always bright and cheerful. We have
some very interesting speakers who come
to the language school. Last week a man
who had been detective in Shanghai for
many years but who is now an evangel-
ist came and told US the most thrilling
stories of Chinese detective work. Last
Thursday went to Chinese tea at the
Y. M. C. A. The building is very inter
esting, having belonged to general; 1t
being quite an old place. The one objec-
ton is that it is almost impossible to find
your way out of the grounds unless you
are familiar with the place. | saw the
boys playing ping-pong, tennis, volley
ball and basket ball. When they have
learned they are swell players and make
the foreigners feel pale. At the tea we
were served Chinese dates, Lotus seeds,
(these are fine), peanuts and millet candy,
which is delicious. The Chinese never
have an odd number of dishes, but always
an even number. The great merit OF
millet candy lies in the fact that it is
said never to make one sick, no matter
how much you eat. wanted to send you
some but was told it was against the
postal regulations.
We have been having a prolonged rainy
spell of the worst rain you ever saw.
Last Friday it poured and Miss W. and
/ had dinner served in her office. 1t was
the same kind of dinner the Chinese STU
dents were having. There was rice, tur-
nips, beef, bamboo sprouts and meat
cooked together. All this was poured
over your bowl of rice, and don't say it
wasn't good. had an awful time with
my chop sticks at first, but finally dis
covered was using the wrong end. After
that had smoother sailing and have been
wishing every meal was Chinese.
November 3rd.
When came home from Tiffin today
found eight letters for me had arrived.
We were not expecting American mail
until next week, so were surprised and
delighted. Rev. Henrichsohn, of our
China Mission. stopped at the language
school on his way to Shanghai to meet
Rev. and Mrs. Rupp. On their return
they will be our guests for brief time.
School is keeping me very busy. | am so
anxious to get the language so that can
get right into work. We do need work.
ers so terribly. China needs and wants
us. American opportunity for great
and glorious work is tremendous. Those
who are here are working beyond the
endurance limit. DR.. Adams and two of
his children are sick, Rev. Lequeat has
been i'll, Rev. Henrichsohn is almost worn
out, sois Rev. Rennert, and all the women
are going at pace we would call "kill-
ing" in America. But they keep on, for
the needs are so great and the appeals
from the suffering Chinese so pathetic
and insstent that they feel they cannot
stop.
This afternoon some of the foreign
students went into one of the business
streets near the school and visited the
shops. You are not supposed to pay the
first price asked you in Chinese shop,
so we priced and "Jewed" and used up
all our recently acquired vocabulary. We
stayed until nearly dark and all we had
bought was silk handkerchief and two
coppers' worth of peanuts. We saw
many interesting sights and as DIR. Rog-
ers was along we were not timid about
stopping at the shops. Tomorrow l am
to be vaccinated, nothing like having a
little fun.
November 9.
Yesterday Rev. Hendrichsohn and the
Rupps came and we took in as much OF
the city as possible. 1t poured and pour