Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1917-04-26
News From The Orient.
Marking. China, March 3, 1917.

Dear W.
Everybody in line for Arbor Day,
or properly speaking, "Plart Tuesday. .
All the government schools, some OF the
Mission schools and all the University
students are going to form procession
and march out beyond the city to the
Ming Tombs where we will hold exercises
and plant trees. Just see how progress
i've the Chinese are There are very few
trees in this section of China, excepting
those of the bamboo groves. We mad
several lovely spring days and the birds
had begun to sing, but it has turned very
cold. was so glad to welcome spring,
but not SO the boys; they always lament
when the hunting season is over. Last
week four of our boys came in with three
beautiful deer and also many wild ducks.
Last Sunday wrote letter to my
dear Miss L. in which | told her about
my going to a Confucian sacrifice, and.l
am sure you will also like to hear OF 1t.
On Friday of last week rehearsal OF
the sacrifice was held and our whole
school attended. That night a number
of US slept at the home of friend not
far from the temple. At two O'Clock the
next morning we arose, drank hot tea,
ate buttered rolls, and proceeded to the
temple to see the real thing. The SER
vice began at ten minutes of four and
was very impressive in these wee small
hours of the morning. Only a few special
men were allowed in the temple. We
stood Just outside the temple doors and
had splendid opportunity to see all that
went on. Leading up to the Confuclan
temple is a great inner courtyard with
broad terraced steps, while on either side
are long columned porches. Along one
porch are dozens of tablets dedicated to
the disciples of Confucians, while on the
other side are tea rooms Here we drank
some delicious tea hot, of course. The
Chinese never drink tea if it is at all
cool. From the top flight of stairs out
side the temple door we could look into
the temple, over the entire courtyard,
and into minor temple near the main
one. Just below us were the priests OF
the occasion. Eight dear little boys
chanted from the white wooden tablets
which they held in their hands, the chant
ing being accompanied by flutes, huge
weird sounding drums, chimes, and
banging noise which seemed absurd.
During the chanting two dozen young
priests 1.-THE Confucianists do not have
regular priesthood like the Buddhists)
went through pantomine with wands
of beautiful long pheasant tails and
Ratchet. | have not found out what
their various movements meant except
that the graceful, beautiful feathers
were sign of the great dignity OF Con-
fucians. While this was going on, two
officials, accompanied by attendants,
went into the temple, said some words,
then went off to the disciples inscription,
said some more words there, which the
chantees answered. You can't imagine
the queer feeling it gave one to hear
their peculiar high pitched voices re-
sounding through the courtyard, while
they offered the vessels of food to the
inscriptions. At the four corners OF the
yard great fires were built to call down
the gods of heaven, while wine was pour
ed on the earth to appease the gods of
the lower world. On the table before
the great tablet of Confucians was a
large bull, pig, goat and kid, all with
the heads pointed towards the altar, their
feet so arranged that they had the ap-
pearance of doing obeisance; also there
were dozens of pewter vessels containing
many kinds of food. Before all the other
affairs were pigs and kids. The effect of
the whole sacrifice was to take you back
to Old Testament days. Even now feel
that am waking up from dream. AS
soon as the sacrifice was over the serv-
ants of the temple had grand scramble
for the food and it did look funny to see
them tote the pigs, etc. off on their
backs. After it was over some of the
Chinese said nothing to it, nothing to
it." One fine young Chinese chap who
stood near US went into silent fits of
laughter (most unusual for Chinese) at
some of the queer things they did.
Now | must tell you about one of my
best little friends here. He is dear
little Chinese boy ten years old, who car
ries Mohammedan food from house not
far from the University to the Middle
School boys, about ten minutes walk.
One morning smiled at him as he pass
ed and he has been my devoted slave ever