Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1917-06-28

long as they live. After the chant was
over we went to the rear temple which
was much higher on the hill. Here, be-
hind wooden bars, the novitiates with
their books arranged on tables before
them, were practicing their chants. We
climbed the many steps to the top OF the
nine story pagoda. It is useless for me
to try to picture to you the beauty OF
the view from the pagoda's top. !
would need several books of synonyms
and antonyms, and even then there would
be lack of color. Descending from the
heights into the streets of the city, we
went back to the C. |. M. for our lunches,
passing by the foreign cemetery and see
ing the grave of Hudson Taylor. After
dinner we walked through the city to the
bend where we boarded two sail boats
and started for Silver Islands. 1t is
known fact that Marco Polo visited this
island and it is probable that he visited
Golden Island also.
Silver Island is just huge green wood
ed peak that sticks up out OF the water
and is only inhabited by the Buddhist
priests and soldiers who guard the forti-
fications on the summit. The temple and
monastery here are very beautiful, the
ceilings of mosaic being especially lovely.
The many courtyards, with bamboo
graves, huge gingko and cryptomeria
trees make the place ideal. The priests
here, as elsewhere, were very polite, i'm
mediately serving US with tea, after
which we looked more scrutinizingly at
the idols. We were shown the stone
column. which is said to have fallen from
heaven, huge jade beet, which is an
antiquity and treasure, and an immense
incense burner, which is centuries old,
and one of the most famous antiquity OF
China. After climbing to the top of an
other pagoda we retraced our steps and
were soon homeward bound.
We think it fine of Mr.. X. to give US
this half holiday that we may take such
trips. 1t gives us better understand
ing of the Chinese ways and their religi-
GUS customs Then, too, we get to see
many lovely sights and witness ceremo-
MES We'll probably never see again.
When we are settled at our posts in
school or hospital, there will be little or
no time for recreation. If the head
burning ceremony takes place before we
go away we are going to see it. 1t will
probably take place about dawn, as the
Confucian sacrifice did.
Last week they held quite celebration
next door. The eldest mans deceased
father would have been 100 years old so
they We're having great feast in his
honor. About ten o'clock the priests be.
gan reading the prayers for his soul, and
I'm sure if any one would thump on
dIums and whine and groan for me as
they did, even my spirit would have no
more rest than had that night as lay
in bed trying to go to sleep. The next
day the feasting was continued and on
the third day one of the young boys was
married, thus two good things were &C.
complished at one time, from their view
point, not nine.
Mission meeting will be held at Yochow
about July /, and l shall go there first
and come back down the river to Kin
kiang and climb the Kuling mountains
for the summer.
Hurrah! | am to have one of my be-
loved Marking teachers for the summer.
He is scholar of Confucianist and a
thorough gentleman. Three girls will
constitute his class. We will study the
change of dialect until September. But
time is passing. Many duties are await
ing me. Write often. Love.
M. P. F.