Catoctin clarion., 1917-03-22
THURSDAY, MARCH 22, 1917
News From The Orient
Nanking, China, Jan. s 1917.

Dear G.
Another boat leaving tomorrow,
and cannot have it go without sending
few lines home.
We came back to Marking on January
end, and had number of experiences OH
the way. Our boat was supposed TO
leave Yongchow at nine o'clock, and left
at eleven, which really was very prompt
for China. Boats often leave several
hours before schedule time, as well as
hours afterward. We sat on hard
straight board in the little cabin. with no
heat but hot water bottle and our steam
er rugs. We reached Chinkiang, crossed
the city in sedan chairs and reached the
R. R. station only to find that the train
had left half hour before. A Chinese
official was very nice to US.
He opened private waiting room and
let US go in there, away from the great
crowd of Chinese men. There was a
little crate in the room, and we persuad-
ed the man to make little fire for US,
for after our trip down the Grand Canal
and across the Yangkze, it was no fun to
sit in stone cold room for two hours.
That room was supposed to be private
but every newcomer to the station would
open the door and peep in at US. We
boarded the train at four O'Clock, and OF
course found that cold also, but as we
had a lunch to eat, and after our emptl-
ness was filled, we felt less down on the
world.
When we reached Marking at seven
O'Clock we thot we would take carriage.
AS there were four of US. it would cost
less than each taking ricksha, and also
take less time to cover the five miles we
had to go across the city to our home.
Well, we soon found carriage could not
be had for love or money. 1t was the
Vice Presidents birthday. He is also the
Governor of Kiangsu, and lives in Nan
king. A big celebration YVES being held
in his honor, and every carriage was in
use.
Rather than ride in ricksha for as or
so minutes in the cold, we decided to take
a little local train which is always packed
and jammed. We scarcely had time to
catch it, to be exact the train had start
ed when a platform conductor picked me
up and slung me on the train, bag and
baggage following. We were so glad to
be on the last lap of our journey, that
we could smile at the remembrance Of
the trials of the day. When reached
home, Miss Wixon had the Xmas tree fix
ed up with letters from America, good
jokes, ETC., and our cook served dandy
dinner. So was home once more, and
glad to be in this pleasant home in my
adopted country. We are in full swing
again in school, and have almost forgot
ten we had holiday.
From Jan. % to Jan. %, we will have
vacation again as it is the China's New
Year time. While China has officially
adopted the foreign calendar, yet it has
not become popular with the masses,
who still observe the old reckoning.
6P. M.
Have been helping Miss Wixon dress
a six foot Chinese boy in bridal clothes.
He is going to be foreign bride at a
college stunt tonight. The groom is to
be very short boy, and l anticipate
some fun when they make their appear
ance. l wonder if ever told you about
the first time get in sedan chair. l
certainly gave the coolies shock by
stepping over the front bar, instead of
the side bars. They believe it defiles
their shoulders, and have been known to
refuse to carry foreigners who have step
ped over the front bar.
Today, in class with my private teach
er, went thru long session ofquestion-
ing. After asking me about my parents
in America, number of children, sons,
daughters, etc., he asked me where |
lived in Nanking, and when | replied that
besides the servants, there were just two
of US, friend and myself. he calmly ask
ed me if my friend was lady or gen.
tleman. Now, it did not bother me one
bit, for know that my morals are a
matter of very small Importance to him,
and then it doesn't sound as blunt in
Chinese as it does in English.
You soon get used to being asked all
sorts of personal questions. After being
asked if you have "eaten" the perfectly
proper questions you may be asked are:
your age, the price of anything you have
on, your number of relations, and many
others. The people are so wonderfully
polite, that it is almost a pleasure to
answer many of their seemingly imper-
tinent questions. So some of the home
folks thot the embroidery was Japanese.
Well it isn't! 1t is Chinese, and right
here let me tell you that the Chinese do
as beautiful, if not more beautiful work
than the japanese. only it is not SO COM
mercalized. Like their tea. their best
never leaves the country.
Have nothing more to tell you except
that it is terribly cold, and the feet part
of me is source of constant discomfort
and worry. But when l see the coolies
without shoes and stockings, and so
scantially clad otherwise, and realize that