Catoctin clarion., 1917-10-04
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 4, 1917.
News From The Orient
Kuling, China, August 18th.

Dear M
Excuse me for mentioning it, but | had
compton fits of laughter over state
ment in your last letter., viz: "You speak
of being at Kuling, but nothing else, and
do not care to risk sending mail to just
Kuling" Why, if you sent letter to
me at Peking, it would reach me in Nan
king, or wherever | might be. True,
there are many foreigners in China, tho
not so many but that they have US all
spotted. The minute a stranger foreign
er lands on place his name. age, ma
tionality, occupation, are spread broad
cast, and before long all his most private
habits, customs, ETC., are known.
Postoffice authorities easily trace you
through your registration at the Consul
ate. Kuling is the only address, l4l is
the number on our cottage, bat as you
have to register at Kinkiang, the city on
the Yangste, before you are allowed to
come up the mountain, you are pretty
we'll known. However, | am leaving
here August 80, and the new address will
be Yochow, Human.
There are between 1900 and 400 for
eigners here this summer; CAB English
GAO Americans, and 1900 Chinese, many
servants and others not living in the con-
cession, but outside in district called
1.-The Cap.
Nearly year now since l left Amer
lea. In few weeks l will be establish
ed in my permanent home in China. Can
you think of me keeping house? We will
probably take month about, which means
that my turn will not come till January.
I'll have chance to watch the others,
get used to the cook and to keeping house
hold accounts. etc.
At last have startling piece OF in
formation. After solid month of rain,
it has been clear for four whole:days.
Wonderful clear days, blue skies, rare
sunsets, but oh! so hot. I'm glad I'm
not down on the plains. The river at
Kinkiang is alarmingly high, and there
seems to be lot of water on the plain.
hope it stays clear, for I'm so sick OF
mildewed, mouldy clothes and damp beds.
Grace and are making hay while the
sun shines, by taking two-hour walks be-
fore breakfast. seeing the sun rise and
renewing our youth. Once We walked
out to the ruins of an ancient castle sew
eral miles away across two peaks from
which we had magnificent view of the
plains. In this temple is an ancient
monolith, huge and and we'll carved, and
above it, carved on the ceiling is drag
on. Another morning we climbeda great
peak across Cows Valley just below on
one side of our house (Kykes Valley and
took round about way across two other
peaks through new forest reserve and
an old Chinese cemetery, and then home.
On Saturday night a stunt was given
for the benefit of the American Red
Cross, and it was great, such rollicking
good fun. Next Saturday they give a
classical performance and the next week
the oratorio Elijah" comes off.
Before l forget it, want to tell W..
how to hold the Chinese pen | sent him.
Grasp it between the thumb and first and
second fingers, hold it itvirtically, the point
perpendicular to the paper, and let the
penholder rest against the third finger
next to the last joint. 1t must be held
very firmly and very straight to have any
success at all in writing Chinese charac-
ters. Also the point is kept fine by CIV
ing it twist by patting it on your ink
stand, blotter, etc. You'll find that the
hairs are inclined to wind around in a
certain direction. No doubt this all
sounds very stupid, now, doesn't it?
They have Boy and also Girl Scout
division out here. and they have some
fine times. Once crowd of them went
camping and pitched their tent over the
bed of an old stream. During the night
it rained in other parts of the mountain,
but not there, so they didn't hear any
thing, but awoke to find themselves in
water. The stream had becomes a torrent
their clothes were partly swept away,
and they crawled to a ledge. Here the
water kept coming higher and higher,
but there they sat and sang in the dark
ness. Dawn came, and revealed that
they were on ledge in the middle of the
stream, almost covered by water. The
best swimmer crossed the stream, and
by means of an attached rope they all
got across on this. But it was an excit-
ing time.
Mr.. L., who has been sick for year,
is leaving for the U. S. A. this week.
Getting we'll here is such difficult mat.
ter that his home going is absolutely
necessary. His family will live here dur.
ing his absence, hoping for his return
next year. They need workers so dread
fully that it is distressing to have one in.
valided for more than year. l really
have no news of particular interest now
but after Sept. l am sure there will be
many interesting things in connection
with our school. With love for ALL
Affectionately,
N. P. F.