Catoctin clarion., 1917-03-15
THURSDAY, MARCH Is, 1917
News From The Orient
Yangchow, China, Jan. l, 1917

DedT -.
1t is now almost noon here, and | sup
pose at home in the U. S. A. you are
holding Watch Night services. There
was nothing special going on here last
night, so decided to hold the Fort by
lone self. Everyone was so tired they
retired early. and thot would read the
old year out, but about eleven O'Clock
gave up the idea. At 2 a. m. l was
awakened and realized that January l,
1917 had arrived.
You will want to know something of
my visit here. so will tell you few little
Incidents. Two of my girl friends whose
station is to be here after their work at
Language School is over, and myself,
came here last Saturday, December 23rd.
We had planned number of stunts for
Xmas. but the two ladies' in charge do
not believe Xmas aswe do, so we prompt
ly cut. that part out. was glad moth
er's Xmas tree came before | left Nam
king. and that we had the little celebra-
tion before Xmas.
Our Xmas dinner we took at Dr. Tay-
lor's and hada jolly time. Then we were
invited out to two dinners, and then |
was sick in bed for two days, and had
lots of time to wonder what you were all
doing at home.
Every afternoon during vacation, I've
been teaching class of Chinese girls.
and have enjoyed it immensely. 1t was
really great chance for me to use my
Chinese and altho the Yangchow dialect
is different from Nankingese. yet the
two are enongh alike to be able to under
stand each. Yangchow is the place where
much of the fine pearl lacquer work is
done, so while here got two rulers, one
for you and one for w. They may be
very interesting to you for they are made
of real pearl, and the designs of the man
on the water buffalo, and the fisherman
with his nets, are strictly Chinese.
But the very best time of all my life
was when we went to Chinese feast.
The young couple are Christians, both of
them college people, and charming. But
of course you want me to tell about the
feast. There is always an even number
of dishes of food on a Chinese table, and
this time there were twelve, and you
were compelled to taste little of each.
There were candied nuts, bits of different
kinds of fish, bamboo fixed in various
ways, sort of sauerkraut, shrimps in
the shell, crabs, and ancient eggs. Now
about these eggs! Well, they are buried
in lime and the older the eggs, the finer
they are. The lime cooks them and they
turn as clear as glass, though brown.
There is absolutely no odor, and they taste
grand. So don't you even think of laugh
ing at the rotten eggs the Chinese eat.
After the eggs, a delicious bamboo-chick-
en- soup followed by eleven courses, was
served. Everything was served steaming
hot, for the Chinese do not eat cold food
One course particularly appetizing was
of shrimp meat. and another of chicken
gizzard. Towards the end of the feast
huge fish was brought in. This is a
very interesting course. The fish is an
especial kind, having no fine bones, and
is cooked in oil and ginger, and is delic-
ious. But though so fine, yet at many
feasts no one touches it. Your invitation
to the feast must include special Gin
vite' to partake of the fish, otherwise,
even though some should be offered you,
you must refuse it. Our invitation call
ed for it and we. felt highly favored
Another excellent course was of baked
white sweet potatoes with dates in it,
and cooked in boiling oil. Then came the
rice. When the rice is brought in then
you know that the end of the feast is ap-
preaching, and you are only served
small dish, whereas, at an ordinary din
ner the chief thing is rice and vegetables
to eat in it. managed fairly well with
my chop sticks, but was puzzled about
queer-shaped Chinese ladle on my plate.
Finally, one of my friends told me it was
perfectly proper to use this ladle to dip
in all the other dishes on the table, and
to eat with it too. used it, for didn't
want to miss one single thing.
While here in Yangchow converted
Buddhist nun took us thru Buddhist
nunnery. There were hugh gilt Buddhas
goddess of mercy, and all sorts of fright
full looking idols. Incense was burning
before them, and offerings had been left
before some. There were queer gongs to
beat on to make the gods hear, and there
were little places like confessionals.
Prayers were hung up at different places
before which the people kneel while they
read them and say their beads.
Buddhists bibles are placed on sacred
tables and covered with costly beauti-
full embroidered covers. There was the
heavenly Heavenly Bamboo" covered
with great clustersof red berries, in many
of the vases. This bamboo is sacred
here, and is raised in the various temple
courts. The Chinese who was with US
was well educated and could tell us so
much about what we saw, and introduc-
ed us to some nuns who had been her
former companions. She says the Budd-
hists say the Christian religion 10 only