Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1917-02-22
LETTER FROM CHINA.
Shanghai. China. Nov. 6,

Dear father-Last Friday wrote you
in hurry, saying that another letter
would follow soon. The four days spent
in Shanghai have been very pleasant.
Tonight Harnsberger and leave for Tai
chow.
Shanghai is one OF the most unique
cities in the world, in being so interna-
tional. About three-fourths OF the city is
built on foreign concessions of land.
You can find Chinese territory only in
the remote suburbs OF the city. The bulk
of the city is divided into British, Rus
sian, Japanese, French, German and
American sections. In all, more than
million people live in this foreign city.
You see foreign flags and soldiers every
where.
Every day there is considerable rain,
but we soon grew accustomed to that in
China. Last Friday morning | went with
Harnsberger TO foreign lumber company,
where he purchased material for building
a new house for DR.. Price, our medical
missionary at Taichow. Already $1,000
has been subscribed for DR.. Prices new
hospital at Taichow, and we are looking
forward with high hopes in the next few
years to the opening OF this hospital,
which will greatly facilitate our evangel-
istic work. The purchasing OF lumber
for the new house OF DR.. Price has kept
us in Shanghai for these four days.
On Friday and Saturday ! was enter
tanned most pleasantly with other mis-
sionaries in the home OLD Woodbridge,
the editor OF the Chinese Christian In
teligencer. He seems to be one of the
best Chinese scholars OF our church.
Yesterday morning he took me TO attend
the first meeting which ever attended in
a Chinese church. Since all the speak
ing was IN Chinese, | could understand
nothing. The people were very reverent
and attentive in listening TO the preacher,
who according TO Dr. Woodbridge gave
US an excellent sermon on John BIO,
"God so loved the world" He showed
how God loved man in the wonderful
ada aptation OF the natural laws TO the needs
Of man, in the helpful working OF the
moral laws, and finally IN salvation OF
man by the redemption OF Christ II was
good to see how heartily all the people
enjoyed the singing, and the hymn, "Oh,
how love Jesus" rang out with great
melody from their hearts.
There are about thirty Protestant mis-
sionS churches is Shanghai, and three OF
these are Presbyterian. Though so great
an expenditure of money and men have
been made, yet the remark made by the
chaplain ofthe cruiser Brooklyn last week
is probably true, that Shanghai is the
worst city morally in the world. People
at home never can know how foully
heatheniSm smells with its iniquity, for
the sounds and smells OF these idolatrous
people Can not be photographed in the
papers that are sent TO America. The
newcomer feels that he can never grow
hardened to the foul odors OF the filthy
streets.
The law is enforced in this riotous city
by crude methods. Practically all the
police you see are the foreign seiks, big,
browny Hindus, wearing flaming red
turbans, as they stand imposingly on the
corners. The Chinese have great dread
OF these strong, pugnacious HinduS, so
they make excellent police. To prevent
graft among the trolley men, often each
day you will see the inspectors slipping
slyly on the tram-c cars, in order that they
may examine the books OF the motormen.
Thus honesty and justice are maintained
by this system.
During the four days at Shanghai,
Harnsberger and have been rushed in
trying TO make many purchases and to
get me acquainted with the stores in
Shanghai, from which will need 10 or
der articles during the year. My box OF
books and furniture from Montgomery
Ward, in Chicago, on account OF the slow
freight movements during the present
war, may not reach me at Taichow until
some timein February. However, have
not needed TO get hardly anything else for
this reason.
At midnight Harnsberger and leave
Shanghai on small boat, and after about
AZ hours OF sailing over rivers and canals
we hope to reach Taichow about p. m.
on Wednesday. Then will begin study
with my language teacher at once. There
is Slight chance OF my getting to Nank-
ing, for study.
must close this letter now, for have
many things TO attend to during the after
noon. Making a new start in pioneer
work, though slow and difficult, is inter
esting and satisfactory.
Yonr affectionate son,
CHARLES GHISELIN, JR.