Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1917-07-12

May 80, 1917.
Dear M.
Decoration Day, and such balmy,
ideal morning, after the sitting heat OF
the past week. suppose American pa
triotism will run high today. Even in
our chapel we sang patriotic airs and
talked of our country, and then, just as
we were coming out from this stirring
scene, word came that American mail
had come. This is always welcome news
but it seemed all the more so today.
The weather has been oppressive to
the point of actual suffering. This trop-
ical sun has way of making you feel
hundred years old, and as if you were in
an electrically lighted and heated oven.
have just finished lining my hats with
red cloth to lessen the danger OF sun
stroke. Coming to China does not LESSEE
ones anxiety about their ugliness in the
least. in fact you seem more than ever
aware of your defects, and so hesitate
to appear in a pith hat. Sometimes in
school we are so exhausted we just sit
and look at each other, like poor tired,
weak dogs I've seen at times. l used to
be very much amused because the Chi
nese, even the men, always carry fan
around with them, either shading their
heads from the sun, or waving it grace
fully. But never again will smile, for
two days l used fan so constantly and
vigorously, that it seemed hard matter
to keep that arm still even when the
hand held no fan.
The condition here is very, very seri-
Gus. In Canton they have had floods, it
has rained in the north and in the west,
but in Shantung, Kiangsu, and several
other provinces, the condition is desper-
ate. Crops have simply been burned up,
it is practically too late to save the rice
crop, which means that next winters
suffering will be intense.
In Shantung the water supply is limit
ed to the larger rivers, and there is such
suffering that we are in dread of the
great hordes of beggars and robbers
coming to Marking where the water sit
uation is only slightly better Honestly,
never before did realize how blessed
rainy day is. The other night many cool
les came to blows over the last few drops
of water in one of the important wells.
Men are now carrying water from the
Yangstze, but it is slow work, and not
every one can carry it, or pay to have it
carried. There is much disease, and peo-
pie generally are at nervous tension.
For the first time in fifteen years yellow
banners with petitions to the gods, and
calling upon thepeople to repent of their
sins that the prayer for rain may come,
have been strung up along the streets.
One of the Chinese teachers told me that
this their last hope-their very last re-
sort. There have been frequent rain
professions, the most interesting of all
passed by yesterday. A boy, with two
kite-like wheels represented wind, man
with blackened face and carrying NAL
let represented thunder, while a man in
woman's apparel carried the many mir
rors of lightning. Men carrying water
buckets, vegetable baskets, and huge
dragon followed. AS they passed along
they asked for money, probably that they
might then make special prayers to the
gods for rain. Of course, every one rush
ed out to see them 60 by, and christian |
Chinese standing there took the oppor-
tunity to tell them the folly of it all.
However, we are all hoping and praying |
for rain, and think the sight of mud
puddle would fill me with delight.
One of the teachers told me that the
goddess of lightning comes, with her
bright mirrors finds out the sins in peo-
pies hearts, and then the god of thunder |
comes and with his mallet strikes them
dead.
M. P. F.