Catoctin clarion., 1918-10-24
NEWS FROM THE ORIENT.
YoCHoW CITY, CHINA,
MAY 5, 1918.
Dear Folks:

3rd, as the date and we decided to go.
At first we thought of going on horse
back, then decided to walk, and then
when a storm came up and ragged all
Thursday night, gave up going either by
boat, foot or horseback.
However, very unexpectedly, the next
morning a note came saying launch had
been sent for us and was waiting. So
Mary and l just threw a few things IN
our travelling bags and started We had
good shaking up for it was very rough.
But we feel we'll rewarded for the trip,
for yesterday was a wonderful day to-
day promises to be the same. Every
thing here is so lovely now-roses are at
their best, daisies and pansies in great
profusion. Everywhere you look there
are either beautiful flowers or trees. or
lovely stretches of green fields, and then
the boats travelling on the river are so
picturesque. 1t seems strange that ma
tu-e can be so beautiful and calm and
peaceful when everything else seems in
such state of mad confusion.
Alas trouble is expected at Yochow
again and at almost any time. When the
Southerners retreated they entirely mis-
led the Northerners, and while the latter
were chasing straight ahead after them
in one direction, they suddenly appeared
at Liing, not far from Changsha. So
you see, if they retake Changsha, 1t
means Yochow, too, and the Southerners
seem determined to do this, for the HUI
nan people will not stand for the pres
ence of the Northern soldiers. The wom-
en- of Changsha have fled to caves and
some have committed suicide.
Some of these Shantung Boxers have
come to Yochow, and since their arrival
many outrageous things have happened.
| do hope the trouble will not become 80
serious that we will be ordered out again,
for ! would like to stay here during the
the summer.
Though my course does not require 1t,
vet to please my teacher lwho speaks
English welD l am using the Chinese
brush instead of pencil and every day
write at least one hundred characters
with it. | am now reading the Sacred
Edct and though at first | found the
style little difficult yet it is fascinating
reading. Have just finished the chapter
on "Filial Pety' and get the Chinese
/
from reading it in English. Here is one
startling statement: There is 10 parent
in error, under the sun, and you must
honor your father, and grandfather, and
great grandfather, and great, great
grandfather because if you don't your
sons, and your grandsons and your great
grandsons and your great, great grand
sons won't honor you" Don't think
more of your wife than of your parents,
if the former dies, it is easy enough to
get another, but how can you secure
new father.
May 18th.
/ On that Chinese ship that was sunk by
a gunboat, was big American mail, so
as haven't heard from home for some
/ time, | have visions of all my home let
ters being perused by passing fish. Since
then another boat was sunk just off Chin
kiang. Whether any mail was lost
have not heard.
The most shocking news of the present
war has come from Lihng, a place small
er than Yochow, and not far from Chan
gsha. The southerners seem to be bot
tling up the northerners again and as the
Shantung Boxers, ''Red Boards, the
Chinese call them, retreated to Liline
they burned the city, entered foreign
homes, took nearly everything of value
even the rugs off the floor, entered the
storerooms and ate all the food. Then
while the foreigners were trying to save
a few clothes to get awayin, the soldiers
played the victrola, seemingly preferrine
"A Perfect Day" and "Whispering
Hope" The foreigners wanted to go t.
Changsha by train. 1t took them day
to persuade the engineer to bring then
and then large sum of money had to bt
paid in advance. Three hundred Chinese
came with them, but of those in the city
many were killed. The patients in the
hospital were taken out and shot. Th'
hospital, splendidly equipped new one
is being used as soldier barracks, only
shells of buildings being left. If tn
southerners keep advancing and thes
troops retreat, the only way they cal
retreat is by way of Changsha and Yo
chow. and these two places may NEE
the fate of Liling. The sheds in ou
compound are ready to receive thousand
of refugees.
Conditions in China are so distressing
now. The educated, thinking Chimes
who do have real patriotism, and wan
to see their country improve, are help
; less. The least thing andit's chop, chop
) off comes head, and bang, bang, bu
let through the brain.
The past few days | have been havin
e repetition of what had just befor
. leaving home, typhoid incubation. Their
2 is a great deal around Yochow and tn
folks insisted that it must be done, an
from the way feel, and the condition c
e my arm, ! am afraid | was no longer in
t. mune.
The huge red lilies, amaryllis, are
bloom We have cut lot to give tt
Sunday School kids who are 80 please
, to RECEIVE q flower. Sunday School be