Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1918-05-29

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u LITTER FROM CHINA, =.
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There are many in Oconee and
elsewhere who will be interested in
reading the letter published below
The writer Is daughter of Major
and Mrs. VIM. J. Stribling, of Wal
halla, and went last year as mission
airy to China from the Walhalla Pres
byterian church. Miss Neville, to
whom she refers, and of whose COM
ing marriage mention was made in
last weeks Courier, is also we'll
known in this part of South Carolina,
being daughter of the late Rev. w,
G. Neville.
In the Mission Field.
Marking, China,
January 11th, 1918.
Dear Friends: The new missiona-
ries coming In since Christmas make
those of lis who came in September
feel like "old stagers," but in spite
of this fact. my first days in China
are still vivid in my mind. l shall
not soon forget the experiences Of
the months that have passed since
left home OH July 27, 1917-the in
spring scenery and bracing air of the
Rockies, the ocean voyage on a steady
ship. with good company, good wea-
ther and NO seasickness; the feeling
that came over me in mid-ocean of
being miles and miles from anywher
America and all that was familiar
way behind ME, China and the new
life just as far ahead; the first
glimpse Of Japan, low hills in the
distance, with quaint tile-roofed
houses nesting at the foot; my first
ricksha ride, (taken in Japan) which
was loads Of fun, although 1t was ra-
ther a queer sensation to sit up in
little two-wheeled go-cart affair and
have man patter off down the
street with me, and a still queerer
sensation to realize that If l should
get separated from my party simply
could not make the man understand
whore to take me; the landing In
Shanghai on blazing hot day in Au-
gust that seemed all the hotter by
contrast with the sixteen days on the
Pacific, when coats and steamer rugs
were necessary to keep us warm; the
trip to Mokanshan, on which we saw
and did all sorts Of "Chinesy" things
Call within our first "a hours in
China), such as spending the night
on a house boat (taking our rolls of
bedding with us), riding up the
mountain In a sedan chair, seeing
woman wash her rice in the canal
while just above her in the same ca
nal one neighbor was washing hunks
of beef and another was doing the
family laundry, and above them a
water buffalo was standing up to his
neck in the canal cooling off after his
days work at the plow; and through
it all the incessant jabber, jabber of
this strangest Of all languages. It
brought us to an early realization Of
the fact that as soon as we set foot
on the soil of China we are foreign
ers" and, If we wish to do any effect
i've work with these people, it Is up
to us to learn their language and Gus
toms, and get their point Of view as
we'll as possible
A little Of the strangeness wore off
during our ten days stay In Mokan-
shan, where we attended mission
meeting, met most OF our Mid-China
with the delightful hospitality that
they always extend.
We found ('we" always means
Eliza Neville, Lois Young and my
self, for we have been together from
the time we left Spartanburg, S. c.,
until this Christmas, when Lois re-
turned to her station, Soochow, to
take up language study there), that
our month In China before Language
School began gave US an opportunity
to become somewhat accustomed to
the sights, sounds and smells that
fairly rise np to meet you whenever
you go out on the street.
From this description am afraid
you will get the idea that have seen
only the strange and unlovely side
Of China, but the fact Is that my first
impression, gained that first day