Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1919-02-06
NEWS FROM THE ORIENT.
Yochow, China,
Sept. II, 1913.

YOchoW, Cnlna,
Sept. II, 1918.
Dear Folks:
The last time | wrote | was on Dim
To Shan with the Hemrichsohns. How
! came home is a story best told by NOV
les. No pen, least Of all, mine, can 90
it Justice. We had a delightful time on
the occasion of the HIS wedding annlver-
sarv, but somehow | felt so anxious TO
get home to Yochow, such restless
feeling that could not understand.
Early the next morning we climbed
down the mountain at the foot OF which
a sedan chair was waiting. Gertrude
and took turns riding and walking un-
til we reached the quarry station. Here
the horses were to be waiting, but, alas,
no horses were there. Thinking they
might be at the main station, we pushed
on the next five miles as fast as we
could There they said no horses had
come from Yochow and none could be
hiren. However, they said train would
come some time that evening. Fearing,
however, that it might be military
train which we could not board we thot
it best to 90 to Yum Chi where we have
a church, pastor and day school and
there find out the truth. The fifteen
miles grew very tiresome; there was
blazing sun and had not worn my sun
glasses.
We were glad to reach Yum Chi at two
O'Clock, the coolies had expected it to
take until four O'Clock to get there. We
were most cordially received at the chapel
where we were to stay till next morning.
After we had rested and freshened up
bit, we went to visit three of our school
girls and on our return were besleged by
women callers who came to have a
look d."
We planned to start at daybreak, but
the sound of driving rain greeted our
ears when we awoke. No coolie could
be persuaded to start out in that ram.
After while, quite unexpectedly the ram
ceased and the sun came out. Gertrude
rode in the chair, one of the girls in an
other and | was TO ride the mule. Well;
when had my first look at him | thot
I'd die laughing. | think the harness and
saddle were from prehistoric times. But
( determined to make the best of 1t.
When | started to get on that beast he
began going around in circles. Finally,
somehow or other, | managed to land on
his back Then came the fun. His use
of his hind legs was remarkable.
If only he had used his front
ones at the same time and gone forward
but his front legs refused to bulge. All
this, of course, for the benefit of the
huge crowd that had gathered After
while we had him started, but such a
time as it was. If I'd beat him he
kick with all his might, back into stores,
and all the time | was afraid he would
kill somebody. After time we decided
that he had not had enough to eat, so |
spent my last cent to put some food on
the inside of him but even that failed to
improve his disposition. At last we de-
cided to separate, Gertrude and the girl
to take the short cut along the railroad
Con account of the long trestles the mule
could not take that route), and one chair
coolie to stay with me. At every village
we gave free show. That mule had to
be dragged through the streets. You
can imagine how much | enjoyed sitting
on him while he was being pulled and
kicked along. Once he started to run
away and if only it had been on the road
to Yochow, we would have been delight
ed, but as one might expect, the per-
verse creature started off on a road lead
ing to the mountains 1t was one of the
hottest days of the season. had no
money to buy tea, | did not dare drink
the water and | was so thirsty that |
began to think of the Ancient Mariner.
The scenery all along the road was very
beautiful, but somehow we three-coolie,
mule and me- did not harmonic with
the peaceful, tranquil scenes about US.
We reached Yochow at p. M, and as |
entered the door the folks said, "Mary's
gone. She left an hour ago. We ex-
pected you any minute Her call to ST.
IBERIA had come. felt SO badly for
had heard the steamboat whistle and had
caught glimpse of it in the distance
when | reached the port. On Saturday
Miller left and others want to go. We
will miss Miller very much she is so
jolly.
Last week school opened and such
busy time we had. All the servants
had been sick and SO an extra amount
of work had come to us. Mrs. Messimer
was taken sick with the Picking Fever,
the new disease which has flooded the