Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1919-12-04
News From The Orient.
Yochow, China, Oct. Is, 1918

Yochow, China, Oct. Is, 1919.
Dear Mother
The days fly past and each one finds
me vowing that will write home that
night, but evening finds me in no fit hu-
NOR to write SO keep on procrastinating.
1t is strange too. but invariably, when
have dreams of home for several nights
i'm succession and think more than ever
of you during the day, letters come from
home So often has this happened that
feel sure mail is coming as / would if l
had received notice from the P. 0. that
it was on the way.
Before forget it must answer the
questions in your letter of today. l did
not know that insured mail could not be
sent further than Shanghai, but | can
understand why. There is an American
P. O. in Shanghai and to that destination
the u S. can be responsible, but there
it leaves their hands, and goes on thru
the Chinese P. O. and the Chinese Gov
eminent of course would only make it
self res ponsible for mails registered or
insured with them. So you and Whitmer
were right. Some people send packages
to The Mission Book Co., Edward Evans
and Sons, or United Mission Treasures.
They will repack, if necessary and for
ward properly and safely, and send in
bill for same. This is clever way
Thus far, | think / have received every
thing sent me. The hat is dear. am
so pleased with it. Now | am longing
to see the coat. But with all these things
please do not mention Xmas gifts.
Sunday
Yesterday was quite an occasion here.
A yourg doctor in the hospital and one
of my day school teachers ia High School
graduat,) were married. 1t was foreign
wedding, after which was a reception
and feast at their home. Miss Traub and
] were asked to decorate the church. and
fix the baskets and bouquets. | went
over to the church about three O'Clock on
Friday, worked for several hours, and at
eight yesterday morning Alice and l
began again. We worked steadily and
barely had time to change our eli thes
before the wedding at one O'Clock.
Flowers are scarce just now. Chrysan-
themums ere not quite open yet but we
managed to get enough. The pulpit
platform was banked with oleanders,
date palms, geranium plants and petunias.
On the altar we had ivy hanging down
and big bowls of pink and white cosmos
on top On either side the altar were
large vases of cosmos and cosmos also in
the hsptismal font. All around the
changed railing were small pots of be-
gonias and potted fir trees, the pots all
covered with pink crepe paper. A large
arch made of two graceful bamboos
with white bell suspended from the
centre served as the place of the mar
riage ce emory. Then too we made a
succe ssion of bamboo arches down the
aisle sticking in few cosmos and autumn
leaves. The columns in all three galleries
were covered with slim bamboo and
palms a' d the lamps had autumn ivy
ieaves G'aped on them. The middle aisle
was roprd off with white crepe paper
with pink draped on it, and white muslin
stretched from the pulpit to the vesti-
buIc. The little flower girls looked darl-
ing. Their baskets were filed with pink
cosmos and very delicate hanging vines.
They were dressed in brown checked
dresses with pink ribbons in their hair.
The groom wore long garment of a
beautiful golden brown satin and an up
per garment of black satin. The brides
maid were black satin skirt and gray
silk waist, and had pink flowers in her
hair The brides dress was an exquisite
shade Of pink satin with tiny flowers
enbfoidert d on it and bead and braid
trimming. The veil was pink and at the
bottom had some beautiful embroidery.
The bouquet was of pink and white Co.'S
mos the shower part of begonias. 1t
was such pretty wedding, and such an
example to hold up before the non-Chris-
tian Chinese with their awful ceremony.
The wedding was double ring, by the
way, as most Christian weddings are in
China. Their house is only few doors
from the hospital and is fixed up very
nicely They. ought to live very COM
fortahly and be very happ'. The bride
Mrs. Ya". will continue to teach in the
day school half day.
Now ! must tell you a joke on myself,
Mr.. Fl went to the yamen to call on the
magistrate The man who is in charge
of the soldiers, Mr.. Ma of this district
and General Feng were there too. This
Mr.. Ma had seen me riding through the
streets one day and having met him at
several functions l spoke to him. This
is the conversation, wish could tell you
in Chimes. it is so much ~funnier.
Miss Firor goes riding sometimes
doesn't she?"
Eyes. when she has time
She rides over by the North Gate
sometimes doesn't she?''
Eyes, | think she does"
rides pretty white horse.
Eyes"
'Rides awfully fast?"
mot very fast in the city streets, !