The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-12-28
WOMAN LEADER IN
 METHODIST CHURCH WRITES OF CHINA
Mrs. Maude Palmer Hen- derson, Who Left Bir- mingham in September, Tells Interesting Fea-
 lures of Orient


 Palmer Henderson, who left Brming- ham in September to spend the winter in the Orient. will be af interest to her many friends in this dNy.
 Mrs. Henderson is well remembered over the state as corresponding secretary of the Woman's Missionary society, Methodist church, north Alabama confer ence
 During her visit to the orient she is making headquarters in Soochow, with Miss Virginia Atkinson, who is north Alabamas pioneer missionary to China, having been there 35 years.
 Since the time of Miss Atkinson's ar rival in China, when it was unsafe for a woman to appear on the streets of Soo- chow uEattended, has been brought the marvellous change that welcomes Chrls' tian settlement of hundreds of people in the heart of the city and a western civi- lization that honors womanhood and pro- tects childhood.
 In speaking of her experiences in Soo- chow while visiting the Moka Garden mission, Mrs. Henderson writes the letter that follows:
 "Soochow. China November r. 1919.
 Dear Friend: pefore I do anything else I am going to treat myself to a little chat with you this morning, and will be- gin by saying "A merry Christmas and a happy New Year though it is so far off can't set up much enthusiasm over 1t but l am sure by the time this reaches you there will be much of the Christmas spirit in the air, and the wish will sound as it should, for I wish it with all my heart
 T have not written you since my ar rival in this queer, but most interesting, country, though I wrote won while on the ocean, mailing it in Yokahoma Ja- pan.
 There is so much to tell that I scarce ly know where to begin.
 The trip across the ocean was to me most delightful. though many of the Dasecneers would not agree with me. as we had one very stormy day and night but 1 did not experience the least bit oI Isea-sickness. THaadmit it was not at all comforting to see those immense waves dash up against the ship, especially when one realized their great strength and the helplessncss of a vessel, even a strong one lige the Empress Asia We were welcomed :;: the wharf in Shanghai by a number ot missionaries and after claim ing our baggage we got ricshas and went to Dr. and' Mrs. ParSers for lunch, or
 tiffin" as they call it out here The Parkers have been in China 4S years and are such interesting people Mrs. Parker is beautiful and one of the most charm ing women I have ever met
 'It was lovely to see the joy of these girls over having Miss Atkinson home again. I mean the young missionaries here in the home, to whom she is a mother as well as a leader. Her judg- ment is always so good, and l have ob- served that sll the missionaries depend upon her rlore or less.
 "Soochow is quite a gay place for nis- sicnaries and foreign visitors The Seo- chow university is across town and there afe several professors and their wives who live in the compound there and they entertain great deal. We seldom sit down to afternoon tea but that some one doesn't drop in to share it with us.
 This afternoon the University Young Men'g Christian association is having garden party for all the foreigners in one of the pretty gardens in the city last week we went to tea given to recent bride and groom. The men are included in ali social functions, and they always go and seem to enjoy it as much as the women.
 "I have been to seven different towns and had one trip to the country in a house boat, which I enjoyed very mIsa az the weather was ideal and the water trip so lovely, that is after we got out of the city There is nothing pretty abouS the canals in the towns, as they are very dirty, people always washlng clothes. vegetables, cooking vessels, rice and everything else one can think ov They will wash their clothes and rice ana vegetables side by side The only thins that saves them is that everything IS boiled well tefore eating.
 '.Soochow is a city of about 7oo,ooo' ana was founded in 800 B. c. More than 24oo yaars have these massive walls stood some of it being the original wals, so
 tis raid. |ume 80 generations of men have troi on these pnvements. on o,ie street the cobble stones are said 10 pc orieinal. There is stone map in the Confucian temple nearly looo wears :tos oioi and on il the streets and temple sites are almost identical with the r-esent' soochow is on the Grand canal, the great artificial highway of China It Is from, 56 to 100 wards wide and IS spanneu hv magnifcent stone arches. one or these bridges. near Soochow, has % arches We passed by it as we went ps boat to FInchow to conference. me soi den harvest of rice is now being gath- ered If is an interestin- sight to see inc people many of them mere chiidreh' c,uting the grain with their tiny scytnes and placing it on the ground Tn sucn iiiee, even rows. They do it so dulckis ai'N orderly. ,,
 "When in Chargchow last week l saw something that made my blood DOL we Q crow, girl strapped to a Chinese wheel barrow whicn was being pushed py man who seemed to enjoy it thorougnN. The girls hair was all disheveled anu hSi eyes red and swollen, and she Was screaming and telling the people alon .,ie street her trouble. She was being soio py her father. The missionaries say this 's 1 not ar uncommon occurrence
 CT am enioying being here, We have a ,o,-e,v Household composed of Miss AL linson. who celebrated her 3jth annivsr- sarv in China few days ago; Miss Tar rant. a relative of the Tarrants there anu who IS one Of the finest little women ] ever met and one of the greatest worNers' 1 Miss Tipscomk, daughter of our Home Base Section is tere too, a bright, JoliN | girl Trail and like all the others, IS over worked She has a beautiful voice ana ls ! so sweet about singing for us. Miss Burk- 1 head of North Carolina has charge oi l the embroidery mission. When l look al ltenae here and there. Today am making does. She never complains. but is alWays SD bright and witty. There is yonna l girl aere Miss Duff. whose father was l a missionary Of another denomnation and shc was born here in China She cer- tainly l-nows the Chinese. She loves them and works with them beautifully MISS 1 Alsuo. who came out with us as new 1 missionary. has now come to live win us and study the language, Oh, this Ian l guage, I dont think I could ever eari | it. I am not making a study of it. as am rever in enc place long enough te have teacher and to give four hours 1 day to it thouSh I am picking up sen