Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1919-07-24
news FROM THE ORIENT.
Yochow, China May 9, 1915

Yochow, China May 8, 1919.
Dear Mother:-
How ashamed l do feel when realize
how let time fly along without writing
home. At present l am terribly busy
but even that should be no excuse. Tues
day was the first day of Chinese summer
and that night South wind arose. Now
when you come to Yochow you'll know
what that South wind means. Sitting
heat languid depressed restless feeling
and intense longing to get away from
something that you know you cannot.
Everything dry, dusty and weary looking
out doors but today it is better or else !
am becoming accustomed to it.
These days have been full of events.
On Monday was visited by the School
Supervisor of Human and Yochow, both
Chinese. On Tuesday the magistrate
sent to me and asked to borrow my white
horse. | found out afterwards that he
rode him to witness an execution. | hope
the people will not get an idea that's
why go riding. At first l thought it
cases like this but found out later that
one was strangled and one shot. The
one robber had stolen water buffalo.
When the little boy who was out in the
fields watching it called for help the man
drowned him. The second robber was
stealing from a shop in the night, the
keeper arose and was stabbed to death.
Two of the leading ladies of the city
both in the yamen are taking special
lessons in English from me It's quite
task, but for the good it might do the
school did not feel that could refuse
On Wednesday Mrs. Wu's little daugh-
ter died of T. B. The littlegirl had been
i'll a long time and had suffered 80 long,
it is relief to know she is gone. Mrs.
WI teaches in our school half day and
also half day in the Women's School.
Well the thing that is on my mind
have put off talking about until the end
that is cur Carl. 1t makes me feel sick,
worse than sick to think that he too may
be gone. have thought so much about
how when we were children we liked to
sing war songs, and hear father tell about
what he saw of Gettysburg; who would
ever have thought that our two oldest
boys would have given up their lives in
this great war and one our always more
or less weak collie" (Carl Lawrence).
But am praying very hard that Carl
may yet be heard from.
H.
the great unrest in China The peace
conference here ended in a scrap and
things in Europe do not seem to be NOV
irg smoothly.
May %.
Am on the bumpiest train you ever
saw, yesterday l decided to go to Han
kow and interview a possible lady teach
err for the school next year. Our SER
wants just now are on 1.-The blink" so |
came alone The car I'm in, third class,
and the only occupants beside myself
are forty soldiers. AS | write they are
staring at me but who can blame them
They have been greatly interested in me
but not at all rude. The train to my
sorrow was late leaving Yochow. Yes
terdav the train left quite early so today
| was at the station at g. 80 a. m. The
train ,cit at nine. If all goes we'll
will reach Wuchang at five o'clock and
will still have time to cross the river be-
fore dark.
June
Have just fixed up a little box of cur
iosities for you. The box contains Thin
bles, scissors, Buddhist ornaments for
baby's cap and little silver affair worn
by people here. one piece to pick the
teeth, one for the ears and the other a
head scratcher.
We had an exciting time for a few
days this week. Alice Traub's horse
was stolen. Finally our coolie caught
the thief and brought him back bound.
He was two year old deserter from the
army who said his mother and father
were very old and had written for him
frequently. He had begged his officer to
let him go. but was always refused so
he ran away. He slept in temple across
from our stable, saw this horse grazing
and made his get away. But no one
would buy the horse as he was northern
er and the people We're afraid of him.
He of course wanted the money not the
horse. So he was pitiable object when
brought here. If given over to the va
men HI, would be shot, yet we were afraid
to turn him loose. So he begged and
plead and promised until we bought him
a ticket and sent him to Hankow where
he has friend who will help him go