Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1920-01-22
News From The Orient.


Dear Mother:-
This has been such busy week I've
scarcely had time to breathe. l have
classes without rest from 8.15 a. m. to
4 o'clock. AT 4sl6 T. have a pedagogy
class with the teachers. and at 6 o'clock
Christian Endeavor. We have foreign
prayer meeting on Thursday afternoon,
too. but will have to miss that.
On Friday am going to Hsinchiang
and must collect things for the trip. So
with all this staring me In the face ! de-
cided that I'd better scribble of a hasty
note to you announcing the arrival of
the sweater and coat. Mrs. H. is SO
happy about the sweater, style end color
all that can be desired. 1t was very
much needed and is greatly appreciated.
And my coat do believe is the lovelist
one L have ever owned. Az for the
serge dress am delighted with it and it
is very much admired by oth,r folks.
They all agree in one thing that my home
folks are too good to me.
Nov. 90.
We are having one of those fearful
dust storms today. which gives one such
an irritated restless feeling he scarcely
knows how to get away from himself.
This morning the sun was Inning beauti-
fully and was so warm that red lily
had ventured to open l went to the
street chapel, had Sunday School with
almost a hundred children and the wealth
er was so lovely then that WAS tempt
ed to keep on walking.
When we came out of church there
was light north wind blowing and very
threatening clouds. Befo long we
were in the midst of gale, things bang
ing and crashing all around and our view
of the outside world shut off as by snow
storm only it was dirty gritty dust.
Yesterday too was lovely day, and l
had a mothers meeting in the school yard.
The girls recited and sang and then we
had an athletic contest. After this we
played games with the mothers and
served light refreshments. wish you
could have seen the dear kindergarten
kiddies. They were so cute. In one
song. "Sleep, Baby Sleep they each
had doll to hold for the occasion and
to see the little boys as we'll as the girls
hugging them was sight to make ones
heart rejoice. But what made the day
worth while to me were the letters from
home. 1t seemed strange to be getting
letters from Burkittsville but no matter
what city or town they come from the
home folks are the same.
Some days ago sent you little Christ
mas remembrances. l sent them all to
you for was not sure of the others ad-
dresses. Among other things l sent a
little box containing four ivory seals with
inlaid gold storks on them. have not
yet been able to buy the Mandarin beads
or the book. / have tried several places
but will continue the search.
DIR. Burghalter and the Beams are ex-
pected back here most any time.
We have planned reception service
and dinner for Thanksgiving Day. 1t is
examination week in school so ! have a
ousy week ahead.
There was such sad thing happened
here this week A church member who
was school teacher and always brought
his little school to church with him was
taken sick. Other church members
went to see him and had him brought to
the hospital. They brought him one
morning, and it was found that he had
pneumonia. That night his wife and
relatives insist ed that he be taken home.
There was nothing to do but to let them
AXE the unsconscious man home. The
| next day he regained consciousness and
when he found he was at home scolded
them for bringing him saying, "why
iidn't you let me stay there, was al
right?" At three O'Clock that after
noon he died and just before he passed
away he charged his wife that his little
children should be taken to the church.
Church members went to the house as
soon as they heard of MIR. LIS death
only to find the Buddhist priests already
installed and the ceremony in full swing.
Another man, a prominent citizen of the
county and one who has been very kind
to the church was considering very deep
ly the Christian faith This man has
been very wicked in many ways, has an
uncertain number of wives, has hired
assassins to do away with some of his
political enemies but still has done very
much in philanthropic lines and was al
ways ready to promote whatever seemed
for the improvement of the youth. He
has girl in school to be the bride of
his No. 2 wife and has been very good
to her. Last week he went away on
business trip. He was returning by
chair:when they reached small village
where his coolies stopped to rest and
drink tea. He walked on ahead and had
only reached the outskirts when he was
attacked by assassins and stabbed in
more thana dozen places. In very
brief time he died. Folks thought it
best for the girl in school not to know
it as she had been quite sick 80 l tried
to keep it quiet. Some how it leaked
out and had to letsher 20 home. Poor
girl am thinking lot about her.
But must not tell you all the gloomy
things for there are many bright ones
here.
l think 30 much of Paul and Carl not
at all canI realize that when go home