The Penn's Grove record., 1923-03-16
CURIOUS CHINA
How Americans Live Among The
Chinese And Enjoy Their
Easy Life

Sparks, at P~edricktown, we publish
the following letter written to her
mother, Mrs. Mary Shoemaker, by a
friend, an artist, who is in China, with
her son, DR.. Arthur Shoemaker, giving
instructions in designs and motifs.
DR.. Shoemaker, a native of Ped
ricktown, went to China about ten
years ago to be a physical instructor
and medical examiner in an American
college.
December "a, 1922.
Pekin, China.
Dear Friend:-
Two months have passed since my
arrival into this very far and strange
land which would indeed seem quite
impossible were it not for being
housed in this safe and beautiful
Shoemaker home. At first Pekin
seemed savage and dangerous, but by
degrees that impression gives way to
one of interest and tolerance. Every
thing repulsed me for a time. The
filth, misery and apparent disease
which aSsails one on all sides fully alb
serbs the attention of the newcomer,
but by degrees you realize that CON
ditions are of traditional centuries
and that things are not really so bad
as they seem. No doubt, In time l
would grow to love it just as all the
Americans seem to who have lived
here for a number of years. There IS
no scurrying or worrying among the
Chinese, and such a thing as keeping
ones word or promises, or obligations
or appointments, is an unheafd Oh
custom and principle. l ind mysel1
getting terribly exercised over 1t at
times and then | wake up to the TACT
that Pm in China and speedily relax
into a philosophical attitude and ENJOY
the easy way.
Arthur and Dawn get along wonder
fully with these Chinese servants and
people, altho | wonder sometimes now
fhev can be so patient, but they have
learned how best to manage them;
First. YOU are anxious to know all
about this home and the little family
so near and dear to you. | don't be-
lieve Arthur has ever told you half,
so I shall try to think of the things
That I know YOU wish to hear.
The house is very artistic, being
built after the California bungalow
type, only on more spacious lines. The
great living room, 20X30, is IN the
centre. opening out onto a large sun
room. That in urn looking out into
a large court yard with trelllses,
flower stands, seats and other things
which make such a place attractive
and beautiful. The dining room opens
from the living room and is about
1890. a lovely room furnished in very
beautiful carved pieces.
Arthur and Dawn have collected
everything necessary to completely
furnish this house in the very lovllest
manner and | am quite sure 1t is the
finest in Picking or in China-every-
thing fits and is in excellent taste.
The little room | use for a studio IS a
dream with its great set OF north
windows and lovely carved furniture
necessary.
I am digging up all sorts of old
Chinese symbols and motifs to be
worked out and adapted to rugs, and
7 am finding it intensely interesting
Arthur and Dawn have done wonders
in that direction already and we nope
to do more wonders.
The sun porch is a real garden OF
Mains and flowers. The whole house
IS steam heated and equipped with
every modern convenience.
The climate here in Picking is very
much like Wisconsin, cold, dry ar,
with plenty of sunshine. The material
difference is that it never SHOWS here
while in Wisconsin it SHOWS every
dav from November till April.
find some difference in food, but
it is all good, and the big, golden per-
simmons are delicious. We have them
every morning. I eat two. They are
about the size of a large tea cup:
We have been invited to two Chinese
dinners since my arrival, n HEINZ
has nothing on the Chinese with ms
"57 varieties" for we were served
with as MANY courses, each course be
ing served on small plates about nVe
inches in diameter. We used chop
sticks, a long slender fork, n d
queer little spoon with which to drink
the LIQUID. | found the chop sticK
quite adequate for as much 1000 as !
cared to eat as most OF IL tasIeu
rather queer. At the first teas we
were served with picked eggs IN llme
supposed to have been preserved Iof
several years. They ooked 1t, oelhg OF
a sickly green color and very !ragrant
(?). was game and ate NINE WIN
much enjoyment. Really, most Oh the
food was very good. especlalIy tne
roast duck and a delectable dish OF
fried duck l1Vefs. lneIe wei
kinds of noodles, fish dried n tred
and picked. Many kinds OF Chlnese
nuts! preserves, bamboo sprouts,
shrimp, sharks fins, queer soups and
stews and many other dishes. With
It all came gallons of tea and rice
fruit and cake, also a very Pungent
hot vine or liquor served in tiny
china cups. With each course we used
a small paper napkin, Axe inches, 10
finish, we washed our hands and faces
with a huge turkish towel wrung u
of very hot water.
can't begin to describe these affairs
as thew should be. One must really
be on the spot, in the environment and
atmosphere to arrive at a true con-
ception of Chinese life and customs
They, as a whole, impress me as
being very kind, peaceable and friend
". More like children, helpless chi,
= IL nIA