Evening star., 1939-12-17

W1yo ~AAA OyW "a VIC WOIlU, ACS
with the Department Of Agriculture :
on numerous professional research
expeditions. The latest journey,
from which they recently returned,
led them across North Africa and
through many Of the ancient Bibli-
cal lands.
In spite of her recent travels, Mrs.
Lowdermilk has not forgotten her
11ve years residence in China, where
her husband joined the stan of the
University Of Marking to aid in the
work Of the famine prevention pro-
gram. The Lowdermilks first went
to Marking in 1922. In 1926, Mrs.
Lowdermilk assisted in organizing
the first woman's club Of that city.
The next year, Mrs. Lowdermilk
was elected president of the club,
which had attracted the attention
Of prominent Chinese women as we'll
as the American colony in Nanking.
The activities of the club were car
ried on by Chinese women until the
recent occupation by the Japanese
curtailed most efforts by the Chinese
in the city.
Health Conditions
First Objective.
"One of our first objectives," she
said, was to improve health condi-
tions among the poorer Chinese
women and their babies. We got a
number of wealthy Chinese women
to lend their gate houses quarter
ing the watchmen on their estates
to be used as lighthouses, where
mothers could bring their babies
at least once a week. Charcoal
braziers and large washtubs were
placed in the rooms. The mothers
responded Immediately, bringing
their babies to be bathed properly
for perhaps the first time in their
lives"
Over 1900 brought their babies to
the lighthouses that first winter,
Mrs. Lowdermilk said.
That was really the beginning of
social welfare work by women in
Nanking," she continued. THE Chi
nese women became very enthusiastic
and the next thing they turned to
was sanitation among food mer-
chants and in the markets Sweets,
fruits and perishables were required
to have protection from flies" said
Mrs. Lowdermilk. land, although
there was protest at first, merchants
soon realized the wisdom of the new
law. Through this and other sani-
tation laws, the mortality was re-
duced more than half.
Health centers," she added, "were
also established in different parts of
the city, with Chinese women doc
tors and nurses to advise mothers
on the proper care Of babies. Mid
wives also received special instruc-
ton"
Among Mrs. Lowdermilk's neigh
bors in Nanking were Pearl Buck
and Alice Tisdale Hobart, authors
of The Good Earth and "Oil for
the Lamps Of China" respectively
Mrs. Buck" she said, who was
my, neighbsry for Ave years, was
greatly admired by the Chinese, who
lay great emphasis on brains"
Her friendship with Mrs. Buck
still continues, Mrs. Lowdermilk re-
marked.
Chinese Women
Declared Marvellous"
Relative to the ability Of Chinese
women and their present-day
achievements, Mrs. Lowdermilk said :
ITO me they are marvellous AL
though Chinese women have had
ruling ability for generations in the
home, where they are little emp
resses' to their sons and the wives of
sons, they never took part in public
affairs. Within the last Is years
they have stepped from the threshold
into public life"
While in the Orient, DR.. Lowder-
milk was delegate to the Pan-Pacific
Science Congress in Toxic. AS off,
cial guests of the Emperor, he and
his wife were entertained extern
sively by royalty and visited nearly
every outstanding place of interest
in the country.
On their recent tour of Africa,
Asia Minor and Southern Europe,
DR.. and Mrs. Lowdermilk were among
the first to travel over the 1900
mile super "autostrada," built by
Mussolini across the desert Of North
Africa.
"One travels 400 miles through
the Lbyan Desert with scarcely q
curve in the road" Mrs. Lowder-