The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1945-05-12

days later-he opposed the idea.
We had almost given up the idea
OF having a child. when we re-
ceived a letter from Chi-yun's
| mother.
Il wish you would disregard my
husbands letter" she wrote. "A
marriage isn't natural without chill
dren. When your child grows up,
the world will be so far advanced
that it will no longer disapprove OF
Eurasians /. wish you would
have child .. :"
Her letter tipped the scales In
favor of Nei-mel: we decided TO
have a child. We were soon TO re-
greet our decision. for three months
later. the Pacific war broke out.
The japanese took Shanghai, and
we were trapped I decided TO try
10 escape through the Japanese
lines 10 Free China. but Chi-yun
would have TO remain in Shanghai.
could not bring a pregnant woman
along on a long and dangerous
journey which, with luck, would
lead 10 the interior where good
food was scarce and good hospitals
non-existent.
But Chi-yun thought differently.
Millions of Chinese women have
babies in the interior" she said.
III they can. so can J."
Thus IL happened that I started
out on the long trek TO Free China
with a pregnant wife. We walked
for several days along mountain
trails. One day when we were hid
ing in little farmhouse, the Japan
csc came and searched il.
When we had passed through the
japanese lines. we spent one night
in village where there was bu-
bonic plague. We were Mortified
10 discover traces Of rats all over
the floor in our bedroom. for the
germs Of the deadly disease are
carried by the fleas Of rats.
But we did not get the plague,
and after travelling for nearly two
months by truck, we reached Kun
ming, in Yunnan province. Here
] covered the activities of General
Chennault's famous Flying Tigers
for an American press association
while Chi-yun settled down 10 have
the baby. ,
But the worst was vet 10 come.
for the Running hospitals were
overcrowded with dysentery pa
tlents and cholera-stricken refugees
from Burma and had no room for
Chi-yun. She finally managed 10
secure a bed in a small clinic three
miles outside of Running. but
when the pains started she had
TO walk there, as the ricksha coolies
refused 10 pull outside city limits.
Clinic was indeed fattering
term for the little shack where
Mei-mei was born: they had no
anesthetics. no operating table. not
even stretcher.
They came home five DAYS later:
Chl-yun walked and ! carried the
baby.
Tie first night at home was hell
II rained for the first time since
our arrival in Running. and we
discovered that the roof leaked. !
placed an umbrella above Mei-mei's
cradle-an old wicker basket on
two chairs-and covered our own
bed with raincoat. During the
night, we caught three rats in a
trap which had baited under
Mei-mei's cradle
<ving awake and listening 10 the
baoy's crying. we wondered about
her Would she suffer because of
her mixed blood? Chi-yun and I
had occasionally been snubbed be-
cause people did not approve Of
mixed marriages. but we could
take il. We had both gained by our
marriage She had taught me the
virtues OF her race-pailence, toll
GRANGE and willingness 20 COM
promise. From me. she had learned
10 be less fatalistic, 20 have more
initiative Blu; how would this child
OF ours be- Would she combine the
best characteristics OF Chi-yun's
race and mine. or the worst
We knew that, generally speak
ing. EuraSians were looked down
upon in the Eas,--they had repu-
tation for being law and shlftv.