The Tientsin Women's Hospital
Tientsin, China.
August 9th, 1936.My dear Miss Turner:
Your letter gave me a vivid picture of mountains, snow fields, glaciers, valleys, clouds, rain, sun and their natural colors of Norway's scenic beauty. How I wish that I am with you in a cool beautiful country Norway now than this hot climate Tientsin. These few days have been extremely hot. After every operation I am socked [sic] thru and thru with sweat. I cannot go away long in summer months for this is our working season. However I am happy for I feel good physically. In your experiment I can understand the relation of blood proteins to tissue fluid but I do not understand the measurement of blood pressure of fishes. I am so glad to know that Dr. Haywood is working with you and that the director has been most helpful to you. I would say that no country is so easy to get everything as America. Here at Tientsin we often have no electricity at day time so we have a home made incubator for our cultures. Sometimes we use stove heat of the needed temperature[.]
We have had an open letter from Miss Adams who put forward a number of good arguements [sic] against the election of a man for Mount Holyoke College President. Then two weeks afterward we had an anounecement [sic] from the trustees of the college annoucing [sic] this man from Yale as the next president, successor to Miss Wooley. [sic] There are two exclusive colleges for women in China Ginling and Hwa Nan and both are headed by women. In America we would think that you have a number of excellent candidates to select from and it is rather unnecessary to have a man for president of an exclusive women's college. Then for women have done so well in the past hundred years and there is no reason for this change. There is no reason that we can think of here except the business depression - just to make a place for a man. If this new president is sportmanlike [sic] he would not take the presidency. I hope this would be the final solution.
I Djen Ho's mother and I were classmates in high school[.] Her mother married rather early according to the old custom of that day. I saw her mother and father last year at Soochow. I visited Chi Nyok Wan's school also and was much impressed with the work. Chi Nyok is handicapped by poor hearing now so she has the business side of the school and is not able to do any teaching. After visiting her I say China's woman is indeed working hard toward the solution of China's many problems. From Michigan I hear that Vung Yuin is doing very well especially in her physiological chemistry. She is heading her class this year. Just now she is taking summer school for she wants to work off certain credits so she could have time to enjoy outside activities. She loves extra curriculum activities. That si [sic] youth.
I should have my year in 1938. But the present situation is uncertain. Days are hard here this is especially true of North China. In fact Japan has taken all cotten [sic] and chemical industries here so our merchnats [sic] can not make ends meet. Then the amount of smuggled goods is spoiling trade for us as well as other nationalities. Everybody is poor except Japnese [sic] and Koreans[.] Becuase [sic] people are getting poorer thus we people of profession suffer also. At present very few people can aford [sic] to take good rooms at hospital and most patients are forced to take ward beds. The hospital would not be able to give me a year and at the same it is difficult to get someone to take my place. There are too few women physicians in China and many cannot stand the hard work and strain either. I have life insurance for ten years. The policy will bring me enough for my year in 1940. I hope that soon you can visit us. Spring of 1939 seems far now but three years will be here in no time. I certainly would take a vacation and to travel with you to show you places of historical interest. I have little of other parts of the world and almost nothing of my own country. Now travelling is so easy here. There are many highways by buses nowadays.
Just now the society of Biochemistry and Phsyiology [sic] is meeting at Tsingtau, a summer resort about twenty hours on train from here. It is celebrating her tenth anniversary. China is making progerss [sic] in different branches of science recently. Government is given much material aid to scientists. More grants are given toward agricultural projects for our farmers are in need for scientific help. Every college and university in China is giving special training to students in science. many scholarships are given toward advanced studies in America and Europe. I noticed that charcoal is being used in place of gasoline in a large bus here. The man who discovered this is getting the monopoly from our government for five years. It works very well. Certainly this fuel is much cheaper than gasoline for buses. So many boys are going into aviation training. The younger generation today is much more alert mentally and stronger physically than our days. Although we are not making much show at Berlin but ten years ago we would have not been able to pick up a team lik e [sic] this in all China. I think America will lead the Olympic game at Berlin.
Just now we have taken over the narcotic division of the magsitrate [sic] jail. We are having problems with narcotics like you had with alcoholics few years ago. We are helping these prisoners to get rid of the bad habit. The law is very strict now. First offence is jail and second offence is death. We are helping these prisoner patients to get rid of their bad habit and at the same time to build up their character. I am with General Chinag that when China can get rid of narcotic in all forms China would be a strong nation and her people will be a strong people.. Strict military training is given to all students and young civil officers so the younger generation will not have the appitude [sic] for such bad habit. So we are doing our share for our government.
We are all well. Mary Jean will enter sixth grade and Abby fifth grade. The older boy will be a sophomore at Tsing Hua University the latter is a government university so we do not have to pay any tuition for his college education. Our younger boy will be a senior in high school. They have all done well in their school work last year and they are enjoying coolsea [sic] breeze at Peitiaho Beach. We have a good house keeper. I go to beach every two week end. This way I get little vacation also.
We have a young friend Jean Yang who is on way to Laurel School at Shakerheights, Ohio. She is hoping to enter Mount Holyoke college fall of 1937. She is a daughter of my schoolmate Mrs. Yang. Jean is a very charming girl I have taken care of the whole family since she was a baby. She is almost like one of my own nieces. If she should come to Mount Holyoke College she will come to see you. She plays the piano well.
Miss Helen B. Calder has been here. She has left for London. Her sister Mrs. Thurston is travelling with her. They both are planning to be at college for her celebration next November.. Miss Calder will be able to tell you something of my professional life and our home life. Abby read to her in English and she almost has no foreign accent. She has no time for English lessons but I am still keeping up with what she has learned. She has forgotten much of her English conversation but she still can read her story books. Our children are so busy now. I do not remember of studyingso [sic] many subjects in my time.
Three years from now our girls will be quite large. We will all welcome you with open arms. Meanwhile we all send our love to you.
Yours lovingly,
Me-Iung