April 28th, 1934.Peiyang Women's Hospital, Tientsin
Dear Miss Turner:
This is beginning of May already. I have been away for three weeks attending the China Medical Conference at Nanking and visiting my old home at Shanghai. Both experiences were happy for me. In regard to the China Medical Conference it was a very fine one. There were four hundred fifty delegates from different parts of China to attend this conference. we were entertained a number of times by our government. We were quite surprised to see what progress our government has made along lines of communication and rural health. There are so many highways connected with Nanking from one province to another. There are many rural health stations for people. The Central Hospital which is a coppy of P.U.M.C. has a capacity of three hundred beds. It is the best equipped hospital in China operated entirely by Chinese doctors and nurses. Ofcourse [sic] all heads of their diffenert [sic] departments have had training abroad. Papers were given at conference and many of them were of real value to the medical profession. There were about fifty women physicians and most of us are doing our share for our country. Government positions are more lucrative than hospital positions thus many are leaving hospitals for government service.
May 3rd, 1934.
I had a very happy home visit. My brother and his four sons were most generous to me. On my return my three suit cases were pacaked [sic] with gifts. One of my nephews is aobut to enter college. We are planning to have him enter an American College as he is a bright boy. He is a younger brother of my niece at Bryn Mawr. He seems to be very good in his studies except he has not had the same advantage in his English as sister. In our high schools today we are giving more attention to studies of Chinese and mathematics. Thus my nephew has good Chinese and is efficient in his mathematical training. Probably he will have to enter a preparatory school for a year before entering college. I shall be glad to know of a good preparatory school for boys. We cannot send him to a too expensive school but we would be able to send him to a school for eight hundred per year.
May 10th, 1934.
I was interrupted the other day and did not get a chance to sit at my desk until this very minute. Really I have not been too busy with professional duties as I have been busy with social obligations. One of our residents had to leave before her year as she is threatend [sic] with tuberculosis. I was able to get some one in her place but this is a married woman. She has three youngsters and they keep her busy. Thus she is only helping us in the morning clinics. However we are not busy just now. Condition is again getting unsettled on account of Japanese aggression. Because of our Shanghai experience people are so scared around Tientsin. Many have moved to other parts of China. Japan is getting bolder everyday [sic] and one strong nation must come out to challenge her. I do not mean in the sense of war but an economic block. China really has no chance to develop herself with a neighbour who is always interfering our policy. Japan even objects our aid from League Experts. This is always her excuse_ Japan cannot stand anything that injures her special rights in the Far East. She can interpret this term "special rights" in sense of herown [sic] righteousness. This is like a well person objecting a blood transfusion being given to a very sick person. Probably this transfusion will save the sick. If China wants to get aid from League Experts it is certainly our bsiness. Japan is cruel to the point that she objects this blood transfusion given by League Experts. They have made several surveys and the program for China's public health is an excellent one and our government is carrying out this program. In education League Experts are helping China to formulate another program. We must do everything to hasten China's reconstruction in education, industry, commerce, communication, etc.
While I was at Nanking I had a short visit with Dr. Wu E. Fong, president of Ginling College. She is often been called Mary Woolley of China. Ginling College is a fine college for women. The campus is well planned for growth and beauty. At Soochow I visit Che Nyok Wong who is in charge of a school for seven hundred girls. Her school is the best highest school around that district. Her school is situated in the most exquisitly beautiful Chinese garden. Che Nyok is deaf now but she can understand what people say to her by watching our lips. Che Nyok is the most self sacrifycing [sic] woman I have yet to meet. She has denied herself of every luxury to make her school the best of Soochow. Her laboratory and library are very good for high school. After seeing thes[e] two women I feel that China is very hopeful. Chinese women are certainly doing their share for China's need.
When this letter reaches you it would be time for your summer vacation. I wish you a very pleasant one no matter what you should decide to do and where you should go. My two girls will go to Peitaiho beach as other summers. They are getting tall but somewhat underweight. Mary Jean plays her piano and Abby just would not touch it. However I just will have to let them be what they desire to be. Both are doing well in their school work. This year they have studied Chinese entirely in school and have only once a week English lessons with a tutor. There are so many lessons to learn and time seems too short. They seem to be busy from morning till night.
With love from all of us.
Yours lovingly,
Me_Iung Ting.