[Some paragraph breaks added for ease of reading.]Peiyang Women's Hospital
Tientsin, China.
September 6th, 1934.Dear Miss Turner:
I am sending on Mary Jean and Abby's letter to you just as it is. This is Mary Jean's writing for Abby writes very poorly yet. Abby can read very well. They have just come back from beach and are now in school again. Mary Jean is in the fourth grade and Abby third grade. Both are A students in their classes. They both love school work. Abby is the one we have trouble with writing for she hates anything that has to do with hands. For this very reason she would not take piano lessons. She has just passed her eighth birthday. I will wait until she is ten years old and she probably would like to learn to play.
We have had a very happy summer for my niece and her two boys were with us. My oldest sisterinlaw [sic] with her grandson were with us for a month also. I was down at our beach house two week ends and then one whole week in August. My niece is the oldest daughter of my oldest brother. She went to Barnard College for two years while her husband finished his M. A. at Columbia. Her two boys age four and three added much entertainment to our household. They are delightful children for they never cry and are not too noisy. My niece is such a good mother who does not fuss with her children too much. Then it is also due to the fact that we have such large playground that we do not hear much of their noises in the house. They have learned to make their noises outside and not in house. My two girls have had very happy summer with their relatives.
Barbara Yen [MHC 1938] sailed August 14th. By today I think she is already at Chiacgo. [sic] Probbly [sic] she and other students would stop to see the Fair. I have just had a note from Barbara saying that there is a Miss Lee from Shanghai College who is on way to Mount Holyoke College. She was so happy to meet this Miss Lee on boat. I guess Chinese Consul at every big city would meet Barbara as her father is in service of our government. I am sure that you would love Barbara as she is a lovable girl in every respect. She is a very fine student also.
This past summer Tientsin Education Bureau gave a comprehensive examination to all high school graduates. Almost one third fail in thier [sic] examination and these would not be able to enter colleges. They either have to repeat thier [sic] last year in high school or try to take their examination next summer. Many parents complained this strict action of our government but I think it is for the good of our children. With this regulation students are only admitted to colleges on basis of their scholarship rather than just on basis of wealth. Many well do to [sic] boys and girls have to stay at hme [sic] this year.
During summer a trainig [sic] camp was started for high school and college boys. These boys had to be under miliary training for two weeks. They live like soldiers also. In one division a wealthy boy started to act as he was somebody and would not obey regulations. He was flogged. I was sorry for his flogging but probably this flogging would make a man out of him. I beleiev [sic] all these movements are good for our children and I am in full sympathy with our government.
I often tell Mary Jean and Abby that they have to study hard for I cannot promote them one grade. After primary education they have to ake government examinations for promotion. No one will be admitted to high school without passing the comprehensive examination for primary graduates. Our government has recently spent large sums of money for athletic fields in every province. Our students are of better physique than twenty years ago. When I was in school there was no school physician and school nurse. But today though inadequate in many ways yet, but students are examined regularly. All signs show that China is in progress. We are little inpatient [sic] at times for we are passing these experiences. We want to have a modern China in one day. I realize that I cannot do much for my country. The most important thing is to have as many trained for work as possible. I have given much time to educational institutions also outside of my profession. This year I am serving both at Yenching University and Cheloo University as a member of thier [sic] women's board.
With much love.
With seasonal greetings.
Yours lovingly,
M. I. Ting.[second letter]
Aug. 7, 1934
Dear Aunt Abby.
We are very happy for recieving [sic] your nice present of Valentine. Thank you very much. Are you well? We are very well. Evry [sic] day we study in the morning and then we go to sea-shore. we swim and collect shells till noon time we return home. Every Sunday we do not study our lessons or play at beach but we go to church. Are you busy? we hope you will write to us. With best wishes
Your loving,
Mary Jean Jean & Abby Ting.