Tientsin, China.
December 14th, 1931.
Dear Miss Turner;
Your letter dated November 6th came two days ago. I was very happy to get your good letter. I have not heard from you for so long and was in fear that you might be sick. Your letter relieved me of this fear. I am sorry that you had bronchitis on way home.
This year has been a very bad one for China. Our schools have been closed for one month already on account of Japanese invation. [sic] This city is full of refugees from Manchuria. Schools have to make up heir lost time by not having any winter and spring vacations. College students every where want to declare war against Japan at any cost. They went to Nanking to petition the givernment [sic] to declare war. Students ask for military training. Women students also have joined them and women are being drilled in some colleges also. We can have very little influence over our students. They are young and naturally hot blodded.
No doubt we feel the situation but we want no war for that will not help us in any way. We are poor already and we cannot afford. Naturally in going to war our best young men and young women would volunteer. It would be wiser for China to suffer her present humiliation than to sacrifice our very few trained men and women. Those of us who are trained to do mental work and naturally are not fitted for war, although we can do war work. Inspite [sic] of the condition we must still have faith that there is justice and law. We may suffer now but the world cannot believe that might is right.
There is only one way to bring Japan to her sense that is boycott. She depends upon much from outside to finance her military expenditure. If every country will join the boycott movement Japan soon will be at end of her rope. What Japan is doing in Manchuria was what she did to Korea some twenty years ago. I wonder if people in America could ever understand the situation here. Just imagine here at Tientsin Japanese soldiers are pinting [sic] their pistols at us. Even at this period we remian [sic] to be patient. It is a very hard period for us. We must devote our energy for constructive work instead of for destructive. So far as civil wars are concerned we wpople [sic] have nothing to do whatever. China has been misruled by warlords[.] For years they have only lined their pockets with gold and their days are numbered also.
As people are getting more educated we would not tolerate much longer. At the recnt [sic] confernec [sic] people demand the right of press. People must be given the right to express our opinion. Just two weeks ago I walked to the home of Tientsin Police Chief and demanded for a military pass. No one was allowed on street for several days. I told him how unreasonable for him to give such an order to everyone. I said that babies come any hour of the day and he was making many innocent women suffer without knowing it. He had to give me a pass. We people must be brave and demand our rights.
How I wished that you had come across the world to see me. But on the other hand proabbly [sic] you would have a better chance of knowing us by staying longer. A fliong [sic] trip one gets very little. I have been so aborbed in my work and it seems days are too short. We are working against the current and the load is heavy at times. The unsettled condition is very nerve wrecking. I certainly do not want my friends to share all these disturbances. Probably it is the best that Miss Wooley [sic] could not come to China this time for she might feel uncomfortable. Ofcourse [sic] under any circumstance we would do our best for Miss Wooley. But I guess everything as it is - the best for all concerned.
I have noticed in The Journal that you had many cases of infantile paralysis. The opinion is that the convalescent blood serum is the best cure if administered early before paralysis sets in. Early diagnosis is the most important thing for a patient's prognosis. We do not seem to have these cases here. Just now in flooded districts we ar having outbreaks of of [sic] cholera. We have sent three graduate nurses to these districts to asssit [sic] what little we can do. No history of China's period the suffering of the people is so great as today. Famine, flood, disease and war all are visiting us today. We have learned much of your business depression. I guess this seems true with the world. In one paper I read Berlin alone has one million people out of work. You have over production of farm products and manufactured goods. We have not enough of either. The distribution does not seem right.
My two children are growing. Mary Jean is already doing her third year work in Chinese and her first year In [sic] English. Abby is smaller and she just learns what she can of Chinese and English. Both are doing well. They have grown quite little and are strong now.They have not been sick at all this year. Mary Jean is going to be an all round girl. Abby is going to be a student. Abby has very weak movements yet. She cannot do as half much as Mary Jean even taking into consideration of age. Mary Jean is only one year older than Abby but seems to be much more matured and is able to take care of herself. Abby has much trouble in dressing herself yet. Mentally Abby is very bright. She learns very quickly. Whatever she hears she can repeat. She can say many verses atho. [sic] she does not understand what they mean. While I am writing my children are talking in their beds. This is Monday morning. They are singing good morning to each other.
I have sent to your department our journal on Physiology of last year's volume. I have subscribe [sic] it for this coming year also. I hope your students in Physiology would read it occasionally. I am very happy to do this. The college has given me much and I like to show my appreciation in my small way. It gives me pleasure to send you anything, [sic] Much of my success today is due to the encouragement that my different professors have given me in my student days.
[Full article enclosed with the letter, though only part is scanned here]
I do not know if you have heard that Dr. Warthin died last May. It grieved me to think that such a brilliant man could not be spared for few more years. Indeed it is my pleasant [sic] to think of him as his old self. He was robust and he gave his lectures with the same vigor and interest as his younger days. Mrs. Warthin has written me most graciously. She knew that I was very fond of Dr. Warthin and kept up with all his books. She is sending me his last book - "The Dance of Death."
I am closing this letter with much love to you. Abby sends her love to you. After another year she would be able to write afew [sic] words.
Yours lovingly.
Me-iung Ting.
[A small envelope inscribed "from Me-iung and her children" is enclosed with the letter. The card it holds has a preprinted greeting only: "A Merry Christmas and A Happy New Year"]