[Abby marked this "Please return," implying she passed it around to other people to read]4339 Delmar Boulevard,
Saint Louis, Missouri.
July 8, 1915.My dear Miss Turner,
It is such a joy to go to a place where one can call it a home. This is a real home for me. I am so happy to be here. I came last Tuesday. I was at Camp Makonikey for three days, then I went to Silver Bay Conference for ten days. I have been quite a public speaker since I left you. I thought when I come here, I would have a quiet time. The city association has asked Dr. McLean for me to go down to speak to the girls there. I told her that I do not want to go anyplace to speak. I am not afraid, yet I do feel a little bit nervous to speak publicly. Dr. McLean is a mother to me in every way. She thinks I better not refuse the invitation; so I consented to do it on her account. This invitation means not a talk but a series of talks. (four in number.)
I think you will be interested to know that I go to the operation room very often. I have seen one operation on appendicitis, one on vaginal hysterectomy, one on ovarian cyst, and other minor operations. Mother takes great patience in explaining things in detail to me. She taught me the names of the surgical instruments. I recited my lesson to her yesterday. She said when her medical daughter comes home, she wants her to be her surgical assistant and I can handle instruments to her. Her medical daughter is another Chinese girl who graduated from University of Chicago this summer and is going to John [sic] Hopkins for post-graduate work next year. She is visiting the largest eastern hopsitals and colleges now. She is going to visit our college too. She is coming home sometime this month.
There are two Japanese girls here. They are nice and polite. As I have said I have nothing against individuals. We converse on any subject, except politics. Mother remarked this one night, "there may be troubles and differences on the other side of the water but not any sign here." Of-course [sic] we understand each other too well to talk politics here. I like our American girls naturally but I must confess I have to make an effort to learn to like our Japanese sisters. The American girls are open and frank in their nature. I am learning my lesson with determination.
I suppose you have heard a Chinese young student has invented a Chinese type-writer. He is in this country. We hope this is a step to-ward [sic] simplification of our language.
I think Saint Louis is a beautiful city. The climate is just delightful here. I suppose it is quite cool in South Hadley too. I do not mind to stay here the whole summer. Mother is a very busy surgeon in this city; so we are going to Colorado for six weeks.
By the way she told me that she has written to you once about my preparation for medical college. she is very pleased I selected Mount Holyoke College instead of Vasser [sic], Wellesley or Smith. She was a graduate of Vasser. She went to Vasser for her Japanese daughter's commencement. That girl had a sudden attack of appendicitis and had to be operated then. That was why she could not visit our college.
Now I am going to tell you how I spend my time. I get up at seven o'clock and have breakfast at a quarter of eight. After breakfast we have our family prayer meeting. I usually go to the hospital with Dr. McLean in the morning. I read and sew in the afternoon. (sometimes an afternoon nap) Dr. McLean reads aloud to us at night. We have a piano, a victrola and all kinds of books and magazines. Some afternoons our friends come and take us out for moto-rides. I actually sleep ten hours daily.
My first year in college has been a very pleasant one. I am looking forward [to] my second year with great anticipating joy. I just love Mount Holyoke College in every way.
I close this letter with my best love to your mother and you. I hope you both will have a real restful summer.
Yours Sincerely,
Me-Iung Ting.