Tientsin, China.
January 1st, 1933.
Dear Miss Turner;
Happy New Year to you! This is Sunday and it happens to be my day at hospital. My morning work is finished and I can have little time to do some writing. We have just finished theyear [sic] 1932 with the thought that we should strive to do better this coming year. Our work is growing although we are working against the current. By this I mean the Japanese invation [sic] keeps us uneasy all the time. We are actually helpless for the city has not enough trained soldiers to defend her. This is true of China also. It is almost daily rumor that Japan may attack Tientsin and Peiping any day. We must continue to work for better things in life instead of waiting for troubles. The staff of this hospital would not move an inch no matter what should be the trouble. This is our guiding principle.
With this spirit of moving on we are going to launch our plan for the year 1933. We are expeting [sic] a graduate nurse from America to be the head of our nursing school. A class of twelve girls will finish their nursing course this coming summer. All these girls would have six months special training at P. U. M. C. by the end of this coming June. All have passed their national examinations with N. A. C. Five graduate nurses have completed thier [sic] two year course in Obstetrics and are going to do work at our stations. We have taken a new class of twelve girls into our school for training.
Since my return two years I have been very busy in my professional work. I have no administrative work at all. It is only fair that one should devote her time of her training rather than to do something else. It is not necessary for me to do any work of administration as our business manager is also a college woman. The past year I have done great deal surgery. The months October and November I had ten Caesarean sections. Reuslts [sic] were all good for mothers and we lost one baby. In the case which we lost the baby it was due to the fact that she had called upon the ignorant midwife before coming to us. When A. A. U. W. had thier [sic] November metting [sic] at hospital they saw three of these cases. They were very surprised of the qualitity [sic] and the extent of our work. Our progress is slow but we have improved the quality of our work.
Now we want a new building but this ever lasting unsettled condition makes us nervous to put up this new building. Japanese war at Shanghai costed China 24,000 lives and damage of $1,500,000,000. Tientsin is afraid of the same fate should Japanese invation [sic] continues her madness. But I often maintain Japanese gun may kill my body certainly not my spirit. The spirit of carrying on must continue. So very likely we are to put up our new building. Our board is little bit conservative in their thinking.
Sometime ago I wrote a little note to Miss Woolley with a duplicate from Tientsin Peiping Times. That article tells something about our work. I sent that article to Miss Woolley for that meeting of A. A. U. W. was almost like Mount Holyoke Affair. Grace Liang was the presiding officer; Miss Woolley the center of our mantel. I was the speaker. For few moments in that meeting I had the thought_ if people could have the sam chance for right sort of education we would become right minded in ourthinking. [sic] This present civilization we are still boasting too much of our military strength_ navy and army. If this same amount of money is used for a better purpose_ what difference this world would be.
Recently I had the pleasure of entertaining Miss Wong who is the president of her college_ Hwa Nan. Miss Wong was a Barbour fellow for 1929_30. Her college is situated at Foochow which is about five days jouney [sic] on ocean. She is havingher [sic] college registered with government. China is trying to standardise her college education thus every college must be of certain quaility [sic] beforeregistration [sic] is given. She is travelling in order to get people interested in the cuase [sic] of women's education. She wants to put up a science building. In spite of bad condition people responded well to her cuase. [sic] This is indeed very encouraging for we are begining [sic] to appreciate high education for women. One of the undeveloped resources of China is her women. Our women today are working hard for betterment of their country along many lines. Miss Wong represents China's educated woman. Twenty years ago we would not be able to find one woman of her calibre in this vast country. China today has here and there few beacon lights. I was very impressed with her ability. She is only little over thirty years old.
Mary Jean and Abby were very happy to receive their gifts from you. Abby is rather slow in her numbers and these dominoes would certainly help her. Mary Jean can write alittle [sic] and here is a note from her. Abby reads fairly well considering that she is only in the first grade. She loves her picturebook and she can follow the story of the runaway dog easily. This is a reent picture of these two girls. [no longer with the letter] From the picture you can see how tall is your namesake Abby. She is only six hlaf [sic] years old now. It is very intersting [sic] to watch their development. I thank you for thinking of us every year.
I was sorry to know that you had to work without an assistant in your department for sometime. I know what this means. Just now my assistant is sick and has to take a vacation of six months. I have gotten into the habit of a daily walk which keeps me in good shape. Every winter I suffered cold in the past but this year I have been well so far in this cold weather. North China is just as cold as New England climate. It is tempting to stay in than to brave the cold outside. Papers today mentioned that influenza is prevalent in New York City. I certainly hope that this dreadful disease would not travel far. I remember the winter of 1917 that schools and colleges had to close in order to check the spread of the disease then.
Mch I have recieved and little I have given. This is my feeling. I have continued the Chinese Journal of Physiology for your department. The journal comes to Tientsin first for it is much cheaper in sending this way than direct from Peiping. At the same time we have a chance for reading over those articles that are useful to our knowledge. Low value of silver keeps us from doing many things. Inasmuch as I like to give somethig toward Mount Holyoke Alumnae Fund the high exchange rate for gold keeps me poor. My loyalty to the college must be kept in my heart for the present.
January 7th, 1933.
Now I am in my office. Since my last time at type_writer desk many things have happened. Three days ago I had an emergency case of toximia_ that is a very serious condition for pregnancy. Patient came one thirty in the afternoon and I had to do an operation at 2 P. M. in order to save mother and baby[.] Baby is doing very well. But the poor mother is having a very stormy time. Evn after the operation she had convulsions. She has been so violent in her actions that I am afraid something will happen to my stiches. [sic] For three days and nights I have lived in constant watching over this patient. This is the first day that I begin to see a little hope in her. I will let you know the result of this case of Caesarean section in my next letter.
On top of my professional worry we are experiencing national sorrow. Japan has again started her military aggression at Shihikwan - which is very near Peitaiho_ our summer resort. China must do one of two things_ either restrict herself to entire passive resistance or take up arms to fight against Japan. But I see too much suffering already without resorting to war. But Japan will have no respect for our rights until we really go into war with her. Japan is telling the world that China started the trouble, poor China is trying her best to keep herself away from lion's mouth. Air is so tense now and no one can predict the move.
But whatever happens you would know that our staff will stick to our hospital work. We have prepared enough supplies for one month becuase of our last experience. We have organised ourselves into working units for emergency relief work. People of Japan are ignorant to the aggression of thier [sic] military officers. These officers have done everything that is a violation of law. They killed our innocent people, they burned our hourses [sic], they destroyed our properties, they stole our valuables and what else they have done will be written in our history. I am sure all right minded people have sympathetic feelings toward another people. Tolerance, patience, courtesy, sympahty [sic] are virtues we must cultivate toward one and other socially, nationally and internationally.
Mary Jean and Abby asked me to enclose their little letters. They actually wrote themsleves [sic] with little help of spelling. They saked [sic] how they should head the letter I suggest the use of word aunt. I close this disconnected letter with much love to you. I am always looking froward [sic] to your letter.
Yours lovingly_
Me-iung.
Dear Aunt Abby;
I like your gifts of dominoes, picture book and black board. I have much fun in playing dominoes with sister mary. I am in the first grade and I can sing many american songs.
With love and kisses.
Your loving namesake.
Abby Ting.
Dear Aunt Abby;
I thank you for your Christmas gift to me. I like pictures and I have much fun in coloring them. I am in the second grade of Tientsin American School. I have finished two books in reading. When I grow big I like to come to America to school[.]
With love
Mary Jean Ting