230 London Road, Tientsin, China.My dear Miss Turner:
Your letter dated September 16th came. I was glad to know that my package did reach you. My nephew Sik Vung Ting came to America in August and he had to come just with one suitcase. At the time trouble has started at Shanghai. American boats would only take Americans home for time being and boats had no space for extra suitcase. In ordinary times passengeres [sic] are allowed 300 pounds luggage but war time each person is allowed only personal clothing. But I guess my nephew did his best to take that package along for me. Now he is at Emmanuel Missionary College, Berrien Springs, Michigan. He is in the department of agriculture. This is his freshman year. He seems to enjoy his college work. Dr. Farquharson of Detroit is taking him in like on of herown [sic] sons. I feel this home arrangment is good for the boy. He is only nineteen and he is not of age to be indepenednt [sic] in his actions yet. There are many temptations also. I told him it is geart [sic] responsibility on my part to have him go to college so far away. He is a very fine boy. He is very quick to learn only little bit careless in details of learning. Puff is made of silk wool. This is just silk before woven into thread.
I am sending you this letter thru a friend Miss Fox who is on way to University of California. Mail is rather irregular and at times censored. War situation is going on as usual. Japan has taken everything here in North China. She said that she has no territorial ambition but she has taken interests of our land, like railway, telephone system, telegram, radio, tramway, , [sic] water light system etc. In other words land will remian [sic] in China but all profits of land she has taken. She said that she is righting communism for us but we are no more communistic than her people.. [sic] Inspite [sic] of our sufferings we believe taht [sic] right will win in the end. China will resist until she no longer can resist. If we do not resist Japan will continue her force as usual. She wants to crush us for she thinks this is her last chance.
I am not doing any war work except relief work. I am sure all sane peple want peace. Women in Japan want peace so are Chinese women. In fact people in Japan do not know what thier [sic] military party is doing in China.
Our youths have no colleges to go now in North China except Yenching and a catholic university. But these two institutions must take theirown [sic] old students. Peitai, Nankai, Tsing hua all closed for these are government colleges. Japan is trying to put up an autonomous government as to be separated from our central government. For what Japan has destroyed in the last three months China cannot afford to build up even in the next twenty five years. China is now under unspekable [sic] suffering from Japanese atrocities_ bombings of open cities and civilian institutions. Most of our universities have gone now and are in ruins.
But the spirit of the poeple [sic] is good. We still believe that General Chinag is the man of this hour. He did his best to avoid war with Japan. Inf act we are not fighting war but only resisting_that is if our troops are not attacked we start nothing offensive. Our people are going [sic] all we can for our suffering soldiers and suffering refugees. We are trying to save for more needy people than oursleves [sic] by meatless diet and heatless room. Japan has forced all these sufferings upon China for we are not allowed to live peaceably in ourown [sic] land.
I close this letter with much love to you from all of us. My friend is leaving for America tomorrow. I want to give her all my mails for U. S. A. In this way there will be no censorship. We are all well except we are living under trying period. But we must learn to be patient under this difficult time and go on with our duty. Hospital is going on as usual but very few patients for we are too near military headquarters_(Japanese)[.] Condition is slightly better for these soldiers are not so furious as the beginning of the war.
With seasonal greetings.
Yours lovingly,
Me-iung Ting.