Peiyang Women's Hospital, Tientsin, China
My dear Miss Turner;
This is May 17th and it is a very rainy dreary afternoon. It is pouring and no patient would visit a doctor this afternoon unless emergency. I am quite happy to have this little time for myself and do what I please. My children are studying with their tutor in their Chinese lessons on porch while I am writing at my desk. You see it is hard to get the Chinese language and one must start to learn classics early in life or else the child never gets them. Both Mary Jean and Abby have finished their first classic book. They have memorize[d] the book already. They can explain their sentences in ordinary language. I want them to have certain amount of old training as we did in childhood. The combination of old and new will be better than one alone. In our new school system children do not learn classics until high school age. In old education system students paid too much attention to classics and had nothing in science. There are certain things that I have learned in childhood I still know them now.
My children study English in mornings and Chinese in afternoons. They are good children on the whole but sometimes they can give great deal trouble to thier [sic] tutors. As I told you that Abby is poor in muscular coordination I have thought of a way to help her. I got a tricycle for her. She is learning ot [sic] ride on it. At first she did not like it but she is learning to use it well. This is a kodek [sic] picture of your namesake Abby. The picture was taken last Sunday in front of our hospital court yard.
Abby is growing stronger everyday. Her legs and arms are getting plump. I think she is going to be the slender type.. [sic]
I thought that I would have a whole afternoon for myself. After writing the first page I was called out for an outcall. Inspite [sic] of heavy rain I had to go. Fortunately I have a car; otherwise it would be rather unpleasant to be soaked wet. Outside of my profession I have been unusually busy with other activities. Famine, flood, Japanese invation [sic] all added burden to our people. There is no other way out of suffering except by persistence and patience. Thru hard times we learned to do many things.
This is a letter [transcribed at this link] which we sent to many women in other lands. I even ventured to send few copies to my Japanese friends. I have had responses. This proves that I did reach afew [sic] in Japan. Japan is intoxicated with militarism. She is telling the world that China is full of bandits but she has forgotten that she is the most outrageous of all. Thousands of innocent people have been killed by Japanese soldiers because Japanese military party is anxious to show her power. We Chinese must learn to be patient and have faith in the biological law- whatever we sow we harvest.
The Japanese invation [sic] has united China. People have given thier [sic] utmost. Women have learned to do more things. All walks of life are more serious in thier [sic] work. Even at this little hospital I can see changes. Nurses, doctors, servants all work with one spirit_ for the good of our patients. I have had some very gratifying expressions from my coworkers and students. They have given to the point more than they can stand. Our nurses are very anxious to go [i]nto country districts for health work and we will go ahead with this division of work. Our Maternity Center is doing very well. The coming fall we are going to open up another one in another busy section of Tientsin city.
June 9th will be my ten years service at this hospital. I am sending you a duplicate summary of our ten years work. [no longer with this letter] During these ten years I have done my utmost. Mistakes I have made. These mistkase [sic] have been made thru lack of experience. I was placed as a head of this hospital too early and an inexperienced person or fool usually tred [sic] where angel would retreat. Nevertheless the inexperiened [sic] person carried certain amount of courage which is good sometimes.
At the next board meeting I shall present to the board the plan of a new building. To have added two valuable workers recetly_ [sic] one a grduate [sic] from Ohio University who is doing our bacteriological work, other a Carleton graduate who is our hospital manager. I have no business care since my return. I am devoting all my time to professional work of the hospital. I have had some chances to do special work in Pediatrics. We are thinking of having a special division for children in a rented building. I do not quite dare to go ahead just now on account of unsettled condition. Japanese soldiers are still pouring into Tientsin everyday and people are nervous to start anything new. Indeed it is education which leads a person to higher life. I owe much to Mount Holyoke College and Michigan University for my training. Life indeed would be empty without high training. Because of this appreciation of high education I have established two loan funds to medical students_ one at Che loo University, other at Peiping Union Meical [sic] College in memory of Dr. Mary H. Mclean and Dr. Alfred Scott Warthin. Each loan fund is sufficient for four years tutition [sic] fee. I am telling you this for I know you would be glad to share my expression for gratitude for higher education.
By the time this letter gets to you, it would be time for college commerncement. [sic] Probably it would be shortly after that. You would be having your vacation. I hope that you would have a very pleasant summer and be rested for your work in fall. I shall take my vacation in September as July and August are usually busy months in China_ that is for medical work.. [sic] Mail has not been so regular in time of disturbance. I think that the trouble is over for the present few months and this letter will reach you. My children will go to Peitaiho Beach if condition allows.
I have had a very good letter from Ruth Conklin in which she told me that she had the pleasure of seeing you in spring. Did you see my niece while visiting Philadelphia? I have had good letters from my friends telling me of her good work in college. She is doing good work in college and is making delightful contacts. Do you remember Eleanor Gehmann? She graduated from Mount Holyoke College about the time when Soo Ying was in College. Her parents Mr. and Mrs. Gehmann are very fond of my niece and they take good care of her. They live in Cynwyd about few miles from Bryn Mawr College.
We have read much about Miss Woolley's activities in Geneva. I also sent her one of these letters which would tell her how anxious we women of China desire for peace for we are the actually suffering people of war. Dr. W. W. Yen spoke at Geneva also. Her daughter is thinking of entering an American College for her hgih [sic] education . I have suggeseted [sic] to her to apply for Mount Holyoke College. She is a very fine serious student like her illustrious father. Dr. W. W> Yen has bought his battle well at Geneva. If China could have more men like him China would be a different China today. We need women of ledareship [sic] like Miss Woolley. I close this letter with much love from my children and myself.
Yours lovingly,
Me-iung Ting.
5.20.1932.