Tientsin, China.
March 26th, 1936.
Dear Miss Turner:
Your good letter dated Feb. 3rd came sometime ago. We also thank you for your Valentines. Mary Jean and Abby were very happy with their valentines. Now they are in Chinese schools and they have forgotten much of their English. They do study one hour every week when I have time to read with them. They are not taking piano lessons this year as their school program is too heavy already with thirty six hours per week of recitation periods. They have home work also. But they say when they have summer vacation they will write to Aunt Abby.
Events here at Tientsin are hectic. But one must feel optimistic about everything. Our present mayor is a man who desires nothing but wealth and power for himself. I am no longer connected with the Infants Home. I would not stand anything of his foolishness so I resigned right away upon the assumption of his office. The story of his political lfe is too long to tell. But one must believe that the right will win in the end. Tientsin is entering a period of darness and it will be few years before we can see the dawn. As life is so short one must learn to devote her energy and time to that which is most useful to human society. So after all I am having more time for reading and studying without the responsibility of that home. However one good thing has been started in that home, that is the present authority has not the courage to change my routine for the whole city is with me in my honest administration[.] I do not know about politics in America. But our politicians here would not think in terms of public good but their selfish selves.
Miss Carolyn Sewall is coming home this July. I have asked her to call upon you personally in my place. She will be able to tell you more about this hospital and her growth. Our influence is [sic] the city is an established one. We have city hospital on our left and private hospital on our right and yet we stand solid in competition with these two hospitals. I often joke with our staff that the reason we are able to stand up in midst of these larger hospitals is due to the fact that our souls are in our work while, altho other hospitals of the city have better material things. I do not say we have not problems. With out problems life would be uninteresting. We have had some very interesting cases recently. Of one case stands out in my mind just now was a case of acute appendicitis in a child thirty six months old. This is rather rare. We were able to make this diagnosis within few hours and operated immediately. The child had an unevantful [sic] recovery. Specimen was sent to P. U. M. C. for pathological diagnosis. All these were impossible when I first took this hospital now doctos are sending cases to us now. Our laboratory is busy with work of hospital as well as work of outside doctors. We have two technicians now. With the coming of the next board meeting I want to ask the board to get a man doctor to share part of my work. I do not feel that I can forever take such heavy work night and day. We have a Dr. Tan who graduated from John Hopkins. He is helping me with major operative cases now. He had work in England also. He is very happy to help me at hospital. I need some one to take a part of my business also. You have no idea the people who call upon me for this and that. I feel little bit tired physically and mentally that I must have a little private life at home with my niecse [sic] and nephews. I am building a little home this coming spring. I shall send you a picture of it. When you can come to China I would be able to offer you myown [sic] home to stay.
These disturbing days are nerve wrecking I admit. We must learn to be patient and courageous in our troubled days. Our students are restless and they have had a very difficult year. They are just beginning to study. They would have no spring vacation as they lost much time in winter. When Japan started to put up autonomous movement here all students started strike. Condition is very complicated here for our central government has too many things to attend and really our government is not in position to resist Japan at this time. Genoral [sic] Chiang is doing much for our people. The trouble is that we have too few men like General Chinag. [sic] His wife Mrs. Chaing graduated from Wellesley. She is doing much also. Unfortunately our leaders do not have wives like Mrs. Chiang. There are more college women today than twenty years ago. Ont eh whole we still have too few. Our voice is too small to be heard yet.
There is another girl here who is applying for Mount Holyoke College for a scholarship. Her name is Jean Yang. She will entera year at Laural [sic] School first. She shall finish high school this June. Her mother and I were school mates at McTyeire. Now she has four boys and two girls. Jean heard from Dean Allyn already and I hope Jean could have a chance at Mount College. [sic] Jean's father is an engineer and her mother is a musician. They are people of moderate means but of fine refinements. I have known Jean as a baby and I have taken care of the family as a family physician for many years. How is Barbara Yen? [MHC 1938] Her mother is a very fine woman but has very delicate health. Mrs. Yen often says that in her days girls did not have chance to develop. Even in my days girls did not have chances like today. Mary Jean and Abby are like Tom boys. They are bigger and stronger than girls of my time. Time is changing. In fact our boys are stronger today than two decades ago. It seems to me that our girls in North China look stronger than your college girls. Come and see for yourself a field day. Girls have taken a number of records in recent years.
Where are you going for summer vacation this year? What special study do you want to take up? Do not feel depressed about examination papers[.] Students will forget everything but few important facts. In China if we want our students [to] remember facts our teachers make us learn everything word by word. It seems to me the art of living is more important to life than every education combined. It is time for me to leave for office. With love from all of us
 To Aunt Abby. Abby at beach. age nine. |  Vung Yuin with her two brothers and two sisters. |