4339 Delmar Boulevard
July 8, 1916.
My dear Miss Turner:-
It is almost a month since I left college. I was at Greenville for one week, Edgefield one week and a short time at different surrounding cities. I have seen quite a little bit of the South. There is nothing impressing me more than the four colored people there. They are wretchedly poor. Every station is marked "Colored" and "White" even the street cars. I feel so sorry for them. Although they are not slaves but they are segregated as a down-trodden people. The southern people as a whole still think the negroes are good for nothing but servants of fields and homes. I remarked the fact innocently that there was a negro girl in Smith College last year. I was told she was a good student. My friend (a southern girl) said this. a colored girl with white girls in one college! After several days I asked my friend jokingly. Would she condecend [sic] herself to enter heaven if she knows there is a colored girl there? She forgot what she said to me previously. She said in heaven there is no regard to color and we are all one. Finally she did see the joke.
The people are friendly to me. I was asked to speak at several places. I was welcomed and received most cordially. I appreciate their kindness to me. I like to talk to children. My talks to children were very successful. I was asked by different mothers if I would not write them out in story-form for children. The children just followed me and wanted me to tell them stories all the time.
I stayed at Mrs. Nicholson's for one week. The family live [sic] on a large plantation. She has acres and acres of cotton and corn. She has many kinds of fruit trees too. The old home was built one hundred years ago. The style of architecture is like our temple with great pillars to support the roof.
The whole Nicholson family was so lovely to me, because June Nicholson was my teacher in China. She died in her home a few years ago. They treated me just as a member of their family. I enjoyed my visit there greatly.
I came home last Saturday. Oh, it was so nice to be home again. Dr. McLean is so pleased with my cat's skeleton and laboratory books, in physics and chemistry, she took me to Washington University yesterday. It is the most beautiful institution that I have ever seen in this country. The medical department is in the city, we went there too. She inquired about my entrance there. The medical school does not admit women students. She has been working several years to get the university to open its medical department to women. The prospect looks brighter now. She said the only way to get its door open to women is keeping on the knocks. She said she shall be glad for other women in the future even she cannot get me in now.
She took me to see my French teacher. She is a French lady who speaks good English only with foreign accents. I shall begin French lessons this coming Monday in connection with the University of Chicago.
We do not know our summer place yet. She thought of going to Canada, I doubt if we will be able to carry out our plans. I am happy in any place. I do not mind if we do not go away. It is hot at noon, but our mornings and evenings are delightful.
I have enlisted in the swimming class at Y.W.C.A. My lesson begins Monday. I should say Dr. McLean enlisted me here. She is doing so much for me. I feel I am unworthy of her love for me.
I am going to write a letter to Dr. Clapp, Miss Smith, Miss Holmes, Miss Stevens and Miss Purington. I was so hurried the last minute that I did not get to say good bye to them. I did see Miss Holmes that is she came to my room.
I wish you and your mother will have a pleasant restful summer. If you think she would like to know about me, will you read my letter to her? Let me beg you again, not to feelt hat you must answer my letters for I realize how little time you have for yourself.
I close this letter with just lots, and lots of love for you and your mother.
Yours Sincerely,
Me-iung Ting.
