September 25th, 1941.
Dear Miss Turner;
Your letter dated July 31st from Woods Hole came O. K. of course nowadays most letters came thru censored. As I have said to my many friends we are everyday people and just talk about our everyday affair. What ever we should talk we only talk common things of life. It is wonderful that you are interested in many varieties of work and play. Plays pormotes [sic] health in children and work makes us happy. I shall be glad to have a reprint of your work on the optimal weight for college women.
In Pediatrics we have two types of children. We use the term diathesis or constitutional characteristics. These two types are neuro_arthritic and lymphatic types. The first type of children have bright, clear eyes and usually a highly coloured complexion. They tend to be of spare build, owing to poor retention of water and fat. The lyphatic type tend to be fat nd retain water well. Their complexion is dull and the skin is pale. As the name indicates thier lymph glands, adenoids and tonsils are enlarged. Mentally the first type is quicker than the second type. In diseases the first type children have an easier time than the second type especially with infectious diseases like measles, scarlet fever etc. In dealing with so many of college group I wonder if you would be able to see their early constitutional characteristics.
It was so kind of you to visit Yoeh Ming at Hingham. It was most garcious [sic] for Mrs Shute to take in Yoeh Ming with such a short notice. It was hard to get Yoeh Ming away one day after her high school graduation but the step proved to be a wise one. Many students are still waiting boats and sponsorships at Shanghai. The new law of U. S. government requires two sponsors in America for every student coming to U. S. A. for study. Many whose parents have never known Americans so they just cannot produce this sponsorship. In order to send thier [sic] children away for study then they have to write to some Chinese friends who know some Americans and who would act as sponsors. This is a very long way about affair and often this would take months. The new law came into effect July the first. Yoeh Ming left June 19th.
Everything worked out well. I expected to do everything and what arrangements have been made for her by all my friends we are most grateful. The best person for you to write to is Yoeh Ming's aunt Mrs. Sieu Tsung Ting Wong, 559 Rue Lafayette, House No 4. Shanghai. My nephew Yoeh Ming's father does not understand English at all. I often joke with members of my family. This Ting family is a funny family for all women folks go away for higher education but men stay at home. It is only thru my persisten effort that my two nephews are studying in America today. The old_fashioned class still makes their boys study classics instead of science[.] I mean this Ting family included. My father made everyone of us memorized books of Confucious [sic] and Mencius. He thought a Chinese would not be worthy of his name of he did not learn these two classics. What long years we have spent for classics. Today many parents are stiill [sic] doing the same toward their children. All young students must give all their time to scinece [sic] study.
I have just asked my friend to send a sum to Mrs. Shute to cover whatever I owe to her in regard to Y. M. She has been so kind to do so much for Mary Jean and now Y.M. Mary Jean seems to be doing very well considering that she has been away only a year. She writes well for a one year student in America. I have noticed that she is inproving [sic] in her grades each term. She takes care of herself well. After this first year I think Y. M. will master her English. Vung Yuin has the best advantage both at home and abroad. Even in China she had special tutoring in English and Chinese then with this addition of college preparatory at Shipley School before entering Bryn Mawr College. My two nephews had good foundations also. I had both boys solidly grounded in fundamental subjects before they started their college. I am so happy to think that you would be at South Hadley this winter. Everything makes me so homesick wishing myself to get away for further study.
Both Miss Purington and Miss Greene have written to me. Kindly remember me to them. Soon I would write to them. Miss Griffith has written me also. She took one of the Yen girls to see Mary Jean at Northfield The school must be a wonderful institution for girls. Mary Jean has improved in everyway. She will always remember these four happy years of her school life.
There is a very fine young lady by the name Miss Me Tsung Kaung a graduate student. She is a daughter of our Bishop. Miss Kaung is a fine student in literature. I think that is what she is going to do special work in. I do not know her personally but I do know the family. I want to hear of your doing this winter. With much love,
Yours lovingly_
Me-iung.
Distribution of beans to poor school children