Hotel Savoy et Majestic
GenovaMy dear Miss Turner;
This is just to tell you a little of my trip after I left Vienna. At Luzern I had a very fine time. There I met two young American ladies who did not know either German or French. They were in worse condition than myself for they never studied either of them. With my two dictionaries I really can get people to understand me of my wants. I stayed at Wagner Hotel and the propriter [sic] was so good to me. He has a daughter at Philadelphia. Both the propritor [sic] and his wife are fine people. They certainly made me feel at home. They were anxious to show me everything possible. At Paris I spent five pleasant days. We had a very nice party of two Italians and three Americans. We were together for three days sight seeing. At the Pantheon, Tombs of Napolean 1 and Marshall Foch and Notre-Dame we visited for some length of time. The Pantheon has a most wonderful collection of painting and sculpture. We were at Versailles and Malmaison. It gives one a thrill thru to have been at Versailles for there we have heard much of the recent treaties after the war. The palace and the lovely gardens are very impressive. How luxuriously kings and queens lived. I was very happy to have the guide to explain to me in detail the life of Marie Antoinette. At Malmaison we learned much of the life of Napolean and the Empress Josephine. On way to Chateau-Thierry we passed British, French, Italian American and German cemeteries. I came away from this trip feeling sad and wondering at the queerness of human thoughts. Somehow or the other we must teach a different kind of sacrifice and consecration. With days that I did not have sight seeing I wondered [sic] by myself to alleys and byways to see the every day man in his every day life. Thru that I think we learn general affection and indulgence of another people. I forgot to tell you that I did visit Pasteur Institute and his stature. Paris is very gay with her night life.
Italy has impressed me with cathedrals, palaces, museums, galleries, libraries and towers. I am rather ignorant as to the history of Italy. I remember that Florence is considered the home of art and where once great men like Dante, Petrach, Michael Angelo and many others lived. Unfortunately I never had any course in art but I do appreciate sculpture for in it I can understand motion and form. I often looked at one sculpture for sometime and then to appreciate in my own way. I like to study expression of faces. I feel that there are too many churches in Italy and not enough public parks. The people look poor and ignorant to me. There are too many drinking places or bars in cities I have visited - Genoa, Florence, Rome and Naples. Religion is sacred to some and I must not express myself lightly. However, you being my teaching and friend I have no reserve in expressing myself. Propably [sic] I am not artistic enough in nature to appreciate everything. Catholicism looks superficial and decorative to me.
At Rome I spent one extra day for I have friends. Mr. and Mrs. Jordan from Michugan [sic] University did much for me. An American lady gave her car at our disposal. Within the short time I was able to visit The Pantheon, Church of St. Peter, Pincian Hill, St. John Lateran, Vatican Sculpture Galleries, Colosseum, Palatine Hill, Capitoline, Forum, St. Paul's Church, Janiculum Hill. Mr. Jordan is a scholar and has lived at Rome for sometime. He explained things to me. I had a chance to visit hospitals and clinics also. Mussolini's reforms are very impressive to me. He said that his people need work and discipline. One really can see those two ideas of Mussolini being carried here at Rome. A friend gave me a new text book for children. The book teaches something of health, history, and good manners. Altho. I cannot read Italian but the language is quite similar to French. One can get good deal out of it. Now I am about ready to sail for China. I have had wealth of experience in seeing and learning. It is impossible to express in words how much this travel means to me. In certain ways I feel that I had too much of a hurry. However I did have a general survey. Each country has some special features that one never can forget. For example I shall never forget the world_famed Aquarium of Naples.
Whereever I have been I have met pleasant and interesting people. Tomorrow I shall sail for my homeland on S. S. Kashima Maru. I thought of you on Thanksgiving Day and wondered if you four Americans had a dinner together. I was at Rome with Mrs. Jordan and the hotel propritor [sic] did give us an American Thanksgiving Dinner. Was not this thoughtful on his part? As soon as I get home I will write to you in detail about the trip to the Orient. I certainly treasure your addition to my pleasant trip to Denmark.
With affectionate love.
Yours lovingly,
Me-iung.November 29th, 1930.