Jan 28, 1922
P.U.M.C.
Peking, ChinaMy dear Miss Turner,-
Your Christmas card reminded me anew that I've been wanting to write you for many months - It's hard to realize that China has been my home for only four months - because I've fitted into such a comfortable happy niche that I feel as if I had always lived in this queer land. Then frequently I have a dazed, unreal feeling - as if all the environment were a play being enacted for my particular benefit!
China is too big a proposition to grasp in a few months or even years - of course one has immediately a variety of unassimilated sensations and impressions. Poverty, dirt, and economy have a very vivid meaning out here. How the extreme dirtiness does sicken me on occasions! Then too were numbers numbers begin to be appreciated - for it's not hard to believe that over 400,000,000 people are around me. And certainly here "a thousand ages are but as yesterday" - no wonder these people are so maddeningly deliberate - it's quite impossible to hurry even our Chinese doctors no matter how urgent the emergency! On the whole, though, I enjoy the people - for they have a childlike humor and friendliness - in spite of their dirt, and spitting, and little cruel traits.
Peking, of course, is the place to be - for here it is possible to have the pleasures of civilization combined with the glories of the past. We dine, and take tea, and dance, have occasionally amateur dramatics - and altogether we have a very gay time. I found early in the game, that I must be firm about my pleasures - I'm too old, alas, to dance until 2.00AM. and be ready for work at 8.00AM.! But the really fascinating game is "seeing China" - and never will I forget the thrill of seeing the "Altar of Heaven." Miss Woolley, I remember, liked this above all else. It makes our churches seem garish and a little mean. The "great Wall" too, is a glorious sight as it wanders up and down over these barren hills. The Temple of Confucius with the peace of centuries [flooding?] over its courtyards. The Forbidden City with its magnificent courtyards lined with carved marbles, gleaming yellow tiled roofs and gorgeous [towers?], & odd Temples all these are printed on one's memory. Also we've had 2 glorious week end trips - to temples perched up in the hills - here we slept and saw the priests at their worship. "Week-end"ing here is very simple with cooks and boys in the party to do all the work!
What about the hospital? Its beautiful - (gray brick with green tiled roofs) - and is well equipped of course, as is to be expected, we are criticized unmercifully by foreigners & Chinese alike[.] My department has been more than decent to me - my chief, Dr Maxwell, is a charming Englishman - [...] Liu is a foreign trained Chinese doctor (gynecologist) - and a fairly young American who was around Hopkins last year (he's the obstetrician). On our house staff under me are an Assistant Resident - and two interns[.] Obstetrics is a small service - except for a large number of private patients. By the way Helen Firman Sweet ('16) had a 5 1/2 lb. baby girl early this morning it really seemed queer to serve a college contemporary in a professional way! She was a wonderful patient - and came thro' the whole ordeal with flying colors. Mrs. Firman is in the hospital now (she has a bad heart) - and I act as messenger boy for the two of them. Mrs. Firman herself, is a wonder. You can't imagine how doctors appreciate good patients!
To continue - our obstetrical service works under a disadvantage for there is a popular idea that one should be born and die in his ancestral home. Gynecology, however, is a fairly busy service. Three mornings a week we operate - and I have been lucky enough to assist at a good many operations, occasionally being the chief operator. I've learned a lot, I can assure you! We also have dispensary every afternoon - and mostly I've been left in charge. With it all tho' I'm seldom rushed - just comfortably busy. - which is a big relief after the strain of last year.
Incidentally I've twice been a patient myself - rather a poor record for 4 months! It's quite common, tho' for newcomers to succumb to these new germs. The first time I was properly grateful to come thro' an infection of my left eye without losing my sight or having the lids slough off. In those days America seemed very, very far away! At Xmas time I succumbed to the very virulent "flu" bug prevalent now.
Can't you come out? You'd love it here! Already some of us are planning a trip to Mongolia during our summer holiday - and we need a chaperone (this is a frightfully gossipy town!)
I've often wondered about your trip this summer - it must have been a glorious two months.
Too bad about Rockefeller Hall - Mt. H. C. seems doomed to expire in flames. I hope John D. himself will come forward with the needed $300,000.
We seem very far away out in these parts - and always I'd be glad to hear from you but you're too busy to have any more people on your mind!
My love to everyone - Miss Chase will have a letter soon - Miss Carr, Charlotte, Miss Blakely, Miss Laird - and all the rest -
With affection
Helen Vincent.