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Show t 3**2> Seeing Red This is a great day in China, and the tenth day of the tenth month never was more fully celebrated. More flags float the breeze in the cities of China than ever in her long history. The streets of the busy marts are red indeed,- each flag showing a twelve pointed white sun on a blue field in the upper corner of the gay red. Indeed, everyone seems gay and happy. The intense wave of patriotism is perhaps superficial, but it spells a deepening love of country, and a present dislike of oppression and unfair treatment from any and all sources. Last evening a gay and gaudy procession of lanterns, masked as sedan chairs, horses, pagodas, and various unrecognized shapes, paraded the streets following a splurge of oratory which would do credit to an Independence Day celebration in the United States! The Future With China thus awake, one may "rest his heart" as to her near or remote future. Perhaps Sinim is too anxious to get away from the stereotyped past, but the establishment of the new Capital at Nanking aids in a new outlook, just as the forced presence of the Japanese, driving the Shantung Capital to Taian, helps in re-establishing Shantung along new and better lines. Anti Foreign? As to anti-foreign expression, there is none apparent in any of the interior counties and cities in this part of the Orient. I write this rather delayed 'report of progress' as Dr. Francis has an ailment of his left eye which limits its use, but does not keep him from being in the field most of the time in pressing famine relief work. Happily the eye improves. We had a fine ocean trip, spending July 4th in Japan, and reaching Shantung's port of Tsingtau July 8th. Tsinan, teeming with Japanese, was easily reached, and then an all-day trip on a springless mail cart was sandwiched in to get us to the railway again. We reached Tehchow only 19 days from the sailing date. Nothing was lost everboard into the Pacific except by Frankie, and his chief loss was because his birthday came on the day dropped from the ship's log. Welcome I must not take space here to speak of the "welcome meetings", but such gatherings as those in Tehchow, P'ang Chwang, and Sang Yuen warmed hearts in need of expressions like this, that we might be sure that we were rightly led to ccme back to the task to which we first came over 25 years before. In these hectic times when youth is to the fore, it would be strange if there were not some opposition. Yet the spontaneous letters and petitions that have come to us prove how firmly the Chinese want us and trust us. Would that we were worthy. Perhaps a later page will quote a few paragraphs from friends, for, though personal, the work in a large sense, is that of the friends at home, and not personal at all. Famine Even before we reached Tehchow, Dr Francis was approached as to his aiding in famine relief work, and the circumstances and imperative needs were such that he has given nearly all his time to this work since arrival. Many tours by Chinese cart, by donkey, on foot, sometimes by auto and train, through over thirty counties have proven most conclusively that real famine exists. Athwart this indelible picture of suffering later came clouds of locusts, and armies of worms, eating the leaves from the millet, corn, and "kaoliang" (tall grain), so that in vast areas it failed to mature. The plague of armies billeted on the people was an added one, not to mention unusual taxes, while hail in some areas added cold insult to injury. America Saves The China Famine Relief Committee (419 Fourth Ave., New York City), organized a few months ago, has been doing its best to raise funds in the United States, and though much of the American public is deaf to the appeal, some splendid aid has come and more will follow. Five Million Suffer Harvest is now over, and relief for some of the worst areas is planned, much of it taking the form of labor relief, as the repair of roads, or the conservancy of rivers and canals. Dr. Tucker having served in the famine work in 1920-21, was asked to take supervision of the work in Shantung and southern Chihli, including investigation of needs. It is a strain on heart and mind and body, and may grace and strength be his for the present and future calls. Statistics, there are none, and yet vast areas covering all or parts of fifty known counties, are using up their small hoards of grain. The Chinese are 90 percent agriculturalists, most all with no margin of income. Hence there is no reserve to fall back on. The overburdened new government is doing what little it can, and wherever possible the Shantung International Relief Committee is cooperating with the government. It is under the direction of this Committee that Dr. Tucker is working. He is fortunate in that the staff of colleagues and assistants is excellent, both foreign and Chinese. He is doubly fortunate that an automobile will shortly be available, saving much time and energy. Prevention Grain has been given out in a number of areas as an emergency measure, but labor relief is the plan for the present and later. Canal work at Lintsing and elsewhere, and the digging of many wells for irrigation are cited as examples of both present relief and prevention. Friends may be assured that every penny they have given to the famine fund will be economically used and carefully accounted for. A trained executive secretary and an accountant are a part of the staff. Dietetics Many families subsist (at a poor dying rate) on one meal a day, and are not at all sure of their mixture of coarse grain, diluted with elm or willow leaves, and sometimes flavored with baked locusts or chaff and held together by the use of powdered elm bark. What wonder the children are rarely seen playing. They seem to be waiting for something;- and a "cup of cold water" is not enough. Happily this condition is not very widespread, but for the millions in Shantung, Chihli (now called Hopei) and elsewhere, it spells hunger and woe, which can but extend to those of the next generation. No wonder that the workers are investigating far afield,-reporting and planning by day and by night. We are devoutly thankful that the Hospital staff is willing to carry on for a time, with Dr Francis serving as consultant now and then. He was away most of last month, and must be afield more in the sad times ahead. Branch Dispensaries I am giving my time largely to branch dispensary work in the out stations, and am back in Tehchow occasionally to do some teaching work in the Training School for Nurses. The work among the women and children in the out-stations is especially rewarding and needful. Health talks in the government and private schools are always welcome and appreciated, not to mention ihe innovation of physical examinations, and the introduction of tooth brushes! |
