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Show In the evening pastor Shih (whom Al^na had sent a messenger for because he was itlnerating)and the Chinese doctor callad. We plan-ned the next day ful! of sightseeing of the thlngs touching father»s and mother»s life here 30 years ago. The next morning (Deo.51,1929) Alma,pastor Shih and I met at the hospital and started out. We went first to pastor Shih*s house built on the ground where the oíd com-* pound was before the Boxers razed it "leaving not one stone upon an-other." Cióse by to the east and south were the domes of two Mohamme-dan Mosques, to the west was the Grand Canal, frozen oyqr* and to the north, just visible, rose the Lintsing pagoda (misty). The N*W. córner of Shihis place had the usual Chinese gate which looked down an inter-esting hutung (alley) which ran down to the Canal, where the water carriers were drawing water. Right inside this gate, he said, was where father had the hospital. Across the hutung toward the canal we went into a yard, where he said the houses were. He pointed to one córner and said father kept his cow there. Beyond toward the canal most of the land was open without anything on it. He suggested having his children stand on the differont spots for a picture to show where things used to be. I never got around to take this picture. I was introduced to his older,crippled brother, who lay in a sort of two-wheeled cart-a shriveled up, blind being with arthritic deformity of hands and evidontly unable to. sit up. His face was all smiles as he recalled about you and named over the Chinese ñames of Hubert, Bessie and Clarence. We wheeled him around to the sunny side of the house and took pictures of the house and family. The house is a new one estimat-ed to cost Mex. $350.00 but actually cost twice that much. Alma says he is heavily in debt. Then we went to the city chape1/ taking a picture of the ferry on the Grand Canal on the way. The chapeí had severa! courtyards.'In the innermost. court he said the building was the original one, the west room having been your bedroom. Did you have cold stone floors then, The roqd and all was in good condition, showing that the brioks and tiles have stood many seasons. He said the tree opposite was an-oíd one and that the córner by it was another cow stall. Then we v/ent thru the winding hutungs by many shops which must be just as they used to be, or like the oíd ones, to a bridge on the oíd bod of the Grand Canal, over which he said father used to go every day to the hospital. The hospital at that time was in a court which is now a Mohammedan home. Alma struck the clapper several times. No answer A woman from across the street recognized Alma and wanted us to come into her home. On learaing our mission, she called to the inside. Finally the housewife let us in. Her husband was away-v/hich explains her not answering. By this time quite a crowd had gathered, among them a coolie who was most excited and happy because he said his sister had been treated by Dr. Wagner. (This was'the second time we had met ro-cognition on the street. The other time being a rather well-to-do busi-ness man. 1*11 send his picture v/hen Alma sends his ñame.) I was quite surprised when the crowd all f ollowed in too more than 20. Shih said the buildings were just as they used to be. Have a picture of the one he said father used with the crowd in the court in front. The lady was very courteous. A man appeared who claimed to be the one from whom the property had been rented in father»s time. He is in the gate picture. After leaving this place, going west to the córner and turning north, we passed under the ancient marble gate and were soon back. I had dinner with Alma at the ladies* house. Mr. Gilbert had dinner with Mr. Wickes. In the afternoon we were taken thru the larger of the Mohammedan Mosques. Wo had to take off our shoes at the door so did not stay too long for we do not wear such padding on our feet as the Chinese do* the building was not heatod. It was lofty and much decorated with de-sign, but without idols. There seems to be quito a Mohammedan popula-tion here. Had tea at 4 in the ladies* house. Then we and all the stat» ion missionaries v/ent to pastor Shih's house for New Years ove dinner. It was a most wonderful Chinese dinner. He seemed very happy and most anxious to show appreciation for all father and mother did for his |
