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Show The year 1937 began most encouragingly with a large debt, contracted during the previous famine year, all paid off; patients again coming to the Hospital in normal numbers; and every prospect bright for a good year of service. For the first six months of the year, the attendance was larger than usual, for economic conditions were good, crops were very fine, money was moving freely, and everyone was happy again with normal conditions after famine, flood, and starvation. Financially the Hospital was doing well, for most of the Counties were sending in their contributions each quarter, and hope was arising that sufficient funds could be saved from the running expenses to put badly-needed new roofs on the ward buildings. But in July this picture of peace and hope for the future was shattered by the catastrophe that occurred in North China-WAR that has entirely disrupted all normal life. It began just outside Peiping and rapidly involved Paotingfu and the Peiping-Hankow Railroad, then Tientsin and the Tientsin-Pukow Line on which is Tehchow, Lintsing's railhead, sixty-four miles northeast. At Tehchow is the Williams-Porter Hospital to which our Superintendent must devote half her time. - 2 - |