1909]

Our New Missionary in North China

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Although the university student in a Christian land must regret that the minds of the Moslem youth are being dwarfed by the narrow range of their studies, and that they are left in ignorance of all the phenomena of nature as well as the quickening touch of modern life, yet, on the other hand, our educational methods of the West have something to learn from that devotion to study which needs not the spur of final examinations nor of prizes and academic degrees.

OUR NEW MISSIONARY IN NORTH CHINA

BY MISS MARION G. MACGOWN

'HINA, at last, after six years and a half of expectation; and such a

CHINA, after six rse I have long loved it from afar, and meant

to love it when I reached it, but I did expect to find much that was unattractive. Why, nothing is so bad as I had been led to believe. Of course Tientsin is ahead of most places, but even the mud villages which we passed on the way up to Peiho, and which Mr. Porter tells me are typical, are not so dirty and unattractive as I had pictured them. It goes without saying that I like the people, and when I think how really hopeless their lives are after all, especially the women's and children's, I rejoice that I have the chance of doing something to help them. I long to begin learning the language so that I can understand and talk with them, but I am being very good, and waiting a few days to get a bit settled before I begin. I have met the man who will be my teacher, and he kindly expressed the wish that I might learn his language quickly, and said it was very easy. I have my Chinese name, supposed to sound as much as possible like my own. The surname was chosen before I came. The first name, which is taken for its meaning, I chose myself out of several which he picked out, all ending in "an," to bear some resemblance to my American name. The one I chose means, "The protection of Heaven producing peace." Is it not a beautiful one? As nearly as I can spell my name for you it is Guan Fo An.

They told us at college, I remember, when we were volunteers, not to suppose that crossing the seas would change us, and it is very true. I am exactly the same girl to whom you bade farewell at the South Station in Boston just six weeks ago to-morrow. Nothing seems especially strange. Some of the people on the steamer said they felt in Tokyo as if they had been suddenly dropped down into another world. Now that, I know, is the proper sentiment, and I should like to feel that way, because it must be most amusing; but I seem so just like myself, and the people around me are so

human in spite of some differences of color and costume, that I feel in just the same world only with surroundings a bit peculiar. "A stranger in a strange land" sounds so poetical, and so much the fitting thing to say, and yet here I am, as much at home as in America. At every port there have been missionaries to take us into their hearts and homes, whether they ever saw us before or not. I have decided that missionaries are the most hospitable people in the world. Those in this station sent letters to meet me in Japan, and others of our mission in Peking wrote to me in Shanghai and here, and we seemed far from strangers when we met.

Of course, after all, it is the natives who ought to seem queer, not my fellow-missionaries. But, they are so human that they seem very natural, after all. I do not know why people think the Chinese repulsive. I will admit that they do not take daily baths and that their clothing is not always freshly laundered (I am speaking now of the ones you see working around), but they have pleasant and intelligent faces even if their coiffure is not the most becoming. They do not look a bit alike either. That is another fallacy. As for the children they are adorable.

I enjoyed the voyage from beginning to end. Nearly eighty missionaries were on the Mongolia, and many of them were new ones, showing that missionary interest is increasing among the young people at home. The great problem to me is why more do not come. They are struggling to get positions in America which a dozen other people want, and out here there is so much work of the most interesting kind which calls out for some one to do it. They dread the coming, but the whole thing seems so simple after you are once here. Of course I do not know the discouragements of the work yet. The only part I can speak of is the plunge-the leaving home and journeying across the far waters. For that I will say there is nothing about it hard enough to begin to compare with the joy of coming to these people who need so much what we are bringing them. I love my family and friends as well as anyone does, too.

WORK FOR GIRLS IN EUPHRATES COLLEGE

BY MISS MARY L. DANIELS

TEACHERS

WE have now eighteen Armenian teachers. Eight teachers or professors from the male department have given assistance in teaching. For the coming year Cupid steals two valuable teachers, another will go to America, and one has accepted a position in another city.

1909]

Work for Girls in Euphrates College

PUPILS

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Of the 328 pupils in primary, grammar and high schools and college, 174 are Gregorians. In the college and high school there are more Protestants than Gregorians, while in the primary school there are nearly twice as many Gregorians as Protestants. Our pupils have been fewer this year because many left for America (between 30 and 40), and because the orphans from five classes have been taken out of the school. In the boarding department we number 92 girls, 8 teachers and the matron. The girls come from 32 towns and cities, of which five are missionary stations outside of our own field. As prices have been double or more than double in many instances, we have had to use the greatest economy and to live very simply.

WORK OF THE YEAR

Mrs. Carey has had a kindergarten training class of ten girls. There is at great call for such teachers. They have been very enthusiastic in their work. The girls show a decided improvement in both vocal and instrumental music, and a few weeks ago the girls and boys gave a concert, which was the best that we ever have had in Harpoot.

Miss Riggs has paid special attention to English, having lessons with all the girls in the upper schools. She has used the Berlitz system with the beginners. It is wonderful how well the little girls can talk and read. If we can only continue the work in English in this way for a few years, we shall have splendid results.

We have had normal lessons with 18 girls. They have had much theory with a little practice. We hope to strengthen this department when we have more helpers. Much time has been given to the course in sewing and embroidery. The work is arranged according to a system, numbered and put in large books. The graduating classes have lessons in dressmaking, including cutting and fitting. The girls have been enthusiastic over their sewing, and have done beautiful work.

The drawing course has been changed, and we are working up a new course in practical drawing. The girls are much interested in the work. Once in two weeks the seniors or juniors have had lessons in cooking or ironing. Five of the older teachers have taken a course in obstetrics. They had two daily lessons with the doctors, and enjoyed their lessons very much. The regular work of the school has gone on as usual, with a raising of the standard in many classes. During the last half of the year the college girls have made special effort to govern themselves. There has been a decided improvement in the government, some saying, "It is natural now to try to govern myself." During the year we had parents' day. The

Then the parents were invited

exercises were appropriate for the occasion. to the parlors for tea and crackers.

WORK IN THE FIELD

Twenty-one graduates are teaching outside of the college. Twenty-one. undergraduates, girls who expect to return and finish their course, are teaching in the towns and villages of our field. There are many places that do not need graduates, but which call for teachers, so our girls have a chance to go out and work for the Master.

RELIGIOUS WORK

There has been no special religious interest, but a deepening and perfecting of character in many girls. A new interest has been aroused in Bible study, and girls know and love their Bibles. Our girls, from their Sunday collections, have supported one of their own number as a teacher in a village in which there has been no school. We are hoping to send out two teachers in this way next year. Our Young People's Society of Christian Endeavor has been transformed into a Young Women's Christian Association, and we are just joining the World's Young Women's Christian Association. This year, as usual, we have supported a girl in Inanda Seminary, sent money to our home missionary fund, and helped poor girls in our own school. As we look back upon the year, we feel only gratitude for the leading and help of the Lord. We plan for the new year, looking to Him for his blessing.

EXTRACTS FROM REPORT OF WOMAN'S WORK IN AINTAB, 1907-1908

DAY SCHOOLS

[The story of these little schools, each with some peculiar feature, is so picturesque and full of interest that the editor cannot cut nor condense. How much these schools are doing for the new Turkey!-ED.]

WE have aided this year wholly or in part fifteen schools, employing eighteen teachers, only one of the schools being in Aintab.

In Aleppo, about one hundred boys and girls are in the schools aided by the Woman's Board. The church there has for the first time taken the entire responsibility for the schools, which were formerly cared for by a wealthy Armenian doctor.

In Beylan, our teacher, Leah, has been the only Christian worker. There has been no pastor throughout the year, yet she has stood bravely at

1909]

Report of Woman's Work in Aintab

23

her post, alone and away from home, teaching school all the week, having Sunday school for the children, and holding meetings for the women and girls. Everyone who has known of her work has spoken very warmly of her, and the people beg to have her sent to them again.

The two schools at the third church, Aintab, have been better housed this year than ever before. A new schoolhouse has been put up, and the yard where the children play much enlarged. When the upper story of the building is completed, they will have ample room for the three schools and as pleasant an upstairs schoolroom as could be desired.

Behesné is another pastorless church, where our good teacher, Asanet, has done her best to fill the bill of schoolmistress, helper, Bible woman and general adviser. She writes in English as follows: "I am glad for the newspapers (Daily Bible), because I never had anything in this Behesné that helped me so much. I am always reading them with joy and speaking these spiritual things to my people. Behesné and I, we need every time your prayers." This teacher leaves next year to study nursing in Beirut hospital.

In Berejik the teachers were not experienced, never having taught before, and being just out of school themselves. Their experience, or rather inexperience, is perhaps the most striking illustration we have had of the great need of teacher training at Aintab.

Kilis has reported progress in grade and a better condition of the schools, and the people have given liberally. Adiaman, also, has increased gifts for In Hassan Beyli, Kilis and Adiaman the people, especially the women of the churches, have been doing what they could to save and earn money toward a school for little children, a semi-kindergarten. These places have no schools for the smallest children, and as there is no good home training, the children from four to seven are neglected. The teachers cannot spare from their regular lessons the time necessary to care for the little ones as they should be cared for.

In Yoghunoluk there has been no school this year, mainly because there was no pastor there to stand behind the teacher and school. The people there prefer to put their children at a trade while very young, and, unless obliged to, will not send them to school. Even very little fellows can make money by doing certain parts of the manufacture of wooden and bone combs, which is the main business of almost the entire village.

In Beityas the teachers, Mary and Martha, as it happens, have worked hard. Mary, one of our last year's seminary graduates, has had about twenty-five pupils, and Martha seventy-five little ones to manage all alone. She has to keep school in the church building, as the schoolhouse cannot accommodate all her flock as well as the higher classes,