Cheeloo School of Theology Tsinan, China Feb 10, 1935 Dear Folks I am a fortnight behind time in beginning to write this letter because of being away from home at Tientsin, Peiping and Honan. Before we left mother had had a pretty hard time at the doctor's hands. In the early part of December she began having severe neuralgia. The trouble did not seem to be in her antrum where it was last year, nor in her sinuses, so the doctors suspected teeth. An x-ray showed that there was trouble with several of them. After some writing back and forward with the dentist in Tientsin who did work for her last summer, it was decided that the doctors here would take out her teeth and the dentist would fit her up when she was passing through to Honan. The doctors here have had such experience of her bad reactions to anesthetics that they wanted to avoid a total. So really she had four sessions of the extractions. One cocaine needle discovered a vein so that she had blackened and swollen face. She spent Monday till Friday at the hospital. There is still a little end of a root, which she had not got out. Our examinations her were from Jan 14 to 17. I handed my three examination papers to the principal and we left on the night train of the 13th. At Tientsin I saw Mother to the dentist's and in the afternoon went on to Peiping. Last summer the dentist there, whom we have used for years, made a plate for me, which had not proved satisfactory, so it had to be remade. I had daily sessions with him and spent much of my time getting a book read which I thought would help me on a subject I had to take at the Council meeting. Apparently some letter had gone astray before Christmas, asking me to take this subject. The day we left home we received the program, which had me down for one morning session, with the subject SUFFERING. We thought they should have picked on mother for it, but did not suggest the change. I had hoped to get some reading material in the library at the Peiping Seminary but the first book I saw on the table where I was boarding was Stanley Jones "Christ and Human Suffering". I set to work to synopsize it, partly for my own sake, and partly with the Council in view. I hunted up Donald Menzies at the Y. He is a nephew of our Mr. Menzies. I also get in touch with Catharine Slimmon at the language school and attended one of the lectures there on International Relations. Donald and I went to the P.U.M.C. hospital to see Gilchrist Struthers who was brought there form Yanching University with diphtheria. He was feeling pretty well then and was later home for the vacation. Donald was down with me for supper one evening and Catharine was down the evening that mother was there. I had a couple of skates while in Peiping. Last year Bill sent me his skates but they arrived just as our rink closed. This year has been a very mild winter, and the rink here did not open till Jan 16. I took Bill's skates with me to return them. Once I went to the Methodist school rink. Next night I went with Mr. Sorensen of the C.B.N. to Y rink. Mr. S. has a ticket for the Peiping Club rink where there are not so many skaters, and they have glare ice. He was disgusted with the Y ice; but I said that any ice was good to me. There we ran across two young folks from the language school both saying they hailed from Toronto. One was man Andrews's son of a C.I.H. missionary. The other was a Winnipeg girl who had been at the Deaconess Home fo the Anglicans in Toronto, She was bound for the Canadian work at Kaifang. Jan 18: Mother and Coral Brodie arrived from Tientsin about 7 in the evening. We went out at ll.50 that night for Honan. The railway travel is improving and all of our trains were comfortably warm on this trip. Last time we went to Honan there was no heat at all in the trains as the connection pipes were frozen up and they could not get the steam through. We reached Changte safely about 5 on the afternoon of the 19th. There was an alternation of brown and white on this journey. The day we left Tsinan it snowed hard all day. At Tientsin and Peiping there had been no snow. On the way down, some places had snow, some not. We were very glad to be able to be with Bill and Helen and the children for a couple of days. Bobbie remembered us some and was quite free with us, but Mary Evelyn was shy and did not make up well. On Sunday I took the English service there and afterwards the whole company of us had supper together at the medical ladies' house. The original plan was that when I returned mother would stay there until Helen was able to be about after the baby came. But with all that mother had been through in the previous month, she was afraid that she would be only an extra burden there, rather than a help. So they made other arrangements, which I hope turned out all right. On Tuesday Jan 22 a bunch of us went down to Weihwei on the local train, getting there for supper. We were guests at the Struthers, as were also Dr. and Mrs. MacKenzie and Canon Simmons from Kaifeng. Bill and Bob McClure were there also for meals but were sleeping in the Knights' house, No. 10, over beside our old ruin. We began work that night on committees, which also met the next day. The Council was convened the evening of Wednesday. One of the features of this meeting was that representatives of the surrounding missions had been invited to attend the devotional conference. So there were Miss Atterbury of Paoting, and Mr. Bickford of Shunte of the American Presbyterian Mission, North; Mr. Brown of Kaichow, and Mr. Voth of Taiming, of the Mennonite Mission; Canon Simmons of the Canadian Church Mission, and Mr. Stewart of the Y.M.C.A. several years secretary to J.R. Mott of Kaifeng; Mr. Strother, Southern Baptist from Chenchow; also Miss Reba Flemming of Toronto; and Dr. Parker of a mission in Shansi who has been visiting Bob McClure's work for some time. It turned out that he knew me by name as he had worked with Loren in Glendale Church, California. Thursday morning we were divided into three groups for discussion, on the subject, "What is my personal aim as a missionary? What do I consider my essential work? " Each group had a secretary who reported to Council, Mr. King for Educational, Bob McClure for Medical and Bill for Evangelistic. The afternoon of that day was given up to hearing from our visitors. In the evening we heard from those back from home and had an address from Canon Simmons. All but two of those returned from home, spoke somewhat of their personal lives. After the meeting was dismissed there was an Oxford Group meeting. As it was already long past what we considered good bedtime time for us, we did not go to it. Friday morning we began the regular business meetings of Council. Of course the business of Council is much less than it used to be as the great bulk of the work is under Synod. Yet there are always many committees to report and a good many things to discuss which do not affect Synod directly. The series of morning devotions was very good led by Miss Leslie on Friendship; R.A. Mitchell, on Suffering; Mary Grant on Personality; Mr. Roulston on Forgiveness; Mr. Faris on Discipline. The chairmanship of the Council goes pretty much in rotation. Bob McClure rather held up things by refusing to take it when nominated. Folks were not quite ready for that and so the election was left to anther session when Mr. Faris was appointed. Mr. Copland has put a good deal of thought and work into his chairmanship during the past year. Mr. Faris did well at the meetings. I was on some of the committees-- the Allocation Committee had to deal with those who are coming back from Canada, and some others. Georgie Menzies is to go to Changte for a year and Miss Doyle to go to Hwaiking. I do not know that either of them particularly likes this change but the nurses thought that it would be best to make a change. From our Theological School there had come a request for a successor to me. They asked first that our mission supply a substitute salary to enable them to call Dr. C.Y. Cheng as principal. Failing that, that they appoint Bill as my successor in Old Testament. For a couple of years members of our faculty have been talking of the letter. But this autumn the former possibility was brought up. When put before the Council, they all fell ill to it. I do not know whether or not it can be accomplished, and how long Dr. Cheng's health will hold out. They would like him to take over at the beginning of 1936. On the Saturday Bill had been trying to get his Rural Reconstruction committee report through. But it could not get done till Monday. He had his motorbike with him and expected to return to C.T. on Monday afternoon. But there was a strong headwind and Helen phoned him not to try it as she was feeling well. Next morning at breakfast the phone rang. The servant said Dr. McTavish wanted to speak to Bill. We all were on the qui vive. Bill presently came in and said that there was a little girl at Change and they wanted to know whether we were going up or not. Of course we said that we were. Bill was already packed up and started off right after breakfast on his motorbike and got there in four hours. We asked that all things concerning Tsinan should be brought up at once and I was kept busy with those things in Council until recess time, when we had to leave to catch our train. When we reached the station we found Bill and Bobbie waiting for us. We went over to Dr. MacTavish's home, where Helen was. We saw Helen for about a minute and the baby, though it was sleeping, so we could not see her eyes. There had been a case of kidnapping between there and the station a night or two previously and the soldiers did not like night passengers. So right after supper we went to an inn by the station, where Bill had had cot beds taken. It was very noisy but we got some sleep to 2 o'clock when we had to get up to get the train. Coral Brodie and Georgie Menzies were on the train from Weihwei.They were in the upper berths and we took the lowers. We really had more sleep than the girls for they had to take the train about midnight. At Peiping I had another trip to the dentist and we went on to Tientsin Friday evening. Mother had some more work with the dentist there, and so had Coral. So we were over Sunday there. Monday was the Lunar year New Year so that all was quiet on the streets, more observed than for several years. That night we had plenty of room on the train and got home Tuesday morning when I was able to get settled down to study for classes. We registered students on Friday and classes begin tomorrow morning. Mother has hers at 8 o'clock three days of the week. Mine comes at 9.30 and at 11.30. So all my teaching is in the forenoon this term. It is better than last when I have other matters to attend to. Mother is beginning to get used to her new teeth although she has had some sore times. We hope that she may be much better this spring than she has been for a year. Tuesday: These letters must go off without further delay. I am sorry that my carbon paper is so poor and you may not want to read it all. Mother told me not to write too long a letter, as people don't like them. But this trip has taken up more space. Last night we were out to a fine concert given by Dr. McCandless. My but he is a fine singer. It was a real treat. When we were in Tientsin we went to the movie twice. Once was the Merry Widow. The musician in it was good. On our trip we enjoyed some good laughs in reading "What Ho, Jeeves." We have not yet read the other which came along with it but will get at it as soon as we have finished in the "Steps of the Master" which Jay sent us. There was no name on the other two books but we think you are the kind donor. Many thanks. We haven't yet given up hope that we may be able to recognize your handwriting yet. Mother occasionally gets a mention of you from Mrs. Lang from some of her husband's letters. Bill and Helen will be busy now till they go home this summer. This time next year we shall likely be on the way home. I hope that my last year's work may not be an unworthy one. It gives a man a queer feeling to be coming within sight of his life's work's end. It certainly does not tend to make one boastful. But what is required of a steward is that he should be FAITHFUL. That hs been my aim. Some of your generation have perhaps better opportunities than some of us had. Your life has got to be a different one. I trust that you may also remember that Faithfulness to the Highest is what is required of you. That highest in character cannot be found outside Jesus. Goodbye Laddie, with love from both of us. Last night I was awake for about an hour and you occupied my thought nearly all the time. I just wonder what you were at then. Have you found much experience in telepathy? Your loving father, Robert A. Mitchell ----------------------------------------- Cheeloo March 2, 1935 Dear Mo. There was a long time between the last two letters but here comes a short period. It is only three weeks since last letters went off. There is a steamer next week and it is best to take advantage of that, as there will not be another for a fortnight. There is less to tell. First I am learning to eat fairly well with my two new sets of teeth. I have avoided any bad ulcers. Do not know whether I have gone too slow but shall get along faster now. My great difficulty is there is no little room for my tongue. It has been difficult to teach sometimes but that is coming easier. Dad took an attack of Lumbago the other day. He gets it when he goes into the garden. He got the cook to iron him out with a hot iron & soon felt better. He did not have to give up classes. It is a very early spring with us. One of the first plants to bloom, called receiving Spring, is in bloom now in the garden. Usually it is at least three weeks later than this time. The warm days coax gardeners out & dad went. We shall have some cold days yet but are enjoying the warm ones while they are here. You have all read about the Stam murder & the little baby is with its grandparents in Tsinan. Some of their effects evidently were not destroyed. A number of Bible pictures purchased to use in teaching belonging to "Betty" have been handed over to me to use with my Bible classes. They are lovely pictures & there are so many of each kind I have not yet decided how I can use them to best advantage. I had a letter from Helen a week ago. She was still lying around but home. Bobby was very pleased to welcome her home but Mary Evelyn did not remember her. They will have a busy time this spring getting ready for furlough & doing the last things. Bill will have to get out into the country some. I hear he is to go to a conference North of Peiping March 20th. I suppose he is giving an address of some kind. Helen's best friend Allegra Doyle has been moved to another station and Georgie Menzies takes her place. I think Georgie & Helen will have good times together but Allegra & Helen have been very close & helpful friends. We are going to Peitaiho this summer for a month only & expect to live with Mrs. Menzies. We would like to remain here but that seems impossible, as I cannot bear the heat. July is the worst month here. Then too in August one feels the heat will soon be over & psychologically it is easier. We have had Bill & Helen for four Summers & felt too lonely to be by ourselves so asked to go with Mrs. Menzies. We shall board & I will have more of a rest. The last two Springs & all this winter I have been so below par that we think it may be good for me. I must say as rule I think we are better in our own home & have "eats" as we feel best for us. However we know Mrs. Menzies very well & think it will be pleasant. Last week we had a series of teas. They come like that. One of our teachrs was going home to England with her daughter to leave her in school. The teachers gave her a farewell tea. She gave us a return tea. It happened to be her daughter's birthday. All the pupils, teachers and a few friends were present. The amusing part two other people had birthdays the same day. So had George Washington. So the two-story cake bore the names of all three of our number plus "George" for Washington. This was in the home of an English woman. We are very cosmopolitan out here. We had lots of fun. It was my first going out since I came home with my new teeth. We are to go out to dinner tomorrow. March 3: Dad has been very busy this week but things will be easier now for a time. He had the English service last Sunday, prayers at College of Theology all week & is off now taking the service in Chinese at the leper HPT. He is very well but gets tired sometimes but even young people do that. Bill & Helen sail on an Empress Boat leaving Shanghai June 2. They go by Honolulu. That takes a little longer but Helen thinks it is better for Bobby as the Northern route is very cold sometimes. They plan to spend most of the time with her parents at Dorchester. They have a big Manse with two large verandahs & a big garage. Of course if Bobby's Op. is in Toronto they will be there for that. This little baby complicates Helen going for any time with Bobby for she must care for the little Margaret as well. We saw here for a few minutes & only said how are you to Helen & kissed her. It was only a few hours after Margaret Wilhelmina's arrival. I am hoping I can get them to go to Shanghai this way. They will need a rest. This time next year we shall be nearing Toronto if not there. I do hope we can get an apartment near University that is not too expensive. We would like to be where we can go to lectures etc. I am keeping the money gifts we have been given the last three years & hope we can have a good radio & if the winters are cold we can get music & speeches outside Toronto. We did enjoy that book "Hi Jeeves" during our traveling. We have not read "Retreat from Glory" yet, but have started the book Jay sent. We were wishing we could get a read of it. Am glad she sent it along. Now I must say adieu for this time. Shall be glad when we can see you & talk with you, rather than write letters. Much love & Best wishes from both of us. Mother. ----------------------------------------- Cheeloo March 20, 1935 Dear Mo It is now 4pm & while I wait for Dad to come in for tea I shall begin letters to you all. I am writing this week, as dad is very busy -Extra meeting - worship daily at Theolog. College. Then next Sunday he has Chinese service & the week after the English service & communion. I have some very busy days but not all of them. Monday & Friday I have only one class each day. But Tuesday I have four so am trying to get these letters off today as they should start for Shanghai where a steamer leaves on Saturday. Today I had Miss Morton-Smith in for lunch. In a few days she starts for England via Canada. Miss Scott & she hope to have two days in Toronto. I think Dad wrote some time ago asking Mr. Armstrong if he could give them a little time. But I have asked Miss Morton-Smith to ring Jay up & have a chat with her if she has time. She lives in the compound here & we see her every day. Well I forgot this was not the letter to Jay. Word has come from the Amer. Presbytery board "no furloughs". One family has been out nine years & all feel they should go. Then another has been out only 6 1/2 years but they had planned to go. The executive has engaged teachers for next year but not the year after & do not know how to manage. The executive decided they should go & have sent word to their executive. I do not know how it will turn out. This family is Canadians & would spend some time in Toronto if they go. You will be sure to see something of them if they are in Toronto for they have promised to look up friends of those in Cheeloo. Yesterday we were out to lunch with a family where they have a baby two weeks younger than Robert. I always enjoy seeing them because I think that is something like what Robert looks. My but this lad ate a big dinner. He is walking around real smartly but does not do much talking. We had a farewell for one of our teachers who starts for England in a few days. Well was to have started but one of the children came down with Chickenpox & they sail two weeks later. It was a China marriage after Language school. Mrs. Mosse is an American. They go to England for five months with Dr. Mosse's mother then five months in Minneapolis with her parents. Dr. Mosse's father was in St. Paul's but was killed in one of the air raids during the war on London. We had an interesting lecture at our last literary society on Engraving. It is a dying art - too slow for the present day. But it was enlightening to learn about how stamps, paper bills, as well as pictures are engraved. The lecturer's father has been engaged in New York making paper money & stamps. Indeed the man grew up with all this engraving atmosphere around him. At present he is a Missionary & chemistry instructor in one of the Universities in Peiping. Dr. Miner, who has been connected with our Theology College for a time is resigning & leaving here. We are having her in to lunch every day with us. She lives with one family but goes out to lunch & dinner with other friends. We are enjoying having an opportunity to visit with her. She has been in China forty odd yeas. I think she had quite a bit to do with Dad getting into the Theology College. We have not been out biking much thus far. Dad's time & mine do not work well in together this term. When I am busy he is free & vice versa. But one day we rode to east of Manan shan & found a new road across the pass between it & next line of hills. It is shorter than the one we knew to the west road & we had very little walking. It is very quiet & we shall take lunch & go that way some day & spend an hour or so there reading. It gives one a sort of a thrill to get new roads, which always mean new views of the mountains around us. Dr. Struthers is in bed for a few days - nothing very serious - I think a slight pleurisy due to one injury upon another in the chest. One at hockey when checking each other. Second a fall from above the next day after. ----------------------------------------- Dheeloo School of Theology, Teinan, China, April 13, 1935 Dear Folks: It is the first day of the Spring Vacation-- a week--,and I sha1l get my letter written to catch the steamer at Shanghai next Monday. We have had a very mild winter, and in some regards an early spring. The jasmine was about a fortnight earlier in coming out than last year. We took down our big stove March 15. Immediately after that , it turned cold, and we had some nights down about the freezing point. We still had a stove upstairs, so that we have kept a little fire on there, and in that way have not suffered. I was hoping to get right to work this week with my seeding in the garden. But yesterday I took a bad back, and am walking very gingerly to-day, and at the present moment have a hot water bottle fastened to my belt, after having had my back well ironed. I hope to be able to limber up in a day or two, sufficiently to put in my seed beds. A week ago we had some visitors from Szechuen who stopped for a day on their way home. They were Dr. and Mrs. Lindsay, and Miss Wellwood. They went from here north and are going by way of Moukden, Seoul, and Yokohama where they take boat for New York, via the Panama Canal. We did not have a thorough dust storm the day they were here, but there was a fairly strong wind with a good sprinkling of dust in the air. They would a little sample of our North China spring weather. Dr. Lindsay is the head of the Dental Department in the West China University. There is one of his graduates practicing here, and we were down there to dinner with Dr. McClure left last night for Shanghai. Every year about this time he goes away. On his seventy-fifth and on his seventieth birthdays they made a lot of fuss to celebrate. So he now feels it convenient to be absent at his birthday which is on the 9th. He is now only professor emeritus, but he is still carrying on most of the teaching and much of the clinical work he did. We had a letter from Bill this morning. Before going away he is taking a tour of the southern part of the field so that he may know something of their work there. He was in several sections of the field with Bob, and with Copland, and with Ralston. Bob has a baby Austin, so that he took Bill out to one of the outstations twenty-five miles in an hour. He is not used to getting about quite so rapidly as that. The people whose furlough comes this year are busy in one way or another. This month we were down to see Miss Nunn off for England. Last week the Shields left for their Southern Presbyterian stations before sailing for the States next week. He has been Dean of the Medical School longer than any other. While he is away Dr. Peter Kiang is acting dean. I do not know whether or not Shields will get back. In his treatment for cancer he got an overdose of radium, and then an operation the wound of which has never closed up. I do not know whether they will be able to do anything more for him than has been done out here. Word has come from the home board that the furloughs of the two Mitchell families are sanctioned. I suppose that Helen is busy preparing. Bill said in his letter that they got one of their trunks of woollens etc. packed up the other day, the first. We wanted them to come this way, and rest a couple of days, but they cannot do so. So we have been trying to plan how we may see them before they go. They suggested that we go to Nanking, and see the capital together. But it will be approaching the end of the term, and when we are very busy. We could not go sight-seeing at that time. However we are talking of going to Hsuchow, where they change from the Lughai to the Tsinppu line. We could get a day train down there, and go third class. They would probbly come in on an early morning train, and go out at noon or at night, according as they took the Shanghai through train or the Nanking train. For the summer I am again invited to go in to the Summer class in Honan and to stay for a month, giving 25 lectures on each of two subjects. I shall probably leave here as soon as college closes in the middle of June and finish up in there in the middle of July. Then I shall go to Peitaiho. We are not taking a house this summer but spoke to Mes. D.G. Menzies to board with them during the month of July. I do not know just what will be the arrangement now if I have to be in Honan till the middle of JUly. We count on getting back here for August. It is not so hot as July and after the first week will probably be better for hay fever patients than is PTH. While we are in PTH I suppose our address will be 47 West C. Road. Dr. Hou, the head of the Pathology department here is just back from London and is as the English say "full of beans". He is a fine sample of the Chinse Christian doctor. I suppose that when we get back from vacation, Dr. Lang will be back fromToronto. Today we had in for lunch with us Mrs. Harold Clark's adopted daughter, Mei Lin. She has come down from Tientsin during the vacation of the school she is attending and is staying with Miss Brodie. Mother hs gone off with her for a walk to Saddle Mountain. I hope she is not too tired after it as she has not walked that far for months. I did not go because I thought that my back had better not be subjected to hillside work today. I am hoping it may be pretty nearly well tomorrow. Wei Lin is talking of taking a nursing course here when she finishes her high school work. When she first came back she had pretty much forgotten her Chinese, now being in a Chinese school she has a tendency to forget her English. Saturday afternoon I went out for a game of baseball, British vs. Americans. We had a number of fellow who did not know much about the game and so they put me on first base. I guess there was too much back work needed there for I have had a lame back ever since, and have had the cook iron it with a hot iron a couple of times. I shall have to give in that I am not so supple as I used to be. But I like to get the afternoon out with the men at the game. Mother and I have been busy during the vacation trying to get some means of putting prices on MacRae's books to try to get them disposed of before we leave the house vacant. Some folks are pressing to let some of our furniture go shortly and one lady wants mother's bike as soon as she can get it. But there will be a lot of stray odds and ends which it will be hard to dispose of. I wonder if you will still be in the city when Bill and his family get home? They are sailing on the 2nd of June by an Empress steamer, so I suppose they should get to Toronto by the end of the month. We are not sure whether we shall be here till about the 18th of January when the term ends; or whether we shall try to get our work done by Dec. 31, go in to see the work at the stations in Honan, and attend the anual meeting, and then go for home. Plans will develop in the next few months. Good-bye for the present, Yours loving father, Robert A Mitchell ---------------------------------------- Cheeloo May 1, 1935 Dear Mo The wedding is the great event of this fortnight so shall begin with it. It was on a Wednesday & the week before it blew furiously & the air ws full of dust all the time & our houses held a fair amount for it gets in everywhere. Sunday was the worst of all; Monday no wind to speak of but still chilly. Tuesday better & Wednesday was all that could be desired - no doubt as to whether the reception must be in house or not. It was a busy forenoon for all. Those in the church; cooks in the kitchens & the last touches being put on all things. Our yard ws made ready, tables put in place; a matting rug put on ground where bridal party were to stand & oleanders lined the walk the guests were to take to give congratulations & then back up into the wide open space at the north where tea & cake were served; & little chats indulged in for an hour & a half or more. Of course Photographers were busy. A Chinese from the city - our own official man Struthers, Dad & few others with little cameras were at work. The sister of the groom from Shanghai had a small Movie & she kept it going. Everything was written down weeks before how many spoons, cups, etc., each sent - tables from where, tea cloths & the servants who were to serve. The bride's friends supplied the cakes. She, the tea, coffee, sugar & cream. It went easily & of course a lot fell on me but I had the two good standbys, Miss Brodie of our own Mission & a Mrs. Lair, a friend of the bride. The groom's Mother is far from well; has had Diabetes for years & we felt she should not do much that day though she did a lot of the baking. The American Japanese & German consuls were present as well as head of Asiatic Petroleum Oil etc, from community. Our own consul was invited but did not come. He lives to himself very much & does little except issue passports to us & we pay him for that. Now for the bride. She is a little girl, wore georgette White with train & veil both very well made & the veil beautifully arranged. The church was beautifully decorated with white lilacs & mauve Iris. The scheme was to be yellow & mauve but there were few daffodils. The wedding march was played by one of the nurses accompanied by Dr. Waddell on violin. As we heard the strains of "here comes the bride" we rose, & just then the two pieces of yellow & mauve ribbons at each end of the aisle were cut by ushers & the way opened for the two little flower girls to lead the wedding procession along the white walk to the altar. The flowers were mauve & yellow & white. The little tots were dressed in a pale green with yellow & mauve bows & long strings of ribbons from shoulders. Then followed a Peking friend of the bride dressed in mauve & with her a Chinese nurse dressed in yellow. Behind her the bridesmaid in mauve mull with a large hat. The Bride came in on the arm of Dr. Stanley of Theology College & of course the groom & his attendant were waiting for them at the altar. The two stepped up a couple of steps for the ceremony which was short but the ring was used & soon they were married & the procession began the march down the aisle. The ushers looked after the two bridesmaids & the two doctors who were also usher came down with the groom's Mother who is a widow & the other Dr. with Miss Wilson who is head of the nursing school. We shot our a side door. Miss Brodie & Mrs. Lair followed. The bridal party stopped on the church steps for a picture but we were hardly home before they were entering the yard. We hurried out & welcomed them then in to look after getting tea coffee etc. out. I sat down with the bride's Mother for a half hour after guests left & before starting for the station. There were three cars & a few others joined us at the station. There was lots of confetti & very little rice flying but there was lots of fun. They went to the Western Hills for the honeymoon. I have had one letter since they left. When they return I am giving a dinner party for them. Of course there were luncheons etc., before they left for her but there are to be some social affairs by his Mission in the East Suburb when they return. We were tired after but every thing went off so well it made us feel it was worthwhile. This is the second party we have started off on the married walk. The Forbes of Honan, & this pair. I have not told you who the wedding pair are. Miss Hoffman of American Episcopal Methodist Mission, a nurse in HPT here. The groom Dr. Johnson and American Presbyterian Missionary. His father was one of the doctors who started the medical work in this Province which has grown into Cheeloo Medical College. His father died a short time ago but his mother kept on her teaching. They will live in a station about four hours ride from here. The cake was bought in Tientsin at the same place as Bill's & Helen's & much the same. There were over one hudnred guests took tea in our garden. No small affairs to engineer with the help of two other friends. But we have no caterers out here. Of course as I wrote above all the cakes were not made here. Nevertheless the whole management that day was ours. An amusing incident which shows up oriental life. We closed our East gate & had it locked with two bike chains. A few were standing there trying to see as much as they could. The few older women persuaded a couple of little girls to climb the gate & that was the beginning of their doing the same if unnoticed. I came out just at the time & told her to go back the way she came in & to do so quickly. They did so & shortly the crowd gathered there, gave up hopes of getting any nearer the show, & left. We had two policemen at the front gate to keep the rabble out & they looked after that spot. Otherwise we would without any such precautions have had the garden full of Chinese children running here & there. Also women for they think a wedding & a bride public property. We have not been riding much this Spring the winds are so bd. But twice this week have been out to do some purchasing. I have been busy getting the woolens put away. Moths & a little hairy bug go into everything here & they must be put away with flit Naptha flakes etc. The rugs some I put away but the large ones cannot go in trunks. They get regular sweeping. We have no Vac. here & when we are away in Summer they will have to get the same treatment. After June the worst of danger is past. It means a lot of work, felt hats also must be stored. We cannot wear them here with the great heat & they will get riddled with holes. Also woolen curtains. The last two weeks I have been at this work & hope in a couple of days to get all but what we need healed up. We must have warm clothes at Peitaho & these I rolled up carefully till we pack for there & put in a separate box. A letter came in from Helen this morning. We are talking about the Summer plans when we two will go out to P.T.H. & the men came when you can. She also enclosed the grocery list for approval & additions we think of anything we need. A letter from Aunt Jessie & Mabel also in today so we are feeling happy. Bill was still in country but would be in tomorrow May 2. Bobby is growing fine now, weighs 18lbs. Aunt Jessie mentioned phoning to see if Jay had word from Mo but she failed to get an answer. Mabel mentioned Mo had likely arrived but had not called up there yet & so the letters of April 2 & 3rd closed re: Mo & his doings. We shall hear from him soon I am sure. Had a Chinese guest twice this month here on committee work and a man we have entertained before & have always enjoyed having in our home. The Spring is late & yesterday, except Apr 20 seem to be the only warm days we have had. But it will come in with a rush & we will all be exhausted for the first week or so. Now think this is all the news so shall close & go off & lie down. Dad is very tired the last few days & is resting today. I have a headache which aspirin has not helped any so shall spend most of time resting as well & may not write more today. Bill Chang was with us overnight, inquired about you and sends "Best Wishes". Dear Mo. How goes the new life. Let us hear what you think of Jay? Mabel says Jay says she was never better for years than now. I guess it was not all sunshine at Holmes. I am sorry Armstrong has broken his arm. It is such a painful thing. But it is all over now. The weather is terrible these last two days. We start with 76 in the bedroom at 6am. It takes the life out of me. Dad was feeling knocked out the last two days & we spent most of Sunday in bed getting up only for Dad's Bible class at 8am & the Eng. service at 5pm. McClure was in after church for a chat. He will likely fly to Szichuan this summer I think to see Janet. I shall close now as it is breakfast time Monday, May 2. Hope everything goes OK with you. Mabel writes Harold's chum Harvey is to be married shortly but Lottie feels she cannot go to the wedding. It is to one of the girls he and Harold went around with. Adieu our dear boy, Much Love, Mother. ---------------------------------------- Cheeloo School of Theology May 26, 1935 Dear Folks, Morrison, The May letter falls to me to write to keep you in touch with our affairs on this side of the water. Perhaps before you get this some of you may hve first hand information from Bill and Helen as the letter will go on the same boat as they. Weather is a common subject for conversation usually but with us this year it is not a pleasant one. Wind, wind, wind, dust, dust, dust. During the month three days or more ran over the 100 degrees, the hottest May for some years. quite different from their snow in Paris, the first for 90 years. From Jan 1 to May 25 was 1.95 centimeters of rain as compared with 7.42 last year and 10.70 the year before. Folks are at their wheat harvest now but it will be a very light yield. We thought yesterday we were going to have a rain but it only moistened the soil about an inch deep. We do hope that we shall have rain soon so that an autumn crop can be planted. Work goes on pretty much from day to day in the regular routine of class work, of which there is not much to tell. But each week has had something out of the ordinary. Of course we Britishers wanted to celebrate the King's Jubilee. We had a service of thanksgiving in the Anglican Church at noon and in the evening had a dinner together on the lawn of one of the English Baptist Mission houses and then community singing. The very next day was the regular monthly dinner of our theological staff which was Mr. Djang's turn and he entertained us at a restaurant in the city. Two days later the graduating class of the theological school also asked the staff to dinner in a downtown restaurant. Two Chinese feasts in one week was rather going some. The same week Mr. Hibbard the treasurer of the Szechuan Mission was a guest for a couple of days with Dr. McClure and of course we Canadians had a get-together. He had had to come down early to Shanghai to a meeting of the National Christian Council but his family did not come then, because it would upset the foreign school term. Then when he communist situation got bad they were coming out from Chengtu by boat when one of the children got down with bronchitis which threatened bronchial pneumonia. So he had to go to hospital and was later evacuated by airplane. The eldest boy had gone with the boat and he got the same bronchial trouble and had to be put into a hospital on the way. That was the week of Struthers' wedding anniversary on the 10th and ours on the 11th. We were very quiet in our remembrances of them. On the evening of the 13th Mrs. Harold Clark and three other women arrived and stayed for two days. One of these ladies was from Edmonton, one from Vancouver and one from Prince Rupert. As Mrs. Clark comes to China to do buying for her Pagoda Shop in Vancouver she has been conducting some parties lately. This one went to Manilla, Shanghai, Tsinan, Peping and would get their steamer back at Kobe. The same steamer as Bill and Helen are traveling on. Of course when they were here we did some showing them about our humble city getting a taxi one day and the next day taking them by rickshaw to the curio stores in which Mrs. Clark was interested, and the pongee silk stores in which two of the ladies were interested. While they were here Mother and Mrs. Struthers invited the ladies of the community to meet them and to say goodbye to Coral Brodie who was leaving the next week. The day after the visitors went we filled up one of the beds with Cheng Pei Han, one of our Honan theological students, who helps me with my Chinese work. He had been rushed in to the hospital a week before for appendicitis operation. He got on well. We had him here for four or five days before he returned to the Dormitory. May 21 Coral Brodie was due to leave. Mother and I went down to the train with her. Dr. Lair had offered to take her in his car. So we went down together. The train arrived at 3:08 in the morning and left at 3:33. We just saw her settled in and left her to get to bed. She is going by the P. & C. line to England and from there by C.P.R. She expects to arrive in Toronto on July 27th. Her address will be 11 Elmwood Ave., Willowdale On May 17 the foreign school gave a rendering of Peter Pan which everyone enjoyed very much. it was their dramatic work for the whole term so that they had it well prepared and did splendidly. Of course they had to add some adults to their number; a number of the pirate sailors' parts were taken by women, Mrs. Struthers, Mrs. Price.. etc. Night before last the Kilborn's arrived from Szechuan. They are on their way home on furlough. At first their plan was to go up by way of Honan and see the old palces where Mrs. Kilborn used to live. But Bob McClure is in Peiping just now so they changed and made their visit here. Dr. McClure and I went to the station ot meet them. They will probably stay here for a week and go on to Peiping. They will be with the McClures for July in Peitaiho and then on to Europe where Dr. Leslie Kilborn has to attend some Medical gathering. I am not sure when they reach home. Janet is much thinner than she used to be and looks quite a good deal like Margaret. They have three girls and one boy. We were expecting that the next couple of days we would spend with Bill and Helen and the children at Hsuchowfu, the junction of the Lunghai railway, down the line. But during the past week mother has had a heavy cold which settled on her chest so that she could hardly talk. We hoped that it would get better. But Friday night during the night she decided that there was no hope of her being able to take the trip. So I went downtown on my bike about 3:00am to send telegram to Bill and to Hsuchow. We were rather worried about spoiling their plans. But we got a reply telegram yesterday afternoon that they would all go on to Nanking. That has made us much easier. The stop at Hsuchow was to give us an opportunity at a last few hours with them all. But they will be glad to have a couple of days in Nanking. Their boat sails next Sunday from Shanghai. They would leave home yesterday about 5 p.m., and reach Chengchow at midnight. They will leave there tonight at 11, reaching Hsuchow tomorrow morning at 8:10. At noon they will leave there and reach Nanking about 11 at night. Many of their changes are at that time of night. The timetables are made to suit the terminals of the line not the midpoints. We had a call from Bob McClure a couple of weeks ago. He was on his way back from Shanghai to Peiping and stopped over a train. He has been substituting in the PUMC in Peiping for the past month and is being asked to continue on till the end of June. At the present time there is going on in the American court a big lawsuit in which action is being brought against the college by two doctors for improper dismissal and breach of contract. The papers have been full of it this last week. There was an attempt to oust the head of the surgical department which ended in the dismissal of Dr. Van Allan. Along with him was Dr. Spies whose contract was not to be renewed but who was dismissed two months ahead of time. it is an unseemly racket among the staff of a prominent institution. I do not think that the insurrectionists will make much out of it but it gives the college an unsavory reputation. I enclose herewith a cheque for $5.00 as a remembrance of your birtrhday which will come on before the next letter would reach you. Much love and good wishes go with it. Mr. Cheng who was here for the few days often speaks of you. He and you were born the same summer and used to be together some in Weihwei. You will perhaps be interested in seeing little Bobbie. They will try to get the best advice they can on this case in Toronto. I hope he gets to talk well. Love from us both Your father, Robert A. Mitchell ----------------------------------------- Cheeloo, Tsinan June 10, 1935 Dear Morrison It is needless to say we feel very sad about the word you sent us about Jay. It was not altogether unexpected. In a way I was prepared for some word of her having to rest again but when the word did come I was somewhat upset. It was best for you not to cable & also to hold back a letter till you could tell us all. I had thought of going home with Bill & Helen at one time. Had a cable come, I would have done so. The only difficulty at this end is we must sell all our household furniture for the Mission has decided to send a substitute. That is a Chinese. Had a Canadian come most likely they would have taken our furniture off our hands but a Chinese would not care to do so. It makes more work for us & too much for Dad to manage alone with his lectures unless I was really needed. I would very much dread being at home alone without Dad. That is Dad up here, Jay in Gravenhust & I in Toronto. Please let us know when Jay is likely to come out of the "San". I feel we would like to be home and settled in a house somewhere so she can come to us. We can leave here on one of the C.P.R. steamers sailing the end of December, the middle of January, or the end of January. Personally I prefer the first. Several questions rise to my mind: 1) Should she not be out & living in a home for a couple of months before she goes bck to work. 2) You said "off work a year". Does that mean one year from the time you put her in HPT. 3) Can she get in Manufacturer's Life again do you think or will she have to look for another job 4) If she does get back the old job would it be better for us to live outside of Toronto; Up Yonge St. or if she did not go back to the old job in one of towns of Ontario. Of course we would prefer Toronto but Jay's health & the best place for her to live is our first concern. If affairs change any time cable & I shall go if needed. That is if you think I should go we shall consider a cable means you want me. Bill &Helen are now away from Yokohama & on 15th will reach Honolulu. They know nothing except our first word about Jay going for an X-Ray. They will go to Dorchester to live at first. We were to have gone with them to Suchow and had a two days visit with them. But I took a severe cold - laryngitis & then a slight bronchitis. I was in bed three days * parts of two others. We were very sorry to miss the visit for it is likely we shall not see much of them when in Canada. We shall wait anxiously to hear more about Jay. Do write often. Also the Op. on Bobby will be something we shall wait for word. I do hope they get a good man at it for he is a dear, bright little chap. I leave for Tientsin tonight. I shall be there three or four days with the dentist fixing up my plates, then on to Peitaho. We are to be with Mrs Menzies & Georgie this year. They will not be out for a week after I go up and I am staying with Mrs. E.B. Struthers. Janet McClure Kilborn & her family of four children & husband were here for about ten days with Dr. McClure. They have gone on to Peiping to see P.U.M.C. They are to be at P.T.H. for three weeks, then across Siberia to Moscow to attend a conference & then to Canada. You will see him around the HPTS I expect. We shall be looking for Dr. Lang back in July. Hope he has enjoyed & profited by the year in Toronto. Bill Chang goes to Chicago in Oct for a year's study. He will be in Toronto some time during the year abroad. I am very tired & really do not feel I can say anything more about Jay till we have further word from you. But we do want to be home to take her as soon as the San people are prepared to let her go out. Much love my dear boy. We did appreciate your letter. It all sounded so manly & professional with sympathy shining all through it. But give us more information. Lovingly, Mother --------------------------------------- Dear Mo. As mother goes off with the typewriter tonight, I had better write a little now. Mother has pretty well expressed our sentiments of satisfaction and gratitude for what you have done with regard to Jay. Of course we have at times discussed her going home this Summer even although I did not go. That was not from the standpoint of the probability of the present development but from that of the extra on Mrs. Armstrong of another person in the house. We had a talk with Dr. Armstrong on the subject when he was here and he thought that there was no necessity of our changing our plans and Mother going home. Of course, at that time Mrs. Armstrong's eye had not gone bad nor had Jay had the second attack of the flu. When the word came that Mrs. Armstrong had gone blind in one eye the subject came up again but we decided against mother going home with Bill and Helen. She is really not in good enough shape to take on the setting up house all by herself without me, although I think that she is suffering less since her teeth came out. Had we received a cable about the middle or early part of May I am afraid that there would have been a strong temptation to try to get off on the same boat as Bill and Helen. Now that we have your letter of full explanations we realize that we would be of no real benefit to Jay at home in the line of caring for her. Although it is hard for us not to see her and sympathize with her yet possibly the cure may be quicker with us not at hand. From a practical standpoint you are a more important man than I am in this case. Thanks for the assurance that there is no immediate need of a monetary draft. You can write us later as to what will be required in the matter. I am glad to hear that you have a position waiting for you at July first. We have often wondered what you would be doing after this year in the Sick Children's. You did not mention what it is to be nor what your address will be but I hope that you will write us later telling all about it. With regard to that money of mother's we are glad that you have been able even in these hard times to save toward the repayment of it. But it is not being pressed for. It is probably best that until we arrive home it should be available in your name to use as may be necessary for Jay. I feel that mother has pressed you pretty well with questions some of which seem a good distance ahead. But we would like to have sufficient time ahead to plan. We are both of one mind that we should try to be home by the time Jay naturally comes out of the sanatorium in order to give her a home to come to. Now I promised to teach the fall term and it is rather important that I should give as good work as I can for two of our men will be off. The term would naturally end about Jan 18, exams being all over. I am likely taking at lest one extra class a week and by pushing I could get my term's teaching finished by the end of December. I have not the C.P.R. sailings for that time. But I think that they would be Dec. 31, Jan 13, and Jan 28. The last one of these would be the natural one if there was no hurry till the end of the term. But we could catch the 13th with little injury to the college. Now from my standpoint we want to be settled someplace for Jay to come to us when she comes from the San. But we do not want her to be unduly kept longer in the San by our not going home in time nor do we want to unduly hasten her coming out just because we have come home. If you can kindly keep us in touch with the requirements we shall try to govern our actions accordingly. Let me again assure you of our gratitude that you were at hand to act in the matter of Jay's illness and of the joy which it was again to see again your handwriting from which we have been cut off for long because of your time being taken up with other duties. Please let us hear from you whenever you can find time. We have been having several days about 107 degrees in the shade. No rain has fallen yet although other places have had some. Heat, wind, dust seem to make up the weather. I am glad that mother is getting to the coast to get a relief from it. I shall leave on Saturday morning for Honan where I shall be teaching at Weihwei until about the middle of July. Mother's address will be 47 West C Road, Peitaiho Beach. I shall be Weihwei, Honan until I rejoin mother. Love, Dad Robert A. Mitchell ---------------------------------------- June 24, 1935 What about reading material for Jay. Is she allowed to read? She did a lot when laid up before. We would be glad to send her a book once a Month or twice a Month if we knew what she liked. Will you choose something for her & send it to her. I forget my D.A. number but shall see about it & possibly we allow Eaton's to send up books. Georgie Menzies has not come down yet. She is in Tientsin with Isobel. The Browns are doing very well there & I think will likely remain though they have had another rather attractive offer. Dr. Geo Darling from Tientsin sails on the next steamer. He is going to see something of HPT work in Toronto. Do not know whether he will run cross you or not. I could not tell him definitely whether you would be in Toronto at that time. We wait anxiously to hear about little Bobby. Hope they get him fixed up so far as speech is concerned as well as looks. They took him to a barber in Shanghai. He screamed when they started to put him in the chair. He thought a doctor was going to hurt him. Poor chap. He is a dear bright laddie. Of course we feel sorry about his handicap but it is not so bad as many. One friend near us here has an epileptic boy. He is very difficult to manage as his whole temper is bad. Bobby is lovely, very active mind & it is difficult for him when he cannot express his ideas in speech as quickly as he would like. Let us know how he gets along if you are in Toronto. We do not know whether to think of you as there or back at Copper Cliff. The pastor in the United Church at Copper Cliff is a brother of Mrs. Menzies with whom we are spending the Summer. Menzies and Dad were great friends all through Dad's course. He went frequently to their home. If up there get acquainted with him. He will not be too good for you. We have a lovely view of the sea here & are only a few yards from the water. I have not been in yet as it has been very cold but today is warming up. I have written Mrs. Armstrong thanking her for her kindness to Jay and I do hope you will keep us informed of how she is getting along. None of the relatives have written us yet. Aunt Jessie's letter would be addressed to Dad & may have gone in to Weihwei. If so it will not come out for a few days yet. There has been a home mail since your letter about her arrived. Bill & Helen are crossing the continent these days. How excited they will be at seeing Canada again & the dear friends there. They have their hands full with three such children but Bill has learned how to help & does fine with the children. So I hear though we have not seen them since Feb. I hope we can have some time as a family together after we arrive and before they start back to China. Now my dear boy adieu for this time. Be good to Jay & let us know how she is getting on when she leaves the San etc. And we do wish you every success in the position which you wrote was waiting you on July 1. We never cease to ask God's blessing on our children & pray that doors may be opened for them in life. I am longing to turn our faces Canada-ward. I do not think Dad is so anxious for that as I. I have never been happy in China since I left our children in 1920. I had to come with him or we live apart as some have chosen to do. I did not feel that was the best way. Sometimes I feel our children have been neglected but what could I with a husband who was not well himself. Jay & I talked things out before we left but it ha been hard for her & me as well. I do not think Dad realizes how hard & I do not feel like telling him of the pull as to whether I come with him or remain with a delicate daughter who needed care. But it was done and we thought what we did was for the best & now my whole thought is to get back to you two and try & make up for some of the Mother's care you have missed. Dad always claims "the children do not want the parent's care, they want their own way" Good bye Morrison. Cable if you think I should go. One word will do. "Come" Much love, Mother Jennie H Mitchell ---------------------------------------- 26 West C Road Peitaiho Beach July 24, 1935 Dear Mo. The above is the new number to Mrs. Menzies house, instead of 47. But the post office sends along the mail or either address. I have been here two weeks last night. My arrival corresponded with the break in the weather. During the time I was in Honan, the fields were as bare as if it were November. No rain had fallen and the wheat stubble still remained as it was in the fields. We had two or three little spits of rain but about Weihwei it was not half way to Peiping. I also arrived here in the rain and it has continued almost every day since. I think that there have been four really fine days. As I was not arriving till near the middle of July, I thought that I need not bring a heavy suit with me. The first few days I was here I had to wear the heaviest I had in both outer and under clothes. It was some difference from the 108 degrees we have in the interior. We are so near the sea in this house that I thought I should try to go in every day. But I have been in only once or twice yet. First it was too cold, then I took an attack of lumbago which warned me against the water. Then last Saturday when there were guests here for tennis I played too much tennis for one not used to it and have ever since had a stiff neck on the off side, so that for three nights I could not get a comfortable way to lie in bed.. The most comfortable was to sit up. So I keep out of the water. I was able to sleep better last night and I hope that I shall be able to go bathing more from this on. Dr. Ernest Struthers is due to return to Tsinan today. We had thought of riding up to the station to see him off. But at the present moment it is pouring rain. Yesterday afternoon we were over to East Cliff at the Drake's for afternoon tea. They have a nice little new house in the second row from the front overlooking the big bathing beach at East Cliff. We were looking over some of Mr. Drake's watercolors. He had a number painted last year when they were living near Eagle Rock which gave practically the view we had from our house last year, Baby beach, Shei Beach, the Sand Dunes and Chinwangtse. This year he is painting what is near them, Tuckers' Rocks, Fishhook Point, Lighthouse Point, etc. Last week we had a storm from the east which piled the fishing boats and raft on the beach. Drake took a hand at representing it. There was lots of spray on the Tucker Rocks. Janet McClure and her family continue their journey to Russia on Friday morning. We shall have to get down to the train to see them off even though it is a five o'clock train. It is nice that Dr. McClure has had a chance to see the two families but I expect that he will be quite ready to have some rest from the eight children. It is some different from living by himself. Ten days ago we were at Murdo MacKenzie's, our mission people, at a celebration of the Reeds 21st wedding anniversary. One day this week we had here Marnie Copland, Catharine Slimmon, Isobel and Georgie Menzies; quite a group of old Weihwei school people. They were saying it was a pity that Molly Grant was not along. But she will not be out till August while Georgie has to get back by the end of July. The household here just now consists of Mrs. Menzies, Georgie, Isabel with Joan, Mr. Brown on the east side of the house and Miss Major, Mrs. Smith, and ourselves on the west side. We are all one household however. Mrs. Smith is an evangelistic worker of the English Baptist Mission of Tsingchowfu, Shantung. Miss Major is a nurse of the same mission in Sian, Shensi. She is one who has no sense of direction and gets into the most amusing situations. She has laughable stories of her experiences in England, in France, Egypt, China, etc. It keeps us in laughter the situations she gets into. Dr. Gordon Brown will be up here for a time in August. There is some prospect of their going to the Scotch mission in Tchang where Catharine Slimmon is. Isobel had to go to Tientsin just after I came up, for the arrival of a little daughter to Mrs. Eric Riddell. (Florence MacKenzie) You did not mention the place you were going on July first. But I hear from others that you are back in Copper Cliff. You have a good deal larger experience in going bck there than you had in the first place in going there. I suppose that there will not be so very much in the way of special pediatrics there but there will be plenty of surgery from accidents. It is fine to have the ability to help folks in their distress. I do not know whether or not you will be busier than you were when you were in Copper Cliff before. We always look back with pleasure to the letters we used to get from you when you were there. You were a fine correspondent. May we not hope that you will find time to resume it? I suppose that you will not be in quite so close touch with Jay since you went up there. But we should like to get a little information which would help us in our decisions. Before this matter of Jay's health came up I had agreed to stay on at the college for the Autumn term. The term ends on Jan 18. The natural thing would be to expect me to remain till I completed the work of the term although some shortening up and giving of my examinations might be allowable. Any thoughts which we have had of going home via the ports and the Mediterranean have been given up and we count on taking the shortest way home. I have not the C.P.R. list of sailings for January but judge that there would be one about Jan 12 and another on Jan 26. If I completed the full term, the 26th would be the natural one to take. But it would not be difficult to get the 12th. We have thought tht the natural thing was for us to aim at having a home to take Jay to when she comes out of the hospital. Now we do not know when that is likely to be. Could you give us some idea as to her probably stay in the hospital and as to whether we ought to modify our plans on her account? Of course in your last letter you gave us this assurance in a general way. But that was just at the beginning before she went away. Some months have passed now and you might be in a better position to know now. Then too we should be taking your sailings now at least provisionally. As to another matter you might give us some good advice. We have thought that when we went home we should get a place where it would be convenient for Jay to get to the Manufacturer's Life Building and also be within walking distance of the university for ourselves if we wanted to attend lectures there at any time. Two considerations come up. First is Jay likely to have her position in the Manufacturers Life when she is able for it? Second is there sufficient difference in the air North Toronto and of below Bloor street to counterbalance the inconvenience of long car rides? All information we can get will make it easier for us in our planning. I do not know what Bill's plans will be, whether or not he will be in the city. Bobbie will be one large factor. As I ride about this place I cannot help thinking about how Bobbie was going with me on the bike last year. He rode about 200 miles with me during the summer. Now I must close an get the other letter finished. I want to catch the boat in Shanghai on Sunday. Much love from us both, Your dad Robert A. Mitchell ----------------------------------------- Cheeloo August 3, 1935 Dear Mabel We left P.T.H. in bright sunshine, and not too hot a day. I remained in Tientsin a day with MacKenzie’s while Dad went to Peiking for dentistry. I bought a few pins, etc, - the necessaries during the day but it was frightfully hot and I kept to my room most of the time in my pyjamas. About 9pm the MacKenzies took me to the station where I joined Dad. We had a compartment to ourselves and had a comfortable night. We were over at our home about 10am of 17th. It was nice to be home. The first two days were very hot but most nights have been fairly cool. Dad got away from P.T.H. without his hay fever starting up and since our return has not been troubled much. The time has been spent in hunting through old accounts for prices of belongings, listing and marking prices on all the larger things. We have also set apart things we want to take home and have had boxes made for things to go home. We have a little hope of disposing of some of our furniture to a young couple who have just come to China. They are the sisters of Mrs. Stam and family. We know the parents ‘Scotts” who live here very well and would be glad if this plan would materialize. They will be in Tsinan next week and will call and see our stuff. They will be at language school at least till December and would not want to furnish up before January. Then too they may remain the year at Language school and in that case could store things. We shall let them have possession the end of December if they wish. MacRae’s library is well onto the finish and that will be a big piece of work off our hands. Dad has just gone to a Faculty meeting to decide problems re: new students and plans for the Autumn’s work. I am not a member of Faculty but have been over and said my say about English to the Dean before the meeting. A Chinese is acting this year while Dr. Stanley is on furlough. We have been out to a couple of suppers since our arrival and at tea for a newly-wed couple; both members of the staff, one medical and one science. Dr. Struthers was ill when we returned and his Chinese servant as well. I sent him over his dinners at noon and there was no trouble keeping them hot. He was on duty but has a bad throat and was unwilling to eat with others so we managed affairs in this way. They live about three minutes walk from us. Mrs. Struthers will be home this week with Mary. She is waiting to see David off on the steamer for Academy at Kobe. Dr. McClure returned last week and had his first meal with us. Mr J. M. Menzies has been in Peiping giving lectures and will be back today or tomorrow. Then our Canadian group is complete. Our retiring associate president left this morning. He goes with rejoicing from most in the campus. The last year he has not been able to hold things as he should and has lost friends. A case of when an old man does not know when to retire. Had he gone two years ago or even last year the feelings would have been different. The new president has been here some time and seems to be getting hold of things well. His is not an easy job. He is a graduate of the University and has come to do what he can to get things going properly after two years of bad management. His spirit is good and he is favorably inclined to the Christian side of the work. He is giving a feast tonight to the staff and has invited the members of College of Theology. He need not have done this as we do not belong to University since registration four years ago. The other presidents have done the same – included us in University affairs but we did not know what would be the attitude of the new man. All are very pleased he has done so. You mentioned going to the ocean somewhere in your leter, which reached us a couple of weeks ago. It was written July 18-30. You had been up North to Calendar and on to visit with Van. I would like just such a trip sometime and get a glimpse of the great Northland. I do hope Donald has been able to keep clear of Hay Fever. It was interesting to hear about your visit to the Dionne babies. I like reading about them and would like you were I in the district go and see them but such a visit would not thrill me so much as going to some parts of Ontario where I have never been. Being away from one’s country possibly gives one a greater longing for its hills, rivers, glades, etc. We shall go straight home – no trip by the ports. I would prefer to have a couple of nice upholstered chairs, comfortable ones in which to sit when weary. We have never had them and one of the ways I intend spending Christmas gifts is in getting a chair for each of us. If we live to go home, I see no reason why we should not. I am glad you have been to see Jay. She seems to be getting along ok and I hope she is getting the idea that she cannot do as all young girls can. I do not know how many lectures she will get but if not in that form getting the main idea of what not to do is important. I think thaere is too much “slimming” done these days. When it is necessary it should be done under doctor’s supervision. I have lost twenty pounds the last eighteen months. I look better there is no doubt about that. I am not anxious to gain it all but am feeding well – milk and eggs to get strong again. I think I am past the fattening stage and need not be afraid of getting too fat as some old ladies do. It is bad for heart and kidneys. I was boarding with Mrs. Menzies this summer and had a good rst. I feel better but these hot days find I have not quite so much strength as when at P.T.H. in the cool. But we have worked hard since coming home. Another couple of weeks will put us pas the hot days. I begin teaching next week. I am glad Helen is having a tour in “old Country”. Lottie wrote while up North. The letter has just arrived and I shall write her next time. I think my last letter was to her. Bill has kept us well informed with their doings and about you all as well. He had been at Armstrongs and they walked around the district. He wrote of new bungalows going up on the old Gartshore property. He wished we could get one. That is the district we would like and whether a bungalow or whatever house we must be all on one floor. Then too, two bedrooms are not enough though thus far we have not mentioned it. We feel when Aunt Jessie needs a home we should offer to take her with us if she wishes to come. I hope that will not be for a couple of years for we would like to be alone with Jay while growing used to the life at home. But we shall see when at home. We plan to sail Jan 31 from Shanghai, go down from Winnipeg to visit Fred for a few days, also stop off at Sudbury to see Mo and possibly Jay. It all seems so far off and uncertain. It will not be easy getting a place to live at that time of the year as later. The exodus to country begins April and May and from then on to Oct. one has a better choice of residence it seems to me. But time will tell. No use to corss bridges at this date. Bill may be in Toronto and if so we can have a few places for us to look up. I am anxious to settle as soon as possible. Now I must say adieu for this month and off to other things. Much Love Jennie H Mitchell ----------------------------------------- Cheeloo, Tsinan, China September 29, 1935 Dear Folks, Four letters in one mail; from Aunts Jessie and Mabel and Bill and Helen just filled our cup full. The boy heard the postie at the box when we were at our meal. He came along with a big grin on his face when he saw the foreign stamps. After dinner- rest got the go-by that day. Mother had been waiting for ten days looking for word. Aunt Jessie’s former letter was posted Aug. 20 but had no word of Bobbie’s operation. So she was not content till the last possible day was past for letters from both Canadian and American steamers. Actually Bill’s letter of Sept. 3rd was received on Sept 26. We sure were glad to hear that Bobbie’s operation was over and pretty successful. I suppose that nature will probably do something with the nostril as he is growing. Of course this month has been a busy on e with the opening of college. The university gets a good start off. President Liu seems to be a man who will take hold of things and seems to be doing his best to pull all parts of the university together where it has been tending toward separation during the last year of a kind of interregnum. He is including the Theological College and the Institute in the invitations to public functions as if we were still part of the organization. There is an absence of all agitation among students and staff, which is a pleasant thing after the times of last year. In the theological college we are shorthanded for teachers with Dr. Stanley and Bill Djang gone to America. What is perhaps rather worse is the smallness of our student body. Instead of 34 as we had last year we have only 18. Of these our Mission is supplying 1/3 and I think that the teachers acknowledge them as quite equal to those from any other province. We have a nice bunch here. Chi and Cheng who were in last year have had to stay out to help with the Bible school at Weihwei. I hope that they may be able to get back next year to graduate. Intellectually both of them are distinctly ahead of the others of the class of ’37. I have one more hour teaching each week than I had last year. By that means I hope that with the pre-theological year I shall be able to finish up the O.T. portion of “Knowing the Bible” in the first term. I have had to run on into the second term with it before. The book was published during the summer so that the students have it in hand rather than my mimeographed work. The book is well got up and is clear. But the Christian Literature Society have handicapped it with a high price; $160 in paper and $2.00 in cloth. Students do not feel that they can afford to buy it. The dearest that any of our Cheeloo Manuals has been before is 80 cents for a book about the same size as mine Another thing that has been occupying us during the month is the MacRae Library. I am not sure whether or not we had taken the step before Bill and Helen left to solicit subscriptions from MacRae’s former fellow workers to buy that library and present it to the Theological School as a memorial of his works here. We had aimed to get $500 Mexican if we could for it. We got 438 in China and England but have had no direct response from Canada as yet. However we had labels printed and pasted into the books. Then on the 16th of this month we invited in the donors and the theological college staff for the formal presentation. Dr. MacClure was in the chair. I explained the steps leading up to the gift. Mr. Cady gave an appreciation of Dr. MacRae. Then we went into the study which had been cleared of everything but the books on the shelves. Acting for mother I presented in the name of the donors the books to Mr. Lo, acting principal of the school. Dr. Hou led in prayer and then we went back and had tea. Since that we have taken the books to the college. I have moved out of my study into Bill Djan’s and stacked the books in my room. We shall send them gradually to the Augustine Library for cataloguing. One section has gone. In all there are a few over 900 books. During the next few months we shall have to spend some time getting rid of our things. The furniture is mostly labeled now with its price but there are many other things, which are yet to be done. We sold a couple of dressers and some chairs in the spring and are using two of Coral Brodie’s dressers. Last week one of the Chinese doctors was in and spoke for my study desk and chair as well as the living room couch and a Morris chair. We shall let him have all but the couch this week. Mother is getting all kinds of odds and ends such as fruit jars, dishes, etc., off at odd times. We were putting our hopes on the Mahy’y for some things. They are C.E. Scott’s daughter and son-in-law, just arrived for religious education in the Middle School at Weihsien. Of course they are going to the language school first and then some one at Weihsien is going on furlough and would let them have furniture. We had hoped they would take our dining room suite. They did not but took the two 3/4 beds and dresser to match as well as the tea wagon. We have already got three boxes ready for freight to go home and shall probably ship it by way of Panama to New York. That will be our rugs, carved tea tables and dishes. Now that we have the books out of the study we shall do our packing there and also collect things for sale there. I shall use the study at the college. We have asked Mr., MacKenzie to make our reservations for the Empress of Asia sailing from Shanghai Jan. 31. We are also talking of visiting uncle Fred at Breckenridge on the way home. He came up to Winnipeg to see us when we were coming out. I think that there would be some saving if we went by the Soo Route. Although Breckenridge is not on that line, I think that it is only thirty or forty miles off it if we can manage to get a stopover at the proper place. In that case we should pass through Copper Cliff on the way to Toronto. We have not full information on it yet. Mother would have preferred it if we were going on the boat earlier. She things that we shall have time dragging on our hands between the time of school closing and the time of leaving. Both Mo and Bill spoke of our taking the Suez trip this time. We have often talked of it but when it comes to the going we really feel that the extra exertion would not be worth it at our time. Mother is better than she was but she cannot stand extra exertion as she could. We have decided that perhaps our travel had better be done with a book by the fireside and that the extra expense necessary will go to piece out the uncertain income which is ahead of a man these days. Last Thursday we had all the Chinese and foreigners of our Honan body in for prayer-meeting which we are to have fortnightly. Then on Saturday we entertained our Honan group (seven of them) for the first time this Autumn. After supper we played Skittles and parlour croquet. Mr. Dung was entertaining us with the new ideas he got on his first violin lesson. He had asked mother to speak to Mrs. Phillips to teach him. Yesterday morning he had his first lesson. He seems to think that Bill is a pretty good player. He has Dr. Reed’s violin. At Peitaiho mother sold her bicycle. She has borrowed one from Mrs. Williamson who is away for a month. So we are making any shopping trips etc. that we may have to do while we have the wheel. After riding for seven years, we do not feel like paying rickshaw fares. We were very glad to hear that you were able to get down to Bobbie’s operation. It was a great comfort to Helen and she expresses herself as very grateful to you for what you have done for them since they went home. Aunt Mabel told me about the rush trip that you took to Gravenhurst and over to Bala and then they went back to Toronto. As she was remarking “youth can do it”. We older folks could not stand the rush and late hours. However I am keeping in excellent health. I still enjoy the baseball and hope that I shall be able to end the season. We had a good game yesterday, 15-14, in favor of the south suburb against the settlement. Last week the Americans mopped the ground with us Britishers. It was a ragged game. Thanks very much for your offer about the Suez trip. Of course the financial side of it comes into consideration in these times of uncertain income. But really mother does not feel that she can face the fag. Probably she could when we were really on the way. But the rush, which one would have to make at ports, would leave her exhausted. Love from us both. We are eager to see you all Robert A. Mitchell ---------------------------------------- Cheeloo October 27, 1935 Dear Mo Sunday Morning – we had breakfast in bed as is our custom. When at home every one got their own breakfast when they wished. I think likely breakfast will most likely be a very informal meal when we reach Canada and are getting our own. I love a pajama or when weather is cooler a dressing gown breakfast on Sunday. For many years Sunday was our busiest day and since we came here and have less responsibility for the work of the day we take rest. But today was presiding at Chinese service and he had to get up at once. Breakfast was 7:30 and then he began his day. I remained a little longer in a lazy mood. Just as I had finished dressing the doorbell rang and I went down to find a friend there wanting flowers. They all come to us when flowers are needed. She was having about twenty Chinese women to dinner and wished to decorate somewhat. It is a retreat of t a day being held by the Y.W. Board and their prominent workers. They are having a quiet noon meal with her and then continue the P.M. meetings. A neighbor is helping with the food so it will not make much extra work and what there is will be done by others than those attending the retreat. Last Sunday Dr. Waddell-Hsu was buried and there was a memorial service in the church and at grave. For years she was professor of Physiology here. Three years ago she married a Chinese, a graduate of Cheeloo. She was a very efficient violin player. We have all enjoyed her music. She was found dead on a street in Nanking murdered. But thus far nothing much has become public. She aimed by her marriage to reach in a more helpful way the Chinese. The experiment has been of three years trial. She and her husband seemed very happy in their work. But there has been a strong feeling against the foreign women married to Chinese in Nanking. Last year they forced all to renounce their foreign nationality or their husbands give up their public position. The Hsu’s were not in Nanking when that law was enforced. Some think he death may be due to some anti-foreign feeling against such married women. It was a very sad affair. I entertained two evenings lately. Two married couples one evening and the other, one of my friends, to meet Helen Struthers who arrived here a couple of weeks ago. Since then I have sold my coffee cups; tea cups as well. I mean the company ones. I do not plan to have much company from now on. Must perhaps have the Honan students once again. Then too, Christmas comes, but that is always a union affair. We have two boxes of dishes, vases, etc. packed; also our Taian tea tables and pictures. It has been a lot of hard work. I have a lot of little things laid out on shelves in study, prices marked on most and when anyone comes in they have a look. I have sold quite a lot in this quiet way. Later we shall send around a list. The most expensive thing is the dining-room suite and we may not be able to get it sold. If not may leave it with Mrs. Struthers till some new family comes and she will then sell it for us. Last evening we had a social time with students at College of Theology. Dad had to put on a stunt, which he did. Or rather he got something he put the students at. We had lots of fun and such times are good for students and staff alike. One of our human boys had to pay a forfeit. His penalty was he had to dance. He is a big fellow and it was funny the way he carried on. It made a laugh and that was what was wanted. We have had a big rain this week and then it got cooler. Thus far we have had no fire except the two evenings we entertained when there was a little fire in the grate. The big stove is not up but we use the coal oil stove while at breakfast and today I burned a little paper in a stove upstairs. This had made the room comfortable and now it is getting near noon so that will do till evening, when we may do the same. You have had fires on for weeks I suppose. Well Mo, I suppose you are busy wit your studies. I hope you make the exam you are after. By a paper Uncle Fred sends us we saw that he was invited back for his eleventh year at Breckenridge. We are trying to get passage via the Soo line through St Paul. You do not remember probably but we went that way in 1917 when I took you home. Uncle fred was nearer St Paul then where he is now. But we think we can get off at a junction further north and not go all the way to St Paul. Mr. MacKenzie is making inquiries and we should soon know what the C.P.R. can do for us. We are having complications with a Sunday coming in and also Chinese New Year about the time we wish to leave here. The C.P.R. boats used to sail Sunday but have changed to Friday for winter boats. Leaving Monday does not give us time enough by the way and we shall be forced to stop over some place for Sunday. But it is some time yet before we make our plans. But whenever we do the problem remains the same. I am having trouble getting things sold but there is some time yet. I fear we may not get rid of the dining room suite but if not we cannot and that is all. We pack and mail boxes and wonder under what circumstances we shall open them. What kind of a house shall we find, etc. I wish it was all over and we once more settled but such things cannot be done by a wish. Now I must say adieu for this time. There is no more news. Much love from both of us Mother, Jennie H Mitchell ---------------------------------------- Cheeloo, Tainen, China November 24, 1935 Dear Folks Here goes for possibly the last letter I shall write you in regular series from Tsinan. Next month’s will be mother’s and the next will be our own leaving. We are not the only people who are contemplating moving. Dr. and Mrs. Evans of the Southern Baptists left on Friday. Mrs. Smyly left yesterday with their children for Ireland. Mrs. Ingle sails with their children for Scotland on January 21 The Evans are going off in a hurry. Mrs. E’s father died lately and she needed to care for her stepmother. Their return is very doubtful. About ten days ago they invited a good lot of us in for a musical evening. We had Mrs. Phillips and Mrs. Ingle on the piano, Mr. Boulton of the community, singing and Mrs. Boulton on the violin. It was a very enjoyable evening. One other evening we were at dramatic readings from St. Francis of Assissi. That was chosen because the ladies had it in their study class of which both Mrs. Smyly and mother are members. Then the foreign school and the Anglican ladies gave farewell teas to Mrs. Smyly. I suppose that there will have to be something of that beore we go also. There are to be a number of grass widowers about. Smyly is going to live with Dr. McClure Menzies and Wolfe have been alone since summer. Wolfe goes home in January. At the literary society this month Mrs. Ingle gave an excellent paper on the Sea in Literature. It was interspersed with some instrumental sea pieces and a sea song from Mr. Boulton. That was the first time I knew that he sang. My previous acquaintance had been largely with his playing third base at the Saturday ball games. Helen Struthers arrived some time ago, having spent some days in Tientsin. Then she went off to Chefoo for over a week. She is back now. We have seen very little of her. Dr. Struthers is working very hard. The Chinese authorities have asked the Medical School to be responsible for the health work among the flood of refugees here. The Shantung government has distributed these refugees to every Hsien of the province to be cared for. Here at Tsinan there are 16,000 in 25 camps distributed from the east suburb to Ta Hwai Shu, about four miles west of this. They have been busy delousing, vaccinating against small pox and other things. One of their difficulties is that they have not a free hand and that the ideals of the authorities are not always the same as the doctors. They have ten teams of doctors and medical students. They have a couple of motorbuses at their disposal. But they are such as are not very profitable on the regular bus routes and sometime have to come back on another’s power. The folks are allowed to send in what clothes they wish for delousing and they usually send in their outside ones while the lice are in their inside ones. One big bathhouse has been put at their disposal. But I think the capacity is 200. So it is not too efficient for 16,000 people in 25 camps, separated by miles. However, the authorities are to be much commended for the way they have shouldered the responsibility for the care of these refugees. As Struthers is at the head of the organization of this medical work he is kept very busy. Apart from my teaching work this month the chief thing has been the packing shipping of our freight. At odd times I packed two boxes of crockery etc, one box of pictures, one box of rugs, and one box of books. After enquiries as to how I could best get them shipped, I sent them off to Tientsin. I had quotations from the Dollar Line and from a Japanese shipping company, from Tsingtao to New York. But they could not give me a through bill of lading to Toronto. MacKenzie had a better rate from Tientsin to New York and a through bill of lading. So a couple of days ago I got them off to MacKenzie for shipment from there. I hope that they will get out before there may be any military disturbance there if there is to be any. That reminds me that the political situation in North China has been a puzzle the last little while. There were persistent rumours that on the 20th of the month five provinces in the north were to be declared autonomous and General Doihara had been in possession of Tientsin. I do not think that the last was so at all. The move for autonomy has a setback somehow. One cannot tell what is going to happen. The decision of the Nanking government to collect all the silver dollars from the north is said to be very largely the cause of the move … to which the Japanese object. At any rate I thought that it would be better to have our goods out of China before any military operations began in Tientsin. By the way we have changed our plans; at present we plan to leave here about Jan 20 for Tientsin; leave Tientsin for Kobe Jan 27 and get the Empress there on Feb 4. It will be a little cheaper than going to Shanghai and our last time in China will be on familiar ground. It makes no difference at the other end where we are still planning to go by the Soo line in order to visit Fred. I have not an up to date timetable here. But we shall probably leave Fred’s on Monday Feb. 24. I think that that ought to bring us to Sudbury on the evening of Tuesday Feb 25. We had counted that we would see you at Copper Cliff. Now that you are in Sudbury it will be much simpler. We shall see on the other side how long it is between trains there and what time we can have together. You might write to us to the boat either at Vancouver or at Victoria letting us have your ideas. We get to these places on Feb. 15. Write care of C.P.R. Empress of Asia. You do a good deal better with your typing than I do. I am writing at a disadvantage so far as position is concerned because I am nursing an attack of lumbago in bed. I am sorry that your return to Copper Cliff was not a happy one. I trust that you may find it more satisfactory in Sudbury. But whatever conditions do the straight thing with both employers and colleagues. Thank you and bill very much for the kind offer to have us take the more extended trip home… but neither one of us has the snap that we had for these things; we have decided that a simpler trip will probably be the best and it will mean an earlier time for seeing you all. It means considerable to see one’s children after nearly eight years. I suppose that there is not any way by which we could go via Gravenhurst on our way to Toronto. Aunt Mabel has offered to drive us up shortly after we get there if the road is open. Thanks for the word about the money to go into our Eaton accounts. We were not counting on any interest. The amount was mother’s. We shall make an adjustment of it when we reach home. We have more in Eatons than our buying recently would justify. But we shall soon have to buy there more extensively. We are very glad that you are again in a position to be earning money and not just having to spend. Under the circumstances I supposed that something from here would be a more suitable Christmas present than some money but we have not made provision for it and shall do as the past few years when we felt that something for yourself to dispose of as you wished would be more acceptable. We both send much love and wishes for a joyous Christmastide. We are delighted to be getting letters from you again. Saw Lang the other day when he was asking for you. He has been very busy as his two colleagues have both been sick. Your loving father, Robert A Mitchell ----------------------------------------- Cheeloo December 29, 1935 Dear Morrison Christmas is over once more. Our last in china so far as one can see. It has been a very happy one. Dec 18, David Struthers and Elinor arrived from Kobe; R.G. Struthers and wife, with two younger children from Weihwei Dec 23. Arthur Boyd had two and he arrived on the 24th. That made eleven people in E.B. Struthers house for Miss Helen from Toronto was and has been here since Oct. The three boys took the attic and with borrowed bed and some bedding all were made comfortable and they have had a jolly time. Last night Dr. R.G. had to leave. The others go this week. All came here for dinner Christmas evening at 6.30. There were sixteen of us. we got tables from Coll. of theology and managed to seat all at one table. Everything was taken out of the sitting room but a few plants and thus we made room. Monday 23rd we decorated with Pines and red paper, silver tinsel, etc. The house looked very nice. We had the usual eats - turkey, vegetables, plum pudding, candy, nuts, etc; each member of the community doing a bit. We supplied turkey and buns, butter and jelly. Some notions, caps, little amusing toys, etc were at the places. Dr. R.G. had a concertina and a whistle. He sat near me and when we wished to emphasize anything we both worked our musical instruments. After we were satisfied we rose from table, hade a little chat, then proceeded to Struthers for coffee candy and nuts, and the giving out of gifts. Mr. Menzies gave me a beautiful crackleware jar made about 700a.d. Not very old but I do not worry about that. I look for beauty and this is a prize. I got some grass cloth, handkerchiefs, Pongee silk, little brass card dish on stand, etc. But the great surprise was when a parcel came in about 2.30pm - a box really. We opened it and there was a lovely big pair of cloisonné vases from Murdock MacKenzies. We did not find the card at first and wondered if they were sent for us to take to their friends but later found the card. Dad had opened the wrong end of the box. They are ours and are beauties. We could not have afforded such a pair with all the other things we needed. Dad shared in these two things of course and got a book of Tang Lu Lin's "My Country and My People" it is a best seller and must be a cleverly written book for he is a bright writer. The Honan students gave us a lovely embroidered picture. We asked them not to put the glass on as we had sent off freight but have the frame knocked down and the back of picture. I think we shall not have anything more added except what we buy ourselves. I am anxious to get a piece of Japanese Satsuma. We have three days in Kobe so shall likely invest as I asked Dad to keep his money and but that for my birthday which comes just after we leave here. We have had some of the Struthers group in nearly every day the last week. We divided them up and had croquet in the evening. Christmas morning I had Mr. Menzies and Mr. Wolf, men who are alone, for breakfast. It was a strange meal. Menzies is dieting. we had rice porridge; then beef baked in chafing dish. I could not have any egg nor milk in it. We had fruit to start off with. Menzies brought a drink of hot lemon juice and took that while we drank coffee. He also had his Rye break, which was toasted as our white bread was. I had rice and beef because he cannot eat any other cereal nor is he allowed eggs. However the beef was tasty. We also had orange salad as Menzies can eat oranges. We all enjoyed the novelty and Menzies was taken by surprise that I managed to give so much he was allowed to eat. Dec 26: The Canadian friends with R.G. Struthers and wife gave us a tea. It was in our honor as it was a little early to call it 'goodbye'. While the Weihwei Struthers were here it was nice to have them meet the community and so the teas was thus planned. It was a very pleasant afternoon. Several Chinese as well as foreign friends were present. Yesterday we were at Menzies for lunch with R.G. Struthers wife and miss Helen. In the night R.G. went off to Weihwei but the family remain a little longer. David, Elinor and Arthur Boyd leave New Year's night to get a steamer for Kobe. Mrs. R.G., the younger two children and Miss Helen leave either Jan 1 or 2 for Peiping. Well now there is a later plan. Gilchrist & Miss Helen go tonight and the others follow on the later train. Because of the student troubles Gilchrist was able to be home for Christmas. He had not planned to come. He goes back lest Exams should be brought on and he miss them. He has had no word to return and we all think he will find there is no further work till after the winter holiday. This week is going to be a very busy one. We have three nights engaged. Dad has daily worship and the English service and communion on Sunday 5th. One night the students of Coll. entertain us and we had invited them earlier for an evening here. Then next week two dinner engagements have already been made. I do not intend to accept late dinner invitations after that as Dad will be busy reading his exam papers and we have all the last tings to do. My last exam is on Jan 6 and I have only four papers to read. We go to McClure for meals for two days and then on 16th go to Mrs. Struthers to remain till we leave. McClure invited us but Mrs. S's invitation was first and I am glad for their house is much warmer. We leave here Jan 20th; reach Tientsin about 9pm that day, sail from Tientsin for Kobe 27th and from Kobe Feb 4. Arrive in Vancouver Feb 15. Hope we may have word from you all. Address care C.P.R. Victoria will be O.K. or Vancouver is also all right. If you are all well and no need for us to hurry on to Toronto we shall visit Uncle Fred and arrive about the end of Feb in Toronto. At present these are out plans. Dad is having tailoring done in Tientsin. That is why we remain there so long. College closes here on Jan 17th. We sincerely hope that Cheeloo can carry on till 13 for Liberal Arts and 17th for Medicine and Theology. We are the only school or College in the Province with all years studying and preparing for exams. All others have been closed by the Governor because of student agitation. We have had some difficult times but it is thought it can be managed and if so it is a big thing for the University. Even as it is we have won a crown for the Governor compelled all others to close. Soldiers were at our gate for a few hours. Our president met the Governor and told him he and his teachers thought they could keep the students from parading and at work. The Governor withdrew his order to close. This shows the confidence in Mission schools when promises are given. If there is any sign of trouble then the president sends the students off at once. Other Mission schools are closed so it really is a laurel for Cheeloo. Dec 29: I have taught my last class. Wednesday is N.Y. and Jan 3rd and 6th exams. Dad will not be finished quite as soon and then too he has more papers to read. College closes a week earlier than planned which gives us a nice easy get-away. Chiang Kai Shek has invited all chancellors to come to Nanking and bring three students. he will meet them and discuss college affairs. All think the students should be away before the president leaves. The farewells to us have begun and the invitations. We call it eating one's way around the campus. The lasts few days we shall be with Dr. McClure and Mrs. Struthers. All invitations will be refused the last two days. An Elora friend of Dad's has invited us to visit them when passing through Vancouver. We may remain twenty-four hours. Send us word to Vancouver c/o C.P.R. We shall want to know whether you are still in Sudbury or not. I enclose a receipt for money paid into Eaton's. Thanks. Much love from Mother. Read up on the Japanese affairs as much as you get. The subject should be a big one for Bill and Helen. Much more one on which to make plans for return or non-return to China than the financial situation. We shall talk when we see you but not write. Much love Mother Jennie H. Mitchell ----------------------------------------- SS Empress of Asia February 13, 1936 Dear Folks It is only two days till we ought to reach the Canadian shore so that it is time to begin some letter writing to go ahead of us when we land. I suppose that it was sometime in December when we wrote most of you last. Well, we had a good stiff winter in China as seems to have been the case in other parts of the world. I think that the thermometer touched zero at least twice at Tsinan. The last days at Tsinan were of course, busy. Lectures, examinations, farewells, selling of goods, and packing, etc. kept us busy. Tuesday and Wednesday we took meals with Dr. McClure. Then on Thursday evening we moved over to the Struthers in order that we should be able to get things washed up and disposed of. Monday, Jan 20 we left on the evening train. Dr. McClure, Dr. and Mrs. Struthers came down in the car with us. The China Travel service had taken off our heavy baggage in the afternoon. The cook took the light baggage down in a horse car. The Honan students took charge of it there and carried it through to the train. There were about twenty people down to see us off. It was a cold windy night. For a time we cluttered the aisle of the car but when the engine was attached the people went off. They did not go away but danced folk dances on the platform to keep warm. I hope that none of them took bad colds as the result of their seeing us off. In Tientsin Mr. and Mrs. MacKenzie had gone in to Honan to the Council meeting. Florence and Eric were in charge of the house. Mrs. Forbes and Louise were also there. On Wednesday Findley came down with German measles so we packed the Liddables off to their home lest the baby be infected. Our trip to Tientsin was really to get my fur cot made up. I had bought the fur last year. I decided that I should try to get through to Toronto with the winter suit that I have been using for so long -- Jay's favorite 'green suit'. It is going to do all right I think. Mr. Mackenzie's being away caused me a little worry as to what I should do for money on the road. Friday was New Year and the banks were to be closed on Friday, Saturday and Monday. Eventually I decided that I had better invest in some Japanese money and some travelers cheques before the banks closed. I struck it pretty well so far as the Japanese money was concerned for I had only five sen left. The MacKenzies got home only on the evening of the New Year because the morning express was not running. On Monday the 27th we left on the 9.35 train for Tangku; Mr. MacKenzie coming down with us as he wanted to see that his arrangements with the China Travel service had been properly attended to. As the boat was right near the station there was no difficulty with the baggage except high prices. The broken ice was flowing out so that the river was quite clear. But before we started it was filled up again with the ice the tide had brought back. By the time we got to the bar we were in large floes of ice but going through all right. Shortly after that night came on and we went inside. The boat seemed very steady all night. In the morning we saw the reason. As far as we could see there was a frozen sea. We were breaking our way through ice six inches thick. Sometimes we would be going five miles an hour but sometimes we would come to a standstill and have to back up to get momentum. We were in the ice till nearly noon. Then both of us retired and had nothing more to do with life for forty-two hours. We were a day late in getting to Kobe. There the man from the Mission House was down to meet us as he had promised. So, we had no difficulty in getting to the customs and up to the mission house. Most of the time we were the only ones staying at the House. We kept a fire going in our room and were very comfortable. It is one of the c oldest spells that they have had in Japan for many years. While mother attended to getting our laundry out I went to the C.P.R. office. Our tickets had not yet arrived from Shanghai; indeed they did not come until the Empress came in. At Kobe we were delighted to get mail from you all. Some of it had been directed to Tsinan and had been sent from there to the steamer at Shanghai. When I was crossing the street to go into the B.P.R. office I ran across David Struthers. Before I got back up home I also ran into Murray Thomson. It looked as if the streets of Kobe grew Honan Mission boys. On Sunday we were at union Church sitting just behind the bys of the Canadian Academy. Dr. Cragg was the preacher. In the afternoon David came down to guide us up to the dormitories. We were at both the boys' and the girls' dormitories and saw all of the Honan folks. Arthur Boyd was in bed with some temperature but he was better before we left Kobe. Tuesday we got aboard the boat and got things in shape before we put to sea. In the early afternoon the wind began to rise; then darkness came down over the hills and snow came on so that one could see only a very little distance. For a time the wind simply blew all the caps off the whitecaps and spread them over the sea as a driving mist, much like a snowstorm I have seen on the prairie. The seamen were afraid that the ropes might not hold them to the dock. Just about this time David Struthers and Murray Thomson came in. They had hardly hunted us up when the signal went for visitors to go ashore. So we had to see them off into a blinding snowstorm. After all they need not have gone for we did not leave for an hour and a quarter after that. The visibility was so bad and the wind so high that they decided to wait for a lull. When we got backed away from the pier we ere only about fifty yards away from a buoy with a boat on each side of it. Had we been able to get between them there was another row of boats fastened to buoys. What between our own screws, one tug pulling on our bow and another pushing, we got slewed around so that we got past the boat and passed her with our bow about fifty yards from her stern. The boatmen were patting themselves on the back about the good seamanship. Naturally that night was not a very smooth one. But, being on our backs we were not sick. The morning was clear and we could see all of Japan under a snow mantle. We got views of Fuji from three different aspects between morning and evening. Oshima was also smoking from a snow-girt crater. It was the worst snowstorm throughout Japan for many years and many villages were cut off from light, etc. At Yokohama the dock was five or six inches deep in slush. We did not go ashore till the next morning when it was frozen up. We were not sharp on time leaving Yokohama; they said that a passenger was delaying us. When we were near the outer breakwater we stopped and presently a launch came along with a lady and her luggage. It was a Miss Bieber of Peiping. She had taken the next boat after us from Tientsin but had been delayed two days by the ice. She was late for the train at Mojhi and the next train brought her in just to catch us. it was a close go. She sits at our table. We have a very small passenger list. I think that first class and tourist we have only about twenty-five aboard. Among them there is a Mr. J.L. MacPherson of the Y.M.C.A. at Hong Kong, a Toronto man who knows a good many people we do. There is also a Capt. Mills who was in the Shanghai police for 27 years. He is one of Lutrell's congregation in Victoria. Since leaving Yokohama I have managed the dining room for all meals. Mother has eaten at all but not in the diner the first three days. We have a good sea the last four days. Our present plan is to leave Vancouver on Monday evening at 7:15 by the Soo Line. We shall get off at Fairmont, N.D. at 1.25am on Thursday morning where Fred will meet us. We shall stay there till Monday catching a train again at Fairmont at sometime after 10am reaching Minneapolis at 4.45pm. We shall leave there the same evening at 7.40 reaching Sudbury on Tuesday, Feb 25 at 10.30. We shall stay over a day there, leaving the next night at 11.00 and reaching Toronto at 8.00am Thursday, Feb 27. We do not think it is very feasible to work in a visit to Jay on the way down but if possible shall go to Gravenhurst either Friday or Saturday. Of that last we shall have a talk when we reach Ontario. If there are any serious changes in these plans we shall wire Mo and bill. The weather is still good with us and we hope that it will be till the end of the voyage, although it is colder than it was. We shall see what mail we receive at the port before we close these letters. I am sorry that our thin paper is all used up so that I have had to take thick for these last two sheets. The carbon copies are not very good. Feb. 15: Thanks for letter at Victoria. The general scheme of our movements will be as noted above. Bill suggests a visit to Gravenhurst on the way to Toronto. I shall see at Sudbury what we can do in the matter. The man on the boat did not think the transfer was an allowable one according to their booklet. Now it is going to rush us to get ready so I shall say goodbye hoping to see you on the night of the 25th. Love from us both, Your father Robert A. Mitchell ----------------------------------------- March 20, 1938 There have been several accidents this winter with the hockey players. One man has had a very bad blow on the face, broke the upper maxilla & it has been an awful time healing. It heals to where he feels comfortable & then he can feel it come apart again. He has really suffered very much with it. There have been several minor injuries but we hear of another accident, which has been aggravated today by a fall from a bike. I think the difficulty has been too many men too old for such a lively game have gone in for playing. They have had their last game & all are hoping for the weather to warm up so they can get at baseball. Some of course will play tennis for a time but they prefer the games where the numbers are more numerous. The Chinese girls are trying to learn basketball. They have a teacher & are doing very well. There are some fine tennis players among the Chinese. A few girls play. Besides the regular drill there is football & volleyball in the winter. We shall be glad when we hear what our boy is doing after April 1. How will the U.S.A. affairs strike you in Canada we wonder? Out here there are no exchange rates posted & Mr. McHattie, our treasurer, has decided not to pay the March salary till the end of April. If we need money he will write us a check or draft. We are all wondering how our little bit in the homelands will be affected. Some have heard of losses, some have word of uncertainties and we all wait till the crisis is past. I hope you can make some inquiries from Kerr about our investments. Some have had a lot of C.P.R. stock. The last few days Dad & the servants are in the garden. We have peas sown. Have also moved a few shrubs & all are being well watered. The hedge is cut & the strawberries uncovered, and watered. We should have strawberries the first week in May. We should have a good crop & I shall put down more than ever as we grow them. It is the cheapest fruit we can put aside for the winter. I gave a good many away last year but shall not do so this year till after I have a good number of bottles. With cuts in salaries and rising expenses this is one way I can save a little. There seems little to write about this week in the individual letters. As to war talk we have none here. The Chinese do not like to talk. Our Governor has gone north for consultation with a few big guns & we do not know what will come then. Some think we shall be sure to have some fighting here. If there is anything special there will be a cable. Now adieu. Do try & write. Much love from both of us. We enjoy MacLean very much so does Coral Brodie. Again much love, Mother. Lovingly, Jennie H Mitchell