University of Nanking - Linguist Yearbook (Nanking, China)

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THE LINGU1s'r 81 lflu meant you or me. .But the teacher was very patient while you struggled to regain your eomposure. At the end of the period you marveled at your progress. Mentally you wrote a letter home to your family and your board telling them confidently that a whole year was ml1Cll too long to spend in language study. October twenty-third-twenty-sixth. Much interest noted in the tennis tournaments, especially in the mixed doubles. Strange, isnlt it, that both men and women play betferalone. October twenty-seventh. As you made the final adjustment to the mask that completed your disguise, and followed a ghost boldly down a long Clark hall, you knew you were a missionary Who feared nothing, but you weren't quite sure that you were glad you had 00Ine. When you stood outside a door A from which issued shrieks and screams, you began to think of the things left Undone at home, and wondered whether you fought to stay. Then the door Opened, and you were pushed in.. ltattling Chains, utter darkness, a sudden lurehing it Q- into something wet and elarnmy--you Sereamed too You weren't at all sorry t0 be piloted by another ghost into a Strange world inhabited byfreaks, elephants, black cats, Harlequins, goblins, and It real livo mummy. Queen Tut-tub Gateway at Ming Tombs herself revealed facts that you thought were dead, and east a rosy halo over the future. The set seemed to be an Iowa corn field. As you walked the lfraves erunched under your feet. But the erowning event was the eating Of a real American apple, skin and all. Now you know that Halloween in China is more fun than at home. October thirty-first. 'l'he first meeting of the Bachelors Defense League, organized by the i'unolaimed masculine blessings of Nanking's missionary GiF0l0S, was

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80 THE YEAR the hospitality of the plaee in the form of Chinese noodles, the eating Of which was boldly attempted by all, but 1 know of no one who will admit that he enjoyed it except IJr. Corpron, who at that time lost any reputa- tion he may have had for veraeity. On the way Clown the Mountain, we passed Miss- lieyda and NESS Bowne. who had chosen a beautiful spot from whieh to admire the view- 'lfhey called to us that if we reafrhed the station on time, 1he train would surely be hours late, but they forgot to mention that if we were HW minutes late a Chinese train would just as surely be ahead of time. S0 they continued to admire the sunset! And the last local of the evening came in on time. We boarded it in a very downeast mood, having left Conversation the funds neeessary for flagging the Sliangliai express. Our instruction to everyone in Lungtan. Chinese or foreign, were to treat them kindly and return them to us. They turned up 0VOIlfllfLlly, tired, blistered. and happy, like the rest of us, October twenty-second. Good morning! Please sit down. What is your honorable name? Where is your honorable home? and you were plunged into your first conversation with a private teaeher. You were glad you were sittillg down because your knees shook strangely, and your head was in a whirl. You tried to remember just why you had eome to Ching, and whether

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82 THE YEAR called for Sunday morning. 'But members of the restless sex decided that such a meeting was both unealled for and unfair, with the following result: Entrance to Ming Tombs Tl1e members of the bachelor ilk At the home of Mrs Lowdermilk, On Sunday morn did all agree To feast on waffles and coffee. They scarcely had attacked the same When to their dazzled vision came Fair forms of grace and lovvliness, Each arrayed in beauteous dress, These in the maimer all sylphs have, Sweet perfumed floral tributes gave To each assembled bachelor, And then The leader of the lovely band, Standing with document in hand, Began to praise these gallant men For courage that was shown by them, Resisting as they had so long, The charms of women, wine, and song.