July 7, 1933

Dear Mother and Dad,-

With all the excitement and disturbance going on, I have no had much chance to write. They have at last gotten things settled, and Ed is to be taken back to America and they will have a funeral for him on the twelfth. After that Stu and I will take Mrs. Deeds to Hong Kong and then we will mail the package to you. It is not very much, but I thought you could use it on a dress. They are pretty good pieces, and make lovely trimmings.

So far as the weather is still hot but not unbearable. In fact today it is right pleasant. I have added a little to my linen collection and by the time we are ready to come home I will have enough to last us a good many years. I want to get these nice things, because we will never have the opportunity to get the real thing so cheap. The trip to Hong Kong has knocked the blackwood chest for this month, but next month we will get it. Then I want to get some silver- candle sticks, serving plates, and cocktail set. I got a very pretty bed spread yesterday. It is applicay[sic], and all hand made as are all the things here. I also got a heavy luncheon set. It will wear well.

I am having a lot of fun. The General's wife, and the Colonel's wife want to learn English. I want to learn Chinese, so they come over here every Monday, and we have a good time learning. They do not speak any English as yet and I do not speak Chinese, so we make motions and then each says what is would be in there own language. I would love to tutor form money- students at the university, and this will give me practice, also give me a head start in the very difficult tongue here. Chinese ladies are very nice, but quite shy at first. I am lucky to have them come to our house. They seldom go out.

The Long Beach disaster must have been bad. I hope the Frenches were not in it. They have had their share of accidents.

I saw the funniest thing ever yesterday. Stu and I went to Tungshan to buy some water colors for me to play with, and walking along we came across a woman with her little boy. The little kid didn't have a stitch on- few of them do- and I didn't think anything about it, but coming back we passed them again, and I happened to glance down at the little boy again, and I almost fainted. Here he stood not a thing on- except a little blue bow that was tied around his pride and joy. I don't know if it was the Chinese symbol of x marks the spot or what, but I almost fell off the street.

July 9
Well, I am having a dress tailored by a Chinese tailor here. It's been quite a kick for me, although the people that have been here a long time dislike it very much. I drew a picture- one of the famous water color ones, and took it down, and the tailor copies it from that. Today I had the first fitting. It was pretty good, except it was too small in the shoulders as perscheduale[sic]. He said that he could fix that. I doubt it, but he may at that. The rest of the dress is good. It is of blue silk with a voile bow and cuffs and buttons. I think it will be nice. It is washable, and that is what you need here.

I have a disagreeable task before me, I have to fire the Amah. She does not wash well, and is very careless. I am so tender hearted that I cannot be gruff, but on the other hand I am so Scotch that I cannot bear to see all our clothes ruined, so out she goes.

Yesterday General Wong invited us on his boat for tiffin. The Malleys and the Terrills and the Bairds were the only people present- I mean the only foreigners present. The rest were all the Chinese Generals and Colonels etc. It was a lovely houseboat and the Chinese are very capable hosts. We do not like their food and that part is always difficult. After tiffin, they had a motor boat that was a honey take us for a ride up and down the river. It was cool and nice and a good time was had by all. The Chinese rent houseboats for the summer here- they are called flower boats, and use them for their entertaining and meals etc. They are very cool and highly decorated. It was most interesting to us to see them.

Write often and give our love to Wallace and Florence.

Lots of Love,

Jeannette.