July 26, 1933

Dear Mother and Dad,-

We received your letter today, and as per schedule were very glad to hear from you. It is always one of our greatest pleasures to get word from our folks. I have received all the letters you mention, and hope you keep up the good work.

The weather is just the same here, and we are doing quite well. I have added two new pots of flowers to the other new ones, and our porch looks very fresh again. Stu had two big clothes racks made , and our closet is much more convenient now.

Stu and I have a lot of fun rummaging about in the old shops. The other day I was looking for a hanging to put over our mantel piece. We are not getting anything except what we want to take home with us now, so we looked long and carefully, and finally found a beautiful skirt like the one Florence had. It is embroidered solidly for about two square feet. I took the panels from the rest of the skirt, and will make a hanging of those. We purchased the skirt for two and a half dollars gold, plus two little strips all embroidered in birds- a military insignia. The panels will make beautiful hangings. We also got a silver dish with dragons on it. It is very lovely.

Mrs. Lum one of the General's wivies took Gwen and me down to shop. The Chinese of course know where the places really are. They can do much better than we can. She took us down Ivory street.

On this street, are many little shops where they are making all kind of Ivory ornaments by hand. I did not have much money with me, but I managed to get a little man. He is a little Chinese old man with a fish and a pipe, and a palm leaf raincoat. He is a typical character, and is very amusing although he stands only two inches high. As I have said a dozen times before, we are going to to get a chest soon. Next month it will be purchased.

Last night we were invited to a party by an English Doctor on Shameen. It was his intention, I believe to make it a very cosmopolitan affair. Several nationalities were represented. English, French, German, Russian, American and Lord knows what else. I have been told that the Orient collects everything in the way of people from soup to nuts, and I know that is right. I just wish you could have seen the different types that were there last night. The only really interesting one was Pant (believe it or not) His Excellency the Secretary of State of Germany. Well what a time was had by all. Leave it to me to pull a boner in the way of bringing up the war while talking to his nerts. He coughed spasmodically and I regained my lost calm with effort. Then to ap the climax some fun loving limey (English) accused the poor be-monocled German of blowing ashes in my face. Well we had apologies and all kinds of fancy things for a while. He was very interesting to talk to and after I could tear my gaze away from his monocle, I found that he was very nice although he looked all mighty stern. We had our picture took and everything, and if the Doctor crashes through I will send it to you, that is a picture of the whole bunch. Stu and I were just about worn out with smiling and bowing but that alas must be the price of education. Ho hum.

This week the parties are coming rather thick and fast. Neither Stu or I care for them that much and we get kind of tired of going, but seeing as how that blackwood chest is coming up, why all the invitations to dinner are welcome. Tonight we are going to a ladies' house who's main topic of conversation is her latest sickness. Wot fun. Hehe. Tomorrow we are going to dinner with people we enjoy- the Carnegies so we sill have a good time then.

The Amah we have now is the Mother of our other Amah. She has been running around here bare footed and looking like a refugee. I got her some white socks and slippers and two new jackets and she is all pleased with them. I guess that they are the first shoes she has ever had. It is hard to be hard hearted, but if you show the slightest consideration, they think you are soft and will do you in for every cent you have. But the Amah answers the door, and I can't have her letting people in looking like the dickens, besides, grimy feet are the most unappetizing things in the word.

Well Stu and I say almost every day- we are having a wonderful experience, but we hope to get out of here as soon as things look even moderate at home. This is no place for us. A year is all right. We can lear many things, save a little money, get some pretty things to take home with us, but we hope to that we will not have to stay much longer. The whole trouble is money. We are living well and saving a little here, but I think we would be happier if we could make less and live at home. The point is could we even make a living at home.

The Terrills have been collecting a menagerie while we have been trying to collect nice thing (smug smile at this point). They have a canary and a darling little Chow dog, and they are contemplating getting a Police dog. They will find that it is not the initial cost, but the upkeep. Isn't it good to be pleased with ourselves.

I hear my master's footsteps now, so it means tea. We have stewed tomato sandwiches and cookies and milk and cocoa for tea today.

Love to all,

Jeannette.