ing. Oh, the contrast to the little village outside! Not that there is any display of wealth, for everything is most simple, but there is a sense of cleanliness and freedom and happiness. The daughter here has natural. feet, is a sophomore in the Woman's Union College in Peking, speaks English, and when we asked her to play for us, she certainly made the little Japanese piano interpret well some comparatively difficult music. When I thought of the richness of her life and then of the red-trousered girls who stood in the doorways, I was indeed thankful that I am out here in a work that is going to make many more such transformations possible.

We had a pleasant little visit, and after singing a few hymns together in English and in Chinese, we left in the deepening twilight for the city. To my surprise the carter did not take the reasonably smooth road over which we had come, but chose a most horribly rutty and rocky one. Upon inquiring I found that this was a more frequented way and there would not be so much danger of robbers. Then they called my attention to the little mat shanties set up in the melon patches, where the farmer watches all night with his gun beside him to protect his crop.

When we reached home we found old Mr. Te sitting in his easy-chair among his oleanders, honeysuckle and nasturtium pots, playing with his baby grandson. The quiet restfulness of the atmosphere simply compelled one to sit down and listen to descriptions of what China was like fifty or sixty years ago, how he, Mr. Te, was the first Manchu in the city of Peking to become a Christian, how desperate his people were and how bitterly they persecuted him and his family, or how the Boxers put a price upon his head and did their utmost to make way with him, and how he escaped them by hiding for days in a low cave up in the mountains.

But vacation days do not last forever, and I wanted to visit some of

my Chinese friends a few hundred li south of Shanhaikwan. When I thanked Mrs. Te for all her marvelous kindness to me and for all the extra trouble to which she put herself for me, her only reply was, "The only way you can thank me is to come and stay weeks longer." Mr. Te with his usual courtesy escorted me to the train. I was so proud to be walking with him on the streets; he is such a dignified, tall, splendidly built man, with unmistakable culture and refinement in his every move.

In true Oriental style I took some things for them to their son-in-law, whose home I was going to pass on the way, for friends take the place of express companies in China. And what were the things? A letter, a huge basket of melons, cabbages, and other vegetables, and a heavy wooden cupboard with massive brass hinges and locks. With great care Mr. Te saw me settled in the third class car, to all intents and purposes a cattle car no seats, no windows, only open spaces, but one can make herself very comfortable by using her roll of bedding for a seat and her suitcase for a back. I felt decidedly Chinese ensconced there in the midst of my furniture and vegetables. It is an advantage to travel in this style occasionally for the opportunity it affords to come in touch with the people.

It was a long, hot ride of about five hours. Near me was a thin countryman without any teeth, with a basket of green peppers, dried tobacco leaves, and a long shiny fish on his arm. On one side was a scholar in spotless white grass-cloth jacket and silk trousers of a delicate lavender shade. He carried two little tin boxes of tea, with strips of bright red paper on them. Opposite were two brawny workmen, clothed very scantily, for it was a hot day; one bought a muskmelon and began to bite into it, as one would an apple, eating rind and all. The other spread out a rug and lay down for a nap, feet high in the

air, fanning himself with the most incongruously dainty little fan.

Later two well-dressed gentlemen came and sat on my cupboard and looked over my shoulder as I was reading some beautifully illustrated portions of the Chinese Scriptures, Here was my chance. "Are you in terested? Well, then you may have a copy each and read them at your leisure." Whereupon the two gentleman curled themselves up and started

in.

After a little they wanted to talk about what they had been reading; by degrees others became interested and joined the circle until there was a good sized audience. They listened attentively to the story of Christ and received the little leaflets that I had with me gladly. Even the workman across the way aroused himself from his nap and came over. After the crowd had scattered he still stood there beside me, figuring out the characters and bending over to ask the pronunciation of the ones he did not recognize.

We were all friends by this time, so that when I turned to my Outlook again nothing would do but I must tell them what I was reading now. So there followed a free lecture on the Chancellor of the Exchequer of Britain, and flying machines.

My station was five li from Mrs. Wang's little city of Lanchow, so she had sent the young lay-preacher and a cart up to meet me. This young man I had met before, but then he had a queue, so I could hardly recognize him this time. The neat close cut makes such a difference in these men. He had studied medicine for two years and had gone as medical assistant to the American doctors who accompanied the shipload of coolies at the time of the great demand for them in South Africa. This was a Friday, and as he had just been married on the Wednesday before, he was in good spirits and entertained me all the way with interesting items about. his African trip and his life in China.

Mrs. Wang's hospitality is as wholehearted as that of my Manchu friends, but she expresses it rather differently. Perhaps that is because she is not so constantly with foreigners, living as she does in this little out-of-the-way place. She is one of those dear, big, portly women, with a kind, motherly face and manner. Since her husband's death last year, she has managed the work of the church in a way, for the lay-preacher turns to her for everything, constantly, and although she is over sixty-two years of age, she goes out to the country districts around to preach to the people. Everyone loves her and all

seem to think of her as a mother. I certainly do, for when she takes one in in that big-hearted way, one knows that she always will have her place there in that home of love.

A warm bath and good supper put me in high spirits and we did have such a jolly visit in the evening under the shadow of her enormous, heavily laden grape vines, going over what had happened during the months since we last met. Interesting stories there were to tell, a revolution having intervened! Later we were joined by the Bible woman and the new bride, who added their contributions to the series of tales.

When it was time to retire, the big, ice-cold watermelon was pulled up from the well, and it served to satisfy the craving that only an American. ice-cream-soda bred person can develop. Then we waited for Mrs. Wang to lead the evening prayer, but something was troubling her. It seemed that the ground was too damp to kneel upon, and it was too hot to go into the little stuffy house. The idea of praying in any other position did not present itself as reverent to her. But she soon solved the difficulty by indicating that we kneel upon our chairs, while she and the little bride began to climb up on the long bench, one at either end, looking for all the world like two big cats with backs up ready for a fight. But

in their personal lives and troubled with questions about their attitude to Christ and his Kingdom; but she will probably find comparatively few disturbed by doubts or unbelief. This is because the Southern girl clings to her Bible with a beautiful child-like faith, which she receives as the faith of her fathers, and which burns clear and strong through all the stress of life, permeating all relationships into which her personality enters.

Such are the characteristics which the Southern college girls bring to the Young Women's Christian Associations and to all Christian and philanthropic endeavor in which they engage. Their high ideal of womanhood, expressing itself in gentle conduct of life, serves to offset any tendencies toward unwomanliness which may creep into women's organizations throughout the country. The love of home and family ties, so strong in the South, helps to preserve the sanctity of the home throughout the nation; and the keenness with which the Southern girl feels a sense of kinship tends to accentuate the realization of the world-sisterhood wherever that realization is gripping the hearts of women. And how can we estimate the invaluable contribution made by the Southern girl's faith in her Bible? Her simple, trusting faith becomes a beacon light of encouragement and strength to thousands of women who are helping to bring about a world reign of loyalty and faith, and her reverence for things sacred raises high the standards of truth and honor and purity.

To the Young Women's Christian Association, standing as it does for the highest and best in Christian womanhood, these contributions are peculiarly valuable. The Association, looking for the finest cultivation of Christian and womanly graces, finds in the Southern girl a winning combination of gentleness and strength, of quietness and steadfastness.

The Young Women's Christian Association, on the other hand, be

comes a real factor in the life of college girls in the South. It opens their eyes to the needs of fellow-women, it broadens their vision and lifts them out of a sometimes narrow view of life and limited sphere of interests, and quickens their hearts in the service of their Master. Many a Southern girl goes back to her home a truer woman and a stronger Christian, better prepared for the duties and responsibilities of home life because into her college activities have crept the subtle influences of the Young Women's Christian Association.

The South was slow to express its approval of the Association. For many years the president of one of the leading colleges for women in the South refused to allow a Young Women's Christian Association in his college. He feared that it might lower the ideals of womanhood which he was seeking to uphold among his students. This attitude of disfavor and suspicion was common for some time among Southern educators; but it has been gradually dispelled by the ideals and actual influences of the Association, until at present there an Association in practically every school and college in the South.

In the past all such organizations have been handicapped because Southern college women have been slow to take the leadership, but to-day it is encouraging to see Southern women in larger numbers coming forward as secretaries and leaders in the different activities which are being carried on for and among women. This response is most gratifying because the Southern girl, with her high ideals and genuine enthusiasm, is greatly to be desired in the active service of such organizations as the Young Women's Christian Association. We may expect to see wonderful things coming to pass in the colleges of the Southland as their girls enter more and more into all work which seeks to uphold the standards of Jesus Christ in the college or in the home or wherever women may work or live.