Letter from Hattie to Father, July 1, 1871

Letter from Hattie to Father, July 1, 1871

Birthdays; Fourth of July; Missionaries; Visitors, Foreign; Girls' schools; Telegraph; Pocket watches

In this birthday letter to her father, Harriet Noyes catches him up on everything that is happening in China. The letter continues the narrative of the opposition between the Chinese, and the foreigners and missionaries. She specifically focuses on the tensions between the Chinese and French, and the possibility of war. Harriet also writes about telegrams, watch chains, and other minor topics.

Noyes, Harriet Newell

The College of Wooster, Special Collections, Noyes Collection, Box #1

Unpublished

1871-07-01

Council on Library and Information Resources Hidden Special Collections Grant

PDF

eng (English)

Text

noyes_c_cor_054

Franco-Prussian War, 1870-71

Canton China
July 1st 1871
My [u]dear[/u] Father
It is the evening of
July 1st your birthday. I wish I
could cross the space that separates
us as easily as my thoughts do and
spend an hour or two with you.
Henry has just come back from
a trip of a few days into the country
and he is busy with his writing.
This time while he was away Dr
+ Mrs Kerr insisted on my taking
my meals with them a kindness
which I appreciated for I do so
dislike eating alone. I only
commenced this letter on the 1st
and thought I would ^[wait] until
after we got our mail to finish
it as it was due in a day or two.
But the steamer was late this time
and we did not get it until
the 5th. The "glorious Fourth" did'nt

excite much enthusiasm in our
patriotic I think it was too [u]hot[/u].
I spent most of the day in study
and all the day thinking about
the arrival of the mail that did'nt
come. It did get into Hongkong
however in time to fire a salute
"in honor of the day we celebrate."
Several of the home letters speak
of the opposition of the Chinese to
foreigners + missionaries and want
to know the truth about it. I dont
know whether you have seen a
copy of a paper drawn up by the
"Tsung li-Ya-moon" the Congress of
China ordering that all foreign
ladies should be sent home immediately
no girl's schools allowed and the
operations of all missionaries curtailed
in every possible way. I suppose
there is no doubt that such a paper
was drawn up and presented
to the Foreign Ministers but of course

they would not hear of it at all
and so the affair was "quashed".
There has been [u]nothing[/u] here to
indicate in any way any feeling
of dissatisfaction more than usual.
Some people think that the signs of
the times are that eventually there
may be war but I dont know that
there is [u]any thing[/u] at present to
indicate it. But if it should be
so of course the foreigners would know
it in time to make any necessary
arrangements for safety. There is
one thing that makes it seem
to me as though perhaps it may
be so and that is that it seems
as though China must undergo
a thorough change and great
changes in natives are almost
always effected by war. Is it
not dreadful the state of things
in France. Have you
thought about the telegraphic communication

lately completed between China
and the rest of the world so that
you would know in America
almost immediately if anything
of importance should take
place here. You must not feel
any anxiety about us for we see
no ground if we did we would
certainly write and tell you
so, -- I see the Memorial Fund
has been made up, next mail
we shall hear from the Gen Assembly. I
hope Mr Preston made you a visit
on his way home from Chicago. I have
lately developed quite a passion for
making watch chains such as the
one I enclose for you hoping you will
like to wear it for our sakes. You can
"[u]play[/u]" that the hook (which is silver washed)
is from Henry + the chain from me and
so think of us both. I have given such
chains to Dr Kerr Mr Marcellus Mr Corbett
+ Mr Loomis and Henry has worn one a
long time so you see you will be in the
fashion. If the silk wears off [u]before I come
home[/u] some of the girls will cover it again
for you. I wear such a chain minus
the hook + made one like mine for Mrs
Carrington when she was here. My
paper is full so must close. That one Heavenly
Father richest blessings may Ever be yours + that
he will share you many [u]many[/u] years is the prayer.
[Note: Vertically written]
Your [u]own loving daughter Hattie[/u]

中国广州
1871年7月1日
亲爱的父亲，
今天晚上是7月1日
您的生日。
我希望我可以跨过隔开我们的鸿沟，
/
并且和您待上一两个小时。
Henry刚刚从一个乡村旅行回来，
/
他现在忙于写东西。
这一次他不在，
Kerr医生和妻子坚持要带我吃饭，
/
我非常感谢，
因为我不喜欢自己吃饭。
我一号才开始写信，
我想过一两天，
在我收到邮包的时候，
我可以寄出这封信。
但是船来晚了，
我们直到5号才能拿到。
“第四光荣”没有激发我们太多爱国热情，

/
我认为太热了。
我一天大多数时间都在学习，
一整天都在想邮包没有来的事情。
/
它到香港了，
但是那里放烟火，
我们庆祝我们的荣誉。
很多家信都说中国人反对外国人和传教士，
/
/
他们想知道真相。
我不知道您有没有看过
/
中国出版社给所有外国女人订的一份法令，
/
那会很快寄到家里的，
很快就不再允许女校，
而且传教士也会通过任何一种方式减少。
我认为
这样的议案已经起草并提交给外交部长，
/
/

但是，当然了他们不会听说的，
动议讲被否决，
对传教士没有比平时更多的不满，
/
/
所以有些人会认为会打起仗来，
/
但是我不知道现在怎么样。
/
但是，外国人会及时知道怎么回事，
/
还有该如何保证安全的。
/
有一件事，
对我来说像是正确的，
中国好像真的要经历战争
/
然后当地人被战争极大影响。
它没有法国那边发生的那么严重。
您有没有想过以后发电报联络，

/
从中国到世界各地，
以至于，
您在美国可以很快收到一些重要的通知。
/
您千万不要对我们感到焦虑，
因为如果我们会通知您，
我们这边怎么样。
/
我看到纪念碑资金已经筹集了，
/
下一个包裹我们会收到来自组织的信。
我希望Preston先生会在会芝加哥的路上拜访您。
/
我对制作怀表有很大的热情，
/
比如说我上一次寄给您的，
我希望您可以在我们的帮助下带上。
您可以问我哪个挂钩（银色的）
是Henry带来的，而且链子是我带来的，
您可以想到我们两个。
我把链子给了Kerr医生、Marcellus先生、Corbett先生
和Loomis先生，而且Henry带了很长时间，
所以您可以看出还算时髦。
如果丝绸在我回来之前掉了，
一些女孩可以帮您修复。
我带这样的链子去掉挂钩，
当Carrington太太在这的时候，
为她做了一个和我的表很像的，
我要停止写信了。
神父会为您祈祷的，
他会和您分享很多很多年的祈祷者。
【纵向书写】
爱您的女儿Hattie

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