Elmer Coulston to Family - Apr. 19, 1931

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AARK Identifier
  • 20213758
Place of publication
  • Beijing, China
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  • In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted
Date Issued
  • 1931-04-19
Publication GeoCode
  • 39.924898, 116.402838
Date created
  • 1931-04-19
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  • Transcription: Peiping, China April 19, 1931 Dear Daddy and all, I have intended writing before this, as is my failing, but I have really been extremely busy with scarcely time to carry out my every day program. Two weeks ago we had the vacation period, when we had the opportunity to go to Tientsin and buy our piano. But a week ago today, I accompanied Elder Appel and Mr. E. C. Wood (the building contractor for the Far Eastern Division), to Kalgan to make final arrangements for the hospital, its location, etc. The man who sold us the property, had another piece of land square in front of where we wanted to locate the hosp- ital building; and threatened to build a horse barn there if we did not buy the property at an outlandish price. Well, we arrived Sun- day night, and we slept in our future bedroom. After prayer in the morning we were im- pressed to change the location of the building to the other side of the property, and then he can put up his barns without affecting -2- the hospital at all. This will also make the building so that it does not affect the view from the front of our house. There is a nice orchard of fruit trees, evergreen trees, and some shrubs that will not be disturbed, as well as a nice gravel walk around the wall. In front of the building is a dry river bed, which is filled in flood season. Due to lack of funds, since the change in silver values, we have had to cut down the building to 146’ long, and eliminate many of the windows except on the south side. Now we are faced with the fact that it will take all our funds in hand to build the hospital, put in heating, plumbing, and wiring, with no surplus for x-ray, miscellaneous equipment, even bedding or surgical instruments, and the water pump, and electric generator, we don’t where are coming from. We are still in need of $10,000, and it is only in the hands of the Lord, because we are going ahead on faith in putting up the building. They have to go down 160 ft. for water, and it costs $300 for the well alone. -3- We found that they had already deliv- ered 70,000 brick, which were not of first grade according to the samples, but were third grade, much lighter, and easily broken. If one is not right on the job every min- ute they surely put things over on you. It is going to be a great problem to keep oversight during construction; so they have delegated Mr. Christensen to be responsible until we go there about the first of June. But this means that a foreigner has to be on the job all the time that they are working on the building, check materials with blueprint, which is a tremendous responsibility. The other day the contract was delivered to a Peiping com- pany, but the papers have not yet been signed. Elder Appel is in Tientsin this week buying materials, which we are shipping by carload, sending our piano at the same time. A week ago today I gave the first injection as a protective against typhoid fever, so we were miserable almost all week -4- and now that we are feeling good again, it is time for the second one, and then the third one in another week. We make a sorry sight, going around with sore arms, aching heads, and awfully sour dispositions. I had a little fever the night (Tuesday) I returned from Kalgan; and Leatha was decked out in a new dress and new shoes to greet me too. I’ll say she looked good to me, just like an angel of mercy – weary and travel worn as I was. I was awfully pleased to get your letter on my return for it had been so long since you had written. That was terrible about George Strickler being killed. Of course I remember him, and I know how he used to drive too. We have figured out that we are safer here with the bandits than you are there with the automobiles. I think I told you that Mr. & Mrs. Smith our neighbors in the compound this year, have been assigned to Manchuria; as well as Mr. & Mrs. Brodersen our union treasurer. They are leaving Tuesday morning, and things have been in a great uproar recently, with the -5- two families packing up their things. It will make the compound seem awfully empty to have so many leave at once. Then of course, we’ll be leaving in a little more than a month, and we shall miss Peiping a lot, because there are very few foreigners in Kalgan. I am so eager to start work in the hospital I can scarcely wait, for this has seemed like marking time as far as my medical work in concerned; and I want to carry on in my profession. Last Friday morning our house was like a small hospital for I performed several minor operations, doing circumcisions on two babies in the compound. It was quite a job to get all the sterile equipment together, but Leatha pitched in and did most of it, and we got along pretty well. I started the anesthetic and Miss Larkey carried on, giving a little ether; and Leatha handled the instruments and helped me. It took only a short time for both of them, I guess less than an hour, including boiling up the instruments between. It was so much fun for a change. -6- Last week we had several days of rainy weather, what a glorious relief in this arid land of wind and dust. We donned our coats and rubbers, and waded in the mud for the sheer pleasure of having the rain splash on us. It relieved the dust, and made the hutongs deep with mud for several days, but now it is getting dusty again. The trees are such a fresh green as the leaves shoot out, and there are flowers in places too, but we long to see some natural green grass that we can walk on, sit on, roll on, etc. It was much cooler in Kalgan, and the trees have scarcely begun to bud. Leatha is such a pill (I mean the best kind in all the world) because she is all the time teasing me. She is writing in the kitchen, and just asked me if I was too bashful to tell you what we are expecting for a Christmas present. I answered, of course not, and then she laughed. We are both so thrilled about it too, because it won’t be so lonely for us in that far off place, when we are all at home together. -7- It seems like there is always someone sick in the compound whom I have to look after. Tonight it is Mr. Smith, who ate something that didn’t agree with him, now he has a fever and is vomiting. While the wind blows with so much dust in the air, one’s nose and throat are continually irritated, al- most like having a cold all the time. It is a wonder that our eyes do not cause us more trouble; but I find it helps some to wear glasses, especially with tinted lens. Just returned from giving some injections for typhoid fever. I should be preparing my lessons for tomorrow, but I have already studied several hours this afternoon. This noon we went to the legation section and looked at a German piano, an old one, for which they wanted $600.00. The tone was beautiful, but the cabinet looked like the “wreck of the Hesperus”. I am glad that we have a good piano, with a lovely action, beautiful mahogany cabinet, and a wonderful tone. Won’t it be grand when we have our evenings together, to play and sing together?!! -8- I am almost tired out, for last week was unusually filled for me: three days in Kalgan, with the tiring train voyage; missed two days of school, so I had to do five days work in three. I read some Wenli (literary works) on the train, so I did not lose so much time. Our little Chinese friends just came into visit us, and they are curious to find out what we say when we talk in English to each other. Leatha was telling them that she wrote her folks how bad I was to her, and to send her ten cents so she could come home. In a chorus they said that they didn’t believe it; the little one said it would cost at least a thousand dollars; and that they wouldn’t let her go even if she had the money. She asked me to take off my glasses to see if I could write with- out them; and then asked why I wore them. Letha is really wonderful to me, and I couldn’t find one who is so understanding, so loving. She just mothers me and makes over me so sweet and dear. Of course we’re as happy as can be, and wilder in love every day – Don’t worry, because we’re as safe here as any place. If you can help with the hosp- ital it will help very much. Lots of love, Elmer
  • Summary: Elmer to father and family. 1931 April 19, Peiping, China. ALS, 8 pp. plus envelope. lmer to father and family. 1931 April 19, Peiping, China. ALS, 8 pp. plus envelope. ‐‐ Speaks of being extremely busy, going to Tientsin to buy a piano, accompanying Elder [George J.] Appel and Mr. E. C. Wood (building contractor) to Kalgan to make final arrangements for the new hospital, etc. Had to get an injection to protect against typhoid fever. Discusses George Strickler being killed in an auto accident, people being reassigned to various mission fields, how eager he is to start work in Kalgan, performing minor operations in his home. Informs his father that he and Leatha are expecting a baby come Christmas.
Abstract
  • Elmer to father and family. 1931 April 19, Peiping, China. ALS, 8 pp. plus envelope. -- Speaks of being extremely busy, going to Tientsin to buy a piano, accompanying Elder [George J.] Appel and Mr. E. C. Wood (building contractor) to Kalgan to make final arrangements for the new hospital, etc. Had to get an injection to protect against typhoid fever. Discusses George Strickler being killed in an auto accident, people being reassigned to various mission fields, how eager he is to start work in Kalgan, performing minor operations in his home. Informs his father that he and Leatha are expecting a baby come Christmas.
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