Malinda K. Miller Diary

92 April 1, 1922 – Saturday We were up betimes, and plenty to do, to get off on the 7:45 train for Thazi, where we had to change for Kalaw. The school bus took us to the station; I think Miss D. had no less than a dozen [dozen] and a half separate boxes and baskets. Saya's Po Lu & Ba Myint went to the station with us, & the latter on to T, Miss D. paying his way, of course. We had about one hr at the junction, but it was pretty well consumed in getting our "luggage" transferred, etc; mine had to be reweighed, excess, storage, etc. paid. Saw Mr. Hackett on his way to Maymyo; then Dr. Cumming, & Mr & Mrs Seagrave also going to K., but they were near the front, while we were more at the rear of the train. An Indian was in with us for awhile, but when he departed we had the compartment to ourselves the rest of the way. We bought bottled drinks several times after we had lunched, as we had no water along with us. We reached here about 4 p.m.; Miss S. was at the station to meet her parents, & at her suggestion we ordered dinner at the station. Mr Ah Sou was there also, and very glad we were to see him; he got two bullock carts to carry our traps and bargained with the porters – who were women as they are at T. – showed us the way here, called the [?]- wallah, helped us make up our beds, put up the nets – which they say we won't need here – and otherwise made himself indispensable. Misses [page damaged] & Tell were out for a walk when we arrived but

93 Miss Johnson was here. We soon saw Mrs. H. & Herbert who room next to us

April 2, 1922 – Sunday This was "big bazaar" day, so we all went down to do the family shopping; Miss D. & I were not ready to go when the others departed, so we went a little later. Saya was there, & rendered himself useful as always. We met many of the other missionaries also, bent on the fleshpots of Egypt. I want some of the handmade silver earrings that their Shan women wear – this place is located in the Southern [Southern] Shan States – and some of their wellwoven & shapely baskets; a certain kind make lovely waste baskets; they carry them on their backs, as they do their babies. Miss D. left and went to Burmese service. We had some of the yellow raspberries a big meat dish heaping full, for breakfast & again for dinner, my first experience. We also had the fruit called ox heart, from a fancied resemblance in the shape, which most of us liked. The valleys & wet weather creek beds are all terraced for paddy planting & the first I'd seen in real life tho' it was familiar thru pictures & usually in China. I expected to go to ch. in the p.m. but was so busy unpacking that the time slipped upon me before I knew & I stayed at home, as did Mrs. H. & small son. The others reported a good sermon. We had family prayers at Miss J's suggestion right after breakfast; we'll also take turns reading _ alphabetically so it won't be a scramble each time. Miss D suggested using a book of hers on John, which was accordingly done. The sun comes in our room badly in the aft

94 April 3, 1922 – Monday Lesson in class from 7:30 - 9:30, except Sat. then 3 hrs. per wk. of individual work, is the arrangements [arrangements] we have made. Ida & I each had one this a.m. Saya brought a handful of earrings [earrings] this morn. I bought 2 prs., one at R2 & the other at R3 The other 3 comparatively new- comers [newcomers] also bought some. I had to pack books again this morn; also sew on some buttons, darn a towel, get up soiled clothes – & then the dhoby did not return, he came while we were in class – and do other necessary jobs. This aft. Ida & I went calling – out the road which runs by "The Pavilion" - the Tilbes, with Misses Hastings & Pound being first; Misses Rainey & Phinney next; then Misses Adams & Peter at cases third; thence by the short cut to the Cummings, Howards [Howards], & Miss Peterson's, the McGuires being in the house; the others in the garage and servant quarters respectively. Thence to the Marshalls & last to the Harrises, when we had to hurry home before dark. We plan to go again tomorrow aft., when all are here there will be 51 A.B. M's vacationing [vacationing] here – ten of whom are children. We go to Ts for prayer meeting tomorrow eve, & here next wk. I believe is the plan. There are two lovely Marshill Neale [Maréchal Niel] roses growing on either side of our front doors so I wore one in my hair last eve, and several [several] at my belt this. We had strawberries out of our garden at breakfast, gathered by Mrs. H & child

95 April 4, 1922 – Tuesday My 2nd private lesson came right after lunch today & then Saya talked for another hour; he is painting flowers on some black bags for sale; he said he sold enough last vacation to pay for a long trip – up to Lashio, Mandalay [Mandalay] & various other places & that he, his son, & a cousin took. We were told that prayer meeting was at 5:30; instead [instead] of that it began at 5, so we were all late; I was latest of all as I was asleep & didn't wake up till nearly that hr., so had to do some hustling. We didn't get to go calling as I was studying & I was so sleepy. I'm studying upon my long-neglected grammar. We had chicken polau for dinner last eve, but I'm not very fond of it, I find on investigation, so I hope they won't have it often. I must load my kodak tomorrow, also darn stockings & wash some. The dhoby came at noon today; we had many interruptions about breakfast time. We are now planning to go calling again tomorrow. I cut one row of roses yes. which took about half an hr., and then put them in roses which took another. There are pines here, about the first I've seen in this country. The view from our house is lovely, up and down a terraced valley – where rice is grown – with a circle of hills about, to the northwest there are several ridges. I love a rolling country, and find a flat one very monotonous. Rachael has a lovely Manila hammock along; it is put up in the large middle room, which is sitting & dining room combined. Miss J. is reading [reading] my "Leopard Spots"; Gertrude read it (not my book, however,) since she's been out here, & I believe Emma. I must get out my heavy red bath robe for this altitude Haven't used my mosquito bar thus far.

96 April 5, 1922 – Wednesday I spent a most uncomfortable night; J put her net down when she retired; I didn't, but wish I had! I was awakened numerous times & laid awake for a long time, so sometime towards day when Mrs. H. struck a light, & I knew J. was awake, I then put mine down. I got out my heavy red bathrobe after class, & my unfinished sweater on which I knitted for awhile. We went calling again this aft., but as we didn't get off till late we only go to Jury's & Heptonstalls. We are planning to go again tomorrow. On our way back we stopped by the Weeks shack and got the box of beads from the A.B. M. Blind School in Bombay & also the two boxes of lace; the darned net pieces take my fancy more than the others – perhaps because I haven't seen so many of them. Got the two hand one center; & the "May" set of 3 pieces, which I think I'll send to Ruth Theis for a bridal gift. Think I'll take one string of beads – they strike me as rather high – & perhaps a half doz. motifs of the other lace. It really doesn't suit me to buy so much right now, tho' it really is rather cheap, but the trouble is; if I don't take it now, I may never have another chance, as these things do not come around often. While waiting in the road Mrs. McG. told me some past history about the Prome mission & why they haven't a school building there. Misses G. & T. went to call on some English people the former knew when a child, & incidentally brought back some beautiful roses. We had a mixture of choc. corn starch, mulberries, strawberries & sauce for dessert. The oven was being built by Miss J's "boy", an oil tin pro-

97 cured [procured] so we hope to be able to do some baking. I believe I'll try my hand at a cake!

April 6, 1922 – Thursday Another uncomfortable night, as a mosquito was under my net, & I was cold, too; a bad combination. I had no private lesson hr. yes. or today; have been putting in some hard licks on the grammar; & this a.m. on the reader also – but I like John far better; it is easier, too! Miss D. & I went calling again this aft., 1st on the Cooper-Johnsons, & then looked for her other friend from Meiktila and also the other A.B.M. domiciled in the Methodist House, neither of whom we found, altho' we must have walked miles. When we got back we found the young Chinese lady Ang Nya and her husband calling; they were in their Chevrolet with a chauffeur, & remained about three quarters of an hour. Mrs H. had the happy thought of gathering the lady a bouquet of flowers. Mrs. C-J told me Mrs. Cox & Peter are here, so I must look them up also. Tomorrow is big bazaar, again, so we are planning to arise early. We showed the laces & beads this eve after dinner and all but Mrs. H. & Rachael bought something; must fix up and take to Mrs. Jury tomorrow. When I went to my room about 9 p.m. found the Amer. mail on my bed; if I'd known it was there I would have been at it long before; got 8 letters, 2 Literary Digests & a Current Events, these are the 1st of my magazines to put in their appearances, so I was indeed glad to see them. Aunt L sent me a pink handkerchief for a Birthday gift, Belle [?] 2 pr. shoestrings & 4 green hairpins. Nette sent 3 kodak pictures.

98 April 7, 1922 – Friday I took a walk after chota with Misses G. + T. for about an hr., getting back in time for class at 7:30, my private lesson was swapped off for this hrs; they came next, & class later, on acc't of the others going to bazaar. I saw the blue birds with red bill & long tail marked with white that Mrs. J. was telling me about this a.m. We had yellow raspberries for breakfast – also pork of which I partook sparingly. I got a lovely green cotton crepe kimono em. in white from the Amoma class of White Temple, Portland, Ore., this morn; Miss Annie McK. had written me about it as it was sent to S. (duty A 8.) Have heard nothing of the black cape & dress sent me by Mrs. DeVase, worse luck; am very uneasy about her, as she is not well; I fear cancer as it seems to run in her family. Katharine Fenzel has a box on the way for me. Got letters from Anna Mabel & Mary P. a couple of days ago; both M. & K. had just gotten their Mother's lace collars & seemed pleased. Mr. Ah Sou got a basket for me at bazaar, but I haven't seen it yet (a.10). Took the things to Mrs. J. & then crossed the valley to call on the Kleins of Moulmein, Gateses & Hattersleys of Rangoon, A.B. Ni's; then went to the other side of this large double house to call on the Riggs & Bells, A. Methodists; & back again in time for dinner. The grass was being burned off along the side of the road we traveled, a habit they have out here; I've had several reasons given but none

99 that seem really adequate. I chopped citron, Emma & Rachal [Rachel] seeded raisins, Ida & Gertrude cracked & picked nuts for a double batch of cookies.

April 8, 1922 – Saturday I didn't get up very early this a.m. as we were told we could sleep late if we wished. More letters arrived last eve, but I didn't find them till I went in to go to bed, as they were under my sweater which was on it – from Miss Annie & Belle; Nette – with 3 snapshots enclosed. Katharine, who gave me her famous candy recipe; Mrs Irvin of Pittsburgh; Aunt Lizzie enclosing a pink handkerchief for my birthday; Bessie Wildman who is in Dauville; and Miss Ann Gibson at the school for the deaf at Morganton – the longest of all. Today I had a note from Dr. Kelly and letter from Mongtomery Ward; later I got another from the latter which had been sent to the press; – one from de Souza saying my prints had been sent; for developing 5 rolls (30 exposures) & printing 27, R10/12. Mr Ah Sou brought me the basket he purchased & visited us on our tiny porch for about 2 hrs. At 4:30 Ida & I went out to go on a bird walk with Miss Peterson; Miss Adams was also along; we followed the valley stream towards town & were fortunate in finding over a score of birds; over 500 are to be found in the Southern Shan States, however, but of course that takes in all seasons of the year & many migrants. Misses Bowey & Phillips arrived this p.m., their train was an hr. late; Misses G., T., & I went down to meet them. Misses Hasseltine & Stevens came up with them on their way to Tongin [Tongin]. Dr. Henderson was called home on account of the illnesss of the Sawbeva's wife, so never got to us at all. It took all day to bake the cookies with

100 our inadequate facilities. The lanterns have again been acting badly, so we managed to get another lamp.

April 9, 1922 – Sunday Ma Me & a Eurasian girl about 9 yrs. old also arrived this aft., but I did not know it till bedtime. Several went to Burmese early service – but I did not. Wrote cards a good part of the day, but fear only the 4 I wrote yes. and an equal number [number] early this a.m. caught the mail boat. We all went to 5 o'clock service at the Meth. Ch; Miss D. & I went by for Saya to show us where the Chinese [Chinese] lady lives in order to invite her to go with her, as per his suggestion, but he had gone when we reached his house, which we had some difficulty in finding. When we got to the ch. he was there & thought we had time to go back, which we did accordingly, but as Ang Nya was going out in the motorcar with her husband Eng Ann she would not go with us. Dr. McG. preached, & I must confess to disappointment, as his sermon did not "head up" anywhere. Miss Terry of the Y.W., and several of her "girls" from their camp were there, and the former was invited to the Heptonstalls for tea Wed. aft; it is Mrs. H's birthday – I learn from the Book of Remembrance. A great many of the Burma missionaries have natal days in this spring month, three out of the 10 in this home; Miss B. & Mr. H. have already had theirs – the same day; and mine yet to come; however, I already have a gifts – most unexpectedly – a painted tray cloth of Chinese design from Mr. Ah Son (like he gave Mrs. Robbins) & a

101 pink em. handkerchief from Aunt Lizzie; the kimono from the Amoma class could be for this – or Easter – I don't know which.

April 10, 1922 - Monday Miss D. & I went to the village to do a little shopping – for her – & then, as we had plenty of time, to call on Mrs. Eng Aun – who was out, but as we went along the street she saw us and called to us, so we went in to the house of Mr. Martin – chief of police; when her husband came he proposed an auto ride, so we walked to this store to get in the car and then he first brought us up here to pick up someone else, Miss T. being the only one in, went – after some hesitation, we passed the others on the road so took in Herbert, and had a lovely drive around circular road. They came in awhile afterwards, but left shortly after 7. Mrs. H. & son went to the train today, but Mr. H. didn't arrive. I did not take an all over bath either yes. or today in this cold mountain water. I wrote out my list of lace purchases to give Mrs. Gates tomorrow (R. 63-4). Am still studying the grammar; also putting in considerable time on John & the Reader; we have laid the Primer aside, & hardly ever sing – I gave Dorothy, the little Jewish girl with Ma Me, & H. some colored paper dolls to cut out yes. a.m.; they seemed to enjoy them very much. I didn't get any letters written today. We had delicious fruit salad for dinner this eve. Mrs. Case & small son Clark arrived today – but I haven't seen them; H. & C. are about the same age and can play together, as they are nearer each other than any one else. My print from deSouza came this a.m. (R.10-12), & we had a very interrupted morning [morning] session; in fact all day – as Mon. often is, it seems to me.