JOHN M. STEARNS

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VALUED APPRECIATION.

B.M.  Zettler, Esq., who for many years has been in charge of the public schools of Macon, Ga., and who has, therefore, eminent qualifications for pronouncing judgment in regard to schools and school work, has written the following in reference to the Lewis Normal Institute of Macon.  We are always glad to welcome the inspection of our schools by our Southern friends, and are specially gratified with their approval of our work.

Having had this year for the first time since Lewis School was placed under your charge, an opportunity to see the institution “from the inside,” I desire to place in your hands a brief statement of my impressions concerning the school and its work.  And while I do this (without solicitation) for the encouragement of yourself and associates, I have no objection to the use of the statement in any way that you may see fit.  I confess I was not prepared to see so many practical, common-sense features in the school.  I refer especially to the well conducted industrial departments, and the prominence given to moral training.

{pg 213} The teachers impressed me as being not only qualified, zealous and skillful, but as possessing a genuine interest in their work that is as inspiring as it is beautiful and becoming.  The results of their labors as I witnessed them in the closing exercises were such as always follow where skill, good judgment and zeal are brought to bear.

I am satisfied that you, and the noble ladies associated with you, are doing a good work among our colored people, and that, too, in a way that leaves no room with fair-minded men for adverse criticism in any direction.  In leaving our city for the summer vacation, you take with you my earnest wish that you may have a season of genuine rest and recuperation and that a kind Providence may return you to us in the fall, to continue your “labor of love” in Macon.

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THE CHINESE.

Our missions in San Francisco observed their thirteenth (public) anniversary on Sunday evening, May 30th, at Bethany Church.  The audience—­partly American, partly Chinese—­crowded not the pews only, but most of the aisles.  The service was impressive and deeply interesting.  Lack of space forbids my attempting to describe it in detail, but I forward for the readers of the MISSIONARY the following address, delivered by Fung Jung, who has recently entered upon work as a missionary helper.

    WM. C. POND.

SCHOOL LIFE IN CHINA.

I suppose you would like to hear about the school life of the children in China.  The girls are never sent to school, as the Chinese do not think it is necessary for girls to be educated.  Nearly every boy is sent to school at about the same age as your American boys, six or seven.  From this time the boy’s playing days are over.  If the teacher sees or hears that any one has been playing after the school hour, he would be severely punished.  What would your American boys think of such treatment?