IV

PIONEER WORK IN NANCHANG

In the first year of the young physicians’ practice in China, a launch had been sent to Kiukiang by one of the high officials of Nanchang, the capital of Kiangsi province, with the request that one of the physicians should return to Nanchang in it and treat his wife, who was very ill.  Dr. Kahn went, and brought the woman back to Kiukiang with her.  After a few weeks under the doctors’ care she returned to Nanchang completely recovered, and gave such glowing accounts of the benefit she had received that many of the wealthy ladies of the city followed her example and went to the Kiukiang hospital for treatment.

At that time no American missionary work was being done in Nanchang; but the successful treatment of the wife of the official is said to have “opened the gates to Protestant missionaries.”  The Methodist Mission soon established a station there, and the work grew rapidly in spite of the fact that Nanchang was not an altogether easy place in which to work.  As it was in the interior and off the highway of travel, little was known of foreigners.  Moreover, there was a rowdyish element of the population which was very hostile to them and everything connected with them, as Dr. Kahn had good cause to know.  Soon after the work in Nanchang had been begun by their mission, she and Miss Stanton made a trip there, the latter to do evangelistic work, Dr. Kahn for medical work.  Dr. Kahn shall tell the story of their experiences: 

[Illustration:  A Village Crowd]

[Illustration:  One of Dr. Kahn’s Guests]

“One afternoon, Miss Stanton and myself went to call on some ladies of the Plymouth Brethren Mission, the only other Christian mission besides our own in the city.  The day being warm Miss Stanton had the rain cover of her sedan chair removed.  Unfortunately it was a hired chair and there were no side curtains, neither was there an upper curtain in front.  When we had gotten fairly started boys began to follow us, and by the time we had reached our destination quite a crowd was with us, and rushed into the compound ahead of us.  Once in, we planned to cover the chair; and also waited till dark for our return, hoping that by that time the crowd would have dispersed.”

“However, when we got ready to start, there was a large crowd still clustered around the court and door.  They allowed Miss Stanton to get into her chair first and start off, but when I followed, then the fun began.  The coolies would take a step or two, then the chair would be pulled almost down.  Yelling at them was of no avail.  Finally a stone was thrown and one of the windows broken, so I thought it was time to walk.  The crowd called out, ’A foreigner! a foreigner!’ I was almost ready to cry with vexation, and could not help telling the people that they were cowards and barbarians.  One or two of the bystanders now began to take