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"The
China Story--Recollections of a Little Girl's Life in Amoy, China"
(1851-1859) Part 3
by Mary Augusta Doty Smith, Daughter of Elihu Doty, RCA Missionary to
China, 1844-1864
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3 Part 4
Part 5
Part 6
Elihu Doty Page
Amoy Mission
Ms.
Jean Watson, Secretary, New Jersey Postal History Society, and
author of "Doty's
Garden", providing this copy of Mary Augusta Doty Smith's (1851-1937)
fascinating 80-page account of her first eight years of life on Amoy.
(She is nicknamed "Pussie" in the story).
Mr. Elwood, Geiger,of South Dakota, a descendant of Elihu
Doty, kindly provided the Doty photos, and permission to use Mary Doty's
story. Mary J. Geiger was given a carbon copy, with handwritten
corrections and additions, and retyped it in Spring, 1972.
Obtain more Doty infofrom Reformed Church of America (RCA) archives at
www.rca.org
Continued From Part
3
[4th of July
Party] Above our living floor was an open verandah, well
railed in fancy brick work wall, where we often went for cool breezes
in the evenings. I remember a famous Fourth of July party held up there.
The guests were the American Consul, and the British and Dutch Consuls.
There were English and Scotch missionaries, and the American ones, and
several English and Scotch tea merchants, and their wives, who were mother's
and father's warm friends,—Mr. and Mrs. Boyd of England, and Mr. and
Mrs. Syme of Scotland, who formed a very congenial social group. There
were officers from our own small fleet of "Men of War", as they
were called in those days, and British officers of "H.M.S.'s",
more numerous.
We sang National airs—“Hail Columbia", "Yankee Doodle",
and "God Save The King" to our own tune of "America".
I do not recall "The Star Spangled Banner", and hardly think
that had drifted so far from America, or perhaps it was too near facts
to be an acceptable song between Britons and Americans! There were wonderful
fireworks in the Sail Yard, just opposite us (where the poor insane man
had. been chained). Father was ingenious in planning some of them, which
Chinese skill carried out. China is the home of fireworks, as we know.
One that father planned was a large illumination of "E Pluribus Unum".
I should say the letters were a foot long or more. Another was a rowboat
full of people, who pulled oars in unison as it ran over the ground. I
do not vouch this to be a fact, but it certainly is the impression left
on my mind. There was a high fountain of sparks such as we sometimes see
yet. Pleasant banter between English, Scotch and Americans occupied some
of the time, between these friends up there on the roof of our home.
Another scene comes to mind with English friends. Father and mother were
seated on the lower verandah, which we used oftenest as the coolest spot
in our house, and some English merchants were calling.
They brought a colored map and illustrations of the battle of Sebastopol,
which had been fought in the Crimean War of 1854-56. Now, somewhat later,
though fresh in their minds, these had found their way into Amoy.
Probably the Englishmen had been in the battle, judging from the intense
excitement they showed, as I recall, as they pointed out this spot or
that, and described encounters, with exclamations and enthusiastic conversation
between them all. I must have been very young, for looking at the red
lines here and there and red figures of men, I thought these must be pictures
of bloodshed in the battle!
Another touch of interest with our British friends, especially this fall
of 1930, was the presenting to my brother Charley of a bound volume of
"London Illustrated News" for 1851, containing the account of
the first race for the America's cup, run in British waters, In which
the cup was brought to this country'-and has remained here ever since.
There are pictures of the boats in that first race, and of the Cup won.
At the same time, one of the young men also gave me a paper weight in
which the picture of Prince Albert was encased. He was still living at
that time, and he and Queen Victoria appeared to be much beloved by the
English colony in Amoy; and this glass paper
weight with his picture, was given to me as something of special value.
[Gulangyu’s
First Piano ] The young
tea merchants often called at our home, and enjoyed mother's singing and
playing on the piano for them. She was the only one who possessed a piano,
of the entire foreign colony. It is on record that an Englishman asked
father's permission, most courteously, if he might present her with one.
There were a few "melodeons", but no other piano!
These young men brought pieces of music for her to play or sing for them—just
new then "Lily Dale", "Wha'll Buy A Calla Herring' from
a Scotchman, and "Blue Bells of Scotland", "Auld Lang Syne",
" "Sweet Afton", "Annie Laurie", and others.
She often sang to other groups,—or to her own family, the old darkey
songs, "Old Virginny", "Rosa Lee", "Up and Down
thee Swanee River", "Old Kentucky Home". Also the "Last
Rose of Summer", and many others whose tunes I have carried always,
and which seemed old familiar ones, when transferred to the "sings"
around the piano after we reached America. We children often sang with
her, songs within our childish comprehension, and hymns whose words she
taught us first. The Chinese women seemed spellbound at the instrument,
as well as the voice, producing such sweet sounds. Men, too, wondered,
as they came among us for calls now and then.
British warships often anchored in the harbor, when their officers who
were acquainted, or new ones who accompanied them called on us. A pleasant
story, before my days of remembering, is of an officer's becoming very
ill at our home, and of mother's nursing him, and preparing appetizing
food for him, and so forth. When he left, he sent to her from London a
beautiful long watch chain of gold, and a very grateful letter of appreciation,
both of which are in my possession now.
Our own Navy officers came to us in the same way. Commodore Perry visited
us more than once, while on duty in Chinese and Japanese waters. The last
time, I must have been developing my interest in sewing, for, reading
between the lines, mother must have been telling him that I could sew
(at six years of age), and he made a great pet of me, bringing out a white
silk handkerchief, and saying pathetically he wished he could have it
marked so it would not get lost. I at once offered to embroider his name
on it, which deed was profusely and gratefully accepted.
Mother produced some pink sewing silk and marked a "P" in a
corner, and I embroidered it--beautifully, in my own estimation, I remember!
I was greatly praised for it by the Commodore, with expressions of gratefulness
that now it would never be lost; and I can still feel the swell of my
little heart over the good deed. My sewing skill did not lessen
in my own estimation.
[Original
Sin] Mother once set me to hemming a handkerchief, and
I reasoned if I could hem finely enough, the stitches would not show at
all, so why not cut the task short by telling my mother I had finished
it? When she remonstrated with me with, "Why! my child, you have
not hemmed it at all", I looked right into her face, with all the
assurance of ignorance, and said, I had finished it, only it was done
with such small stitches she could not see them. I was remonstrated with
again, and stoutly maintained that it was sewed; and still I remember
the look of horror which passed between my parents over such a brazen
lie, coming out of nearly baby lips!
And then with what sorrow I was led into the study and left there alone
to think over my sin.—For the disheartening of future parents with little
sinners, I do not remember anything that was said to me, or what I thought
about. I was not spanked—that I know—and after a while mother came;
(and this probably was the most efficacious treatment) and looked very
sadly into my eyes, and I threw my arms about her neck, and she me, and
I cried and she kissed me, and we made up. But I never told lies again
as easily or with as little care for consequences!
I suppose my parents said to themselves, out of the Theology of those
days: "This is a terrible example of, and confirmation of the 'Doctrine
of Original Sin, that it should reveal itself in a child of theirs, so
carefully nurtured and taught and prayed over!
And, just then, two heretics may have been born who dared to doubt the
authority of Great Councils, met In convocations; for among father's papers
are copies of letters of protest sent to the Foreign Missions Commission
of the Dutch Reformed. Church, against the Walls of Sectarianism, all
built on the Authority of Councils as to what were true creeds and doctrines
to be obeyed. He was pleading for unity in work among Missions. This happened
long, long years ago, before this day of Grace—with the subject still
protested and unsettled!
One lesson was always impressed upon us children from our earliest days;
"Thou, God, seest me.", and as our conception of God was of
One who loves us, this little verse accompanied by this impression, I
do most heartily indorse as a strong preventative to all impure thoughts
and wrong-hearted deeds—the stated lie to the contrary notwithstanding—so
keeping the channel open to hearing "Do unto others--" and "Love
one another." This little insight into the heart and purpose of my
parents I wish to leave on record of the loving care and thought always
faithfully and lovingly given to their children.
I recall the patient despair of my mother shown toward me at one time.
There was a large basket in the store-room with two half lids opening
and shutting from the center to the ends of it, and when laid on its side,
produced doors of the lids. I conceived the idea of playing house in this,
and was soon soaring up in the clouds. I had occasion to crawl in and
out of my house very often, to provide for my family of children, or to
call on friends after making motions of putting on my bonnet. When, Lo!
All my schemes of life were cut short, as mother's voice called, "0!
Pussy! See what you have done! Your pretty blue dress (covered with a
pattern of little white palm leaves) all torn to pieces!" And I do
not catch the echo of a cross word said! The splints in the basket had
caught the dress, and made innumerable "bats' ears"!
But the words said were enough to stop future depreciations into unknown
consequences, and my pretty blue and white dress disappeared. Father came
in on the scene with looks of sympathy for mother and reproof for me.
[Candy Stories]
Out of this same store room, all lined with closets and cupboards, comes
a vision of standing in front of mother with my brothers, Charley and
Sammy, and baby Marcia, to receive in our hands delightful little pink
and white peppermint candies, taken from a large mouthed glass bottle,
which we eagerly watched her lift down from O! so high up, we thought—I
wonder why?—and put her hand into to get for us. I think these candies
came in the boxes from home, kept replenished "for the children".
Sweets were dealt out to us from another source which comes into mind
with this scene. There was a Chinese friend who evidently came into
our lives occasionally when returning to Amoy.
He was welcomed warmly by all of us, I remember, and he always brought
us a cake of sugar preparation which looked as large as a cheese ten inches
in diameter, I should say, to our childish eyes; but judging from the
way sizes which are immense in children's eyes, dwindle down as the years
increase, may have been about three inches in diameter—just big enough
to be chipped off a number of times for a delicious treat, day by day
until all was eaten.
Another candy story comes to mind. Chinese peddlers, or venders, carrying
cabinets hung on one end of a pole placed across the shoulders, and on
the other end, either a brazier of charcoal swung, or another cabinet,
according to the articles for sale, came now and then into the hall from
the street, and we were called downstairs to see their wares. The candy
man had fondant keeping hot, or melted over the fire, and he would blow
figures after glass blowers' methods, some very ingenious, some like lollipops;
and father or mother would buy them for us. I remember a rooster which
was blown before our eyes, which had a bit of reed in its tail, so arranged
as to cause a crowing—to our great delight. Another vender would show
beautiful pieces of silk, or of embroidery, and skeins of silks of all
the delicate shades which we recognize in their fine work in this day,
which has found its way into our wardrobes or markets.
Food was such a casual article with multitudes of the people that a brisk
trade was carried on by these street venders, who sold a bowl of rice,
or a bit of vegetable, or boiled dough, and other simple edibles, for
a few cash, gladly bought by many to soothe the gnawings of hunger; or
there would be better food and treats for the well-to-do.
[The Barber]
The barber had his following, too. He carried his shaving implements
around from door to door, and was hailed in passing, or solicited a job
of shaving heads back to the place where the queue began, in those old
days where queues were commanded, to show submission from the Chinese
to the Manchurian Empire. Besides shaving heads, the barber massaged the
eyeballs—and another illustration that "there is nothing new under
the sun. He also cleansed the ears before completing his job.
We children liked to slip down to the kitchen to visit old Jambi, though
were soon brought back to our own floor by our old boa, or nurse. Jambi
was a Malay, and had a smile for us or a bit of sweets. He specially petted
Sammy and Mousie, the younger ones. The latter was still learning to talk
readily, and mixed all three languages: our own, the Chinese, and Malay
tongue, in a single sentence. Even when we first arrived here, at four
years of age she chattered often in the triple languages combined. However,
this was soon dropped, having been separated three or more months from
their influence, it was forgotten.
[Daily Menu]
Jambi used to come upstairs daily to consult with mother about the day's
menu—very simple though it was. I do not remember mother's going to the
kitchen to supervise any cooking, except once to make guava jelly. I tagged
along too, and have a vision of the juice being squeezed through a cloth
by Jambi's big hands, and of the rich red jelly being put into jars which
were covered with white paper (no fine lids in those days!).
Our food was rice, continually, and always eaten with brown sugar, whose
good taste I have never lost and enjoy the combination to this day. There
were crabs and fish, with curry, and chicken, and lamb, and sweet potatoes,
and as a great treat, a few white potatoes which had been brought in by
some steamer; and very poor and bitter and puckery they were, too, to
my taste. Yams were our standbys instead. I have no recollections about
bread or biscuit, hot or cold, except hot English muffins, on the table;
but bread and brown sugar was served to us, I do know. There were puddings
and cake in their proper time and place—cake made in waffle irons was
our delight, as we counted the window panes in them—and of course, much
fruit in their season. These articles stand out in my mind, though I have
no doubt there were others--perhaps some not good for little children.
One more service from Jambi looms up before me. We had two kittens—white
to begin with—Tommy and Tatty, and very precious. Every day he brought
up to our verandah a dish of boiled rice with little fishes mixed together,
for their food (the tiny fish not more than an inch long).
Our old Boa was very faithful and full of affection for us, always alert
to guard us and do mother's bidding. She had a young woman daughter who
lived in the back quarters with her, and assisted her mother with the
four of us at times. A son of hers also, who carved nuts in wonderful
designs, or figures and animals, for his living, seemed to be often there;
and I was fascinated in watching him use the tiny, sharp knives or chisels
and other very diminutive tools. I even asked him to let me try to do
it, but he shook his head very positively! I think I must have had some
of the assurance of present day Young America!
Continue to Part 4
E-mail: amoybill@gmail.com
Snail Mail: Dr. William Brown
Box 1288 Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian
PRC 361005
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