Mme. Diederichs' Almost Unaided Work for Orphans: A Cosy Home in Shanghai Riding along towards the Rubicon on Hungjao Road, after crossing the railway track, one sees to the right, flush with the road, a glistening white Chinese house. hia is where Mme: Diederichs has gathered the Russian orphans who lost their parents in Omsk, and for whom she cared in Harbin for two years before coming to Shang-a little over two months ago. As w representative of the "North-Jhina Daily News'? went round to the rear of the house, the windows upstairs suddenly blossomed full of childish faces, eager to see who was visiting them in their out-of-the-way home.
The visitor entered the home through the kitchen, most informally. Here, under the direction of am older Russiaw woman, a squad of children were cleaning up the room, which seemed well-eared for. Next came the big dining room, bare, but neat, with a pathetic attempt at decoration in the line of dried grasses and pictures cut out of magazines. Across the hal] was a sleeping room of the older girls, practically unfurnished except for the narrow couch beds, which ran round the walls, all made with the greatest of care. Each girl's belongings were stowed away in wooden, boxes or wicker cases beneath her bed and there was not an article out of place in any of the rooms visibed, although this was an unexpected call. Curtains had been placed at the windows and every effort made for refinement and beauty so far as their limited resources went. At the head of almost every bed hung a tiny ikon, or sacred picture, and some of! the antique brags crosses of the Greek Church hung on the walls.
Upstairs, the sleeping apartments were similar, the most interesting being, of course, the youngsters' quarters, where the babies are gathered. Childish treasures and souvenirs were preserved with touching care. The ages of the orphans range from three years to 19, and there are three small boys, brothers of the older girls, who are allowed to remain because they have other relatives. While in Harbin, Mme. Diederichs endeavoured to find the relatives of the children in her care and wherever they were able to care for them the children were sent to them. Most of those who remain have neither father nor mother and are ignorant of the whereabouts of any relatives"
In the hall upstairs a miniature chapel has been arranged, with the precious thons which are always the most cherished possessions of devout Russians, and are carried with them through all their wanderings. In an alcove screened by curtains, an altar has
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.