Every year at Nanyoh there is an autumn school held in September at which Christian workers, including many preachers and school teachers gather for three weeks Bible study, mission work amongst the pilgrims, and recreation. This year some 400 Chinese have attended the School, there Being men from twelve different provinces as well as from all parts of Hunan. There were at the close of the month, seven foreigners who were cut off by the progress of the civil war from Changsha. Dr. Keller had taken up not only his good wife, but dear old Mother Keller who came to China when she was over 80 and is now 87. One lecturer is connected with the Bible Institute of Los Angeles and it was important for him to get back to Changsha this week in order to make his connection with his ocean steamer booking.
A week ago this morning, my friend Mr. D. came to consult with me as to the best way of getting the party down from Nanyoh. A steam launch had been engaged to tow a large house boat; but it was impossible for the launch to go to Hengshan, the port Some 10 miles from the school, without a° foreigner on board and indeed, unless the foreigner were a man of some experience and weight, it seemed hardly likely he would be able to get through. As I had just a few days before our own theological school would be open, I offered to go myself, though I made a condition that the consul should know and not forbid the undertaking. In his turn he made the condition that the general in command should know_and not forbid. A visit to Gen. Yeh Kai-hsing's headquarters secured his consent to my starting. All that day there was no small amount of firing practically at Changsha itself as Chai Chu-yn's troops had taken up a position at the foot of the Yoluh Hill right opposite, though happily each side was screened from the other by the island which divides the river almost the whole length of Changsha.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.