very different pictures must be. presented in the 1938 report of the Presbyterian Mission in Hunan—the first showing the results of a major war, which had not reached the borders of the Hunan Province and the second after the awesome spectre had arrived at the very doors. The first picture shows thousands of refugees like drifted leaves, blown into the midst of our own teeming population. Their presence has had a very definite influence upon our life and work, Hunan already a province of 30,000,000 has been right in the path-way of the tides of humanity flowing westward. A nation is in flux, Hundreds of thousands have passed through seeking refuge and safety and new homes in the provinces beyond. And hundreds of thousands have stopped in Hunan, Some of the cities have doubled in population in a few months. ime, Changsha has grown from a city of 00,000 to one of 800,000, Hengyang has trebled in population' during the year, and all eltios have been taxed {o the utmost by the myriads of new people driven into our midst from the! North and East, They have not merely come as me dividuals and families but also as institutions. Whole schools have moved with students, faculties, hospitals ud staffs, training schools students fond teachers have swarmed into our: midst.
The fall of Canton and Wuhan and the burning of Changsha, when it was expected that the enemy would soon occupy Hunan, caused terror to strike Fefugees in our midst, and sent them further west and south. "Wounded soldiers by the thousands were trans ported to other places, and the popu-Tation of whole cities evacuated to country places or into places away from the probable line of battle.
Mr. Birkel was able with the help] of seven servants 10 fight the fire which would have taken much of the Changsha property, but for their gal-Jant efforts. "Bucket brigades saved the slang Primary School, only by the sheer bravery of these mien. 'They were a very happy group, who wore invited by Mr, Birkel to receive the thanks, a' small group of the Hunan missionaries, and given a small token appreciation for their efforts.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.