Rensselaer Republican, Volume 22, Number 7, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 October 1889 — What the Chinese Cannot Understand. [ARTICLE]

What the Chinese Cannot Understand.

From some extracts of a letter published in the Presbyterian Messenger, it is learned that the first major surgical operation performed in Changpu by the Presbyterian missionary was in many ways a remarkable one. One evening a beggar with a dreadful leg, and in all but a dying condition, was laid by some of his friends at tho door of Dr. Howe’s house, and left there. The doctor had the patient at c».ce carried to an empty bouse belonging to one of our church inemb'rs, and there on the morrow, in the presence of- a large and wondering crowd, amputated the limb below the knee. To the suprise of all. the man stood the O[)crath)n well, and has sinco greatly improved in general condition. That the foreign doctor should pay so much attentio;i to and spend so much time and trouble on a beggar seems to have astonished the Chinese. They cannot understand how any one should give himself so much trouble without being p iid for it I heard one say, as he was watching the doctor doing his work: ‘ •Well,' “Tff6 CH I h manl'VmuTd ’hot do such things.” It came to our cars that a number of the'shopkeepers in the town are not at all please I that the man’s life has been saved. They hoped he would die, for he has been a source of great annoyance to them. He used to go Sihopa. and expose his sickening sore, and refuse to go away until they gave him what he demanded—viz., 4tX) cash from the largest shops, down to 8) cash fpm the smaller ones. There Is every probability of his recovery.