Malinda K. Miller Diary

62 by Katharine Reid.

March 3, 1922 – Friday Miss D. went to town after breakfast yes, & got me R.75, so of this I gave to Miss T. at the station to buy a crate of thinne butter; 14 went to J. for room rent; I paid Miss D. the 3 she loaned me, and Saya 3/8 for the book ordered and received not long since. I finished reading "Modern Buddhism in Burma" by Purser and Saunders, the first of the eight required readings for this year. Washed hose and handkerchiefs and did a lot of other trivial but necessary things. About five p.m. we decided to go to the college to tennis tea, and arrived there found about a score assembled to play and partake of sandwiches (three cornered) and layer cake (evidently homemade). Mrs. Jury was embroidering a small pillowslip and seemed more industriously inclined than any of the others. I asked about getting some of the required books out of the college library. Miss D. asked Mr. [Whituab?] about sharpening her tools, which to my surprise, she had brought along in her small shan bag; this was over an hrs hard work on a small treadle grind stone, with a smoothing off on her oilstone, Mr. Ah Sou brought me a handful of creeper seeds today, which I've put carefully away in an envelope for future use. talked to Miss Smith first this aft; later to Mrs. Safford; and briefly to Miss Hunt. Took a nap at noon, but after about half an hr's snooze was awakened to pay duty and postage on the apron red and white, which Aunt Lizzie sent me. Got two I J's this wk. for the first time in a coon's age; also "missions" and a number of nice letters and cards, Plus some lurid oil prospectuses – which went in the waste basket in short order. Mr. A. has been

been out a good deal, for dinner especially, etc. to my great relief. Dr. K. picked us up in his car on our way back. March 43, 1922 - Saturday Went to town after chota this a.m. to de Souza's for my kodak pictures which came to R16/ & Pepsodent tooth paste R 1/8; then to the press for postals A.9/ & back again – late for class as the St. Cary conductor & some Mohammedan passengers had an altercation about the fare, & "police" were freely spoken of, the mortorsuan stopped the car; others shouted for him to go out, etc. Saya had brought me some of the yellow cosmos seed, also the beans of another creeper. – both wild. Finished "The Birds of Burma" by Harrington, loaned me by Mrs. Pattle today. Miss D. finished her blue crepe slumber robe today; I do not seem to have accomplished much. We went to Mrs. Cowasice's to tennis tea this p.m., hiring a gharry for 2 hrs. Met Misses Campion & Jackson, Lady Minto nurses, English women; our host conducted us over his flower garden & up to the highest balcony of "Tower House" for the view. Two dozen or more men & women were present, but we left about seven; the play had ceased and those remaining wound their way up to the house; they have a grand piano & sometimes have music later. I was given a cordial invitation to return, so I think I shall go again soon & take Miss Peterson along with me. I learned at the tea yes. that she is quite a bird lover also; I was speaking about it at the dinner Table & she told me that at one time she was able to identify 135 of the native species, & has promised to take me out for some bird walks at [Kalow?]. Mrs. Howard invited us; thru Miss D., to dinner next Wednesday evening. Misses Chapman & Walden, Ma Sein Tha, [Bolo?] and Chima were here to a Guide meeting; yes. aft. and were first leaving as we came in; [?] aloud to tell what I'd heard the aft before [?] [?]

64 but she knew it already. I hope we won't have the horrible racket tonight we did last.

March 54, 1922 – Sunday Misses D., Peterson and I went to the High School Compound and saw Mrs. Safford baptize seven boys & four girls. On returning I wrote a dozen postals while Miss D. was away teaching S. S. In the aft. I wrote four more cards and as many short letters; read some in "The Heart of Buddhism" bathed, dressed & went to the deaf school to tea. Mrs. Grove called while I was gone – sorry to have misled her. Stayed too late to go to church, and I wanted to as this was communion Sunday. Finished the book by Saunders & looked over a couple of Literary Digests. Joseph says the outlandish noise we're been hearing every night of drums, cymbals & yelling, etc. is some sort of Indian worship and will last all month! - and there are 31 days in March. All six of my last roll of films were good – tho' of course some were better than others; but at least none were spoiled. Miss Campbell had on a lovely shade of blue voile this afternoon. The deaf children had been entertained by the fire department the aft. before & came home with a fine collection of toys and souvenirs. I go for breakfast next Friday; take Mrs. Robbins over Tues. aft. Saw Misses Eastman and Southerland pass by for a walk while there Miss D. & Mr. Josif went to the Eng. B. cls with Dr. K. tonight. Many of the irises & trees are beginning to bloom now; these will be in their greatest beauty later I am told, not long before the rains. One of the bells came off my dress, so I sewed it on this p. m. as I wanted to wear the voile, not getting out a fresh one; wouldn't Miss Florence be shocked? I don't know whether Miss D. was or not. She leaves for M. next Fri. eve & then I'll be here alone. We dine at Howard's Wed. eve.

March 5 1922 – Monday Saya was over half an hr. late this a.m; He missed his train, he said but he's been tardy frequently here of late. The Americans are to meet for luncheon at the Strand Hotel (with 3 A. bishops) next Wed. I got a postcard notice this a.m., so Misses D, P., & I are all going. Think I shall also go to all the tennis teas that I can this next week or so, as I won't have many more times to attend them. Took Miss Haswell's card, which had been here several days, over to her when we went to class this aft. After tea Miss D went to town, & I went over beyond the r.w. station to try to get a picture of the ugly water buffaloes; the first I took will doubtless be bad, as I'd left my stop on "time" when I thought I was taking a snap, so took another which I hope will be good, tho the subjects were rather faraway. Miss P. went to town and was also out to dinner last eve – I think at Miss S's next door. Think Mrs. W's tea, or whatever it was, also came off this aft, instead of last Fri, as I at first supposed; perhaps she has had a series, however. There was a parade of some of the native peoples to vary the noisy program last eve. M. prayer meeting is to be held at Duffs tomorrow eve, so I hear, but it is Gaites' time, & neither Miss D, nor I got a notice. Miss G. made the suggestion that we have a class morning session at K., & then each have an hr. privately in the aft., so may be this will be done, coming from that source; this has been suggested before, by Miss D. if no one else, but has hitherto not been acted upon. We retired rather late for us – after 10.

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March 76, 1922 – Tuesday Warming up again today. Mr. & Mrs. Lewis, nurse & baby arrived after eleven last night; as I had probably just gotten to sleep, I did not rouse, but Miss D. did; I was wakened between one & two by a return of the noisy procession, however, & remained so for quite awhile, hearing the hall clock strike from time to time. This a. m. Dr. K. returned from his trip over the Chinese border, with Dr. Robbins & Messrs. Henderson & Wiatt; at breakfast he had some interesting experiences to relate; I'd like to hear more, but he leaves for Bassein tonight. Began "The Silken East" by O'Connor yes. aft. where read about 100 pp. as there are many illustrations; I've read about as much more today, which is half through – but there is another large volume. Prayer meeting at Duff's tonight, led by Mrs. Phinney as our host had to be absent for a part of the time attending an important Judian meeting – his is their special missionary; only about 25 present, as a number of the women have already left for the hill stations, Mrs. Jury sent me "Buddha, Buddhism and Burma" by Dr. McGuire and Mr. Phinney; and "Transmigration and Karma" by Slater; by her her husband; these being the only two out of my list of eight that Judson College possesses. Messrs. Armstrong, Lewis and Nichols talked (or prayed), while Mrs. Seagrave dismissed us. We went by train but returned by tram. Got the home mail this aft., letters but no packages – a valentine from cousin Mary Clay.

March 8 1922 - Wednesday It seems to me that instead of improving that I'm doing worse on my dictation on Burmese than ever; it is certainly discouraging. We 3 went to the A. luncheon (tiffin) in house of the 3 Methodist Bishops. I had the pleasure of sitting beside the speaker Bishop Fisher – who knows Bishop Darlington & Mr Samuel Higginbotham of India. My righthand companion was Mr McClair of the N.C.A, who also knows the latter; he inquired about the Misses Hunt & Seel, neither of whom were there, nor was his wife. The hotel orchestra put a medley of A. tunes in honor of the occasion; Mr Moffitt took out Mrs. W & behind him was an A. flag; at the other end of the table was our Mr. P with Mrs R, with a B. flag. We had a nice menu; about 35 were present, only nine of whom were Baptists. Mr M said there were 102 A.s in Rangoon. A Mr Fisher, a tobacconist sat by Miss D, on the opposite side of the table from me, with a young M who once attended Asbury College, on the other; one of the other bishops was at the corner & a Mrs Smith next. The Chaneys [Chaneys] came in this p.m. to see about passage to A as they leave on furlough ere long. We were at Howards for dinner; Mr & Mrs Duff, & Messrs Gard & [Sowards?] were also there, the last two walking home with us. Mrs D. also goes to A. in April, with her son & daughter to Texas. When we returned found a letter & parcel from Mrs Witchell, the latter containing a collar of her sister's & Mrs Brackenridge – and some Christmas cards – the latter for "the children." We had a lovely dinner with fresh corn, delicious choc. pie

68 March 9 1922 – Thursday homemade candy, & little nut and fruit cakes. The wash came in this aft. & gave the dhoby two prints of himself – one in each pose. Gave Mrs Robbins a dozen or more local views also. Missed class altogether in the pm. Went over after breakfast just in time to tell Mrs. Wiatt [Wiatt] and Mrs. Robbins goodbye – they were already well loaded in a taxi. Went over this eve. for about an hr D. and I had previously been to wish Miss Phillips many happy returns of the day; we found Dr & Mrs. Thomas, Miss Ragon and Miss Phinney (the elder) all there for the Burmese association for this district which began today at the Lanmadaw [Lanmadaw] church. met the latter for the first time; she and Ruth Conrad came out together across the Pacific. Miss D. packed while I was out this eve, but had not finished when I returned. The Cs left today – they didn't tarry long. The Lewises also departed – on the same train with Mrs. W. & Mrs. R., as all were going to Maymyo. Miss D. was down town & got my prints yes. aft. Miss Campbell [Campbell] called about 5 & remained for an hr.; they both chose some of my prints – the former 1 & the latter 2 rupees worth (they are 4 annas [annas] each. Been good and hot again today; Miss S. in class a little while this aft., she is having [having] English exams. now, so hasn't been with us lately – not even at prayer meeting Tues. eve. Mrs Duff has lovely curly hair; also a beautiful [beautiful] long strand of amber beads.

March 10 1922 - Friday As soon as school was out, Miss D. & I went to the teak yard near here, but down by the river, to get some snaps of the elephants; she took a couple of the water buffaloes on the way. Arrived there we found seven, but they were not working; all were under a long shed having their hay. Three of the mahouts came out from their huts nearby and took their beasts out in the sun where we could get good pictures; Miss D got half a dozen, but I only had 2 unexposed on my roll, so that was all I took; regret I had no more with me. This aft Miss D. finished packing & at four we went in 2 gharries to the station; she had over a dozen pieces of baggage, about which I teased her, but she said when I'd been there awhile I'd acquire the habit; may be so. It's true nearly everyone here does go loaded; of course there's a reason for some of it, but it also seems to me there is a reasonable [reasonable] limit. Went to the dentist this a.m.; he ground off, but did not fill the tooth that the gold dropped off at tea yes. aft. I stopped at de S's on my way back by train. Mr A was at the station; he was out to dinner last night, with the Duffs again, I believe; & said he was going to Moulmein for a few days visit.

70 Dr. K., Miss P. & I at dinner; I was called upon to ask the blessing. March 11, 1922 – Saturday The hour on Saturday a.m. usually goes quickly. After chota I dusted the dressing table, chest of drawers, trunks, chairs, boxes, ledges, suitcases, stands, etc. Got soap out of the box at the bottom of my trunk; put away [away] a few boxes and bottles off the bathroom shelf. Told Joseph yes. I wanted the room cleaned today; at chota I reminded him & at breakfast I had to tell him again – also ask for clean sheets and towels; he then said the sweeper would come at two; he did not appear till after three, when I was ready for my bath, so then he had to wait till I was out at four p.m. After a hurried tea I went out to Insein to see the McGuires [McGuires], but they were both in here at the Burmese [Burmese] Association; on returning I called on Mrs. Miner & Miss Hastings; they were both out also, presumably at Italian opera; so I had a most unsatisfactory afternoon. Wish I'd gone to the opera, I love music & miss it all out here. After breakfast I wrote about a dozen cards and several letters, mailing them as I went to the train; have off the more important [important] ones, but have several others to get off yet. Fat Miss Peter arrived this p.m. & has no.2; Dr. Gifford arrives in the a.m. & will occupy no. 1. Got a little mending, reading and washing off hands. Didn't go to town as my small errands

71 can wait till Monday. Haven't been to the Ass. yet, but have had no one to go with me evenings, & been too busy in the daytime.

March 12, 1922 - Sunday Got up rather late, went to Lanmadaw to 10:30 service with Misses Geis & Gifford (M.D.) the latter arriving this morning; between 15 & 20 of the missionaries were present on account of the Association. I saw several who were at the Prome-Zigon Association last month. Dr. & Mrs. McGuire were over at the next house for breakfast, so I told the former I wished to see him, & he promised to come over before two so I could have a little talk with him; I waited till 2:30 – then too late to go to the afternoon meeting & then went to the deaf school to tea, more in response to the note of the night before than anything else. Left about 5 in order to call on Mrs. Grove, who, I regret to say, was not at home. We seem fated to miss each other. Then I stopped by Croton Lodge to see Mrs. Pattle; her husband and Mrs Brown also came along; she ordered lemonade [lemonade], we had an interesting talk about birds, the Prince, etc, so I remained about an hour. On leaving I was invited to tea at the Gymkhana again [again] tomorrow aft. Got back too late for ch. again, but it was so hot I didn't care much. Miss Peter came in and chatted awhile in the aft. I gave her some soda for heartburn; & Dr. G. a toothbrush, as she had forgotten hers, and later some paste as well. Had to go to the bottom of my trunk for them. Disappointed about the deaf school; but the less I say, the less I'll have to regret; so I'll keep my tongue