Letter from Y.H. Ou to Grace McClurg, November 17, 1918

558 W. 113th St.
New York City
Nov. 17, 1918

My dear Miss McClurg:

I have not written you for some time. I can only tell you that I was very busy with books. However I like my work very much. All my teachers are leading educators that Uncle Sam has.

Well, you told me to be careful if sick. And I was sick two weeks ago with influenza. I was in bed for two days. Indeed it was a hard luck to me for I did not any personal friend to look after me. Thank God, I have been improving rapidly and am now in normal condition. I moved to 558 W. 113 St about a month ago. Here is our Chinese Students Club House. Nine Chinese stay here, and about fourty board here. Breakfast and lunch are in American style, and dinner in Chinese. We use chopsticks.

The club house is provided with all sorts of facilities; such as music, games, newspapers and magazines.

I am the assistant manager of the house. My duty is to collect money from the boarders. In return I get my board free. The work is easy but the responsibility is great. I have to handle about six or seven hundred dollars a month with care.

It takes quite a while for me to adjust myself in N.Y. City. I now begin to like New York better and better. I have been several public places. Next Saturday the industrial art class teacher is going to take us to see the Scripners Publishing House.

I have just been informed by the secretary of the university that my college credentials were satisfactory for entrance and I was duly accepted as candidate of master degree. I am aiming to finish my work this year. I might go back next summer, but I cannot say for sure, for very likely I shall stay here until 1920.

Say, you know I never heard from my home folks since I arrived New York. Yesterday, I read some Shanghai papers saying that many terrific battles were fought in Hinghwa between North and South. Houses burnt, people killed, poor Hinghwa people. I wonder if you have heard anything from Hinghwa.

There are many returned missionaries in Columbia. Two ladies from China are in my class both of them from northern China. There are several others.

Where is Mr. Carson and his wife? Are they in Ohio? I am told that Deng seung- leng, another Hinghwa boy has arrived in this Country and is now in Baker University. Please give me your address so I can write you directly.

Sincerely,
Y.H. Ou