RILEY RUSSELL, M. D by RILEY RUSSELL, M. D.

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jan 7, 1909

RILEY RUSSELL, M. D

By RILEY RUSSELL, M. D.

From Oregon to Korea

WE reached Soonan, September 24, after spending just one month on our journey from Roseburg, Ore. We spent some time in Japan, as our boat stopped several days at the different Japanese ports.

Tokyo, the headquarters for our work in Japan, is a city as large as Chicago, or larger. In the distance we saw the mikado's palace. After leaving the boat at Kobe, we stayed at the sanitarium until Monday, visiting the native sanitarium and the church, where one of our native ministers preached to an interesting audience. Dr. W. C. Dunscombe is working hard, and the sanitarium is full.

Japan is interesting to a foreigner. The hustling little people, their queer ways, the green-covered mountains, and the extensive rice-fields, all impressed us very much. Korea and Japan are almost opposites in appearance; for the Korean mountains are rocky and almost bare, and there is no timber to speak of. Korea might be described as a level country covered with mountains; for everywhere are flat, fertile valleys, where rice, cotton, millet, wheat, a certain large radish, peaches, pears, and Kafir-corn, are raised. Their chestnuts are very large. The persimmons, about four inches in diameter, are excellent.

The people are about as large as Americans. They look somewhat like the American Indian. Many of them are established in the truth, and those whom we know we like very much. Our teacher refused a good government position to stay by us.

Everything here appeals to one as of great antiquity. There are ancient tablets scattered over the hillsides. The east gate in Pyong Yang was built while David was a boy. And when we see the things about us which look just like the pictures in the old family Bible of the people in Palestine, etc., and understand some of the needs of this people, we can say as never before, “The harvest is great, but the laborers are few.” The people, diseased and poor, in their little mud-walled, dirt-floored, straw-roofed houses, certainly appeal to us as needing help. Already we have had patients who have walked thirty-three miles to reach us. We are all happy, and of good courage, and feel as never before like working to win souls for the Master.