E. H. WILBUR by E. H. Wilbur

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Mar 17, 1903

E. H. WILBUR

By E. H. Wilbur

China

HONGKONG.—I came to Hongkong to remain a few days during the week-of-prayer services. On my way here I had an interesting talk with the engineer of the steamer, and tried to sell him a copy of “Christ’s Object Lessons.” He has been buying copies of the Signs of the Times and of the Pacific Health Journal of me lately, and some time ago purchased a Bible and a copy of “Thoughts on Daniel and the Revelation” from Brother La Rue. I canvassed some Chinese merchants on the steamer. One man who could understand English well listened as I read and told the story of the prodigal son, and then he related the story in Mandarin to another Chinese merchant, who could not understand English. He must have told the story well, for the second merchant was anxious to buy the book for his son, although he was not willing to pay the price. I think cheaper books will sell better to the few Chinese who do not understand English. In this city the people buy and sell with pennies and cash. The cash is worth one twentieth of an American cent. I occasionally sell the Signs to English-speaking natives. I will be glad when we get some books on present truth in the Chinese language.

We have now lived in Canton about two months. We feel quite at home, and find the Chinese very friendly. The children are sometimes heard to say, as I pass, “Banquoy! banquoy!”—“foreign devil,”—but those near our home say, “Sin Sang!”—“teacher.”