Viewing page 99 of 104
This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.
Chinese Girl Pilot Keynotes PHILADELPHIA RECORD, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 1941 United China Drive [[photo]] LEE YA CHING, China's first aviatrix (right), who is spending several days in Philadelphia speaking on behalf of United China Relief, which will open its drive here on November 24. With her is little Anna Yung, 3169 Reach st. The courage and adaptability of Chinese women in wartime was praised to the skies yesterday by a slim Chinese girl in decorative native dress whose only thought is to help her people. Mis Lee Ya Ching, first woman to obtain a pilot's license in China, on an actual flying trip around the country to raise money for United China Relief, spoke to the woman's division of this organization at the Warwick as a preliminary to Philadelphia's campaign to raise $250,000 of the national $5,000,000 quota. The drive will start here on November 24 and ends on December 31. She described the morale of the Chinese women as "completely undiminished" in spite of four years of war and saw no possible reason for her countrymen or women giving up fighting before China is victorious, having driven the Japanese from their land. She Gets Lonely. Miss Lee, young and attractive, with complete poise and fluent English, gained from two years at school in London and English tutors in China, expects to return to her homeland in March to fly medical supplies to the interior of China, a trip which takes many months by foot and sampan. And she hopes to encourage other Chinese girls to organize an airplane ambulance service. Women in China are actually fighting on the front battle lines, relieving men by serving in the police force and working farms, she said. But hardest thing for them to bear is giving up family life that is so very important in China. Miss Lee, only daughter of a wealthy Chinese gold and tin mine owner, knows what it is to be away from home. She has been in this country for three years, and, although she has made many friends, she says she's often very lonely in hotel rooms in strange cities. Her brown eyes light up an otherwise impassive face when she speaks of her work, but she considers her personal life unimportant. "I saw millions of undernourished in China. I saw doctors operate with crude instruments made of bamboo sticks and rough iron. They have no ether, no antiseptics. After the war there may be time for other things, but no one who has seen this kind of suffering can think of himself." Lives for China. She changes the subject if you ask her whether there's a Chinese beau back home or a new American one here; smiles politely at compliments on her exquisite black and purple brocade Chinese dress and jade and amethyst jewelry. And very courteously she doesn't answer questions on her age, or on whether she ever wears Occidental dress. She lives for China, and seldom takes time off from reading or speaking about its current affairs. But we're relieved to say she admits she does go to the theater now and then, and enjoys a horseback ride as a change from airplanes sometimes. Miss Lee remains in Philadelphia until tomorrow addressing schools and organizations. Mrs. Benjamin F. Pepper, head of the newly created women's division of the United China Relief, presided over the luncheon. [[photo]] Your grocer now has delicious NEW CROP California PRUNES Get some today!
