They tell a story of President Sheffield, of North China
College, and a great military official, who is his friend. I
met the general once during the Chinese New-year holidays. He
is a large, fine-looking man, very liberal and progressive, and
much interested in Western customs. One day, when calling, he
was discussing these. Suddenly he drew his chair very close to
Dr. Sheffield and said in a confidential whisper: “Tell me, is
it true that in your country the woman and not the man is the
head of the household?” Dr. Sheffield drew a little nearer and
answered in the same manner: “Well, I will tell you just how
it is. Sometimes it is the one, and sometimes it is the other.
It just depends on who is the stronger.” “Ah!” and the general
leaned back with a sigh of relief. “That is just the way it is
with us.”--FRANCES B. PATTERSON, “Student Volunteer
Movement,” 1906.
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