ALS from Shanghai during the Great Depression.
Shanghai: October 4, 1933. An amusing letter written by Adeline in Shanghai to her sister Dorothea back home in the United States, describing Chinese celebrations and rituals and commenting on the Depression and its "direst calamities".
Adeline vividly describes the Chinese "Mid Autumn Festival", including paying homage to the moon, stories from the Tang Dynasty (how the Emperor Tang Min-huang traveled to the moon), the exchange of moon shaped cakes, and moon viewing rituals.
She also describes in great detail the important seventh week Buddhist memorial services for a deceased Chinese friend. She describes the elaborate Temple, altar, decorations of dwarf pine and evergreens, tea ceremony, attendant monks and priests, and the burning of large gifts to the deceased made of paper and bamboo.
Adeline concludes with a lament about the "business situation", and a wish that "Roosevelt will be able to swing things into line soon, but think that he has bitten off almost more than he can chew".
Three sheets writing paper, 10 x 6 1/2", the first 2 written in ink on front and back. Original folds flattened. Very good condition. Item #24472
Price: $150.00