time of their return, the young emperor, Kwang-hsi, had issued
edicts to the viceroys of the various provinces, ordering them to search
out and send to Peking, young men versed in modern affairs, who could act
as advisers to him. Several of these young men held a meeting in Nanking
before proceeding to Peking. Two of them had heard of the young doctors
just returned from America, and, on their way to Nanking, stopped at
Kiukiang for the purpose of calling on them. The doctors, however, felt it
wise to adopt a conservative attitude in regard to receiving calls from
young men, lest their influence with the women with whom they were to work
should be weakened, did they violate Chinese custom in this matter. Miss
Howe therefore received the guests in their stead, answered their
questions, gave them such information as they desired, and presented them
with the diploma of one of the doctors. They displayed the diploma at the
meeting at Nanking, where it created much interest. The son of Governor
Tang of Hupeh, who was at the meeting, spoke for two hours on the
desirability of educating women, and suppressing the custom of
foot-binding. Then and there a society was organized in which these men
pledged themselves to marry their sons only to natural-footed women, and
their daughters only into families whose girls were allowed to grow up with
natural feet.

At about this time, also, Chang Chih Tung, one of the most eminent and
public spirited viceroys of his time, sent a representative to wait upon
Miss Howe, with the request that she and the young physicians accept
positions in a school which he wished to establish in Shanghai. His aim was
to develop a University for women which would train women teachers, and he
wished also to have a medical department in connection with it.
Foot-binding concubinage, and slavery were dealt with directly in the
prospectus; Sunday was to be observed as a holiday; and liberty of
conscience in the matter of religion was to be allowed. While no religious
books might be taught in the school, no objections were raised to religious
work being done privately. When this request was brought to the Women's
Conference of the Methodist Mission they passed a resolution expressing
their sympathy with the proposed plan, and advising the acceptance of the
positions by Miss Howe and one of the doctors, "if in the process of the
development of the plans they feel it best to do so." Although as the
plans developed M