The Unexpurgated Diary of a Shanghai Baby by Elsie McCormick Page B
Authors: Elsie McCormick
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Liyang Lu. Jessfield Park, where there was once a small zoo, is now called Zhongshan Park.
In Chapter 4 , there is a reference to
the Empress of Asia
, one of the great passenger liners of that age, owned by Canadian Pacific Steamships Ltd and launched in 1912. The ship transported British troops to Shanghai in 1937 to bolster the garrison of the International Settlement and was finally sunk by the Japanese near Singapore in February 1942.
This book is all about a world that has gone. But the feeling of that golden world of the Shanghailanders between the two great wars of the 20th century is here to be savored.
Graham Earnshaw
Shanghai
December 2007
Chapter I
In Which the Baby Decides that âHome, Sweet Homeâ Must Have Been Written by Orphan
⦠The Charms of Calling Sinza Road ⦠Amah Stages a Funeral ⦠The Strange Vagaries of Silk Host in Shanghai.
March 29
The family has been raving about somebody called Opal Whitely and somebody else called Daisy Ashford that they said were infant prodigies. I guess Iâm as smart as they are, even if a lot younger, so am going to keep a diary myself.
The family canât read it, of course. Theyâre awfully stupid. Heard mama say just now that the amah had better take me out, as Iâm making marks all over a piece of paper on the dining-room floor. Will continue diary in kitchen. Thatâs where I spend most of my time anyway.
I live in a nice brick house with my family but though I have been introduced to the others, I am not well-acquainted with anybody except the amah. She speaks a nice, easy language and not the funny kind of foreign talk the others use. Am learning tounderstand them, though. This morning I heard them wondering where all last nightâs chicken went. But when I started to tell them about the cookâs two cousins who are boarding in the kitchen, mama said, âListen to the little dear. Heâs trying to say âDaddy.ââ
Have decided that the family is quite hopeless. Will learn to read the Want Ads as soon as possible so as to find a new home.
March 30
There are lots of things about grown-up talk that I donât understand yet. Today papa told my auntie that if she didnât make good pretty soon, he would send her back to America. Auntie cried and said that if papa would be decent to poor Bertie, she would soon have a man to care for her.
âBertie!â said papa, âHe isnât a man; heâs a lap-dog.â âHe comes from a very good family!â Auntie said, crying some more.
âHe must have come a long way,â papa said.
âAnd he knows some of the best people in town,â auntie replied.
âPerhaps. I always said myself that the night watchman was a pretty good fellow,â papa remarked.
Itâs too deep for me. Am going to take a nap.
March 31
Went out today with the amah. Mama thought we went to the Public Gardens, but we didnât. Amah took me calling on Sinza Road where all her family live in a nifty two roomed house. They were very much interested in my new back tooth. First amah put her finger in my mouth. Then her brother, Lo Shing, First Rate Lady Best Style Tailor, put his finger in my mouth. Then her cousin, Ah See, who runs High Class Christian Gambling Parlor, put his finger in my mouth. Then Liou Zung, Stylish Maker of Ancient Chinese Ornament, put his finger in my mouth. Wish amahâs family wasnât so fond of garlic.
April second
Went out with amah again this morning and a fresh Jap baby made a face at me in Hongkew Park. Will get even someday. When I was enjoying bottle at home later, mama said, âHeâs getting to be such a big baby that pretty soon we can give him solid food.â If she only knew what I had this morning - piece of meat dumpling that amah chewed for me and a water chestnut. Amah is a good sport.
April third
Had colic. Squalled.
April fourth
Didnât sleep well last night, as father came
In Chapter 4 , there is a reference to
the Empress of Asia
, one of the great passenger liners of that age, owned by Canadian Pacific Steamships Ltd and launched in 1912. The ship transported British troops to Shanghai in 1937 to bolster the garrison of the International Settlement and was finally sunk by the Japanese near Singapore in February 1942.
This book is all about a world that has gone. But the feeling of that golden world of the Shanghailanders between the two great wars of the 20th century is here to be savored.
Graham Earnshaw
Shanghai
December 2007
Chapter I
In Which the Baby Decides that âHome, Sweet Homeâ Must Have Been Written by Orphan
⦠The Charms of Calling Sinza Road ⦠Amah Stages a Funeral ⦠The Strange Vagaries of Silk Host in Shanghai.
March 29
The family has been raving about somebody called Opal Whitely and somebody else called Daisy Ashford that they said were infant prodigies. I guess Iâm as smart as they are, even if a lot younger, so am going to keep a diary myself.
The family canât read it, of course. Theyâre awfully stupid. Heard mama say just now that the amah had better take me out, as Iâm making marks all over a piece of paper on the dining-room floor. Will continue diary in kitchen. Thatâs where I spend most of my time anyway.
I live in a nice brick house with my family but though I have been introduced to the others, I am not well-acquainted with anybody except the amah. She speaks a nice, easy language and not the funny kind of foreign talk the others use. Am learning tounderstand them, though. This morning I heard them wondering where all last nightâs chicken went. But when I started to tell them about the cookâs two cousins who are boarding in the kitchen, mama said, âListen to the little dear. Heâs trying to say âDaddy.ââ
Have decided that the family is quite hopeless. Will learn to read the Want Ads as soon as possible so as to find a new home.
March 30
There are lots of things about grown-up talk that I donât understand yet. Today papa told my auntie that if she didnât make good pretty soon, he would send her back to America. Auntie cried and said that if papa would be decent to poor Bertie, she would soon have a man to care for her.
âBertie!â said papa, âHe isnât a man; heâs a lap-dog.â âHe comes from a very good family!â Auntie said, crying some more.
âHe must have come a long way,â papa said.
âAnd he knows some of the best people in town,â auntie replied.
âPerhaps. I always said myself that the night watchman was a pretty good fellow,â papa remarked.
Itâs too deep for me. Am going to take a nap.
March 31
Went out today with the amah. Mama thought we went to the Public Gardens, but we didnât. Amah took me calling on Sinza Road where all her family live in a nifty two roomed house. They were very much interested in my new back tooth. First amah put her finger in my mouth. Then her brother, Lo Shing, First Rate Lady Best Style Tailor, put his finger in my mouth. Then her cousin, Ah See, who runs High Class Christian Gambling Parlor, put his finger in my mouth. Then Liou Zung, Stylish Maker of Ancient Chinese Ornament, put his finger in my mouth. Wish amahâs family wasnât so fond of garlic.
April second
Went out with amah again this morning and a fresh Jap baby made a face at me in Hongkew Park. Will get even someday. When I was enjoying bottle at home later, mama said, âHeâs getting to be such a big baby that pretty soon we can give him solid food.â If she only knew what I had this morning - piece of meat dumpling that amah chewed for me and a water chestnut. Amah is a good sport.
April third
Had colic. Squalled.
April fourth
Didnât sleep well last night, as father came
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