Madame Chigang Kai-shek and Demorest, Georgia

It is uncanny how certain memories stay with us forever. 

Through the many years since 7th grade, I have thought about Mrs. Else Mae Turner, the books she read to us, and a friend she talked about so many times during the school year.

I asked Judy Cason Forbes about this as we planned for the Historical Demorest School Celebration held recently.  Judy confirmed that my memory about Madame Chiang Kai-shek's residency in Demorest was fact and that she actually had tea on Judy's grandmother's front porch.  I was thrilled to know this memory was true.  Later that evening, I read about Mei-ling's days in Demorest in Miss Chrisler's book.

Mei-ling Soong, who later became Madame Chiang Kai-shek (March 5, 1897, Shanghai, China—died Oct. 23, 2003 in New York City), once lived in Demorest, Georgia.   According to Mrs. Turner and Miss Isabel Chrisler, who wrote about Mei-ling in her booklet  Demorest in the Piedmont, Mei-ling Soong lived in Demorest when she was eleven years old and attended school.  Miss Chrisler quoted from a letter written by Madame Chiang Kai-shek in June of 1938 about her days in Demorest.

"...she was introduced to the English through the medium of parsing sentences.  She attributes her command of literary English to her 'sessions of wrestling with rambling phrases and split infinitives which may perhaps have had as much to do with any ability I acquired to overcome the intricacies of English Grammar and rhetoric as any subsequent training I have had.'..."

Mei-ling Soong

Wedding photograph of Chiang Kai-shek and Soong Mei-ling, 1927.

U.S. first lady Eleanor Roosevelt in front of the White House with Soong Mei-ling, wife of Chinese leader Chiang Kai-shek.

 .As children we are like sponges.  We absorb information easily, but then as we get older and we begin to doubt our memories on such unbelievable moments.  Could I have hear this correctly?  Had I mixed up a history lesson with stories I heard in class?  I doubted my memory; however,  Madame Chiang Kai-shek did in fact live in Demorest as a child and made many lasting friends while she was here.  Mrs. Turner continued to correspond with her throughout the following years.

As I researched for information about Madame Chiang Kaishek, I was saddened at how her story ended.  The sweet devout Christian girl who learned  English as a student in Demorest, Georgia died with a reputation that both Mrs. Turner and Miss Chrisler would have been shocked by or prehaps they did know and were saddened too of how her search for power left a mark against her name;however the Chinese might disagree with the American's report of her death.

Below are excepts from Mei-ling Soong, Madame Chaiang's obiturary reports:

According to Seth Faison of the New York Times who published Madame Chaiang's obituary on October 24, 2003:

"A devout Christian, Madame Chiang spoke fluent English tinted with the Southern accent she acquired as a school girl in Georgia, and presented a civilized and humane image of a courageous China battling a Japanese invasion and Communist subversion. Yet historians have documented the murderous path that Chiang Kai-shek led in his efforts to win, then keep, and ultimately lose power. It also became clear in later years that the Chiang family had pocketed hundreds of millions of dollars of American aid intended for the war. "

The following are excerts from the China newspaper "The China Daily":

Madame Soong Mei-ling remembered by all Chinese
( 2003-10-29 08:02) (Xinhua)


"Madame Soong Mei-ling, widow of the late Chiang Kai-shek and an influential historical and legendary figure in modern Chinese history, won the recognition of historians and political advisors as well as people from all walks of life on the mainland after she passed away peacefully last week. "

"Jia Qinglin, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), sent a message to the relatives of Madame Soong to mourn her death, calling Soong a noted and influential person in the modern era of Chinese history, who had been dedicated to the Chinese people's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, opposed to separating the nation, and hopeful for the peaceful reunification across the Taiwan Straits and the flourishing of the Chinese nation."

Mrs. Turner, the intelligent lady that she was, would have followed each news report on her friend.  I'm sure she had her own ideas about this most unusual lady who enjoyed the southern hospitality of Georgians long, long ago.

It is me again, Lord, thanking you for allowing our memories to keep us connected with the past.

A little Georgia Wisdom:  Your memories are your link to the past.  Listen carefully, file it carefully in your mind, and bring it out often to review.

Work cited:
Chrisler, Isabel; Demorest in the Piedmont as told to Loren W. Burch (Pastor, Demorest Federted Church and Instructor at Piedmont); publish date unknown.
Faison, Seth; New York Times; "Madame Chiang, 105, Chinese Leader's Widow, Dies" http://www.clta-gny.org/MadameChiang.htm

The China Daily; http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/en/doc/2003-10/29/content_276451.htm
Photos:
Soong Mei-ling. Photograph. Encyclopædia Britannica Online. Web. 3 May. 2011. <http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/media/96930/Soong-Mei-ling>.
Soong Mei-ling. Photograph. Encyclopædia Britannica Online. Web. 3 May. 2011. <http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/media/60448/US-first-lady-Eleanor-Roosevelt-in-front-of-the-White
Chiang Kai-shek; Soong Mei-ling. Photograph. Encyclopædia Britannica Online. Web. 3 May. 2011.