The Love Ring

by Max Howell

  They were a stunning couple. Helene had that Greek, Mediterranean look, and had kept herself slim and fit through her archaeological work. Wei-min was also slim, but tall for a Chinese, and was very handsome. Their time in Hawaii gave them more time to get to know each other better, and was a wonderful education for Wei-min. He gloried in this new world, thoroughly enjoying western food and a more relaxed life style.

  Soon they were on the way to San Francisco, thence to Berkeley and Helene’s home in the Berkeley Hills. She pointed out the area in the hills where the atom was split in the Second World War, the greatest scientists in the world being brought there to solve the problem. From their house they had a beautiful view of the San Francisco Bay area, and the Bay Bridge. The Campanile spire of the University of California could also be seen.

  Wei-min felt immediately at home in San Francisco when they visited there. The city had a large Chinatown, and they would wander through there often to see the traders and visit the restaurants. But Wei-min’s overall attitude was a sensible one, as he did not overly endeavour to cement friendships with Chinese people. He felt that he was now in the United States, and would eventually become a citizen, so it was American friendships, customs and food that he endeavoured to foster and learn more about. He never tired of going to Fisherman’s Wharf and seeing the seafood cooking in the sidewalk stalls, and watching the fishing vessels come in and out. Ghiardelli Square was also intriguing for him, and for the first time he heard the designation of many there as shopaholics. He went to see Alcatraz, and rode the cable car. He was pleasantly surprised to see so many Asians in San Francisco. Indeed there seemed to be more Japanese than Chinese.

  He walked almost daily with Helene through the University of California campus, which reeked of learning and scholarship. He admitted to Helene, however, that throughout the campus he was surprised at the amount of rubbish on the paths and streets, and the number of long haired young people near the entrance playing with drums and dressed in a dishevelled manner. “They are not students”, explained Helene, “but our constitution allows freedom of expression, and the authorities are powerless to do anything. They perform outside the University grounds proper, away from the entrance, Sather Gate. There is much disenchantment among the youth and particularly the blacks at this time in America. Many have taken to using drugs. They have flocked to this University, and live around the campus, as they feel the university authorities and for that matter those who live full-time at Berkeley are much more tolerant than in most other areas of America. We call these people ‘hippies’, and unfortunately many resort to crime to feed their drug habits.”

  “In China, Helene, this could not happen. The police would simply move in and take them away to re-education centres.”

  “I realise, that, Wei-min, but what is happening here is a reflection of what happens in a truly democratic society like ours where we espouse liberty, equality and fraternity. Fighting wars in foreign lands is certainly one cause of the problem as it has caused much disenchantment, and all we can hope for is that a majority of this youth will eventually come back and embrace the main societal values.”

  “They do not know how lucky they are!”

  “That is all too true, but adolescence is a difficult time of life, and extreme idealism can take the form of all kinds of protest. When their pleas are unheeded, drugs can be an easy way out.”

  She went on. “The issue with the blacks is somewhat more difficult. It is only a few years ago when blacks were given the same rights as whites. Now racial discrimination is not legal, but you cannot legislate what goes on in the human mind. Forms of discrimination can be very subtle. In the south, of course, the blacks were originally slaves, and though the Civil War was fought for the rights of blacks and to abolish slavery, the south in actuality changed very little. The blacks have had separate seating sections in buses and theatres throughout the years, and entrance to the southern universities was denied them. Much is changing in recent times, but so much more has to be done. The blacks are under-represented in business, in political positions, in movies, in universities. The future is with the blacks, and I believe we will see enormous changes in the next twenty years. But it is not easy to right a wrong.”

  “In China”, Wei-min said, “we do not have discrimination.”

  “Wei-min, you will pardon me, but perhaps unknowingly that is the official line you state. There is definite discrimination in China.”

  “I think you are wrong, Helene.”

  “Discrimination against whites, Wei-min, and I have heard against blacks, though I know little of that. But your whole society has been against whites since the 1600s, and has endeavoured to keep your country Chinese. I am not saying it is wrong, Wei-min, but I would argue it actually happens. Can I, as a white, immigrate to China, become a Chinese citizen? I think not.”

  “I have never thought about it in that way, and you are I believe correct. What we were told in China is that there was anti-Chinese legislation in the United States and Canada in an attempt to keep these countries European rather than Asian.”

  “That is true, Wei-min, but I do believe things will change. China will eventually open up an avenue for the west, and let us hope that the United States opens its doors a little more to the east.”

  Helene laughed. “Well, all I can say is that with our marriage we are setting a trend.”

  “Enough of that conversation Helene, but let me say I am learning a lot with your guidance. When I went to University in Oxford, the most I owned was a bicycle. I cannot believe the students here drive up in their own cars. It will be a long time before China sees that happen. We hardly ever see private cars, the majority are government cars.”

  “I would agree, Wei-min, China is far behind in private ownership.”

  Helene did as promised, she soon had her lawyers working on Wei-min’s visa, and with her legal team and the political contacts she and they had, Wei-min became a U.S. citizen approximately six months after his arrival. The fact that they were already married helped. Wei-min had to study the U.S. Constitution and other matters and take an immigrant examination, which he passed easily. They were both very proud when it happened. Wei-min’s new life was now secure. He was an American citizen.

  In the six months, while they were waiting for citizenship, Wei-min enrolled and took courses in the Department of Linguistics at the University of California at Berkeley. They were semester-long courses, and his maturity and intelligence quickly created a very favourable impression in the Department. They asked him to consider taking a Master’s degree, and if he was successful, a Ph.D.

  Wei-min posed his dilemma to Helene. He said: “I know you wish me to start a school for the teaching of Chinese, but I have been overwhelmed by the kindness of the professors here in Linguistics. They are so very approachable, they do everything to help the student. I did not believe that education could be such an enjoyable experience. All our relations with our teachers in China was quite formal. They had little or no personal interest in us. I just love it here at Berkeley, and do you know, they have offered me a Teaching Assistantship for 8 hours a week teaching Chinese, and I will get $18,000? Can I support us on that?”

  “Wei-min”, Helene replied, “I doubt it would handle our expenses, but you will be earning your own money and I am sure you will feel a lot better. Whatever, I am very happy for you. The idea of a school for the teaching of Chinese was simply one suggestion, it was to give you something to plan for. As you know, I have my own Ph.D. in archaeology, and they have often asked me to teach at Berkeley. There are many courses they offer in the classical languages like Greek and Latin, plus advanced courses like ‘Field Work in Archaeology’, which I would love to teach. So I could teach part-time, and you can proceed with your graduate studies. We would then both be academics, working at the University. It would mean we would be together, Wei-min, and the academic life at a large institution like Berkeley is a pretty good life.”

  “Helene, I am so ex
cited. I can see now that this is really what I want to do. I have always loved to study, and teach, and we would be together. I feel like a young child, my life unravelling before me, doing at last what I want to do. Helene, I love you so, and words cannot express my thanks for everything you have done for me.”

  “Well”, she said, “then at least we now know where we are heading. We will look after the Luce Foundation business like we have been doing, in the evenings, and visit the various countries being supported by it in our holidays. The present semester has just ended at the University, as you know, and there are now six weeks off during the summer period. You have your citizenship, so how about now going to Australia as we planned, to try to trace your family? What do you think?”

  “As I have learned to say in America, it sounds terrific! I wonder if we will indeed find anyone?”

  “I don’t know, but at least we will have tried.”

  In a week they were on a United Airlines flight to Australia, via Hawaii. They had discussed their strategy in Australia. It was a simple one, to ring up everyone by the name of Pride in the telephone book who might have had a relative in the Boxer Uprising. If that failed, they planned to go to the Capital of Australia, Canberra, to search the records of the War Memorial Museum there.

  They decided after a few days in a hotel near Circular Quay that they would take an apartment at Manly for a month to conduct and coordinate their search. Manly reminded Wei-min of Waikiki, though he noticed the waves were much bigger, and he enjoyed watching the body surfers as well as board surfers in action. Their apartment was directly above the Manly Surf Club, and Wei-min was intrigued with how the lifesavers trained and took responsibility for patrolling the beach.

  They soon got hold of the Sydney telephone directory, and looked up the name of Pride. There were about two hundred Prides listed, so they started dialling.

  Their message was simple: “Excuse me, but I am from America, and I am looking for anyone related to a Lieutenant Robert Pride, who was killed in China at the Boxer Uprising in 1901.”

  Though it was a serious business, they were highly amused at some of the conversations that transpired, and the rich Australian accents of some. The most common answer was something like this: “Boxer Uprising, mate, Boxer Uprising? Never heard of it, mate, never bloody heard of it.”

  They were becoming very despondent by the negative replies, until one said: “It rings a bell, it really does. Somehow I can vaguely remember my father saying something about the Boxer Uprising. I’ll talk to him, and ring you back.”

  Within a day they received a return call from the man’s father, a James Pride. They did not tell him in detail the reason for their enquiry, but he agreed to meet them the following day at his seaside home at Mosman.

  They found it difficult to sleep that evening, and were very excited as they made their way by taxi to the house. They knocked on the door, and a distinguished looking gentleman answered it and asked them to come in. He introduced them to his wife, whose son went off to get them some tea.

  When they sat down, he asked: “Now what is this all about?”

  Wei-min leaned forward and said: “We first of all appreciate very much your invitation to come to your home, for we are searching for a family connection. You see, my grandmother fell in love with an Australian naval lieutenant by the name of Lieutenant Robert Pride. All this goes back a long way, to the Boxer Uprising just before and after the turn of the century in China. They were to be married, but he was tragically killed almost at the end of the Uprising. My grandmother was taken in by a Henry Luce at his Mission, as her parents had likewise been killed. She was pregnant at the time to Lieutenant Pride. I have always looked upon Lieutenant Robert Pride as my real grandfather. The Chinese lady, my grandmother, had that child. That child was my father. My wife here, incidentally, is a granddaughter of Mr. Luce, who sheltered my grandmother in his Mission.”

  Mr. Pride listened intently: “Do you have any actual evidence to support what you are saying? I do not want to appear suspicious, but one never knows in such matters.”

  Helene broke in: “These were very hectic times, sir, as you may appreciate. The only evidence my husband Wei-min has is this photograph of them together.” She took the framed photograph out from her bag and showed it to him.

  “I do not believe it”, Mr. Pride said, “but my grandfather passed down to me the identical photograph. Please give me a few minutes, for I believe I have it in my study, along with some other possessions of the then young lieutenant.”

  He left for some time and came back holding some photographs, one of which was an identical copy to the one that Helene and Wei-min had brought. Then he asked: “What was your grandmother’s name?”

  Wei-min replied: “It was Lin Shi-an.”

  “I am now absolutely convinced. Now let me read you something.” He pulled out a yellowing letter from his assortment of artefacts.

  Peking

  December 20, 1899

  Dear Mother and Father,

  I am sorry I have not written you more often, but things have been very hectic here. The Boxers are a tough lot, as they strike and then disappear. It is not a military engagement as I envisaged it, and everyone in the various legations here is very concerned. Many of the embassies have been burned to the ground, and a few of the top ambassadors have been murdered.

  My main reason for writing is to tell you that I am in love with a beautiful Chinese girl by the name of Lin Shi-an. She is from a very prominent Chinese family, is well educated, speaks good English and even plays the piano.

  I have asked my superior, Captain Hixson, for permission to marry her, and he has pointed out that there are certain problems. He first of all has to obtain permission from the British, believe it or not, and he has also expressed concern that Australian immigration officials may not allow her to come to Australia even if we are married.

  I am determined to marry Lin. I have never been in love like this before. I bought her a beautiful diamond and jade ring as our engagement ring.

  Anyhow, my request to marry her is being considered by the authorities. It may take a few weeks to process, but I feel deep down that somehow permission will be granted. As for her immigration to Australia, I will worry about that later on. I find it hard to believe that an Australian citizen would not be able to bring his own wife back, no matter her nationality.

  I hope this letter finds you well and happy. I will try to write more often. Do not worry about me.

  Your son

  Robert

  Helene then said: “And here is the ring, the jade and diamond ring mentioned in the letter.” She told Mr Pride, briefly, how the ring came into her possession.

  “As for the photograph”, Mr. Pride said, “it was received apparently a month or so after the lieutenant died. It came from George Morrison, a very famous Australian who we were later to call ‘Chinese’ Morrison. Here is his letter:

  Peking,

  February 20,1901

  Dear Mr. and Mrs Pride,

  You will already have received word of the tragic death of your son, and my own words are inadequate to express my personal sorrow. He became my best friend here in Peking, and we had many discussions during his time here.

  There was a party at my house commemorating the birth of the Commonwealth of Australia, just before Robert was killed. I am sending you this photograph of him, with the wonderful Chinese girl he was engaged to, Lin Shi-an. They were trying to get married, but were finding it hard to get permission.

  I was the one who had the unfortunate duty of telling Lin Shi-an of Robert’s death. I tried to re-establish contact with her, but I lost track of her when she left Peking, to go to a Mission I believe.

  I thought you would appreciate the photograph.

  Yours sincerely,

  George Morrison.

  “There is one other thing that would particularly interest you, the father said. “It is a letter from Lieutenant Pride’s superior, Captain Hixson.
>
  Peking

  January 1900

  Dear Mr. and Mrs Pride,

  It is with deep regret that I have to inform you of the death of your son, Lieutenant Robert Pride. He was involved in one of the last clean-up missions related to the Boxer Uprising. He died gallantly. He had almost single-handedly taken over an enemy position, charging it frontally. One of his comrades was injured and lying on the ground near the post, in considerable pain. Ignoring his own safety, he ran out to carry the person back. He was shot during this brave act. I have recommended him for a Military Cross. He died as he lived, a credit to his parents and indeed his country.

  You probably already know that he was planning a marriage to a Lin Shi-an, and he came to me for permission. That permission was, ironically, approved two days after his death. I believe his intended wife is working somewhere in a Mission, as her parents were both killed. Things are very frantic here and I have been unable to trace her to this point.

  Again, I regret to inform you about the death of your son. I will be leaving for Australia in a few weeks, and when I return I will endeavour to come and meet you both.

  Your sincerely

  Captain Hixson.

  “So there you are”, the father said, “and he actually did receive the Military Cross. Here it is, with the citation. Well, there is no doubt about it, we are related.”

  They shook hands. Wei-min said: “So you are my uncle!”

  “I guess so”, Mr. Pride replied. “But at our age you can call me Jim. You know, all this is cause for celebration. How about next Saturday, say 12 o’clock? We will have an Aussie barbecue and invite all the relatives we can round up.”

  “That is not necessary”, said Wei-min.

  “Necessary?” queried Mr. Pride. “This is a fantastic thing to happen, and I want all the family to know about it, and I want them to meet you both. It isn’t often we welcome a Chinese into the family.”