February 4, 1926 from Shanghai
To all members of Valsalice
Dear brothers,
(Omitted) The other day I went around Shanghai and looked at the Chinese area, where our branch is located. The foreign and French areas are no different from European cities, but the Chinese area is like an ant's nest, swarming with work and congestion. While there is luxury and wealth next door, here people are crowded together in the worst poverty, garbage, and in humane conditions. Next to luxurious mansions and shopping streets overflowing with all kinds of goods, how many large families live in huts covered with straw mats, amidst garbage and filth? Oh, what a state of abandonment there are for millions of people! If you could see the hordes of young people and children in Shanghai!
In Shanghai As I near the end of this journey, I would like to offer some insightful conclusions.
1) Get used to everything while you're young, don't worry about the cuisine, be able to eat German, Italian, Chinese, any food, otherwise you'll have a very hard time later. 2) Make sure you learn the main foreign language, otherwise it's going to be hard, hard, hard after that. 3) Get used to any bed, the harder it is, the harder it is to get used to, otherwise it's going to be a lot of hard work, hard work. 4) Always maintain your union with God, or you will not be able to endure the troubles and embarrassment that will come from not having these habits. 5) Study, study, study all subjects. In the East, natural sciences, drawing, engineering and foreign languages ??are especially highly prized and most in demand. 6) Try to develop good habits and holiness as much as possible. Other things can be supplemented, but holiness is the best and most essential condition. Unfortunately, as I write this I lack many of these things, so I ask for your prayers to make up for these shortcomings. I pray that God will bless you all and give me the grace to fully reward you for your help.
Your Brother, Father V. Cimatti
