The Mandarin wanted Gladys to tour the local homes
where as a woman she could enter the women's quarters to enforce the
ban, and because her feet were not bound she could travel easily.
Gladys welcomed the opportunity to become more a part of the
community and witness at the same time.Another time the Mandarin again sought out Gladys but this time to
help quell a riot at a local men's prison. Soldiers were afraid to
intervene and when the warden insisted Gladys enter the prison yard
she hesitated. "You have been preaching that those who trust in Christ
have nothing to fear," was the warden's reply and with that reminder
Gladys entered the yard.
She calmed the men and after consulting them returned the warden to
report their grievances. The prisoners were housed in cramped
conditions with nothing to do and with limited food. Gladys suggested
that they be provided the opportunity to work to earn money for their
food and after some of the warden's friends donated looms to weave
cloth and a grindstone to grind grain prison conditions improved. For
her loving service and example, Gladys acquired the title "Ai-weh-
deh" or "virtuous one."
Gladys began to adopt the children she would later rescue when she
took into her home a ragged malnourished boy she found begging and
when the boy brought her another similar child she welcomed him to
her family.
GLADYS 9