These extracts have been copied by an unknown hand. Their selection appears to center some of the interactions Reynolds had with local culture and with key locations like the wall of China and a Tibetan Buddhist temple. They span more than half her time in Peking (Beijing).

“It was seven o’clock in the evening when we reached Peking, – and dark so I got only a partial impression of the great city wall. Every one in the mission except two were down to meet us. These are the people who are here: Dr. and Mrs. Climent, Mr. and Mrs Stelle, Miss Chapin, Miss Russell, Miss Miner, Miss Reed, Miss Payne and myself. My new name is “Renjosha”. Every foreigner has to have a Chinese name. Mine means to endure.

My work will begin Monday, I presume. I met three of my pupils to-day. They have had several years of English in a sort of a way.

The children of the Duchess Fe’ are having a little holiday now and…

…they are not sure what their next move will be.

I visited the school to-day and it was so interesting, – such bright little faces.”

– “I love my work and tho’ I can’t say as to the future, I would love to be a missionary. I can’t feel that I could go back home now and find and life work there that satisfied. No one can have and idea until they are here of the fascination of the work. To work among people who need you, who love you when they realize what you give them, to feel each day’s possibility of bringing light and love into some home where even home love in little known, – well, it is far ahead of trying to get a chance to be listened to at home.

Some time I’ll write a description of the people in the mission, such lovely people they are, people that you grow …

… to like better every day, the sort that wear.”

“I have ten pupils now and I study three hours each day. 

I do love my work and my boys. The ten boys all come to my office for their lessons. I have work from 9 to 11. Then I study with a Chinese teacher from 1:30 to 4:30 and then have work from 5 to 6. But the boys always stay after class and talk. They are so nice and interesting and their broken English is so funny. I think they all like me too. I have a Sunday School for them. Eight of them are heathen and I do hope to be able to help them some, but with their…

… limited English and entire ignorance of the whole Bible and Christ and my own inability, I feel very, very weak but I know His power and the power of His word, and I leave it to Him”.

Feb. 13. 1905.

“This is Chinese New Year time when the Chinese take two or three weeks for holidays. The shops are closed. Before the shop keepers open up their shops again they drive out the devils. They raise noise enough to raise the roof – and I should think the poor devils would leave….

I spent four very pleasant days at Jung Cho’, a place fourteen miles south-east of here. We went by rail. I saw the old eastern wall of the city of Peking or what was the eastern wall when…

… Marco Polo was here.

The missionaries at Jung Cho’ have their homes and schools all outside of the city and it was so nice to be in the country.

I attended a Chinese wedding at Jung Cho’. The bride and groom looked demurely at the floor.

The ladies wear flowers and butterflies of all descriptions in their hair and paint their faces so much that you one can see the paint as far away as you one can see the people.”

Feb. 25, 1905

“Last Saturday I went to visit the yellow temple and the temple of the earth. They are both outside the city gate (north) and we went in rickshaws. The temple of earth is much like the temple of heaven, except that the open altar is square because – so is the earth – you know, …

… the beauty of all these temples, where they have extensive grounds is the old trees and the peaceful quiet. The Chinese are not allowed in most of them. The emperor attends to that branch of the religion for them. Some time ago I went with Mr. and Mrs. Swan to a Lama temple and saw many, many Buddhahs. Some were small and coated with gold, some medium size and of clay, and there was one great big one whose expressionless face we had to climb two dark steep stairways to gaze upon. While we were there a Mongol princess came to worship. She prostrated herself before this great wooden Buddhah, bumped her head on the stones, and after it all went up and offered a piece of blue silk …

… and kissed the feet of the Buddhah. She has such reverence in her face. That I’m sure she was trying to satisfy a desire within her. The Mongols and Thibetans are far more religious than the Manchus and Chinese who let their beautiful temples, with their fine carvings and colorings fall into decay.

We also went to the Temple of Confucius. There are no images there of course, only stone tablets, and grand old trees six hundred years old.”