May 23 2007
Meeting the Wehrles
Edmund Wehrles wrote a book about missionary riot in China that concerns me very much - I have a burning question and felt he might have the answer. So I googled him on the web and fired an e-mail immediately. Quickly I got a reply, “.. I think you’re looking for my father ..” Geee, the book was published in 1966. (Was that neat the son followed his father’s foot step into teaching history?) .. Anyway, our correspondence were very vivid and friendly. No, he didn’t know why would the Brit picked on my great grandfather in 1895: navy intervention or his punishment - It’s a million dollar question - as he puts it. He went so far as to advice me on what’s the box numbers I need to look up the case should I decided to go to London’s Foreign Affair Office, and even offered to write a recommendation letter should I need it, for I have no affiliation with any school/academy institution. He’s working on a new book on Indo-China .. When I asked him if he would like to mentor me or help me with my research, the friendly exchange stopped. What did I do wrong?!?! I have no clue if I’ve violated any rules.