Wednesday, November 12, 2008: Despite making a few wrong turns here and there, I finally found my way to the Pearl S. Buck House, 520 Dublin Road, Perkasie, PA (215-249-0100). The famous humanitarian and author, Pearl S. Buck (1892-1973), bought this 1835 stone farmhouse in the 1930s. Upon my arrival, I viewed a short video that gave a biography about her life, her writings, and her lasting legacy--especially toward mixed-race children. Then I took a one-hour guided tour of her house. Because I visited during the 2008 Festival of Trees Holiday House Tour, many local businesses, churches, and schools donated theme-Christmas trees, wreaths, and garlands as well as centerpieces and other Christmas and Hanukkah decorations. Thus, I noticed those festive decorations throughout her house in addition to the permanent collection of Pennsylvania Country furniture and many Asian items, especially Chinese: furniture, household items, and decorative items. I especially remembered seeing the Chinese-styled desk where she wrote most of her books and articles and the typewriter that she used to write one of her most famous books, The Good Earth. In another room, I looked at the many rewards and gifts that several famous people and organizations gave to her. Even the surrounding grounds looked lovely in the hilly Pennsylvania countryside and included her graveside and a water garden. Nevertheless, the people who benefited best by Pearl S. Buck were the many mixed-race children that she adopted, raised as foster children, or paved the way for other people to adopt.
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