1928 Postcard From Hankow China To Hong Kong

My latest research project I will share with the club is this postcard I recently found in a stamp shop in Branson, Missouri, USA. The two Chinese junk three-cent stamps were cancelled at Hankow, China on March 8, 1928. The card is addressed to Mrs. J M Wright, in care of the American Consulate General, Hong Kong.



The picture side shows a real photo of a primitive ferry boat crossing a river heading towards a village of mostly huts. Scribbled beside the photo are the words, "The ferry at Bontoc (October, 1926)." After a little research, I discovered this is Bontoc Village on Luzon Island in the Philippines, and not in China at all.




There are two words in the message I cannot figure out, but it says:

Hankow, March 7th, 1928
Thanks for your kind word <????> about my Shanghai <????>. We are off for the Rapids by the U.S.S. Guam tomorrow morning, several days behind schedule because of low water. Due in Shanghai again about March 28th.

Can anybody figure out these 2 words so it makes sense? Perhaps the second word is lola?



Thanks,
Linus

Here is a picture of the USS Guam and a little history about it:





I think the writer of this postcard was a merchant, and not a serviceman in the military. I found this in my research, click to make larger:

Those two words are certainly puzzling! They look like "chit" and "bla" to me, but of course that makes no sense whatsoever.

Yes, that is my problem, trying to make sense of it. Oh well, we may never know for sure what was being said there.

May we have the text, to whom it was posted, please?

Rod- see the text above, I typed it out.

Hey erilaz, chit is actually a word! I think chit is correct for the first one. Thanks!

It makes sense if he is thanking her for the word "note."

J Marion Wright.
"chit" is a well known word, by me, well used, however it does not make sense in that sentence to me, unless Mrs Wright's nickname was "chit" , I doubt it.

Given the year 1928, and the address, together with a female recipient,
"Shanghai Lola" does not make sense either.

"Chit" as an "improper lady" ( derogatory English)

An impudent or arrogant young woman.
'she is a mere chit of a girl'

That could make the sentence have meaning.

Yes it does not make much sense at all. I did find that lola means sorrows...



My best guess is to substitute "note" for the first one and "sorrows" for the second one, perhaps slang at that time.

Thanks,
Linus

I am favouring an unsuitable girlfriend of the author, assessed by the addressee Mrs Wright.

That is quite possible.