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4th. (16th of 7th Moon). Wednesday.
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Fortunately for the celebration of the anniversary of the Foundation of the Dynasty, the rain which had made the last few days wretched, held up for this. A week's preparation put the summer palace into a very decent shape with all sorts of lanterns etc.
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At 3 p.m. H.M. gave an audience to the diplomatic body. At 5 Her Majesty did the same to the wives of foreign representatives and of the Corean ministers and vice-ministers. My precious Darling and the baby were very graciously received by T.M. His Majesty gave a pretty Corean fan to Laura. The little girl enjoyed the rare privilege of shaking hands with T.M.
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At 8 p.m. a supper was given in the Summer palace beautifully illuminated with lanterns, Japanese, Chineses, Corean, and foreign lamps. The big room was divided into two by means of screen. The larger apartment was occupied by gentlemen both Corean and foreign, while the other was filled with ladies. At the fixed hour His Majesty opened the meeting with a little speech. Then he retired in order to leave the quests to enjoy the occasion unembarrassed. In the ladies' guarters the Queen did the same. Everybody enjoyed the gathering very much. The dances, music, singing etc. were all Corean. Fireworks, native made, did very well.
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In the gentlemen's hall, I interpreted for H.M. and the Ministers. Was very much honored by the liberal but sincere praise which my translation and delivery of H.M.'s address etc. called forth, from the foreigners present. Best of all, Mr. Waeber and Mr. Sill two men whom I respect and love, drank to my health apart with me for my success. Dispersed at 12. p.m.
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7th. (19th). Saturday. Rained a.m.
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1. Why Kim Hak Woo was assassinated. He being the ice minister of the Law Department had to investigate the treasonable plot with which Yi Chun Yong was charged. Two of Yi's accomplices were caught and made a confession substantiating Yi's charges. Kim, as a matter of course, forwarded the confession to Mr. Kim Hong Chip. The prime Minister instead of sending it to T.M. gave it to Tai Won Kun. The Old man got rid of Kim H.W. that night. (According to Yi Ha Yong)
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2. Why T.M. hate Kim Yun Sik, the president of F.O. When Won Sei Kai (the Chinese commissioner) was omnipotent years ago, Mr. K. sided with Won in his plot laid out against T.M. The plan fell through; but so strong was Won's influence that K. was banished only. (Y.H.Y.) .
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3. How Yi Chai Yon became T.M.'s favorite. Last year when the Japanese were pouring into Seoul, Yi told T.M. that he could get Uncle Sam to send out troops to help T.M. Of course, that nonsense failed and Yi found Seoul too hot for him under the Japanese. So T.M. got him out of danger by appointing him to a distant magistracy. The danger over, he was recalled.
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4. How Inouye has bought the Palace. The Japanese government had decided to give Corea3,000,000 out of the Chinese indemnity. Inouye using this as a bait has made himself very agreeable to T.M.
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5. Why I am tired of the Japanese. Professing to be the only friend of Corea, in all matters of interest, the Japanese ministers and consuls here always sacrifice the good of Corea to the selfish demands of Japan. They (Japanese diplomats) play on Corea all the mean tricks Europeans have ever played on Japan―only Japanese act meaner and littler by a long shot. In trying to define an area of mixed residence in Seoul to avoid inundating it with Japanese etc. the Japanese representatives are the worst people to deal with. Their meanness is made all the more mean by their profession of friendship. Loud profession but low practices can never deceive any in the long run.
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17th. (29th). Tuesday. A pretty day.
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Went to Yongsan (龍山) to say goodbye to count Inouye. He left there about 11:30 a.m. What he had done during the second visit was well compared by Okamoto to a garment whose pieces are stuck together with paste.
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22nd. (4th of 8th Moon). Sunday. A pleasant but cloudy day.
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Some one told me this morning that a list of names of those whom T.M. want to get rid of was made out last night, and sent to the Palace. Yu Kil Chun and Kim Hong Chip, as well as Wo Yun Chung are said to be among the proscribed numbers. Maybe Yu etc. have manufactured the story to enlist the sympathy of the Japanese for the furtherance of some scheme. But, from what I have heard in the Palace, regarding the unconcealed hatred T.M. entertain against Kim, Yu. Wo etc., the story is highly probable.
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K and Y etc., are rumored to be planning to put Tai Won Kun into power against Her Majesty. Of course, no use believing in any or all of these rumors. But am sorry that T.M. by hating and distrusting their servants make them feel uneasy and then drive them to perhaps some desperate acts.
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T.M. have been good to me lately. They have favored me recently by promoting me to 從二品. They gave me a week ago a pair of gold "Kuanja." I am sincerely anxious to serve them. Yet so many bad men are around them that I cannot find a foothold in the heart of T.M. They will never be able to save themselves and their country from trouble until the palace be cleared of its vipers.
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Yi Hak Kuin, one of the great favorites of T.M., was once in Dr. Allen's employ. He was expelled by the Doctor for stealing his drugs. General Dye, Colonel Niensted and General Le Gendre, who draw fat salaries for doing nothing, are strongly suspected of having obtained their positions by bribing Yi H.K, Pak Yong Hwa, whose tongue is more poisonous than that of a viper, Kim Won Chai (金元濟) , Chun Yang Muk (全良黙) with his Judah-like looks, are a few of the worthies who are carrying the Palace fast to shame and possibly ruin.
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There is only one course for me to take, viz. a straight one minding my business and not meddling with intrigues. Be silent, steady and straight. Leave the rest to God!
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With precious Darling took supper at Dr. Scranton's. His children are a lovely set of girls.
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29th. (11th). Sunday. Rather cool.
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Stayed home. Collections and recollections:
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1. As a decided token of the restoration of the "Divine Right" to T.M., a royal decree was issued today ordering the officials to put on "tapho" (褡◉) as they used to do before the 1st of the 4th Moon, and the people in general to wear other colors as well as (instead of) the black. No doubt it was very foolish for Mr. Pak to dictate what one color a man should wear. No doubt the black color which he forced on the people is not the popular hue. Yet it is an undoubted bad policy to change laws so often and so capriciously. It is ture that T.M. deny the legality of anything which Pak did. But it is equally true that whatever Pak did was sanctioned by His Majesty under his royal seal. Therefore this reversion of Pak's official doings is a confession of His Mesjesty's weakness―a thing not favorable to T.M.'s interest. It is further noticeable that the Decree is numbered 1 instead of No. 155 which it ought to be.
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2. The day before Count Inouye left Seoul, Mr. Kim, the Prime Minister, gave a parting dinner, during which he, wishing that the Count might have a smooth voyage, said "May you have no storms on the sea!" In answer to this, the Count said "Thank you for the kind wishes. May you gentlemen have no storms in the Cabinet!" No sooner had Count Inouye left than the Cabinet storm began. Several ministerial changes are expected soon, among which the Agriculture Department and the War Department will have new occupants.
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3. There lives an old scholar in the province of Hwanghai. His reputation was once very high in certain quarters. A friend of mine, attracted by the name, went to visit this celebrated scholar and found him―an ass. Disappointed, my friend inquired far and wide to get at the "Why" of the undeserved reputation. The "Why" did come to light. It was simply this: that the old gentleman was a member of a Mutual Admiration Society (相譽會) .
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4. The Palace and others are feverish to know what the cabinets of Tokio and of St. Petersburg are going to do concerning Corea. Newsmongers of all sorts deal out their cheap rumors right and left going about whispering, nodding and looking superlatively wise. Many of these fools drive a thriving trade by concocting all sorts of stuff passing them for genuine and all important news for Royal ears-and for solid dollars. To me it is immaterial what the foreign cabinets are doing or may do. Suppose the Corean government were to receive a secrete and authentic information that the Japanese or the Russian Cabinet had decided to dispatch 20 thousand soldiers to Corea marching from Chemulpo or Wonsan straight to Seoul. Will the possession of this secret and important news do the least good to Corea under her present contition? None at all. Why then, not attending our own domestic business, should we waste our time and money and self-respect in hunting after news? No! No! No! Corea has everything to fear from her internal confusion worse confounded and none from either Japanese or Russian.
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5. T.M. hate to see black or dark dress in the Palace.
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6. General Greathouse makes good saddles―but a better use of them. He knows who is up and who is down in the scale of influence in the government. To those whom he once thought to be up he promised a saddle each―among whom are Mr. Kim Ka Chin, Yu Kil Joon, An Kiung Soo and myself. He finished two about 3 months ago, one for me and another for Kim Ka Chin. But Min Sang Ho has become a rising star in the firmament of the Palatial favor. So away went to him the saddle intended for Kim Ka Chin who is pretty low in official prospect. As I am now I dare not hope to have one of the "Diplomatic" saddles. It is sad. But sadder it is that an American gentleman of the culture and intelligence of General Greathouse should display or indulge in such a weakness.
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