2
1st.(23rd of 4th Moon). Sunday. Sudden cold and bright.
3
Mr. Speyer, the new Russian Minister, left Seoul at 7 a.m. for Chemulpo there to go on board a Russian man-of-war for Japan.
4
Insurrections are rising everywhere. Many governments and magistrates and minor officials have been murdered. Villages sacked. Now, the war cry of the insurgents is. "Away with the Japanese!" These insurgents are simply bands of robbers who have no principle to fight for and no purpose to carry out except to feed and clothe themselves at the cost of other people. To them no dalliance should be shown.
6
2nd.Monday. Cold and pale.
7
French lesson and office work as usual.
8
This morning, through Dr. Busteed, I sent letters to my Shanghai friends. ＄18.50 to Miss Richardson to pay some bills, and ＄15 to Dr. Reid, asking him to buy me some Chiness books for the Corean schools.
9
Out of 36 candidates examined for the Russian School, only 15 passed with any show of justice. The rest could not read a sentence of a Chinese essay. By the way. the study of Chinese should be encouraged.
10
Yi Wan Youg, Yi Yun Yong, Yi Pom Chin, Yi Chai Soon, have by national tendencies formed a sort of Cabal. Am but a drop of oil on a bucket of water. I cannot everlastingly whisper and intrigue.
11
The day before yesterday, Yi Wan Yong, privalely sent a Yi Choo Sa (李主事) , to the Finance Bureau of the Educational Department asking for the "Receipt." But Yi Hai Tuk (李海德) the Superintendent of the Bureau refused to give it up as he had no instruction from me. Yi Wan Yong, clever as he is, shows a very sneaky spirit.
13
3rd.Tuesday. Very windy and cold.
14
French lesson and office as usual.
15
Received a letter from Dr. Reids. A letter from Rev. Edrington, a Ky Preacher. I met him, or, rather, enjoyed his hospitality in 1891, when he was the P.C. of the South Methodist Church in Elizabeth town, Ky. His wife I found a delicate and nice woman and his daughter a pretty young lady of about 15. By the way, Rev. Ed. informs me that Bishop Haygood died on the 19th of January. God be merciful to his bereaved family.
16
Yi Pom Chin was relieved of his police superintendency Kim Chai Poong, one of the leaders in the affairs of the 28th of November was last night appointed Director of Police.
17
On the 1st inst. His Majesty in the presence of the Minister of Finance and of Brown, gave the latter the authority of an advisor in the Finance Department empowering him to examine into the real condition of the Department. I interpreted.
19
7th.Saturday. Cold and cloudy most of the day.
20
Slept at home last night. Went to Office as usual! Returned to the Russian Legation about 1:30 p.m.
21
Waeber told me confidentially that his Majesty thinks of sending an embassy to St. Petersburg for the occasion of coronation of the Czar, that the candidate for the minister is Min Young Huan; that I may go too as the 1st Secretary. I suggested the advisability of sending an English speaking Russian along with the Mission.
22
Told Waeber that it would be very unwise and unkingly of His Majesty should put up his topknot again and that he (Waeber) should use his influence toward persuading the King to keep his hair cut while everybody, the Crown Prince not excepted, might be allowed to do as he pleases.
23
Was told that the 2nd prince had written to His Majesty saying that he wanted to go to America.
24
Either Yi Ha Yong or Yi Chai Yon is to be the Minister to Japan.
25
Kim Hong Chip and Co. made a contract with Dr. Jaishon, engaging him for 10 years at ＄300 per month!
28
Lack of sleep last night made me feel bad all day long.
29
Late in the evening received letters from my cousin (2nd) informing me that our country houses had been sacked by the insurgents of the neighboring districts and that my uncle and everybody else had to flee for life! The insurgents, being most of them the remnants of Tong Haks against which section my uncle had two years ago adopted vigorous measures for self-protection-on this account, the insurgents marked out our house as a special object of their displeasure. When I reported the above to the Cabinet, the Minister of Justice laughed over it, the Prime Minister plus the Minister of Interior took no notice of it, the Minister of War looked hopeless. Every encouraging, to say the least!
31
11th.Wednesday. Mild and pretty.
32
Office and French lesson as usual.
33
A few days after the King had come to the Russian Legation, Yi Wan Yong, agreeably to the wishes of His Majesty, wrote to the Japanese Minister asking him to remove the Japanese soldiers from Sam Kun Poo (三軍部) . But the Japanese representative exchanged no official communications with the Foreign Office. Only last night, for the first time, Komura, the Japanese Minister broke the ice by sending dispatches to Yi Wan Yong―however not on the removing of the soldiers.
34
Min Yong Hwan was appointed the Minister to Russia last night.
35
If Yi Pom Chin is true, His Majesty is said, to still indulge in the dangerous practice of offering prayers to the spirits of Mountains and Rivers etc. Well enough do I remember that about 3 weeks before the 8th of October. His and Her Majesty, in my hearing, commissioned Min Sang Ho to measure the dimensions of the idols representing the War God for the expensive and foolish purpose of rerobing them. For the last 15 years or so T.M. have wasted hundreds of thousands of dollars in worshipping the various spirits of mountains etc. Is the king no wiser now?
36
Received a letter from Nagami.
38
13th.(1st of 2nd Moon). Friday.
39
This morning Yi Pom Chin told me that Kim Hong Niuk, the Russian Legation interpreter, has been "eating" the members of the Cabinet to His Majesty by the mouthful.
40
Office as usual. Felt wretched all day long on account of the lose of sleep last night.
41
Met Kim No Wan at home. He told me that His Majesty is begining to dislike Yi Pom Chin; that the King feels and says that he has mounted a tiger (a pum on the Corean word, Pum or tiger) etc. I can not believe all this. However, the King knows how to dissemble. He played this card so well that some time before he left the Palace, it was universally believed and reported that His Majesty had given up all ambition for restoration to power.
42
Every time I see His Majesty and the Crown Prince, I am reminded of Her Majesty and feel utterly surprised how the Prince could be so jolly.
43
Pak Chung Yang, Yi Wan Yong and the rest of them could make it a matter of their conscience (if they have any) to print books by the clumsy and expensive method of the Corean press.
46
Last night or rather this a.m., at 1 or 1:30, my dear father reached the Russian Legation safely. Hiun Heung Taik came with him. Their meeting with His Majesty presented a touching scene, bringing tears to my eyes. Most astonishing and discouraging it was to see the Crown Prince entirely unaffected. He laughed and talked―and that thoughtlessly―as if the 8th of October had never made him sorry.
47
Spent the day at home. Father tells me that Dr. and Mrs. Reid could not have treated their own brother more kindly than they did him. It was very good of them indeed.
48
During father's stay in Shanghai, he sent Kim Hong Soo (金弘秀) to Japan to find out some news from Corea. When Kim arrived at Tokio he was suspected by the pro-Japanese Coreans, who would have him ostracized. But the 2nd Prince stood by him. The young Prince told the crowd, not in whisper but in a manner and tone of authority, that whatever they might think of Kim, he (the Prince) regarded my father and Kim as benefactors for the part they had taken in the attempt of the 28th of November. Then he befriended Kim, supplying him with all necessaries.
49
The Prince is being held as a hostage in Japan. Yu Kil Chun and Co. made a secret arrangement with Fukuzawa to keep the Prince in Japan. The Prince is very indignant, but nobody to help him out of Japan. Sin Ung Hui and Yi Kiu Wan are only two Coreans in Tokio who sympathize with the Prince.
50
My uncle and cousins came up from the country safe. Thank god for His goodness to us. Uncle told me that he could easily have defended the district and home from the insurgents had he known that the government would deal with them as common robbers that they are. But the name of Ui Piong and Loyal Militia kept my uncle and others from opposing the insurgents.
51
Mrs. Underwood : "Oh, my! the handle may get hot."
52
Dr. Underwood : "A wooden handle does not get hot."
53
T.H.Y. : "A wooden handle would not get hot."
56
Went to office at 10 a.m. Stayed there most of the day. Candidates examined for the Normal School.
57
Late in the evening, hearing the rumor that Tae Won Kun has nearly matured a plot to attack Seoul and the Russian Legation with insurgents, backed by Japanese, went to the Russian Legation to warn the authorities of the possible danger. Such time as this brings forth some strange events now and then, one should not neglect rumors merely as such.
58
His Majesty gave me the silk material for a suit of court dress and ＄50 to be used in preparing for my Russian Misson.
59
I go about without any guard. Dangers all around me thick as bullets in the field of battle. I know no way of avoiding them. All that I can do is to go about my duties in the straightest way I know how.
61
19th. Thursday. Rained some, snowed some, wet all.
62
What with my office work, what with my preparation for the journey, what with my duties in the Cabinet I have been fully busy today.
63
Yi Pom Chin told my father yesterday that if he (Yi) really wished to do some good, he would have to play Kim Hong Chip or Yu Kil Chun―such being the weakness of the King.
64
Coreans have a strong belief in the prophetic property of the street songs of children. Months ago, as soon as the topknot was ordered down, one of the songs said; "Three months after the cutting of hair, what does the pine-leafy topknot mean?" (머리 갓근지 석달만에 솔닙상토가 웬 일인가) His Majesty seems to be determined to rethrone the topknot and the hair bands.
66
21st.Saturday. Fair and cold.
67
Slept at home last night. Got up at 5 a.m. to pack things etc. as my precious wife and I had decided that she should go to Shanghai in the company of Miss Davis and M.A. The later two ladies go to Japan. My Darling would have to change steamer at Nagasaki. Wife and baby left home for Chemulpo at about 8. When are we to have a home―a permanent home! My mother was very sad to see her daughter-in-law and grand-daughter go away.
68
Office as usual. Today is the birthday of the Crown Prince. Yi Pom Chin told me that His Majesty wept this morning as the day brought to his memory old scenes and associations. Many of the old courtiers wept too. Perfectly natural. "But," said Yi in despair, "the Crown Prince who has the greatest reasons for being sad. was the jolliest of the crowd. Not a tear, not a sigh, not even a serious countenance! Oh, what motherly love she had for him!"
69
The Prince put on his hairband today.
72
This morning Waeber told me that his government had sent a telegraphic instruction to let Stein accompany the Corean embassy.
73
Office as usual. The Normal School begun today.
74
A few nights ago a ring of torch lights around the fortress of Nam Han. Some thought that they were the sentinal lights of the insurgents who had held the fortress for so many days against the soldiers. But my father alone said "You will in a few days hear that the insurgents have all run away. These lights are their blind." Sure enough, yesterday the news reached Seoul that when the soldiers entered the fortress the day before yesterday it was empty.
76
29th.Sunday. Bright and cold.
77
Went home about 11 a.m. and rested until 6:30 p.m. With Mr. Min Yong Hwan and other members of the Coronation Mission, dined at Waeber's.
80
This morning Mr. Min Yong Hwan made me dumbfounded by telling me that he had decided to resign his position. On my asking the reason why, Mr. Min said, "Though I am to go as the Minister, another party is going with the full confidence of His Majesty as a sort of a secret mission to watch over me. I would rather be punished here for disobeying the order of His Majesty than to be evil reported hereafter and be punished for something which I may never have done. I am prepared in all respects and ready to go any time. But I shall give all this to anyone who may go. I shall not go to Russia as an ambassador without the confiedence of my master as a mere figurehead. The secret party going consists of Sung Ki Woon, Joo Suk Mion, and Min Kiung Sik. The last is one of my relatives. Yet he has not mentioned his going to me for once."
81
Seeing that Mr. Min was quite determined, I told him to report to His Majesty his intention and the reasons thereof. Then, as the whole matter touches the interest of Waeber, I reported the affair to him. He was very much annoyed and tried to persuade Mr. Min that His Majesty has the fullest confidence in Mr. Min. The latter gentleman refused to be persuaded. Mrs. Waeber, thinking that this hitch has come from some intrigues of Yi Pom Chin, manifested a great deal dislike for him in words and manner.
82
Poor Yi! The King, surrounded by women and the Russian interpreter, has began to treat Yi with coldness. Yi has often advised His Majesty against the follies of worshping the War God, of consulting fortunetellers, of secretly intriguing with unprincipled men and women, of neglecting the Ministers of State etc. etc. "When Her Majesty was alive," said, Yi P.C. with tears, "we thought she was the author of all national evils. But now I have found out that she was compelled to do so many harmful things only in order to keep the King in good humor."
83
Kim Hong Niuk, the confounded Russian Interpreter, Joo Suk Mion, the damnable rascal who has, through mean tricks, now the ear or rather the sense of the King and the Prince, with the help of certain palace women are now fattening themselves and their demonites by misleading the weak and hopeless King. Hi Majesty is daily showing himself an amiable but a dissembling monarch. His good qualities as well as his bad characteristics remind me much of an English King well known to history.
84
Worked most of the day trying to persuade Mr. Min not to resign or mention the intention to His Majesty as that the King would never listen to while Mr. Waeber might be so disgusted with the Corean affair as to give up all hope and help. Mr. Min finally decided to go on the condition that Mr. Waeber would promise to protect him from any false accusation to His Majesty and that he (Min) should be allowed to travel in Europe at least a year. Waeber promised to give his support to both of these conditions. This settled Min's mind to go.
85
Every dog has his day. When the Chinese were strong here years ago the Chinese speaking Corean from Wuijoo carried on things in a high style. They told all sorts of stories to the King in the name of the Chinese Resident to persuade or scare the monarch to do many things foolish for the good of the Chinesites. With the ascendency of Japanese all the dogs from Fusan speaking Japanese fooled the King for many an abominable schemes to their interest in the name of Otori of Inouye or Miura or Komura Now that the Russian influence being "paramount," all wretches from the Vladivostock streets crowd the King's chamber, leading him into all sorts of devilry. Some weeks ago when Kim To Ⅱ was to be appointed, or rather promoted, to the position of a chief Secretary, on the pretext that Mr. Waeber had insisted on it, as no man of a low rank could interpret to the Czar, I told Mr. Min that if Kim were promoted to a high rank he would prove spoiled for effective service. Yet Kim Hong Niuk, and Joo succeeded and Kim To Ⅱ was promoted. The other day, Waeber surprised me by asking me why Kim To Ⅱ was given so high a rank. On my telling the whole truth, Waeber, denied entirely having ever said a word about promoting Kim! This is only one of the daily instances in which both His Majesty and Waeber are fooled. The most distressing fact about this was that Waeber and his wife have the fullest trust in the integrity, honesty and uprightness of Kim Hong Niuk.
86
Spent the evening from 7 to 12 at Han Sei Chin's with Mr. Kim No Wan. A winy and pleasant social evening.
88
31st.Tuesday. Bright and cold afternoon.
89
Spent last night at home. Reaching the Russian Legation I was informed that the Capt. of the Russian man of war insisted our going away at once so as to give the sailors the Easter Sunday in Shanghai. Decided to leave Seoul tomorrow a.m. at 8. Everybody in the Legation and of our company has a full day of it―in getting things ready for departure.
90
Went to the Office as usual. Wound up my work there. During my short term of office in the Education Department, I have:
91
1. Established two primary schools, one being put inside of the Confucian Temple.
92
2. Insisted on the importance of establishing primary schools everywhere.
93
3. Dismissed a useless teacher whom Kim Chun Hui had put into the Normal school.
94
4. Discovered the forgery of Kwon Yu Sup.
95
5. Established a Russian School.
96
6. Broken up the college scheme of Kim Chun Hui.
97
7. Never appointed a single man to any office in the Department whom I was not sure of being properly qualified.
98
8. Settled the difficulty between Hulbert and the Department in regard to the "Sa Min Pil Chi (士民必知) ."
99
9. Oredred the sale of the books made in the Department in different parts of the city.
100
10. Inaugurated the movement of calling back about two thirds of the students in Tokio.
101
― Flower First token of the Corean spring―
102
Flower picked on the Northern slope of 星峴.
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