2
2nd. (19th of 8rd Moon). Sunday. A perfectly lovely day.
3
Worshipped in the Methodist Chapel. Called on Mr. Krine, the German consul. In talking about the possible war between Germany and England concerning the Transval affairs, Mr. K. said, "England never cares for any country much for its own sake. But let the Briton smell of gold in a place, and he would at once claim it his. England, like China, talks big without being able to fight a continental power. She can bark, but bites she never. England's policy has been to conquer weak nations through intrigues and violence. The harm the England has done in the world is simply incalculable." Certainly K. does not love English very much.
4
On my way home went in to see General Greathouse. He being absent, had a short talk with his mother. She sent out a boy to buy some "mak-koli" or Korean wine of the commonest sort, to drink herself! I can not understand this. Every body tells me that the Greathouses are rich. Yet, here they are living in loneliness, and drinking "mak-koli". What do they expect to do with their money? The old lady is declining rapidly in health and spirit. But the love of hoarding keeps her son from making her last days happy in America.
5
Met Yu Kil Chun at his office. When I told him about the rise and fall of Dr. Jaison's paper scheme, Yu Kil Chun suggested that a combination might be effected with the Seoul News! I told him, with my usual simplicity, that such could not be the best as neither the Japanese nor Dr. Jaisohn would consent to be subordinate. Now I see clearly that the paper was not the private enterprize of Dr. Jaison as he told me, and that Yu Kil Chun and Co., fearing that the paper might go against their interest, broke up the plan. Of course Japanese are behind all this.
7
4th. Tuesday. Mild and lovely.
8
Had a call from General Greathouse. He thinks that the Japanese are trying to give up Yu Kil Chun as a scapegoat for all the sins of the late affairs. The General told me that the Japanese who scared the Ministers out of their paper scheme was no less a personage than the Honorable Komura, the representative of Japan.
10
5th. Wednesday. Beautiful and mild.
11
This morning Cho Piung Kio 趙秉敎 came to see me. He had just returned from Japan. He told me that the 2nd Prince had fallen out with my cousin. Some of the reasons for this state of affairs were:
12
1. My cousin's careless expenditure of the Prince's money. After they got to Japan, my cousin, by entrusting the purse to a Japanese named Yamasaki, spent for the Prince2,000 or more in one single month of 31 days.
13
2. My cousin persuaded the Prince to send back his concubine, who had gone to Japan with my cousin's wife some months before the Prince. Then, my cousin kept his wife with him, reminding the young Prince or his loneliness by their conjugal felicity. That naturally enough made the Prince angry. My cousin should have sent his wife to some school, thus sparing the Prince from his irritation.
14
3. My cousin was unwise enough to offend the Prince with too sharp admonitions. Certainly one so young, so green and so light as my cousin should never undertake lecturing any one into the path of wisdom.
15
4. My cousin at the expense of the Prince, dresses and keeps himself with as much style as the 2nd son of the King.
16
5. My cousin, in order to monopolize the favor and confidence of the Prince, keeps everybody away from the latter. Worse still, whenever he notices the Prince talking with anybody, he (my cousin) tries to spy out what was said etc. Thus he has succeeded in making every Corean student in Tokio his bitter enemy.
17
I know not how far the above accounts are to be trusted; but they sound very much like the doings of my versatile cousin. He relies too much on his tongue and tricks and too little on steadiness and straightforwardness. Am very sorry to hear all this for the sake of my cousin and of the Prince.
18
Kim Ka Chin (金嘉鎭) the former Minister of Agriculture etc. was arrested on the charge of having embezzled some public money while he was in the office. Four reasons for his arrest: (1) His extravagant living while in office―said to have spent400 a day in revelry, several times in a month. This aroused the suspecion that he must have made in some illegal way to meet the expenses. (2) He has never proved himself true to a party, hence he has no friends. (3) His Office―the Agriculture Department―had some temptations for embezzlement. (4) The members of the present Cabinet with the exception of Chung Biung Ha, are his personal enemies. He was eyed at and spoken of as "the so-in(小人) " who brought about the quarrel, then the rupture between Kim Hong Chip and Co and Pak Yong Hio.
19
Mr. Kim No Wan has just left me (5 p.m.) after two hours of bewildering profession of friendship for me and of disapproval of my father. He told me that for my safety he has been at work day and night. For the same purpose, he said, he managed to get Cabinet to consent to the promotion of 金思浚 (the father-in-law of the 2nd Prince) to the Vice Presidency of the War Department. Then he told me what wonderful maneuvers he had to perform to send Soh Kwang Pom to America that the Education Department might be vacant for Yi To Chai to get out my pardon to persuade Fish to take in Cho Hui Yon as an ally to save Chin Ryung Kun from death etc. etc. He urges my leaving the country for safety. The Japanese are endeavoring to drive out Dr. Jaisohn, if Kim N. Wan is to be trusted. Oh God, give me wisdom and courage to protect me from the follies of a well-meaning friend or the designs of a wily foe! I have, so far as human wisdom is concerned, no protection except straight forwardness and integrity.
20
Kim informed me that Yu Kil Chun has gotten up a story that the partisans of Im Choi Soo have concealed assassins in the Palace to murder the ministers, and that my house is kept under strict police surveillance, as well as my going out and coming in. When am I to have peace?
22
9th. Sunday. Beautiful, cold and windy.
23
According to the Old Calendar, this is my birthday. For the first time in 11 years I have the pleasure of spending this day under my parental roof. My dear mother seems so happy. Only wish my father were at home. When shall our family circle be complete!
24
Last Thursday night, Hyon Heung Taik (玄興澤) left Seoul for Chefoo. Sent by him letters to father and Drs. Reid and Allen.
25
Mr. Yi Pom Chin wrote to me this evening that he was going to leave Seoul tomorrow a.m. for a foreign port―which he did not name. Could not go and see him on account of detectives watching my movements.
27
11th. Tuesday. Pale and cold.
28
At 10:30 a.m., or thereabout, news reached me that the King had left the Palace for the Russian Legation, that 4 Russian soldiers carried off An Hwan (安桓) , the 2nd commissioner of police, to their Legation; that Pak Chung Yang was appointed Prmie Minister; that Yi Yun Yong and Yi Wan Yong were made the Commissioner of Police and the Minister of War respectively; that Cho Hui Yon, Yu Kil Chun, in fact all the Cabinet Ministers had fled; that there are at least 200 Russian soldiers in Seoul, with several cannons. Something has happened; but I know not what (12m) .
29
12:30 p.m. called on Mrs. Underwood. Found out that His Majesty had come to the Russian Legation in a box chair belonging to a na-in, or palace maid, about 7 or earlier this a.m. So did the Crown Prince.
30
1. About 2 p.m. Kim Hong Chip and Chung Pyong Ha were executed without any form of trial and their bodies given up to the fury and savagery of the mob. Too bad!
31
2. About 6 p.m, received a cord and a pass from Yi Wang Yong asking me to come to the Russian Legation. Found the most convenient rooms in the main building of the Legation taken up by Corean Officials. The room which Waebers used to occupy as a bedroom is made the temporal abode of the King and the Crown. His Majesty was very gracious to me.
32
3. The Cabinet Foreign Minister, Yi Wan Yong; War DepartmentYi. Yun Yong; Police, An Kiung Soo; Justice, Cho Piung Chik; Finance, Yun Yong Ku; Agriculture and Education, Yi Wan Yong, Acting. Recommended to the Cabinet the wisdom of guarding the homes and families of the declared criminals; of protecting Japanese residents; of giving the bodies of Kim and Chung to their relatives; of granting a full amnesty to all except the acknowledged leaders in the plot against the Queen; of publishing their names in white and black so that those whose names are not mentioned might feel at ease.
33
4. The King and the Prince had 4 women to help them. His room had been closely watched by his mother (Tai Won Kun's wife) and by the Old man's concubine. The King's brother, Yi Chai Mion, had been entrusted with the safe keeping of the Royal person by Yu Kil Chun's Cabinet. The two old ladies above mentioned kept watches by turn in the night. His Majesty had failed once before in his attempt to escape. But in the early part of the night of the 10th inst, he, having made all necessary arrangements, made the two old ladies tired and sleepy by talking about oldtimes etc. etc. The ladies, sure enough, went to sound sleep about 2 this morning. The King and the Prince pretended to go to bed. Then, with the help of the na-ins, they went to one of the women's room to wait for the opening of the gate. As soon as the day began to dawn, the parties got into the box chairs. The King had to fit behind a "na-in," and so did the Prince. This however excited no suspicion as "na- ins" often ride two in a chair. In order to get out, the sentinels of the gates, through which the chairs had to pass, were invited to drink some "sul" and soup of unusual flavor in some retired corner. While they were at it, the chairs got out unmolested through different gates. The whole plot was the work of Yi Pom Chin. No Russian went anywhere near the Palace. Four Russian soldiers sent to the Police station simply to guard a Corean messenger and not to arrest any person.
34
That His Majesty is out of the land of his enemies is a matter of joy. That those who were concerned in the affair of the 28th of November are now relieved of the name of traitors, is pleasant. But that the real welfare of the country is to be promoted by the change is by no means likely―unless His Majesty is determined to carry out the needed reformation in earnest.
36
12th. Wednesday. Pleasant.
37
This a.m. with the help of Yi Wan Yong succeeded, at least for the time being, in persuading His Majesty to keep his hair cut and to let every body settle the matter according to his conscience or convenience. Told His Majesty that to put up his hair again would mean one of two things: viz. that he was compelled by Yu Kil Chun and Kim Hong Chip to cut his hair or that he has suddenly found out the folly of cutting hair. The former would expose him to contempt while the latter argue his caprice.
38
Begged His Majesty not to appoint me to any office at all as my loyalty would not be affected one way or another by it. Kim Chun Hui, the Vice Minister of Education, should not be dismissed because he is the cousin of Kim Hong Chip. His Majesty was pleased and promised that he would not give me any office. But the Cabinent insisted on reappointing me to the position of Vice Minister of Education.
39
Yi Wan Yong surprised me by saying that when he was the Minister of Education he entrusted4,000 in the hand of Dr. Allen, that the said money belonged to the Department; that Dr. Allen's receipt is in the finance bureau of the Department, that no one but himself (Yi) could get out the money, that he had already used a large part of the sum; and that, as the receipt is on useless paper, I should quietly return it to him! Never expected such a thing from Yi Wan Yong. His salary for 5 months could not have been more than1, 500, allowing300 (?) per month. But by a simple trick he realized4,000 beyond and above his salary. No, I cannot give him the receipt!
41
14th. Friday. Cold and bright.
42
5 a.m. Yi Yun Yong, the Minister of War swores on a comfortable sofa while his soldiers are shivering in cold after night long watches. A pretty state of things!
43
I have tried all my arguments in persuading His Majesty and the Cabinet to remove to a Corean house, if it were but a hut. Of course the King is relunctant to leave the well-guarded Russian Legation. No wonder he fears and detests the Japanese. The Japanese instructors had led the troops (Corean) , whom they were paid to drill for the protection of the King, against him. The Japanese soldiers stationed in front of the Palace for the ostentatious object of guarding their Majesties had attacked them. The Japanese representatives accreditied to the King had plotted and murdered his Queen.
45
25th. Cloudy-mild after rain.
46
Collections and recollections, Old and New.
47
1. On the 9th inst. Mr. Wo Yun Choong, the former Minister of Finance, was murdered by a mob in the district of Yong In (龍仁) . Some―the Japanese and pro-Japanese―insist that he was killed by two or more ruffians who had been sent from Seoul to do the job. No matter how he came by that fate, he is only man of the regicidal Cabinet whose death I am sincerely sorry for.
48
2. A few nights ago, Yi Pom Chin was appointed the Minister of Law and the Director of Police. About 13 of those who are suspected of having been implicated in the plot of the 8th of October have been arrested for the purpose of inquiring into the events of that day. Told the Russian minister that nothing but firm restraint would keep Yi Pom Chin from abasing his power. Both of them promised to prevent Yi from introducing any barbarous mode of exacting confession.
49
3. Mrs. Underwood complains that Japanese have been awfully spoiled and hopes that someone might bring them to sense. She ought to first stop spoiling her boy.
50
4. Yi Pom Chin, Yi Chai Soon and Kim Hong Niuk will ruin the country or rather finish up Corea. Kim is the Russian Interpreter. He is a sneaky rascal. The worst of it is that he has the perfect confidence of Waebers and Spyers. Mrs. Waeber sometime ago told me, if not in words at least in effort; that the Apostle Paul could not be more honest than Kim Hong Niuk. Mr. Spyer seems to think that he is suffering from honest poverty! As a matter of fact this rascal is perhaps richer than any officer in the Cabinet―he takes bribes from any and all parties. He tells lies to the King in the name of the Russian Ministers to serve some purpose of Yi P.C. or Yi C.S.
51
5. His Majesty has already been giving high offices to his favorites irrespective of their qualifications. Yesterday morning His Majesty, through the Prime MInister, ordered me to appoint Joo Suk Miun (朱錫冕) to the position of a Secretary in the Education Department. This Joo is a mean fawning fellow in the Russian Legation. He gets the office for no other reason under this sky than that he has won the favor of Yi P.C.
52
6. When I came back to the Russian Legation last evening from home, I was thunderstruck by the information that Kim Hong Niuk, the dirty and mean interpreter of the Russian Legation, was to be appointed the Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs! I could not believe it until his commission was written and the Cabinet Ministers began to sign their names for the appointment. Then I asked Yi P.C. if he had consulted with Waeber concerning this matter, as Kim was the interpreter of the Legation. Yi answered in the negative and went to see Speyer about it. Speyer made no special objection to the promotion, as it was the wish of His Majesty; but suggested that a comfortable pension should be granted to him besides an office and title; as Kim was too honest to be rich! Then Yi P.C. and I called on Waeber and informed him of the intended promotion of Kim. Waeber strongly opposed the step but was giving in when told of that the appointment had already been published. I winked at Waeber and told him that the thing could be helped, as I had not signed the paper yet. Waeber at once took the hint and positively oppoesed to the appointment. So the thing fell through.
53
7. No, no! The affairs are going to the dog. The King ought to have a strong foreign advisor whose word he must respect and whose displeasure his officials must fear. The army needs a good organizer and the Finance ought to be put under a competent director.
54
8. The arrested parties are to be examined today. General Greathouse, through the recommendation of Waeber is to act as the legal advisor in the examinations.
55
9. Received a delightful letter from Miss Richardson today dated 11th of February. Began study of French with Mr. Martel for one hour a day.
56
10. The Russian Ministers act as wisely as the Japanese did unwisely. The Japanese (Inouye, for instance) were haughty, but the Russian are polite The Japanese were unapproachable; but the Russians are affable. The Japanese were meddlesome, but the Russians are deficent. The Japanese wanted everything, but the Russians ask for nothing.
57
11. Ten to one, Yi Wan Yong will try his best to be the Minister of Education. The4,000 trick will then give him all the comforts without the inconvenience of ill gotten wealth, property.
58
12. Some of the official acts of Kim Chun Hiu, the former Vice-minister of Education, indicate that he was a fool―and a dishonest fool at that. He appointed a man who cannot read the simplest Chinese the teacher of mathematics in the so called Normal School. He projected a scheme for establishing a College (!) for no other purpose apparently than to give about a hundred of his friends6 per month. Without any student to teach or any school to teach in, he spent over600 in sending one of his favorites to Vladivostock to call a Russian teacher. The Vice-minister was gracious enough to have premised that the Russian should be given300 per month and a brick house furnished with all the comforts of the European life! But when the Russian teacher came, the Vice-minister of Education put him into a room worthy of a dog! For the College (that was to be) he had already appointed a professor at40 per month. When Takami, a Japanese, was returning to Japan concerning the loan business, Kim let him have311 out of the public money be paid on Takami's return.
60
26th. Wednesday. Beautiful, warm.
61
Went house at 11 a.m. An Ki Joong (安沂中) once the private secretary of Pak Yong Hio, called on me and informed that a scheme is on foot now to urge His Majesty to return to the Palace and to rid the King of the baneful influence of Yi Pom Chin. I told him that the scheme would be all right and that I might be willing to help forward its realization if it had nothing violent in it. Told him further that any resort to violence would not succeed and that, judging from past experiments, a government, at least a weak government, based on treachery and cruelty could never stand. Kim Ok Kiun and party thought that if they could kill 6 or 7 men, everything would be all right. So they (Kim and Co.) did, only to make Corea worse. Her Majesty imagined that if she should kill Kim Ok Kiun and his friends, her throne might be safe forever. So she did kill hundreds of people, thereby making herself odious to everybody. Yu Kil Chun coined in his hell of brains the miserable plot for the expulsion of Pak Yong Hio and helped Her Majesty to abuse her power to her own destruction. Again Sugimura and Yu Kil Chun murdered Her Majesty, thinking that, by that one blow, they could rid Corea of all known and unknown evils. Yet their dastardly crime has proved the foul means of endangering the life and property of every Corean.
63
28th. Friday. Rather cold and pale.
64
Yesterday morning again urged on Mr. Waeber the absolute necessity of restraining Yi Pom Chin from abusing his power; the wisdom of keeping the Corean soldiers organized and drilled; the need of putting the Finance Department under a competent direction: that prudence of relieving Yi Pom Chin of his Police Authority; and of the importance of providing a reliable guard for His Majesty, so that he might be able to return to the Palace as soon as possible. On the last item Mr. Waeber said that the opinions of the Russian and Japanese governments should first be known before any step could be taken one way or another.
65
This morning I saw Yi Yun Yong, the Minister of War, out of the Russian Legation to order his men to level the patch of ground next to the Legation for the purpose of drilling the soldiers.
66
Called on Mr. Brown and asked him to see Waeber about getting His Majesty's order authorizing Brown to look into and after the Finance Department. Went to the office as usual.
67
Dr. Busteed and his wife are going to Shanghai. For her own comforts, I told my dear Darling that, if she so desired, she might return to China though the very thought of being separated from her made me cry. The precious little woman certainly assured me that she would rather, for my sake, stay here than go to Shanghai. God be thanked for such a wife!
68
When I returned to the Russian Legation, Yi Wan Yong, in the presence of Min Sang Ho, angrily said to me:
69
"Why don't you bring me the Receipt? Do you imagine that you could collect the money?" Surprised as I was, I replied quietly, "Well, the Education Department can, and will not let go that Receipt as it alone shows where the4,000 has gone to. You had better give the Department your own receipt for the sum." Then His Excellency, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, in a contemptuous tone that hurt me very much, said, "My receipt! What for? Do you think you can collect that money? Let's see if you can." So saying he walked off.
70
About 7, called on Dr. Allen. When I told him what had passed between Yi Wan Yong and myself as the Doctor's Receipt has been the bone of contention, to my utter surprise Dr. Allen showed me a paper in which Yi Wan Yong had declared that the money belonged to him (!) The Doctor was sorry to know what a rotten thing Yi's "Word of honor" proved to be. By the way, if Yi, with some plausible stories, persuades His Majesty to give him the4,000, or by becoming the Minister of Education, he should destory the Receipt―either of which is very probable―it is none of my business.
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