2
10th. (20th of 3rd Moon). Snow. Fair.
3
When I came home from the church, found my aunt (mother's elder sister) in the room. Was informed that she came in with her belongings this morning, without having ever told us a word, in order to stay in our house. I feel so displeased with her at her impudence and Corean stupidity that I can hardly persuade myself to speak to her. I built this little house here with the fewest possible rooms in order to avoid the inundations of the poor relatives and sponging friends. But all my precautions seem to be of no use.
4
The price of rice has gone up to 6 yang per measure(升) . Suffering people are clamoring for more rice in the market, but speculators keep their rice stored or sell it to Japanese who pay them better. Went to the Club as usual.
6
14th. (25th). Thursday. Windy-cloudy.
7
At 11 a.m. General Le Gendre called on me. He desires to introduce a Consultation Board in the government, to act as a check on the actions of ministers. He thinks Min Yong Joon (閔泳駿) is the best man that the Corean government may find for this crisis. Among other things, the General said: "The present condition of Corea is very much like that of Japan 30 years ago. The country will no longer stand the old absolutism, but it is unfit for a thoroughly representative government. We must find a medium between the two. I therefore suggest what I did to Japan 30 years ago; viz., a Consultation Board which shall be composed of the most enlightened elements in the country."
8
2. "Whatever system we may suggest to H.M. for adoption we must promise him that he shall thereby get more money. I know H.M. is very anxious to get money and he has been trying to transfer the mint to the Household Dept. To this I protested."
9
3. "If you don't get a strong government now you will soon have a popular revolution here which may vie with the French revolution in its bloody excesses. When that happens, the first to suffer will be the popular agitators with the best sort of motives."
10
4. "The cause of the rise of prices here is due to the volume of money. Thrown on the market the unlimited coinage of the wretched copper cents is a curse. I told H.M. to compel rich men to sell their rice thus raising the supply of food to the demand. But who are the rich men interested in the rise of price? The ministers and other influential personages in the government. Hence my advice did not work. H.M., I hear, has given ＄20,000 to relieve the famine districts. But what good will that little amount do? Then again who can tell me that it will be given to the deserving poor?"
11
General Le Gendre is fittingly opposed to T.Y.H. and also to Jaisohn.
13
22th. (2nd of leap 3rd Moon). Friday. Fair.
14
A lovely day but rather a little cool.
15
Our garden and the neighboring hills are beautiful to behold with flowers, white, yellow, pink here and there with green willow branches heightening the effect of the picturesque colors.
16
After supper called on Dr. Jaisohn. He said that he has been paid the full amount of his 10 years salary due to him from the Corean government and that he has now to go. He likes to stay here but he wouldn't do it unless the government formally requested him to do so. He is a lucky as well as a shrewd fellow. He was contracted for ten years on ＄300.00 per month.
17
During these years he wouldn't be allowed to engage in any other business. But now he has the money and the freedom to gain more by whatever pursuit he may take up. He seems to be driving at getting another fat contract with the much abused and foolish government of Corea, which has been a hell to the natives but a perfect gold mine to foreign advisors.
18
Jaisohn says that the new Russian Minister told him never again to sell his services to the Corean government for less than a thousand dollars a month. Dr. Allen desires Jaisohn, according to the latter, to demand at least600.00 per month in case a new contract should be made.
19
Now I don't call this a strictly unselfish patriotism. In the first place300.00 is a good salary especially as the Doctor may not get that much every month in America.
20
There again he ought to remember that the money is from the pocket or rather the blood of the poverty-stricken people of Corea for whom he professes so loud a sympathy. He who blames others for running after salary ought not to say "Give me600.00 per month or I will not serve you," especially since he has had unfortunately for Corea, the good luck of pocketing28,800.00 without any effort on his part. There are more than one method of squeezing.
21
Since last January Kim Hong Niuk, the Russian interpreter has sold over 20 magistrates at the average price of2,000, that gave him40,000. He gained, according to Mr. Tang (唐少遊) 60,000 in ginseng trade. Within 4 months he has gained100,000.
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