2
4th. (25th of 8th Moon).
3
Lunch at 宙合樓 in the East Palace in honor of Mr. Oura, the Japanese Minister of Communication, and of Mr. Megata, the Finance Advisor. Mr. Oura did not stay on account of his indisposition. There was a large number of Japanese, of the Legations, and of the Army.
4
Somehow or other Koreans and Japanese do not mix―something like oil and water. Oh, if Japanese were real, generous and good, how I―we―would join them heart and soul. But their meanness and pretty tricks and utter selfishness in their policy keep me and others always at a distance.
5
Once more visited the 演慶堂, the favorite summer residence of the Queen when she was in the East Palace. The 太乙門 is there as of old. Twenty years ago, in the beautiful months of May and June, I often sat just outside of that little gate, practicing A.B.C. on the ground with a stick, while pretty maids were playing on the swings on the ground just behind the 演慶堂. These gates, the house, all here; but where is the Queen, or the swing, or the pretty girls?
6
Another picture. Ten years ago 乙未 when Mr. Pak Yong Hyo was in power, a grand garden party was given on these ground. Japanese were the principal guests, though there were present a number of foreigners. Ten years of misgovernment have once more brought Japanese into these beautiful grounds, not as our guests only but as our conquerors and masters! Ten years from now what other scenes will these grounds witness?
7
Much depends on what Korea and Japan will do, Koreans do any thing? It is awfully funny, if it were not exceedingly sad, to see how the Korean yang-bans or Ministers try to behave like civilized folks in the presence of a Foreigner. But as soon as the Foreigner goes away they at once call for their long pipes and urine pots, which follow them like their shadows. Just listen to their conversation it is all about certain appointments, certain positions, certain coalitions, certain intrigues etc. Selfishness, selfishness always, selfishness of all forms. Given these men, hope for Korea is forever gone.
8
Scarlet fever has been raging in Korea during the summer until now. It is a new epidemic in Korea and Korean doctors are at their wits end―though they do not have to go very far to get there. My father who has been outside of the city gates with the children for most of the summer, thinks it is the ill fate of Korea to have such an epidemic. He intends to have a home outside of the North Gate as a summer residence, for, he says, as the fate 運數 of Korea is getting worse and worse, we shall have epidemics of one kind or another every year. Hence we must have a summer home in a healthy locality during the hot seasons.
9
If epidemics are a fate, then a healthy locality can have no advantage over the dirtiest part of the city. If good water and pure air can keep off epidemics, then the city of Seoul needs nothing but a thoroughly good sanitation to change the ordering fate of it. But to argue with my Father in this style is a breach on the filial piety. I am only glad that the good old Gentleman appreciates healthy surroundings, at last, during the hot days.
12
Mobs in the interior. In 始興 the squeezing magistrate 朴嵎陽 was killed by the mob. Two Japanese coolies also met the same fate some weeks ago. The cause, the forced collection of coolies.
13
A few days ago, mobs in Koksan―Seven Japanese killed. In Kongjoo the Korean soldiers attacked a number of Japanese among whom were the Japanese consul at Okku. All these signs of anti-Japanese feelings throughout the country. Japanese seem to be in no wise worried about these up-risings, as they give them a pretext for establishing their military stations all over the country. This works admirably, but somehow or other I feel that Japanese will one of these days have reason to regret having exasperated the Korean millions in this heartless fashion.
14
There are 110 officials in the Finance Department. No wonder there is no money for anything good.
17
At 7:30, the first Y.M.C.A. meeting was held in the temporary Y.M.C.A. building behind the Electric Company. Mr. Gale presided. Among the Koreans who spoke were 李尙在, 李承晩, 呂炳鉉, 崔. I also spoke.
18
Mr. Gillet has a really pretty wife who can be much help in his work. But she is so haughty. I am sorry she should be compelled to stay in this stinking sink―Seoul.
21
This morning at 10 a.m. General 長谷川 Hasegawa entered Seoul. He is to command the Japanese army in Korea. The Il-Chin-Hoi folks seem to be sanguine in their hopes. Some say that the Il-Chin-Hoi has some dirty work to do in Seoul in the shape of cleaning out the vile stuff that is choking the very life out of Korea. I doubt Japanese will help them to do anything―that is good for Korea.
22
It pained me this morning to see the Royal Honors with which General Hasegawa was received. Cussed be the man (?) whose incorrigible, unspeakable and unpardonable selfishness and vileness has been piling on Korea shame on shame for the last 40 years.
23
Yi Ha Yong has been making a great effort to have officials of diplomatic on Foreign relations to cut off the top-knots. The Emperor consented to it. The 31st of this month is the limit within which any official in the Foreign Office or in the Bureau of Ceremony or in the Mayor's Office may cut off his top-knot and don foreign clothes. I don't care a snap for the Foreign clothes, but I do rejoice in the prospect of ridding myself of the topknot. The topknot cut off, a link of the chain binding a Korean to the inglorious past is gone.
26
==If Russia wins,==If Japanese wins,==
27
==Korea will be given up to the====
28
==Yi Yong Ik==Kim Yung Chin==
29
==Yi Kun Taik==Yi Chi Yong==
30
==Min Yong Chul==Yi Kun Sang==
31
==Yi Hak Kyun==Pak Yong Hwa==
32
==Nyon Sang Kun==Yi Yun Yong==
33
==Hyon Yong Woon==Hyon Yong Woon==
34
==Min Byong Suk==Pak Ui Byung==
35
==Yi Wan Yong==Yi Yong Tai==
36
==Sin Kui Sun==Cho Byong Sik==
37
==And all the pandemonium ofAll the Pandemonium==Russian-speaking Koreansof Japanese-speaking Koreans==
38
The meanness of Japanese and their intrigues and grabbing policy have driven the mass of Koreans into a definitely anti-Japanese attitude, disguised but all the same undisputable. A secret desire or wish for Japanese defeats runs deep, though not loud, in most of Korean hearts. As if answering to these desires, reports and rumors come from abroad that Russians are just now getting into trim for fighting, that they can throw a million of the finest troops on the field, and that Japan will be finally defeated. What sickness me is not the prospect of the defeat of one or the other of the combatants, but the utter hopelessness of Korea regeneration whichever side wins. Let us see:
39
In either case, the choice is not worth a snap. Other things being equal, Japanese have more reasons to give peace and prosperity to Koreans―as a mass―than Russians. Given them―with absolution, no hope in Korea.
40
The Korean officialdom is full of colonels and generals. It is ridiculous ―if it were not sad― to see the gallant generals of damnable intrigues go about in sedan chairs with spurs!
41
Feeling secure from Russians, Japanese civilians and soldiers are showing their hoofs and tails without any attempt for concealment. Wherever Japanese go―sword, fire and murder. They are put up to some of the meanest works of oppression by Korean interpreters. To be willing slaves to other nationals in order to oppress their own countrymen seems to be the second nature of the Korean. O! The inhumanity of man to man in Korea―from the Emperor down!
44
Called on my aunt from Song-do. In the course of a chat she said: When I went to the Yang Kwan or Foreigner's Residence, the Foreigners―Mrs. Hardie or Miss Hynes ― told me that in the last day of the world Jesus will receive into Heaven all who believe in him but push those who refuse to believe in him into hell. As long as I hear these things in the Foreigner's house I like to believe in what they teach. In fact I did believe for sometime, but your uncle would ridiculed me out of it by saying o, are you going to Paradise? Will you become a believer in the foreign religion? What is use of my believing alone? So I gave it up."
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