2
1st. Tuesday. Beautiful.
3
Up at 5 p.m. Left Song Do by 7:50 a.m. train for Seoul. Arrived about 10 a.m. This being the anniversary of my uncle's 67th birthday I had to deny myself the pleasure of staying a few days longer in Song Do home, to pay my respect to uncle.
4
The nights at this season are exceptionally beautiful.
5
When a preacher borrows money on the promise of paying it back on the date he himself names―and then break his promise without a word of apology―well, he needs being preached to more than other sinners.
7
2nd. Wednesday. Beautiful.
8
Lunch at Y. My uncle, whose prophecies about crops and price of rice have been remarkably fulfilled during the last five years, thinks this will be a rather lean year. He predicts that a good full bag of unhulled rice will fetch ￥50(00/100) this fall or winter.
9
The Sydney Sun: "The East should remain East and the West should remain West. The East and the West can never become united. This is not a question of superiority or inferiority, but is based on ideas and traditions." The whole trouble is that the West goes East South and in every other direction wherever there is land; then squats on it and then yell out: "East should remain East."
11
3rd. Thursday. Beautiful.
12
9:50 a.m. went to South Gate Station to see Mr. and Mrs. Lucas off for America Lunch at Y.
13
To simplify the "tetsutsuki" or office red-taping was one of the reforms promised by the new Gov. General. As a matter of fact, the underling in the offices seem to have agreed to make redtapism all the more vexatious to annoy the Korean as much as possible. To get the deeds of a house, the application is rejected four or five times each time to correct some little insignificant irregularities. The vexatious and tantalizing redtapism often causing unnecessary waste of time and money―and of patience―is driving every Korean mad with the Japanese rule.
15
4th. Friday. Beautiful.
16
Went to South Gate Station to see Mr. and Mrs. Wasson off for America. By the way, ten or fourteen years ago when I first saw Mrs. Wasson, I thought she was the most beautiful American woman in Korea. She has kept her beauty so well that I have no reason to change my opinion today. She is a devoted wife and efficient house keeper. Mr. W. is certainly a fortunate man.
17
Took supper at Mr. Ryang's home. Mr. R. thinks Mr. Bonwick makes a poor business of the Korean Literature Society. Too much foreign control will always hamper the progress of every branch of Christian activities in Korea.
19
5th. Saturday. Cloudy a.m. Bright p.m.
20
A little shower early in the morning. Mr. 阿部充家 the former Editor of 京城日報 called. He is visiting various parts of the country to get information at first hand.
21
11 a.m. went to South Gate Station to see uncle off for country home.
22
He who buys a field and keeps it from falling into unredeemable hands is a wiser patriot than he who sells his lands to finance the independence movement. He who sends a poor boy to school to become more intelligent than his fathers is doing a greater service than he who stirs up students for political agitations. He who leads an erring man into decent religious life is serving the Korean race better than he who sends ignorant folks to jail for yelling "mansei." Now is the time for Koreans to learn and wait.
25
6th. Sunday. Cloudy-very cool.
26
Worshipped at 宗橋 Church. 明姬 received baptism this morning. God bless her.
27
Had no rest night―our little son being feverish and fretful.
28
"During the South African peace negotiations, Kitchencer was in favor of favorable terms to the Boers. While Lord Milver advocated stern measures. Lord K. said that British and Boers must live together in South Africa and he was averse to imposing terms which might tend to perpetuate feelings of bitterness and discontent." Japanese and Koreans must live together in Korea―willy nilly. All measures which tend to perpetuate feelings of bitterness should be avoided― by both side.
30
7th. Monday. Beautiful.
31
A little shower―then bright and dry.
32
Candler went to Yang Wha Jin Cemetary to erect a new tombstone for his mother's grave. Visit to the grave in the afternoon. The population of the Cemetary is growing silently and slowly, but surely.
33
The Confucian scholars have lately petitioned the authorities to give to the Ex-Emperor of Korea the following posthumous title: 統天隆運肇極敎倫正聖光義明功大德堯峻舜徽禹漢滿敬應天立紀至化神烈巍勳洪萬啓基宣歷乾行坤完英毅弘休高宗太皇帝. Even Confucian fools ought to know that the more high sounding a title is the more disgraced will the Ex-Emperor.
35
8th. Tuesday. Pretty. Warm.
36
A rabid pro-Japanese writer, a R. McNiell in an article that gave no quaters to the missionaries in China and Korea said among other fool things: "The most terrible facts regarding the assassination of Prince Ito and the recent attempt on the present. Gov. Genl. is that they were the deeds of so called Christian converts." They were the deeds of patriots and not of Christian converts. If you say their patriotism should have been purified and ennobled by their Christianity, my answer is that these Korean patriots were no worse, if not better, than the thousands of Christian young men―many of them preachers and theologues who cut each other's throat in the result. Great War―not as Christians but as patriots.
38
9th. Wednesday. Beautiful.
39
At 2 p.m. with 張執 went to the East Gate Women's Hospital to see Dr. Steward about 尹信媛. By the way 尹信媛 was once a pupil in 培花 Girl School. A fellow named 裵 seduced her and married her. She was at last sold to a Jap-devil in Shinmach―(rather Sin-machi) or the licensed quarters. She attracted the attention of a reporter who wrote a touching article in the 每日申報. Some people got deeply interested in the case and raised ￥300.00 or so with which the girl was rescued. Dr. Scoffield put her in the Women's Bible School. I helped to pay for her school expenses. So far all right. But a month ago the girl was sent to the East Gate Hospital and she was found slightly affected with Cyphilus. The Bible School refuses to receiving her bacu. What a Bible School! (Continued next page)
41
10th. Thursday. Pretty. Hot.
42
Yesterday afternoon Dr. Steward told me that the women in the Bible School didn't want to have 尹信媛 as a schoolmate. But Koreans say it is the missionary ladies who are averse to having the rescued girl in the school. Now whether it is the Korean women or the missionaries that object to giving the rescued girl the right hand of fellowship they certainly act contrary to the spirit of Christ. They moved heaven and earth to get her out of the living hell and then shut doors of institutions and homes against her! I like to put her in a nurse training school but I am afraid they will not take her.
44
11th. Friday. Cloudy early a.m.
45
Hot 2 p.m. with 劉高原 and 恩姬 went to 城北洞 for a walk. Streams all dried up. The effect of the long draught visible or every hand-paeched vegatation, dust covered shrubs, waterless ponds.
46
Genl. Min Yong Whan's villa is said to be the best of the kind in 城北洞. The site is good but no water. The lettered walls and the solid lumbered buildings show that they were built in the palmy days of Mins' political power and weather. But the eldest son of Genl. Min is one of the most notorious profligates of the town and the villa is fast going to ruin, I was involuntarily reminded of the poem: 重疊靑山□故宮粉墻傾頹寶楠 只武康去來紅釉盡 野花黃蝶領春風.
47
Oh, the transient dreams of the human glory!
50
Rain. Welcome rain. Lunch at Y. Mr. 崔慶善, the Education Secretary of the Central Y. was arrested and taken to Pyong Yang about two weeks ago. He was released the other day but not to leave Pyong Yang for a week. He was so badly beaten by the police that his wrist still hangs limpid―so says and eye witness. When Choi first went thru torture the friend who had accompanied him to the Police Station couldn't stand the cries of pain so he had to leave the room. I know what those cries are like! Yet the authorities suavely tell the world that torture is unknown in Korea under the Japanese regime!
52
13th. Sunday. Steamy. Fine rain late p.m.
53
Worshipped at 宗橋 Church. Kim Melissa came to see wife after church. From her I learned with regret: 1. that in the 塔花 Primary School the girl teachers teach from 9 a.m. to 3 or 4 p.m. Thus giving them no chance for recreation or study; 2. that the discourtesies of Miss Gray drove Mr. 金仁湜 away from the school as the music teacher; 3. that the foreign ladies are so jealous for their prerogatives that they wouldn't let any Korean do anything except as their "helpers."
54
I like to help making the Paiwha schools what they should be in standard but I don't want but money into an enterprise which I am not allowed to manage in the way I deem best.
56
14th. Monday. Rain from 3 p.m.
57
Stayed at home. With an introduction from Mr. 山縣五十雄 a Mr. 安井關治 called. He is a member of the Japan and America Information Bureau in N.Y. He told me he had lived in America last 10 years. He speaks very poor English for that. He asked me to name him some facts proving the Jap. discrimination against the Koreans. I gave him the facts about the colonization policy as the most prominent and outrageous instance of discrimination. "If the Korean and the Japanese are to be treated alike as the children of the same parental sovereign, why do they drive out the Korean from their ancestral lands in order to make room for the Japanese? The Jap. farmer is given every inducement to settle in Korea while the evicted Korean has to find a new home where and how they may without the least help."
59
15th. Tuesday. Big rain.
60
4 p.m. went to Mr. 趙秉浲's home to act as host at the supper given to the Mayor and the local police officials by the 矯風會 of which I am the president, so called. Messrs. 芮宗錫 and 崔岡 are the leading lights in the 矯風會. The former is certainly a clever fellow, though I wouldn't trust him with ￥100 as a man.
61
Mr. 趙秉浲, now 61 years old, is one of the handsomest Koreans living. He has a home of which he may well be proud. Met a young man 崔□□, the son of 崔錫肇, the Director of the Mint under the Ex-Emperor, the young fellow ran thru his great wealth by riotous living-by blowing nose with 10 Yen or 100 Yen bills―and is now a peniless man with a few tricks of jugglery.
63
16th. Wednesday. Cloudy and sun now and then.
64
5 p.m. went to 淸凉寺 for supper at the invitation of Dr. 吳兢善. Ten or more guests were present―all interested in the orphanage association. After supper on our way home, visited the hill which we have some hope of getting from the Government for the orphanage. The hill is in front of □□□□ with a big stream between. The site is very acceptable if the Government would grant it.
65
Dr. 吳 is a sensible fellow and is very much interested in the movement.
67
17th. Thursday. Early shower.
68
About 11 a.m. went to the Government Hospital to see cousin 趙집. Had to wait until 2:30 p.m. to know the result of the operation she had to go through. The operation was a success and one of the nicest women in Korea is cured of a disease that had given her so much pain―and barrenness. I do hope the success will be permanent and fruitful.
69
Cousin 致旿 has 15 creditors living in his house consuming two "mals" of rice a day. He is shameless, conscienceless and senseless. He thinks lying and cheating are the essential marks of a hero. If his conception of a hero be true, he is certainly one of the biggest heroes in the world.
71
18th. Friday. Early shower. Shine afterward.
72
Something bit me near the kneecap of the right leg. Inflamed and sore all around the spot.
73
Mr. 崔慶善 called and told me the awful experience he had in Pyong Yang―Police Station. His two arms were tied tightly behind his back; then he was made to kneel across the legs of a stool; then his thighs were beaten mercilessly with leather stripes―thus three modes of torture were applied to him all at once producing pains indescribable. All this in the face of solemn official denials or assertions that torture has never been permitted in Korea!
75
19th. Saturday. Cloud and sunshine.
76
Stayed home. Leg―inflamed and sore.
77
Cousin 致晠 told me yesterday that his brother 致旿 has incurred a debt of ￥16,400.00 or more; that 致旿 by importuning his mother, made 致昭 to assume￥10,000.00 of this debts that the remaining ￥6,400.00 will surely land 致旿 and his wife(!) in jail if the creditors were not appeased; that he 致晠 must have at least ￥300.00 to persuade the creditors not to appeal to the criminal law against 致旿 ; that 致旿 had promised not to run into debt again; and that I must help him but by giving the ￥300.00! Considerations of various kinds made me give the money. Cousin 致旿 is undoubtly one of the biggest 浮浪子 in Korea.
80
Leg not much better. 8 a.m. went to Mr. F.M.B.'s home for breakfast to meet Mr. Kingsley. He (Mr. K.) came to Tokyo as a member of the Vander lip party who were accorded such a flattering reception from highest circles of the Japanese society.
81
Mr. K. desired to hear and see the actual condition of Korea. When I told him that as long as Japan persists in her policy of driving out Korean farmers from the lands they have cultivated for 20 centuries to make room for the Japanese―as long as Japan maintains this gigantic scheme of cruel discrimination, no Korean can believe in the sincerity of the promises of Japan,―he said the Americans papers never give much information about Korea. The truth is that Americans have no interest in Korea.
83
21st. Monday. Cloudy and cool.
84
Stayed at home. Leg a little better.
85
When 崔慶善 was released yet detained in a Pyongyang him for a week, Mr. Brockman went down to see him. Mr. B. tried to get Dr. Folwell to write out a statement of the bruises the torture had left on 崔's body; but Dr. F. flatly refused to do so saying that it would ruin his hospital. A Korean doctor whom Dr. F. sent with Mr. B. to examine 崔 is body also refused to give a written statement. The attitude of these doctors throws more light (or shade) on the Japanese rule than their written statement.
87
22nd. Tuesday. Pretty.
88
Leg a little better. More than 60 organizations have been started during the last 10 months for various purposes. Here are some of them: 1. 住長會. 2. 國長會. 3. 大正實業親睦會. 4. 經濟會. 5. 朝鮮勞働共濟會. 6. 勞働大會. 7. 學生大會. 8. 孤兒救濟會. 9. 矯風會. 10. 女子敎育會. 11.⊙法會. 12. 革淸團. 13. 工友俱樂部. 14. 朝鮮靑年會. 15. 靑年協成會. 16. 新人協會. 17. 中央樂會. 18. 褓負商團. 19. 朝鮮長團. 20. 哲學硏究會. 21. 苦學生갈돔會. 22. 朝鮮敎育會. 23. 監合靑年會期成會. 24. 雄辯會.
89
Religious or Semireligious, 1. 孔子敎會. 2. 儒道振興會. 3. 大東斯文會. 4. 明文會. 5. 人道公議所. 1. 佛敎大會. 2. 佛敎擁蓮會. 3. 佛敎振興會. 4. 朝鮮佛敎會. 5. 佛敎靑年會. 1. 天道敎. 2. 侍天敎. 3. 濟□敎. 4. 濟世敎. 5. 靑林敎. 6. 濟化敎. 7. 天道敎靑年會. 1. 檀君敎. 2. 大倧敎. 1. 太極敎. 2. 太乙敎. 3. □□敎. 4. 百白敎. 5. 三聖無極敎. 6. 統天敎. 7. 崇神人敎.
91
23rd. Wednesday. Beautiful.
92
Stayed at home. Mr. F.M.B. called. Something ago somebody gave ￥2,000.00 or more to Mr. Yi Sang Chai for the Preaching Band. Mr. Yi turned the money over to the Religious Dept. of Y.M.C.A.―no doubt to screen the donor from the prying eyes of the police. Today (or yesterday) Mr. Cynn asked B. to sign a cheque for a couple of hundred Yens to be given to the Evangelistic Band of Ewha Haktang. B. refused to sign the cheque for the simple reason that he has no more right to give the Y.M.C.A. religious dept. fund to an outside religious work than he has to use the Y.M.C.A. education fund to help the Song Do School work. Besides in case the Band gets into trouble with the police, the Y.M.C.A. well be held responsible for having financed the band. I believe B. is right. Neither Yi nor Cynn has any right to use Y. as a cloak for non―Y.M.C.A. work.
94
24th. Thursday. Beautiful.
95
This afternoon the Four Associations of Dancing Girls (京城四券番) sent ￥1,200.00 to the Orphanage Association-the money being about half of the proceeds from the charity concerts which the Dancing Girls gave for the benefit of the proposed orphanage. It is an interesting guess what an austere moralist would have said in regard to the acceptance of such a present from such a body of a saloon keeper or a well known prostitute sent ￥1,000.00 to a methodist school will the latter accept the money? If His Excellency Viscount Min Yong Hui sent ￥1,000 to the imaginary M.E. School will they not accept the money with gusto and gratitude? Yet Viscount, Min's money was coined which the blood of the people; more unmoral than the money of the harlot or of the saloon keeper.
97
25th. Friday. Beautiful.
98
By 11:25 a.m. train left Seoul for Song Do with 郭漢永. Arrived home about 3:30 p.m. Thank God all well. Took a long nap but felt miserable after the nap.
99
A curious story goes the round among the Koreans that Prince Yi Jr. (the Ex-Yung Hui Whang Jei) now reigning in 昌德 Palace, is the reincarnation of a 湏菩提(수보리) who used to be the 火木漢 or cutter of wood in 乾鳳寺 in the district of 杆城. It is even affirmed that the Ex-Empress Min knew this so she donated certain amount of property to keep incense burning at the grave of 湏菩提. I suppose the story was invented by cunning monks and nuns to fool the Empire and Empress who spared no money in Buddah worship.
101
26th. Saturday. Beautiful.
102
Song Do home. The climbing roses are at the hight of their glory. The chestnut blossoms fill the air with their pungent honeyish odor. It is a great pity that the hateful caterpillars have devoured the leaves of most of the chestnut trees. What need did the God of Nature have for creating these ugly good-for-nothing worms to destroy the nuts so useful to man? Another big why! But what will the worm say about it? Man does everything on the supposition that he is the centre of all creation. Either absolute ignorance or absolute faith is the only condition on which happiness is possible in this world of mysteries.
104
27th. Sunday. Beautiful. Hot.
105
Worshipped at 北部 Church. Song Do home.
106
The Japanese papers are full of the horrid details of the massacre of over 700 Japanese by the Bolsheviks at Nicholaievski; which took place in the latter part of May. Why didn't Japan withdraw her troops from Siberia when other nations did last year? While nothing could ever justify the Bolshevikian atrocities, the intense anti-Japanese sentiment which the Japanese policy in Siberia had excited in the heart of the Russian party or largely explains the motives of the Bolshevikian excesses.
107
The right foot which the bee stung last night is swollen.
109
28th. Monday. Beautiful. Hot.
110
Left Song Do per 11:55 a.m. train for Seoul. Arrived home about 4 p.m. All well.
111
6 p.m. went to 洗心館 to entertain some of the leading educators of the city to a Korean supper. About 8 of them were present. Asked their opinion about the proposed corresponding school or 通信敎育會. The outcome of the consultation was that such an enterprise could't be and shouldn't be started without at least a fund of ￥30,000.00 and that it would be very hard to get 18 or more teachers now engaged in school duties to devote their time and energy to the extra work of supplying acceptable copies for the 講義錄 twice a month for 18 months.
113
29th. Tuesday. Beautiful. Hot.
114
The bee stung foot kept me on sofa until 4 p.m. when I had to go to Mr. Greggs' home to attend a Board Meeting.
115
When Mr. Yamagata and Koo Ja Ok told me that they found Mr. Cynn very proud, I didn't know the ground of their complaints. Now I know, Cynn is impolite to the point of down right arrogance. He hardly notices you when you meet him in public places. This peculiarity will hurt him in the long run. He is a thorough politician, wasting no friendship where he expects no gain or advantage. He is an able schemer, though.
117
30th. Wednesday. Beautiful. 96.50℉. From 12-4 p.m. in shade.
118
Lunch at Y. Mr. 池錫永's idea of modern civilization. 開化之極度處에 난 蔑倫悖常이오. 文明之極 度處에 난 窮奢極□라 (Extreme civilization means impiety and inmorality; extreme enlightenment ends in excessive luxuries) .
119
Mr. 池錫永's opinion of the ethical state of the Japanese and the Westerners, 日本人 倫理는 一日財政 二日妻子 三日父母오 四日兄弟는 말도 업다. 然而西洋人 倫理는 一日財政 二日妻子로되 三日父母붓터 업다. (The Japanese ethics: 1st money, 2nd wife and children. 3rd father and mother but no 4th brothers. The Western ethics: 1st money, 2nd Wife and children but no father and mother) . These views are extreme but striking, and iprammatic.
|
