2
12th. Friday. Sunshine. Chilly―Windy.
3
My cold a little better. A warm bath seemed to tire me. Felt unwell all the afternoon.
4
Our precious 璋善 and 明姬 are gradually getting better from their long illness of whooping cough. Thank God!
5
At 8 p.m. spoke in the Y. on 武力이냐 富力이냐? I felt so unwell that I made a mess of it.
7
13th. Saturday. Cloud and sunshine. Chilly.
8
Left seoul per 10 a.m. train for Yokohama with Messrs. Yi Sang Chai, Cynn and Frank Brockman. To meet Dr. John Mott and a few Japanese Y.M.C.A. leaders either to revise or cancel the Agreement of Affiliation of the two Y.M.C.A. movements.
9
The car we were on was not overcrowded and fortunately the Japanese passengers near us didn't smoke. I enjoyed the ride and the change and I would have enjoyed the day more but for growing sense of yearning for my beloved little ones at home. My precious Washington, Lambuth, Grace and Margaret. God bless them day and night keeping them from all ills! Arrived Fusan 7:30 for on boat about 8.
12
A smooth voyage and a good rest. Arrived Shimonoseki about 9 a.m. The beauty of the Japanese scenery is enchanting―especially so to one whose eyes have been weared with the denuded hill and unattractive villages on both sides of the Seoul, Fusan R.R.
13
After breakfast, at San-yo Hotel left Shimonoseki for Yokohama about 11 a.m. The well wooded hills, the garden like fields, the beautiful sea now seen dancing with sunbeams, then hidden behind mountains, the graceful maidens,―all refreshed my eyes.
16
Arrived at Yokohama about 12 morning. Messrs. Schned and Omura, the Secretaries of YokohamaY.M.C.A. met us and directed us to Pleasanton Hotel.
17
After lunch Mr. Cynn and I went up to Tokyo to get some books at Maruzen book store. Delighted to get some books I had been to get on Socialism and Bolshevism. Returned to Yokohama about 6 p.m.
18
Am struck with the quietness of the streets in the foreign section of the town. Why is it? Is it because all foreign trade is being carried on by the Japanese or because foreign trade is suffering from depression?
20
16th. Tuesday. Cloudy.
21
After breakfast Mr. Cynn and I went to Relly and Walsh book store to get some more books.
22
3 p.m. sharp, Dr. J.R. Mott came to our hotel. So did Messrs. Saito, Motoda and Ibuka. Mr. Phelps also present. On our side, Mr. Yi Sang Chai, Cynn and I with F.M. Brockman represented the Korean Y.M.C.A. movement. I acted as spokesman. I said in substance: "Nine years ago, when the agreement of Affiliation was drawn up between the Y.M.C.A. movements: of Japan and Korea I was not present. But had I been present I would have supported the Agreement. It was made in the belief that the two movements would be mutually benefitted by such a compact. But the changed conditions have made the Agreement a stumbling block between the young men of Japan and of Korea. Now the question before us is this. Shall we sacrifice the spirit of the Agreement to its letter or the letter to the spirit? I believe it is infinitely better to abrogate the offending compact to promote the brotherly relations between the two movements than to keep them unfriendly by preserving the Agreement." To our agreeable surprise, the Japanese Committee gracefully consented to cancel the Agreement after a short discussion.
25
Lunch with the Korean Y.M.C.A. men.
26
Left Tokyo by 5:30 p.m. train.
28
18th. Thursday. Bright.
29
Yesterday I had the great joy of being with my sixth cousin 致暎. He went about with me as my guide.
30
We, Messrs. Brockman, Yi Sang Chai and I had a pleasant day on train until we got to a small station, 河內 village. About 2 p.m. a train which preceded our's was derailed so that our train was held up for 8 solid hours. When our train left the 河內 station it was 10 p.m. Our second class cars were packed with 3rd class passengers from another train so that we held to pass the night as miserably as a government owned R.R. could make its customers to be.
33
Arrived at Shimonoseki about 5 a.m. Left the port about 11 a.m. on the Ferry boat Tsushima, the day was glorious and the sea as smooth as a sheet of glass. Arrived at Fusan about 10 p.m.
36
Reached Seoul 9 a.m. 明姬 met me at the station with my cousins. All well at home. 璋善 much better though 琦善 is still coughing.
37
The trip to and from Japan has left a very pleasant impression on my mind. I enjoyed it―don't know when I enjoyed a trip more than this one.
40
The first real hot day we have had so far.
41
Received news of the death of Mr. 金弘秀 one of the oldest friends of our family.
43
30th. Tuesday. Shower in the morning.
44
Quite chilly. These sudden changes in temperature are very bad. Our precious 琦善 still coughs.
47
Chilly morning. Beautiful day. Left Seoul for Song Do per 6:40 train. A Korean lady who sat in the bench next to where I was told her companions that he who tells a man where to get good wine is a greater sinner than he who drinks and that the informer will be turned into a snake in his next birth. What amused me most was her assertion that 李根洪, the 3rd brothe r of Baron 李根澔, who died (that is 李根洪) some months ago has become a serpent on account of his sins. I wonder how she knows it. I suppose a sorceress or a Buddhist monk must have told her so. The woman 52 years old seemed very intelligent and a devout believer in popular Buddhism. Had good rest at Song Do home.
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