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3
Attended the Conference. The Japanese friends seem to be distantly courteous to us but distrustful of our attitude. We, at least, I feel so out of place here. We are not members of the Conference but only invited guests of the Japanese group.
6
The Conference as usual―nothing interesting to me―the whole business looks like a mutual bragging contest or a mutual admiration society. We Koreans have nothing to brag and less to admire.
12
The conference. Dr. Nitobe gave us a luncheon to which Baron Sakadani and other prominent members of the Japanese group were also invited. They seemed highly pleased when I told them that we had come as invited guests of the Japanese groups; (2) that we had decided not to air our discontent to any foreign group but to confide our complaints, if any and our wishes to the Japanese leaders. After the luncheon Mr. Saito told my little speech brought tears to his eyes. The attitude of the Japanese leaders became perceptibly more cordial than before. They seem to have suspected that we had brought come documents with us for the benefit of the foreign delegates setting forth our anti-Japanese grievances etc. Dr. Nitobe is certainly a fine old gentleman.
15
The Manchurain question seems to keep the Chinese group and the Japanese leaders busy and hot. A Korean supper in Osaka at the home of the 東亞日報支局長.
17
6th. Wednesday. Cloudy.
18
The Conference―Manchurian question again―a question that will be settled, if ever to be settled, by the comparative Might of the two nations concerned, viz: China and Japan, and not by arguments and claims.
22
Suffered from diarrhea from 3 p.m. yesterday to 3 a.m. this morning.
25
3 p.m. Visited the Imperial Su-Gaku-In Garden by the invitation issued from the Imperial Household in Tokyo. H.E. Hayashithe Minister of Ceremonies came expressly from the Capital to represent the Emperor. The Japanese government seems to spare neither pains nor money to show the best side of the Japanese hospitality to the foreign delegates.
26
Learned from Mr. Davis that the Pacific Council whose members are the representatives of the Suzerain States or Autonomous Colonies, have decided to amend the Constitution to read that the Korean groups shall be invited to attend the I.P.R. bi-annual Conferences provided the invitation shall be voted unanimously.
28
9th. Saturday. A little rain a.m.
29
Left Kyoto 7:13 a.m. Not a single person from the Japanese group to see us off. Arriving Shimonoseki 8:30 p.m. Our ferry boat left for Fusan 10:30 p.m.
32
Arrived at Fusan 8:30 a.m. Left for Seoul 10. Arrived at Seoul 7 p.m. The joy of meeting my beloved ones at the station simply unspeakable.
33
My impressions of the trip.
34
1. Kyoto, the ancient capital of Japan has for me a charm that no other foreign city has. The palaces, temples, gardens have that air of serenity and of dream like beauty that I can enjoy better than I can express. Certainly Kyoto is the Queen among the cities of Japan. A Western city with its great buildings, nerve racking noisy streets, its too gorgeous parks gives me the impression of strength solidity, not altogether free from a touch brutality. One feels instinctively that a Chicago or a London is the creation of a race of conquerors of nature. A Japanese city like Kyoto, declares by its undefinable and indescribable loveliness that its makers are lovers of nature. If I were to choose between an American city and Kyoto for a pleasant home I would vote for the latter.
36
11th. Monday. Pretty. Pleasant.
39
12th. Tuesday. Pretty. Pleasant.
40
Seoul home. My impressions of the trip continued. (2) Mr. Saito of the Japanese Y. told us that the I.P.R. has lost or is rapidly losing its original purpose and is becoming more and more a diplomatic or political institution. He thought of resigning his position in the I.P.R. (3) Dr. Nitobe has been severely criticized by his compatriots for having invited the Korean group to the Conference. (4) I enjoyed the companionship of my fellow travelers. Not a word of unpleasantness among us during our whole journey―a rare thing for Koreans. (5) Miss Helen Kim has added to our group color and pleasure by her attractiveness, vivacity and intelligence.
42
13th. Wednesday. Pretty. Pleasant.
45
14th. Thursday. Pretty. Pleasant.
46
Seoul home. Invited to a lunch given by Mr. Burke to some of the Y.M.C.A. men in Seoul.
48
15th. Friday. Pretty. Pleasant.
49
Seoul home. Lunch at Mr. Barnhart's with Mr. Burke.
51
16th. Saturday. Pretty. Pleasant.
52
Seoul home. Entertained Mr. and Mrs. Burke to a Korean supper at 明月館, by directors of the Korean National Council.
54
17th. Sunday. Cloudy. Mild.
55
Seoul home. Drizzling rain afternoon.
57
18th. Monday. Bright. Pleasant.
58
Seoul home. Bad cold―malaria―stayed in bed.
60
19th. Tuesday. Bright a.m. Gloomy p.m. Mild.
61
Seoul home. Stayed in bed whole day.
63
20th. Wednesday. Sun and cloud. Unpleasant.
64
Seoul home. A little rain last night has made the streets muddy and dirty.
65
10 a.m. attended the funeral service for Laura 李(李恩□) who passed away the night before last. The service was entirely too long with eight speeches and as many songs. An American lady gave a solo in a tone and manner as if she were singing for a concert―entirely alien to the Oriental sentiment and spirit at such occasions. Pastor Kim Jong Woo's recital of the deathbed scene was touching. So is gone one of the sweetest gentlest and most well educated women in Korea just at the age when she can be most useful―forty one.
67
21th. Thursday. Pretty. Pleasant.
70
22nd. Friday. Beautiful. Cold―begin freezing.
71
Seoul home. Left Seoul 7:20 p.m. train with Mr. Barnhart for 新義州.
73
23rd. Saturday. Bright. Part cloudy. Cold.
74
新義州. Arrived 新義州 Station 7 a.m. Met by the Y.M.C.A. people. Conducted by them to 新安旅館 a Korean as unattractive and uninviting as a Korean inn should be. The rooms bare and cold but newly papered. The young men, 李鳳道 the 會長 and Dr. Kim Yung Jai(金英裁) and others all very kind. The 開館式 for the new Y.M.C.A. building came off 2:30 p.m. The house a modest affair but very creditable considering the poverty of the Korean people of the city and newness of the experiment. Supper at 鴨綠館 a Korean restaurant. Made an address to a goodly crowd in the First Church 第一敎會 a fine building built entirely by the Korean Christians. Left 新義州 10:45 p.m.
76
24th. Sunday. Cloudy. Cold―Show from 3 p.m.
77
Arrived Seoul Station 9:45 a.m. Found on coming home our precious 璋善 better and all other children well. Thank God.
78
The Korean Y.M.C.A. at 新義州 certainly deserve all encouragement the National Council can give. The city has a very strategic value as three nationalities are forming the growing population of the new city. The climate of 新義州 is at least two weeks ahead of that of Seoul. It snowed last night before we left there.
80
25th. Monday. Cloud and sun. Unpleasant.
83
26th. Tuesday. Beautiful. Pleasant.
84
Seoul. home. A perfect Spring day.
85
尹昌燮 left for the second time for parts unknown. Yesterday afternoon his brother 明燮 gave him ￥200.00 to be paid to Mr. 朴治鎬. 昌燮 ran away with the money. He could have run away with far more great sum as I made him do my bank errand for me. I appreciate his honesty toward me.
87
27th. Wednesday. Pretty. Pleasant.
88
Seoul home. From 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. "All-day Discussion Conference on Present Student Situation of Korea" Bishop Baker, Chairman. A score of missionaries and Korean educators and pastors present. The subjects discussed Student Homes and Hostels; Cost of Education; Thought life of Students and Reading; Social Contacts and Student Temptation; Relation between Sexes; Religious Faith; Student Help. I didn't go to the night session.
90
28th. Thursday. Beautiful. A Spring-like day.
93
29th. Friday. Gloomy. Unpleasant.
94
Seoul home. Lunch at Mr. B's to meet Dr. Datta of India. I first met him in Kyoto. One of the first things he said to me was "Unfortunately you have a good climate. Hot climate has kept whitemen from ousting us from India". He realizes the desperate condition and outlook of the Korean people quicker than any foreigner I have met. He said further the League of Nations is a misfortune―to the weaker races of the world. The League being constituted of the governments, its first aim is to keep the world as it is. When the affairs of the Koreans or Indians are mentioned, the League sets up a howl saying "You must not interfere with the domestic affairs of Britain or Japan. So we have to choose between Moscow or Geneva".
96
30th. Saturday. Cloud and sun. Mild.
97
Left Seoul 9:05 a.m. for Song Do. 李書房, the man who did the outside work for the past 20 years died a month ago. His doctor's bill and funeral expenses ￥233.00, all paid by me.
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