2
1st. Sunday. Beautiful.
3
Seoul home. Stayed home nursing 珽善.
4
Hear that Chang Sup(昌燮) who ran away with ￥1050.00 to get started on the way of getting rich quick, had wasted all that money in debauchery and in play a "high-cara-san." He has two ways left―return to an honest farm life or the easier and more exciting though more risky career of a thief. Dishonesty does not pay always as witness 姜文秀, 兪鎭昌, 金顯英, 崔聖鳳, 柳賢東, 李康浩, 尹昌燮 and 郭漢永. Of course one may cite more cases where dishonesty does pay. In individual cases, so. But nations find that honesty pays in the long run.
6
2nd. Monday. Beautiful.
7
Seoul home. The All Korea Foot-ball Meet began its four-day program today. Twenty-one teams participate in the contest.
8
For the first time in nearly 3 weeks of illness, dear 珽善 laughed today, says wife. His temperature, however, ran up to 39˚ at 4 p.m.
10
3rd. Tuesday. Beautiful.
11
Seoul home. So happy to see 珽善 smile this afternoon.
13
4th. Wednesday. Beautiful―Too warm for the season.
14
Seoul home. The Chinese looks up to the League of Nations, England and American on the one hand and to Russia on the other to deliver Manchuria from the grip of the Japanese. The Chinese seem to be doing everything except the one thing that will make them strong and respected: that is to sink all personal and sectional differences and animosities and to pull together North and South, for the establishment of a stable, sensible and strong Central Government. The old Emperor of Korea hoped and believed that America and Russia would and could keep Japan out of Korea. Of course he was mistaken. China seems to be doing exactly what the Korean Emperor did.
16
5th. Thursday. Cloudy.
18
The last day of the Foot-ball Meet. Both the middle school and young men teams found the Pyong Yang boys stronger than the Seoul teams. Dr. McCune came in person with his school band and a score of boys to back the two teams from Pyong Yang―the Soong Sil Middle School and the Soong Sil Union College. He has won the good will of the boys by his enthusiasm in everything he does. He is however criticized by the teachers of his school for not giving them any power or any chance to deal with the boys directly. He does everything by himself, they say. At 6 p.m. went to the Sakurai restaurant(see the next page) .
20
6th. Friday. Rain all day.
21
Seoul home. Yesterday evening went to the Japanese restaurant Sakuraki(咲良口) at 6 p.m. for supper given by the Commander of the Gendarmery of Korea(朝鮮熏兵隊司命官) . Found him a fat jovial soldier. Among the guests there were 5 Korean ex-governors; 2 Korean ex-military officers; 38 Korean newspaper editors-in-chief; 2 Korean painters(金容鎭, 李漢福) besides Messrs. 閔大植, 金性洙 and myself. To my great embarrassment I was placed at the seat of honor. Japanese and Korean singing girls―two of the latter very pretty and engaging. Nothing substantial to eat―only sake, sake and sake for three solid hours. Very tiresome to me. These high Japanese officials―especially of the military class must have some scheme up in their sleeves to dine and wine certain class of Koreans.
22
This being the 88th birthday of mother, brother 致旺 prepared the lunch and 文姬, the supper at their respective homes. The illness of precious 珽善 obliged us to deny ourselves the pleasure of celebrating the day at our own home.
23
A little war broke out between the Japanese troops and the Chinese at 嬾江 R.R. Bridge yesterday according to extras. Everybody had expected something of the sort.
25
7th. Saturday. Beautiful.
26
Seoul home. 6 p.m. the Saturday Club met the 2nd time at the Bright Moon Restaurant. Sake and jokes―all between the Japanese members. Only 4 Koreans and 10 Japanese.
28
8th. Sunday. Beautiful.
31
9th. Monday. Beautiful.
32
Seoul home. "Extras" busy reporting fighting has begun between the Japanese garrisons stationed at Tiensin 天津 and Chinese troops and rioters.
33
The affairs in Manchuria are assuming an alarming aspect in quantity and quality. Tiensin and Peping―two of the most important centers in China. The China-Japnese complications are more and more national inspite of the fact that both China and Japan pretend that they are local viz: Manchurian. Tiensin and Peping occupied―if occupied―by Japanese soldiers, can China stand it without declaring war? Japan is in for a life and death struggle with China and the L. or Nations. When and how the thing will end God alone knows!
35
10th. Tuesday. Beautiful.
37
The Mai-il-sin-po, the Korean edition of the Government organ, the 京城日報, reports that the Social Work department of the Government Genl. has decided to raise ￥200,000.00(二十萬圓) in Korea by voluntary contributions―(of course voluntary for the relief of the Koreans in Manchuria) . Of this sum the Kyong Kui Province is responsible for ￥80,000.00. I knew that something of the kind would be sprung on the Koreans. When I mentioned it to Mr. 安在鴻 the editor-in-chief of the Chosen-Il-Po a month ago he pooh-poohed the idea. He is either a blind editor of a blind paper or a man who feels sure that the hat wouldn't go his way.
39
11th. Wednesday. Cloudy.
40
Seoul home. 珽善's recovery is so slow that it is almost unperceptible. However he is gradually gaining. He wants to eat and eat. My great fear is that his mother may overfeed him inspite of what two doctors tell her.
41
From last Tuesday 寶姬 complained of dizziness―headache, sore throat. We are scared. The weather is too warm for the season to be healthy.
43
12th. Thursday. Beautiful―warm.
45
In the Autumn of 1884, Mr. Kim Ok Kiun and his friends, Messrs. 徐光範, and 洪英植, entertained Mr. Percival Lowell to a Korean feast in a temple outside of the East Gate. Mr. Scudder of the American Legation was one of the party.
46
There were a few "kisaings"―one of whom was 香蘭 who was detailed to wait on Mr. P.L. As the party walked toward the temple the evening air was rather chilly. Mr. Scudder gently wrapped his overcoat around a kisaing―影月 to my recollection. She instead thanking him for the considerateness of the American threw the overcoat on the ground. Scudder in picking up coat, gave vent to his feelings by uttering a strong "God damn." If that heathen was ever justified in swearing, certainly he was then. Of course he didn't know that the kisaing was simply retailing the manners of a Korean aristocrat. For, the general run of Korean aristocrats of the old school think it beneath their dignity to thank anybody for any service. Oh how often I have been and am tempted to speak out as Scudder did on that occasion whenever the illbred woman throws my thoughtful kind words or acts to the ground as that kisaing did the overcoat.
48
13th. Friday. Beautiful―Warm.
51
14th. Saturday. Beautiful.
52
Seoul home. Rain from 8 a.m.
53
At 2 p.m. the Korean Athletic Association held a public meeting in the front yard of the 壽松 Primary School to award a silver cup to 金慇培 who a month ago broke the world record of marathon race 2 hour 26' 12" said to be a gain of 6 minutes over the record won by the Finn H.
54
Kohlemaimen. If so this is a remarkable fact. Had an American or a British young man of 18 done the stunt, the world would have spilt bottles of ink in writing up his praises. but who cares whether a Korean has broken a world record or a glass cup?
56
15th. Sunday. Rain all day.
58
Two p.m. went to the Normal School to see the yearly educational exhibit of the Normal students and of the children of the Primary Schools connected with the Normal School. The program covered 16 items lasting from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
60
16th. Monday. Foggy―cloud a.m. Bright p.m.
61
Seoul home. 珽善 is slowly gaining. The danger of being over fed always great. He sang "Oyakko-domburi" song so merrily this morning that everybody was delighted to hear him sing the first time in a month.
62
崔平楫 once a teacher of mathematics in the Song Do Higher Common School writes me asking me to lend him ￥10,000.00 to start a broker-shop at An-dong! The richest man in Seoul Mr. Min Yung Hui himself would have to give a substantial collateral security to borrow that much from anybody. Here is a fellow―a poor fellow at that―who wants to borrow money to the time of ten thousand yen just on a word. A man who is impudent enough to do this―may he not do anything in the line of cheeky rascality!
64
17th. Tuesday. Foggy. Cloud a.m.
67
18th. Wednesday. Bright. Coldest day so far.
68
Seoul home. A real winter day.
70
19th. Thursday. Bright. Very cold.
73
20th. Friday. Bright Cold.
74
Found a thin layer of snow on the ground.
76
21st. Saturday. Cloudy―Mild.
79
22nd. Sunday. Bright-Mild
81
Worshipped at the Jong Kyo Church.
82
Of the hundreds of worshippers―there is one elderly woman who seems to enjoy the sermons. She shouts "Amen" or "Cham-k-ru-tchio"(really so) everytime an idea or phrase please her. She often claps her hands in sheer ecstasy. To her religion means something―a great deal―in this world of sin and suffering. Had she remained what she used to be―a liquor seller―would she have enjoyed life as much as she does now? The rarefied rationalism of this day―can it have any meaning to such a woman? Some laugh at her simplicity but I respect her and even envy her.
84
23rd. Monday. Cloud a.m. Sun p.m. Mild.
86
Yi Joong Ok, Choi Sang Jip, Yun Suk Yung are perpetual beggars―the relics of the bad old Korean regime. I don't blame them for their mendicancy―for what can they do to keep their bodies and souls together? But if they were reliable and industrious they could easily find jobs as private secretaries or domestic teachers of Chinese. I dare not employ any of them simply because they are so lazy and untrust-worthy―expecting or demanding pays altogether unwarranted by their usefulness.
88
24th. Tuesday. Cloud a.m. Sun p.m. Mild.
90
One of the Japanese papers of the city reports that the Tokyo Government or the Cabinet has passed a resolution t accept voluntary offerings for the war expenses. Many a Japanese will readily and even gladly avail himself of the opportunity thus offered to show his loyalty or patriotism. But how about the Koreans? The Han S.R. the deep schemer who is leaving no stone unturned to ingratiate himself with the powers that be has been in Tokyo over a month. When he comes home he will surely start a movement, in the name of patriotism to squeeze money out of the Korean's pocket to pay for his pro-Japanese tricks. He wrecked the Han Sung Bank by "lending"(?) ￥400,000.00 to Count Terauchi, when the latter was the Gov. General of Korea. By acts of this kind Han has backed in the sunshine of the Japanese favor for the last twenty-five years―but how about the poor devils who foot the bill?
92
25th. Wednesday. Foggy a.m. Mild. Cloudy.
93
Seoul home. Rain from about 6 p.m. almost all night.
95
26th. Thursday. Cloudy―Mild.
96
Seoul home. About 11 p.m. our 文姬 gave birth to a boy. God bless them all.
98
27th. Friday. Beautiful a.m.
100
This evening from 6 to 9, some thirty six Methodists including quite a few missionaries, entertained Bishop and Mrs. Kern and their two lovely daughters.
102
28th. Saturday. Bright-Mild.
103
Seoul home. 1 p.m. went to the Grils Higher Common School to see our 恩姬 playing piano in the school concert.
104
Mr. 韓萬熙 told us sometime ago that, when he was student in one of the middle schools of Tokyo, by a sheer accidence, because he was a foreigner studying a foreign language, he gave a correct answer to a question on a nice point in the Japanese grammar and that the Japanese principal of the school highly praised him in the presence of his Japanese classmates who simply because they were careless as most people are in regard to their native grammar, had failed on that particular question in the examination. This so enraged the Japanese boys that they mobbed Han as soon as they were out of the class-room, compelling him to seek protection in the principal's office. It is an open secret that any Korean student who distinguishes himself above his Japanese class-mates in Japanese school runs the risk of being maltreated by them. That ungenerous mental attitude of the Japanese school children explains of the Japanese acts in Korea.
107
Song Do from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
109
30th. Monday. Bright―Mild.
110
I left Seoul 7:34 a.m. for Song Do. Found Allen getting well from a tumor on the hip. Returned to Seoul per 4 p.m. train.
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