2
1st. Sunday. Bright. Cold.
4
In the Story of Philosophy, Will Durant has made readable the unreadable stuffs which philosophers have dumped on the suffering and long-suffering humanity. Voltaire is a most amiable level in the book. The pessimism of Schopenhauer is certainly rich and rally. But; (1) Why does he―Schopenhauer―identify Will with desire only? He seems to shy so far as I can make out from the quotations given in the book, a man is Will-less who has reached the desire-less stage of philosophy. Isn't Will-power required as much in desiring as in mortifying desires? Nay, we all realize that stronger Will is needed in suppressing our carnal―say sexual―desires than in yielding to them.
5
(2) He prefers Buddhism to Christianity all because Buddhism aims at Nirvana―the final annihilation of the individual―then the final extinction of the race. The old pessimist seems to have ignored the fact the process of reproduction has been and is going on at a livelier rate in India, China, Japan, Siam etc. where the Buddhistic Nirvana business goes on the strongest―at least in theories. Human instinct is stronger than reason or philosophy, thanks to the wisdom or wantonness of Nature.
7
2nd. Monday. Bright. Mild.
10
3rd. Tuesday. Cloudy―Chilly.
12
Schopenhauer(continued)
13
(3) To my mind, the arguments of Schopenhauer for pessimism are simply unanswerable. There are at least a half dozen cogent arguments for pessimism against one for optimism. Yet, what then? How does or will pessimism mend the matter? Il faut vivre―individuals as well as races must live, willy nilly. We must have every help to make this living as tolerable as possible―if not happy pessimism will never help anybody or any race to solve the problems of life. A cheerful optimist will find nourishment in the simplest fare while a sour pessimist gets nothing but dispepsia from the richest mean.
14
(4) It is interesting to note that what Schopenhauer says about wisdom, life and death was said in a quainter way by Solomon or somebody in the Proverbs and Ecclesiastics nearly three thousand years ago. Nothing new under the sun.
16
4th. Wednesday. Cloudy a.m. Pretty p.m.
17
Seoul home. Had to take to bed having another attack of 몸살.
19
5th. Thursday. Lovely―Cold.
20
Seoul home. In bed with cold.
22
6th. Friday. Pretty. Chilly.
23
Seoul home. A little better, but stayed in bed.
25
7th. Saturday. Pretty. Very cold.
28
8th. Sunday. Lovely. Cold.
29
Seoul home. Mailed letter to Brother 旺.
34
10th. Tuesday. Lovely. Cold.
37
11th. Wednesday. Bright―Windy―Chilly.
38
Seoul home. The Japan Methodist Church is going to hold its Western Conference in Seoul this month. Genl. Superintendent梁 proposed to the Preachers' Association a motion to entertain some of the Japanese Methodist leaders to a Korean feast. The Southern Methodist preachers all endorsed Mr. Ryang's plan while the Northern Meth. Preachers―including 金永葉 and 金鍾宇―solidly opposed the motion on the ground that the Japanese Methodist is holding their Annual Conference in Seoul as a first step toward annexing the Korean Methodist Church! Mr. Ryang had to stop the discussion. The Korean Christians in Seoul―especially the Methodists should show the visitors Christian welcome and hospitality―that would be right in principle and in policy. Those who refuse to do so are simply blind leaders.
39
Barnhart tells me that the New York Committee included Dr. C's salary2,000.00 in the reduced appropriation of4,500.00. That means as matter stands now, Cynn's salary is simply gone―at least for this year. Somebody has to make a handsome donation to keep Cynn from actual wants. I promised Mr. 兪億兼 I would give ￥1,500.00 for the coming ten months.
41
12th. Thursday. Sun. Very chilly.
44
13th. Friday. Sun a.m. Chilly p.m.
47
14th. Saturday. Bright. Mild.
50
15th. Sunday. Pale sun a.m.
53
16th. Monday. Cloudy. Mild with sign of rain.
54
Seoul home. The question of removing the provincial capital of Southern Choong Chung Do from Kong-ju to Tai-jun seems to have been settled for good. Genl. Yamanashi took bribes from the Japs who were interested in the question. Then the question was resuscitated by the present Governor Genl. and the Vice Governor―making the interested parties in 公州 and 大田 vie with each other in bidding―or bribing―for the permanent location of the capital in their respective towns. Of course the 大田 Japs won and the Governor Genl. definitely announced his decision for removing the capital to 大田. That decision was vetoed by the budget committee of the Diet sometime ago―its doubt for good political pocket book reasons. That decision is reported to have been reversed by the Upper or Peerage House. The poor Koreans of 公州 and 大田 pay much for these damnable tricks of the Jap. politicians.
56
17th. Tuesday. Bright-Very icy cold wind.
57
Seoul home. 成姬, Candler's little two year old girl who had been kept in bed day and night for the last 30 or 33 days in the Government Hospital was pronounced well enough to be taken home this afternoon.
59
18th. Wednesday. Gloomy. Chilly a.m.
62
19th. Thursday. Lovely-Cold.
63
Seoul home. Went to 傳巖亭 in the afternoon. Planted some willow trees.
64
Dr. Koo tells us that he found a church in Chicago(?) where no Negro or an Asiatic was admitted to the service. A sincere and lovable Japanese Christian layman I know of in Seoul, actually sees nothing wrong in the domination and expansion of the Japanese population in Korea. He actually thinks that is a blessing to the Korean Methodist Church―its leaders who preach on love and Hold Ghost every Sunday positively refuse to show Christian hospitality to the Japanese Methodists now in Seoul. We all sinners first and Christians afterward.
66
20th. Friday. Lovely. Chilly.
67
Seoul home. The Korean Methodist of Seoul entertained some of the leading members of the Western Conference of the Japanese Methodist Church, to a Korean supper at the 食道園. The rooms were cold―dirty―the coolies-like "boys" so greasy and dirty and ill mannered. The food so poor―I was heartily ashamed of it all. One yen a person can't provide a very luxurious feast but the rooms needn't be uncomfortable and the boys need't be dirty. The Korean members of the Seoul Churches not being able to pay for the guests I had to give ￥73.00. The North Me. Koreans refused to invite any of the Japanese brethren to preach in their churches.
69
21st. Saturday. Cloudy―Mild.
70
Seoul home. Grieved to hear the 壽善 the 3 year old son of 致旺 died last night―of diptheria. Too bad.
71
Visited the Japanese Metho. Conference at 11 a.m. Impressed, as I am always, by the compactness and the atmosphere of competency of the Japanese leaders. If the government of Korean were placed in their hands, I am sure these handful of the Japanese could carry it on with efficiency. Can't this be said of a similar member of my Korean brethren?
72
The Japanese Methodists of Seoul gave a welcome lunch to the Conference at the Chosen Hotel. Governor Genl. Saito present. What a contrast―to the miserable entertainment we gave to the guests yesterday!
74
22nd. Sunday. Cloudy a.m. Mild. Rain last night.
75
Seoul home. Worshipped at 宗橋 Church where Rev. Saito preached a good sermon.
76
12:30 went to the official residence of the Governor Genl. where a lunch was served to some of the leading members of the Japanese Conference. Dr. Wainright and Hardie were the only Americans present―while Dr. Ryang and I were only Koreans. The old Governor must be bored by these official entertainments which he must give not because he wants to, but because he has to. I for one don't enjoy these refrigerating functions but not to accept the invitation of the Gov. Genl. would be looked upon as an insult to his dignity.
78
23rd. Monday. Cloudy a.m. Bright p.m.
79
Seoul home. 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. went the Normal School to see our daughter 明姬 and her class graduate―or rather the graduating exercises of the whole Normal School and the Primary Schools under its direct control. I didn't like the way they have arranged the program―viz: the Japanese Primary School boys and girls first and then the Korean boys and girls. Thus the spirit and practice of discrimination are cultivated in the minds and hearts of the Japanese children and the sense of resentment and indignation in the hearts of the Korean children.
80
4 p.m. went to the tea party given by Viscount and Mrs. Saito to the Japanese Conference Members along with some Korean Methodists.
82
24th. Tuesday. Bright. Pleasant.
85
25th. Wednesday. Cloudy a.m. Mild.
86
Seoul home. A young fellow, 全基正, hails from 定住. He graduated form the 養正高普 this year. He, my sister-in-law tell me, exchanged love making letters with 善姬, to the extent that the girl had accepted his photo and an engagement ring. He was introduced to her(善姬) by a gang of girls in the 進明女子高普 whose profession is to seduce likely girls to loose contact with boys. I find from Mr. 崔在鶴 that the fellow 全基正 was a black goat in his school―a dirty and mean bully. On the day he got his graduation certificate he assaulted a fellow student saying that he was now free to do as he pleased having received the certificate.
88
26th. Thursday. Bright p.m.
91
27th. Friday. Bright―Chilly
92
Seoul home. From his 民籍謄本 or family record, certified on the 19th March this year, by the 面長 of his native county we learn that 全基正 is married. So he is in every respect unfit for 善姬.
94
28th. Saturday. Bright. Windy. Cold.
97
29th. sunday. Bright―Windy―Cold.
100
30th. Monday. Cloudy a.m.
103
31st. Tuesday. Cloudy―Chilly. rain from 12―all p.m.
104
Seoul home. Went to C.C.C. with 璋, 琦, 珽 and 光鉉 to see Mr. 兪億兼 about 全基正, who is now an applicant for the Commercial Dept. of the College.
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