2
1st. Monday. Breezy―Cool.
3
松田(Pine-field) . Brother 致旺 and family came to the beach 6 p.m. though their house isn't finished by a long shot.
5
2nd. Tuesday. Misty―Breezy.
6
Pine-field(松田) . Pale sun p.m. Very cool.
7
One of the main reasons why Communists denounce religion as a curse to mankind is that it tends or teaches to make its devotees contented with their conditions. No doubt contentment, like patience, kindness, and other virtues, may be pushed so far as to cease to be a virtues. But anything and everything can be and has been abused by man. Contentment is no doubt an essence of happiness. A person―a woman especially―who is never contented is a hell to live with. Being unsatisfied and unsatisfiable by every thing you do for, or give to, her she is miserable herself and make others miserable too. In utter disgust I often fall into the temptation of saying in waste, "What a doglike fellow!" But no sooner I said it than I would as hastily beg pardon of the imaginary dog. For very few men or women either, are as good, as loyal, as grateful as dogs. This women or that man was doesn't thank you for hundred acts of kindness and good service but who scolds and cuss you for any little real or imaginary unkind act―is he or she as good as a dog? Yet humanists say the human nature is the noblest in the animal kingdom!
9
3rd. Wednesday. Rain―tremendous rain all day long.
12
4th. Thursday. Rain―Cool.
13
Pinefield beach. 光鉉 came this morning. Reports everything all o.k. in our Seoul home.
14
Brother 致旺 tells us that sometime ago he heard the following story from □. To raise the local fund of ￥30,000.00 for the harbor construction 築港 at 庫底, voluntary contributions have been extorted from the inhabitants of the town. One Korean had just built a good house in the town. He didn't respond to the demand of the official wolves as readily as they wanted. So one day, they placed a surveying table facing his new house saying they intended to cut a new street right through the house. The Korean had to subscribe a handsome sum to the fund. One 面書記 of this Myun is reported to have said: "I wouldn't give a sen to the Harbor Construction Fund. What good will it do for us Koreans? When the Harbor Construction is finished the Koreans of 庫底 will get nothing better than to quit their old homesteads and to climb up the neighboring hills for homes".
16
5th. Friday. Pale sun a.m. Rain 4~6 p.m.
17
松田 Pine-field. Rain again from about 10 p.m.
20
松田. Rain steady and streamy all day long. 光鉉 left for Seoul.
21
It is certainly a beautiful beach―this pine-field beach. The lovely bay the green attractive hills around it, the clean pine forest―as yet free from the hateful catepillars―the blue sky with changing colors of cloud, the fishing village nestling in a pretty valley between two low ranges of hills, the old fashioned picturesque fishing boats with their little white sails―in fact one may say "Every prospect pleases so far as God has made these natural surroundings. But only man is vile―in deed and in truth". No sooner did we hit the ground than contribution beggars or demons crowded around us―me especially. The Japanese principal of the Korean common school wants me to give him some recreation equipment. The 面長 wants me to repair the leaking roof of the Myun Office; the Parent Association of the school wants to help build a new classroom; the 郡守 through the 面長 wants me to contribute to the fund, ￥30,000.00, now-being raised locally for the harbor construction of 庫底, one station south of this beach! How to shake off these beggars is more than I know. I am told out of 800 households in this Myun 踏錢面 only 10 are able to eat rice.
23
7th. Sunday. No rain. Pale sun. Cool.
26
8th. Monday. Pale sun. No rain.
27
松田. To build the harbor at 庫底 is solely for the benefit of the Japanese. For that Koreans are compelled to pay a sum entirely beyond their ability―I am told one Korean who lives at the town of 庫底 had the honor of subscribing ￥3,000.00 toward the fund of ￥30,000.00 which the local people must raise before they can get the subsidy from the Provincial or Government treasury. The 800 householders of this poor Myun, of whom only ten family are able to eat rice, are asked to raise ￥3,000.00 toward the Fund. No wonder a well to do Koreans in every village have to leave their native towns to seek a refuge in Seoul. Yet the Government people pretend to be surprized or pained at the distruction of rural life in Korea.
29
9th. Tuesday. Cloud―Cool.
30
松田. Today's paper reports that our Marathon boy 金恩培 in a contest with 28 picked men from 18 countries, has won the 6th place in the great Olympic Games now going on in Los Angeles. 權泰夏 who got the first place in the preliminary contest in Tokyo only got the 9th place.
32
10th. Wednesday. Cloudy―Cool.
33
松田. Calm sea―Good sea bathing in the morning. Received a letter from brother 致昌 brought by 文姬. 致昌 tells me that so far everything is in readiness for his departure except the vise from the American Consulate. What a folly to go to Ameirca to give his supersensitive or super-nervous―hysterical―wife a change of environments! In order to do that 致昌 devotes every "sen" of his income of the year―$1―being now equal to ￥4.00. This girl was born and brought up in a modest home―a Korean Methodist parsonage until she was 14 years old. She then went around to Shanghai and then to America. When she returned to Seoul as my sister-in-law two years ago she was reported t have said that if she had to return to the Korean mode of life in dress, food and home relations, what use was it for her to have been educated abroad. She has steadily adhered to that opinion ever since by trying to live like an American―a rich American at that! She wouldn't and couldn't tolerate her mother-in-law sleep in the same room with her or even stay in her house. "What's use of keeping a house if I have to live with mother-in-law!" Here is a Korean girl―born and bred and educated as a daughter of a poor Methodist Pastor. She has been an economic burden and drain to 致昌 ever since their mariage.
35
11th. Thursday. Misty rain early a.m.
38
12th. Friday. Beautiful.
39
松田. One of those beautiful sunny days which seem so rare here. Yesterday the sea was perfectly calm―as waveless as a pond.
40
The Myon Jand(面長) of this Myon, the President of the Parent Association(後援會會長) and the Principal of the Korean Common School paid me a formal visit and asked for contributions, the Myon Jang for the repairs of the his office; the Parent Association man for an additional building for the school; the Principal for the equipment of the school. Disgusted as I was I had to be polite and told them that I would consider their requests, though I couldn't promise to give much.
42
13th. Saturday. Rain early a.m.
43
松田. Brother 致昌 came to see us and tell us goodbye this morning. He intends to leave Seoul on the 18th inst. He returned to Seoul per 10:59 p.m. North-bound train. God be with him. Keep him safe in his sojourn in America and bring him safe home soon!
44
After consulting with brother 致旺 we decided to give ￥50.00 each to Myon Jang and ￥50.00 to the school by me alone. This brings our contribution to the public works to the total of ￥250.00 a handsome sum for which any Korean villager would have thanked us in Seoul. Brother 致旺 informed the Myon Jang of our decision.
45
Late afternoon received a note from the Myon Jang declining to accept our contribution because they were too little―though he didn't say that in so may words.
47
14th. Sunday. Pale sun. High sea.
48
松田. This morning sent 明燮 and 光鉉 to 通川宅 to see the Magistrate姜璟羲, reporting to him the insulting act of the Myon Jang. The two young men came back by the noon train and reported what the Magistrate had told them to this effect: "￥50.00 for the school! Well, that's too little. I would have declined to accept it myself. I understand the additional building can be erected at the cost 2, or 3 thousand yen. Why don't you build one for them"! Thus the Myon Jang had acted according to the dictates of the Magistrate. So what they aimed at was 2 or 3 thousand yen! What bandits―these dogs of Japanese Masters!
50
15th. Monday. Cloud. Wavy sea.
51
松田. Rain or rather showers last night.
52
The questions which we might ask the Myon Jang and the Magistrate are (1) Have you the proper permit for asking contributions 寄附願許可. (2) If so is the permit good for exacting 願納 or forced offerings or, 寄附, voluntary contributions? (3) If voluntary what right have you to demand more than what the contributor is willing to give? (4) What right or business have you to exact 2 or 3 thousand yen from a visitor who might or might not spend two or three weeks in a year at the beach?
53
The people of the 松田 town seem to be very indignant at the rude banditly behavior of the Myon Jang. But what's use?
56
松田. The Principal of the Common School, Mr. Nakamura came to see me yesterday p.m. and expressed regret at the rudeness of the Myon Jang. As this Japanese didn't sign the letter, 致旺 and I agreed to give ￥50.00 each to him to be used for the school in the way he sees best. The Principal seemed to appreciate our gifts. He sent me a pot of beautiful 水菊.
57
After all, I fear that the Japanese autocrats in the provincial and especially, in the District Offices are displeased and disturbed by the prospect of Koreans occupying the best sites at this lovely beach. They will of course scruple at no manner of dirty tricks to make us uncomfortable here so that we might quit the place altogether. If things go as they do now this time ten years hence this beach will have become a very attractive spot under a complete Japanese control. Then there will be no Korean owned cottages where we are today.
59
17th. Wednesday. Cloudy. Cool.
60
松田. Too cool for me to take the sea bathing.
61
Dr. Kim Yung Hui 金永羲 of the Song Do School called this afternoon, as a messenger from Bishop Kern now staying at the Wonsan beach asking me to be the nominal Principal of that High School. I told him that I couldn't do that unless I make Song Do my permanent residence.
63
18th. Thursday. Sun and cloud as usual.
64
松田. By the 11:55 train wife and I took 璋, 琦, 明, 珽 with us for a trip to 庫底. From the 庫底 Station to the famous Chong Suk Jung(叢石亭) in an auto. Enjoyed the trip. Had to hurry back to 松田 to meet cousin 致昭 and his son 潽善 who had arrived at the 松田 Station just as we were getting on the train. Reached our villa a little past 3 p.m. Nice chat with cousin. They left us by the 5:28 p.m. train for 溫井里.
65
Brother 致旺 and Candler returned to 松田 from Seoul this afternoon.
67
19th. Friday. Beautiful a.m.
68
松田. Rain from 4 p.m. on into the night.
70
20th. Saturday. Lovely a.m.
71
Left 松田 with 璋善, 益國, 益民 per 10:59 a.m. train for Seoul as 璋善 has to begin his school on the 22nd. Between 洗浦 and 議政府 rain on and off. A beautiful rainbow accompanied us for nearly 30 minutes between 東豆川 and 議政府.
72
Met 張永翰 on the train. He tells me that of about 600 officers in the Manchurian Government, 370 are Japanese and that even in Manchuria, the Japanese office holders discriminate against their Korean colleagues.
73
Reaching the Seoul Station we were met by Allen. Learned that 寓仁亨 had passed away a few days ago soon after an the operation on his throat in the University Hospital. Hear that the operation lasted three hours, his case being made a subject for class instruction. He was literally murdered.
75
21st. Sunday. Beautiful.
79
Seoul home. Left Seoul for 松田 per 11 p.m. train.
81
23rd. Tuesday. Pretty.
82
松田. Arrived at the 松田 Station 7:30 p.m.
84
24th. Wednesday. Rain steadily until 4 p.m.
87
25th. Thursday. Beautiful.
88
松田. We, brother 致旺, Mr. 沈載弘 and I entertained the elders of the villages and notables of the locality―more than 40 of them―to a simple Korean feast of "kooksu" and "soju". They seemed to enjoy the occasion. These old folks of the country look so innocent and simple hearted―like so many grown children. A good and strong government like that of the Meji Era can do wonderful amount of good for the Koreans with such people―so ready to obey, so grateful for kind deeds. Yet where is that government for the Koreans?
91
松田. Rain all the day long.
93
27th. Saturday. Cloud and sun.
94
松田. The people of 松田里 through their representative, the 區長 and Mr. 朴面長 gave us a lunch 2:30 p.m. Then the 面長 and 駐在所 people gave us another feast at 3:30. At 6 p.m. we, brother 致旺, Candler and I, went to 梧梅里―took supper at the home of Mr. 朴利根.
97
Cool morning―Took a farewell bath in the clear, calm sea before breakfast.
98
Left 松田 per 10:55 a.m. train with family for Seoul. Thank the Lord we have had on the whole, a pleasant stay at the beach.
100
29th. Monday. Hot―Steamy. Sun and cloud.
101
Seoul home. Began to rain about 10 in the night.
104
Seoul home. Tremendous rain from the earliest morning to 10 a.m. Then a slow down for about 1/2 an hour to resume steady down-pouring until late in the night.
106
31st. Wednesday. Beautiful morning.
107
Left Seoul 7:34 a.m. gasoline car for Song Do. Found all well. Returned to Seoul by 1:48 p.m. train.
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