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3
Seoul home. Papers report that the beastly Russia has declared war on poor innocent Finland. Hitler and Stalin, two demons of Europe butchering hundreds of thousands directly in battle fields and indirectly by famine, disease, and cruel persecution of those who don't agree with them―these wicked men are having good time. Can you reconcile these hard facts with the teachings of religion? What one hears in the churches and temples don't tally with the cruel facts in this world where the law of jungle reigned supreme.
5
2nd. Saturday. Bright. Cold.
6
Seoul home. From 4:30 to 9:30―was held at the Keijo Y.M.C.A. the Annual Meeting of the Korean Y.M.C.A. Federation Committee. Five Korean and as many Japanese members present. All passed quietly. Supper together at 5:30. Had an after meal conversation about various matters relating to Y. work in Korea until 9:30.
7
This morning, between 4 and 5, in a dream someone presented to me a tower with the characters 延年益福 distinctly printed on it. When I got up I wrote these words down on sheets of paper to be distributed to our children.
9
3rd. Sunday. Bright. Cold.
10
Seoul home. At noon was invited to luncheon at Chosun Hotel by Oh Hak Kun, the 2nd son-in-law of Yi Grace who celebrated the birth of a second son. There were over 20 guests mostly from the Jong-Kyo Church.
12
4th. Monday. Bright. Cold.
13
Seoul home. Found a little snow on the ground. At 12:30 Dr. Kim Helen invited the Managers of the Ewha Board to a luncheon at Hanto Hotel. The food and service were wretched.
14
Pessimism can advance more reasons and arguments in its favor than optimism. But no great benefactor of humanity has been a pessimist. Pessimism simply sterilizes the intellect and emotions of a man so that he has no desires, no ambitions, and no hopes. He is practically dead so far as activities go. On the other hand optimism pushed by ambitions and cheered by hopes attempt and do things. One great defect of Buddhism―at least as it is known in Korea―is that it encourages pessimism.
16
5th. Tuesday. Bright. Mild.
19
6th. Wednesday. Gloomy. Rain between 4.
20
Seoul home. A jingo writer says Japan having become great by the grace of victorious wars, must be prepared to continue the present war for coming hundred years. A hundred year war may have been possible in ages when weapons were swords and arrows. But it would be simply impossible in this age of airplanes, torpedoes, submarines, poison-gas. In 2 1/2 years Japan has used up all her reserves of rubber, iron, gasoline, cotton, coal, gold, The great city of Tokyo is actually short of matches and charcoal. Peace industries are stopped. Nobody seems to know what will happen if this state of affairs go on for another year. God grant peace may soon come.
22
7th. Thursday. Foggy a.m. Bright p.m.
23
Seoul home. Mr. Kim Kap Soon, the Proprietor of Chosun Shin Moon, gave a swell dinner to about 300 people at Chosun Hotel at 6 p.m. He began his career as a Bang-ja in Kong Ju Provincial Office―the lowest grade of servant. By his wonderful shrewdness and ability he has made himself a millionaire and a respected citizen wherever he goes. He is the father-in-law of Myong Sun, the 2nd son of cousin Chi-Oh.
25
8th. Friday. Bright. Mild.
26
Seoul home. 5:30 to 8 p.m. I invited Mr. Nakajima to Yedogawa for sukiyaki supper and to meet Dr. Underwood. Mr. Choi Soon Ju and Jung Kwang Hyon also present. Mr. Nakajima thinks Yu Uk Kyum will probably be restored to his post in C.C.C. next spring. But that kind of prophecy has so often repeated and unfulfilled that I don't pay much attention to it.
27
Today's paper has it that the Government General is to transport to Japan proper 6,000,000 koku of rice. That makes 12,000,000 "kamani" of rice which can feed 5 or 6 million Koreans for ten months. When Korea is suffering from a unprecedented famine, when even rich people find it hard to get rice for their domestic supply, such a heartless policy makes one ask "Is it consistent with the Imperial Promise that the Koreans shall be treated with the same degree of benevolence as the Japanese? Each province tries to keep its cereals from being exported into the next province. But 6 million "kokus" must be exported to Japan proper.
29
9th. Saturday. Gloomy and dark. Chilly.
30
Seoul home. Rain between 10 and 12 enough to make the streets muddy.
31
Was summoned to the Local Court as a witness to Jung Jai Hup case.
33
10th. Sunday. Beautiful. Real cold.
34
Samuel Hoffenstein, scenarist and poet, of Hollywood, was divorced by his wife, who objected to jingles he dedicated to her:
35
When you're away, I'm restless, lonely,
36
Wretched, bored, dejected;
37
But here's the rub, my darling dear,
38
I feel the same when you are here.
40
Seoul home. This scenarist must have felt as I feel, all the year round. He may have said all this in mere fun. But it is no fun no me to bear with one whose mouth is a wasp-nest, whose temper is a volcano and whose heart is full of hatred, envy, greed, and sex-lust. By her side I feel restless, lonely, wretched, bored and dejected.
42
11th. Monday. Beautiful. Very cold.
43
Seoul home. 4:30 p.m. went to Citizens' Hall where the So-Do-Hai(昭道會) held its annual meeting. Mr. Yamashida (山下秀村) , the new Head of the Protective Vigilance Bureau(to look after those who have been converted to patriotic Japanese from Communism of Korean Nationalism―or any other anti-Japaneseism) ―well the new man who has succeeded. Mr. Tsubo who had died a month ago gave a sensible lecture on the Control of Thoughts of the People.
45
12th. Tuesday. Bright―Very cold.
46
Seoul home. About 4 p.m. called on Mr. Yi Kwang Soo to congratulate him on his having been declared innocent by the local court.
47
He retailed a grape-vine rumor that some powerful influences in Tokyo are planning to establish a Korean principality in the Martime Province with King Yi at its head. I could hardly believe it though Mr. Yi seems to think the plan will soon be translated into facts. To do that the Province must first be wrenched from the grasp of Russia which wouldn't give it up until she is hopelessly crushed on land and sea, by the superior force of Japan. That will take at least 2 or 3 years of hard fighting on both sides―resulting in complete victory of Japan. Mr. Yi is a leading fiction writer among the literary people of Korea. His vivid imagination may count much for the rumor.
49
13th. Wednesday. Pale sun. Cold.
50
Seoul home. Over an inch of snow on the ground early morning, the biggest snow we have we have had in Seoul this winter, so far.
51
Another thin layer of snow from 7 to 9 p.m.
52
The papers report that the Korean rice to be exported to Japan. Proper is to be 1,500,000 koku instead of 6 million koku. We don't know which is true.
54
14th. Thursday. Bright. Icy cold.
55
Seoul home. Last night's snow forming a thin blanket over the streets has turned them into glassy surface―dangerous to pedestrians and bicyclists.
57
15th. Friday. Bright. Very cold.
58
Seoul home. 9:30 a.m. went to the Volunteers Training Institute where the Entrance Ceremony of the 4th group of volunteers 3 □□ in all was celebrated at 10 a.m. Returned home about 12:30.
60
16th. Saturday. Pale-cold.
61
Seoul home. 9 a.m. paid a return call on Mr. Tsugeki(檵木和夫) who had called the day before yesterday. According to his statement he is one of the private heroes who helped the militaries to create the Manchukuo. He said among other things: "To win the heart of a people, Koreans, Mongols or Manchus, you must be one of them. Eat what they eat and seep where they sleep. I went, a few years ago, to a region in East Manchuria infested with bandits and Communists―only three of us. I told the Koreans and Manchurians in the scattered settlements that the Japanese gods would protect them if they proved faithful subjects. I distributed arms and money to help them created self-protective bands against the bandits etc. We didn't expect to return home alive. But now these settlements have become peaceful and prosperous. They welcome me as one of them." "General Terauchi wanted me to head a Pacification Mission to tell the Chinese in the occupied zones to trust Japan who is fighting for their interest. I told the General I couldn't tell the Chinese to trust me when we are killing their relatives. I persuaded the General to start a North China Development Co. to help the Chinese farmers."
63
17th. Sunday. Bright. Very cold.
64
Seoul home. Found a thin sprinkling of snow on the ground.
66
18th. Monday. Bright. Cold.
67
Seoul home. A thin layer of snow found on the ground early morning.
68
Went to Keijo Y.M.C.A. to attend a meeting of the Advisory Board of the Korean Christian Union at 4:30 p.m. Mr. Niwa presented a report of the Kagawa preaching tour. After the adjournment of the meeting, Dr. Kim Helen, Yu U.K. and I went to Gray House where the Executive Committee of the Ewha Board of Managers had a meeting and supper. Returned home about 9.
70
19th. Tuesday. Lovely. Icy cold.
71
Seoul home. A cup of late coffee and the fear that we might not be able to get our rice from Kwa-Chun safe to Seoul, kept me sleepless until 3:30 this morning. About 6:30 I was grateful that the truck carrying 46 "kamani's" of our rice reached home all o.k. It cost me ￥90.00 to get this cargo from Kwachun. Of course, I don't know how much of the money has gone into M.S's pocket. Are we to thank our rulers for prohibiting us from eating the cereals harvested from our own farms in this terrible famine year?
73
20th. Wednesday. Bright. Cold.
74
Seoul home. Under auspices of Mai-il-Shin Bo, a round-table conference was called at Ban-Do Hotel from 4 p.m. On the Japanese side Messrs. Yu Kami(由上) , lnouye(of Mai-Il-Shin-Bo) and another man Messrs. Han Sang Ryong, Jang Duk Soo, Yi Kwang Soo and I represented Koreans. Mr. Choi Rin presided. How to lead the youths of the day into right thinking and acting was up for discussion. Nothing very interesting was brought out.
75
On the subject of changing Korean Surnames into Japanese names Yi K.S. gave a definite opinion. Thus: (1) Though the authorities say we are not to be compelled to change our names into Japanese, they will see to it that we―most of us―shall do so by various means and ways. (2) We grown people may not need change our names but our children will be discriminated against in admission to schools and in offices. (3) Up to 900 years we Koreans had no surnames such as we have now―Kims, Yis, Paks and so forth have been borrowed from China.
77
21st. Thursday. Pale sun. Chilly.
80
22nd. Friday. Pale sun. Chilly.
81
Seoul home. I was one of the 130 or more of 方面委員 on the City of Seoul invited by the Mayer to a supper at Sik-Do-Won 5:30 p.m.
82
This morning cousin Chi-Yung gave us the half cocked information that brother Chi-Chang was to released on bond today. But nothing of the kind happened.
84
23rd. Saturday. Bright. Cold.
87
24th. Sunday. Lovely. Mild.
90
25th. Monday. Bright. Mild.
91
Seoul home. Last three days have been as mild as first spring weather.
93
26th. Tuesday. Bright―mild.
94
Seoul home. Our 璋善 and 琦善 arrived at Seoul 1:45 this afternoon. Thank God they are well.
96
27th. Wednesday. Pale sun. Mild.
97
Seoul home. From 9 to 5 p.m. attended the annual meeting of the Managers of the Methodist General Board.
98
5:30 went to Seoul Prison to welcome brother Chi-Chang who was released on bond. Had to wait until 9:30. He looked well considering the hardships he had to endure for the ten months past.
100
28th. Thursday. Beautiful. Mild.
101
Seoul home. Took lunch at Mitsukoshi with 金宗燦, 朴琪鍾, 璋善 and 珽善.
103
29th. Friday. Bright. Mild.
106
30th. Saturday. Beautiful. Mild.
107
Seoul home. Went to Pal Dang(八堂里) with Mr. Hong Pyong Sun 9:30 a.m. to see the piece of land I have lately bought on the southern shore of the Han River opposite to the Pal-Dang village. I like the little patch, 49 twubo in all. It commands a beautiful view of the river.
108
The river here is already frozen nearly two feet thick. Near hundred fishermen spend all most the whole day in angling "ing-uh(魚里) through the holes they make through the thick ice.
109
Returned to city about 4:30 p.m.
111
31st. Sunday. Beautiful. Mild.
112
Seoul home. This is the last day of the year 1939. A terrible year this has been to us Koreans, and also to the world in general. An endless war in China. The demons of Europe, Hitler and Stalin, have plunged Europe into a Second World War by their partition of Poland. Hitler has destroyed the independence of Austria, of Czechoslovakia and of Poland. Russia is invading the heroic Finland but the world is helpless to help the little country.
113
Brother Chi-Chang's imprisonment, Candler's running into another debt of 100,000 yen. Cho In Ho's incurring a debt of 15,000.00 causing hardships on Myong Hie; the Sin Jum Dong's claim and law suit that he is the son of my father―the things have been hard on me. Then the awful famine!
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