2
1st. Wednesday. Beautiful.
3
Seoul home. 8 a.m. went to Chosun Shrine to attend the New Year Worship. From 9:10 with Dr. Ryang made the usual New Year call on the official residences of Governor General, etc., etc., etc. leaving cards only.
4
We began a New Year with fear and trembling. Everybody thinks the great war in Europe will rage fiercer. The Near East may catch the spreading flames while the Sino-Japanese conflicts know no end. We sincerely hope Japan will be able to settle the Chinese problems without getting with fresh trouble with America and Russia.
6
2nd. Thursday. Cloudy―Chilly.
7
Seoul home. Went to Station at 8:07 a.m. to see 璋善 buy berth tickets for the Fusan-Shimonoseki ferry. Line up hundred deep from 5 a.m. The tickets began selling from 9:30.
9
3rd. Friday. Cloudy. Chilly.
10
Seoul home. 11 a.m. wife, 恩姬, 明姬, 珽善, 璋善 went to Mr. 趙鍾春’s home to see his niece Miss 奇世順 for a possible fiancee for our 璋善. Wife thinks she is a very nice girl; but 璋善 thinks she is not the type of beauty he likes best. The girl was bashful she kept her head bowed so low that we couldn't see her whole face. Wife and daughters say the girl's ears, mouth, nose are very pretty. Her chin is double. She will make a substantial and efficient home maker.
11
To our surprise and annoyance we learned only tonight that 璋善 has been in love with a Yi Duk Ja(李德子) . As Yi Bong Yung had introduced her to cousin Chi-Soh to be betrothed to 璋善 last September, we can't take her without cousin Chi-Soh's consent.
13
4th. Saturday. Beautiful.
14
Seoul home. Six p.m. a number of friends gave a congratulatory supper in honor of Pak Chul Jai who had lately received the coveted degree of Doctor of Science from the Kyoto Imperial University.
15
This evening Yi Bong Yung told us that cousin Chi-Soh who seemed indifferent to Yi Duk Ja, before, became excited this morning when he learned that we would get her if he didn't and at once decided to have her betrothed to 瀅善, his 6th son. Wife and I are rather glad of this turn of the little affair because in the first place, we don't like Yi Duk Ja as well as we do 奇世順; and secondly because we wouldn't offend 奇世順’s uncle and aunt for having, seen their niece when 璋善 had no intention of marrying her. We thank God the delicate situation has ended well.
17
5th. Sunday. Cloudy a.m. Mild.
18
Seoul home. From 11:30 a.m. 璋善 went to Kin Chi O(金千代) Restaurant with Grace and Mary to meet and see Miss 奇世順 who came with her cousin 趙□□. 璋善 promised the girl he would marry her before they separated. Thank God!
20
6th. Monday. Pale sun.
21
Seoul home. Per Akatsuki our 琦善 left Seoul 3:50 p.m. for Tokyo. God be with him on his journey and in Tokyo always guiding him and giving him strong body and mind.
22
Entertained to a Chinese supper at A-Dong-Noo, six of the friends who come to our "sarang" everyday. The supper began at 6 p.m. but I left about 7 in order to give them more free enjoyment.
23
About 11 p.m. Jung Kwang Hyon came to see me dead drunk complaining that 光善 had given a beating!
25
7th. Tuesday. Beautiful spring day.
26
Seoul home. Too warm for this time of the year.
27
At noon, 瀅善, the sixth son of cousin Chi-Soh and Miss Yi Duk Ja(李德子) had engagement ceremony at Chosun Hotel. Members of both families were present. Pity cousin Chi-Soh couldn't come on account of illness. Cousin Chi-Oh tells me that Chi-Soh is opposed to the marriage.
28
Hear 光鉉 was so insensibly drunk last night that he assaulted 光善 first and that the latter hit him on the face. Both alike.
30
8th. Wednesday. Foggy until 10 a.m.
31
Seoul home. We sent 璋善's 四柱單子(the Hour, Date, Month, and Year of his birth) written in proper form, to the family of the bride this morning. 鄭奉燮 and 珽善 took it and made the trip by bus, to and from Kimpo.
32
5 p.m. a big company of friends mostly Koreans living in the Jong No District gave a farewell supper party in honor of Mr. Matsuoka who had lately been promoted to Nachin Prefect. He had been for 4 1/2 half years the Chief of the Jong No Police Station.
34
9th. Thursday. Pale a.m. Beautiful p.m.
35
Seoul home. Our family and the family of Miss 奇世順, the fiancee of our 璋善 had engagement celebration at Hanto Hotel about 1 this afternoon. Dr. Ryang officiated and our put the engagement ring on the finger of his bride. God crown them with loving kindness and tender mercies all their lives! We had luncheon together, a joyful occasion for us all.
38
Seoul home. Snow from 7:30 to 9:30 about an inch thick.
39
To Station to see Mr. Matsuoka off for his new office as the Prefect of Nachin-Fu in North Hamkyoung-Do. The Station was jammed with people to give him a see-off, the train leaving at 5:35 p.m.
40
Near midnight Jung Bong Sup came home dead drunk. It took the combined strength and effort of Jung Duki, our outside man, Sung Koni and 璋善 to keep him from hulling himself and others. This is second time he has come home so drunk. Too bad.
42
11th. Saturday. Cloudy. Mild.
43
Seoul home. Called on Mr. Shiobara this morning and gave him a plan of re-organizing the work of C.C.C. He suggested putting Uyeda the President, a superintendent to supervise all the workers. As to the name or person for such an office he said he might suggest later on. He told me to send in an application for appointing Yu Ok Kyum a teacher in C.C.C.
44
Our 璋善 left Seoul 3:50 per Akatsuki for Tokyo. God be with him always. His fiancee, 奇世順 with her mother and brother came to the Station to see 璋善 leave. The girl is pretty and ladylike in her manners.
46
12th. Sunday. Lovely. Snappy cold.
47
Seoul home. This morning I had to give Jung Bong Sup a piece of my mind. To him his only capital for his life work is his medical skill and his character. To be a habitue of alcoholic drinks is a dangerous thing to a doctor who deals with the life and death of his patients. Besides a man who depends on the bounties of his wife's home for very food, raiment and education should have a sense of honor enough not to indulge in excessive drinking.
49
13th. Monday. Lovely. Biting cold.
50
Seoul home. By invitation took lunch at Mr. Sauer's home with Bishop Baker and Dr. Diffendorfer.
51
Bishop Baker asking me how things stood today, I asked "When were you here last?" "Two years ago" said the Bishop. I simply said "Two years ago is two centuries old." Dr. Diffendorfer put it in his notebook.
52
Without mentioning names I told Bishop Baker and Dr. Diffendorfer that a certain group are trying to run the Methodist Church as if they were the boss but that the mass of the Methodists wouldn't follow them.
54
14th. Tuesday. Pale sun. Very cold.
55
Seoul home. 8 a.m. breakfast at Chosun Hotel given by Mr. Niwa President of International Friendly Association to Bishop Baker and Dr. Diffendorfer. Messrs. Ohda(小田) , Ryang, Kasaya, Mitsui and a Japanese lady were also present.
57
15th. Wednesday. Cloudy a.m. Beautiful p.m.
58
Seoul home. Snow began to fall about 7 yesterday evening. This morning a beautiful blanket of snow 3 inches thick on the ground―a big snow for Seoul. I do hope the North and South Choong Chung and the Kyong Ki Provinces―the Provinces which suffered most from two years merciless drought―are having good snow fall.
60
16th. Thursday. Lovely. Cold.
61
Seoul home. A number of Korean residents of the district under the jurisdiction of Jong No Police Station gave a dinner party in honor of our new Police Chief, Mr. Ishikawa at the Chun Hyang Kak Hotel 5:30 p.m.
62
This new Hotel is a creation of that remarkable woman, Kim Ok Kyo 金玉嬌. She has been running two big Korean restaurants, one in the city and another outside the Small East Gate. What an amount of energy and shrewdness this little attractive and attracting woman must have to make these pleasure resorts going concerns! Even Japanese friends say she is a rare specimen of business womanhood.
64
17th. Friday. Cloudy a.m. Sun p.m.
67
18th. Saturday. Cloudy a.m. Pale sun p.m.
68
Seoul home. Mr. Noguchi(野口摩一) , the creator of the Nitrogen Co.(窒素會社) and its allied industries in North Ham Kyong Province under whom 50,000 or more workers are busy, one of the greatest enterprisers of Japan has lately donated ￥30,000,000.00 for social welfare work. Of this vast sum ￥5,000,000.00 was given for taking care of the 20,000 Korean students in Japan. This is the biggest donation for public benefit made by a single Japanese. Number of Koreans met at Mai-il Shin Moon Office to discuss how to express our(Korean's) appreciation of the generosity of Mr. Noguchi.
70
19th. Sunday. Dark. Mild. Snow a.m.
71
Seoul home. For the first time in near two years attended the morning service at Jong Kyo Church. The pews 3/empty.
73
20th. Monday. Bright. Bitter cold.
74
Seoul home. 16°below zero, they say.
75
3 p.m. a delegation composed of Messrs. 曺秉相, 高元勳, 金秊洙, 金東□, 徐椿, 金思演 and myself called on Mr. Noguchi, the king of big industries in Korea to thank him for the 30 million yen gift for education and social welfare work etc. Of course we couldn't see him as he is sick in bed; but the director of his company met us and received our message.
77
21st. Tuesday. Pale sun. Chilly.
78
Seoul home. Dr. Ryang and Yu hyong Ki called 11:30 a.m. Had a home made lunch. Yu showed me a copy of the minutes of the Mission Council which was held when Bishop Baker and Dr. Diffendorfer were here. They appointed 4 missionaries and 5 Koreans as a standing committee of the mission council to handle all the mission property problems in Korea. They left Hugh Cynn and Bishop Jung Choon Soo all-together in the cold. Hugh Cynn will not be able to lie to the authorities that missionaries have given him all power to dispose the mission houses, sites, schools etc. the way he deems best.
80
22nd. Wednesday. Snow.
81
Seoul home. Snow began to fall 10:30. Stopped about 5. Three inches thick. Sent ￥30.00 to 璋善 and 璋善 for 璋善’s birthday. Received a pair of soft gloves and a pair of silk socks from our precious boys in Tokyo. So thoughtful of them. God bless them!
83
28th. Tuesday. Dark a.m. Sun p.m.
84
Seoul home. Streets perfectly glass paved early morning―turned into paddy fields in the afternoon.
85
6 p.m. about 130 people gave a praise and .................................
87
29th. Wednesday. Sun a.m. Cloudy p.m.
88
Seoul home. Mr. 金秊沬, Honorary Consul General for Manchukuo gave a dinner party at Myong Wol Kwan in honor of the Manchurian visitors, 13 in all, who have come to Korea to inspect the educational plans and plants in Korea with a view of readjusting the education problems for the Korean children in Manchuria. I had to make a welcome address. Of the 13 visitors, the man who impressed me most was Major Mishina(三品隆以) . He has a plum round face with a pair of wonderful commanding eyes. Hardly 5 ft. but well-built a bundle of energy, graced by jovial and courteous manners. Here is a man who will be heard from sooner or later. Party broke up near 9. Snow heavily from 8:50 to 10.
90
30th. Thursday. Bright. Cold.
93
31st. Friday. Bright. Biting cold.
94
Seoul home. The coldest day we have had this winter 2 below zero―says papers.
95
3 p.m. Governor General invited about 170 people―principals of high Schools up, directors of banks and business institutions etc. to a tea party to announce the creation of an Association for Promotion of Learning(漿學會) but really a Students Helping Association, with the ￥5,000,000.00 fund lately donated by Mr. Noguchi.
96
On my way home Mr. Kim Yun Soo gave me a ride in his car. He told me that a singing girl at the dinner party given to the Manchu-Kuo visitors said to him that she couldn't keep tears from her eyes when she saw me attending these meetings at my age and that something in what I said touched her deeply. That's certainly a compliments.
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