[From Cousin Nannie to Mrs. Frey.]

My Dear Aunt Emi,¹

I have had you and yours so much upon my mind lately and each time I have thought I would write to you. I have of course kept myself posted daily as to the probability of the war in the Orient, feeling anxious about Lulu and I want to know what you know of her—in case of War, will she come home, etc.—I wrote to her two months ago, tho’ have heard nothing from her lately. Did you ever write the paper for the Club in reference to Lulu’s work? You said when you were here that you had been requested to write such a paper, if so will you let me have it to read to our Missionary Soc. in a month or two? Or if not that, have you anything of the kind that has been read before your Soc. That would do. Our Pres. is anxious for me to get something of the kind from you. I hope you are well. I wished the weather had permitted of me insisting upon you and Georgia coming down X-mas week. Sister Annie did not get here as usual, her short vacation & the necessary expense of travel kept her home. She has been appointed by the State Supt. Of W. Va. to assist the City Supt. in preparing the W. Va. School exhibit for St Louis, & as I understand it goes with it. She did quite a little Institute work last summer & I judge from the papers was quite successful, this may interest Georgia. Harold Emerson and a Mr. Smith from Bellefontaine came to see Mary today. I did not see them tho’ was sorry after they left that I did not go in to see Harold E.—I hope when the “Gentle Spring” comes and the cars get to running smoothly that you and I will see more of each other. Mary was one of a party to go to Mr. Gerard’s (in the country) the other evening to a nice party, it is a place where Martha visits. I believe Mrs. G. was a Dickinson. We are well, but all wish for warmer weather. I would not care if I were rich and did not have to spend so much time in the kitchen. Hasn’t it been Page 213 →cold? Give my love to Georgia and write to me when you can. I do not know much news. I have stayed at home this winter owing to cold and I have had company part of the time, the children’s friends.

Love for yourself from

Nannie

Dear Mother:²

I wonder if the rumors of war have reached you and whether they are making you anxious. There are days when we are all holding our breath to know what will happen next. I feel as if I were at the death-bed of a dear friend for I cannot see how Korea can maintain her independence. The Japanese are landing troops and storing provisions in great quantities. The American guard of 150 or so men are expected any day from Manila. Poor things—won’t they find protecting us cold work after the warm climate of Manila. We anticipate no trouble for ourselves, only feel sorry for the poor Koreans who will suffer. Everything will be high and work scarce in war-time. We have a pretty full store room and are bringing rice and wood to last should we be inconvenienced for any length of time. I fancy we will get over it without much fighting for Russia lies like a dog in the manger in Manchuria and her interests are too much at stake to weaken her force there in order to save Korea from Japan. She may let Japan have her way now and later try for Korea when Manchuria is secured. All is speculation. No one but God himself knows what may be the outcome of the present situation. Affairs do not trouble Emily Brown, the Empress,³ for she only exists in the brain of some highly imaginative reporter. They say that story started in Germany. Mrs. Allen our minister’s wife said that all through Europe and Am. people asked about Emily and were not easily convinced of the fiction of the story.

Yesterday was New Year’s Day as you will see by the date of the letter and we had lots of callers. Misses Hillman & Miller were up from Chemulpo to receive us. Last night we were invited to the home of Dr. & Mrs. Underwood for an evening company. Had a good jolly time playing “sharads” (?)⁴ and fishing for little brass fish. It was very enjoyable for a change. Dr. & Mrs. U. always have watch night service in their house the last night of the old year & a party the first of the new year.

Page 214 →Now don’t worry about us. Dr. Allen is very cautious and I have no fear for ourselves. The Japs nor the Russians have anything against us—we may be a little inconvenienced but it “all come[s] in bringing the Gospel to the heathen.”

I hope this will find you both well and happy.

Lovingly Yours

Lulu E. Frey.

Dear Mother:

I fear I have waited too long for a letter from you and my delayed letter has given you needless worry. Things have looked rather war-like for about two weeks but as nothing has yet happened we forget that we are in the place toward which all the world is looking. We feared if all the nationalities brought guards here we would be short of rations as everything is so expensive we could not buy it, and the guards many have come, Russian, American, Italian, Eng. and perhaps the French, besides we know not how many Japanese soldiers who have been pouring into Seoul in citizens’ clothes. So we laid in an extra supply. We had just gotten a big Cal. order late in the fall—flour, canned goods of all sorts to last a year, $200.00 gold order; and butter, some over 100 lbs in brine. We corned 64 lbs beef and dressed and hung up to freeze 12 chickens. Laid in 300 eggs, three cases of cream (48 cans in a case) since cattle disease in the fall we have not had a cow. We could not get but 150 lbs of potatoes for the merchant who had them said he must supply all his customers with a few. No danger of starving or freezing either if you could see the wood we have laid in both for house & school. We bought 50 bags of rice, each as big as two big bags of flour, 500 dried fish and I don’t know how many measures of beans all for the school. So if you hear of us in siege don’t worry for we won’t starve for many months, but don’t worry at all for while Korea is the bone of contention there is no special grudge against the foreigners for the Koreans, poor things, aren’t in it at all, they simply sit by and are looking to see what will happen next. You know as much if not more than we do of the political situation, but it looks now as if all Japan wants is fair play and if Russia concedes to Japan’s wishes there will be [no] fighting, if she doesn’t there will be fighting without doubt for Japan will make no compromise, and I believe she is right.⁵ My sympathies are with Japan entirely—naturally too—for Russia I fear would not tolerate Protestant missionaries at least would make it very uncomfortable for us.

Page 215 →We are all well and everything is going on as usual. We still have our boarder Mrs. Bacheller and baby with us. She expects her husband in about two weeks now and then they go on to Southern China.

January 14

I think I’d better send this off so you may know I am safe and there is nothing to worry about. Please write right along regardless of newspaper articles for I shall be waiting. I have not heard from you for a whole month, not since Dec. 12th.

With much love—

Lulu E. Frey

Dear Georgia:

Saturday’s mail brought me two letters from Mother Dec. 16th & Dec. 21st. Glad to know you were both well, that you secured my little gifts and the $50 for taxes etc. all right.

I wish you would cease worrying about the lies you read in the paper. Of course the war cloud hangs over us but the reports are so exaggerated that they are far from the truth. We are living in perfect peace outwardly and inwardly, interested of course to know what is going to become of our little empire. We anticipate no personal danger.

I am sending you in this letter a C. D. for 200 gold. Please as soon as you cash it take it to the Building & Loan office and cancel that much of our debt. It will make the assessment for the monthly payments less for you and mother to worry over. When the March dividends are made out I want you to send me a statement of just how we stand and the am’t of payment, monthly, for the coming year. I will try to send the insurance money in the spring so neither that nor the tax money need worry you and mother. The monthly loan dues and your & mother’s running expenses, I realize is quite enough of a drain on you. We can’t lay up anything with debts staring us in the face. I think this will lessen the loan to something under $500.00 if my calculations are right. You did not write me last March how we stood.

We have been having a lot of school work worries, but the work goes on some way. We have a new teacher for the school and she seems to be doing well. Our children are all in school except one just recovering from bronchitis. Page 216 →It is fearfully cold from 5 to 10 degrees below zero every morning, Mother says you have it cold too. I wrote Mary Miller a long letter mailing it Saturday if she gets it before this comes she may let you read it. Is Lena Colton engaged, the last you wrote they were unwilling for her to marry—Johantgen⁶ I think you said. Have they been reconciled? I’m glad Mother liked the little doilies. The Japanese do nice work. I thought you would like the pillow cover for its Oriental look, but I do not know your taste very well.

I am glad Martha is having good school advantages. I hope Grant & Helen may not get so far behind that they will be ashamed to take advantage of town schooling if the opportunity comes to them. They write me so seldom. Is it my fault? I think I wrote the last letter one to Martha, and one later to Helen & Grant.

Miss Paine and I are much interested in a book called the “Letters of a Diplomat’s Wife.”⁷ It gives one such good ideas of court life and customs. We have not had a real good story book since we read the “Four Feathers.”⁸

I hope Florence⁹ has recovered. Mother wrote me how ill she was. Married life is a hard one. The worries this little woman has with her baby—I told Miss Paine last night, the Lord had spared us a mother’s worry.

A scattering mail just arrived—a nice long letter from Etta Snay. It has been more than a year since I’ve heard from her. The long promised letter from Laura has not come yet. Tell her I am still waiting.

With much love—

Lulu E. Frey

Dear Mother:

Mail came last night bringing me your Christmas and your New Year’s letters. One was begun by Georgia but she evidently grew weary in well doing so you had to finish it. I wrote Mary a few days ago not a very interesting letter I can’t do that but a few pages to let her know how I appreciated her letter to me. Then last week I wrote Georgia and enclosed an order for $200.00 which I shall be anxious about until I know it is safely deposited in the Building and Loan Association. That 200 deposited means 200 saved in interest according to your figures. I feel like borrowing to pay it off, yet that seems like robbing Peter to pay Paul. But the 200 with what you put in last year will reduce it to about $500.00 I reckon from the figures you sent me two years ago. Please don’t fail Page 217 →to send me a statement of the account. Of course I could send direct to the office but I prefer to do the business through my own family.

How pretty Georgia must look in her new dress & hat, I wish I could see her in them. I am glad she liked the pillow cover and you the doilies. The dollars are quite as acceptable as anything else except that picture of you & Georgia I asked for as I cannot buy that with the dollars unless you go to the gallery & pose. I shall look for it for my birthday. I want it this year for next year I shall see you both face to face D. V.¹⁰—By the way, as I want that dress to travel in Europe in I want it somewhat up to date so do not order till I tell you to for of course we cannot tell so far ahead when we can go if at all next year, so don’t worry about it. If I had a summer hat I wouldn’t need another thing. Hats are so hard to get out. Miss Hillman’s mother sent her one by mail but it cost $2.00 gold postage. I’ll find out if anyone is going to have an order come out from Smith’s Cash Store this spring, if so I’ll have you buy the hat and send it by express to California and it can come in someone’s box.

Miss Paine has been sick with the grip over a week but is downstairs today. Today is so bright that Mr. Groundhog has surely seen his shadow.¹¹ There does not seem to be any change in the political situation from what it has been for a month or more. Don’t worry it may go on this way indefinitely, for Russia seems bent on making time and Japan does not seem to be able to help herself.

How did that squib about Miss Pierce¹² come to be in the Republican? He is not a missionary but Agent for the British & Foreign Bible Society, salary about the same. A good young man some 3 years younger than Miss Pierce, homely enough to stop a clock, and a Scotchman. He is devoted to her and I believe they will be a happy pair.—Yes, I had heard of the Chicago fire,¹³ one day during the week of prayer someone spoke of the cablegram. Awful!

Write soon & often

With love—Lulu E. Frey

Dear Mother:

Your letter of Jan. 5th surprised me yesterday morning. I am so glad you do not unduly worry about me. It looks more war-like every day, yet I cannot feel at all frightened. Of course we are right in the midst where we can see the fireworks if they attempt to take the palace and any resistance is made, but as the flags of all nations are around us I think we are pretty safe. Reporters from all Page 218 →quarters of the globe are as thick as bees, and a very little truth furnishes columns of copy, so don’t believe all you read. We do not know if we will be able to have Annual meeting at all. This may scare the Bishop, but surely an old veteran of the civil war will not show the white feather now. I have great faith in the little Japs yet I fear this is a great undertaking. Surely the other nations will help her to humiliate this common foe. The Korean government is bought up by the Russians, consequently is pro-Russian. In case of land fighting the Korean army some 15,000 men are at the disposition of the Russians. This makes it rather serious, yet I’ve great hopes for the Japs.

I was so glad you spoke definitely of the Delineator. Immediately went over to the Press and had Mr. Beck¹⁴ order Delineator, Success,¹⁵ and S.S. Times for the coming year for me. I could not get them in a club however. Never mind about the money. We have access to all the most popular magazines, both English & American at the “Seoul Union” just across the road, and then someone kindly sends me the Review of Reviews and Ladies’ Home Journal and a letter from Delaware where I wrote a letter once & a Society are sending me the “Outlook,” then Miss Paine has several papers besides our church papers. Our reading takes the place of other amusements. Our Book Circle is the finest thing out I think, Miss P and I pay 5.00 yen together 1.25 gold a piece and we have a new book to read every week or ten days. We have just finished “The Letters of a Diplomat’s Wife” and now have “American Diplomacy in the East,” both intensely interesting to me, both of them very expensive books.¹⁶ In this way we have the reading of some fifty of the latest books every year.

I am so glad you told me of the Richards girls who are with you. I often wonder you do not speak oftener of your neighbors. I feel better to know when Georgia is away over night that you have someone in the house with you.

I may see Uncle Fuller alive yet when I come home. His vitality is remarkable—he never looked as robust as Grandfather. How do they compare in age? Is Uncle not about the age Grandpa was when he died? By the way I want you to prepare for Georgia and me a list of grandfathers & grandmothers, their names and birth places. For instance the names of the two who started the Frey family in America. Where in Germany did they come from—and then the branch of the family we belong to—not a whole family tree but I would like to know just a little about my ancestors. I don’t even know the names of my grandparents on both sides, much less the great & great-great etc. There won’t be anyone left to enquire of before long. You did not write me if Carleton Kelsey¹⁷ died—you were expecting to hear and promised to tell me in your next letter but you did Page 219 →not mention it. Uncle Ed is all left of the brothers of father. It is a dreadful feeling to have all your relations dying, such a lonely feeling it gives one.

I think I told you all I know of Cameron Johnson the cousin of Mrs. Wren who spoke of her to me. We invited them around to tea one afternoon, they wanted to see the school but they were so hurried packing to return to Japan that they sent a note saying they could not come. He is a missionary to the missionaries in a way. He and his wife are so good about doing any shopping in Kobe for any of us.—The material you spoke of is a little like bolting cloth is it not? It is Japanese. Mrs. Louise Ogilvy Morris’ wedding dress was of that material and it was beautiful. She bought it and Japanese white silk for underdress on her way home and had it made in America. I never saw a daintier wedding dress. It is bought by the bolt, is about 20 in. wide. We use it for hat trimmings in the absence of chiffon it hardly takes the place for it is much stiffer but it is pretty never the less. I have not called on Mrs. Gillet yet. When I do will tell you about their little home etc. She is a dainty little brunette while he is a tall fair man—a very nice-looking couple.¹⁸ I have met her several times. He is so full of fun. When he introduced me to her, he said, “my wife is almost a relative of yours.” To know someone even who knows someone you know out here, is often a bond.

Etta Snay sent me the clipping you speak of about Laura. I don’t think I should like notoriety gotten quite in that way, but it is just like Laura. Mr. Mead¹⁹ is so good natured. I want to write Laura a note today. It is her birthday and she has gotten several such reminders, but she still remains silent.

Today is Saturday. We have school next week then New Year’s vacation for 3 weeks. Our Annual meeting comes at a convenient time as far as our school work is concerned. We do not know definitely when Bish. Moore can get here, but the date for the opening of the conference is Feb. 17th.

Today is so beautiful and bright. It is the Jan. thaw we are having, I guess. One always feels it so when it gets cold again in March. Miss Paine is getting over her spell of the grip nicely. I’m well except for my malaria. I had a temperature of 100° yesterday haven’t tried it today. It takes good old America to get the fever out of one’s blood.

I hope you got the 200 dollars I sent to Georgia. I had hoped to save & borrow till I could pay the debt all off at once, that was my ambition, but this war made me fear I might lose my little all in the bank (Japanese) so I thought I’d pay off that much and when I could pay some again.

I must close for today—

Page 220 →Will write a little note to Georgia—

Yours—Lulu.

Dear Mother:

Just a week ago yesterday I wrote you a letter. After it had gone I found that was the last steamer going indefinitely. No steamer has gone or come in since then for as you probably know before this, we are in the midst of big fighting. On the 9th a naval battle was fought in Chemulpo. Two Russian men of war and one passenger boat were lost, at last after a fight outside the harbor the Russian boats went back inside, disabled and rather than be captured by the Japanese they blew up two and set fire the third boat. On the same day the Japanese fleet went to Port Arthur²⁰ and fired on the Russian fleet—disabling at one time four battle ships and three cruisers. We hear later that nine others have been badly injured. Then they bombarded the city, that splendidly fortified Port Arthur I wrote you of when I visited there two years ago. I cannot see how they could have accomplished anything but they killed quite a few and we shall probably hear of other victories over there. The Japanese seem bent on getting into Manchuria. The Russian Legation had no flag over it today and tonight it is as dark as can be over there. We watched them preparing for their departure. The Japanese gave them an escort and a special train to Chemulpo today and the French man of war takes them on to Port Arthur. When the battle was going on the other day we could plainly hear the report of the cannon up here to Seoul 28 miles away.

Bishop Moore came on the Russian vessel that was burned up in the harbor²¹ and it has looked as if he would have to stay with us, but a little tub of some sort ventures out tomorrow to Japan, so Bishop Moore goes on it and is kind enough to take this letter to mail in Japan to you. I hope a mail may come in soon. Please write as usual the letters may be held in Japan but they will come sooner or later. I should be so disappointed to have the steamer come in and bring me no home letter. We had Annual meeting only one day but our guests from Chemulpo have been with us several days leaving this afternoon.

We have decided not to send the children home for fear the parents would marry them off to anyone in these exciting times and all our labor would be lost on them. I think we will be safe. We have a good supply of eatables if we are hemmed in, and one of Uncle Sam’s boats to take us off if it is necessary to Page 221 →go, so don’t have a moment’s worry. If Japan continues victorious the war will soon be over, but of course after this first shock Russia may wake up. She has not realized she had anything to fear in Japan.

Well I must close. If the letters don’t come don’t think it is because anything has happened to me only that there are no boats to carry my letters.

With bushels of love—

Yours

Lulu E. Frey—

Dear Mother:

Just a little word today to let you know I’m safe and happy. We can’t realize in the quiet of our home that we are in the midst of war, as we do when we go over to “Jap-town”²² and see the soldiers starting for the north with their knapsacks all ready for a long march overland. The fighting will probably be on the border between Manchuria & Korea along the Yalu River. They may drive the Japanese back some distance and for that reason Dr. Allen is ordering all the missionaries’ and miners’²³ wives and children down to Pyeng Yang and further developments will show whether they must come on down to Seoul. The hope is that as the Russians have no provisions on this side of the Yalu that they may not come down upon us.

If you look on the big map I left at home the big red spot in the center is Seoul, and on the next large river two provinces north is Pyeng Yang marked * [drawing of flower] so. As yet the river and sea is so frozen that a boat can get no farther than Haiju, on the coast half way to Seoul. So you see our people are practically frozen in. A few more weeks and boats can run up further there if it looks as serious as now one of Uncle Sam’s boats will bring them down and perhaps take them on to Shanghai, for Dr. Allen fears our provisions may run short if we have more mouths to feed. Of the missionaries up there, there are 23 women and 30 children. The shelves in the three provision stores we have here begin to look very slim. We bought more yesterday fearing we might have to share with some driven in from their homes. The Songdo people, Southern Methodists, have already been called into Seoul and the Wonsan missionaries on the East coast of Korea have been ordered to Japan.

I cannot think anything else but that Japan will be victorious, yet when I think seriously I can see an endless chain of Russian soldiers coming across Page 222 →from Siberia & an unlimited supply of provisions coming from Russia. The Japanese have much in their favor—have a finely disciplined army while the whole Russian system is said to be rotten. But how long will it be, who can tell? I may be home yet, next year or before.

I’ve nothing but war to write—we hear nothing but war. How our poor people will suffer! Well good bye—every few days I’ll write so as to catch some steamer. However don’t worry if the letters don’t come as there are no steamers except transports going and coming.

With love to both of you and the children. Martha’s letter reached me on her birthday the 14th of February—

Yours—

Lulu E. Frey.

P.S. I’ll not send any more checks until I hear you have received and deposited the last one. The one I sent Georgia I refer to.

Dear Minnie:²⁴

Do you owe me a letter or do I owe you one? At any rate it has been a long time since I have heard from you. In fact it has been a long time since I’ve heard from anyone. I do not know what has become of the mails. Mother’s last letter was dated Nov. 17th and she writes me once a week. I ought to get three or four home letters at once unless they are lost entirely. We have been looking for mail all day as a steamer was to have come today.

What do you read about the war out here? You did not realize what a desirable bone Korea was, did you?

I do not know when I began this letter, it sounds as if it might have been a month ago. Today is the 23rd of February.

Japan has been successful in several Naval battles and now is on the way north to meet the Russians on land. We look for news every day of a land engagement and hope Japan may continue to be successful for she will not interfere with our work, while I fear Russia would not tolerate Protestant missions in Korea should she be in power here. Poor little Korea! I fear we are about to witness her death throes. I only feel sorry for the common people poor and oppressed. The King and his officials deserve nothing better than to have the power they have so abused taken from them.

Page 223 →We are quite safe so far, praying that we may not be forced to leave our work. Our people would all be scattered so, it would be almost like beginning over again when we returned, like the missionaries of North China have had to do. Uncle Sam has made provision for us, however by detaining three transports in the harbor for our use should the need arise.

Our people in the north are shut in by the ice or they would have been down to Seoul before this. The weather is breaking, so I hope they may be able to get the ship up to Chinampo in time to get the women and children out of Pyeng Yang before the fighting begins. Please write me. We receive and send mail in Japanese transports all the vessels that sail the seas now.

Love to all—

Lulu E. Frey.

Dear Mother:

Your good letter of Jan 22nd reached me two days ago. I am so thankful our mail comes and so long as the Japanese control the Yellow & Japan Seas we will have. We couldn’t go home now if we wanted to for there are no boats but it is nice not to be cut off entirely from you. I only hope you get my letter right along. You may just believe anything you read of in the paper that I do not mention is of little importance for if it makes no impression on my mind, it isn’t much, for really I write you all there is of consequence. One day some weeks ago someone suggested in the papers that the foreigners better be killed off, but we heard nothing more about it, and are alive yet. Dr. Allen thought it wise for ladies not to go out on the streets unattended, but we know the Koreans so well that we have gone when necessary just the same and are never the least molested, in fact I’m more afraid of our drunken Am. guard than of the natives.

Everything is quiet here except for the marching north of the soldiers every day. The Japs took 70 cannon in their procession today. We met many in Chingokai today ready to start, both infantry and cavalry. We hear rumors of the Russian invasion in Pyeng Yang Province but have no authentic word of the movements of the Russians.

The Presbyterian doctor, Dr. Avison, took his two little boys, 4 and five to Japan by transport to the Pasteur institute yesterday.²⁵ They were bitten by their own little dog who went mad. At least we hope he obtained permission to Page 224 →go on the transport. Isn’t it dreadful to think of? I never saw such a country for mad dogs.

I was so pleased to have Uncle’s picture. I cut it out of the paper immediately. So he is already 90 years old. Grandpa was 89 when he died, was he not? Miss Paine’s father’s birthday is the same as yours, he was 66 on the 28 of Jan.

Yes, I’ll summon courage soon and write Mr. Campbell²⁶ an account of affairs as they are at present. It is not that I do not know how to properly write on one side of the paper in Editorial style but I don’t know how to say things properly for print. But I’ll try—however I want it printed just as I write it after I do, for sometimes in changing the English the thought is apt to be destroyed.

Do you think we can afford oatmeal cookies in war time? Well I cut it out as you suggested and tried half the receipt so I wouldn’t waste too much if they were not to our taste, but they were so good I wished I’d made the whole recipe. We have to use condensed milk and cream in all we make for we have no cow now. So I had to use baking powder instead of soda. They were light & delicious. We can’t get any more potatoes so are eating rice instead, but we get along nicely, have plenty of stores for three months or more and then our gardens will be coming on if we are still shut in. Now you are not to worry one single bit nor lose one hour’s sleep over me. I’m in no personal danger now and if danger does come Dr. Allen will do his best for us.

Write me as you do, often. Give Georgia my love, much for yourself.

Yours—

Lulu E. Frey—

So sorry to hear about Jennie Elliot. Will she have to suffer like Aunt Anna?²⁷

We send our letter by Japanese post now, as we consider it safer.

Dear Mother:

This is your name-sake’s wedding day. I named her Emma for you when she was baptized and afterward heard that her patron’s name was Emma Hoffmeyer, so she takes the whole name. She is 20 years old and marries a good Christian lad of Chemulpo and will probably be their day school teacher.²⁸ On account of the war their day school is closed now. Miss Hillman and Miss Miller are up for the festivities.

Page 225 →There seems to be no war news. Russians & Japanese are both at work fortifying along the Yalu. Dr. Allen is sending an Am. vessel up to Chinampo²⁹ in a few days to bring down the women and children. It is going to be a problem to know how to stow away all the people. We have so few Methodists it will make us little trouble. It is best for them to come altho’ we do not think their danger imminent, but when it does come it will come suddenly up there, time enough for the men to get out probably but for women & children very difficult.

I began a letter for the Republican, but I’ve been so busy all week that I’ve had no time to write any more. War has made no difference with us in our work. The girls are all here yet and we hope to keep them till summer vacation. I feel so relieved to have Emma well married and if we could find suitable husbands for three others we would be glad. She goes off on the three o’clock train this afternoon.

Have had no letter from you since I last wrote you. We hope a mail may be in today but it is doubtful. The transports are landing their soldiers farther north now the weather is moderating so we may not get our mail as regularly as we have the last two or three weeks.

I have bought a birthday present for both you and Georgia, yours too late Georgia’s too early, but I want her to have it to wear through the summer. I’ll register the package so it will go safely to you. It will not be on this mail as I’ll try to go to Chingokai to mail it myself, and will write Georgia a letter about it.

I’ve no especial news, except that we expect the people down from the North next week. I’ve told you this twice so you see how rattled I am. I began this before the wedding and am finishing it this afternoon.

Wish I could see you a little while—

Am well—with much love—

Yours—

Lulu E. Frey.

Dear Mother:

One little word today. We are all well and everything is peaceful around Seoul at least. We are expecting our people from the North the first of next week. The Cincinnati was dispatched yesterday to bring them down. They do not want to come, naturally, but no one can be assured of their safety. Likely it will be some Page 226 →time before anything serious is known to happen yet it may come at any time. I moved beds around and got ready for Miss Estey, Mrs. Hall and Sherwood.³⁰

Monday morning there is to be a big funeral procession. The concubine of the former King died of a good old age a few weeks ago.³¹ She has to be buried with all the old time pomp and glory even in war times.

Mail came in two days ago but brought me no letter from home. I am still looking forward to getting it any day a transport may come in. I have not gotten your package off yet. We have company again. Mr. and Mrs. Cable³² are up for a few days while Mr. Cable is working on the revision of the hymn book.

Mrs. Cable wants me to go to the Legation to call with her so I can’t write long. I must go out and give out the rice for Sunday before I begin to dress. I do not find much time to waste. We have had two circle books waiting to be read sometime. By the way, the last book I read was “A Doctor of Philosophy.”³³ Have you read it? A pathetic story with a point. A sad end for the heroine but how could it have been otherwise? I’m so glad I was born in the North!

School is going as usual. We sent one of our girls off a week ago today and she is very happy in her new home, and is falling into line in the church work in Chemulpo.

The letter I promised has grown a few lines since I wrote you last but there are so many many things to take my time.

You say insurance in the spring but not the month. I’ll get it off by the first of April. No war news at all—I wonder if things will drag on this way indefinitely.

Must close, with love—

Lulu E. Frey.

Dear Mother:

You say in your letter received today that you are trying hard to be brave knowing nothing only hoping for the best. I wish you could look in upon me now and see how safe I am. The accounts you read in the papers are greatly exaggerated but so long as you hear of victory for the Japanese, you may know I am all right. Yesterday while we were looking at the Queen Dowager’s³⁴ funeral procession we learned of the fall of Port Arthur. Doubtless you heard the news as soon as we did. I can scarcely believe it yet altho’ the report was verified again today. You remember three years ago when on my way to Peking I stopped Page 227 →one day in Port Arthur and saw its fortifications. The opening to the harbour is only just wide enough for one ship at a time to pass carefully through, rising on either side are high cliffs which entirely hide the city from view. These hills were fairly bristling with guns, I never saw anything more formidable. I still have some doubt about the Japanese being in full possession of Port Arthur and will see what news the next few days bring us before I fully believe it to be true. The reports we read in our home papers of the naval engagement on the 9th of February in Chemulpo are greatly exaggerated. The three Russian boats in the harbour were ordered out by the Japanese, and were fired upon when a few miles out. One boat was badly damaged at the water line after about 40 minutes firing; the others received no serious injury. They returned to the harbour but rather than fall into the hands of the enemy they blew up two of the vessels and set fire to the third. When I was in Chemulpo a few weeks ago I saw the vessels at low tide. I think the Japanese will probably raise the Coryetz³⁵ and repair her. She was a beautiful vessel worth several million it is said.

I see the reporters have “Emily Brown”³⁶ dead now. If there had been any truth in her existence and she had died, we saw how she might have been taken to her tomb. I have seen a great many royal processions, attended the Queen’s funeral, yet I thought this would be worth getting up at four o’clock to see. I believe it will be the last for sure if the Japanese are victorious, as we hope they will be, we will see the dawn of the new Korea.

We rode three miles across the city to the East Gate and were allowed to sit at the top of the long flight of steps leading up into the gate. When the people seeing us up there attempted to come up the steps, the policemen would drive them back and they would ask why the foreigners were allowed there. “Are they not guests in our country and must we not treat them as guests?” was invariably the answer. There are many privileges we as foreigners have in Korea that are denied the natives, yet you worry when you read the newspaper reports about the foreigners being mobbed & killed. I have never received any but the kindest treatment from the natives. There is a lawless band of people in the country called the “Tonghaks”³⁷ who are something like the Boxers in creed, who often threaten us but the Koreans are too cowardly to ever attack us as the Chinese did the foreigners.

I was telling you how Emily Brown might have been buried if it were her body instead of the old Queen Dowager who was being carried to her tomb. We could see for two miles up the big street the soldiers, the gay banners, and the horsemen. First came the red silk box-like chairs which carried her personal belongings, some twenty or more, each carried by ten men dressed in long pink Page 228 →coats, followed by fifty or more mourners on horseback. These were dressed in sack-cloth. Several hundred Korean soldiers dressed in uniform, dark blue and red, were followed by four devil-scarers. They were men, hauled on carts, with false faces, the most hideous imaginable each with four brass eyes, tusks and large bells for ear rings. None but the lowest would run the risk of so gaining the disfavor of the spirits. There were two biers very gay in green, red, blue and yellow. The first one was empty so as to deceive the spirits. These were carried by 500 chair bearers dressed in sack-cloth. Soldiers, mourners and officials in squads of fifty or more lengthened the procession till it took three hours in passing. The most curious things were the horses made of paper, three times the natural size of a horse, drawn on carts. There were six; two grey, two white & two brown. Their huge red tongues were wagging from side to side and their manes waved as they joggled along the road. They were burned so she might have horses to ride on in the spirit lands.

There has been no special war news since the destroying of the forts at Port Arthur. We hear that 4700 Russians are on the border-line between Korea and Manchuria, and the Japanese have been going North for several weeks so there will certainly be a land engagement before many days. Dr. Allen sent the Cincinnati up to bring the missionaries down but very few came. They preferred to run the risk of danger rather than leave the work. We hope no harm will befall them.

We get our mail regularly, but no freight. We have a good supply of stores on hand so do not anticipate any suffering. Of course everything is very expensive. We pay twice the price for a pound of beef we paid a month ago.

The mail leaves today, so I must close and post this. Remember me to inquiring friends.

With much love

Your daughter Lulu.

Dear Mother:³⁸

Friday night we had a big fire in the palace. Miss Paine and I had just retired when I heard policemen whistling back and forth and the sound of many voices and was just about to see what was going on when some one called “fire.” We soon saw it was in the palace, and as we are so close we dressed quickly, were not quite dressed till the electric lights³⁹ were cut off and I had to hunt around Page 229 →for a candle. It was about eleven o’clock. The hospital patients, some 14 or 15, were moved up here in the school dining room, for the hospital is near the road, a short distance from the palace. The church was the nearest to the fire and we made all the preparation possible to save it, but the walls of the palace inclosure were thick and high and so kept the fire within its bounds. I never saw anything so beautiful. There was a fearful wind so it was impossible to save any building which once caught fire. The palace means a small city inside the palace walls. I should judge the burnt district would be equal to six city squares. Some pigeons were disturbed in some old trees and continued to fly back and forth in their unrest. The reflection of the fire made them look like gold against the dark sky. We remarked about them many times. The next day the cause of the fire was much discussed and the story of the ‘fire birds’ sent from heaven gained credence with many people. The Emperor himself feeling he may have offended heaven in some way has asked that some of his dishes be cut off for several days that he may atone. We did not go to sleep till five o’clock, we were so afraid the sparks would set something nearer us on fire.

Everyone thinks the sensible thing for His Majesty to do would be to move back to one of the other palaces, two of which are beautiful, but he announced to his court immediately that anyone who should mention such a thing to him would be no friend of his. So preparations are going on for the rebuilding of the buildings at an expense of 2,000,000 yen.⁴⁰ He came into our part of the city to be near the foreigners and he feels more secure here. He has bought a strip of land just opposite us, lying between the Russian and American legations, which connects with the palace proper by a private road back of the American legation. The English legation is on the other side of the palace. He has two or three good sized foreign-built brick buildings, which he is using now. I do not know where he is stowing away his three hundred, more lor less, palace women. We fear he looks on our property with envious eyes. We can look down on him from our superior height. The little Prince,⁴¹ six years old, has been playing about in the grass of the palace opposite our gate for several days. He has an attendance of some eight or ten men and women who are at his heels every step he takes.

War news still seems scarce. We hear of losses by the Russian navy now and again. You read of these doubtless as soon as we do. It is interesting to see the part wireless telegraphy is taking. The Japanese are up-to-date, well prepared to fight the Russians in every way except their cavalry. Their horses are small and quite untrained, so our greatest fear is a dash through the country by the Russian horsemen. We would never know we were having war in Korea, if Page 230 →it were not for seeing a regiment or two of Japanese soldiers now and then. The Russian legation looks dark and deserted. The French Minister who has charge of the property, is said to have offered it to the Emperor for a temporary residence, but the Japanese would hardly allow that.

We are unable to get any stores from America as all firms refuse to risk sending their goods to Korea. We have planted our garden and are able to buy meat so we will have no famine till fall at least. We have butter, canned milk and flour to last us several months. If it comes to the worst, Dr. Allen can have a special ship bring us a supply of stores from China. As for our work, it goes on much the same. The ladies are not permitted to travel in the country at present altho’ it seems safe enough and the people seem more anxious than ever to hear the gospel message.

April 23^rd, I must close my letter and mail it today. The American guard left early this morning. I think some twenty stay, however, to guard the Legation. There seems to be no danger of mobs or anything at present. We are as happy and peaceful as you are this morning in Bellefontaine. We very much appreciate the inquiries friends make concerning us. It is always pleasant to feel remembered. Please tell them so.

Lovingly your daughter,

Lulu E. Frey.

My Dear Mother:

Yesterday a nice mail came bringing me a letter from both you and Georgia. I am glad to know that you have gotten the loan down to under $500.00. We begin to see daylight now. You will find it easier from month to month to pay 5 something than 8 something which you had last year. But does it not seem a pity to have more than half go for interest every month? Georgia said she wished you and she could go somewhere this summer and I was glad then I had sent you the money to go west in my last letter. I think I allowed a margin not enough, however, to take you both. I hope you will both arrange to go some way, for a few days at least, say start Monday from B[ellefontaine] and leave for St. Jo⁴² Saturday.

You had gotten the letter about my package. It probably did not reach you till long after the letter, for I think Mrs. Johnson was to have been in Japan two weeks or more.

Page 231 →We just finished two days session of mission meeting before Mr. Noble⁴³ went home. We have all sorts of plans for the work not-with-standing the war. Our latest is to get a native Japanese minister over to organize a Methodist church among the Japanese who are pouring into the country.

You remember how May Lemon Stough’s friend came to Korea & married Mr. Gillett⁴⁴ of the Y.M.C.A.? He is very sick of Typhus fever. His wife had an accident a few weeks ago. We went to call and found her propped up in a chair with a broken arm. She was out riding on her wheel & in trying to get out of the way of a Korean she ran into the car track and was thrown on her arm, the ligaments were loosened, quite as bad if not worse than a broken bone. She is still helpless; can’t comb her hair at all, so is unable to do much to help in nursing and Typhus is such a deadly disease that people can’t offer help as they would like to. Miss Brown⁴⁵ and Miss Wambold⁴⁶ are both fine nurses and Dr. Ross⁴⁷ is a young doctor who is also helping to nurse him. Dr. Avison is the doctor. With such good care and a good physical condition to fight disease with, we all hope he will pull through. This is the 12th day, two more days till the crisis comes.

Yesterday morning a Chinaman came to the door with a nice pair of walking shoes just my size. I said the Lord knew my need and sent them to me. I presume they came in someone’s order and then sold them to a shoe man because they did not fit & he peddled them around among the foreigners. If you have already bought the shoes and hat and sent by Miss Pierce—so much the better—but if my letter reached you too late, you need not feel badly and imagine me going barefoot.

May 11

Dear Georgia—I’ll finish my letter to you. Yes, Mr. Sharp is little but so is Alice—they are a nice couple.⁴⁸ Mr. S. says Herman is not quite so tall as he—so is that not a case of the pot calling the kettle black? Don’t forget to send me a shirt-waist pattern—Bust 34—on the next mail if you have not already done so, something new in style and yet practicable.

I’ve more to write but I’m already late for school so must close. Miss Paine is off for Jap-town. We are all well and as safe as you are, at present at least, and do not anticipate any danger.

With much love—

Lulu—

Dear Georgia:

Today is a beautiful day. We have had so much rain it seemed almost like rainy season except that it has not been hot. So we appreciate a day like this. We have not felt uncomfortable either studying or teaching. We may run school till the last of June and not take up so early in the fall. Next Sept. there are to be several nice things. We hope to have a Bible Conf. for the foreigners—a time of filling up. We get so drained that we feel the need of “going apart” for Bible Study and prayer. It is to last a week, then we have one day to celebrate the opening of Protestant Missions in Korea. It has been 20 years you know.⁴⁹ The Comm. had planned a big affair of a week or ten days with many outsiders of note invited from different countries but the war has put an end to anything big as that, so it is resolved to one day. The Presby. Mission North and South both have their Annual meetings in the fall and the Southern Meth. As well. We always have school then and can’t attend their meetings so perhaps by keeping school late we can have Sept. free.

You asked about Miss Bunting. Do you not remember the nice old maid at Mrs. Keen’s who was so deaf? She has charge of the W.F.M.S. depot of supplies in Phila. a relative of Mrs. Keen’s. Did you write to Mrs. Keen and she answered it?

Mother adds to her letter “The cruel war will soon be over.”—How does she know? We think it only begun. As long as there is any blood left in Japan they will not give up, and while the Russians have little patriotism they have numbers; to lose a thousand men is little when they have half of Europe and half of Asia to draw on. However we hope that the Japs may be able to drive them out of Manchuria. If they can drive them beyond Harbin it is all a vast wilderness or desert from there on and by destroying the R.R. [railroad] the Japs can cut off their supplies. This is our only hope of Japan winning. We think it will be long but we are suffering no inconveniences except high prices. Don’t worry about me.

I had a good laugh over the letter printed in the Rep[ublican] from the J____⁵⁰ boy who signed himself Legation Guard at Peking. They had had a battle 10 miles from there and he had heard the cannon distinctly they were 20 miles from Manchuria and Korea (I might invite him over to spend the day with me sometime but I remember it took me a good part of a week to get to Peking from Seoul). Pure fiction! Then he urged his mother not to worry—he Page 233 →was called to the front etc.—what have our Am. boys to do out here but guard the Legations? He was just stuffing his poor home-folks and having a laugh over it himself.

I’ll be so anxious to know if you both go West and are back safely. Mother always gets sick away from home but if you go before it is too hot. I hope you are packing your trunks now I presume your school closes tomorrow—I am only guessing. I hope you got your waist in time for Alumni, and that you like it. Tell me how you made it up. I thought there was enough goods to make your sleeves most any way you wanted them. Don’t forget to mail me that shirt waist pattern I asked right away if you have not already done so I do not want to make up anything with an old pattern so I am waiting for the new one. New style belts and neck fixings are always acceptable if you can find anything that will come by mail. Miss Pierce will come out I think. Mr. Miller whom she is to marry seems to think she will come in July.

Thank you for the “Easter Services” and the entertainment book you sent me. All suggestions of that kind are very acceptable.

I wish you could send me a dentist. My teeth are in a bad condition. We have dentists here twice a year but on account of the war they have not come. Of course if I choose I can go to the Jap. dentist but unless I am forced I’d rather wait. My hair is all falling out and next my teeth—these defects added to the ones I already have will not make you proud of me when I am home again. Next Spring I am due home but it does not look very encouraging now. However time will tell.⁵¹

I am glad your exam is over. Mother said you had till the middle of May to study. Nice not to have it hanging over you all summer long.

Mother’s letter of May 5th is the last one I’ve had. Write as often as you can and tell me all about yourselves.

I hope this will find you and mother as well as I am.

With much love to both—

Yours—

Lulu E. Frey.