Dear Georgia:¹

How the time flies. I wonder if I answered your last letter. I wrote you one in the country but have been on the trot since and am off for a few days’ country work tomorrow, again.

March 9th was my birthday and I was 50 years old. The Koreans could not wait till I was 61² the time they especially celebrate nor till October when I would be here 25 years but must have the celebration now and they certainly did it up brave. At six thirty the night before a surprise dinner party was given in the home by the other ladies inviting 4 Korean English-speaking men & their wives 3 of whom were old Ewha girls. This was quite an aberration because it is contrary to custom for a man to walk out with his wife or ever eat with her. It was lovely & they enjoyed it fully, & so did I. The next morning at six the girls sang two songs outside my door—double quartette. At 12 they brought me a beautiful silk suit of clothes & did my hair up in Korean fashion & put a funny little bonnet affair on my head, I was pronounced beautiful & so young by the Koreans. Unfortunately the foreigners couldn’t see it that way but said “was I only fifty?” & such remarks but the Koreans were immensely pleased & that was all I cared. A big Korean feast gotten up by the school girls after a little program in the chapel. All the mission & near friend[s] lined the sides of the long chapel & the school girls filled the centre, about 200 all dressed in beautiful colors. A picture was taken but it will never show up in a picture.³ The girls sang a special song about me & bowed Korean fashion. I got a beautiful Bible & several silver things presented to me. Then at 4 o’clock I went to the church to another affair gotten up by the church people. I had planned to be myself & had put on my black taffeta suit & my new hat Martha sent me but they sent up special word for me to wear the Korean clothes so I did, & after some more speeches I was presented with a beautiful table of brass dishes. They Page 249 →are lovely—Of course I had to make a speech which you know I enjoy so much doing and when it comes to doing it in Korean it is a double dose but I lived through it. Wish you could see all my pretty things.

With lots of love—

Lulu E. Frey.