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urn out Palmer； although I very much want to go with the first bunch。 On the other hand I am paid pretty well to get to the front； and I am uncertain as to what I ought to do。 If the second column were to start immediately after the first； we then would have two men in the field； but if it does not； then Collier will be paying 1000。 a week for stories of tea houses and 〃festivals。〃 Palmer threatens to resign if I take his place in the first column and that would be a loss to the paper that I do not feel I could make up。 If it gets any more complicated I'll wire Collier to decide。
Meanwhile； we are going out to dinners and festivals and we ride。 I have a good pony the paper paid for Cecil has hired another and we find it delightful to scamper out into the country。 We have three rooms in a row。 One we use for a sitting room。 They look very welland as it is still cold we keep them cheerful with open fires。 We have a table in the dining…room to ourselves and to which we can ask our friends。 The food is extremely good。 Griscom and the Secretaries have all called and sent pots of flowers； and we are dining out every other night。 In the day we shop and ride。 But all day and all night we the correspondents plot and slave and intrigue over the places on the columns。 I got mine on the second column all right but no one knows if it ever will move。 So； naturally； I want to be on the first。 The rows are so engrossing that I have not enjoyed the country as I expected。 Still； I am everlastingly glad we came。 It is an entirely new life and aspect。 It completes so much that we have read and seen。 In spite of the bother over the war passes I learn things daily and we see beautiful and curious things； and are educated as to the East； as no books could have done it for us。 John Bass who was my comrade in arms in Greece and his wife are here。 They are the very best。 Also we see Lloyd daily； and the hotel is full of amusing men； who are trying to get to the front。 Of course； we know less of the war than you do。 None of the news from Cheefoo； none of the 〃unauthorized〃 news reaches us。 Were it not for our own squabbles we would not know not only that the country was at war but not even that war existed ANYWHERE in the world。 We are here entirely en tourist and it cannot be helped。 The men who tried to go with the Russians are equally unfortunate。 Think of us as wandering around each with a copy of Murray seeing sights。 That is all we really do； All my love。
DICK。
YOKOHAMAApril 2； 1904。 DEAR MOTHER：
I just got your letter dated the 28th of February and the days following in which you worried over me in the ice coated trenches of Korea。 I read it in a rickshaw in a warm sun on my way to buy favors for a dinner to Griscom。 We have had three warm days and no doubt the sun will be out soon。 The loss of the sun； though； is no great one。 We have lots of pleasures and lots of troubles in spite of the Sun。 Yesterday the first batch of correspondents were sent on their way。 I doubt if they will get any further than Chemulpo but their going cheered the atmosphere like a storm in summer。 The diplomats and Japanese were glad to get rid of them； they were delighted to be off。 Some had been here 58 days； and we all looked at it as a good sign as it now puts us 〃next。〃 But after they had gone it was pretty blue for some of them were as good friends as I want。 I know few men I like as well as I do John Bass。 Many of them were intensely interesting。 It was； by all odds； the crowd one would have wished to go with。 As it is； I suspect we all will meet again and that the two columns will be merged on the Yalu。 None of the attaches have been allowed to go； so it really is great luck for the correspondents。 Tell Chas I still am buying my Kit。 It's pretty nearly ready now。 I began in New York and kept on in Boston； San Francisco； and here。 It always was my boast that I had the most complete kit in the world； and in spite of Charley's jeers at my lack of preparedness everybody here voted it the greatest ever seen。 For the last ten days all the Jap saddlers； tent makers and tinsmiths have been copying it。
DICK。
TOKIOMay 2； 1904。 DEAR MOTHER：
Today； we walked into our new house and tomorrow we will settle down there。 We rented the furniture for the two unfurnished rooms； knives； forks； spoons； china for the table and extras for 35 dollars gold for two months。 It took six men to bring the things in carts。 They got nothing。 Yesterday； I took two rickshaw men from half past twelve to half past five。 Out of that time they ran and pushed me for two solid hours。 Their price for the five hours was eighty cents gold。 What you would pay a cabman to drive you from the Waldorf to Martin's。 I wish you could see our menage。 Such beautiful persons in grey silk kimonos who bow； and bow and slip and slide in spotless torn white stockings with one big toe。 They make you ashamed of yourself for walking on your own carpet in your own shoes。 Today we got the first news of the battle on the Yalu； the battle of April 26…30th。 I suppose Palmer and Bass saw it； and I try to be glad I did what was right by Collier's instead of for myself。 But I don't want to love another paper。 I suppose there will be other fights but that one was the first； and it must have been wonderful。 On the 4th we expect to be on our way to Kioto with Lloyd and his wife and John Fox。 By that time we expect to be settled in the new house。
DICK。
TOKIO； May 22nd； 1904。 DEAR MOTHER：
You will be glad to hear that the correspondents at the front are not allowed within two and a half miles of the firing line。 This I am sure you will approve。 Their tales of woe have just been received here； and they certainly are having a hard time。 The one thing they all hope for is that the Japs will order them home。 My temper is vile to…day； as I cannot enjoy the gentle pleasures of this town any longer and with this long trip to Port Arthur before I can turn towards home。 I am as cross as a sick bear。 We were at Yokohama when your last letters came and they were a great pleasure。 I got splendid news of The Dictator。 Yesterday we all went to Yokohama。 There are four wild American boys here just out of Harvard who started the cry of 〃Ping Yang〃 for the 〃Ping Yannigans〃 they being the 〃Yannigans。〃 They help to make things very lively and are affectionately regarded by all classes。 Yesterday； they and Fox and Cecil and I went to the races； with five ricksha boys each； and everybody lost his money except myself。 But it was great fun。 It rained like a seive； and all the gentlemen riders fell off； and every time we won money our thirty ricksha men who would tell when we won by watching at which window we had bet； would cheer us and salaam until to save our faces we had to scatter largesses。 Egan turned up in the evening and dined with John and Cecil and me in the Grand Hotel and told us first of all the story the correspondents had brought back to Kobbe for which every one from the Government down has been waiting。 It would make lively reading if any of us dared to write it。 To…day he made his protests to Fukushima as we mapped them out last