按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
if any of us dared to write it。 To…day he made his protests to Fukushima as we mapped them out last night and the second lot will I expect be treated better。 But； as the first lot were the important men representing the important syndicates the harm； for the Japs； has been done。 Of course； much they do is through not knowing our points of view。 To them none of us is of any consequence except that he is a nuisance； and while they are conversationally perfect in politeness； the regulations they inflict are too insulting。 However； you don't care about that； and neither do I。 I am going to earn my money if I possibly can； and come home。
DICK。
TOKIO； June 13th； 1904。 DEAR MOTHER：
We gave a farewell dinner last night to the Ping Yannigans two of whom left on the Navy expedition and another one to…morrow for God's country。 There were eight men and we had new lanterns painted with the arms of Corea and the motto of the Ping Yannigans。 Also many flags。 All but the Japanese flag。 One of them with a side glance at the servants said； 〃Gentle…
man and Lady： I propose a toast； Japan for the Japanese and the Japanese for Japan。〃 We all knew what he meant but the servants were greatly pleased。 Jack London turned up to…day on his way home。 I liked him very much。 He is very simple and modest and gave you a tremendous impression of vitality and power。 He is very bitter against the wonderful little people and says he carries away with him only a feeling of irritation。 But I told him that probably would soon wear off and he would remember only the pleasant things。 I did envy him so； going home after having seen a fight and I not yet started。 Still THIS TIME we may get off。 Yokoyama the contractor takes our stuff on the 16th； and so we feel it is encouraging to have our luggage at the front even if we are here。
DICK。
YOKOHAMA； July 26th； 1904。 DEAR MOTHER：
We gave in our passes to…day； and sail to…morrow at five。 They say we are not to see Port Arthur fall but are to be taken up to Oku's army。 That means we miss the 〃popular〃 story； and may have to wait around several weeks before we see the other big fight。 They promised us Port Arthur but that is reason enough for believing they do not intend we shall see it at all。 John and I are here at a Japanese hotel； the one Li Hung Chang occupied when he came over to arrange the treaty between China and Japan。 It is a very beautiful house； the best I have seen of real Japanese and the garden and view of the harbor is magnificent。 I wish Cecil could see it too； but I know she would not care for a room which is as free to the public view as the porch at Marion。 It has 48 mats and as a mat is 3 x 5 you can work it out。 We eat； sleep and dress in this room and it is like trying to be at home on top of a Chickering Grand。 But it is very beautiful and the moonlight is fine and saddening。 No one of us has the least interest in the war or in what we may see or be kept from seeing。 We have been 〃over trained〃 and not even a siege of London could hold our thoughts from home。 I have just missed the mail which would have told me you were at Marion。 I should so love to have heard from you from there。 I do not think you will find the Church house uncomfortable； and you can always run across the road when the traffic is not too great； and chat with Benjamin。 I do hope that Dad will have got such good health from Marion and such lashers of fish。 I got a good letter from Charles and I certainly feel guilty at putting extra work on a man as busy as he。 Had I known he was the real judge of those prize stories I would have sent him one myself and given him the name of it。 Well； goodbye for a little time。 We go on board in a few hours； and after that everything I write you is read by the Censor so I shall not say anything that would gratify their curiosity。 They think it is unmanly to write from the field to one's family and the young princes forbade their imperial spouses from writing them until the war is over。 However； not being an imperial Samaari but a home loving； family loving American； I shall miss not hearing very much； and not being able to tell you all how I love you。
DICK。
DALNY； July 27th； 1904。 DEAR MOTHER：
We left Shimonoseki three days ago and have had very pleasant going on the Heijo Maru a small but well run ship of 1；500 tons。 Fox and I got one of the two best rooms and I have been very comfortable。 We are at anchor now at a place of no interest except for its sunsets。
We have just been told as the anchor is being lowered that we can send letters back by the Island； so I can just dash this off before leaving。 We have reached Dalny and I have just heard the first shot fired which was to send me home。 All the others came and bid John and me a farewell as soon as we were sure it was the sound of cannon。 However； as it is 20 miles away I'll have to hang on until I get a little nearer。 We have had a very pleasant trip even though we were delayed two days by fog and a slow convoy。 Now we are here at Dalny。 It looks not at all like its pictures； which； as I remember them were all taken in winter。 It is a perfectly new； good brick barracks…like town。 I am landing now。 The two servants seem very satisfactory and I am in excellent health。 Today Cecil has been four days at Hong Kong。 Please send the gist of this letter dull as it is to Mrs。 Clark。 When I began it I thought I would have plenty of time to finish it on shore。 Of course； after this all I write and this too； I suppose will be censored。 So； there will not be much liveliness。 I have no taste to expose my affections to the Japanese staff。 So； goodbye。
R。
July 31st； 1904。 DEAR MOTHER：
We have been met here with a bitter disappointment。 We are all to be sent north； although only 18 hours away。 We can hear the guns at Port Arthur the fall of which they promised us we would see。 To night we are camping out in one of the Russian barracks。 To…morrow we go； partly by horse and partly by train。 A week must elapse before we can get near headquarters。 And then we have no guarantee that we will see any fighting。 This means for me a long delay。 It is very disappointing and the worst of the many we have suffered in the last four months。 I have written Cecil asking her to seriously think of going home but I am afraid she will not。 Were it not for that and the disappointment one feels in travelling a week's journey away from the sound of guns I would be content。 My horse is well and so am I。 It is good to get back to drawing water； and carrying baggage and skirmishing about for yourself。 The contractor gave us a good meal and the servants are efficient but I like doing things myself and skirmishing for them。 We make a short ride this morning of six miles to Kin Chow and then 30 miles by rail。 〃Headquarters〃 is about a five days ride distant。 Tell Chas my outfit seems nearly complete。 Maybe I can buy a few things I forgot in Boston at Kin Chow。 Fox and I will get out just as soon as we see fighting but before you get this you will probably hear by cable from me。 If not； it will mean we still are waiting for a fight。 The only mistake I made was in n