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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 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。