Carrie Chapman Catt - Diaries, Korea and Japan, October 4th - 30th, 1912 (Box 1, Folder 8)

Wednesday Oct. 16. I packed, aired and listed my purchases. My brain in a state of amazement at the amount I had gathered, the money I had squandered, and the wonder of what I should do with it all in my poor little flat.

Thursday Oct. 17 At three went to Tokyo and lunched at the Imperial with sixteen Japanese ladies by their invitation. After the lunch we gathered in a parlor and I made a speech telling them what I wanted—and got the promise of a report —and perhaps of a delegate. Mrs. Lindsey of Boston one of the dearest women I ever met, was with us and as she had lived in Japan for 21 years and speaks the language she was a help. We got back in time to allow me an hours rest, when I dressed ate dinner and went to Van Schaiks hall where I addressed a good sized audience, chiefly Europeans, (but not all) under auspices of the Literary Society. That day seemed like old times— and they say I made some converts too! Friday Oct. 18 Today I packed, packed, packed and lunched with Mrs. Lindsey and several

American ladies—among them Miss [illegible] who wrote "The Garden of the East." I was there about the same length of time as in Tokyo. I had to get something out of the Tokyo lunch and that is always late going and there was nothing but pleasure to be had at this lunch—yet I came home utterly tired out and the day before I had been rested. This contrast has made a deep impression on me. The quiet contained, [illegible] little Japanese [has?] a [illegible] influence. The Americans stir everyone else up to the same nervous state [made?] in ourselves. We ought to be put into cates and red on rice awhile! At the lunch Mrs. Lindsey handed me a bag of souvenir from her. Mrs. Fraser and her daughter.

Saturday Oct. 19 My Chinese dressmaker had never kept this word. I had had but one fitting, but at 12:30 when all my other baggage had gone, he brought my things looking very nice, but too late to try on, and he helped me pack them away and I hastened to the steamer. Mrs. Lindsey [illegible] me in her carriage

Mrs. McVey went in a ricksha [rickshaw?] and Mrs. Fraser and another lady came each bringing me a bouquet. Mrs. McVey had given me a nice full [straw?] hood, so I had quite a formal departure. Here I am in Room 119, the Chiyo [Maru?] a beautiful big, new, splendidly equipped tool. I am alone and never had a better and I do not [illegible] I ever had quite so good and convenient a storeroom.

Sunday, Oct. 29th. Naturally I was tired and proposed to read my newspapers, but I had little opportunity, and talked all day. Altogether too many folks knew me.

Monday, Oct. 21. The day passed as usual—too much talk to accomplish anything. The sea had been quite rough and the tables only about half full. This Hall when I meet in Tokyo and Mrs. Fiske of Chicago both Chairman [illegible] have been in bed with mal de mer! but of course I have [illegible] up to my record and Mrs. [illegible] of Honolulu, a nice intelligent American keeps me company. The ship edits a daily [illegible]

today we were [illegible] to the "A deck" to see [morning?] [pedicures?] It was a very interesting [illegible] [illegible] —one I never heard of on a ship before. There is [strong?] [illegible] [illegible] the Pacific Mail and the Tokyo Kisin [illegible] and the passengers are profiting by it.

Tuesday Oct. 22. This morning I made [all?] a [illegible], remaining in my room all the morning, and rather enjoying the solitude. After lunch I tried a nap and [illegible] have brought my diary up to date, making believe that I [illegible] [recorded?] the events day by day. [illegible] [illegible] forgotten half that happened in no doubt.

Wednesday Oct. 23. This morning I read a book on Hawaii borrowed from Mrs. [Burback?] This afternoon I have divided my postals into bunches so as to send one to C. City, one to [illegible] one to [illegible] and keep an [illegible] [illegible] myself. The weather has been fine, clear and bright, the sea smooth, the atmosphere warm, until just noon when a small storm is brewing and the ship racking.

On Friday morning last, my [illegible] [companion?] Dr. Althea Jacobs and I [illegible[ to gather for the last time and said good bye, she taking an early train to Kisho (where we had intended to remain a week) and from there two days later she will take a boat from [illegible]

and thence by the Trans-Siberian to Hall and we joined each other at Madeira July 20, 1911 and for 1 yr and 3 month we have been strenuously endeavoring to see the world. There was much that was [illegible] in the atmosphere while Mrs. [illegible] and Miss Carman were with us. Miss C and Dr. J [instinctually?] disliked each other and Mrs. B was often exaggerating to the Dr. I feel the strain of the strained relations often and doubtless I was myself as much blameable as any one in the party. However, when the party was reduced to two all was placidity with notable exceptions. We were exactly agreed as to what we wanted to do. Our minds were as [on?] [illegible] the expenditure of time. We both wished to room alone on boats and in hotels no matter if it did cost more. We wanted to go first class in all trains and boats and we were both prompt in paying our debts to the [illegible] when we had been paying the common expenses. Our education and experience in life had been wholly different and we [illegible] approached many things with a different point of view. We had many a fierce altercation, usually ending in the answering of the finality—by me. "Well, it is so in the U.S.A. anyway." and by her "Well it is so in Holland anyway." Or perhaps we accepted over why the children had their heads [shaped?] or why the women wore their hair in a certain way [illegible] but as [illegible] of us knew, these disputes ended amica-bly [amicably]. We usually put aside such quarrels each from in the belief that she was right, but both I am confident