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

learned much from each other because of the difference in education. We were both strong willed, stubborn, opinion-ated [opinionated], yet [illegible] came [illegible] firm friends and I at least with with a warm and sincere admiration of of her. Her [dedication?] to the cause of her sex, her fund of general information on side lines, her strong memory, her calm judgement, her [illegible] energy, combine to make her a truly wonderful and grand woman. Her letters to "Der Telegraf" caused her much labor. She wrote early and late, on trains and in her room—always there was a letter to be finished. I could not have kept up with her in this respect, and often I rested [illegible] she worked. It was with mutual regret that we parted and whatever happens in the future, we should always have the memory in common of the most wonderful ex-perience [experience] which ever [illegible] to where [illegible]

Mrs. McVey a kind spirited, good looking, rather stylish looking woman joined us at Shanghai and we parted with her at Yokahawa two months later. Very fond of dress, husband dead, children married, she is striving to kill time and if a husband [illegible] appear who is eligible she will not object. Fairly intelligent, but no [illegible], she was not a clog, but

no help. She never [illegible] herself and was truly unselfish. She [illegible] the Dr. a good deal and we [illegible] by the continual references to her children. Undoubtedly her heart was always with them and it was natural for her to speak of them. I am sure I'd do so, had I had any, but just why [illegible] cannot learn that the everyday monstrous expenses of John and Fannie are not interesting [illegible] I do not know.

We were agreed that Japan made a fitting climax of a wonderful experience. A picturesque and beautiful as at the long chain of islands which fringes the coast of Asia, it possesses a much more healthful and comfortable cli-mate [climate]. As thickly populated as Japan, it is also as closely culti-vated [cultivated] and its people are distinctly higher. The hotels are the best in Asia, the service and laundries excellent, and travel as made easy for foreigners. The distinguishing features of Japanese architecture are the [illegible] [illegible], the Chinese pagoda and the [illegible] composed of many small buildings. All this comes from China, but the [tori?] and the lantern are distinctly Japanese. These temples and immeasurable shrines seem to fit under the [illegible] with [illegible] [illegible] and easily make it the most picturesque country in the world—sad [illegible]. But the real interest lies in the fact that the Japanese are the leaders of [illegible] [illegible] in Asia and have won a place among the world's

stations. Every [illegible] country has taken the lion, tiger, dragon, Eagle or some [illegible] King of beasts or birds as its emblem—the [shogun?] crest was the three leaves of the holihock [hollyhock] in a circle, and the crest of the present reigning family is the chrysanthemum. That fact per-haps [perhaps] symbolizes a difference which is deep. Asia has as yet no nerves, no frustrations, no brain fog. Will that come with progress or will Asia learn how to combat it and will the West sit at its feet and learn? I wonder. It seems that men in Japan are doing [miracles?] in [mutual?] power and the [mutualists?] come here to learn from them. There are "holy men" too in the caves as in India who, it is said, possess great result [illegible]. It is hinted that these "holies" hypnotized the Russians and so won the victory for the Japanese! That's "going some!" If the "holies" are going to keep this up, what are the hour [dreadnoughts?] and superdreadnoughts to do?

It was with bitter disappointment that we [divided?] [illegible] short our visit to Japan and fly to other houses in response to the stern [illegible] of duty. The solace was the decision to return to New York via the Trans-Siberian R from Budapest and thus pay a more complete recit in the Land of the Midnight Sun.

Sunday. Oct. 28. We have had a the unique experience of having passed thro' a week of eight days and Friday having been repeated

the management as much to entertain us. [illegible] evenings we have had moving pictures and last night we had a theater, the same entertainment having been given the 2nd class the night before. I am sure no European crew would present anything a [illegible] so good. There was a [illegible] contest which should some of the [illegible] which [illegible] made these small [illegible] [people?] so agile and almost working in their [illegible] There was a juggler who [illegible] [illegible] [illegible] that men from [illegible] the [illegible] and creed could give a somewhat extended dialogue without a sign of self-seriousness seemed to me more [remarkable?] than anything which had gone before. Nowhere in Asia with one exception—the boy who interpreted in Shanghai—him I [illegible] one symptom of stage fright in men or women I con-cluded [concluded] that this is due to the fact that [illegible] is a manifestation of diseased nerves, the [illegible] [illegible] of which is to [illegible] in Europe and America.

We have some nearly intelligent missionaries on board and now Mr. Bartlett, [Congregational?] is going to preach. As the family sit opposite me I am going. I like him, but his wife [illegible]. She

was cut out to be one of us. She told me a good story. An English woman had a disobedient child and she kept calling to her husband "O Mr. Haustiu, Mr. Haustiu, come 'ere and make 'Arold [Harold] mind me." Tomorrow we arrive at Hono-lulu [Honolulu] and I am full of anticipation.

Tuesday Oct. 30. We arrived at Honolulu yesterday at 1 p.m. and have just sailed away at 10 this morning. I received a [wireless?] yesterday morning before I was out of bed asking if I would speak and I [illegible] back that I would. So I packed up a dress in my suit case and was ready to go ashore as soon as we docked. At the foot of the gangplank stood Mrs. J.M. [Dorset?] (German father and Hawaiian mother) and Mrs. [Sharpe?] also half east I think. They threw around my neck long garlands of a brilliant orange flower. This is an Hawaiian custom and when friends arrive or depart they are garlanded. All honored guests at festivals of all kind get them and women are to be found at the market who make and sell them every day in the year I hope I did not look as silly as I felt. Mrs. [Dorset?] took me in her automobile and placed it and herself at my disposal. At my request we went to [illegible] bookshop where I bought