TOKIO — May 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.
