Tsuda Umeko (1864-1929)
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senzenwomenOkay, imagine you are seven years old and you’re being shipped off to a country all the way around the world, where everything is different, and you will not be going home or seeing your family again for at least another decade. The only familiar people you have with you are four other (unrelated) girls, two teenagers and two preadolescents. When you get to your destination you will be adopted by a middle-aged couple; you will take up their religion, learn their language so well you forget your own, make friends, and graduate from high school with honors. You will not return to your own country until you’re eighteen, and it will take you painful years there to relearn your birth language. You will be constantly conscious of the responsibility conferred on you by the opportunity you were given when too young to choose for yourself. You will remain close friends with your two closest agemates on the voyage all your lives; seeing how marriage circumscribes their lives, you will be more than happy to remain single. You will be endlessly eager to learn, even as you devote your whole life to education for others, specifically for girls and women. The girls’ school you found will bear your name down into the next century. You will stay in touch with your adopted family for almost thirty years.
I apologize for the second person, but Ume gets to me. The above is pretty much the essence of her life as I understand it. She was born in Tokyo in 1864. Her father Tsuda Sen was an agricultural scientist and a Christian (notable for introducing strawberries and asparagus, among other crops, to Japan), involved in the Hokkaido colonization project for which educated women were required. Along with Ume, the girls chosen to be sent to the US in 1871 were Yoshimasu Ryo and Ueda Tei (both older teenagers who returned to Japan after a short time due to illness), Yamakawa Sutematsu, who was eleven, and Nagai Shige, who was nine. Ume, Sutematsu, and Shige remained close all their lives, even after Sutematsu married the much older Count Oyama and Shige (who later became Japan’s first female piano teacher) the up-and-coming naval officer Uryu Sotokichi. Ume lived in Washington, DC with the librarian Charles Lanman and his wife Adeline until she was eighteen.
Upon her return to Japan, Ume was kept busy relearning the language and customs, as well as taking care of her numerous younger siblings. She assisted with charity bazaars (and sometimes danced) at the Rokumeikan, served as a tutor for Ito Hirobumi’s daughter, and taught English at the School for Noble Girls (working with Shimoda Utako and the French teacher Ishii Fudeko) and the Tokyo Women’s Normal School (now Ochanomizu University), returning to the US briefly to attend Bryn Mawr College from 1889 to 1892. Thereafter she founded her own school (with help from Sutematsu, her adopted sister Alice Bacon, and Shige among others), the Women’s English Institute, now Tsuda University. Run on liberal and progressive grounds, the school began with ten students and had grown to 150 in less than ten years. A strict and inspiring teacher, Ume dedicated much of the rest of her life to administration and fundraising. She died in 1929.
Because Ume’s own voice is too good to miss, I have compiled some selections from her letters to her “American mother,” Adeline Lanman (I hope I’m not breaking copyright) to be found AT LENGTH below.
Sources
Nakae
Yoshiko Furuki et al. ed., The Attic Letters: Ume Tsuda’s Correspondence to Her American Mother, Weatherhill, 1991
https://www.city.kodaira.tokyo.jp.e.fj.hp.transer.com/kurashi/111/111677.html (machine translated, ignore the text, but there are lots of good illustrations)
I apologize for the second person, but Ume gets to me. The above is pretty much the essence of her life as I understand it. She was born in Tokyo in 1864. Her father Tsuda Sen was an agricultural scientist and a Christian (notable for introducing strawberries and asparagus, among other crops, to Japan), involved in the Hokkaido colonization project for which educated women were required. Along with Ume, the girls chosen to be sent to the US in 1871 were Yoshimasu Ryo and Ueda Tei (both older teenagers who returned to Japan after a short time due to illness), Yamakawa Sutematsu, who was eleven, and Nagai Shige, who was nine. Ume, Sutematsu, and Shige remained close all their lives, even after Sutematsu married the much older Count Oyama and Shige (who later became Japan’s first female piano teacher) the up-and-coming naval officer Uryu Sotokichi. Ume lived in Washington, DC with the librarian Charles Lanman and his wife Adeline until she was eighteen.
Upon her return to Japan, Ume was kept busy relearning the language and customs, as well as taking care of her numerous younger siblings. She assisted with charity bazaars (and sometimes danced) at the Rokumeikan, served as a tutor for Ito Hirobumi’s daughter, and taught English at the School for Noble Girls (working with Shimoda Utako and the French teacher Ishii Fudeko) and the Tokyo Women’s Normal School (now Ochanomizu University), returning to the US briefly to attend Bryn Mawr College from 1889 to 1892. Thereafter she founded her own school (with help from Sutematsu, her adopted sister Alice Bacon, and Shige among others), the Women’s English Institute, now Tsuda University. Run on liberal and progressive grounds, the school began with ten students and had grown to 150 in less than ten years. A strict and inspiring teacher, Ume dedicated much of the rest of her life to administration and fundraising. She died in 1929.
Because Ume’s own voice is too good to miss, I have compiled some selections from her letters to her “American mother,” Adeline Lanman (I hope I’m not breaking copyright) to be found AT LENGTH below.
November 19, 1882
Sutematsu and I awoke this morning and said, “Just think only one more day—only twenty-four hours.” I am wild with joy and can hardly contain myself—next moment I am filled with strange misgivings. If I could only speak my own language, it would be so much easier for me.
December 1882
Japanese food is very nice and it has agreed with me very well indeed. It is strange how natural everything tastes. Oh, if the language would only come back to me as easily! I am bound hand and foot, I am both deaf and dumb. …when there are six or seven ways to say anything and they tell me all, I get in a muddle truly.
…To tell the truth, I do feel already much older than I did—partially because I am considered older here in Japan, and then because I have lived a long time in the weeks spent here, already—such new feelings and experience make the time seem long.
December 17, 1882
Mrs. Lanman, I’m sure you would not believe it of me, but I am quiet, orderly, regular, and punctual.
December 28, 1882
…though I often long to see you all again and be back in America, I would not have it different, for I feel I must be of use, not because I know much, but because I am a Japanese woman with an education.
January 6, 1883
I verily believe it is as hard for me as for a foreigner, and I have no talent for languages. … “O me miserum,” poor me, no one has so hard a time in learning their own tongue, and I do feel so discouraged and have no energy to look at those complicated characters or to learn six different ways to say anything. Now, when I think I have a sentence pat, and say it, is it not discouraging to be told that I must only say that to children and servants, that it would be very rude to anyone else, and that what I should say is some long-winded, intangible, incomprehensible sentence? There are more than eight different ways of saying I and you, alone, not to speak of other variations.
…Sometimes I wonder why we went to America. I don’t believe we can do any good, and the government seems to be indifferent as to our work, and we seem to be forgotten.
January 16, 1883
I would not marry unless I wanted to, no matter if I have to live like a hermit, and nothing would induce me to make a regular Japanese marriage, where anything but love is regarded.
March 27, 1883
Yet hard as many things are, hard as many things will be to a woman in Japan placed as we are in the land of such women, yet, do you know my life is not one to shrink from or draw back? I must live and work and do, and I do never want or expect to leave Japan, to live anywhere else.
June 6, 1883
But I want to have my school, and never marry, though I do not say I shall never do so, because it is so hard, so very hard, to get along alone. Oh, it is so hard to feel yourself as different from others, and be looked on with contempt! If I could only do my own way, and not have everyone think me strange, just because I am not married. But that is one of the trials—and trials have to come.
September 28, 1883
In fact, you would be shocked truly. Shige said, when we were discussing something, I think hair, and we admired [Shige’s husband] Mr. Uriu’s soft locks, “I wish you would give your baby that” before me. Now don’t you think we are losing all our civilization?
October 19, 1883
Japanese standards of beauty and niceness are just the opposite of yours—for instance, these servants were saying “What dreadfully big, high noses foreigners have and such far back eyes, and so staring too, so unwomanly, not demure and drooping, and light hair is so dreadful and fuzzy,” etc. How Japanese make fun of foreign waists—they themselves with their thick girdles make themselves big there, and try and hide and make smooth the front of their bodies, and they think the high bust, the depression below, and the again swelling out at the hip and stomach something dreadful and vulgar, and they hate it. They dislike curly hair so much and any other color than black, and straight at that. They dislike big eyes. They like them bright but shy, drooping, slanting upwards a little, and they adore above all whiteness of skin. It makes no difference in the clearness of complexion, only it must be white, and for that reason, they use so much white powder or wash and make themselves like pictures, and it is not a thing to hide or feel ashamed of—they do it most openly.
December 4, 1883
I follow my own method—no books—but I began with a few nouns of common use. Then I had a sentence like “I have,” then “I have a book, a pen, a chair, etc.,” then “Have I a pen, a book, etc.,” then “Have you, etc.,” then “Have we.” After that such sentences as “What is this,” “This is a book,” “What is that,” “That is, etc.,” then numerals, then “I have one book, two books, etc.,” and then I get up, and get things and show in that way the meaning.
January 4, 1884
You will be sorry if I tell you that Sutematsu never goes to church, and seems to have forgotten her profession. She seems so submissive to Mr. Oyama, that though he would not forbid her going, still as he doesn’t go, she doesn’t venture, especially since Sunday is his day home. I do not have patience with such wifely tameness.
January 9, 1884
I am just reading a translation of a famous Japanese work [probably the Tale of Genji], a story, written by a woman—a luxurious, dreamy, poetical thing, but full of Oriental immorality. …I am also going to read Democracy in America by de Tocqueville, which Mr. Ito lent me.
February 26, 1884
It was written in the papers that Mr. Ito and Mr. Inoue spoke most strongly at court against the custom allowing the Emperor to legally have twelve wives, and begged that such things be done away with. That a protestation arises from these men to such an effect is a great thing, though I think that their own lives might be more perfect in some of these ways.
June 15, 1884
I never would have believed it of these quiet ladies, the most of whom think talking of money, of bargaining, or anything of that kind, is a sort of disgrace and, you know, in Japan these high ladies never attend to money matters or touch a cent of money themselves. Well, they got a good lesson. I suppose they caught it from the few of us who don’t mind.
July 29, 1884
I have been lazing the summer days just as I used to in America, by reading novels, just the trashiest kind, and enjoying them. … I have not inquired for a long time how Necko is, and all her numerous children scattered over the neighborhood. Does Necko still exist, and do you pet her any?
January 25, 1885
They had no idea what Christianity was, having only heard of it now and then. They asked me if it was true what people said, that it was a part of Christians’ worship to stamp daily upon the Emperor’s photograph… . They asked what I believed about future life and I told them, and also that those who believe shall meet again. … I said “Do you think when one dies, that is the end of everything?” and they said “Yes.”
June 13, 1885
My scholars at school are doing nicely. I have two or three that are studying splendidly, and they are very fond of their English. They study it so much, and are so anxious to get on, to the neglect of their Japanese studies, that they have been dubbed by their schoolmates “English-crazy.”
June 15, 1883
I met Mrs. Mori [Arinori] also there, and had quite a little talk with her. What a very homely person she is! Nothing pretty about her, and yet they say Mr. Mori’s marriage was a pure love match, and he is considered a man of the highest morals and very faithful and dedicated to Mrs. Mori. So it is not always beauty in this world, and in rank, too, she was a Miss Nobody, I think. Think of Mrs. Ito [Hirobumi], beautiful as she was, and is, and yet from such a rank that their beauty is their all, and when men tire of that, then it is all up.
July 1, 1886
I think the men dressing in foreign dress is well enough, but the women! and Japanese dress is so nice. They are throwing away the good of their native land together with the evil. The Empress will also begin one of the foreign languages—I don’t know which. I don’t envy whoever teaches her—it will be so much trouble and bother, and one would be afraid to move. All this is Mr. Ito’s doing. I think he is going too far—should like to tell him so, but don’t have any chance to do so at all.
August 1, 1886
I have not had any matrimonial arrangements made for me with anyone lately, and least of all with anyone of any rank, but the Pages you met seem to have decided that it was a count. I have not heard of any count of any kind that was marriageable, or I might have set my cap for him, but unluckily I can’t recall one, nor have I heard the least thing from Father or anyone about it, so your advice to accept him was a little premature, wasn’t it? But the wonder is, how such a story got around. I must ask Mrs. Page about it when I see her next time. I think I had better be an old maid after all, so please don’t talk about “Why don’t you fall in love, etc.”
September 23, 1886
How does the opera The Mikado flourish? Items have appeared in the Japanese papers about it…and the general feeling is quite a sore one. …Just the costumes and manner would not be so much, but to make fun of the government, and to put such absurd things in the mouths of the officials and the Emperor especially when the mass of people are in ignorance of the true state of affairs and believe it to be something like this—why, it is an insult. If people ask you, tell them this, and that it is an insult to everyone, Japanese feel—and to a country as well and reasonably governed as Japan, a farce. Can’t you send me the libretto of it just for fun? The costumes and all are very, very absurd, I hear from Japanese, and I should like to see and read it anyhow to judge of it.
…If I were a man, I think nothing would daunt me if I wanted to do something very much.
October 9, 1886
A few days ago, the Emperor’s only son, the Heir Apparent Prince Haru, came to visit our school. He is still a wee bit of a fellow, being only ten years old. I wonder what he thought of so many rows and rows of girls as there were. The poor little fellow seemed quite bewildered, and I don’t suppose it interested him very much. I fear he won’t amount to very much, from all accounts.
November 28, 1888
(Private) When I received the garters you sent me the other day in the box, those that come from the waist, I thought I would ask you if you wouldn’t some time, when you have a chance, send me one of those bands for ladies to use at certain times. I want one as a model and should like to show the Japanese ladies, as their method is so uncomfortable.
November 1, 1899
Our school has been quite excited over the fact that one of our little pupils, the daughter of Prince Kujo and sister to the Princess I teach is to be engaged to the Crown Prince and the engagement is expected to be announced in a few days. Of course, our school is very proud having been the place where she got her education. The young lady is only sixteen, and quite clever and accomplished.
February 5, 1900
How strange it seems to be writing 1900! I make mistakes all the time, and write eighteen and then have to correct it. It is very strange that we are in another century, is it not?
January 22, 1902
It was only a few days ago I was thinking how useful has been all that miscellaneous reading I did as a child in your library. Much of it has been more useful to me than the schooling I got, and the hard lessons I learnt, especially in the English teaching I am doing lately, when the odd reading gave me so much that has proved useful.
August 21, 1904
We are daily waiting to hear of the fall of Port Arthur. It will be a terrible struggle. I am so sorry they refused to surrender—the fools. No one doubts that the place will be taken, and yet for the empty name of honor, they are willing to sacrifice thousands and thousands of lives on both sides. It is a terrible thing to think of, and when will this false standard of bravery give way and people get to see the truth plainer?
May 23, 1910
Just a line to tell you that our new building is actually finished and paid for, and we are using it. It is such a fine, splendid building, and we are rejoicing greatly over it. The girls and teachers were so glad to go into the fine, clean, bright schoolrooms, so light and airy and pleasant. It is a big, beautiful building and cost nearly seven thousand dollars, which is a very big sum in Japan. It is anywhere, but especially in Japan. I only wish you could see it, for it is so beautiful and convenient and a joy to us, in every way. I feel it a great responsibility to have such a big place here to look after and run.
June 5, 1910
We were very much excited about the Comet and all the girls thought that we might be burnt if we got into its tail. However, nothing has happened. On some of the different nights last week, it shone very brilliantly and we saw its tail a long, long distance.
Sutematsu and I awoke this morning and said, “Just think only one more day—only twenty-four hours.” I am wild with joy and can hardly contain myself—next moment I am filled with strange misgivings. If I could only speak my own language, it would be so much easier for me.
December 1882
Japanese food is very nice and it has agreed with me very well indeed. It is strange how natural everything tastes. Oh, if the language would only come back to me as easily! I am bound hand and foot, I am both deaf and dumb. …when there are six or seven ways to say anything and they tell me all, I get in a muddle truly.
…To tell the truth, I do feel already much older than I did—partially because I am considered older here in Japan, and then because I have lived a long time in the weeks spent here, already—such new feelings and experience make the time seem long.
December 17, 1882
Mrs. Lanman, I’m sure you would not believe it of me, but I am quiet, orderly, regular, and punctual.
December 28, 1882
…though I often long to see you all again and be back in America, I would not have it different, for I feel I must be of use, not because I know much, but because I am a Japanese woman with an education.
January 6, 1883
I verily believe it is as hard for me as for a foreigner, and I have no talent for languages. … “O me miserum,” poor me, no one has so hard a time in learning their own tongue, and I do feel so discouraged and have no energy to look at those complicated characters or to learn six different ways to say anything. Now, when I think I have a sentence pat, and say it, is it not discouraging to be told that I must only say that to children and servants, that it would be very rude to anyone else, and that what I should say is some long-winded, intangible, incomprehensible sentence? There are more than eight different ways of saying I and you, alone, not to speak of other variations.
…Sometimes I wonder why we went to America. I don’t believe we can do any good, and the government seems to be indifferent as to our work, and we seem to be forgotten.
January 16, 1883
I would not marry unless I wanted to, no matter if I have to live like a hermit, and nothing would induce me to make a regular Japanese marriage, where anything but love is regarded.
March 27, 1883
Yet hard as many things are, hard as many things will be to a woman in Japan placed as we are in the land of such women, yet, do you know my life is not one to shrink from or draw back? I must live and work and do, and I do never want or expect to leave Japan, to live anywhere else.
June 6, 1883
But I want to have my school, and never marry, though I do not say I shall never do so, because it is so hard, so very hard, to get along alone. Oh, it is so hard to feel yourself as different from others, and be looked on with contempt! If I could only do my own way, and not have everyone think me strange, just because I am not married. But that is one of the trials—and trials have to come.
September 28, 1883
In fact, you would be shocked truly. Shige said, when we were discussing something, I think hair, and we admired [Shige’s husband] Mr. Uriu’s soft locks, “I wish you would give your baby that” before me. Now don’t you think we are losing all our civilization?
October 19, 1883
Japanese standards of beauty and niceness are just the opposite of yours—for instance, these servants were saying “What dreadfully big, high noses foreigners have and such far back eyes, and so staring too, so unwomanly, not demure and drooping, and light hair is so dreadful and fuzzy,” etc. How Japanese make fun of foreign waists—they themselves with their thick girdles make themselves big there, and try and hide and make smooth the front of their bodies, and they think the high bust, the depression below, and the again swelling out at the hip and stomach something dreadful and vulgar, and they hate it. They dislike curly hair so much and any other color than black, and straight at that. They dislike big eyes. They like them bright but shy, drooping, slanting upwards a little, and they adore above all whiteness of skin. It makes no difference in the clearness of complexion, only it must be white, and for that reason, they use so much white powder or wash and make themselves like pictures, and it is not a thing to hide or feel ashamed of—they do it most openly.
December 4, 1883
I follow my own method—no books—but I began with a few nouns of common use. Then I had a sentence like “I have,” then “I have a book, a pen, a chair, etc.,” then “Have I a pen, a book, etc.,” then “Have you, etc.,” then “Have we.” After that such sentences as “What is this,” “This is a book,” “What is that,” “That is, etc.,” then numerals, then “I have one book, two books, etc.,” and then I get up, and get things and show in that way the meaning.
January 4, 1884
You will be sorry if I tell you that Sutematsu never goes to church, and seems to have forgotten her profession. She seems so submissive to Mr. Oyama, that though he would not forbid her going, still as he doesn’t go, she doesn’t venture, especially since Sunday is his day home. I do not have patience with such wifely tameness.
January 9, 1884
I am just reading a translation of a famous Japanese work [probably the Tale of Genji], a story, written by a woman—a luxurious, dreamy, poetical thing, but full of Oriental immorality. …I am also going to read Democracy in America by de Tocqueville, which Mr. Ito lent me.
February 26, 1884
It was written in the papers that Mr. Ito and Mr. Inoue spoke most strongly at court against the custom allowing the Emperor to legally have twelve wives, and begged that such things be done away with. That a protestation arises from these men to such an effect is a great thing, though I think that their own lives might be more perfect in some of these ways.
June 15, 1884
I never would have believed it of these quiet ladies, the most of whom think talking of money, of bargaining, or anything of that kind, is a sort of disgrace and, you know, in Japan these high ladies never attend to money matters or touch a cent of money themselves. Well, they got a good lesson. I suppose they caught it from the few of us who don’t mind.
July 29, 1884
I have been lazing the summer days just as I used to in America, by reading novels, just the trashiest kind, and enjoying them. … I have not inquired for a long time how Necko is, and all her numerous children scattered over the neighborhood. Does Necko still exist, and do you pet her any?
January 25, 1885
They had no idea what Christianity was, having only heard of it now and then. They asked me if it was true what people said, that it was a part of Christians’ worship to stamp daily upon the Emperor’s photograph… . They asked what I believed about future life and I told them, and also that those who believe shall meet again. … I said “Do you think when one dies, that is the end of everything?” and they said “Yes.”
June 13, 1885
My scholars at school are doing nicely. I have two or three that are studying splendidly, and they are very fond of their English. They study it so much, and are so anxious to get on, to the neglect of their Japanese studies, that they have been dubbed by their schoolmates “English-crazy.”
June 15, 1883
I met Mrs. Mori [Arinori] also there, and had quite a little talk with her. What a very homely person she is! Nothing pretty about her, and yet they say Mr. Mori’s marriage was a pure love match, and he is considered a man of the highest morals and very faithful and dedicated to Mrs. Mori. So it is not always beauty in this world, and in rank, too, she was a Miss Nobody, I think. Think of Mrs. Ito [Hirobumi], beautiful as she was, and is, and yet from such a rank that their beauty is their all, and when men tire of that, then it is all up.
July 1, 1886
I think the men dressing in foreign dress is well enough, but the women! and Japanese dress is so nice. They are throwing away the good of their native land together with the evil. The Empress will also begin one of the foreign languages—I don’t know which. I don’t envy whoever teaches her—it will be so much trouble and bother, and one would be afraid to move. All this is Mr. Ito’s doing. I think he is going too far—should like to tell him so, but don’t have any chance to do so at all.
August 1, 1886
I have not had any matrimonial arrangements made for me with anyone lately, and least of all with anyone of any rank, but the Pages you met seem to have decided that it was a count. I have not heard of any count of any kind that was marriageable, or I might have set my cap for him, but unluckily I can’t recall one, nor have I heard the least thing from Father or anyone about it, so your advice to accept him was a little premature, wasn’t it? But the wonder is, how such a story got around. I must ask Mrs. Page about it when I see her next time. I think I had better be an old maid after all, so please don’t talk about “Why don’t you fall in love, etc.”
September 23, 1886
How does the opera The Mikado flourish? Items have appeared in the Japanese papers about it…and the general feeling is quite a sore one. …Just the costumes and manner would not be so much, but to make fun of the government, and to put such absurd things in the mouths of the officials and the Emperor especially when the mass of people are in ignorance of the true state of affairs and believe it to be something like this—why, it is an insult. If people ask you, tell them this, and that it is an insult to everyone, Japanese feel—and to a country as well and reasonably governed as Japan, a farce. Can’t you send me the libretto of it just for fun? The costumes and all are very, very absurd, I hear from Japanese, and I should like to see and read it anyhow to judge of it.
…If I were a man, I think nothing would daunt me if I wanted to do something very much.
October 9, 1886
A few days ago, the Emperor’s only son, the Heir Apparent Prince Haru, came to visit our school. He is still a wee bit of a fellow, being only ten years old. I wonder what he thought of so many rows and rows of girls as there were. The poor little fellow seemed quite bewildered, and I don’t suppose it interested him very much. I fear he won’t amount to very much, from all accounts.
November 28, 1888
(Private) When I received the garters you sent me the other day in the box, those that come from the waist, I thought I would ask you if you wouldn’t some time, when you have a chance, send me one of those bands for ladies to use at certain times. I want one as a model and should like to show the Japanese ladies, as their method is so uncomfortable.
November 1, 1899
Our school has been quite excited over the fact that one of our little pupils, the daughter of Prince Kujo and sister to the Princess I teach is to be engaged to the Crown Prince and the engagement is expected to be announced in a few days. Of course, our school is very proud having been the place where she got her education. The young lady is only sixteen, and quite clever and accomplished.
February 5, 1900
How strange it seems to be writing 1900! I make mistakes all the time, and write eighteen and then have to correct it. It is very strange that we are in another century, is it not?
January 22, 1902
It was only a few days ago I was thinking how useful has been all that miscellaneous reading I did as a child in your library. Much of it has been more useful to me than the schooling I got, and the hard lessons I learnt, especially in the English teaching I am doing lately, when the odd reading gave me so much that has proved useful.
August 21, 1904
We are daily waiting to hear of the fall of Port Arthur. It will be a terrible struggle. I am so sorry they refused to surrender—the fools. No one doubts that the place will be taken, and yet for the empty name of honor, they are willing to sacrifice thousands and thousands of lives on both sides. It is a terrible thing to think of, and when will this false standard of bravery give way and people get to see the truth plainer?
May 23, 1910
Just a line to tell you that our new building is actually finished and paid for, and we are using it. It is such a fine, splendid building, and we are rejoicing greatly over it. The girls and teachers were so glad to go into the fine, clean, bright schoolrooms, so light and airy and pleasant. It is a big, beautiful building and cost nearly seven thousand dollars, which is a very big sum in Japan. It is anywhere, but especially in Japan. I only wish you could see it, for it is so beautiful and convenient and a joy to us, in every way. I feel it a great responsibility to have such a big place here to look after and run.
June 5, 1910
We were very much excited about the Comet and all the girls thought that we might be burnt if we got into its tail. However, nothing has happened. On some of the different nights last week, it shone very brilliantly and we saw its tail a long, long distance.
Sources
Nakae
Yoshiko Furuki et al. ed., The Attic Letters: Ume Tsuda’s Correspondence to Her American Mother, Weatherhill, 1991
https://www.city.kodaira.tokyo.jp.e.fj.hp.transer.com/kurashi/111/111677.html (machine translated, ignore the text, but there are lots of good illustrations)
no subject
Date: 2024-06-14 01:32 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2024-06-16 12:43 pm (UTC)And there's a possible novel I've had at the back of my mind for a while that this would be so relevant to ...
ooh *big tantalized eyes* (If at some point you find Ume's letters essential for novel research, let me know and maybe I can lend you the book long-distance...)
no subject
Date: 2024-06-16 10:28 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2024-06-18 12:54 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2024-06-19 11:48 pm (UTC)no subject
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Date: 2024-06-22 10:29 am (UTC)I did! I still have it (mostly in storage, but the letters-and-diaries volumes are on or near my desk right now, waiting for the translation that I've been working on for, er, very many years now).
and I hadn't heard of that poet before, but his work sounds fascinating! A few hundred pounds may be cheap at the price.
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