Kobe, Japan.
59 Hill. Nov. 10th /06My dear Mrs. Bowne.
Your letter from Boston of Sept. 5th came in due time, and we were very glad to hear of your safe return to your home after the months of absence and journeyings over land and sea. We often think of your stay with us and enjoy the pleasant memory. We have been very remiss in writing, but I sent you a letter from Karuizawa in August. I did not remember your Boston address and sent it to the University. When your letter came Miss Talcott was away and I waited to see her before answering, as she had the care of the packing. She did not remember clearly about the plaque, but our impression was that it was packed in a separate box for safety. No one had any idea what could have become of it.
This moring Miss Talcott and I were in our little store room up stairs when I called her attention to a box standing there, and the question suddenly occurred to me could it be possible that box contained Dr. Bowne's missing plaque. I had often seen it there since spring, but thought it belonged to one of the other ladies. I tipped it over to see if there was any mark, and sure enough there was Dr. Bowne's name in large letters on the back side. How it came to be left out when the other boxes were sent we cannot tell. It may be that being a smaller box it was brought into the house for safety, and so have been overlooked. And as I thought it belonged to one of the other ladies I did not examine it carefully. I am glad it is not lost, and shall take the first opportunity to send it. I went ot see Mr. Atkinson about it at once. He said he was not sending just now, but he will put it in his storehouse where it will not be overlooked again. Dr. Atkinson will not write you now knowing that I am writing, but will send you word when he forwards the box. He would like to know the estimated value of the plaque as he has to report at the customs. If you have any idea of its money value please write at once. There are no goods to be sent just now, but there may be before the winter is over. It could be sent by express, but that would be expensive. It is possible that the album may also be in the box. None of us remember about it.
I am very sorry for the trouble it has made you, but hope you will get it safely in time. Our new term of school began a week ago, and we have a good class of new women. The Annual Convention at the churches was held in Kobe last month, and was very interesting. They are pushing the evangelistic work, and with wonderful results in some places. At the convention they raised nearly two thousand yen for carrying on special evangelistic meetings during the coming months.
Dr. Wainwright is still in the States I believe. There is a possibility that I may go home next summer, to visit my sister in Iowa. I do not know yet.
Miss Talcott and Miss Cozad send kind regards to you all. Please remember me to your sister and Dr. Bowne.
Yours most sincerely
M. J. Barrows.