[Pencil inscription: "Please return - CMC"][The letter has no surviving envelope and is not fully dated, but 1907 is assumed because Grace Stowe became a missionary in Kobe in 1908.]
Arima, Japan, Aug 10.
My dear old friend:-
Your good letter was like a breeze of ozone from the real home land - I assure you it is much appreciated I am sorry you did not get my goodbye letter from Pacific Grove - for I wrote you just as soon as it was decided that I was to go back. I wrote you my disappointment at not being there to welcome you when you came to Cal. - and you did not go after all.
I see I must begin a good ways back to bring events "up to date". As the W.B.M. [Women's Board of Missions] I had been disappointed so many times, in finding my successor they asked me if I could go back just for Biology until they could find some one - I replied I could and started - you must know those particulars. Well my coming back was not approved by Boston as I was considered not worth investing in I suppose. But Mrs. Moses said that the executive com. voted unanimously for me to go back and could I go so as to be there by opening of the year. I replied I could if I could get off on the March 8 steamer. She wrote me to go by that steamer if possible - and I did. March 7 she wrote me that Boston did not approve - and sent the letter to Pacific Grove. Why did she not telegraph me? I leave that for you to guess. Well, I sailed! Folks were glad enough to see me but they were mightily surprised especially as the next steamer brought the news to the college of the action of the W.B.M.I. [Women's Board of Missions of the Interior] but that I was not to go! Letters forwarded me from Pacific Grove said I was not to go! Well, I was there! and more than that my work was waiting me.
Miss Searle had not succeeded in finding any Japanese teacher for the Zoology just ahead - so my coming relieved that situation. But the teachers' rooms were all full tho it being vacation Anna Pettee had gone home so I had hers. I walked the streets of Kobe two hours every morning for ten days trying to find a suitable house to rent where I could set up my own housekeeping. Times are so prosperous in Japan that the building is going up everywhere, houses are taken before they are finished. Tho I threaded all the streets and alleys within walking distance of the college I saw only five signs "To Let" or its equivalent. Perhaps you will be interested in that experience. Some of these houses not only joined neighbors to right and left but also behind so the rooms opened only on the street side. In others the stairs went almost straight up like a ladder with flat rounds - only five feet away from the wall at the base. At last I found a house not intended for rent that I could have for six months at $15 (American money) a month - a house of six rooms unfurnished - just what I was receiving for my house of six rooms at Pacific Grove fully furnished. Glad enough was I to have a place to live in. It is a nice Japanese house with a Japanese "garden" I had a chance to buy all the furniture I wanted of a missionary going home at about one fourth its value, and soon was nicely settled.
After I got things to going in the Lab. I set myself to think out something for the winter. And this is my plan now approved by the Mission. Sometime in the future the college is to have a new Home Building for the foreign teachers, in a place set apart for it. Of course that building will have to have a separate building for the servants but all this must wait till the money has been raised for it and the building of the Gymnasium must come first now. I proposed to the mission to advance the money for the erection of this small house for the servants provided when the appropriation for the Home came I should give up the use of that building and they referred me whatever money I had put into it without interest (Probably $350 gold) This met with unanimous approval and the house is now going up and will be ready for me when my 6 month's lease expires. The house will have kitchen and dining room down stairs my bedroom and servants room up stairs their part and mine separated by a flight of stairs. There will be a verandah down stairs and up opening or looking upon the college grounds - a neighbor's pretty Japanese garden and off onto the harbor beyond. It is stone's throw from science building and being in the grounds will be very convenient evenings I shall have gas for lighting heating and cooking as the gas pipe lately put in for the laboratory goes right by. I shall also have "city water". Miss Hoyt will take her meals with me but will keep her study and bedroom, (in the tower of the science building) I have two fine servants - I needed but one but could find no other and could not have one without the other - man and wife. As I had to pay them only $10 gold a month and they "ate them selves" and did everything for me including my mending I concluded I could afford it - especially if I should get sick I need not bother any body to hunt up an extra servant to take care of me, and as Miss Hoyt shares that with me you see it costs very little for the best kind of efficient, pleasant service. They take care of me as tho I were their baby -
Of course the others living in the college do not pay rent and I would not have had to except that on account of my diet I have to have separate housekeeping. But I like it much better and now, I shant have to pay rent either Miss Hoyt and I will virtually have a home together, especially as our laboratories adjoin each other - and our interests are one[.] The next thing was a place to spend the summer away from the intense heat of Kobe.
Miss Adams of Okayama and I are here with my servants in this little hot spring mountain town two hours by rail and two hours more by jurrikisha up, up a mountain road[.] We are in an open space by the side of a mountain stream hemmed in by very steep mountains in a cul de sac terminating in a waterfall. It is not very high so is pretty hot by day tho the nights are cool, and the air is comparatively clear tho there is a Japanese crowded village through which we pass to get here - There are 10-12 Japanese houses here built to rent to foreigners - so adapted some what - tho entirely unfurnished[.[ The way we do is to pile everything we need onto a large hand cart in the morning and three men push and pull it all the way from Kobe arriving here the same afternoon. The cook is on hand by the time it arrives and when we come at about six o'clock next day every thing is in apple pie order supper (and flowers on the table, beds all made, musquito [sic] net up, everything down to tooth brush and towels in order. We bring dishes, easy chairs, etc tables, ordinary chairs and bedsteads or cots are found. We bring all our canned goods and foreign provisions but depend upon the local market for meat fish fruit and vegetables.
Now when you have your year off why not spend the winter at Loeb's Lab at Pacific Grove (open all the year) then come over here and camp a summer with me (but not here. I ordinarily go to a cooler place but was too late to "get in" this year) But you must let me know long beforehand for we make up our parties early. I am even now negotiating for a house for next summer at Karinzana (where the volcano is) where it is 3000 ft. altitude -
You will think it very strange but this letter of yours is the only word we have had about Miss Stowe's coming to Japan. Mrs. Moses wrote that she was going to Holyoke in May and would then see her about coming to Kobe, but we have heard nothing else. I got "sat on" for writing another candidate anything about it before it was officially announced that she was coming so I have not ventured to say "How do you do" even to Miss Stowe. But just as soon as we get the word I will write her tho I presume it will be too late to be of any material good. I shall allow myself however the liberty of saying to you that whenever possible new missionaries are give a couple years free from work to study the language: so I am almost sure that the sisters will be together in Tokyo (if they come to Japan) at a language school established for the purpose of teaching Japanese to foreigners - I shall try and give Miss Stowe as long a time as possible which means a couple years more of work for me if my health admits it. On the other hand if I fail up she can come and relieve me at any time.
As I am here for only part work I am only an Associate Missionary. I am on the same basis as Anna Pettee who comes for a limited term of service but my position in the college is "Lecturer in Biology" - not a full teacher or perhaps not a regular teacher perhaps I should say - I have a vote in faculty meeting but I have no cares outside my class work.
And how am I really? Rather shackeley [sic] - weak of course - not much initiative, but not broken in spirit - like an old rubber band whose elasticity is about gone. But if I can keep on with these small classes and give Miss Stowe time for Japanese I shall be satisfied.
I am sorry to hear that your parents are so ill. It is so hard for you as well as for them. I can understand well what your summer has been like. Hard times come to us all in one way or another. Sometimes I think mine is nothing - it is certainly softly cus[h]ioned - but I cannot ignore the fact that I am going downstream - perhaps faster than I know. But I am very thankful for all my many mercies - May His grace be equal to all your need for the days that lie before you -
Most lovingly -
Mariana -Later. A letter from my brother's wife Sarah Lyman Holbrook says that she saw you at Mt Holyoke[.] How I would have liked to be there! Please remember me to Miss Anderson, if she is there now, to Dr. Hooker, Miss Bowers & Miss Nutting[.] Also to Miss Martin who used to know Miss Stowe, and to Miss Purrington and any others whom I know. The list is growing smaller isn't it and we are growing older - which reminds me that I am not very complementary for Sarah said you were as lively as thirty years ago. Well, I might go on and on but I must stop somewhere. Let me hear from you. occasionally and thank you so much for all your efforts for us in regard to Miss Stowe[.] I hope we will really see her!! Now goodbye again my dear friend.
Miss Hoyt would send love but she is way down in Kobe in the heat looking after building operations tho she gets off to a cool nearby place for over Sundays - I sent your letter to her - She gets little time to write letters.