Letter: Daniel E

Daniel seems to share a very special bond with his daughter Rose Mary. Indeed, his letters express great caring and love for all three of his children. In this letter he makes reference to his harried life as a lawyer and leaves us with the distinct impression he would rather be elsewhere doing other things in the company of his gathered family.

He speaks of the injury he received “in that horrid explosion.” Indeed it was. It was Saturday, February 23, 1884. Daniel was aboard a steam launch on his way to Macao from Hong Kong on business. The steamer Yotsai had just undergone extensive repairs. Eleven passengers were on board when it left the dock at 1pm. An hour later the group was seated in the Chinese saloon aft, enjoying tiffin (a light lunch). There was a tremendous explosion which ripped the vessel apart and sent bodies flying. Read the whole story in the Hong Kong Daily News of March 4, 1884.

Daniel relates his trip to Japan with great enthusiasm. A rigorous trip by his account, which he states, despite his lingering injuries, did him a world of good, he, returning home with reduced pain. Likely, it was the break from his demanding schedule and relief from the day to day stress that left him refreshed.

One final note. Daniel speaks of the Japanese people: “Then the people. They are pleasing and clean, nicely dressed, polite and obliging. I hope dearie, that some day you will experience the same thing yourself.” Indeed, it seems Rose Mary did not forget her father’s positive experience in Japan. From 1911 to 1924, she, her husband Sydney Bruce and their five children, on and off, lived in Japan. Sydney worked as an accountant in Yokohama. There, history repeated itself, for on September 1, 1923, a massive earthquake and fire razed the city leaving one hundred and forty thousand people dead. And that is another story.

Caldwell and Wilkinson, Solicitors

50 Queen’s Road

Hong Kong

18 August 1887

Sweetie Rosie, I am at my desk at office and have to go into court in less than half an hour and clients are waiting for me in the outer office, but as I have not written for some time I must make time to send you a line or two of scribble.

First of all we are all well. I am not too strong, but the Japan trip certainly did me good as my back which was hurt in that horrid explosion, seems much easier since my return.

While in Japan, though, it hurt me greatly, but that was probably because I had to rough it so in travelling. I travelled about a thousand miles. Fancy what a glorious trip I had going that distance through the loveliest scenery, sometimes in fine cities, then through hundreds of miles of fertile fields of corn, barley, oats and rice, sweet little farm houses and pretty villages, then by the borders of lakes, through lanes of flowering shrubs such as camellias and azaleas 20 feet in height. Then by the side of a frightful mountain torrent, when you feel that each moment you would be carried away and dashed to pieces. Then in boats down Rapids boiling with foam and again up steep mountain[s], through gorges and over passes. Such a treat I’ve never had in my life and if I ever live to a thousand years the memory of it will remain fresh!

Then the people. They are pleasing and clean, nicely dressed, polite and obliging. I hope dearie, that some day you will experience the same thing yourself.

Millies’s family was added to a day or two ago in the shape of two little guinea pigs. She is delighted with them and is never tired of watching them. Nor is “Saiko” [unmindful of them] either, for he thinks they are rats and of course wants to settle them off hand. Poor “Saiko”! He can’t understand why we should set him in to some rats, and won’t let him touch [them].

I came back from Japan so full of scenery that I was bursting to faint. I have finished a large picture of a mountain gorge through which I passed. I must try to photograph it in order to give you some idea of the picture of the place.

Now I must really cease for there is not another moment

“Sayonara” (Japanese for “goodbye”)

Your loving Papa

I’ll write again next week, English mail, when I can have more time