_August 25th, 1903._[1]
I shall find a rich field of work at Rembang, and thank God, there I
shall not stand alone. He has promised to stand at my side and support
me; it is also his wish and his hope to support me in my efforts to help
our people. He himself has already laboured diligently for their welfare
for years. He too would like to help in the work of education, and
though he cannot give personal instruction himself, he can have it done
by others. Many of his various relatives are being educated at his
expense. He expects me to be a blessing to him and to his people; may he
not be disappointed! I am very grateful for one thing: his family share
his ideas and approve of his choice. They look upon me as the future
rearer of their children, and I really hope to serve in that capacity; I
do not think of anything else.
Sometimes I forget that I have lost so many beautiful illusions; and I
think that I am still following my calling, only along a different way
from the one that I had mapped out for myself, and I shall think that
always; it gives me peace and helps me to be cheerful.
Nothing is perfect, and nothing may ever be perfect in this world. I had
hoped and prayed that I might become the mother and sister of many, and
God has heard my prayer, though it is a little different from what I
meant.
It is one of his dreams, too, to be able to raise up our people. He is
truly good to his people and to the officials under him; they feed out
of his hand.
Day before yesterday a collector was here and spent the whole evening
talking to Father about his daughter. He wishes me to undertake her
education. His wife has already spoken to me and now he came to talk to
Father.
I am asked to take other children from here; I do not know whether I
shall be able to take them all, it is hard to refuse, but I will promise
nothing. We shall first see how it goes. We shall wait some days before
coming to the hard duty of making a decision, and meanwhile I shall not
speak of it save under stress of urgent necessity. I will be forgiven
when they see that I do not refuse from pride, but from expediency and
out of consideration for others; perhaps for the sake of their own
children too.
Fortunately Rembang is a quiet little place, and it is good that he
cares as little as I for amusements.
I am delighted that the Resident there is interested in our cause, so
that I shall not go as a stranger. And there will be my great friend,
the sea! It lies not more than a hundred feet from the house.
When they told him that I was much interested in the art and kindred
industries of our people, he said that there were goldsmiths and
wood-carvers there; they only needed a little directing. And listen to
this: it is something very pleasant. Perhaps our good friend, Singowirio
will go there with me; you know whom I mean, the man from
Blakang-Goenoeng.
He could not have followed his Bendoro to Batavia, but now that the plan
is somewhat different he is anxious to go. We are planning to take him.
But capital and leadership are needed first of all, before our artistic
industries can be placed upon a practical basis. A large work-place
ought to be built, and many apprentices and artisans taken to work under
regular supervision in our immediate neighbourhood.
If we only had the money, we could build a work-place, buy material,
employ workmen and train apprentices. Singo could be placed at the head
of the establishment. I believe in less than a year or two years at
most, the capital thus invested would be doubled.
I should have been glad to begin here, but both of us had our eyes upon
Batavia. When we were gone our little sisters would have had to take the
responsibility for everything, and that would have been too hard for
them. Now it is different, we could take the responsibility, if we had
the necessary money. I am convinced that our artistic industry has a
great future.
Not long ago, while we were on a little journey, we met the Heer
Brandes, brother of Doctor Brandes. He expressed much interest in the
art of our country. When I told him of a tokootje[2] of productions of
native art at Semarang, he set out immediately to look for it. You must
understand that the people of Semarang are opposed to sending the
products of their own neighbourhood to Batavia. "East and West" wishes
to open a tokootje at Semarang. But again money is needed, and "East and
West" cannot give very much as yet. When I told Heer Brandes this, he
said, "Oh, do not worry about that, the money will be found, if you will
only take care of the other side."
I said, "But there must be some one of discrimination who will stay at
Semarang."
"That will be found too, and your only care will be to see that
beautiful things are produced."
I have received a short letter from him. He has spoken to various
friends about the plan, and they were all much interested, and have
promised their financial support. I spoke to him of our other idea in
regard to the art of wood-carving. At once he asked how much money we
would need for that. I did not mention any certain amount, I must first
ask those who know, how much the work-place would cost, how much the
wood, and how what wages would have to be paid out to the workmen every
month. The work-place could be very simple at first. The great
difficulty is that there must be a force of fifty men kept steadily
working, and there would have to be money with which to pay them,
because they could not afford to wait for their wages until their work
was sold. Rembang would be an excellent country for wood-carving. It is
the land of dati and there is also much sono there.
Singo himself thinks the idea excellent, if we only had the money!
If everything goes well, what a retinue I shall take with me, even
though I am a modern woman. I shall certainly have a strange bridal
dower.
The Regent of Rembang is marrying a whole _kotta_. What business has he
to put himself between the people and their bride? Oh, heavens! I shall
strike an unfortunate time, for I shall arrive in the dry season of the
year. (Poeasa-Leberan Nieuwjaar). I have said all along that I would not
allow my foot to be kissed. I could never allow any one to do that. I
want a place in their hearts, not outward forms.
I cannot think of the future without my Roekmini. How shall I get along
without her and she without me! When I think of her my eyes stay wide
open the whole night long.
[1] To Mevrouw Dr. Abendanon.
[2] Little shop.