Manila, Philippines

Ted came in at 6 AM while I was in bed. He had with him Anne Marriner, “Francis” (secretary to the Am. consul) and a young Englishman. They were all gay and quite noisy. Francis laid down on my bed for a few moments and then went home. I got dressed and went out. Bought a toy balloon and tied it to Ted’s bed. He woke up and exploded it with a match. It was filled with illuminating gas and went off with a loud explosion burning his hand slightly. I woke Ted and Mrs Marriner up at 9 as he had to pack to catch his steamer for Hong Kong. He has remarkable vitality. After being out all night he was bright and active again after two hours sleep.

Anne Archbold called me up from The Manila Hotel and I had lunch with her. Ted refused to see her again and I told her he had left for Hong Kong. Anne said everything went well in Cebu. She thought Skolfield was competent. The junk is being covered below the water line with 8 inch square galvanized iron plates, which she has been told will last for 6 years (Ted disapproves of this). She said engine shafts were out of line one inch and would have to be reset (Ted says not necessary). The beam on the keel was all right and not important. She said everyone spoke well of the construction of the boat. No truth in report that a pointed bow would be installed. She thought nothing would prevent Scolfield from getting started for Tahiti by Aug. 1.

When I returned to the Bay View Hotel Ted was still there and Hugo’s Bali friends Mr. and Mrs. Mershon, who were on Ted’s steamer going to Shanghai, were there also. Hugo came in.

They all left for Ted’s steamer together – Ted, Hugo, Mr. and Mrs. Mershon, Francis and Mrs. Marriner. It was something of a relief to have them go. Ted has been good company but the continuous goings on in our room were getting tiresome. Afterward I spent a really quiet evening and went to bed early.