Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1886-06-10
A LAND OF HATS.


The case was filed with articles which
we're collected in Corea and have oeeh
semi to the museum. Corea is almost a
new field to the ethnologist as, until
wary racent times. the Coreans have re-
sisted all intrution.
Within few years japanese Ambas
sadors have paid for their temerity in
pushing their way to the Corean capital
by decspitation. The collection which
has been sent TO the museum is consid-
cred TO be especially valuable.
Among the most conspicuous objects
in the case are the hats. On one side is
a huge hat of woven straw as big as an
umbrella.
The Corean who wears it pulls the
broad brim down at the sides and ties it
down. He has much more hat than
Western ideas of convenience or sight
illness require, but the experience OF
many generations enables the Corean to
manage this vast hat very sktlfully and
of course the Oriental notion OF style is
quite different from that which prevails
On Pennsylvania avenue. This hat is
worn by the common people, the bull
drivers of Corea.
1t is related that at one time the ia
panese, the ancient enemies of the Co
reans, gained access to the cities of the
latter by donning such hats and pre-
tending to be Buddhist priests.
The bats worn by Coreans are to some
sxtent insignia of the social rank of the
wearers. A hat with a round top simi-
lar to the coolie hat of the Chinese is the
common hat of the people. There are
two in the collection. one straw for
summer wear, and another Of cloth for
winter.
A soldiers hat is the same pattern. but
decorated
Another hat, made of horse hair net
ting, with a crown and brim in shape
very much like Quaker bat, is worn
by gentlemen above the rank of serfS
and laborers This is hat in appear
ance and name only, as it affords no
protection.
Then there is in the collection cap
with apparently double crown. or two
stories This, the professor said, is made
of peculiar shape, so as to accommodate
the chignons worn by the men. Upon
the sides of the cap or hat appear two
wings of gauze, which play part in Of
fetal ceremony. AS the professor ex>
planned it, Corean in service at the
royal court would wear this hat with
wings extended open, signifying that his
ears were open and ready to receive the
commands of the king. When not in ac-
tive service, the gauze ears would hang
down, indicating that the wearer was
taking rest. The king himself would
wear his ears proudly erect as it is not
necessary for so mighty a potentate to
listen to anything.
The collection also contains miter
of gauze, worn by students, and gaudi-
ly gilded hat, something like helmet in
shape. worn by courtiers and officials on
occasions of ceremony. Then there are
little gauze hats or nets, which are worn
merely to keep the hair in shape, as the
Corean gentleman dresses his hair as
elaborately as any Washington belle.
Another hat is conical and made of
mulberry paper, which is oiled and wa
terproof. This is hat for protection
from rain and is pulled on over tie 9TH
er hat or hats, for sometimes the Corean
wears more than one.
A mourner wears hat like vast
head covering of the bull driver. The
collection contains mourner's full OUT
fit. In no country in the world is the
etiquette of mourning more fully elabo
rated or more rigidly enforced. One of
the Ministers of the Government is
styled the Minister of Mourning He
regulates the grief of the people.
A man mourns three years for his
father and two for his wise. The time
required to properly express ones grief
for other relatives of various degrees of
cousanguinity has been carefully calcu-t
lated and set down in the royal statute
books.
A Corean moarns in sackcloth. He
wears the coarse straw hat of the bull
driver; his trowsers and robe are of the
meaHest cotton material and his shoes
or sandals are cheap affairs of braided
straw. He has two sticks between
which is placed piece of cotton cloth.
When he goes upon the street he holds
this cloth against his face so that he
can breathe through it. but bis features
cannot be seen. All people shun him .as
no one is allowed to break in upon the
deep gloom Of his sorrow. Everything
about his attire is of the meanest sort,
all vanities of dress being discarded for
the time.
The ordinary shoes of the peasant
class are rice and straw. There are
SHOco vi OOIO d1dOOIdLO CudI dClbT Ol
cloth and also wooden clogs or pattens.
Some of the shoes have heavy hob
nails upon them, upon which hangs
tale. One of the battles of the olden
times with the japanese was waged
upon the ice. The Coreans put nails in
their shoes but the Japanese did not.
The Coreans consequently were the
masters of the situation and won a great
victory. Since then it has been customs
oIy to wear hob-noiled shoes, as they
are associated with the idea of good |
luck.
A Cerean gentleman's dress is a very
baggy affair. The trousers are large
enough for two or three people. A lit
tie jacket is worn like vest, but is so
80 Z, 81