The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1886-12-24
THE CAPITAL OF COREA.
SIGHTS I'm SEOUL, CHIEF CITY OF
THE HERMIT KINGDOM.
Corean Houses All Face One Way
Scouts Fine Site-Signal Fires
and Curfew Ringing

. OIte-5ISndl
and Curfew Ringing.
The Corean houses all face south, says
letter from Seoul, the capital of that
country, to the San Francisco Chronicle
No matter if the entrance gate is on the
north, there will be a way around to the
reception rooms, which will invariably
open toward the south. The cities are
so laid out that, if possible, there shall
be rugged mountain on the north and a
green, wooded hill or mountain on the
south. This is in accordance with their
ideas of harmony. Certain it is that it
makes very picturesque effect. The
capital, Seoul, is laid out in the same
way, and they succeeded in finding a
palace, inside the city walls, rises a
rugged peak some 8, 900 feet in height.
Farther on still whole range of mount
aims pierce the clouds with their crags
and exert an influence upon the city.
On the east and west sides of the city
there are also mountains, but the gem of
the whole collection is the Nam Shan
South mountain), which meets the gaze
of every householder as he sits in his
parlor facing southwark. This mountain
is green the year round, being covered
with heavy growth of pine, except on
the top, where the trees have been re-
moved to make place for signal fires. In
the absence of telegraph lines the
Coreans, from ancient times, have been
in the habit of signaling from the bor-
der, in five directions, whether all is
peaceful or otherwise.
There are certain high mountain peaks
happily situated at appropriate intervals
in each direction. Upon the tops of
these mountains quarters have been built
for signal officers, whose duty it is to
have the fire all ready to ..kindle into
full blaze Immediately on seeing the
lights from the mountains nearest to-
ward the border. The next station passes
the signal along, and so in less than an
hour 1000 ri $3.50 miles, are gone over
and it is known at the capital that quiet
reigns along the border. When the five
lights have been seen by the station on
the south mountain of Seoul, the watch
quickly lights his five fires in little oven
like structures open at the top, and SO
placed as to be easily seen from the pal
ace. Every night a body of venerable
gray-bearded officers, of high rank go in
before his majesty and announce "all is
tranquil and quiet; the five fires were
seen on Nam Shan this evening" But if
one fire should not be seen, then they
must report that section to be at war, and
hard is their task, for no one must tell to
the king any but good news. He stands
before them their idea of human perfec-
ton. He acts also as high priest and
sacrifices to heaven for the good of his
people. 1t is not right, then, in their
opinion, that he should be informed con-
corning any disagreeablc or unpleasant
thing. But wars will force themselves
upon the recognition of the most care.
fully guarded monarch, and many have
been the times when the poor old gray
boards have had to report fire miss
ing and trouble on the boarder.
In the center of the capital of Corea
stands small pagoda- like building, sur
rounded by wooden palings and contain
ing only huge bell some twelve feet in
height, which is made to give forth its
music by means of log suspended by
chain, so that on being drawn back by
man and then let go it strikes the outer
surface of the bell, which gives forth.
I'LL ineiio" ouu Aa'-ioSouhoinS muSie.
This bell IS struck IN the evening, vary
ing, as to the hour, from seven to nine,
according to the seasons. Upon hear
ing It's rlch tones all men hasten OH the
streets unless they be officers or Official
messengers, Tor the woman's hour has
arrived and the men must stay indoors.
Soon many little lanterns begin to nit
along the narrow streets, each one held
by the fair hand OF timid female, who,
even IN the darkness and quiet OF the
night, go well mutf1ed up In their
queer green and red TUNES. These
robes, which strike stranger as being
very singular, are part OF every decent