Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-01-10
A Glimpse OF the King of Corea

tlth AuNOtdAtsl
All of our mission went to see his
Majesty. The young men whom we
are teaching English offered to get US
good place to 'ku kiung see sights.
We accepted their offer. We have been
many times impressed with the kind
ness Of the Coreans toward US, and this
added another to the list. They Sc
cured a small room, had it cleaned, put
down nice, clean boards, took some
of our chairs to sit on, and hired three
soldiers. When We reached the place,
and the people saw foreign ladies, the
crowd increased wonderfully fast and
pressed into the house to see them.
The soldiers were not regularly armed,
and it soon became evident to them, as
we'll as to us, that it took more than
their uniform and 4" ka "-go-to make
the people "stand back" They soon
supplied themselves with good oak
clubs, and by swinging these faithfully
and using their lungs frequently they
managed to keep small place in front
Of the house clear. Without their ser
vices it would have been impossible for
us to have remained there. Mrs. NJ.
+. Scranton took with her the United
States flag, which we put up.
While waiting for the King one could
not but be impressed that the " boy Of
the street" was present in full force,
making the air melodious with what
would be equivalent in America to
lemonade and peanuts" and
seemingly doing brisk business.
Along the middle Of the street new
earth was strewn. Every few minutes
some official, with a few attendants,
passed, nearly always mounted on a
donkey, which is the animal used by OIL
GERS on such occasions. Some Of these
men had very patriarchal appear
ance.
The procession proper was headed
by eunuchs from the royal palace
these were followed by soldiers who
marched along the sides and in the
centre Of the street. A general Of high
rank stopped in front of us, and |
thought he did it in honor of our flag,
but my interpreter told me he stopped
for the king. The royal banner, a large
empty sedan chair, and waters passed,
music followed next, the step became
liyelier, considerable rafting of what
to me was old iron, but really
the sign for silence, the kings UNI
brella, and the second sedan chair, in
which was his majesty. The chair was
wide open on three sides, and we had
a good view of the King. lie noticed
our flag, looked steadfastly at US, and
in the judgment Of some bowed slight
ly. allow did he look" is the most
natural question. lie is young man
of quiet, intelligent, dignifed, and
manly appearance. Lieutenant Foulk,
our representative here, once said to
me 1.-The Kings word is good"
This remark came to me as |
saw the King to-day, and |
was impressed that he is
man to do, as far as possible, his own
thinking, come to his own conclusions,
and abide by his word. lie believes in
opening his country to foreign nations
and has great confidence in the United
States. lie has ordered his palace to
be lighted by the electric light. To the
uninitiated this may seem extravagant,
but two things make the Kings course
clear. He reasoned thus Americans,
after trying everything, from tallow cam
dies to electric light, find the last the best
and cheapest. Twill learn from their ex-
perience, and begin where they are now.
The present cost Of lighting the palace
is simply enormous, caused by the Off
Gals apprOpriating large amounts for
their own use. They could do the same
with petroleum, but not with the cleo
trio light. Another reason is 4: China's
power is everything in COrea. They
have everything there that is to be had,
and when any new invention is sug-
gested the Conservatives send to Pekin
and get it. But the electric light can
not be gotten there, and the King hopes
in this way to teach his Ministers that
there are other countries in the world
besides China.
Sunday, September 9th, the tele-
graph line between Seoul and Chemulpo
was opened. This is the first line built
in Corea. and we are beginning to feel
that we are on the side of progress. In
the evening the usual banquet was
given at the foreign office in honor of
the event. Before the close Of this
year lines to two other places connect
ing with China will be built, so that by
the year 1886 we shall be able to send
messages to the mission-roOms in New
Val