The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1886-04-09
ALAMO OF HATS.
The Extraordinary Head-Gear Affected By
Caeean Enlnles and Peaaanfa.

| The Extraordinary Head-Gear Affected BY
/ Corean Mobiles and Peasants.
'sCorca is the land of hats" said
Prof. Otis T. Mason of the National
Museum. as he stood with reporter in
front of large glass case in the
National Museum. The case was filled
with articles which were collected in
Corea by Ensign j. B. Bernardo, and
have Just been sent to the museum.
Corea is almost new field to the eth
nolOgist, as until very recent times tho
Coreans have resisted all intrusion.
Within few years Japanese Ambassa-
doris have paid for their temerity in
pushing their way to the Corean capi-
tai by decapitation. The negotiations
which resulted in the recent treaty
opening the country to Americans were
begun through the agency Of nan-Of-
war. The collection which has been
sent to the museum by Ensign Berna-
don is considered especially valuable,
as it has been secured while the field is
new. After awhile Corean ware will be
manufactured for the museum trade, as
Chinese and Japanese wares are now,
and doubt will be thrown upon ali col
lectiOns offered to the public. Among
the most conspicuous objects in the case
are the hats. and these were what pro-
vokcd the remark made by Prof Mason.
On one side is 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 sightliness re-
quire, but the experience of many gen.
erations enables the Corean to manage
this vast hat very skilliully, 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. In old times it was
the hat worn by the Buddhist priests.
1t is related that at one time the Japa-
nese, the ancient enemies of the Core
ans, gained access to the cities of the
latter by DOMINIC such hats and pre-
tending to be Buddhist priests. The
Coreans thereupon banished all Budd-
hist priests from their land. and the hat
was bestowed upon the bull-driver, who
still chershes it and preserves it in all
its vast proportions. The hats worn by
COreans are to some extent insignia of
the social rank of the wearers. A hat
with round top similar to the
cOOlie hat of the Chinese is the
common hat of the people. There
are two in the collection, one of straw
for summer wear, and another of cloth
for winter. a soldiers hat is of the
same pattern, but decorated. Another
hat, made of horsc-hair netting. with
crown and brim, in shape very much
like a Quaker hat, is worn by gentle
men above the rank of serfs and labor
ers. This lisa hat in appearance and
name only. as it affords no protection.
Then there is i'm the collection a cap APP
parently with a double crown, or two
stories. This. the professor said, is
made of peculiar shape SO as to accom-
mOdate the chignons worn by the men.
Upon the sides of the cap or hat appear
two wings of gauze, which play a part
in official ceremony. As the professor
explained it, a Corean in service at the
royal court would wear this hat with
wings extended open, signifying that
his ears were open and ready to re-
ceive the commands of the King. When
not in active service the gauze ears
would hang down. indicating that the
wearer was taking a rest. The King
himself would wear his ears proudly
erect, as it is not necessary for SO
mighty potentate to listen to anything.
The collection contains also mitre of
gauze, worn by students. and gaudily
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 deliberately as any Washington
belle. Another hat is conical and
made of mulberry paper, which is oiled
and waterproof. This is a hat for pro- .
lection from rain and is pulled on over
the other hat or hats, for sometimes
the COrean wears more than one.
The ordinary shoes of the peasant
class are of rice straw. There are shoes
OF Il more elaborate character of cloth
and also wooden clogs or pattens.
Some of the shoes have heavy hOb-nails
upon which hangs tale. One of the
battles of Olden times with the Japanese
was waged upon the ice. The Coreans
put nails in their shoes and the japanese
did not. The Coreans were conse-
quently masters of the situation and wen
great victory. Since then it has been
customary to wear hob-nailed shoes, as
they are associated with the idea of
good luck.
A Corean gentleman's dress. accord
ing to the specimens of clothing brought
by Ensign Bernadon, is very baggy
affair. The trousers are large enough
for two or three people. A little jacket
is worn like vest, but is so short that
there is often considerable of a gap be-
tween the bottom of the vest and the
top of the trousers. Over all the Co
rean will wear loose flowing tunic
with baggy sleeves falling nearly to the
ground. These sleeves are sewed up
partly, SO as to form huge pocket, in
which the COrean can carry if he desires
bushel or SO of apples or any other
articles. Sometimes the Corean will
wear wristlets and buskins, and the !
baggy sleeves and trousers will be gath
cred in at the wrists and ankles. |
At best the garments are likely to in |
terfere with rapid movement of the
body. This enforced slowness of mo-
ton is not, however, regarded as a |
hardship by the Corean. The native |
name for COrea is the land of the morn
ing calm. It is the land of repose. The
sight presented by Corean in full ma !
tive forgery moving in stately slowness .