Daily Yellowstone journal., 1886-12-14

IRREGULARITIES OF THE HOUSES
~ AND THE OUTER WALL.


~
sr...ive Folding Gates Which Close
Ae.iust the Lsggard-The Curfew and
the '1voman's Hour"-A Temptation
60 the Lawiess.
No matter IL the entrance gate is on the
north, there will be way around to the
reception rooms which will invariably
open toward the south. The cities are 30
laid out that, II possible, there shall be q
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 II is that II
makes very picturesque effect. The
capital, Seoul, is laid out In the same
way, and they succeeded In finding site
that exactly suited.
Seoul is city within a wall. This
wall is from twenty to sixty feet in height
and some twenty feet In thickness. 1t
follows the ridges Of the hills and mount
aims which form the amphitheater hold
fng the city. In some places the wall
climbs dizzy mountain peaks, where the
building materials could only have been
procured at immense cost in labor. The
approaches are by means of gates, some
eight in all, one of which is walled up on
the outside, so as to be completely OBJ
scured, and is meant to be used. as a
means of egress il all other means are
despaired OF. Two of these gates are
very large, with bastions leading up to
them, from which they can easily be pro-
tected. The arch is high as the wall,
and above this is an elaborate, two stor-
fed, pagoda-like building. The smaller
gates are built on the same plan, with
smaller arches and lower superstruc-
lures. Each gate IL closed with massive
folding doors, covered by iron plates, bolted
on. These are closed at a certain hour
in the evening, and all unfortunate
travellers who have failed to reach the
portal i'm time are compelled to seek a
nights lodging in the extensive suburbs
or risk their lives in a hand-over-hand
climb over the wall, providing they offer
the gateuaan enough tone TO induce him
10 lower his rope. In many places a
regular way is worn up the wall by this
illegitimate scaling.
THE CURFEw.
In the center of the capital Of Corea
stands small pagodAlike building,
surrounded by wooden palings and con-
tanning only huge bell some twelve
feet in height, which is made to give
forth its music by means OF log sus-
pended by a chain, so that on being
drawn back by a man and then let go it
strikes the outer surface Of the bell,
which gives forth a rich. mellow and
far-resounding music. This bell Is
struck In the evening, varying, as to the
hour, from to 0, according to the sea-
sons. Upon hearing its rich tones all
men hasten OFF the streets unless they be
officers or official messengers, for the
woman's hour has arrived and the men
must stay indoors. Soon many little Ian
terms begin to fit along the narrow
streets, each one held by the fair hand Of
q timid female, who, even in the dark
ness and quiet Of the night, go well
mufIled up In their queer green and red
tunics These robes, which strike a
stranger as being very singular, are a
part OF every decent woman's wardrobe,
be she ever so poor. No lady. or wife OF
even well-to-do artisan, will appear on
the street unveiled or unaccompanied by
an elderly duenna, and IL they can afford
il they only 20 out in the daytime in a
closed chair: but after the curfew has
sounded and the men have disappeared
they 90 about freely. Even then, how
ever, they are veiled in this long gown,
which, supported by the head, hides the
face and the most OF the body, leaving
only an eye TO spy out the way and steal
sly glances at the strange foreigner who
muses. on the loyeliness thus concealed.
Green is the color belonging peculiarly to
the queen; hence the women choose il for
their veil-like garment. The red sleeves
are also a symbol OF national loyalty, for
these garments are meant in time of war
to be hastily placed upon their brave
husbands, brothers and sons, TO be used
as their outer garment, and the sleeves
are made Of red, that the brave defenders
of their homes may wipe their bloody
swords upon them without making the
CORY traces too noticeable.
TIMID CREATURES.
Though the curfew's call clears the
streets and leaves their darkness to the
women alone, yet they seem to be m
great fear lest they should be seen Of
men, and on the approach OF one OF these
much-feared creatures the promenaders
run together like hens, and try to hide
their heads beneath each others clothes,
or gaze intently on the blank wall Of the
nearest house, under whose caves they
run as though TO get as far out of the
reach OF danger as is possible. Some OF
these women are richly dressed, and ii is
therefore great temptation to the law
less to waylay and rob them. notwith-
standing the fact that, in addition to
violating the law in not obeying the cur
lew call, the punishment for theft is de-
capltation. At call from one of these
distressed women all OF the adjoining
householders must rush out and lend
their assistance. But for two reasons the
women will not call IL she be person Of
wisdom and forethought The first rea-
son Is these robbers are known to carry
long, sharp swords, which they WELD
with unerring skill and the strength Of
fdesperation, knowing as they do that
capture means death, and murder is their
only escape.
The second reason is more powerful
than the first in that it touches what ia
more dear TO woman than life be she of
whatever nation. Society with her is so
constituted that TO be detected In COM
pany with @ strange man, be he even a
robber In the act of stealing her Jewels.
is q disgrace worse than the loss of her
much-prized ornaments; SO that rather
than call q crowd of witnesses TO her dis
grace she will part with her valuables
and keep quiet, excusing their loss to her
husband or master as best she may.