Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, Ramsey Co., Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1905, 1888-08-18

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We will have the Largest Ass
in all Styles and Grades
IN QUAINT C0REA.
a KING WHO IS ALLOWED NARROW
LIBERTY IN GOVERNING.
A County 90 Little Known That All Sorts
os Queer Stories Are Told Concerning
lts fsspss-Ths One Great Injustice
Rs.essssd.
t the 1rst place Corea is q limited mon.
aSchy. There Is . written constitution,
which u not. perhaps, absolutely binding
on the king, but which Is seldom deviated
from. This 10 . fact which Is not gener-
ally known, even by many Of the foreign
ers reaident IN this city, but I have it on
the best Of evidence. Corean monarchy
cannot DO said to be limited In the sense
that the people are represented In any
council Or parliament. but there are rules
laid down which even his majesty will
not overstep, excepting under most un.
usual circumstances. And . word right
here In regard to the practical power Of
the king. Some have said that he has no
power ct all. but u imprisoned in his
palace and obeys his councillors. Others
say that he Is perfectly untrammeled in
the execution Of any design whatsoever.
Both OF these statements strike wide Of
the truth. although on opposite sides Of
Il. To DO sure. the king Of Corea, &C.
cofding to the sacred and unwritten law
Of. this and al the kindred nations, is con.
sldered In one sense . sacred parsonage,
and cannot be exposed to the gaze Of the
popolsce except on certain state occasions,
but ha9 sec1nsion is voluntary. Almost
evefyni9ht the noblemen congregate at
thssPllacs. md the, king holds his court
practically the same "a any western
Sovereign
But & Il IN regard to social questions
that the greatest Misunderstanding ex-
lists. Corsans arc not barbarians or Java
long to tho great family Of civilized ma.
nations. II . system Of government
reaching even to the minutest details, .
complicated social system, o knowledge
Of. arts and industries, Q religious and
educational system, Q literature and the
oonoomitants of these imply civilization,
than surely Cores Is civilized. Her civil
ization; dstes back to . time when Japan
was covered with savage tribes. .
n p amusing to us out here In Corea to
watch the papers and read what is said
about this little country. Some one said
that suicide vas extremely common, when,
In fact, 1t IL almost unknown. Even the
physician In charge Of the royal hospital
during three years has only heard Of one
ease Then We will read something about
the second story windows being al closed
when the king goes by. when, In fact,
there are not half . dozen two story
houses In Oorea; or about the king dis.
peustng Justice q he travels through the
country, while, in fact, he never yet has
gone ten miles outslde the gates Of Seoul.
There are plenty Of unpleasant features
about the social condition Of these people
without filing the minds Of outsiders
With imaginary ones. Much has been said
about the natives being great eaters Of
dogs 1sah. After . personal observation
Il the habits Of the people for two years ]
can truly ray that 1t is only the lower
CLASSES that indulge in that luxury. By
b middle and upper classes 1t Is consid.
Ged 81 datestahe as by Americans. How.
ever when one goes through some Of the
poorer parts Of the city and sees people
absolutely starving to death 1t does not
cause any surprise that such food Is made
use Of. Dog aesh is absolutely unknown
In Coesan feasts. A foreigner could sit
down to the .Corean table and eat Of
almost every dish that Ia brought him
without fear Of dog meat.
IL regard to the poaition and social
seeeuu ct woman the most various ideas
pssvaA II s. true that the women OF
Cores IN. secluded, but not more 80 than
n soma more favored empires. Turkey,
Ton instance, shows MS . vastly more
laasbls state Of things in this respect
than Corea- Women are not slaves here,
- trey have been pictured. Their seclu.
eson q in some senses . blessing to them.
1heir. lack Of ssclusioni in Japan has led to
the most demoraliztng results In that
county. Il Is impossible that women
should be regarded with the same
ehiyelrso spirit here that they are in the
e~nlikhtened countries, and their s~eclusion
Hepetnful necessity rather than an evil
Senes OF 'tyranny. And yet. a I have
saad. womsn aze not nearly 90 secluded
hsss - they are IN Turkey. It Is only
women OF tho highest classes that are
81 sn. 70 % , ssd y Any man excepting ATTN
eends OF women can be seen on the streets
oeHBAoul in broad day at any time. In
walking on any street here good proper.
TIN Of tie people you meet sre women.
Many belonging to the middle class have
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