Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-01-28

coarse paper printed with ths peculiar cnafaetsrs
OF the Corean language. with this journeyed
from seoul to Fusan, an unheard-of tIip on the
o. as ad
passport called for the eourtesy Of an nAtvss and
saving clause. for inns and houses q public com.
fort are unheard OF, and without such q provision
it would be Impossible TO mako journey. When
my passport ali WORK was LAID aSide 70 provide for
me. The room was cleared, extra mats were laid
on the door, attendants brought food ana robes,
and, In fact, ], with my passport, was treated In
splendid style.
AMERICANS ARE HIGHLY RxsPRcTEp
in Corea, and carry more weight than any other
nationality. The only drawback to our national
glorhcation there is the horrible way In which we
are represented-in the nae Of naval forces, I
the fine vessels from England, France, Russia, and
other countries that float In their harpora But
the Coreans have love for ns as people not.
is one Of the best have ever seen, and there Is
considerable trade ct this port, principally with
Kussa casts eyes On this ,na
natives with almost as much suspicion as that OF
China. Russia's great want, you know, Is port
that won't freeze But she IL BY no means as
threatening in reality to the peace Of Corea as
China This latter country never had any real
desire for the little Kingdom until 1t began to show
wants 70 exercise s9seranty cvert While Eva japan
Of course. tights hard against the extension OF
Chinese influence, and supports Coreas attempt to
world.
TIE QUEENS INFLUENCE.
"The queen is q progressive woman and has q
great influence in national AFFAIRS 1t is said. She
Ii also reported to be in favor OF complete indie
pendence, and no doubt the recent action OF the
her work. she is easily reached By the wives CT
the various foreign ministers and 1t Is thought
that their progressive and refined ideas. ana their
There are two parties In the country one composed
OF old conservatives who lacking modern educa-
tion, have adhered to the viewA and customs Of
young men, who have been educated in Japan and
other countries, possibly, are eager for reforms
and progress. The great dimcully is that the lat
ter are too eager and some OF their movements are
little ahead OF the COrean possibilities; but the
influence OF this class OF men u bound to be felt In
the near future
1.-THE domestic Arrangements o, the people are
very simple. Their houses are comfortable. being
usually one story In height raised four or ave feet
from the ground, built on q solid foundation
Of stone. They are OF wood. veranda runs
OF lhe Uy sss
semi-cylindrical tiles that form q CHARACTERISTIC
feature OF japanese and Corean landscapea Oiled
coor-posts are carved ornate designs, scrolls, and
sometimes texts from the classics, by which term
y meant the writings OF Conrucius Our door bore
OF the erection, and was over one hundred years
Old. The rooms are heated by means OF the 'kang'
system, which Is series OF fues In the floor, lead
Ing from great stove or fireplace in tn rear OF
the house. The chimney Is always detached and
stands rev feet away from the house, sort OF
domestic monument. The COreans are quite deft
In stucc0-work, and these chimneys are usually
decorated with beautiful designs. The women
occupy either separate house or rooms set apart
from the others. The doors and windows are pro-
nc "A rto he
alright. and when the kang Is going the tempera-
ture is very high. There is no need OF bed clothes
The bed usually consists OF straw mats In the
making OF which the Coreans are expert, piled one
On another, while block or wood few inches In
height serves for pillow. The Corean seldom
removes re-; MS Clothes when he retires but sleeps in
takes on his shoes when he enters a house. but
never dreams OF removing his hat. That stays on
until he goes to sleep.
"rHs CLIMATE OF SEOUL
Is about like that of Washington, but Fusan being
on the southern end OF the peninsula feels the ef-
feet Of the japanese warm stream, which xweeps
BY the Corean shores and bathes them in warmth
and moisture. Hence the weather In Fusan Is
mild, and even hot ut times.
NATIVE CURIOSITY.
"The natives exhibit a great deal Of curiosity in
whatever they do not understand. For instance,
while there thought 1t good plan to take few
views OF some OF the landscapes, and one after
noon went out to the suburbs OF Fusan to get a
pi jture Of the city and harbor. As went along
the road with my camera the natives began to fol-
position for taking the view I was accompanied
Oy several hundred CoreanS, eager to see what
was going to do. / descend,d from my horse and
st up my camera, but when / tried TO get focus
on the scene found nothing In my lens but mass
OF stOd c0untenanceS reaching as far as could
see They squatted In the rs.ground, but stood
sound or movement OF their rae s. for my next
move. gave up Ia disgust and went home, and a
lew days a1terward mad my camera, DISCUS d,
sent on ahead OF me, ana stole a march on the
curious or1entals.
BICYCLE IN CoREA.
"a young American, who was spending some
time In Fusan. had brought his bicycle with him
and rode on one occasion from that place to Seoul,
a feat that excited the wonder and admiration of
the natives. One old merchant In FuSan, who had
been greatly pleased with the new idea, asked an
American shipper 10 get him a hundred OF the ma
chimes He was at first In earnest, and Was about
might be the price. The shipper told him about
$50 apiece, and be at once withdrew his offer.
'coREAN ART
Is confined mostly to the drawing and painting of
pictures They have considerable talent for metal
work, inlaying and such things but they have
not advanced very far In the manufacture of pot
terry. 1t Is said the ceramic art was originally In
troduced in japan from Corea, but 1t has Ian
guished and almost died in the latter country.
Their pictures contain reproductions OF the stork
and the pine tree, both OF which are emblems OF
longevity. Tobacco IS smoked almost universally,
but the opium habit has not been acquired. The
CCrean pipe is provided with stem about 4 feet
long, and when Corean smokes he sQuats and
rests the tiny bowl OF his pipe on the ground ahead
Of him.
''rHR CoREAN ARMY
is vast In extent on paper but reality there are
but few companies Of soldiers. The navy Is of
the same theoretical sze and owing to the lack Of
other accommodations, the spare admlrals and
other offers, who In fact constitute the bulk of
the navy, are put In charge OF municipal govern
menta
on HORSEBACK.
ri spoke while ago about travelling said Mr..
Jouy, sand the difficulties that beset the tourist
Perhaps the chief drawback is the mode OF pro-
erosion. Every journey Is Of course made on
horseback. and owing TO the peculiar mode Of har-
silent submission on the back OF one OF their stub
born little beasts, which is led by coolie. OBJ.
1ected to such process, and greatly TO the dis
gust Of the natives, procured saddle and bride
Of modern make. A friend who made the trip
from Seoul to Fusan with me did the same and
we enjoyed an unwonted privilege. We had great
stand the new arrangement, but nm lily succeeded
In training them so that We could walk or GALLON
leave the line OF the road at will This last op.
Grafton astonished the coolies, who predicted all
sorts OF disasters as consequence.
WHAT rHEY DRINK.
my servant boy was about the meekest, mildest
youth ever saw, and. 50, thinking it vol that he
should have some element OF feroctty about him
called him Tiger One morning asked MIN 10 get
me something TO drink. Pure water Ia very scarce
except In the mountains, and We hal to depend
on our supplies. was out Of fresh water and very
thirsty, and thought sip OF sakt, a sort OF mild
alcoholic drink, generally used, would allay my
thirst. Tiger shook his head and said that would
not drink Il e Ss got IT, told him that
me cup OF saki, and found that he was right fol