Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-04-07
TINE CURuouS CouraNS.
Rapidly aspstas Themselves % Awer.
lean Gassouss and sasas.
coRtaSs A. stcxcts REbKes-rssa sscxruos.t
COOP SArrsK-tksESISa ~ srsN8 sSoIssH--
kkApIsRss 10 NAKr AcQraISrssusx- fSctpssrv
of THFIR pAILr iirG ~ WASHINGTON

The little band % oriental strangers VINO hsve
recently made Washington their home are en,ov.
Ing themselves Everything the Coreans do see
ana hear swakens their deepest interest. ana they
are rapidly adapting themselves 70 Ameucsa Gus
toms all but the dress The flowing reees OF delI.
eately-tinted silk aud the peculiar ny-,sr, hs.a.
gar they never leave on. They ali live to-rtner
IN a new three-siory house on q street between
lJth and 10th streets II contains dozen or more
rooms. All OF which are needed FOR there are ten
official members Of the family. Their names sound
a. much alike at nrst hearing a. the owners look
alike 20 casual observer: but each member ms a
particular place In this dipomatic family circle.
First. there IS the minister, ana then the frst
second, and third secretaries the Interpreter a
military attache, the minister's private 500
rotary, the nrst secretary's private &C.,
Rotary, AID two native servants In add
ton there sre two cOlored servants There are no
women about the house. Their fosd l. All urs-
pared by the native servants, while tie colerod
servants perform the housewarf No efTorf has
Den iaIe 70 furnish the house beyond the bare
necessities with the exception &C one or tao ON
entail screens and some window shades ornanenfad
with peculiar designs During the day time the
mating. but they are almost transparent al night
when the gas Is lighted. The Coreaus arr svI
IDENTITY fond OF fresh air and DO noI lac ~ be con-
lined 20 the house.
rNxNpsuL of cold.
During some OF the coolest weather they were
accustomed TO take frequent walks about the city
The warmth OF their clothing could not be Jangei
by appearances for the coolest blasts or earty
March. although playing hide and seek with their
drapery, could not hasten their steps ~ they
stroled along the streets all hours Ol the day "a
evening WITH as much dignity OF bearing was
oination of breaches ana skirts Nearly every one
Il no, all, are confirmed smokers ana ppes cigars
and cigarettes they dd no, have 90 lenrn 60 appre-
euloy the air out Of doors but bsFore the re
cent springlike weather one or more OF the house
enjoy sitting at the open window 20 smoke and
MaIch The, TO them. strange panorama VI city
street scene spread before their eyes
m SOCIETY.
They are quite SOC ally Inclined and the nuruer.
Gus receptions and other social entertainments
which they attended during the gay seasou had q
peculiar zesf Tor them. They themselves have
had "at homes BY the score ana have received q
Some were nsde doubtless thro1gh cur,
oslty, but all who visited theIu have been
charmed nra by 1asir simple hospitality and natural
Americanized as rapidly as possible. that Is Dot
veying the idea 10 . srAR reporter the other aay
but that was what he meant HIS Knglish Is some.
can understand and make himself understood.
Two or three OF the others also make very credit
able work with English
ras KrrREnk aoop Mature
which they display on aii occasions IL destiped 10
In the least disconnected by the Interest sometimes
openly insulting, awakened BY their strange sarb
ana peculiar personal appearance. The other DAY
two or three Of them visited a section OF the city
noted Tor its unruly population ana were fairly
besieged by horde OF gafnns when boots and
1eers dl1 not discomfort them the youngsters be-
ean throwing mud at their coats OF many colors
When the interpreter told the srah repor,e r OF Tie
incident he laughed heartily asift was good Joke
When he explained 20 the Others who were
standing near what he was laughing az they burst
into hearty Corean guffaN. Evidently they
did not cherish any resentment for the dlsrspect.
iul treatment 10 which they had been subjected.
one OF the group was trying 20 light a cigarette.
but the reminder of the stoke" which had been
played upon them was so forciele that he allowed
TO a ten-year-old colored lad VINO was enloying q
smoke as wen as the strange sight and secured a
light from his cigarette butt.
ENBRyo BicycLIsrs
or course nearly everything they see excltes
their curiosity, but the most nexpncaoe OF all OF
them Is the bicycle When they frst came here
they would stand on the curb stone ana gaze with
aston.shInent as the wheelmen few past them.
They couldn't understand a., and they understand
Il stu less now that several Of them have at
tempted 10 ride. They seem % have very little
idea OF balancing themselves and cannot go alone
at all, but they are crazy 20 flde genuine
header tina: one took the other day hasn't damp
ened their enthusiasm In the least. Nearly every
evening anes .aA e, lesson, much 70 the amuse.
by the novel spectacle. The colored people seem
70 be the most interested spectators, and while
broad grin can be seen behind hali-opened alley
gates and basement doors In the neighborhood
Corean garments are not adapted for bicycling,
but that makes no difference 10 the owners
THE coREAs MOUNT
is a particularly complicated and laughable per-
Torrance. In the first place, the wheel Gan up-
right must be held rs firmly as in a wise by an Is
sistant on each side. The daring novice having
made up his mind TO mount gathers lis moving
robe In bunch and holds it In front In a wad
"a q la.s-ea
a glimpse OF which can be obtained IN walking 40
not extend as high as the knee. How they are
kept In position Is not known at this writing
Above them are zonaye-lke trousers very bagyy
Throughout. When his foot Is on the bicycle stem
the bend Of the leg serves TO keep the robe In a
handle bars, at the same time giving A sudden
lurch that partially lands him IN the saddle. only
trousers, usually hidden by the gown. invsriabiy
catches on the back Of the saddle He l. sus-
pended In this awkward position until by twisting
the place where he Is snagged ana free himself
In the meantime his assistants have ali they can
DO 10 Keep the bicycle In an upright position.
SIZE MOVES
When firmly seated the wheel is started with an
accompaniment OF spssmodlc oriental exclama-
lions and laughter from both rider and companions
When the pedal rises the rider holds his leg sun
and bis body rises from the saddle In unison with
the pedal In the most ludicrous manner, as n he
were copying the English mode OF horseback riding.
First one VIII try it and then another paying not
the slightest attention 10 the noisy Taught and
comments OF the interested audience. al hey are
very persistent and doubtless will all be skimining
about the city on bicycles before a great while
LEARNING ENGLISH.
They have q. teacher come 20 the house every
day 10 Instruct them In the English Language ana
they are making satisfactory progress They do
not conne their 20 master the lang uAge
70 the lessons Ia the house. but are willing TO
make an attempt at conversation on the slightest
provocation. When asked by 1HE STAR man how
they spend their time the interpreter replied saOh
study, then go out, see something. then come back
write long letter home about everything" They
have the same Kind OF food here as In Cores, hs
said, or rather, that they get about every.
thing In Corea that they DO here,
and they get a good share OF thef
table supplies here from their native country.
They make almost daily excursions about The city,
visiting the various points Of Interest. They are
particularly Interested In the 'Dlg store where
they don't sell anything" dhe National MuseuLl),
and never weary examining the coriOsities on ca
hibition there. They ali seem much Interested In
outdoor sports, and DOUBTLESS VIII pay frequent
visits 10 the ball grounds and the rver during the
coming season
ROCKS ms THE WEEK.