Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-06-21
CUSTOMS IN COREA.

were only playful
CUSTOMS IN COREA.
Queer stories which are Fathered
There.
HAPPY DOMESTIC RELATIONs--sTATus OF WOMEN
HOW RICE Is MADE A LEaAL TENDER.
special to the New York World from Seoul.
Corea says Of its social conditions: ut is 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 was extremely common,
when, In fact, 1t Is almost unknown. Even the
physician in charge OF the Royal Hospital during
three years has only heard OF one case Then we
will read something about the second-story WIN
dows being all closed when the king goes by,
when, in fact there are not half dozen two-story
houses In Corea; or about the king dispensing JUS
tice as he travels through the country, while, In
fact he never yet has gone 10 miles outside the
gates OF Seoul.
There are plenty OF unpleasant features about
the social condition OF these people without lling
the minds OF outsiders with imaginary ones. Much
has been said about the natives being great eaters
OF dogs flesh. After personal observation Of the
habits or the people for two years / can truly say
that 1t Is only the lower classes that Indulge in
that luxury. By the middle and upper classes it is
considered as detestable as by Americans How
ever, when one goes through some OF the poorer
parts OF the city and sees people absolutely starv-
ing TO DEATH II does not cause any surprise that
such food is made use Of. Dog nesn is absolutely
unknown In Corean feasts. foreigner could SIT
down 10 the Corean table and eat OF almost every
dish that Is brought MIN without fear OF dog meat
Their staple article Of food Is OF course, rice.
and payments are estimated In bags OF rice. Be-
sides this there Is beef and flsh and poultry.
There Is peculiar kind OF pickle resembling sauer
kraut which goes by the name OF 'skimchi" and
while IT Is rather offensive to ordinary ofactOries
II Is not more SO than the famous German dish.
The Coreans eat their food highly seasoned with
red pepper, and the brightest spots In q Corean
landscape are the roofs OF houses covered with
red peppers, which are put there TO dry In the SUM-
woman the most various ideas prevail. 1t Is true
that the women OF Corea are secluded, but not
more so than In some more favored empires Tur-
key, for instance, shows a vastly more pittable
state OF things In this respect than Corea- Women
are not slaves here, as they have been pictured.
Their SeciuSl0n Is In some senses blessing 10
them. Their lack OF seclusion in Japan has led To
the most demoralizng results In that country II
is impossible that women should be regarded with
the same chvairic spirit here mat they are in the
enlightened countries, and their seclusiOn is pain
fui necessity rather than an evidence OF tyranny.
secluded here as they are In Turkey. 1t is only
women OF the highest classes that are allowed to
be seen by any man excepting the husband and
father-in-laW. Thousands OF women can be seen
on the streets OF Seoul In broad day at any time
IN walking on any street here good proportion OF
the people you meet are women. Many belonging
TO the middle class have sort Of apron thrown
over the head and held in front OF the mouth,
leaving space through which they can see and
working class, go entirely unveiled.
One cannot put be struck by the evidences OF
happy family life ON every side As the sun is set
ting and the evening meal Is being prepared the
father sits out In front OF his house smoking his
pipe and holding his little son daughter on his
lap while he tells stories and quaint legends The
evident affection and confidence between parent
and child are beautiful TO see, and one feels that
these ignorant people would not exchange their
humble cottage and their quiet life for q mansion
on 5th avenue In New York.
The Coreans are a singularly mild and inofren-
sive people. Their language contains no stronger
epithet OF hatred or anger than "Meechin- nom, {"
which means crazy fellow. one can 20 to any
part OF the city or country at any time withou.
me least rear OF molestation, and you never hear
class is extremely small, and vagrancy and mendi-
cancy are almost unknown. Now all these points
they do not bear the light Of investigatipn. But
no one seems to have mentioned the great
social evil OF Corea, and one which must surely be
changed before Corea can fairly begin any such
progress as Japan has made.
This evil has to do with the recognized rule OF
all enlightened nations that the individual must
be secure In the lawful possession his own prop
erty, and he must be allowed to accumulate prop
erty. In Corea the strong prey upon the weak.
For instance, when man Is made an Official which
Is the highest ambition OF the Corean a Certain
extent OF territory is allotted to him. From that
territory he Is required to send certain number
ment, and for himself he has all the rest that be
can squeeze out of the population. His power is
unlimited In his own DISTRICT and he can seize any
scrupulOuS he uses this power to an extent that
Is monstrous In Ks injustice.
He hears OF q man who has saved q score OF bags
OF rice over and above what his family needs for
the season, Soon his minions come down on the
mans lawful savings and sweep the whole away,
leaving simply enough for the man to struggle
through the year with.
Can anything be more deadening to enterprise
and thrift than this? Who can blame them for
say1ng 1--WE Will raise just enough rice to live on
and no more; for why should we accumulate prop-
erty to be swept away?' When was about to dis
charge one OF my servants he came TO me and said
that he had saved some $50 while in my service
and that when he went away from my place the
servants OF the local magistrate would take every
dollar OF II away from him, and he was willing to
stay nOm1nally In my employ without wages rather
than 90. 1t was only by securing him employ
ment with another foreigner that l saved him
from being deprived OF his earnings
OF course such q system Is q deadly enemy to all
progress and to all healthy national life 1t strikes
at the root Of national prosperity the security OF
the individual. But believe that it is exceptional
TO ind q magistrate who taxes the people ex-
tremely. OF course there Is always more or less
injustice, but the patience Of the people Is some
thing marvellous, and when the exactions become
too frequent and too severe the people rise
and muttny, and usually with success, for it
ruler. A brighter day Is in store for Corea when
her mineral resources are opened up and her
financial basis is strengthened Then there win
be system OF regularly saiaried oficials. No one
can examine into the position OF Corea to-day
without seeing that her horizon Is clearing, and t
Is TO the United states that Corea looks to-day
"a her best friend.