The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-07-05
IN QUAINT C0REA.
A KING WHO IS ALLOWED NARROW
LIBERTY IN GOVERNING.

Practiced.
In the first place Cores is limited mon
archy. There is written constitution
which is not perhaps. absolutely binding
on the king, but which is seldom deviated
from This Is fact which is not gener-
ally known. even by many Of the foreign
ers resident in this city, but have it on
the best Of evidence Corean monarchy
cannot be said to be limited in the sense
that the people are represented iii any
council or parliament. but there are rules
laid down which even his majesty will
not 0verstep. 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 at all but is imprisoned in his
nalacc and obeys his councillors Others
say that he is perfectly untrammeled III
the execution Of any design whatsoever;
Both of these statements strike WIDE oil
the truth. although on opposite sides oil
II. 10 be sure. the king of Corea, ac-
cor,iing 10 the sacred and unwrtten law
of this and all the kindred nations, Is con
sidcred in ono sense sacred parsonage
and cannot be- exposed TO the gaze OF the
popliace except on certain state occasions,
but his seclusion is voluntary. Almost
every night the noblemen congregate al
the palace, and the king holds his court
practically the same as any western
sovereign.
But It is in regard to social questions
that the greatest misunderstanding eX'
lists Corcans are not barbarians or sava-
pes they are not nomads, but they be
long 10 the great family OF civilized ma
lions. as distinguished from enlightened
nations If system OF government
reaching even 10 the minutest details,
complicated social system. Il knowledge
of arts and Industries. Il religious ana
educational system, literature and the
concomtants of these imply civilization
then surely Corea is civilized Her civil
ization dates back 80 st time when Japan
vas covered with savage tribes
Ii is amusing to us out here in Corea to
watch the papers and read what is SAID
about this little country. Some one SAID
Shat suicide was extremely common, when,
in fact il 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 windows being all closed
when tho king goes by, when, in fact.
there are not half dozen two story
houses in Corca: or about the king dis
pensinr Justice a. he travels through tho
country. while IN fact, he never yet has
zone ten miles outside the gates OF Seoul.
There are plenty Of unpleasant features
about the social condition Of these people
without filling 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 Of the people for two years
can truly say that it Is only the lower
classes that indulge In that luxury. By
the middle and upper classes it is consid
cred as detestabie as by Americans. How
ever when one goeE through some OF the
poorer parts OF the city and sees people
absolutely starving 10 death II does not
cause any surprise that such food is made
use Of Dog flesh is absolutely unknown
in Coroan feasts 4 foreigner could SIT
down to the Corean table and eat OF
almost every dish that is brought him
without fear OF dog meat
In regard to the position and social
status Of woman the most various ideas
prevail IL D. true that the women OF
Corea are secluded but not more so than
IN some more favored empires Turkey,
for instance, shows ia vastly more
pitiable state Of things III this respect
than Corea Women are not slaves here,
as they have been pictured Their seciu
sion is in some souses a blessing to them.
Their lack Of seclusiOn in Japan has led TO
the most demordllling results III that
country. 1t is impossible that women
should be regarded with the same
chivalrc spirit here that they are IN the
enlightened countries. and their seclusion
is d painful necessity rather tAan al evil
dence Of tyranny And vet a. | have
said, women are not nearly 50 secluded
here as they are IN Turkey IL l. only
women OF the highest classes that are
allowed 10 be seen by any man excepting
the husband and father in law Thou
sands Of women can be seen on the streets
oil Seoul ia broad dag al any time. Ia
walking on amy street here a good proper
ton of the people you meet are women.
Many belonging 10 the middle class have
sOIt OF apron thrown over the head and
held in front Of the mouth, leaving
space through which they can see and be
seen Women Of the lower class, the
common working class, go entirely un-
yelled
The Coresns are a singularly mild and
inoffensiye people. Their language con
taius no stronger epithet Of hatred or
anger than "Meechin nom which means
crazy fellow. One can go TO any part of
the city or country at aug time without
the least fear Of molestation, and YOU
never hear OF Il knock down fight or
murder. The criminal class Is extremely
small and vagrancy and mendicancy are
almost unknown. Now all these points
have been brought up against these
people, and they do not bear the light Of
investigation But no one seems to have
mentioned the one 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 ~ do with the recognized
rule of all enlightened nations dat the
individual must be secure iii TIE lawful
possession of his own property and he
must be allowed 10 accumulate property
IN Corea the strong prey upon the weak.
H., - Z. =.