The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1889-12-01
CHARACTERISTICS OF THE K0
REANS.
BY BISHOP FOWLER


Turks, Kltans, Mongols swarme'
thence; Koreans. Jspauese and Mort
American Indians cannot deny to-
blood. There is hardly yard OF tn
human fabric which they have no
either woven or colored. They bros,
the scepter of the Cesars. They turne'
aside the rays of the Sun of righteous
ness n ON Asia and Africa. They near
liz quenched the fire on Christian altar
throughout Europe. They conquered
India. They checkmated Russia 70
two centuries. They planted on CHI
nese soil the most populous, the mos
persistent, and THE most improbable
race in Asia. 1t is not a bad nest IL
which to be hatched if one must fl
under an Asiatic sun.
HI Tsye was their founder. and ore
would hardly trade him oil for Romu
lus. He was a Chinese sage. and Min
lister of Chow Sin, the Chinese Nero
demonstrating with this ancient Nero
b. c. 1923. he was cast into prison
Wa Wong, another virtuous MINISTER
revolted, overthrow the king and CAV
Ki Tsye freedom, and offered him high
place in the new government. lie d.
clned. saying: Loyalty 10 my q
posed king forbids my serving /.
usurper.' This man left China, wen
into the wilds on the peninsula with
many Of his countrymen, tanned the
natives, built houses, taught them agri.
culture, cooking. letters, reading, writ
ing. and medicine. and gave Korea 9
rational start. The impress Of thi
saQe's character was great for many
centuries.
Contentment with their institutions
is the chief characteristic of Koreans
even down TO date. In 1871 Admiral
Rogers entered the Han river, bopiul
to make a treaty for the United States
but was coolly told Korea is satisfied
with her civilization Of four thousand
years. This cenceit seems supremeis
ludicrous VIXEN one sees their semi
barbaric state and utter dearth OF com
forts aud libeIties. The courage of thes'
people is indicative; for courage is th'
first and lowest virtue reached in tn
building of national character. Unti
a people can furnish martyrs it car
furnish nothing else worth furnishing
It must have some something. som
ideas worth more than real life. or it
life is worthless. They have libertie'
who dare maintain them.
Korea's courage is Of the rat kind. |
runs in the open field aud fights in :
corner. "On the plain they are kittens
in fort tigers. " Korea is one vast fort
within which the nation has tough
agrinst the surrounding nations
Driven into their feudal castles. ihe'
fight 10 utter determination. Dlsarmrd
they throw dirt in the enemy's eyes -
long as a single hand retains life enougt
to move. This trait types their charac
ter. AS we might expect. they hide II
many refugees Of lies. They are, per
haps. the champion liars Of Asia.
1t would be a mistake 10 rate them OF
the same plane with their North Amen
can relatives. They have much abilii,
in some directions. or. more CORRECTLY
speaking, they hare had con-idera il
ability in the past, and retain its pos
bilities. Korea produced a printe'
book in 1917 "a. d., more than but
bred years in advance of Europe. Tn
earliest recorded use Of the compass i
in Korean waters. A. ID. 1872. They
also, first of the Asiatic races, mad
paper from cotton, and their cottor
paper to- day has the right OF way. Ii
Picking one can see tailors lining III
the mandarns' coats with it. Korei
has also the honor Of giving civilization
to japan.
Conquered by Japan, as Greece. con
quered by Rome. conquered Roma
bar barity by her arts and re6nements
so Korea has conquered Japan by givin
her art. letters. science tquite rude
and ethics (Asiaticl. She sent ovsr I
Japan for centuries hest Of scholar:
artists, and missionaries. who took wit
them the polite manners of Korea. fh
literature Of China. and the religio
of India. 4 candle lights its mat
without reducing its own brightness
but the candle of Korea has burDe
to the socket. and iis candlestic
has been removed To the Is'tI
Kingdom. the possibility Of bio
ting out a great art with its artis
and artisans has been illustrated herr
Four centuries ago japan came owe
and carried away all the skilled wor!
men OF Korea, especially the porceIai
manufacturers. To-day one finds hel
and there in the curio shops Of Seoul
/ fragment of Crackleware that hs
survived these centuries Of drudgery
all modern products are Of the coarsel
and most crude fashion, while tt
transported art sprang up to perfectio
in the friendly soil Of Japan, where OF
now finds porcelain worthy place b
the side of the worlds best.-Chriss!a
Advocate IN. Y
TEsyYsoy is being severely criticise
because he continues to draw tw
hundred pounds q year from the cav
Inst.
MR STURGEON contradicts the repo
that he is unusually i'll. His vacatie
| will begin M about the usual tina. Il