Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1889-03-14
SIGHTS In Seoul.
PICTURESQUE SCENES IN TN.
CoREAN CAPITAL.
A Brief Description of It's Peonl.
and Their Manners and Custom.
Its Queerly-dressed Soldiers.

Its Queerly-dressed Soldiers.
On entering the great south onto =
Seoul, the capital of Corea. a mos 81 u; =
turesque sight meets the eye. 4 brdrs .I
winding street leads down into ~
heart of the city, lined on either sido ' l..
the little, straw-thatehed booths Of ~
| pretty retail dealers, placed in front \
the rows of substantial one-stoy III
rooted houses which form the confno,
Of the street, and back OF which on
wooded hills, stand the bunpolo ro a
dences of the better classes. The mi.
retail booths display small stocks Of IL.
bacco, kerosene, native lnicknacky All
trifles from over the sea. Some oe
given up to needles and thread. Other
to matches, others again to clocks AMI
lamps and all manner OF foreign goods
Occasionally simmering pot in one 4
/ these booths announces a free lunch u
all that step inside and partake Of a bowl
of wine. IN front of the saddlers INA
piece goods merchants, the rice m@
chants, butchers and other extensive q.
Establishments, these booths are consp,n.
GUS for their absence, presenting A fine
wide space, and causing one to nge.
that the broad street should be SO eIpt.
tered up by the unsightly Sheds
The road is well rounded in the mid.
die, with open drains on either sde
! The people tludge contentedly along n
the middle and on all sides Of the stTee
among the pony and bull trains, for no
one is in hurry in Corea. Occasion.
ally a huge, numbering bull cart drawn
by two or more magnificent large ami.
mails, comes along, claiming the rigltd
way but all, even the carts. must turn
to one side as the procession Of an
official is heard coming. He is me,
ceded by two men in dark blue flowing
uniforms and large hats, calling out 70
clear the road then come similarly
dressed runners, bearing, maybe the
huge cardease, followed by others with
long paddles, with which they occasion
ally whack the shins of some disrespec
full fellow who has failed to step aside
promptly enough, or who has forgotten
10 remove his pipe from his mouth, orto
arise if sitting down. Woe to the pony
boy who has gone to sleep on his leader
and does not dismount. He will he
eiiectunlly helped down with the blade
of this big paddle, and MAJ congratulate
himself if ne gets off with no further
punishment. Following the paddeS
comes n troop of native policeme.,
dressed in dark blaze gowns with long
split tails, and wearing gorgeous red
plumes dependent from the back Of the
broad-brimmed felt hat Immediately
surrounding the official is perhaps 8
body OF soldiers dressed in queer ini-
tation of foreign military costume, aud
bearing Martini Henry rifles, with fixed
bayonets, the long tobacco pipe con.
yenienily stuck into the gUn-balTel Or
occupying the bayonet scabbard Last
come the secretaries Of the noble, with
his Wallets and servants, bearing bis
toilet articles, or valises containing his
court robes, if he is coming from OF 60
ing to the palace. The Official himself
is perhaps seated contentedly on aver
high chair, mounted on a single whed
and steadied by a number o. bearers q
lie may be resting in iow-coyered char
borne on the shoulders Of his men.
But the cOlors are what give thestree
such q q,laint holiday appearance
White or blue predominant, and the
long. flowing gowns, well starched aad
ironed, glistcn in the sun and blend
their colors together, making a dazzling
picture together with the red ofthe emil
dren's dresses and the occasional bright
silk gown OF an official or well-todo
merchant. The peopio mostly dress IN
white cotton, victoria lawns
and silks. These are thiokiy padded
with cotton for winter wear, and thus
present very baloon-like appearance
Originally they colored the cloth as o
rule, but now white is the prevailing
color for the common people, custom
which is accounted FOR by the following
White is the mourning colG
and three years the period Of mourning
Once, duinga period of ten years, lliee
kings died, neccssitating q change o.
by the whole people each tine
Ii of course was burdensome. rs a0ore.A
is sathcr extensive and gaze
costly. In order, then, to ayold US
in the future, they decided .
dress altogether in white and be ready
for the caprice Of their kings. Ot coi,Is,,
the wealthy arc not obliged 70 follow
Hhis custom, but may dress Us lls!
please. -Saa EsdaciSco CAToaicse,