Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-04-14
SOME PHOTOGRAPHIC EXPERIENCES.

SOME PHOTOGRAPHIC EXPERIENCES.
or some photographs he once took the lee
turer remarked: The pictures failed to de-
velop. however, for our boatman, at a point
farther up the river, took occasion to explain
the Photographic process to some of his friends,
and III so doing took the exposed plates from
his holders and held them up to the light until
the lecture he mentioned the smilarties and
differences between the Koreans, Chinese
and japanese, and told of his expe-
periences in obtaining photographs of the
representatives, of each race. He said: 1.-The
Cinnamon of the lowest class have an instinc-
tive dislike for the photographer. They be-
heye that he who steals their images steals
away IN some manner portion OF their indi-
viduality. The negative in the group shown
on the screen was secured by focusing upon
some other object and then suddenly swinging
the camera around to the left and getting
a snap shot, This group of Koreans was taken
in the streets of Seoul and with much less diff
Guilty, the trouble here being to prevent
the people from attempting to lend hand i'll
the work, to keep them back far enough to get
a foreground. Korean ladies of high rank are
never to be seen in public in their own country,
for they lead lives as secluded as the inmates
of the most jealousy guarded harems of Con-
stantinople. The women of the lower classes
soon learn to fly at the sight of camera and
many unsuccessful attempts of the photogra-
pher are to be recorded.
THE LANGUAGE OF CoLoRs
''The noble, the commoner. the soldier, the
peasant, the priest of Buddha and the at
tendant at the Contucian Hall, the bridegroom
the mourner, the married and the unmarried
of both sexes-all may be told by their dress
and each dress is subject to certain secondary
notifications that indicate many things as to
the condition and position of the wearer
Color also plays prominent part in dress dis
la, g. l. 4
criminate use by the masses of the
people is forbidden-that is, for the men,
for no sumptuary law OF the east and west has
vet been able to Danish any wished-for color
from the feminine attire. Red is Also a
mark OF distinction, allowed to young men at
the time of their marriage. White indicates
half mourning and the shade of yeilowish
brown of unbleached fabrics is full
mourning number Of pictures il
Illustrating the national costume were
shown, the work OF Korean artist
who has become famous in his own country
He was peasant of a northern province, who
first made reputation by painting sets of
pictures and selling them to foreigners at the
sea ports. He was genius in his way. Some
OF his best work was produced by drawing with
a hot iron upon surface of soft pine wood or
oiled paper. With the aid of the heated me tai
he would rapidly trace out flowers. birds and
trees, VARYING the shade according to the dis
lance that he held the iron from the surface.
YELLED WOMEN.
"In Korea alone OF the countries of the far
east do the women veil their faces in public.
Korean tradition narrates that in days of old n
wise king. DESTROYS of reducing the expenses of
maintaining standing army and deslrous of
creating a numerous and wel-equipped reserve.
decreed that the outer garment worn by the
women should be fashioned iii the manner of a
soldiers coat so that in the event of a sudden
call to arms the men might be provided with uni
forms by their wives. Absurd as this may seem.
IL is nevertheless true that the garments worn
at the present day by the people of the middle
class in jOurneying abroad bears "A fanciful re-
semblance to the coat referred to. although
feminine privilege has transformed
the material, reduced the size and
altered the shape of the original.
Slaves and servant women make no attempt at
concealment, walking openly bare-headed in
the streets. Aged women discard the veil.
Ladies OF rank are never to be seen in public,
being carried from house to house ill closely
| curtained chairs. As the boy grows older he Is
allowed TO wear gown as the men do. As long
as he remains single he wears this same dress
! and is treated as the merest child, irrespective
4, of his age, SO that he looks forward to mar
rage as a way OF obtaining his release from re-
| straint and of establishing his social position
much women do in other iands. The mar
riage generally occurs at an absurdly early age,
bride and groom averaging between eleven
and nfteen years.
KOREAN WALL.
"The Koreans have a peculiar way of build.
ing a wall by erecting two parallel partitions
between which they pour plaster or mud aud
then remove the partitions, when the material
soEdifies. When was in Seoul an examina.
tion OF students occurred, and the subject then
chosen was text from one of the classic
authors to the effect that as the boards serve
| to give shape to the mortar 80 honest and
| upright statesmen mold the fabric of the
nation. The students were all required was
| told, to write poem in blank verse upon this
subject"
Many were disappointed in being unable to
| obtain admission TO hear this interesting lee.
ture, and Ensign Bernadou will probably be re-
1nested to repeat it at an early day.