Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-12-27
KICKERS IN KOREA.
They Talk Saucily About Each Other,
but Not to Each Other.
NEVER INDULGE IN FIST FIGHTS.
Koreans Don't like Work, but Are Very
Fond Of xciting Sport
A P1TTSBURG VIEW OF THE PEOPLE

If the manner of conducting disputes and
arguments in vogue in Korea were to be
introduced here during campaign time, the
number of blackened eyes, assault and bat
terry cases and free fights in general would
be greatly diminished.
Rev. Horace G. Underwood, o missionary
from Korea, and the first minister who en-
tered that country, in talking about the
Koreans peculiarities yesterday said:
"When two Koreans want to indulge in a
war OF words they stand about 80 feet apart
with their backs toward each other, and
then argue to their hearts content, talking
into the air You can frequently see man
on the street in Korean towns talking
against the wall of building in the most
violent manner, and at first glance you
would think him crazy, but upon glancing
to the opposite side OF the street, you would
see another man in the same position talk
ing and gesticulating just as furiously.
This is not such bad idea 1t brings the
possibility of a personal encounter to a
minimum. When q made is made angry,
his nerves are put to tension by surplus
of nervous force. He must get rid of this
some way and it is just as effectual for him
to do so by kicking brick wall as it would
be to kick his antagonist When Koreans
do have hand to hand fights they never use
their fists, but just grab hold of the large
top knobs they wear and pull them until
one has had enough and gives in.
Wear White Dresses but Don't Wash.
Koreans dress in spotless white gar
ments, yet are, perhaps, the most uncleanly
people you can find. They are extremely
lazy and detest work as another race would
snakes Five men are engaged to do the
same work that one man can do in this
country.
"The Koreans are great lovers of spvrt
They have their regular seasons for all
their pastimes From the fifteenth day Of
the first month to the fifteenth DAY of the
third month the sky is filled with kites.
After the season Is over YOU cannot see one
kite about anywhere. Koreans take great
interest in kite flying. The kites are made
square, but their size is restricted by the
Government You will, perhaps, remem-
Der the immense golden fishes which were
taken from the top of one of the largest
castles in Korea to be exhibited at the
Centennial. Well, when they were re-
placed oEe of the natives made an enormous
kite, and by attaching it to one of these
fishes succeeded in pulling it down from
the top of the castle and made off with it
He went after the other one, but was
caught in the act by the Government
officers. After that the King issued a
decree that kites should not be made above
a certain size. The Koreans have great
contests during the klte-fying season.
Each string is dipped in glue and then
powdered porcelain is placed upon it With |
these strings, which are like knives, they
try to cut each others kites loose.
Worse Than a Football Game.
"After the kite season come the stone |
wars These might be compared to our
game of football. They are little more
brutal and kill few more people, but |
Korea is not SO far advanced as we are and |
should be given some latitude in this re-
gard
''The two sections of the town organize |
themselves into armies They are, of |
course, made up of the rabble. They then |
proceed to an open place between two hills, |
where they meet in conflict, fighting with |
stones and rocks They are well organized |
First in rank come men with padded suits,
then come the stone throwers and behind |
these the sharpshooters, who are armed |
with slings The conflict is watched by /
thousands from the hillsides and the victory /
consists in driving the opponents off the |
field. These fights are kept up for 15 days |
and result frequently in deaths, but still the |
participants call it sport and 60 into it for /
pastime. The light in which we hold foot
ball explains the place the stone fights hold |
in the Korean mind.
"Korea is constitutional monarchy. The |
King has power of life and death, but is un-
der the direction of a certain class of noble
Ic
small, yet it can be said that Korea is the |
only country in the East that has one.
Mustn't Use the Kings Name.
'Tt is considered sacrilege TO mention the
Kings name until after he dies. You |
never hear the King spoken of by his /
name-it is Our Majesty always.
Koreans are very backward about taking /
up new ideas They consider all things |
good come from China. Even the English |
cutlery, they say, comes from there, because
1t passes through the country. The King
was desirous to show his subjects that this
idea was erroneous, so he sent over to
America and got an American electric light |
plant, which now lights his palace.
Koreans wear the same costumes and
use The same form of language as the an
cient Chinese did. Koreans look upon
America as a prntectoress. One of the
greatest honors which could be bestowed
upon q person was given to the United
States representative. The palace has
three adjoining gates; the middle one for
use OF the King, no one but he being per-
mitted to enter through it; the two side.
gates for servants and visitors. Upon one
occasion the middle gate was opened for the
United States Consul to enter in. This is
the first time any one but the King had ever
been permitted to use it. -