The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-08-16
LEGATION LIFE TN KOREA.
Described by Connana.r Craig or the
Untted States Nnyyl

former houses OF Korean noblemen. which
have becn rcftted with foreign ideas OF com
fort. The compound OF the American Lega-
ton contains many buildings. There are
guest houses. quarters for the Secretarios.
offices. &c. Tho grounds arc pleasantly largo.
comprising n tennis court. terraces. shrub
hcrics. and q garden. all enclosed with n high.
thick. brick wall. tilcd at the top in a pointed.
gnbled way. like a roof,
The rain building. containing the drawing
room and dining room. is carpcted. papored.
and furnished In American fashion. The cell
inSs. however. are Korean. They have dark.
polished beams. aud raftcrs rich enough to
grace n Newport villa. A long corridor in.
closed in glass. gently warmed by burning
charcoal in carved bronze braziers. leads to
the sleeping apartments o! the Minister.
These arc heated by the khnng-the brick
oven under tho floor. In q small room It
makes u snffooating heat. but in large ones 1t
softcns tho air to q delicious warmth. The
iloors arc covered with oaken paper prepared
like parchment. 1t wears for years. growing
into richer darkness with time and use. The
furniture Of tho bedrooms IL from America
EXCEPT the round. deep porcelain oathtuh OF
robin-"gg blue with yellow lining. and EN-
hossed on the outside in con vnntional designs.
At tho American Legation the servants are
Koreans. with the exception Of n Chinese cook
and Japanese washcrman. None can cook SO
dcliciously rs the Chinese. or wash so immacu.
lately as the Jannnese. At an official dinner
given us 10y, the American Minister tho table
yellow. and Hrecn-tho colors Of the Korcan
hng and tho servants wore gowns OF silk. the
same ra,e shade Of green.
me Legation mas n guard Of soldiers. anu
We never lett the c1mrcund without one or
moro IN attendance. The uniform Is more fan;
w yyn Sni %'T ine "tGi9 ;lS oi "HIr rsssinx H snc%n"." Df It
hfs fm !. i 4 SIesG an al Is nei,s1 in a. ths Waist;
red %tnsscls. i have seen nothing in tile
Korean soldier to ]inspireN feeling oi admira.
heroic IL his country needed defence.
once Witnessed the Irill Of AZ infantry
of tho nobility. Tie American oihcor that was
sent out at tho request Of the King to drill
them IN modern tactics dill SO under Difficult.
their own inc.inations. quite regardless Of or
Iers. For instance. II any one Of them felt Il
height Of, a oven. aud settle himself
iI, the &C romHnny were r., i",!!nE over tho ie'd.
tered or whsnevcr they iiolt "tir"G.S S"''
When We visited the royal palace on the out
many years ago. a guard Of a dozen soldiers
proceeded and followed the procession OF FIVE
United i'uiTed saafes M dfas s2n one 81 his lsr ss satsxrit%s
and his three guests. We were Obliged to go
on foot through the palace grounds. as tho
Of it wild, all OF. it neglo.ted. but leaiously
from the King :' viii gain 1", aami ssHSaa' Wits
some Of us We're looking at the curious cary
ings Of the fonnta'ns aan bni!dings: the
lands and had encountered jungle heasts in
Africa: noticed on the light ernst Of snow GOV;
the chang OF the Queens little palace: cyl
IDENTITY II tiger was in hiding there. At the dis.
S wore at E Ia5 5he ,R paw e Sr,n,s onr rh s9Id w,t,t s sarss
interest. but when tho ,duestio ion was settled
bevond n doubt. and We looked around for our
again until we had ended our explorations.
the shs air - bear" rss o"t sidsI TIE " Will. u "'''
,Whenever we dlned out {. soldier walked
ahead OF the sedan chair md one beIlnh It.
the shape Of u huge ball about two feet in
fa 81 q, Iy s.. p rl.s p1!Af I;.S NccnEr as th by the royal
fSnIi; at a;'s sii; W. w m ,'oss'{s 9SrS Sa H,s IT. n "s:lo No
ness, only occasionally meeting a Korean in
his ghostly white garments. ,crceping about
IIF ittIe n Msn %l s8 t HGqsf to sn1g'n %n h1mse chi Rtta n os
Japanese lanterns. in that it is fiat and white,
or i'rst Official dinner II tt the Inaint old
ister. After Il long. circuitous ride for the
LEGATIONS are scattered to the four winds. Of
near tho city wall. The Japanese compound
was quite rural. with, trees and streams and
s snn,a1 banks; The house vas the usual low.
one floor; but: to show q concession to foreign
ideas. n drawing room and a dining room OF
ceilings so high and the windows 80 tall they
would hare been appropriato Tor q cnapel or
E n cr;m hail vo Thsy a wGr G. .apsEns ayd ,,IGnn;bs1
The wife OF the Minister. BY far the most
wns dressed in European, clothes. Ind
heard the story Of her eonntrywomnn who Or.
tho iniunction that the garments uts." should T'bb be
packed in tho exact succession in which they
should be worn. rs otherwise she would not
wore obeyeh tothe letter in PARIS. but unior;
tnnateiy the box was nreneo, At the wrong end
tho toilet was somewhat marred. My nrst i'm
preston on meeting Mrs: Japanese Minister
WIS !iL TINT she was the herGin" Of this story
served in frcn"h fashion. bnt ! knew that our
host and lis household woul! haze been much
%ratters Of tho, adjoining mul, houses. eating
raw fish and glutinous rice tablets. The fnvors
K Sar wEi in1tf aow verse TTrht .Y %s1s six ijk%e a I S;cb q
inches sIuare the work. Of 4 fenons% artist.
As soon as the men loined the ladies in the
was removed. the folding doors thrown back.
and an imrromptu stage arranged. There
lons sight "ns u Brownie, that ,rtpered
around tho s;nGc. comforting his face into tho
bIoadcst OF smilos, then suddenly changing
them I" :he taiicst Of frowns., II was u very
big. faco set directly upon rather small legs.
and snrnounteI nyn hugo stovrrlpe hat.
Tho sInll would extend apparently t" the ear-.
and at III" same time, all The features would
broaden in Il smashed manner. Again. in the
twinkling Of an eve, they would narrow into
tho longest and strni.htcst count"nance inn
a.inaplr. Everybody was so much amused.
and vet so hailch. our host was gratiiied. and
explained how one OF the attaches OF lis lega-
ton rersonntcl tho Jolly gnomc. His body:
from hips to arnpitS. WAS Dared and painted
to represent y faco; his arms werr thrust, up-
With tln real head and shoulders. II he
crourhcl down tho features OF the imprOvised
face fiattcned and hlOadenrd: il he stretched
himself, uprightthoy lengthencd. OF course.
did not learn how valuable this attaclG proved
in Diplomatic matters: u. a iaughable mystery
,Onr dinner .at the English Legation was
simply i leaf from London Punch. The, low,
broad drawing room. tho long waiSted DI
Mmurier women. tho languid men-all these
made u familiar picture. After dinner every
body was asked TO sing. Q Icplornble English
custom. and everybody did. whether he conld
or not. and in tho. minority OF cases Ia could
not. Still, one feels inclined to admire the
.ui,elassncss OF tho attempt. even while sadly
enduring tho unmrloiious result.
In orJrrt 70 make his Amarirpn puocta NOR.