The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1893-04-14
miscellaneous.
KICKERS IN KOREA.

puteS and arguments III vogue in
Korea were to be introduced here
during cam paign time, the number of
blackened eyes, assault and battery
cases and free fights in general would
be greatly diminished.
Rev. Horace g. Underwood, mis-
sionary from Korea, and the first min
lister who entered that country, in
talking about the Koreans peculiari
ans want to indulge in war of words
their backs toward each other, and
then argue to their hearts content,
talking in 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 CHANGING to the
opposite side of the street you would
see another man in the same
position talking and gesticulating
just as furiously. This is not such a
bad idea. 1t brings the possibility of
a personal encounter to a minimum
When a man is made angry, his nerves
are put to tension by Il surplus
of nervous force. He must get rid of
this some way and it is just as effect
ual for him to do so by kicking brick
wall as it would be to kick his anita
gonist, 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.
koreans dress in spotless white
garments, 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
sport. They have their regular sea-
sons for all their pastimes. From
the fifteenth day of the first month
to the fifteenth day of the THU d 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, remember the immense
golden fishes which were taken from
the top of one of the largest castles in
Korea to be exhibited at the centen-
NAL Well, when they were replaced
one 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 he made above n GER
tain size. The Koreans have great
contests during the kite-flying season.
Each string is dipped in glue and
then powdered porcelain is placed up
on it. With these strings, which are
like knives, they try to cut each
others kites loose.
stone wars These might be com
pared to our game OF foot bali. 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 regard.
THE two sections Of the town or
ganize 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 Or
ganiZed. First in rank come men ]
with padded suits, then come the
stone throwers and behind these the
sharpshooters, who are armed with
siings The conflict is watched by
thousands from the hillsides and the
victory consists in driving the oppo-
nents off the field. These fights are
kept up for 10 days and result fire.
quently in deaths, but still the part
cipants call it sport and go 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 a constitutional monarchy.
The king has power OF life and death
but is under the direction of IL certain
class of noblemen. The written con-
stitution is very small, yet it can be
said that Korea is the only country
in the East that has one.
sit is considered Sacrilege to me n
ton the kings name until after he
dies. You never hear the king spok-
en- 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 it passes
through the country. The king was
DESTROYS 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 ancie"t Chinese did Koreans
look upon America as proctectoress. |
One of the greatest honors which |
could be bestowed upon a person was |
given to the Unit States representa- |
tive. The palace has three adjoining |
gates the middle one for the 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 con-
sui to enter in. This is the first time
any one but the king had ever been
permitted to use it"
"A solemn clergyman says that he
once baptized baby Birdie" ad-
ding sadly: Il demonstrated with
H. I lola al n |