Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-09-15

vas fastened on by a little round button
about the size Of the back of a collar but
ton. which rested just behind the ear. These
buttons also denote rank. Some were of
gold. some amber and others of other pre-
cicus materials.
In the Royal Presence.
These men were all very dignified. We
We're introduced all around by the cabinet
minister who conducted us into the room.
which were plates filled with assorted
each mans seat there were champagne
glasses, and the servants opened a half
dozen or so of cold bottles while we chatted
and waited. The American minister had
his presentation first He spent about half
an hour with his majesty, and then one Of
the English-speaking officials came into this
room and told me that the king was ready
to see me. Taking off my hat and my eye
glasses. I walked with this man through
long passagcways, walled with stone, by
red-capped, red-gowned servants. and past
soldiers in gorgeous uniforms, to the gate
OF a large courtyard. As we neared this
my interpreter, who was a high official
noble. bent his head over, and his face
looked like that Of a man in pain at a flu
neral. AS we entered the court he bent half
double. and as looked across 1t, saw that
there was a large open hall facing us. This
hall had a massive roof of heavy tiles. and
at the front of II there were a number Of
big round pillars painted red. There were
three entrances to 1t. reached by granite
ateps guarded by stone dogs. and the floor
was, l judge. about six feet from the
ground. Within the hall, in front of q
Corean screen. stood the king. with two
eunuchs on each side of him holding up
his arms. And about him were number
Of officials. who bent over half double
and dared not look at him for reverence
All of these officials had these gorgeous
storks or tigers on their breasts, and they
looked at me out of the tails of their eyes
as l came up. My Interpreter got down on
his knees as he got to the steps. He crawl
ed along the floor to the front of the king
and bumped his head upon the carpet He
then bent himself over half double and re-
manned in this position during the whole Of
the interview. whispering In tones of awe
his majesty's sentences to me and my
questions to him. ... ...
The king was dressed in a gown Of
crimson silk, cut high at the neck. and
embroidered with gold medallions as big
around as a tea plate There was one Of
these medallions on each of his shoulders.
and ore covered each side of the gown at
about where the fifth rib is supposed to be
located. This gown reached to his feet. 1t
was gorgeous beyond description. and 1t
lfarmonized with his cream colored COM
plexion. The sleeves Of the gown were very
full, and out Of them a pair Of delicate.
shapely hands came from time to time, and
clasped each other nervously. On one of
his fingers I noted a magnificent diamond
BRING. and 1t seemed to me as though the
great solitaire must cut his fingers. as he
clasped and unclasped his hands. now fold
Ing them together. and now pulling one
finger after the other. as though ne would
crack the joints. About his waist he had a
belly-band embroidered with jewels. and
bis feet were clad In heavy official boots.
His head was covered with q navy blue cap
of horse hair net high as a silk hat.
This came well down upon his forehead. 1t
had no brim. and there were no wings at
the back. as on the caps Of the officials.
He shook his own hands at me in Chinese
fashion as ] came up. / bowed. and
looked him straight In the eye while we
talked together. l was not more than five
feet away from him, and there was a little
table between US. Above us shone the in
candescent globes of the Edison electric
light, and there was an European carpet on
the floor.
A Cream Colored Monarch.
The audience was largely given up to the
passing Of compliments. and 1t lasted.
judge, about twenty minutes. During 1t
had a good opportunity to study the king,
and 1 photographed. as it were. his form
and features upon my brain. He is about
five feet six inches in height. He is rather
we'll built. but not heavy. He has beautiful
bright black almond eyes. a complexion the
color of rich Jersey cream, and teeth as
white as the tusks of an African elephant.
his lace IL run, ana IL SHINES with lntelll-
gence. He has a thin mustache, and a
few hairs of black whiskers. He smiled
frequently. and now and then he laughed
melodiously. He seemed to have a stone
of about the size Of a boys lucky stone in
his mouth while he talked, and this from
time to time got between his teeth while he
listened. When he spoke 1t sunk back into
his mouth, taking the place of an old
maids plumper. or the tobacco Quid of one
Of our Congressman. l don't know why ne
uses this stone. and I am not altogether
sure that 1t was a stone. 1t seemed too
hard for wax. and medical chewing gum
has not yet been introduced into Corea
The King of Corea is now forty-two years
cd, and he is In good physical condition.
He Is one Of the ablest rulers Corea has
ever had, and there is no harder-worked
monarch on the face of the globe
His troubles today come from his Off
cials. He had been so bound round by
them that he did not know the condition Of
his people. and he has been hedsed In as
was the Mtkado Of Japan a generation ago
You cannot imagine the pomp Of this king
No one can go in front Of him. He never
moves about the palaces without there are
eunuchs at his side to hold up his arms, and
the officials must get down on all fours and
bump their heads en- the floor whenever he
comes into their presence. He spends his