The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1894-10-31

with precious stones, and he was &C.
companied by servants, who held up
his arms and sort of lifted him along
the way. This was not because ne
could not walk, but it better showed
his rank and style. He bowed low.
We bowed, and after short interval
of diplomatic taffy-giving he led the
way up to the central gate Of the
palace and motioned the Minister to
walk through the main entrance. He
then went through one of the side
gates, and our interpreters followed
him. DR.. Allen and myself were walk
ing with the Minister. Said the doc
tor, "He seems to intend that I shall
60 through the main gate, too"
"Well, DOCTOR" said I, 'I think I will
stick to the party, and though l have
no official rank, I'll see how it feels to
walk the path that has only been trod-
den by the feet of kings" I had not
forgotten that I was an American
prince. And so we three representa-
tives OF the royalty of the United
States marched through the temple
like entrance. The act in itself seems
little in America, but it was great
thing in Korea, and everywhere 1 went
after that it was mentioned in connec-
ticn with my introductions to other
Koreans.
In our march through the city OF
the King this gorgeous Prime Minis
ter stalked along in front of us, lead
ing us through great courts till we
came to another gate, through the
center arch of which we passed. Then
we went on through other courts
walled with palaces, past servants clad
in brown and red, and by officials
wearing all sorts of hats and gowns.
There were soldiers everywhere, and
Gatling guns stood near some of the
entrances. We passed through street
after street, walled with the build
ings in which live the King and his
servants, until we came to q great
gate, the side door Of which alone was
opened. The central door was closed.
The Secretary of the Home Office
stepped through the side gate and ex-
pected us to follow. We had got
ten used, however. to the arch Of
honor, and we stopped and waited
for the main gate to be opened.
The Secretary thereupon changed
his mind. he came back and was
practically lifted by his servants to
the top of a hill where there was a
new gate, and he led us through this.
This brought US into the vestibule
built for the foreigners. 1t was mag
nifcent corridor, so long that you
could not see the end as you stood at
the top and looked down it. 1t was
lighted at the top and on both sides
by beautiful lattices of white paper.
The woodwork was papered with this
wonderful Korean paper. which is ns
smooth as ivory and as strong as
leather. The floor was covered with
mating as fine as the web of Pan
anna hat, and so thick that our feet
sank as softly into it as they would
have done had it been Brussels car
pet. This corridor had many land
ings. We descended from one to an.
other by easy steps, and after walk
of perhaps a quarter of mile, we
came out of it into an open hal, which
looked out upon the gardens OF the
King, and gave view of the new
palace in the distance.
This room was furnished in foreign
style, and the highest officials of the
King and a number of great mobiles
of the court were gathered within.
Each noble had his servant with him.
Tall, broad-shouldered men, clad in
brown gowns and gorgeous hats, stood
about as guards. These are known as
the brown-coated kesos. They are
the body-guard of the King and, like
the famed soldiers of Peter the Great,
have been picked out for their height
and strength. Nearly every one OF
them is over six feet and their long
gowns make them look like giants. In
addition to these, there were servants
in red caps, servants in caps OF purple