The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1894-12-28

StOunu Oh BOlu lOOt square upon his
breast. He had similar square Of
embroidery upon his back, and as
looked at him it struck me that with
a good revolver a man could kill both
of these embroidered birds at the
same time. He had about his waist
a hoop of what seemed to be shell or
horn, studded with precious stones,
and he was accompanied by servants
who held up his arms and sort of lift
ed him along the way. This was not
because he could not walk, but it bet
ter showed his rank and style. He
bowed low. We bowed, and after
short interval of diplomatic taffy Civ
ing 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 inter-
prefers followed him. DR.. Allen and
myself were walking with the Minis
ter. Said the doctor, "He seems
to intend that l shall 60 through the
main gate, too" We'll, Doctor"
said l, 81 think l will stick to the
party, and though | have no official
rank, I'll see how it feels to walk the
path that has only been trodjen by
Kings" had not forgotten that |
was an American prince. And so we
three representatives Of the royalty of
the United States marched through
this temple like entrance. The act
in itself seems little in America, but
it was great thing in Corea, and
everywhere l went after that it was
mentioned in connection with my in.
| PRODUCTION to other Coreans
In our march through the city of
the King this gorgeous Prime Minis
ter stalked along in front of us. leading
us through the center arch of which
we passed. Then we went on through
other courts walled with palaces East
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 pas
sed through street after street, walled
with the buildings in which live this
King and his servants, until we came
to great gate, the side door Of which
alone was open. The central door
was closed. The Secretary Of the
Home Office stepped through the
side gate and expected us to follow.
We had gotten used, however, to the
arch of honor, and we stopped and
waited for the main gate to be open.
ed The Secretary thereupon chang
ed his mind. He came back and was
practically lifted by his servants to
the top of hill where there was
new gate, and he led us through this.
| This brought US into the vestibule
built for the foreigners. 1t was a
magnificent 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 also on both
sides by beautiful lattices of white
paper. The woodwork was papered
with this wonderful Corean paper,
which is as smooth as ivory and as
strong as leather. The floor was
covered with netting as fine as the
web of Panama hat, ard SO thick
our feet sunk as softly into it as they
would have done had it been Brussels
carpet. This corridor had many land
ings. We descended from one to
another by easy steps, and after walk
OF perhaps a quarter of mile we
came out of it into an open hall
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 it.
Each noble had his servant with him.
Tall, broad shouldered men, Cad 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 ad-
dition to these, there were servants in
red caps, servants in caps OF purple
and servants with gorgeous head dress
ings of blue. The officials were clad
in their court dresses, and the head of
each showed a top.knot shining
through its fine Corean cap of horse
hair, which, with its great wings flap,
ping out at the sides, forms the
official head dress. These wings are
oval in shape, and they stand out like
ears, denoting that their owners are
ever listening for the commands of
the King. The gowns of these
officials were of the finest silk, made
very full. They fell from their necks