The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-09-16

-kAnR &. (arPenI7r


Ono of the most interesting men in the
world to-day is the King of Korea. The
g.. war between Japan aud China is being
fougnt over him, and the future of Asia is
involved in the struggle. The King is the
absolute ruler of 100000 people. The
land of Korea belongs practically to him.
and the development of its immense natu-
raj resources in gold and coal. which is
sure to occur after the war is over, may
make him one of the richest kings in the
world.
l had an audience with him six years
ago, and | met him in one of his palaces
in Seoul just before the outbreak of the
present rebellion. he received me with
the highest honors, and l am, l believe,
the only strictly private American who
has ever gone through the imperial door
of the great gate which leads into his
palace city.
The Kings palaces cover nearly 1000
acres. They lie at the foot Of a ragged
gray mountain. and a thick wall of stone
as high as twO-story house runs around
dozen great gates. at which, day and
night, soldiers are stationed to see that
only the proper people go in. Each gate
has its own rank. and there are several
entrances for servants and low mobiles.
The great central gate is reserved for
the highest. 1t has three doors. and the
middle one of them is kept for royalty
alone, and only Kings and Princes are
supposed to 60 through it. l see that the
papers state that General Clarence Great
house, the Kings foreign adviser, is the
only American who ever entered the pal
ace through his door. This is not true.
The same honor was accorded last May to
e Minister Sill, Dr. II. n. Allen and also
to me.
This is how it happened. The Korean
officials, who put on great airs. have been
trying to lessen the rank of foreigners in
the eyes of the people. They have made
back entrance to the palace for them, and
they proposed to inaugurate this by thus
letting in our new Minister, Mr.. SILL who
had arrived in Korea during my stay.
Minister Sill, however, refused 10 accent
their proposition. He said he represented
the President of the United States, and
that our President was as big as any king
on the globe. If there was a gate for kings 7
he thought he ought to go through it, and
he sent word to the department that he
would come at the time appointed to this
Zig gate, and if he was not admitted there
ha IN loua &c
message made the faces OF the Kings off,
cials turn from the color of Jersey cream
to skinned milk. They saw that there
would be trouble, and they referred the
matter to the King. Now. bis Majesty has
more brains than all of his Ministers. He
is packed full of common-sense, and he at
once became very angry. he not only
said that the Minister should 90 through
the chief gate, but he sent his own chair
aid servants in order that be might ride
there in state. l don't know that he re-
membered me from my past interview, but
he was told wanted to meet him, and he
said that he would give me special audi
ence after that of the Minister vas over.
1 wish could show you how we marched
through the city on our way to the King.
Our procession of soldiers and servants
was at least 100 feet long, and we rode in
chairs borne by big-hatted coolies. The
Kings chair sbone like gold in its brass
trimmings. and it had mahogany panels.
My chair was covered with navy blue silk,
aud DR.. Allen rode in a gorgeous sedan of
green. We had a couple of Korean mobiles
TO go with US as interpreters, and these
were gorgeously dressed. The Minister,
DR.. Allen and myself had on plug hats,
boiled shirts and swallow-lail coats. The
servants who came from the palace were
dressed in white gowns, belted in at the
waist, with sashes Of green. The soldiers
wore blue coats and plum-colored pants.
and out OF the back of their black fur hats
were tasseIs of the brightest vermiIlion,
each of which was as big as fly brush.
Oh, it was gay!
In this way we went down the Pennsyl-
vania avenue of Seoul. Our kesos ran in
front and howled out to the common peo-
pie to get out of the way for the great men
who came. Men and women were crowd |
ed Up to the walls. Bullock-carts were
driven down the side streets with a rush. |
The people who smoked took their pipes
out Of their mouths and held them be- |
hind them. Women with green coats |
over their heads scampered into their |
houses, and the eyes of all were so
stretched out at the sight that they lost
their almond shape and became circular
In wonder. 1t was so till we reached the
gaze Oh The palace. Here our soldiers
put down the chairs, and. ACCOMPANIED
by our pompous Korean interpreters we
walked toward the gate. Midway nm
the platform we were met by one of the
high officials of the King. clad in oo,
geous green gown, with a stork of ,rhIto
silk embroidered on background of GOLD
foot square upon his breast. He boa .
similar square of embroidery unon hi.
back, and as looked at him it strucl mo
that with good revolver a man coo,d bin,
both of these embroidered birds q, ,bo
same time. He had about his waist boon
Of what seemed TO be she'll or horn. sfuddod
with precious stones. and he was accom-
panied by servants, who held I'D his arme