The Wichita daily eagle., 1894-09-15
COREAN HIGH JINKS
An Imposing Ceremony Over q
Deceased Queen.
China. Not to Be Cheated of an OPpor-
tunity for Display, Attends vita
Much Pomp and Cir
camsSance.

Anybody VINO supposed the suzeralnty
which China claims in Corea TO be
matter of small Importance would be
undeceived by the perusal OF a recent
article in the London Times For GEN.
turies, it says. the kings Of Corea have
received investiture ct the hands OF
the sovereign at Pelzin, and all great
political events, including the decease
of royal personages, have been duly
and tremendously reported to him. On
the death of the queen dowage- of Co
rea, in 1890. the king dispatched a mes
sage to Pekin to announce the sad
event, and presented a memorial to the
throne, IN which he declared himself
to be kneeEng before his majesty in
great perturbation and awe" The Co
rean envoy spoke of Corea as a '-vassal
state OF China" and went On to plead
that in the then impoverished condi-
ton of the royal exchequer it would
be an act of infinite grace on the part
of the emperor if he would not impose
on the king the expense of entertain
ing the mission of coincidence which in
other and happier circumstances il
would be customary for the emperor to
send This was as If the pastor should
iElplore the congregation to omit the
too burdensome surprise PARTY. But
the emperor was jealous of his privi-
leges, and the only concession he would
make was to allow the mission to travel
as far as possible by sea instead OF over
land and not to insist on the usual
In other respects the thing was to be
done in frst-class style. Every prepar-
alton was made for receiving the mis-
sion at the port of Chemulpo, and con-
ducting it to Seoul, eighty Corean miles
distant. The roadway between the port
and the capital was repaired, leveled
and widened, and gravel of n yellow
tinge was sprinkled over it in compli-
nent to the imperial color. First IN
the procession came the mission receiver
and the COrean officials in columns, one
on each side of the road. Next
came the Corean escorts, the flags,
symbols of authority, etc, yellow UNI
byellas, drums, gongs, and bands of mu-
sic. Then came the incense, palan-
placed the emperor's letter., followed
by the Chinese attendants, all of whom
were mounted. The commissioners fol-
lowed in their chairs side by side. and
behind them marched the high and low
deputies, with the supervisors and their
4 18th of July procession
was simply not in it with this. At the
first halting place the imperial ENJOYS
were ''kotowed" to by various Corean
including a parsonage called
a health inquirer" who had been ap-
pointed especially to ask after the
health of the Chinese visitors
Arriving at the Ccrean capital, the
ENJOYS and the letter of coincidence
were conveyed into the hall of audi
ence," where the ceremony took place,
the king prostrating himself four times
before the imperial shrine. At funeral
service conducted in memory of the de-
ceased the king acted the part of chief
mourner, and walled" at the bidding
of the master of ceremonies until the
time came for presenting the emperor's
letter and presents to the departed
queen. Then, in the midst of profound
silence, these imperial testimonies of
regard were committed to the flames
and ascended in thesmOloe to the gods.
The keys of the city gates were handed
over to the visitors, who were thus
made to feel in the most practical way
that the town was theirs. In accord
ance with the agreement the Chinese
refused the presents offered to them,
but on leaving each envoy was fur
nished with four saddled horses and
four grOoms, three drivers. one UNI
brella bearer, two pathfnders, four at
tendants, four litter ponies, four litter
pony grooIns, four litter attendants,
one chief chair-bearer and one sedan
chair, with eight sedan chair bearers,
one pony for carrying rain coverings,
two servants, four conch blowers. four
pipers and four horn blowers, four su-
Deryisors of flag signals, six gong beat
ers. and six drst-class hctors, and two
officers in command Of two de- !
of escorts, twenty-five silk
flags, one petty official in !
one waiter. one cook and !
seven interpreters Of the third order. |!
We cannot help thinking that there is
! pointer here for the next intercolon- /
al conference. The health inquirer 4
vent along, too, and every now and .
hen dropped on his knees and asked .
he ENJOYS whether the interior ar
were in good order II IS /
,vident that the orientals are away /
lhead Of as in the patience with which 4
hey submit TO be bored Here the
lealth inquirer would be elassed with
he man who asks whether it is hot
enough for you to-day.