Arizona republican., 1894-10-05
COREAN HIGH LINKS.
An Imposing Ceremony Over a
 Dece assd Queen.
Ckiua, Not to Be Cheated of an Oppor ~ tznity for Display, Attends with
 Mach PoEnp and Cir
 cUIastSnce.

AnyDoGT who supposed the Suzera1nty 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 cen turies, il says, the kings of Corea have received inyestiture at the hands of the sovereign at Pekin, 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 dowager Of Co., req, in 1890, the king dispatched a mes sage to Pelzin to announce the sad event, and presented a memorial to the throne. in which he declared himself to be kneeling before his majesty in great perturbation and awe" The Co., rean envoy spoke of Corea as ''vassal state of China,' and went on to plead that in the then impoverished condi- ti0n 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 condolence which in other and happier circumstances it would be customary for the emperor to send. This was as if the pastor should implOre the congregation to omit tn 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 presents to the members of the mission. In other respects the thing was to be done in frst-class style. Every prepar ation was made for receiving the mis- sion a5 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 yellow tfnge was sprinl1led over it in compli ment 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. x Next came the Corean escorts, the flags, symbols of authority, etc., yellow um
 brellass drums, gongs, and bands of mu- sic. Then came the incense. palan- quins, and the shrine ton which was 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 attendants. A 18th of July procession was simply not in it with this. At the first halting place the imperial envoys were ''l1otowed" to by various Corean officials, including a parsonage called ''health inquirer who had been ap- pointed especially to ask after the health of the Chinese visitors.
 Arriving at the Corean capital, the envoys and the letter Of condolence were conveyed into the hall of audi eRce,' 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 the smoke 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 en leaving each envoy was fur nished wilh four saddled horses and four groons, three drivers, one um- brella bearer, two pathfnders, four at tendants, four litter ponies, four litter pony gcoOns. 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- pervisors of flag signals, six gong beat CTS, and s4X frst-class lictors, and two military officers in command of two de- tachments of escorts, twenty-two silk embroidered flags, one petty official in- terpreter one waiter, one cook and seven interpreters of the third order We cannot help thinking 5ha5 there is a pointer here for the next intercolon- ial conference. The health inquirer went along, too, and every now and then dropped on his knees and asked the. envoys whether the interior ar arrangements were in good order. It is evident that the orientals are away ahead of us in the patience with which they submit to be bored. Here the health inquirer would be classed with the man who asks whether it is hot enough for you to-day.