The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1894-10-04
COREAN HIGH JINKS.
An Imposing Ceremony Over a
Deceased Queen.
China, Not to Be Cheated of an Oppor-
tunity for Display, Attends with
Much POmp and Cir
cumst2nce.

AnyDOuY WHO Su DOSCNt lllS ouASA am J
which China claims in COrea to be a
matter of small Importance would be
undeceived by the perusal of recent
article in the London Times. For CEN
turtles, it says, the kings of Corea have
received investiture 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.
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 lineeling 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-
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 it
would be customary for the emperor to
send. This was as if the pastor should
implore 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
presents to the members of the mission.
In other respects the thing was to be
done in ftrst-class style. Every prepar-
alton was made for receiving the mis-
sion at the port of Chemulpo, and con-
Quoting it to Seoul, eighty Corean miles
distant. The roadway between the port
and the capital was repaired, leveled
and widened. and gravel of a yellow
tinge was sprinkled over it in compli-
ment to the imperial color. First in
the procession came the mission receiver
and the Corean officials in columns, Que
on each side Of the road. # & Next
came the Corean escorts, the flags,
symbols Of authority, etc, yellow UNI
brellas, drums, gOngs, and bands of mu-
sic. Then came the incense, palan-
quins, and the shrine Ton which was
placed the cmperors letter., followed
by the Chinese attendants, all of whom
We're 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
A 18th of July procession
was simply not in it with this. At the
first hating 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 Corean capital, the
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 assembled 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 on leaving each envoy was fur
nished with four saddled horses and
four grooms, three drivers, one UNI
brella bearer, two pathtinderS. four at
PENDANTS, four litter ponies, four litter
pony grooms, 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 SUI
pervisors of flag signals, six gong beat
crs, and six frst-class lictors, and two
military officers in command of two de-
tachments of escorts, twenty-five silk
embroidered flags, one petty official in
terpreter, one waiter, one cook and
seven interpreters of the third order
We cannot help thinking that 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 ENJOYS whether the interior ar
rangements were in good order. 1t 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.