Birmingham age-herald., 1894-10-17
COREAN HIGH LINKS.
An Imposing Cefemony ovsr a :, Deesased Queen.
China, Not to Be Cheated of ap Oppor- tunity for Display, Attends with X Much Pomp and Cir
 cumstance.

Anybody who supposed the suzerainty which China claims in Corea to be a matter of small importance would be nndeceived by the perusal of g recent article in the London Times For cen- turies, it says, the kings of Corea have received investiture at the hands of the sovereign at Pelzin, and all great political events, including the decease of royal percentages, have been duly and ceremonionsly reported to him. On the death of the queen dowager of Co- req, in 1900, the king dispatched mes-I sage to Pelin 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 ave-" The Co., rean envoy spoke of Corea as Q "vassal state of China" and went on to plead that in the then impoverished condi-l ,tion 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- 1eges, ahd 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 tue members of the mission. In other respects the thing was to be done in arst-class style. Every prepar- ation was made for receiving the mis- sion at tue 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 tinge was sprinkled over it in conpli- ment to the imperial color. First in the profession came themission receiver and the Coreap officials in columns, one on each side of the road. \ ' Next came the Coreah escorts, the flags, symbols of authority, etc., yellow urn- hrellas, drums, gongs, and bands of inu- sic. Then came the incense, pa1ah- quins, and the shrine lon 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 1t with this. At the first halting place the imperial envoys were "kotowed" to by various Corean officials, including @ parsonage called "health inquirer," who had been ap- health of the Chinese visitors.
 Arriving at the Corean capital, the envoys and the letter of coincidence were conveyed into the "ha1l 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 '.wailed" at the bidding of the master of ceremQnies 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 thtis 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 uin- bteila bearer. two pathfhders, four at tendants, four litter ponies, four litter pony grooms, four litter attendants, one oRief 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 sti- pervisors of flag signals, six gong beat CTS, and six frst-class Ictors, and two military officers fin conpnand of two de- taohmcnts of escorts. twenty-five silR- embroidered flags, one petty official in- terpreter,s 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 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.