The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1894-12-28
Frank G. Carpenter, With the Amen.
can Minister, Enters the Oorean
Palace.
They See Visions Of UnSpeakable
SplendOr and Partake Of the
Royal Hospitality.
HIS MAJESTY OF C0REA is HEMMED
ABOUT WITH INCREDIBLE P0MP
AND CIRCUMSTANCE.
THE QUEEN PEEPS AND CYCLES.

ObC VI tbS buOot illtClCStillS ilCIl
the world to-day is the King of
Corea. The war between Japan and
China was fought over him, and
the future of Asia is involved in the
struggle.-The King is the absolute
ruler over 100000 people. The
land Of Corea belongs practically to
him, and the development of its i'm
mense natural 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.
The Kings palaces cover nearly
1000 acres. They lie at the foot Of
ragged gray mountain, and thick
wall of stone as high two story house
runs around them. This wall is en-
tered by half 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 special 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 go through it. l see
that the papers state that General
Clarence Greathouse, the Kings
foreign adviser, is the only Amer lean
who ever entered the palace city
through this door. This is not true.
The same honor was accorded last
May to Minister Sill, H. N. Allen,
and also to me.
This is how it happened: The
Corean 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 tor them, and they propos-
ed to inaugurate this by thus letting
in our new Minister, Mr.. Sill, who
had arrived in Corea during my stay.
Minister Sill, however, refused to ac
cept the proposition. He said he
represented the President OF the
United States, and our President was
as. big as any King on the globe. If
there was a gate for Kings 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
big gate, and il he was not admitted
he would return to his legation. This
message made the faces of the Kings
officials 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,
his Majesty has more brains than all
OF his Ministers. He is packed full
OF common sense, and he at once be-
came very angry. He not only said
that1the Minister should 60 through
thSschief gate, but he sent his own
chalH and servants in order that he
mleN ride their in state. l don't
kn0t that he remembered me from
my past interview, but he was told |
wanted to meet him, and he said he
would give me special audience af-
ter that of the Minister was over.
wish | could show you how we
marched through the city on our way
to the King. Our procession of sol
diers and servants was at least 100
feet long and we rode in chairs borne
by big hated coolies. The Kings
chair shone like gold in its brass trim
mings, and it had mahogany panels.
My chair was covered with navy blue
silk, and DR.. Allen rode in a gorgeous
sedan Of green. We had couple of
Corean mobiles to go with us as inter-
prefers, and these were gorgeousy
dressed. The Minister, DR.. Allen and
myself had on plug hats, boiled shirts
and swallow-tall coats. The servants
who came from the palace were dress
ed in white gowns, belted in at the
waist, with sashes of green. The sol
dlers wore blue coats and plum color
pants, and out of the back of their
black fur hats were tassels of the
brightest vermilion, each of which
was as big as fly brush. Oh, it was
gay
In this way we went down the
Pennsylvania avenue of Seoul. Our
kesos ran In front and howled out to
the common people to get out of the
way for the great men who came.
Men and women were crowded up 10
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 behind them. Women with
green coats over their heads scamper.
ed 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. It was
SO till we reached the gate of the
palace. Here our soldiers put down
the chairs, and, accompanied by our
pompous Corean interpreters, we
walked toward the gate. Midway On
the platform we were met by one of
the high officials of the King. clad in