New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-06-23

.rsh from IT, rush on their wings OF sulphurous
dame. and the only wonder is that any human
nerson or persons can endure TO make IT, Then
there are prisons and trees in which the pro-
f.ssional devil-catchers manage to confne ther
unseen victims. and besides all these thcre are
tire prayer-p poles which are hung petitiohs 10
such good spirits ms may occasionally WISH inc
earth and fragments OF food and rags 10 p'aca'e
~ nuzzle evil spirits Good spirits in Corea are
an incident sleepy class OF beings. whose main
activity is revealed in the rain which they cause
In times Of drouth they are thought 20 be asleep
and when everything else fails the King has to
pray for rain in place set apart TOT the P"'-
pose. 1t Is from such beNefs that the s"""sc'
minds have revolted to unbelief.
This book sets right an important matter. Al
most every traveller who has visited Corea tells
OF the white clothing OF the inhabitants But MIS-
Min SAYS that the garments are not white. only
n very lIght and delicate shade OF blue. She also
dIspels tho notion that women have any color IN
clothes which they are exclusively allowed 10
wear or that there IL any such uniformity OF
color In wearing apparel at all times as might Dc
Imagined She is also rather original In the fact
that while she notes the scrupulous cleanliness
OF clothing in Corea she says nothing OF the rat
tat-tat behind closed shutters which is per-
petual reminder to travellers OF the way c'ea'-
illness Is attained. II she does mention TINS proc
ess Of clothcs-beating, II has escaped attention.
She observes that the dress of Corean women ~
more nearly like that OF European women than IL
10 be seen among other Oriental races lhelr
pcttlcoats are made quite In western lashioh
and starched so stlfYy az To have the ungraceful-
ness of cr1nolne. Women Of the poorer classes
cut on these skirts ut the ankle but their PETERS
wear them long enough to touch the ground
Jacket or belt shaped somewhat IKE corset
servcs with them tho same purpose mat cors't
does In Christendom while an outer JACKET very
short; serves as an inadequate neckerchet IN
der the pctticoats are worn three pairs OF uou-
sers and with the exception OF the very poor a
wide garment like a grcatcoat completely mui-
fling the figure. conceals every woman when she
goes abroad. The advent Of the foreigner In
numbers has almost abolished ono Of the privi-
lcccs Of Corcan women which they priced very
highly. At nlghtfall It was the custom for men
to retire Indoors nnl FOR tho women to go about
calling and go.riplng. The custom still exists.
bur tho foreign mcn are not 50 traciable as the
natives. and 80 the little freedom which Corean
women enjoyed has been lcsscncd
MIR, Min ranks tho Coroans next TO tho Japan
ese as landsca pc gardeners and In the capacity
Of making their artificial gardens look Ike works
O. nature she rcckons them fully the equals II
their conquerors. They have poetic way of
looking nj nature worthy OF tho old Norsemen.
They call tho rocks tao rarth's bones. the soil.
the earths flesh tho flowers and trees. tho carihs
hair The main defect. az compared With Japan.
Is rather one ~ The land than Of tn" people.
Flowers that bloom all tho year round In japan
can bloom in Corea only Few months az
time. But nowhere. She adds. ARE artificial
lakes or ponds perfected. SO ablush with bloom.
SO aqulvcr wiki perfume as they are in corca.'
Whether they d.; rxpanscs ~ green, or ripple
against a palace we'll. or form the one beauty ~
some little lawn. they are almost always emcr-
aid with lotus-lcavcs and In season brilliant with
the bloom and fragrant with tho breath Il the
lotus-n1wrrs Marble bridges span them. II they
are in the kings gardens. unique island centres
them wherever they area wee island that Is
shaded by is ono dropping tree" II Will be
guessed from NIL these traits that the book con
iains more observation and reflection than notes
Il travel Mrs Min may never have been far
beyond tho walls = the capital but she watched
with interest and curiosity and with M re- or loss
range u her vision. Her visit 10 Corea. II one
may judge from Tho partly fictitious Introduction.
made under tho auspices q n Chinese official
- high rank ana she thur hal opportunities
for observation which others might have missed