New-York tribune., 1895-02-17


ton TO his mental powers. But the cynicism with
which he contemplated his probable fate was
shown in his remark that 1t was marvel TO MIN
how he kent his head on his shoulders. so many
other people wanted it. The morning alter ne
had his conversation with Mr. Savage-Landor ne
Was sent off I'm disgrace to a distant province as
n punishment for tri1:ng breacn OF eu-
ouette The disquetude due TO secret intrigue II
not confined to the court or 10 onhcai ci0'es'
Seoul, the capital OF the country s"ar"s WIN
detectives and informers. The hatural cohui-
tions of society are such as to make every III
habitant a spy upon the anairs OF 'h9Se aoou'
him In addition TO this the police are chosen
ord ,r,ired for secret methods They wear no
rriforn, Unknown they mnge with the peo-
PIE gain the confidence Of others by simulate"
friendship and prove themselves eH1c'ent III
,rac,,i,g criminals DeIinquents captured
with a cclerity that may be cnvied III more
ci,uized country or the other side Of tho medal
the offences OF the police themselves encouraged
hv the secrecy with which they are surrounded
the author says little. 1t Is not q thing easy 10
no observed But he does remark on the fire.
auency with which detectives were themselves
detected in unlawful acts.
When the system Of espionage Is described,
about all is said that can be respecting the ad-
and nobility is taken all round. a very lazy one"
They even consider exercise beneath their dig
nity and leave their sports to hired exhibitors,
with the single exception OF archery. The short
bows can be used by a trained hand with great
accuracy But even th.S pastime has largely
passed into the hands OF professional archers.
who are kept at the expense OF their admirers
These bowmen abound all over the country.
Judging by the authors account OF their Skill
they would be far more efficient soldiers than
the ill-armed men whose exploits nave receh''!
won the r;dculc OF the world. The Coreah II
not lacking in courage. But IT has hitherto beeh
impossible to convince him OF the utiity OF driii'
The euns with which the army is supplied are of
So many sorts and sizes that no government
could keep it in cartridges ready Tor service.
Moreover. the Corean Government Is so con-
trivcd that most OF the funds required Tor pnphc
business fall gradually into the purses OF offi-
cials Before the war which is now in progress. a
volev Of musketry was - rare thdt IN" hhs
rsuauv sent n Inessnge to the various foreign
officials to quiet their apprehens'ons ot rot OF
revolution The guns uss1 in hunting are old
fashioned hntlOcks.
If the Corean foot-soldier With gun for which
he amos, never has any ammunition and his
strange costume-which before the advent Of the
,idpanpsc
nean-is an object # wonder. how much more the
c,valryman who is obliged to have two men to
hold him on and one to lead his sieed. Mr. saw
age-Iandor tries to imagine these fantastic troop
ers making charge. but H. falls. They may be
Of use in cases Of mourning Coiea Is rarely out
Of the habiliments Of woe. Every married man
has To- don them when death visits the royal fam
ily Were il not for this aspect Of corean life. 1t
10 nit tp a
use for cavalry threc-quariers Of which goes
afoot The chargers alone arc amusing. They
are little ponies Tor which man must have a
high saddle H. keep mis- fesi from :hc ground.
Perched on structure nearly two feet above the
pony's back the rider finds his position anything
but secure On the other hand the animal do
feats all attempts 10 noun, him with n Western
saddle by crouching and backing out from under
his rider. His proper use Is as burden bearer
IN country where ~ efficient wheeled vehicles
are known. and where the roads are mere paths
The only riding machine with a wheel depicted by
By the author seen In Seoul. This was a
contrivance with n body Ike a strc:chcr set on
upright frame which ran on a single wheel Two
men, one in front the other behind propelled the
machine and kept II steady. while the man who
sat aloft appeared fully conscious u his dig
nifty and Of the risk he ran. HIS flowing SILK
gown and jewelled belt proclaimed him man ~
rank. In front Of him marched cool" carrying
his court costume. while In the rear u his un-
steady vehicle walked "A number o, servants.
There you see him. adds the author. 'perrhed
up in n kind ~ armchair a, the height Of about
five sitting more or less gracefully on a love-
ly tiger skin that has been artIsically thrown
upon 1t. leaving the head hanging down at the
back Under the lccless chair. 1t We're there
fb.. ittx,a- sul gf fNli M
between these supports rcvolves a heavy nearly
round wheel with four spokes Occasionally
the wheel is made Of one block OF wood only. and
is ornamented at the sides with numerous round
hea led iron nails
When a woman is married In Corea she signs
the agreement either by mixing her hand and
pressing II on the paper. or by laying II upon
the paper with the fingers parted and allowing
an outline drawing 20 b. made When "A
marries he has to DO up his hair in queer knot on
top OF his head II he fails TO marry ne 10 never
allowed 10 use this knot. nor even 10 don the
clothes Of an adult man. hut Is forced 10 dress I'm
childish fashion. lie has this recompense that
when all the rest OF the nation goes into mourn
ing for dead royalty h. escapes. Women Of the
upper classes are restrained by social prejudice
from second marriage. But peasant women
are free 10 take a husband they
are r!d Of The old one. The Tradition Is that
women must live secluded. Nevertheless they
are the most potent element in the life Of Corea
The burdeneG taxpayers blame them for the
wasteful lives Of the official class They affect
the course Of Justice and politics If OF the lower
class they little secluded az their hus
bands. and when they choose to take hand in
a fight they are not TO be despised. Once the
author was witness to quarrel between a clti
zen and a soldier in which the wife Of the for
mer interfered She had Il wooden mallet. with
which she beat the military man almost into in
scnsbility Mr. Savage-Landor tried to make
peace. and received on his knee painful blow
from the n:allet which convinced him that he
had veniured out Of his proper sphere. The