Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-12-08

Kingdom. the marriage ceremony IS very
interesting. Marriage In Korea amounts
almost to an industry. as fathers anu
mothers raise their girls particularly 10
marry them or. For this reason It can
be easily imagined that the imperial
edlct just issued is causing pretty nut
ter through the entire kingdom, and
thousands OF demure little girls are hop
ing that the royal choice may fall upon
them.
Even II a marriage arrangement had
already been made for her. and blocked
by the Kings order. IL would not worry
the Korean girl X she thought there was
a chance OF her being chosen. An Ameri-
can girl OF the right sort would be loyal
to her first lover. even IL king tried to
step between them: but Korean maid
has 10 scruples on this point. simply be-
cause she has never been permitted 10
fall i'm love. Affection rarely figures IN
her wedding; IL Is simply the result OF a
business arrangement But. for all that,
the Korean girl usually makes good
wife. as wives 20 IN that country.
and the breath OF scandal seldom
touches her.
WOBIAN'S 1NFERIORITY.
In all Oriental countries woman is con-
sidered the inferior OF man. and the PEG.
PIE VI JNvANd NAity Aili- ilFd ~ as "a
aggerated degree. One OF the results Of
this is a peculiar law by which men are
not allowed 20 go out at night. this privi-
lego being accorded 10 women alone. An
explanation Is found In the fact. that.
according to primitive belief, man belongs
TO the masculine principle Of the universe,
the sun, and therefore. TO the day, while
woman belongs 20 tie feminine principle,
the moon, and, therefore, TO the night
The life OF the girl is regulated Ike
piece of machinery. So 1t does not really
matter who the King chooses. Tor he VIII
get the same kind OF wife in any event
except as 10 the matter OF looks. The
little girls enjoy species or liberty up 10
the age of Z, and they have games much
ike American children. they play house,
using shells as table utensils, ana they
make their own dolls. They cut sec
ton OF bamboo stem, five inches or 50 IN
length. and i'm the top they put long
grass, which is fixed like womans hair.
No face is made. The stick is dressed In
clothes ike those worn by the women.
GIRLS ARE IGNORED.
But the girls are not Of much impor.
lance even TO their parents. They do uos
even think that IL Is necessary TO give
her a name. They give her a nickname.
which she loses at the age OF Il. This IS
not a simple usage; the laws are formal
in that respect, and do not make any diff
ference between woman and domesu
animal.
When a woman Is cased to court as a
witness the judge Acknowledges her by a
nickname. At the age OF 2. especially
among the rich families. the girls are
separated from the boys. and relegated
to the woman's apartment. The exagge-
rated morale OF Confucius are applied
with all severity by parents and teachers
consequently family life does not exist
in Korea.
Her life In the woman's APARTMENT OF
the house Is most uneventful but not
altogether an idle one. particularly II hes
parents belong 20 the better class. Ell
quette OF the peculiar kind practised by
the country is drilled into her day after
day. From the age OF 7 she " taught
the duties and responsibilities OF married
life. and those are manifold In Korea
At any time after IL years she may be
suddenly called UPON 10 leave her father:
home for that OF her husband.
HER EDUCATION.
| The young girls are taught 10 read, e
| write. w count. 10 DO different kinds OF
| needIe-work. for which they are yer,
! capable; they study the confucian morai'