The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1895-01-11

subject to scrutiny. Several months ago
there was some friction in official circles
In Korea, arising out of the reported
Vaccinations OF Tai Won Kun, who was
then acting in an important capacity and
whose actions were unsatisfactory to the
Japanese Government, and he was de-
posed from his position. Whether there
has been any further trouble growing out
of This is not known at the Korean legs-
ton. The King OF Korea is about 43 years
of age, has reigned for thirty-one years
and is of the 70 dynasty. which has been
the ruling power for 504 years.
The world has been made familiar by
recent events with the solitary state to
Which custom doomed the unhappy despot
King of Korea, and with his domestic af-
fairs. The condition TO which the Jap
anese invasion reduced him is best told
perhaps 10 the following interview with a
correspondent of the New Y ork World:
In moment l was face TO face with the
unhappy sovereign of Korea. He stood
behind table, in front of a geudily up
holstered European chair, with his small,
nervous hands crossed lightly over his
ceinture. A slender, shy man, with an
oval face, thin, silky mustache and chin
beard, kind, vollptuous mouth and soft
dark eyes. He has the eyes of beautiful
girl When he smiles he hangs his head
on one side, half closes his eyes and. look
ing straight at you, opens them slowly
with tie expression of bashful woman.
he does not shake hands. To touch his
Ierson is death. 1t is not 10 since it
was a capital offense to look at him in the
streets.
The King was clad in crimson silk robe
with wide sleeves. yoked at the shoulders
with cloth of gold and caught at the waist
By goid-bnckled loose black belt. a
haze of black gauze covered the royal man
tie and sparkling jewel held it across the
breast. He wore on his small, shapely
head strange structure Of stiffened black
net not unlike the semt-trapsparent frame
WORK of an American woman's bonnet. 1t
rose ip the form OF an exaggerated Phry-
gisn cap and was provided with grotesque
black wings standing upright. The mOn-
srch's legs were enveloped by huge baggy
trousers of white silk and his swathed
ankles bulged out above Korean shoes.
On either side of him were two rat-eyed,
watchful eunuchs in blue robes. their dark
faces scowlIng aud their hands hidden in
the folds of huge sleeves.
On the right of the King stood the Crown
Prince, a half-witted, opeD-mouthed youth
attired after the fashion of his father,
save that purple took the place of crimson
General Ye, the commander-ln-chief of
the army, was OH the left OF the Crown
Prince, velvet-eyed. green-clad, mighty
sword cleaning at his side.
The courtiers were spread out in a hall
circle like many-cOlored fan.
The ceiling of carved rafters overhead
was a whirI of involnted coors. The walls
were latticed and paneled with horny
native paper.
Three slow bows and pause. The in
terpreter folded his arms across the en-
broidered storks on his bosom, bent his
head reyerently and advanced.
II am glad to receive representative of
the American press" said the King. 81
take this opportunity of saying that it is
the wish of my people. as well as of myself,
that Korea should be absolutely free and
independent. l appeal now, and shall
continue to appeal to the civilized nations
OF the world. to use their influence in
preserving the integrity OF the kingdom.
II especially rely upon the friendship of
the United States in this moment of diff
Guilty and danger. Your Government M ade
the first trsaty with Korea and has always
promised to bsfriend us. 1 now look to
America for a fulillment OF those prom
ises. My faith in the United States ia un-
shaken. / am waiting patiently"
| asked his Majesty how the United
States could help Korea. assuring him that
the American Government had already
shown its disposition to resent any at
tempt to interfere with the autonomy of
the nation.
The King looked embarrassed and his
voice dropped almost to whisper. 1t was
plain that he felt constrained In the pEss-