Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-08-15

owe also the perfection in embroidery
which they have attained. So 1t is possible
that sooner or later there will rise above
the horizon of the art world a passion and
a fad in the collection and importation Of
Corean works Of art. There awaits the
coming apostle Of a newer scheme of
household decoration deluge Of Corean
manufactures.
Some of Their Resources.
THE Coreans," said a gentleman who
knows the country well. "can create any
thing in art work that the Japanese can.
They are wonderful in their ability to de-
sign. You can see this In the embroidery
on the gowns which the ministers and
attaches here wear at times. Those two
swans, which mark high rank. on Minister
Soh's official gown, are marvelously grace
rul IN their draughtsmanship, and when
1t comes to the needlework. the world
never saw any SO fine. They are masters
OF color as we'll as form. and their deco
rative art is destined some day to arouse a
tremendous Juror in this country. The
nothing that requires light and shade.
All Is in nat plane. The Japanese sur
pass them far in this respect. but the Co
reans ans are above them all They need only
little familiarity with European art to
become masters on a footing with the
great artists of Europe and America.
There is on the floor of one Of the par
lors in the Corean legation a magnificent
tiger rug. When the minister tells his
friends that this came from his native
land, and that notwithstanding Corea is
north of Japan and is cold country. 1t is
overrun with tigers, they hardly believe
him. Yet this is 80. and the people in
some sections Of the country live in great
dread Of them. Besides tigers, there are
leopards, mountain liens, foxes, wolves
and many fur-bearing animals whose beau
tiful pelts enter extensively into household
decorative art
Corenn Commerce.
with the building of railroads. Corea
Will soon be competitor with Japan In
oriental manufactures. The Corean gov
eminent has now five railroads under con-
struction. Two of them center at Seoul,
the capital. and run to Chemulpo and Flu
San. Others are feeders running inland
and northward. The building of these
roads has been let to Russians, Americans.
English and Japanese contractors. When
these roads are built Corean goods will
begin to make their way to this country.
Probably the first articles of merchandise
to be imported into this country will be
dress goods, silks and the various quaint
and pretty woven stuffs which they pro-
duce.
Corenns Like Americans.
1T is of interest to Americans to know
that this country is likely to enjoy the first
oppoItu VI buying SOTedn SoouS III
Corea the name of America is magic. An
American is a privileged person. He can
go anywhere that any outsider can go. No
other nationality stands so high in the
opinion of the leading citizens Of Corea.
The king thinks America Is the greltest
nation on earth and his best friend,
View which the whole trend of our diplo-
ports. His majesty Is always glad to meet
Americans. is continually inquiring about
this country, and chershes the hope that
the international good will may in time
lead to extensive commercial relations Of
great common advantage to both nations"
COrca for Corenns.
Minister Sob is strong believer in
"Corea for Coreans." He wants to see his
country adopt all that makes modern CIV
ilfZation progressive and ameliorating to
mankind. He is anxious that his people
should not only have railroads and tele-
graphs. but schools. hospitals. churches,
museums. colleges, universities and all the
institutions and incidents of Angles Saxon
genius and courage. He is a man of great
humanity and desires all worthy moral
reforms. He abolished capital punishment
by beheading and substituted hanging. He
1S practical business man and wants to
see his country engaged in commerce with
other nations.
COrean Robes.
When Minister Sob presents his successor
to the President the occasion will be one
worth seeing. Both ministers will wear
their robes Of state. That of Sob indicates
a rank equivalent to that Of a duke It is
of rare blue, which owes its odd shade to
the peculiar weaving. the result seemingly
OF an art unknown in this country EN-
broidered on the front and back are two
white swans. the insignia Of his civil rank
Were he military man these swans would
give place to embroidered tigers. The min
ister hat will be the peculiar one of horse
hair which has been seen on several state
occasions in Washington. On each side of
the forehead are the white jade buttons
also marks of his high rank The new
minister will wear a white robe embroidered
with swans. In his hat also will be two
white jade buttons.
III Is not known when the retiring minister
VIII go back to Corea. With him Will return |
Bong Sun PAX. the secretary of legation:
Mr. roster Jennings. the attache will re-
main In that capacity with the new minister. |
Mr.. Jennings has had conferred upon him
the honor of an appointment from the king
nlmself. Accompanying this distinction is |
a robe OF green silk with one white swan |
emDroldered on the breast and on the hack |
ana one of the horsehair hats decorated |
with tortoise-shell buttons |