Omaha daily bee., 1896-12-06
A LADY FROM COREA.
4 Chat with Mrs. PAX lc, the COrcn
Ministcr's Mifc.

| Minister'S Wife.
The most picturesque figure in social life
at the capital this winter is Mrs. PAX Ye
| the wife of Mr. Ye Pun Chin, the new
| Corean minister The Coreans have always
been very popular in Washington, so kindly
| are their natures, so simple and charming
| their manners. Add to this the fact that
any reception or dinner is given distinct
! character by the presence OF the quantity
| dressed representatives of that far eastern
| kingdom, and their popularity is easily
| understood.
| The last minister feared the free west
ern ideas for his womenkind, and left them
| at home, where they were safe from the
corrupting influence so that for several
| years past there has been no woman at the
| Corean legation, a loss that has been much
| felt.
A correspondent of the Philadelphia Times
sought an interview with Mrs PAX Ye in
order to get a few of her impressions of
American life and manners and during the
early part of this week received a gracious
note from Mr.. Ye Ko Sok, an attache of
the legation, saying that Mrs. Ye would be
pleased to grant an interview. Accordingly.
dressed in her best gown and new bonnet
she called at Mrs. Yes house 1t is a large
and handsome gray succeed building, by
no means new, overlooking Iowa Circle, one
of the fower-decked green spots that make
WaShington's chief beauty.
The door was opened by a polite colored
boy in neat livery who led the way into the
drawing ROOM Unfortunately it is dis
tinctly American residence, done up by an
upholsterer who had rather a weakness for
vivid cOlors, and although the parlor was
very comfortable and bright, 1t has about it
no suggestion OF eastern pictureSqueness
except for little folding screen painted
with queer pictures by some artist in far
away -Corea. The wall paper is a vivid green
that would be quite unbearable were it not
for the softening effect of the curtains and
portieres OF soft brown brocade light
lowered carpet covers the floor with some
nice skins scattered here and there Each
chair and sofa is upholstered in some differ
ent color of satin damask. 1t is a prettily-
shaped room, with bow-window and
rounded end and from it opens a back paror
with conservatory attached. 1t is very pleas
ant withal and very sunny.
Presently the polite servitor returned and
ushered into the room with a deep bow a
young gentleman in an every day business
SUIT surmounted by an unmistakably Orien-
tai countenanoe 1t was Mr.. Tam f Ye. the
secretary of legation. He speaks English
and has a particularly pleasant manner He
told your correspondent that Mrs. Ye would
be right down.
The next arrival in the drawing room was
the minister's little son, handsome merry
looking little chap of 6. who walked forward
with n very graceful bow shook hands ana
said How dye do" in English \ few min
utes later, with real salaam that must have
required lots of practice, the footman ush-
cred in Mrs. Ye.
She looked just like a deliciously quaint |
littie doll. or as II she had stepped down |
from some painted panel or screen, and oddly |
IN contrast with her room She is only about |
four and half feet high and very slight |
Her dress was very queer and very nic- |
turesque. 1t was more like an empire gown |
than any of our other fashions The waist |
was OF soft green silk, finished with bands |
OF dark brown red, about the color of the |
leaves on the trees outside The surnIice |
waist was very short and below the waist |
band fell full skirt of robin's-egg- blue
SILK On her head she wore a queer black I
SILK head dress, sort of cap with a long |
end at the back, reaching to the waist. about |
hVe inches wide and ornamented with mar
row bands of red, forming geometricaI fig
ures. She advanced smiling and offered |
your correspondent one of the tiniest bits of |
hands Imaginable. Real little dol-baby
hands. to be admired, but not used.
Mrs. Yes manner Is charming. 1t Is sim
pie and gracious. yet dgnifed. She told her
secretary to say that she greatly regretted
that her illness had prevented her from see
ing your correspondent before. Then sh,
SAID she was SO sorry when she met pleas
ant friend not to be able TO talk English and
She smiled in very bewitching fashion in
deed. She is a delicate little woman, II
seems, and has been quite seriously i'll since
her arrival here about month ago.
Presently she called attention with great
maternal pride and also some amusement
to her littla son, who has had his hair cut
short In Yankee fashion and who wore n
stylish suit of knickerbockers and round
Jacket with ribbed stockings covering his
plump little legs. When he arrived here he
vas clothed like his ancestors in colored
silks. He smiled and seemed very pleased
With the change-as much so as any little
\merican boy wearing his first trousers.
Ihere Is, 1t seems, curious custom in
)orea which permits women to go out at
light, but does not grant to men the same
privilege Thus 1t Is claimed that latchkevs
re at a discount in that country. The notion
It the back OF this Is very ancient Man be-
ongs they say, to the masculine principle
II the universe, which is the sun; therefore.
lie needs the sunlight. Woman Is OF the
emlnine principle represented by the moon,
md therefore are the moonbeams good for ,
Ter, There are a good many girls here who ,
would like to persuade their mothers OF this $
act on summer evenings Mrs. Ye said this
Id idea is not lived up to by ladies OF rank,
oweVer, ana midnight promenade by I
orean lady would be regarded as even more q
eccentric conduct than in this country. 1
Mrs. fe on being asked II she found any I
reat difference here from her life at home =
aid very little. The greatest difference was ;
hat at home ladies never go out except In n
losed chairs, and here she drives out with
er husband, Minister Ye Pun Chin In an n
pen carriage. This she finds great fun a
hen she was asked II she had heard that a
ne last Corean lady here had dreadful times 4
her receptions because everybody would n
ttend That women on their way home !,
rom market would employ colored bows 10 4,
old their heavy baskets outside while they "a
ttended the receptions. On one occasion
lady or the smart set met her cook and h.
altress at one of the afternoon teas The rs
laCrlDIlOn RDlmal N Mro |