The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-12-18
FROM KOREA
Tvo Native Merchants i'm Seattle
Lacking for a Location.

fwsury Tai Cthunx and Kim Heu She1,
two Korean merchants OF ring fHng'
Korea. are il the city and are the guests
Of Gee Hse. the Chinese vice consul, a.
No. 1s Washington street
r-hsv are from the Hermit Kingdom CT
Eastern Asia Il is a very rare thing for
: Korean 70 visit a foreign country. The
kgrg Of Korea sent a few % his people 70
srss country as MS representa- lives al ne
Worlds fair. and they attracted a great
sezf Of attention with their curious cos
rnrles and their quaint ways The king
az Korea though A vzssaa or China, Is IA
rs own country an absolute monarch.
ard is vested with the powers OF life and
death over ali his subjects. He IS the
ahfeet OF almost divine hanDrs. Ii is 4
saerflage 10 utter the name which he re-
eefvas from his sGZerain, and 20 touch bis
rarson with a weapon OF iron - hign
treason: so rigidly IS this rule enforced
that one Of the kings IN lsa. with an IN
pranouneeabIe name. suffered an aoscess 10
put an end TO his life. rather than to have
his sacred body come in contact with
lancet.
4 PoSt-Tnteliigencer reporter had the
Measure Of meeting Chung Tai Chung
last evening. The costume ne Wore is q
most singular one. His hat IL the COM
mon head dress of all OF his countrymen.
II Is a small framework Of bamboo. COW
cred WIKI a EUte-SNtftAs AHcA &tAAs N-~hAA'
cap. Il protects the head neither from the
rain, cold nor sun. and one wonders how
the natives OF the hermit kingdom. which
has a cold climate IN winter, manage 10
get along with such headgear when Il -
either very cold or very warm. His coat
Is OF silk. light purple n color. with
black silk collar. Il Is shaped Ike
bathing gown and reaches down almost
10 the tops Of his shoes, which are similar
IN fhosa worn ny the Chinese.
Chung Tai Chung is distinctively Chi
nese. so far as his features are concerned.
He is taller than the average Chinese, and
wears a black. bristly mustache and chin
whisker. His cheek bones are high, his
teeth prominent, and he Is Monaghan in
all his physical characteristics, He knows
a few words OF English. but thsse were so
few that the converse so1 had TO be car
ried on through an ints4 rs.r. the Chinese
said:
Il have only been ins the country for
short tlnle. and have visited San Francisco
and y ortiand since my arrival. There are
only foer of my pek pie on this Coast that
know okasTwo am In San Francisco and
two. including myxeH. in this city. The
Korean peop,e ara Generally satisfied with
their country ard do not care 10 travel
much / am a mereh liant and am looking
about for location. and If j find suita-
bic one, / VIII remain in this country.
am amazed at this country, and there is
much for me 10 marvel at Here there Is
so much hustle and so much activity: in
Korea the people are much more quiet.
Your railroads and great transportation
facilities I'll me with amazement: we have
nothing Ike them In Korea"
When asked If there was stiu trouble in
Korea with the japanese, he said;
There Is no fighting there al present,
because the Russians put a stop to the
fighting several months since"
The Russians. he said. had recently
taken a deep interest In Korean affairs.
This was because one of the branches OF
the long railroad which Russia is build
ing across Siberia is 10 terminate in Korea.
This road. he said, would be finished
within the next two or three years, and he
Thought 1t would add greatly 10 the i'm
portanee OF Korea, as IL would give it an
additional market for its products. In
conclusion. he said that he would remain
in the city for a least week. and would
be pleased TO meet those who desired in
formation as 10 his country.