The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-11-29

CHIN HE II PUN, TIE NEW KOREAN MINISTER.
hind the times. That the society people of
the national capital will watch this forced
evolution with great interest goes without
saying. The process Will doubtless furnish
whole lot of amusement for diplomatic
and official circles.
When Chin lie vi Pun, for that Is his
name, accompanied by his wife ard young
son, arrived in America, they were attircd
III silks of vivid color made into garments
the like of which has been seldom seen in
tho new world. They had come by the
way of Vancouver and Montreal to New
York. All the way across tho continent
Chin, which is Korean for ''his cxccllcncy. I"
Kept growing more and more enthusiasts.
tic. Even i'll Canada he would wander
off when the train stopped ut n station, and
ho caused more profanity among railroad
men than he can ever atone for. American
beer and ice cream especially appealed to
him, ana he consumed great quantities of
each. The Korean members of his suit
initiate him, but whether out of compli.
mont or from inclination is not known. 1t
was only by strategy that his American
colricrs got him away from New York, for
he got one glimpse of the high buildings
and was completely fascinated
In Washington Mr.. Pun Is established
ionahlc precincts of the famous Iowa circle.
y II of tho furnishings arc of tho latest IN.
proved style, and there is now nothing orr
entail in appearance about tho Korean lc-
CATION except the Koreans themselves. and
this Will be changed rs soon as Mr. Pun's
tailor and Mrs. Pum's drcssmakcr finish
their work and the two Pums find out how
to wear their new clothes In order to be
thoroughly civilized Mrs PUN has an
nounccd that she is going to learn to ride
n bicycle, and she may oven give Washing
ton shock by appearing in boomers on
Pennsylvania avenue.
Mrs PUN, by the way, is plump, petite
young woman with brilliant eyes, n deli.
cate olive skin and coy, coquettish man
ncrs. She acts as if she thoroughly enjoy
ell being in such new and strange sur
roundings and having so many novel OK
pcricnccs.
There is no doubt but that Mr. Pun en-
joys everything hugely, especially tho beer
and ice cream. This is his first experience
rs diplomat, and he evidently does not
intend to withdraw into shell and fulfill
his duties in merely perfunctory manner.
He is going to find out all about this great
country of ours, our now civilization, our
business methods and how any or all OF
these things can be applied to his own
country, which is just waking up after n
century long sleep
In order to do his work thoroughly Mr..
Pun finds that he has much to learn and
that lie must get right Mt it. He had even
begun TO master the English language he.
fore he reached Washington and had pro.
crossed so far that he could say Good
morning" with great facility and frcuucn-
cy. Doubtless by this time he has acquired
several more phrases. There is nothing
exclusive about Pun. Although he is a
noble of tho first rank in Korea, he seems
to realize that he is in n democratic coun.
try now and to be determined to act ac-
cordin2ly. lie hobnobs with carriage
drivers, elevator boys and portcrs and looks
with undsg1ised admiration at tho impc-
rious looking head walters in the big no
tells.
1t will DO almost too bad, though, il his
progressive spirit leads him to discard en-
tircly his native dress, for it would lend a
picturcsquencss In thc diplomatic rccep.
ply. Ordinarily he wears n suit of white
silk with flowing sleeves and hloomcrlika
trousers. Over this he puts green or pur-
pie jacket of silk and caps his swartliy hcad
with u quaint, black hat with sugar loaf
crown. Mrs. Pum's costume is of softer
colored silk, but its construction would
puzzle oven IL dresSmnl;cr to describe Mas
tor PUN, who is about years old, is also
dressed in cOlorcd silk and bloomcrs, but
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