The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-07-04
A COREAN LEGEND.
How the Oriental Edition of Methuse.
Iah Fooled the Devil.
Chicago Record

u
| concerning the manner in which Tonk PAX
| Suk, the Methuseah of their mythology
get the better of Satan. Tong lived 1000
years ana acquired great wisdom. The lat
Ter years of his life We're spent in fishing
put not wishing to diminish the stock Of
OF wire instead of hook. Thus he was
aole TO enjoy the excitement and pleasure
o oa Isinlng Tor several centuries without
realizing that sooner or later the devil
who did Deaths errands, would be looking
him up, he changed his name and abode
with each generation and thus eIuded him
In the meantime the evil one disguised him
sen IN a flowing Corean robe which COW
CIeu up MS tail, concealed his horns under
mourner hat three feet in diameter and
wrapped his legs in curious padded stock
ISS, SO tnat ne easily passed for a native
ne nedrd mat Iong was fishing in the Hau
river. So he collected a quantity of char
coal ana washed it in that stream This of
course blackened the water, and Tong be-
ing surprised and annoyed went up to dis
cover the cause. Finding the devil washing
tie charcoal he asked what he was doing
make 1T white.
Old Tong in his establishment was thrown
~ nus guard and said: L have lived in
Sorea hundreds of years and of course
nave met many fools but I never saw
Dig enough fool to try to wash charcoal
The The devil at once knew his man. and I'M
aoluIng ms tai by way of exhibiting his
M war or arrest seized Tong and hurried
mn Slohe IN the direction of that dark pOr
taI through which all mortals must pass
On the way the devil, being in good hui
Ino[ oyer his success, chatted pleasantly
NJ na' r LQng VINO yentured to ask him what
ne most abhorred and was most afraid of
me deVll made fatal blunder-one which
InlghI nave been eXcusabe for a mortal
put was most stupid for deviI-he told the
truth He said that he hated and feared
Dut four terrestrial things-a branch of
morn tree, an empty salt bag a WORKOUT
straw sandal of an and a particular kind
Oh grass that grows in Corea-the foxtail-
ana that when these were put together ne
could not go within thirty feet of them
IN return the devil asked Tong what he
most reared. Tong, being wise and eXpe-
r1enced, lied and SAL he was in mortal ter
ror of a roasted OK head and mackalee-a
kind of beer
Shortly after this exchange OF confidence
Iong noticed that they were passing a
thorn tree around the roots Of which fox
TAN grass was growing and clriOusly
enough, under 1t was an old salt bag and a
CASTOR sandal; So making a sudden
spring from the side of the devil he gath
sred up the bag the grass and sandal and
hanging them on branch of the tree his
charm was perfect. The devil could not
come within thirty feet
OF course the devil used every inducement
70 get Tong to come forth, but the old rel:
low stuck to his post. At last the devil
went on and got a roasted OK head and
Gask OF mackalee and rolled them in 10
Long, confident from what he had told him
r rndl long would be driven outside ma
magic circle. But when he saw Tong eat
ing heartily of the beef and drinking the
Hackalee with gusto, he realized that the
same same was up, and despairingly departed:
1ohS long lie was due to the accident 4
Dy which his page in the Book OF Fare
STUCK 10 the next one, so that his name
was overlooked. When ultimately the COM
Pt1 ne. was MADE that Tong had been livipg
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