The herald., 1897-02-28
In Fabrics

white Jade buttons (also marks of
rank) on each side of the forehead, and
white flaps, like the bows on Dutch
bonnet, or the "blinders" on the head
gear of a horse, standing straight out
above the ears. On other state occas-
ions he wears a beautiful and very vol
luminous brocade gown of peculiar
shade of blue (between electric" and
robins egg which owes its peculiar tint
/ to some trick of the weaver's art known
only in Korea. 1t also has the white
swans on the back Of 1t, and his ample
bay window" and the horsehair hat
with the binders appear to be as in
dispansable to the outfit as monks
cowl.
Several times in the early morning the
writer has met the Marquis Ye prom
enading the little park near the legation
on Iowa Circle, always arrayed in an as
tonishing negligee of green and blue bro
cade, than which Solomon in all his
glory" etc.
HIS BETTER HALF
Mrs. Ye-whatever may be her proper
title in Korea-is charming little body
and something of a scholar in her way.
She reads and writes in Chinese, which
is to the Korean languc ge what the Lat
in is to ours, and is reckoned as a great
accomplishment, and she is as well
versed in the classics of China and Japan
as in the folklore of her own land. That
she is good natured and courteous
woman Is shown in her Willingness to
meet strangers whose ways must to her
seem very strange and shocking, and
to conform to customs diametrically
opposed to all those she has ever known
In Korea ladies of social position never
under any circumstances appear in pub
lie unveiled, nor walk in the streets, nor
sit at meat with their sons and husbands
and never, never mingle in society where
gentlemen are present Until years old
Korean girl is allowed to play with
her brothers, but at that age she enters
the seclusfon of woman's life and is
thenceforth shut UP with ner elder sis
ters, II she has them or alone if she is so
unfortunate as to be an only daughter
never to be seen of men until she is mar
ried to a stranger whom her parents
have selected. Even then her habits are
not greatly changed, for in her husbands $
nome she remains in strict seclusion
from the outer world of men and women.
though she lives to the age of 100.
a KOREAN NEW WOMAN"
But Minister Ye is progressive man.
VINO entertains opinions as novel in his
own country as the first new woman"
was in this-and he has wisely decided
while in Rome to do as the Romans.
as nearly as he can. So the American
oOSial tOuS, Win CONSIDERABLE mOQifica-
ton, has been adopted at the Korean
lega tion, and Madame Ye has her day
at home (Wednesdays), and goes into
society constantly with her husband:
and stranger STILL she sits at table with
her husband and all the gentlemen Of
the leSation-an offense which, erstwhile
in the hermit land. would have been con-
sidered bow-stringab able, to coin a brand
new word. They have discovered that
American families sit al meat together,
and now all the members Of the legation
surround the table. Minister Ye pre-
sides at the head and madame at the
foot. Fancy the astonishment that
would create in the illustrious family of
Ye at home could they witness such go
ings on! When the ambassador and
wife receive their guests in the legation
she often wears a gown of heavy blue
silk, which somewhat resembles the
makeup of What we call the empire"
style. But for gorgeousness it is un-
surpassed. While the round, full skirt
is bright blue, the short bodice and
sleeves are vivid scarlet; and on her
head is a little black cap, from the back
of which hang two long streamers, or
silken sashes, on which are fastened bits
Of jade or coral, denoting the wearers