The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-06-27
VISITING CELEBRITIES.
A REAL PRINCE, AND FUTURE
KING, FROM KOREA.

He May he in Search of n Wife-An
Interesting Visitor From Iceland.
Gossip About Prince Flu VIVA
KOon and Nine. SIgride Magnus-
son.
Washington, June 25.-Public attention
is about equally divided this week between
Flu Wha Koon, a real live prince from
the Hermit Kingdom, and fair Icelander
Mime. Sigride Magnusson of Reykiavik.
The former is the second son of the King
of Korea-a commonplace, good-natured
looking man, short, smooth faced and well
along in his thirties-who comes with the
avowed intention of entering one of our
colleges, as a student. He is accompan-
led by Mr.. PAX Wong XIII, formerly the
Korean charge d'affaires In Washington,
and Mr. Six Song Goo, a bowling swell of
the orient, in gorgeous brocades and swans
galore; but whether the suite will also
attend school, has not been stated. Besides
perfectlng himself in the English language
and other branches, the prince will also
study our methods of government and
the causes which have made ours 1.-The
greatest republic on earth.' as he pleas
antly says; and become equipped with
the latest quirks of modern civilization
with view to transferring the same to
his own country. when he shall become
the ruler thereof. In all probability our
petticoated visitor viii be the next king
of CHI ao-Hsien, for his father is old and
feeble, and the eldest SON, the present
crown prince, is mentally deficient, be-
sides being in very poor physical health.
- , L.. H., - -
Morning Calm there are wheels within
wheels in the government machine. Ac-
cording to the Book of Rites, a, certain
nephew of the present king has some
claims to the throne in case the eldest son
cannot succeed his father, and as one
might expect, the nephew is the tradi-
tional villain of the play, who would stop
at nothing, even murder, to further his
ambition. Therefore, Prince Koon finds
1t well to absent himself for a time; and
meanwhile, knowing that knowledge is
power will strengthen his ability to cope
with the difficult problems that may pres
emily face him, by an all-around thorough
education. That he has chosen America
for an abiding place until he comes into
his own, is looked upon as great COM
piiment by observers of international af-
fairs. Most oriental potentates favor
Paris, London, Berlin, Vienna, and par
ttcularly st. Petersburg, for educational
purposes. You should see Prince Flu Wha
KOon when he is dressed upi Always gor-
geous in eastern brocades and jeweled orn-
aments When he went to pay a ceremo-
NOUS visit to President Mckinley his
court costume--of heavy white silk, en-
broidered all over, with enormous golden
swans on the back and front, absolutely
defies description At all times Except,
perhaps, in bed), he wears the very tail
hat of woven horse hair, which be tokens
exalted n
1t resembles an exaggerated section of
stovepipe, with jade buttons set each side
the forehead, and wide flats standing
straight out above the ears, like the blind
ers of a horse turned outWards. II is
whispered that here is q chance for some
manageable American girl to become the
future queen OF the Hermit Kingdom-or
rather, one of them; and that filthy lucre
need not figure in the transaction, for the
family of Flu VIVA Koon has plenty, of it.
Nine. Maguusson is here on a mission
designed to benefit the women of her ma
tive land In the way of higher education
1t seems that the men of Iceland are well
provided with schools and colleges but
mothers are supposed to teach their
daughters all they should know-and as
mothers are entirely uneducated, their
teachings are, of course, restricted. In
Reykjavik, capital OF Iceland, there is an
excellent Latin college for boys, and after
a
theological or medical college i'm the same
city, or else are fitted for the University
of Copenhagen. Some of these colleges
were endowed as far back as the middle
ages-but no provision has ever been
made for the education of girls. Born in
Iceland, Nine. Sigride long ago became
the wife of Prof Eirike Magnusson, a
distinguished scholar. translator of Ice
landic literature and for many years sub
librarian of the University library at Cam,
bridge. England. After marriage she
went to England to live, but has always
spent her summers in Iceland. MngIing
with women who have received advant-
ages in learning which are denied to her
country women, she determined to better
the condition of the latter. Having en-
listed the sympathies of her English
friends, drawing money from her own re-
sources and obtaining contributions
wherever possible she managed to start
the first high school for girls in Iceland,
furnished with fifteen beds for pupils
from distance. They came flocking from
all parts Of the country, a great many
more than she could accommodate, some
having ridden several days on horseback
to reach ReylSjaYik. Great care was ex-
ercised In the selection of teachers, and
besides the ordinary branches, the curric-
ulum included Danish literature, history,
English. singing, sewing. cooking and cal
isthenics. But in one year the funds were
exhausted, and now Nine. Magnusson is
trying TO raise money to continue the
good work. Among her friends and help
ers are many prominent people. including
Lady Somerset, MISS Francis Willard,
Mrs. Russell Sage Of New York and sew
eral New England educators. In Wash
ington her efficient patronesses are Mrs.
Alger, Mrs. Gage Mrs. Gary and other
well known ladies. A number OF recep-
tons have been given for her In fashion
able houses, at each OF which she pleads
the cause of her heart-with considerable
financial results. Though past middle age
she Is an extremely attractive person.
with fine, intellectual face and great cul-
ture, her own education having been OBJ
tained after marriage She dresses in the
fashion OF the high-class women of Ice
land--a gown Of black cloth embroidered
with gold thread on her head a white
embroidered net. held by cor
onet OF iiligree gold. In faultless Eng
llsh she describes the habits and customs
Of her country, and. accompanying herself
on a guitar sings folk-songs IN Icelandic,
Danish and Swedish. This is not exact
~ Washington gossip" but am certain
my readers will be glad to hear Of an
unique collection OF lcelandic heirlooms.