Evening journal., 1897-10-02
AS A coREAN SIS Us.
some OF Prince Ixins's Impressions RH
Related in His Book.


twill be remembered that Min-Yong-
fIwan, the Corean ambassador, on his
way to the cars coronation, passed
through this city in May, 1896, staying
for three days at the Hotel Warwick,
on Broadway. His presence was noted
by the New York newspapers, and the
fact that he and his fellow ENJOYS de-
toured during their sojourn nearly $40
worth OF ice cream was variously com
mented on in easy humor. The party
consisted of the ambassador, two as
sociate ENJOYS, YunGhi-Ho and Prince
J. ]. Kim-To-n, and the secretary, KIM
Denk-Nien-Araisso. Prince kim evi-
IDENTIFY kept his eyes open, for he wrote
lorg letters to his cousin, Yang-Yu-
Foo, in Seoul, concerning the strange
sights encountered on the journey
These letters have just been published
in the Corean capital for the benefit
of the citizens who may contemplate
q visit TO the occident. The second
epistle particularly concerns New York
customs as the prince found them, and
from it his comments are translated.
He writes:
New York, May 10. 1s96.-Ny Dear
Cousin: I am now IN New York, the great
est and grandest city in America. If not
in the universe. The people are very po-
lite and show great courtesy to me every
time / appear in the street Even the
little boys stop their play and run to
salute me as / pass by. The women are
very beautiful to look upon, and have
soft voices. 1 believe that European or
| American women have all that goes to
| make up female beauty-arched eyebrows,
| great eyes Of various colors, forms agree
able to the sight, fresh compilations and
slender waists. Some persons say that this
deiicacy of the waist is produced by means
/ of whalebones and cords. But don't be-
| lieve It, particularly az / have seen here
/ in a museum the skeleton of a whale.
"In the cities that have been in, with
| perhaps the exception of Yokohama, It IS
| the custom for women to remain silent
until spoken to; they should not even be
| the first to pass the time of day. But here
| in New York women move about among
the shops unattended and ask questions
from whomsoever they please. Just al
| evening, or perhaps a little later, the prin'
| cipal streets of the city are crowded witf
beautiful women, who rarely fail to wist
the stranger a pleasant good evening ar
he passes by. It is a charming custom
Many times have ventured out for {
few moments in front of my hotel, which
is upon an avenue OF tall buildings calle'
the Broad Way. and, in the cool Of tn
evening, have been accosted by man!
beautiful women with bright golden hal
and cheeks, as crimson as the puka berry
that grows on the hillsides In the spring
and with the slender waists about whicl
have told you. Possibly Il was m,
strange dress or my handsome figure, bu
they certainly were very polite to me, and
after giving me the salutation Of the day
would even linger a moment as thoug
eager to engage in conversation. But al
though I would return their smiles an
bow, I could go no further; then the
would pass on with smile and a feS
words of adieu. 1t was gratifying to m
to notice that received more attentio
than any other gentleman on the prom
enade.
"Araisso said in reply 10 a question froi
me that this custom could not be intrc
duced in Corea, for the effects would !
most demoralizing. And I fear that he
right, but here the effects cannot be othei
wise than elevating. for all Is done'so grI
ciously and modestly; and the brigi
smiles Of the golden-haired women chez
the stranger, and evoke within him a be
ter appreciation Of occidental civilization
I where women are the equals and not Il
slaves OF the men
IN. Y. Times.