The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1897-11-27
U. S. SHIP "BosToN,"
cHEMULP6, Korea,

OCTOBER ~ 1871 P
Before leaving Yokohama / attend
cd the theatre that 1 might be able, as
] promised, to tell you something about
how theatrical performances are con-
Quoted in Japan. The actors pfofes-
sion In that country does not hold the
same grade as IN our own, There are no
Henry 1rvlngs or Edinw Booths TO
adorn and elevate the stage, and the
plays are of a very low type, until
recently only The lowest classes ire
quented the theatres, The buildings
are generally unpretentlous; but on the
days when a performance Is TO be given
the exteriors are covered With posters
and streamnrs. Inside, the bare board
walls and The absence Of chairs give one
the impression of being IN q barn, In
fact a barn with n stage In one end
wouM be a very good theatre or ths
Japanese type. The larger theatres
have balconies. The stage IS built
with a punishable In the middle ana
while one scene Is being enacted on the
semi-circie towards the audience, me
next is being prepared on the other
side. When one scene IS completed the
turn-tabte slowly Tevoives n me
next appears In view. At the conclus-
ion of an act the curtain Is drawn Ihe
dresslng-roomis IN the end of the saHa-
ina opposite the stage. The actor leaves
81 and reaches the stage by walking
down n gangway In plain view OF the
audience. THE play begins Mt ~ a. m
and continues without intermisslon I'M
M I n. m, The people bring their iuti-
cheons. and. between the acts coolies
90 about the theatres selling Tea, me
noting is very good, but the movement
of the play Is extremely slow, a con
y~ersation between two sou'e
times lasting two hours,
.On the o2nd of September, at Chefor'
was transferred from the Olympia 70
the Boston, as watch and division OH
cor. The Boston left Chefor for che-
muipo September "a, arriving mere uhe
next day. after a very pleasant trip
mis- is nv first visit to Korea II mas
a defightfui climate, but that Is all'
Chemulpo Is very uninterestnS' me
oonulation IS, l suppose, between Two
md three thousand. There are Only
thirty or forty foreigners here, a GOOD
many Jams and a few Chinese. y ko-
reans are a shiftfess, dirty and ignor-
ant race. They differ from the Chinese
more in dress than anything else. They
wear no coIors. Their clothes are white
when they are new. Seul, the capital, IS
about twenty-five miles inland. nope
10 20 there in the near future. A ran
road Is being built by some American
eanitalists, from seul to Chemulpo. The
Russian influence predomfnates, espe-
clally since the Japan-Chinese war,
''The king of Korea was raised TO the
rank OF emperor about two weeks ago
I was very sorry not to be able TO wit
ness the ceremony. Several OF ii ON
GERS went, and they said it was very
Interesting. / was too busy to go we
are n officer short. and until another
arrives, / will not have much leisure
'I read in the San Francisco papers
long accounts OF the presentation of 9
silver service 30 The United state
steamship "Wheeling." In the Sar
Francisco Wave there Is 4 photograph
of a group Of the party which cam
from Wheeling. I cannot say that TN
picture Hatters them.
1--WE expect to remain her untl jan
nary /. The hunting here is said 20 D.
very fine. l hope to enjoy a little oil ]
before we lea"a."