The San Francisco call., 1898-04-03

The Koreans, like the Chinese and Japanese, do not countenance mar riages when there is a great disparity in the ages. The sunbeam kisses not the moonbeam they say.
 Although the King was willing to give up the maiden of his choice, he re- fused for a long time to consider any of the other damsels that were offered him by his advisers. Of late the clamorings of the people for the remarriage of their Kfno have grown so persistent that he has yielded to the importunfties- of his Ministers and has agreed to marry the lady they nave selected for him.
 The future Korean Queen is said to be about thirty years old and very handsome. according to the oriental standard of beauty. In this she differs from her predecessor, who was an eX- ceedingly plain-looking woman. In ad- dition, the future Queen is simply as intelligent, or rather, as unintelligent. as her countrywomen. while the mur- dered Queen was considered clever. and was remarkably we'll informed consid- ering her advantages. Her influence over the King was supreme. and he consulted her on all matters of public as well as private interest. Her judg ment swayed all his actions and her power was evident in every branch of the Government.
 In selecting this wife for the King the Ministers have been very careful to choose one who will not usurp their power.
 During the twenty-five years that the murdered Queen shared the throne of Korea, she practically ruled the nation. Like other Korean girls, she received little or no education, but she was a constant and serious student. She read all the books that could be obtained at the English mission schools and was aware that there were nations far more advanced than the Koreans. Never theless she had that inborn hatred for the Japanese which is the birthright of every Korean, and for this reason there are some who believe she was put out of the way by Japanese.
 National Korean dislike for the Jap anese dates back 400 years. A mighty Japanese warrior living at that time. with but handful of men succeeded in conquering as large an army as ho. req could muster. or tnls 1eal or arms the Japanese are proud and in their text books the warrior who ac- complished it is given the place of honor The Koreans have never for gotten the ignominy of the defeat and have a deep-rooted aversion for every thing Japanese. All thelr customs ana laws more clearly resemble the Chi nese to whom they are very partial.
 The murdered Queen did not hide her dislike for the Japanese, for in spite of the knowledge she had acquired, she was still a Korean, and as such could not tolerate the Japanese The Minis ter from Japan was subjected to all manner of indignities. Her family, who were all-powerful in Korea, owing to her influence with the King. made things particularly uncomfortable fo> the Japanese located in Korea
 One night some one entered the apartments of the Queen by stealth and murdered her. It was claimed that the murderer was Japanese. An Amer ican living in the capital confirmed this report He had seen the Japanese slip into the royal house and come out with stains of blood on his garments.
 The Koreans asserted that the a.ssas- sin was but the instrument of the Jap- anese Minister in Korea, and that the murder had been done at his instiga- tion. Japan finally recalled the Min ister and sent another in his place, thus averting serious trouble
 The King. now that his wife is dead. IS easily managed by his Ministers. The murdered Queens family have been stripped of their power, and have sought refuge in China.
 The new Queen will not occupy the prominent position of affairs that her predecessor did. The people do not care what manner of woman the King marries. so long as she is of a suita- ble age. But what they do want Is that he shall marry at once. so that marriage may again be strictly legal in Korea