Evening star., 1899-03-11
COREAN LEGATION
Interesting Personality Of the Min
lister and His Family.
FROM A FAR OFF LAND
The Sons Have Adopted American
Clothes and Ideas
THE LAND EN- 2 l r E
TIL E ISLAND EN- 2 1 r z

The diplomatic representatives of the far
| distant empire of Corea have won their
way into The hearts of large portion Of
| the people of Washington. Their charm
! ing personality, their warm hearted cor
| diaiity toward their hosts of friends in
| this city and elsewhere, their ready inter-
| est in everything that partakes of Ameri-
| can life and their observance Of develop
| meuts at the capital have attained for
| them a wide popularity. In addition 10
/ this the personal friendship which they
| have gained in large measure is the inter-
| est that naturally accIues to them as ex-
| ponents of the characteristic ideas and GUS
| toms of the orient.
| The Corean legation has long been point
| of considerable interest in the northwest.
| Strangers to the city driven about by the
legion of Jehus, are almost invariably
taken past the legation as well as several
of the other embassies and legations and
it is pointed ont to them the offica
home of one of the most interesting of
that large factor in Washington life, the
diplomatic set" And residents of that
section take unusual interest in this lit
tie plot of foreign domain, a connecting
link with the old world. The legation home
is one of the largest and handSomeSt Struc-
lures in the neighborhood. is danked with
bay windows, and q substantial porte CO.
chere and driveway on 18th street make up
a handsome front. Occasionally from the
flagstaff above the unique flag of Corea
flutters, and its striking colors attract i'm
mediate attention. Standing on the north
side of Iowa Circle, on corner where the
conVerginS avenues and streets make for
il broad plaza and overlooking the we'll
kept lawns and the neatly trimmed shrub
berry, with all the residential bu dings on
the circle in plain view from its windows,
the legation building is conspicuous among
the large number of handsome dwellings
that mark that neishborhood. 1t is al
most directly opposite the Venezuelan lega-
tion, directly across from the old McLane
mansion and within stones throw of the
homes where Grant and Logan once lived.
The interior is largely like that of an
American residence of a modern type save
for the profusiun of decorative embellsh-
ments of Corean design. There are numer-
| Gus ornaments, screens and paintings that
bear the peculiar imprint of the Corean
artist.
|. The Minister Himself.
Minister chin Pom Ye and his household
have been in this country little less than
three years. His family consists of Madame
Ye, Mr.. Chong Hi Ye, his elder son, and
Master Chong We Ye, the younger, to-
gethor with daughter, who, however, has
never been in this country, being devoted
to her grandmother with whom she re-
mains in Corea The minister is a familiar
figure on the streets of Washington, as Well
as in the drawing rooms. Here he travels
about frequently alone at all hours of the
day and evening, a custom which in Corea
would be remarkable There the members
OF the higher classes never go about alone.
Ii is not Vouchsafed them to visit the marts
of the empire. to enter within the stores
and commercial places of the cities and
towns. Such duties belong to their en-
ployes, and the utmost dignity, restraint
and reserve are observed. Travel in what
ever direction they may, what mission
they may, they scrupulousy observe the
to generation. Never do they appear in pub
lie without being accompanied by several
attendants, one close at each side, and
shopping must be done by urderlings. Here
the minister, in conformity with the Gus
toms of the country to which he is ac-
credited, suspends these restraints and is
charmingly informal. With his secretary
or with his young son he is frequent
visitor at the downtown stores. Never
once. however, has he relaxed from the
actual requirements of his country His
sons from their landing the shores of
the Pacific at the outset have been clad in
American garb and their customs rapidly
have assimilated with those of this coun-
| try. This is the personal desire of not only
the minister, but of the Corean people gen
orally, who are intensely fond of the United
States and appreciate its friendliness
toward their government and the oppor-
tunitfes afforded the ambitious from their
midst There is small contingent of
Coreans in this country, who, in many
cases. have received the benefits of Aneri-
can education and training. The two sons
of the minister are being educated here,
the younger in the public schools in this
city, the elder at the Salem College in Vir-
slnia, the latter, by the way, having a
companion student from his country. All
these dress in the latest American fashion.
The minister and his wife, as the direct
representatives of the imperial majesty al
ways are in Corean costume. The minis
ter's rich robes and his peculiar headgear
attract popular curiosity, of which he is
fully aware. He accepts the situation
gracefully, and especially shows his good
nature In meeting children on the streets.
Mr.. Ye belongs to one of the most inf1uen-
tial and powerful families in the land of the
rising sun. He has had great responsible
ties in the administration of Corean affairs
at home and abroad, and has figured con-
spicuously in many of the stirring events
that form chapters in the history of the
empire. He is shrewd diplomat aud OBJ
serves the utmost caution in conversing,
even privately, on current political affairs.
With his intense love of his own country
like Ii Hung Chang, he intermingles a
warm admiration for this country and con-
stantly sounds the praises of both. His ma
tive land has been stirred up much In past
years by internal strifes Of varying signifi-
canoe, and, aside from other issues at
stake, there Is an intense antagonism on
the part of the common people against the
mobiles and what are known as the gentle
men classes. This is evincing itself now in
violent opposition that is being waged
against the upper classes and bearing fruit
both in action and propaganda. This has
with an interesting situation, for the at
tacks not only are directed against those
at the head of the government at home, but
also have been made against the legation
here. Mr.. Ye has quietly ignored the de-
monstrations of these radicals and laughs
off the attacks they make on him, merely
pointing out that they are falsifers and
cal,iminators. Mr.. Ye enjoys real humor