Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1902-12-20
i1ME. CHANGES MISSION
Crossed Ocean to Learn How
to Help Koreans.
WOULD MoDBRNIzE OLD NATION

Kingdom Expects to Remain In the
! United States Several Years and
/ VIII Then Return to the Orient to
| superintend Schools.
The desire to acquire an American
education, to enjoy American customs
and to imbibe American sentiment has
brought Nine Chang all the way from
Korea to San Francisco, says the st.
Louis Republic. The quaint little crea-
ture is the first high class woman OF
her nation to cross the ocean for an
American education.
In her simple way she tells how all
the real happiness of her life came
through the teachings of Americans,
and she wants to speak the language.
read the literature and live the life of
the people OF this republic.
1t required just two years to con-
vince Chang Sebang her legal lord
that a peep at the world and a bit of
education would not utterly ruin the
wife. But the lady's logic was not only
good, but persuasive, and here she is,
with her child, domiciled as Il parlor
boarder at the Methodist mission. 1t
is the intention of Mime. Chang to re-
main there year or more until she has
mastered English sufficiently to take
up some lines of the higher education.
Nine. Chang's father, the late Ye Sc
bang, was one of the most prominent
men in the Wueyo province. He was
rice grower, and the plantation on
which he made his home was at Nam
changne. Her husbands family, which
DC. icI, I'D .f,,I Ifr-ae 4l.,
same town.
Il never saw my husband until 1
stood by him for the marriage cere-
mony," she said through an interpreter
in comparing some of the Korean Gus
toms with those of the advanced ma
tions.
81 was just fourteen years old. and
as 1 had been raised with the idea that
my father would select desirable per-
son 1 peeped at the bridegroom with
approval Suppose had not liked his
looks and refused to marry him? Oh,
such a thing could not have been. y
Korean girl would not dare-why, she
would not even think of such an act of
rebellion. There's no sweet pea girl
hood in my country. When girl of
the better class reaches her seventh
year, she goes into seclusion and is
housed and under restraint until she is
fourteen. Then she is married. After
that she may visit friends. but she is
not permitted to speak with a man.
''There is no social intercourse be-
tween men and women. The men have
most of their life with men and the
women theirs with women. 1t will be
telling step in the advancement of
my country when social conditions are
mOdernized. One of the old customs of
the capital, Seoul, has been abolished,
and this indicates progress along the
right line. This custom forbade men
on the streets after sunset. From that
time until o'clock women were al
lowed the freedom of the town to walk
or visit. Death was the penalty for
man who broke this law. The women, |
attended by their wards went in par !
ties, and every one carried pretty Ian
tern. Those hours were selected so that |
the promenading of the women should |
not interfere with the business life of |
the city.
unlike the other oriental women, |
the Korean after marriage has dis |
tinct place in the household and |
voice in all matters pertaining to her |
family She must be consulted, and |
her views carry weight with the hus- |
band. She is an important factor in |
the home life, but in the community |
she is nonentity.
Strange as it may seem, the Korean |
woman has no name of her own. Here
1 am called Nine. Chang, and l like
that and wish l might always be adj
dressed by my husbands name. AT
home am Kenug Sin Omanie- That
means mother OF Kenug SIM my child.
II 1 had no offspring. l would have no
name. 4 girl is sometimes given nick
name when n baby, but this is dropped
when she is married. My baby name
was Loving BOugh-
'HTheklatest social innovation is the
family meal Formerly the men and
women never ate together. The wife
and daughters had their meals togeth-
er. and the father ate with the sons.
All who have adopted the new way of
having family breakfasts and dinners
find it so delightful that l think after
awhile it will be universal.
"Korea is not as stubborn as China,
and believe in time she will yield and
become moderated. Christianity has
taken tremendous hold on the people,
who are eager to adopt the new Gus
toms along with the new religion.
81 do not know how long / shall re-
main in this country. Likely several
years, for l wish to prepare myself as
a teacher and do what | can for the
of the women of Korea.
OF course cannot go around teaching,
but 1 may open and superintend
schools. 1 intend to instruct the women
Of my class in my own home.
81 used to be a pagan. and very
did / worship the devil. 1t
was all mistake. | shall endeavor to
persuade my countrywomen to look up