Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-06-25
coREA's JUBILEE POSTPONED.
Smallpox in the Imperial Palace spoils
All Plans,

Seoul Correspondence Golfers Weekly.
There were to have been great festivities
here this week In celebration Of the jubilee
of the emperor, but they have been post
poned until the autumn. The preparations
were on a most elaborate scale, and already
$780, has been expended in actual outlay.
apart from what has been pocketed by ofi-
Gals. Some of the Items are rather curl
Gus and Interesting. Corea has no navy,
and therefore was not in a position to reply
to the salutes of the foreign warships that
were expected. The Corean government
therefore bought an old vessel, built in
England sixteen years ago, and fixed her up
as a warship, so that they are now ready
for all the saluting they want. They paid
$220,00O to the Mitsui Company in Japan
for her; or, to be more strictly accurate,
promised to pay that sum. They spent
100000 on banQueting hall, at which a
large number Of Cinnamon were kept work.
Ing day and night, but it has been con-
Structed in such f1imSy fashion that the
foreign ministers are now very glad that
they will not be obliged to trust themselves
inside it. Foreign broughams and horses
were imported, but no foreign-made We
hicles could ever stand the roughness of the
streets of Seoul, and they are now for SALE
There was to have been a great garden
party to which five hundred people, includ-
invited. and gorgeous pavilions, only half
completed, are now abandoned. Works Of
all sorts for the Identification Of the city
were in progress, but everything was
stopped when smallpox broke out in the
imperial palace, and Li-Hun, the son of
Princess ON Young was stricken.
The illness of Li-Hun gave rise to extra
ordinary proceedings. Although there is a
European doctor officially attached to the
palace, he was not called in or consulted
oil
native doctors and magicians were sum-
moned from all parts Of the empire, and a
perfect orgy of magic was held in the pal
ace The prescriptions or orders of the
mag1cians are being carried out throughout
the capital. Any violent movements are
supposed to aggravate the evil spirit of the
disease; absolute quiet, therefore is main
tanned IN the palace. The guards are not
changed until they are ready to drop from
WEAKNESS. All the works are stopped. as
the doctors declare that every blow of a
hammer would mean a pitmark on the pa
tents face. The weather seems to hold no
terrors FOR the Coreans On showery nights
as well as at other times, a crowd of the
poorest class of the population gather out
sue the palace gates. from which at inter-
Vals quantity of propitiatory aims In the
shape Of copper cash is thrown to them
lhey are grOtesque and motley lot of hui
manly. These who wear tall hats which
are part of the national dress have LITTLE
CA ing ulsher-shaped covers on them to pro-
tect them from the rain, while some have
waterproof coats of oiled paper, and a few
nave paper umbrellas much the worse for
wear. Ihe1r loose, wet garments fap dis
mally as they huddle together shiyerinp
around the gate, and great waIlowing
scramble ensues when the shower of cash
Is thrown out over their heads.
me great bronze bell in the center of the
Town was tolled at long intervals and
oooileo win sad and sullen tone 1t is
one OF the largest bells in the world and
"hen 1T was first cast it sounded with a
cracked and harsh note. The magicians on
pelhg consulted, said it would not sound
- s Ill untli i've child was given to it; SO
IL was melted again and a baby was thrown
mo the molten mass. The Coreans saw
u .hat the wall of child may now always he
heard in its voice -" o1"a9s oe