The Savannah morning news., 1903-10-11
Copyright, 1903, by Mary Gay Humphreys.

by the sultan of a comic opera. After
the Chinese-Japanese war, which gave
Korea its independence, the King de-
termined to be abreast of the times.
The army was taken out of its petit
coats and put into trousers, and the
King ordered that that most sacred
object, the top-knot as their gun
trigger style of hair dressing is called,
to be cut off. Thus the edict ran:
Laws and rules proceed from the
King. Treaty relations must now be
observed with the rest of the world,
and changes be introduced into poll
tics. We have, therefore, introduced
the new calendar, title of the Reign,
and changed the style of dress and cut
off the top-knot You should not re-
gard us as loving innovations. Wide
sleeves and top-knots have become
familiar by usage. The top-knots and
hair bands stand in the way of health,
as you know. Nor is it right that in
this day of ships and vehicles that we
should stick to these customs"
This edict nearly created a revolu-
ton To cut off the top-knot, the Ko-
rean evidence of dignity, was an abase-
ment, and the amiable King finally
let his own hair grow out and resumed
his top-knot.
More permanent innovations were
his Home and Foreign Offices, with
their "Cham Pam" (help to decided
and their Cham Wi" (help to dis
cuss).
The difficulty of taking these digni-
ties seriously sometimes disturbs the
foreigners. The Secretary of State,
as it were, went to see the German
Consul about some disputed mining
concession and the German pushed
him off the doorstep and shut the
door. The feelings of the official were
so hurt that he went home and re-
signed.
The King has abandoned the palace
in which the Queen was murdered,
and is building a new palace at the
foot of the slopes on which the lega-
tions are housed. and where the frogs
croak by day and night Here in an
emergency he can climb over the wall
into the grounds of the English resi-
dence, or shin into the American Min
tiers compound.
The palace is a collection of Ko-
rean houses for the Kings hundreds
of supernumeraries and is enclosed by
a high way. Except that he is allow
ed more steps, the Kings houses do
not differ greatly from other houses of
the better sort. But unlike other house,
holders the King can go on to one
of his own roofs without asking his
neighbors' permission, provision TO
keep the Korean from looking by
chance at his neighbors' wives.
The Korean house has some beau
tiful features. Chief of these is the
roof with its re-entering curves. The
roof is tiled and the tiles rest on bed
of earth. In this the floating seeds
find place, and in the spring the roofs
burst into bloom and are gay with
tulip wild pink, forget -nots and
riotous foliage. Beautiful woods and
paper windows and walls are the other
materials used.
Nothing could be more barren than
the interiors of these houses. Caught
in driving rain we sought the shell
ter of gate. A little servant ran
out and insisted on our coming in
doors. We were led through various
courts until we reached the womens
house. Here were two wives, whose
delight al our company was like that
of children. They led us through their
empty rooms low bed and ward
robe furnishing a room. The furni-
ture. however, was imposing. The
wardrobes were gaily decorated with
landscapes, inlald with mother-of
pear, and the hinges and locks were of
ornamented brass. One conspicuous
featrue was the cash chest to accom-
modate the Korean money, of which
the foreigner frequently pays 400 cash
for sedan shopping excursion, ana
]. 400 for days board.
The Korean women wear a sort OF
Turkish trousers and several stih1y
starched skirts. over all this is a very
full skirt gathered to a band that
reaches the arm pits, the last garment
being a tiny bolero. The band Of the
peasant women is much narrower. and
the jacket so small that the baby,
which she carries low on the back,
sticks its head under it's mothers arm
and feeds itself without disturbing her
conversation.
The woman of position never goes
abroad except in closed palanqu'n.
Then she is gaily painted and adorned
with jewels. hairpins being her favor
lite ornament. The middle class woman
goes out, but wears over her head a
green silk coat, which she grabs tight
ly with one hand, so that her face ca n
not be seen. This coat has sleeves so
small that a child could not get into
them. This is a custom from time inn
memorial the origin Of these uselezs
sleeves being lost.
At home the Korean wife looks afte
the household, her chief duty being to
see that her-or their-husband' white
gauze coats are smooth and shining.
Ironing is, indeed, fine art in Korea.
This Is done with two rounded sticks
which the little ladies deftly handled.
When Koreans talk it always seems
as If the air were full Of brick bats,
so harsh and curt is the tongue. But
a group of Korean gentlemen on the
streets, in their long white, shining
coats. with their pipes and reticules,
always suggests company of spick