The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-10-11


The King has abandoned the palace in
which the Queen was murdered, and is
building new palace at the foot Of the
slopes. on which the legations 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
residence, or shin into the American Min
ister's compound
The palace is a collection of Corean houses
for the Kings hundreds of supernumer-
aries and is enclosed by high wall. Ex-
cept that he ia allowed to have more steps
the Kings houses do not differ greatly
from other houses Of the better sort.
But unlike other householders the King
can go on to one of his own roofs without
asking his neighbors' permission; provs-
Ion to keep the Corean from looking by
chance at his neighbors wives,
The Corean house has some beautiful
features. Chief of these is the roof with
its reentering curves.
The roof is tiled and tli, tiles rest on bed
OF earth. In this the floating seeds find a
place, and in the spring the roofs burst into
bloom and are gay with tulip. wild pink,
forget-me-nots and riotous foliage. Beau
tiful woods and paper windows and walls
are the other materials used.
Nothing could be more barren than the
interiors Of these houses. Caught in a
driving rain. we sought the shelter of gate
little servant ran out and insisted on
cur coming indoors.
We were led through various courts
until We reached the women's house. Here
were two wives, whose delight at our COM
pany was like that of children.
They led us through their empty rooms,
a low bed and a wardrobe furnishing ROOM
The furniture, however, was imposing.
The wardrobes were gaily decorated with
landscapes inlaid with mother of pearl,
and the hinges and locks were of ornamented
brass. One conspicuous feature was the
cash chest to accommodate the Corean
money, of which the foreigner frequently
pays 400 cash for sedan shopping excur-
sion and I 400 for days board.
Inc Corean women wear a sort of Turkish
trousers and several stiffly starched skirts
Over all this is very full skirt gathered
to band that reaches the armpits, the
last garment being a tiny bolero
The band Of the peasant woman ia 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 a closed palanquin. Then she
% gayly painted and adorned with Jewels,
hairpins being her favorite ornament.
The middle class woman goes out, but
wears over her head a green silk coat,
which she holds tightly with one hand
90 that her face cannot be seen. This coat
has sleeves 80 small that a child could not
get its arms into them. This'is custom from
time imnemorial. the origin of these useless
sleeves being unknown
At home the Corean wife looks after the
household. her chief duty being to see that
her-or their-husband g white gauze coats
are smooth and shining. Ironing is, in
deed, fine art In Corea. This ia done with
two rounded sticks which the little ladies'
handle deity.
When Coreans talk it always seems as
II the air were full Of brickbats 80 harsh
and curt Is the tongue. But a group OF
Corean gentlemen on the street in their
long, white, shining coats, with their pipes
and reticules, always suggests a company
OF spick and span old ladies going to tea
party.
Nothing is ever seen like their head
covering. This is a tall, cylindrical hat
with wings woven Of horsehair, and so
thin that the topknot can be plainly seen.
ms 1t Is etiquette not to remove. Even
at Minister Aliens last Fourth of JULY
reception the Coreans kept on their hats
When boy marries he puts up his hair
and assumes this hat. If he does not marry
he must wear his hair braided down his
back in pigtail, and has only pet name
and must submit to being tootsie- wootsied
until he Is toothless and dies All Corean
boys have feminine appearance. The
girls are never seen.
The Corean gentlemen, unlike his wife.
does not lack for entertainment. He ia
devoted to nature, pcnics, feasts and the
Corean geisha or gesang-that is to saw.
singing girl.
These girls are the necessary accom-
paniment of civilization that shuts up it's
wives and sisters. AS they depend on
their attraotiveness, they are taught to
be good natured always pleasing, to be
accomplished, witty, to sing and to dance.
This necessity gives the gesang incentive
to study and time for devoting herself to
refined occupations She dresses modestly
even when wearing the brilliant silks and
gauzes of her calling, and what seems the
greatest of her privileges, she can 20 freely
abroad.
After the feast, death is the greatest of
Corean functions. Four days after diving
the departed has a send-off in the fashion
OF great feast. His coffin Is then pro-
vided with money and pieces of rich stuffs
for the journey
If he ia person of consequence, the
geomancer is called in to determine the
time Of his burial. This may not be for
three months
The family graveyards, which OCCUPY
an inordinate space Of Corean territory,
are the occasion Of what are known az
graveyard fights, in which the contendinp
parties toss out the sacred ancestors bones
without ceremony.
Corea is the least religious of all the ma
tons Of the East. A mild form OF Con-
fucianism serves for philosophy, and an
cestor worship is the only thing that re-
sembles religion.
There Is not temple In Seoul. In the
country there are monasteries, but to the
monasteries the Corean gentlemen repair
for their high revels.
On the roofs of the Corean horses so;,,t