The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-10-11
"A Comic Opera
(: -: Nation Sc:

faces at each other across Korea the
land OF the Morning Calm retains its COM
posture and pursuss an existence compare
bic to nothing outside of comic opera. y
land I'm which the dynasty was Matched
from an egg; in which a bachelor, though
al old man. is regarded as an infant. is
called by pet name and talked TO in baby
talk: in which boys are invariably married
10 women: In which men at nightfall are
expected to stay indoors and let their wives
roam the streets and gossip with their
friends; in which the poor take plain pills
and the rich have their pills decorated and
eiIded. is truly the land Of the libretto.
China is the parent of Korea. In the
nists OF ages the favorite of the King Of
Chinese province, wandering by the river.
saw a glistening vapor which foated into
her bosom and became egg. From this
was Matched a boy, whom the enraged
King threw 10 the pigs. But the kindly
pigs fed him with their breath. and the
King. believing that heaven willed the boy
should live. took him into the royal house
mold, where he was called 1.-The Light of
the Fast
The boy was skilled in archery. surpass-
ing every one. The King became Jealous,
and the boy fed. Coming TO the River
and thousands OF fish came and made
bridge of their bodies that he might pass
over. When his pursuers arrived at the
stream the finny bridge swan away, and
they were left helpless.
The Light OF the East found an amiable
people on the other side, who made him
their King. Thus the King of Korea is to-
DAY regarded as the Son of Heaven. In
point of fact, he is the son of Tai-WonKun,
and was appointed to the throne by the
Dowager Queen Che. His father and elder
brother are his subjects. for primogeniture
does not obtain in the Orient
Ii Hsi, as the Korean Emperor is called.
Is an amiable gentleman of fifty. at present
a widower-if a gentleman with one hun
6red concubines may be called a widower.
Queen Min, who was murdered by the
japanese, the Americans living in Seoul
say, was a woman whose mental powers
surpassed even those OF that very remarka-
BILE woman, the Empress Dowager OF
China. For over thirty years she was the
power behind the throne. Literally behind
the throne. for the Queen, no more than
any other Korean woman. could be viewed
by mortal man other than those of her
immediate family. The most subtle
diplomacy was conducted from behind
screen, and so ably that the only resource
of her enemies was TO kill her.
Even this murder-one of the most brutal
tragedies Of the century-had lis enlivening
features. The American missionaries, aho
were the only people in Seoul that the
King could then trust, took turns in guard
ing the King and the Crown Prince while
they slept. Another missionary and his
wife cooked all the food that the hapless
pair ate. sending it TO them in locked
box lest, after the Oriental fashion they
would be poisoned.
Now enters the Lady ON, concubine No.
]. Lady ON announced a venerable aunt
with sudden cramps. 1t was necessary that
she leave the palace for her home, and
Lady ON would accompany her. Two
palanquins were ordered. and in the Sc
clusion of the woman's quarters the King
and the Crown Prince bundled in and
safely escaped the palace. where they were
virtually prisoners, for a haven at the
Russian legation. 1t must be understood
that in Korea not even the boldest of secret
service men would dare look inside wom-
ans palanquin. Naturally. ever since
Lady ON has had her hopes of advance
ment.
1t is not amusing to be a widower in
Korea For three years the unfortunate
must abstain from all pleasure, and go
about with a sort OF gunny bag veil screen
ing his face. Discipline of this sort facili-
fates marriage. Nevertheless, the King has
thus far evaded the Lady Om. She has her
faction, which ascribes every essential evil
10 the Kings failure to take unto himself
new queen, and has memorialized the
King in her behalf
of Seoul In front of the palace gates the
sightseer never fails to behold couple Of
men squatting behind low stool on which
lies a roll of paper. This is the memorial.
There are memorials about everything
under the sun. Here they sit day after day,
for time is OF no consequence in Korea.
Perhaps in time the memorial reaches the
King. who in time responds, perhaps, in the
summary fashion he responded TO the
memorial concerning LADY ON:
April q, 1897. Reply to Kim Kon vok
and others. Your views are quite patriotic.
but the government has laws and ceremon-
les which do not require your suggestions.
more by sending US memorials. You are
therefore ordered to 90 away
The Kings edcts mighs be issued by
the Sultan Of comic opera. After the Chi
nesesJspaness war. which gave Ko-.s its
independence, the King determined to bs
abreast OF the times. The army was taken
out Of it's petticoats and put into trousers,
and the King ordered that that most sacred
object. the top-knot, 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 politics. We have, there
fore. introduced the new calendar. a title
OF the reign. and changed the style of dress
and cut off the top-knot. You should not
regard as loving Innovations. Wide
sleeves and top-knots have become familiar
by usage. The top-knots and hair bands
stand i'm the way of health. you know.
Nor is Il right that in this day of ships and
vehicles that we should stick to these Gus
toms"
This edict nearly created a revolution.
To cut of the top-knot, the Korean evil
dence OF dignity. was an abasement. and
the amiabIe King finally let his own hair
grow and resumed his top-knot.
More permanent innovations were his
home and foreign Offices, with their ''Cham
Pam" Chelp TO decided and their 'Cham
W ftaTr