The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1904-04-06
ODD KOREAN HABITS
TEAR BASKETS AND HEART CLOTHS
AND THEIR USES.

There Is a great deal Of poetry about
all Koreans This Hoes not make the
visitor IN their country love them less.
why do you shake your husbands
gown so ferociously every morningg
the writer said 20 hostess in Seoul
Are sou afraid a spider may be weag-
ing in it,
'Oh, no, moonface,R was the reply
.He must be 10 japan now -so far it is
and his spirit comes every night to
this gown. So tired must he be in the
morning to 50 back SO far into his
body again"
And she wept copiously, dropping
each tear very carefully into a metal
lined little basket hung from her waist
IL her husband had died on his jour
ney the basket would have been nearly
full by this time; every one who has
any regard for her would have added
a drop or two. and her mourning would
have been as intricate performance
as a case in international law Even
as ii was the tear basket was STEPPED
In incense and many heartbreaking
songs and proverbs walled over it.
Weep flowers that is, any sort Of
bloom that withers soon may be
pressed and strung around the basket,
The wing Of a wounded bird may dec
crate one side; a motherless child may
imprint a kiss upon it for the good Of
the spirit
do men ever wear the tear basket
for women ] once inquired.
oh moonface, You are curious 50
much" was the reply. Women never
90 away from men in Kowli"
"But they die
YES, and then vera often the good
men wear the tear basket in secret
mourning.p
There Is much secret mourning in
Korea, and It is like the Irishman's
seoret-everybod knows il and re
specfs it. A woman who has loved
the wrong man may wear secret
mourning clothes for him and don the
tear basket filled with tears Of per-
sons who have not deigned 70 speak TO
her III the lifetime OF the loved one.
/ Al certain hours she may vail round
his grave ana leave the best Of every
thing to eat on his tomb for his hun
cry spirit. Tie worldly mate Of the
4 departed looks ca, and often it seems
She Is FILTERED BY the performance. a
slave may mourn secretly for the
queen. and anybody who wants TO
may sympatlize without hurt for
beheaded criminal
1 Next to the tear basket the heart
cloth is the quaintest symbol Of How'll
emotions. One is never permitted to
know Of this precious ornament IN
less it Is worn for his or her sake. In
Ia Korea It was placed over the heart
OF tile beloved before being worn il
any other breast. one heart cloth Of
ten does for a whole family being
worn by different members in turn
| Characters representing poetic say
| ings are apnliqued upon It such as
| Without thee ! owen with the spir
/ it Of the withered tree. F"
"My heart beats only to thine.
"Ahu-p peace"
AThe sun win come again.
Iii some parts Of the country hear
cloths are placed over tile body OF
the dying ana then given to the shang
goo. head male mourner and the joe
foo, leading female mourner.
Aiasampho is a quaintand picturesque
town, nearly as much so as Fusan
from which it Is not far removed, One
of the sights Of aiasampho Is her shop
ping district. which consists Of i'm
Vulnerable mats spread out on th'
ground. upon which are exhibited tn
wares Of their owners. who SQUAT be
side them.
But the chief joys Of Masampho arr
her dellciously strange little women
the never to be forgotten Masamphon
ese wild eyed, glossy haired dump
lings, with cherry lines for mouths
who waddle around and about, quack
} ing in fascinating tones
The Masampho bellies toilet Is worth
) OF the time she spends upon It. He
J face IS washed with honey oil insteai
Of water. Sometimes she Sits fin
powder scented with her fayorlte dow
er over ii.
She may stain her complexion to sui
t her fancy. but generally she prefer
i It to be the natural color which Is
, beautiful ecru. Though she may neye
& be seen by man. save husband or Il
Their, during curfew time or women
hours p. m. and a. m.she may s
out freely visiting friends and rel
] tlves Her hair is brushed with
. fragrant bunch Of switches and glue
into many different forms. Sometime
II makes a butterfly or tortoise an
: at other times a lot Of leaves or lit
sampan.
When lbs properly shaped big iad
or glass pins are stuck in. The onl
cap she ever wears has no crown i
back is shaped like a helmet, and thel
are two long tassels hanging from Il
forehead and neck brim Her cote
trousers are as full as a divided ski
and become narrow at the ankle
where they meet little socks made I
grass and picturesque shoes. Her ski
is very full and shirred at the top in
an eight inch band This fits tight
around the chest and under the arm
The Jacket worn is not over SIEVE
inches in length and runs the gam