The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1904-02-23
ALLEN and THE KOREANS
Personality Of American Minis
ter to the "Hermit Nation"

IcT TO I11C ST1CII1lL IaIlCQ.
HIGHLY FAVORED By ALL GLASSES
Going There as u missionary, the
United States Envoy Extraordinary
Saved n Princes Life at His Own
Peril and Afterwnrd That OF the
Emperor.
The foremost personality in Korea
today is the American minister, II. N.
Allen, says the Philadelphia Press. The
story Of his entrance upon the stage
of Korean affairs and of his steady adj
vancement in the favor of the people
as well as in official position is as ro-
mantle as any of the better known sto-
ries of American enterprise, adventure
and achievement.
Minister Allen was born in Delaware,
O., in 1858 and when twenty-three was
graduated from Ohio Wesleyan univer-
sity. Two years later, in 1888, he mar
ried a classmate just preparatory to
setting out for China as a Presbyterian
missionary. At this time Korea was
attracting considerable attention, for
her gates had just been opened to COW
1lization, she having remained "the
hermit nation long after China and
Japan had given up their exclusive
ness.
The young missionary doctor had not
been long in China before he made his
way down to Korea on a tour of in
spection at his own expense. Evident
~ he sent back favorable reports to his
superior officers in New York, for in a
short time he received a cablegram
containing the single word Korea"
This he understood to mean that he
should undertake to find a foothold in
the capital Of this ages old nation with
its avowed intolerance of Christianity.
He was thus the first Protestant mis-
sionary to Korea. The United States
minister, General Foote, made him
physician to the legation, thus giving
him an excuse for remaining in Seoul
which nc Korean could gainsay.
Two months later the young Ameri-
cans opportunity came. An insurrec-
ton broke out in Seoul, and six Ko-
reans were murdered at an official din
ner party, and a seventh, a relative Of
the king and the most prominent of all,
Prince Min Yong TX, who had been
Korean minister to this country, was
badly wounded. Panic at once seized
the city. Everybody began to look out
4n~ hi,rco1p Eyop Cororo1 Foofo oy,d
all the Europeans fled to Chemulpo to
be under the protection of the g%unboats,
all except the young missionary doc
tor. Within half an hour he was at the
side of the wounded prince disregard
ing all danger to himself.
He found thirteen Korean doctors
gathered around about to pour black
wax into the gaping wound. DR.. Allen
pluckily withstood them all, while he
tried what western science could do.
While these looked ON wondering he
tied up the arteries and sewed up the
wounds and continued his treatment
until the prince got well.
1t was a heroic thing for DR.. and Mrs
Allen to remain where buildings were
burning and bullets were whizzing
through the streets and treason and
%fanaticism were on every hand. Here
Is what DR.. Allen wrote home at the
time: II came to do just such work. ]
can't leave these wounded people. We
shall live in the legation, with the ole
flag flying, and trust the kind Father
to care for U.S."
The emperor of Korea in recognition
of DR.. Aliens service, by which he had
been converted to a belief in the use
fitness of western knowledge, estab
lished a royal hospital, the blouse Of
Civilized Virtue" with DR.. Allen II
charge, the latter being still in the EN-
ploy of the Presbyterian board of for
eign missions. In this first institution
Of western civilization in Korea DR.
Allen, within a short time, was per
forming half a dozen or o opera
lions every morning and ministering t.
upward Of 100 %dispensary patients IL
the afternoon. The hospital itself &C
commodated forty patients.
As If to fix firmly the place Of THU
skillful Yankee missionary in the roya
favor the emperor himself fell sick. tt
be cured by DR.. Allen. This gave hin
the title Of court physician and a com
manding position at the palace, whicl
latter he has held to this day.
Another evidence Of the high favor II
which he was held was his appoint
ment by the direct wish Of the empero
to be foreign secretary Of the Koreal
embassy to the United States. He re
turned after a time to take up his rou
tine missionary work, but in 1890, wit
the consent Of the missionary board, h
was made secretary Of the Unite'
States legation at Seoul. During tn
Worlds fair at Chicago he served q
commissioner for Korea. In 1888 b
was made charge d'affaires at Seou
by President Cleveland, and Presiden
McKirIov annointed him envoy eX