The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1904-02-16
ALLEN and THE KOREANS
Personality Of American Minis
ter to the "Hermit Nation"

Personality Of American Minis
ter to the "Hermit Nation"
HIGHLY FAVORED BY ALL GLASSES
Going There ms a Missionary, the
United states Envoy Extraordinary
Saved a Princes Life at His Own
Peril and Aftervard That of the
Emperor.
The foremost personality in Korea
today is the American minister, Fl. N.
Allen, says the Philadelphia Press. The
story Of his entrance upon the stage
Of Korean affairs and Of his steady ad-
vancement in the favor of the people
as we'll 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 Gov
ilization, she having remained "the
hermit nation" long after China and
Japan had given up their exclusive
ness.
The young missionary doctor a not
been long in China before he made luis
way down to Korea on a tour of in
spection at his own expense. Evident
ly he sent back favorable reports to his
superior officers in New York, for in a
short time he received a cableglam
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
it's 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 xcuse for remaining in Seoul
which no 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
for himself. Even General Foote and
all the Europeans fled to Chemulpo to
be under the protection of the %gunboats,
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 we'll.
. 1t was q heroic thing for DR.. and Mrs.
Allen to remain where buildings were
7 burning and bullets We're whiZZing
: through the streets and treason and
fanaticism We're 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 old
flag flying, and trust the kind Father
l to care for u.s."
The emperor of Korea in recognition
e Of DR.. Aliens service, by which he had
e been converted to a belief in the use.
+ fulness of western knowledge, estab-
lished a royal hospital, the blouse of
Civilized Virtue" with DR.. Allen in
: 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
i forming half a dozen or more opera.
tons every morning and ministering te
upward of 100 dispensary patients IL
:. the afternoon. The hospital itself &C
: commodated forty patients.
AS if to fix firmly the place of this
= 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, Which
. latter he has held to this day.
Another evidence of the high favor il
= which he was held was his appoint
ment by the direct wish Of the emperor
. to be foreign secretary of the Korean
embassy to the United States. He re
turned after a time to take up his rou
!, tine missionary work, but in 1890, will
= the consent Of the missionary board, h
was made secretary of the United
States legation at Seoul. During tn
Worlds fair at Chicago he served al
80. So a,o.ao d,aer.,.os ~ Sou,