The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1904-06-09
IN THE KOREAN COURT
A Traveller Tells of His Audi
ence With the Emperor.
GUEST AT A STATE BANQUET.

Dining Hall Furnished With Euro
pean Furniture and Well Heated.
Table Richly Decorated and Cook
Ing Exquisite-Emperor Remained
| Invisible Behind Curtain During
Feast--Novel Pastime of Dancers.
| In recent number of the Tour du
Monde Of Paris Dr. Hagen. who has
| travelled in Korea, recOuntS in a most
interesting way his impressions Of the
country and it's people. OF especial in
terest is DR.. Hagen's description of an
audience and Of a state banquet at the
court of Korea says the London Globe.
"When the time fixed for the audi
ence arrived we entered into a very
lofty room, the carpets Of which were
| by no means costly. Behind a table
sat the emperor with the crown princes
and the eunuchs. The Emperor Ii
Hsi thanked us for our visit and asked
us how our trip was progressing and
whether we intended to remain long
time in Korea. The crown prince ask
ed us exactly the same questions. He
Is about thirty years old; he has an
inert look, beardless f1eshy face, and
thus he does not give one the impress
sion Of being healthy and capable OF
doing much. He has several wives,
but no children. He himself is the son
Of one Of Ii Hsi's concubines. He GER
tainly will not ascend the throne with
out a great deal Of trouble. The Jap
anese already have another crown
prince in readiness at Yokohama. This
latter prince has Joined the Japanese,
and he will be supported by them when
the proper time comes. The crown
prince joined but very little in the con-
versation; even the simple questions
that he asked were suggested to him
by the leader Of the eunuchs. 1t is
scarcely to be supposed that the crown
prince will ever think Of shaking him.
self free from the influence of that
powerful and feared caste, whose role
| in Korea, as in China in Olden times.
is noxious. At the end Of the audience.
which had lasted scarcely twenty min
utes, the emperor took his leave Of US
in few amiable words.
Before dinner we were offered
glass of vermouth in the next room.
The dining room was well heated and
furnished with European furnitura
The table was decked out richly with
cutlery, glass. linen, flowers and fruits.
The cooking was exquisite, and the
wines were many and good. For some
years the imperial household has been
managed by lady from Alsace, and
she knows her duty very well. For
merly the dinner would have cost the
emperor 500 per guest; now each
guest costs him only about $50.
korean servants wearing the ma
tional garb waited upon us most atten-
lively and noiselesSly. 1t seemed anus
ing to us that the emperor remained
invisible behind a curtain during the
dinner. Still, he kept himself informed
of all that happened at table and asked
repeatedly what impression the for
eigners were receiving. The Koreans
present were fully acquainted with the
manners of the west, and they did not
offend either the rules of etiquitte or
those of good form
"After the dinner the room was
turned into a concert hall for the en-
tertainments that were to be given. In
the outer hall played some thirty must
clans, squatting upon the ground, man
dolins, guitars and other stringed in
StrumentS, as also drums and tam
bourines. To foreigners the Korean
music seems to be only ear splitting,
for it has no rules of melody and Is
monotonous. At first appeared only
two men clad in very rich garments to
represent a lion and a tiger. They
danced around to the music. rubbed
together their noses as they uttered
weird sounds, and then they vanished.
''ThereupOn about a dozen female
dancers appeared in beautiful gold
shimmering colors and with their hats
and other head coverings decked with
flowers and with sandals and we'll fit
ting white stockings on their small
feet. Although they were young and
pretty their faces were much painted.
Round their necks and on their fore
heads they wore pendants, and their
dresses were covered with filigree
Their names were pretty. for they We're
taken from flowers and trees. These
dancers belonged to the demimonde OF
Korea. At first they entered in pairs,
went through various movements ara
each crowned her partner with flowers
Then a large screen was opened in Tic
room and a dancer took her place. on
either side of it. Near the top OF [ tx.
screen a rather large hole had been
made, through which dancer had to
throw a flower to be caught by her
partner on the other side There werp
fixed rules for this pastime If tbs
thrower missed the hole. ;sut co.71l.
pick up the flower before ii toucLeG
the ground, then she could begin ;%slir
and go on until she managed 70 throw
it through. When she had done thai
flower was stuck in her hair. but sic.
at once pulled it out to present Il -
one Of the audience. If the flower
falls to the ground, then the thrower
has to pay 8 penalty.