The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1904-04-21
ODD KOREAN HABITS
TEAR BASKETS AND HEART CLOTHS
AND THEIR USES.


A Strange Headdress For Women.
There is a great deal of poetry about
all Koreans. This does not make the
visitor in their country love them less.
"Why do you shake your husbands
gown SO ferociously every morning.
the writer said to a hostess in Seoul.
"Are you afraid a spider may be weav-
ing in it?"
"Oh, no, moonface," was the reply.
"He must be in Japan now-so far it is
and his spirit comes every night to
this gown. So tired must he be in the
morning to go back SO far into his
body again"
And she wept copiOusly, dropping
each tear very carefully into metal
lined little basket hung from her waist.
If 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
8 drop or two, and her mourning would
have been as intricate a performance
as case in international law. Even
as it was the tear basket was stepped
in incense and many heartbreaking
songs and proverbs walled over it.
Weep fowerS-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?' I once inquired.
"Oh, moonface, you are curious SO
much,'' was the reply. 'Women never
go away from men in How'll"
"But they die
eyes, and then vera often the good
men, wear the tear basket in secret
mourning"
There is much secret mourning in
Korea, and it is like the Irishman's
secret-everybody knows it and re-
spects 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 to speak to
her in the lifetime of the loved one.
AT certain hours she may vail round
his grave and leave the best of every
thing to eat on his tomb for his hun
CRY spirit. The worldly mate of the
departed looks on, and often it seems
she is 1attered by the performance. A
slave may mourn secretly for the
queen, and anybody who wants to
may sympathize without hurt for a
Ibeheade1 criminal.
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 un-
less it is worn for his or her sake. In
old Korea it was placed over the heart
Of the beloved before being worn in
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 appliqued upon It, such as:
without thee 1 dwell with the spir
It of the withered tree"
my heart beats only to thine"
"Ahu-peace."
''The sun Will come again.
In some parts of the country heart
cloths are placed over the body OF
the dying and then given to the shang-
goo, head male mourner, and the joo-
foo, leading female mourner.
Masampho is a quaint and picturesque
town, nearly as much so as Fusan,
from which it is not fer removed. One
Of the sights of Masampho is her shop
ping district, which consists Of in
Vulnerable mats spread out on the
ground, upon which are exhibited the
wares of their owners, who squat be-
side them.
But the chief joys of Masampho are
her delicfously strange little women
the never to be forgotten Masamphon
csc, wild eyed, glossy haired dump
lirgs, with cherry lines for mouths.
who waddle around and about, Quack-
ing in fascinating tones.
The Masampho bellies toilet is worthy
Of the time she spends upon it. Her
face is washed with honey oil instead
of water. Sometimes she sits a fine
powder scented with her favorite flow
er over it.
She may stain her complexion to suit
her fancy, but generally she prefers
it to be the natural color, which is
beautiful ecru. Though she may never
be seen by man, save husband or ia
Their, during curfew time or women's
hOurs-8 p. m. and a. m.-she may go
out freely visiting friends and rela-
lives. Her hair is brushed with a
fragrant bunch of switches and glued
into many different forms. Sometimes
It makes butterfly or a tortoise and
at other times q lot Of leaves or little |
eempan.
When it is properly shaped, big jade
or glass pins are stuck in. The only
cap she ever wears has no crown. It's
back is shaped like helmet, and there
are two long tassels hanging from the
forehead and neck brim. Her cotton 1
trousers are as full as divided skirt !
and become narrow at the ankles,
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