New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-02-13
COREA.
4 Good Book on the Country and
It's People.

MT. Hamilton Is "a ia-hg man - --
ten a good book and nc has published It At just
the right moment. In the struggle now going
On between Russia and japan. the policies ana
the deeds OF those powers temporarily obscure
everything else on the Eastern horizon CoFea'
Ike Manchursa. is almost forgotten by the
sDectator OF the oornbat. somewhat as the IN
te-ests OF those lands are forgotten BY the ma
lions nrrayed against one another. But u4e
Western reader after the days war news mas
come IN, must have a certain curiosity about
The country which through no sault Of its own
Is helping 10 cause so much trouble, and this
curiosity Mr.. Hamilton IS wei qualified 10
satisfy ais book IS based upon first hand ac-
..raiutance with Corea, 81 IS the work Of
man who can discuss International problems
with fairness. and Il is written IN pleasant
slyle Numerous illustrations, good reproduc-
lions from photographs. enhance the value OF a
narrative which traTerses all the significant eie-
Tnents in the Corean situation.
The Hermit Kingdom enjoys geographical
position Of positively romantic charm. The coast
's beautiful and perilous: unnumbered ship
wrecks have testified TO Natures Jealous guar
dlanship OF q people who for centuries dreaded
Intercourse with the outside world rs il might
have dreaded the plague. Mr.. Hamilton, IN his
glance az tie Coreans Of earlier days, describes
a race living IN the profoundest seclUsion ana
the crassest superstition. Turning to modern
times he shows that while the queer religious
beliefs OF the country endure TO this day. the
Kingdom has latterly profted by the growth OF
liberal tendencies. Under a dynasty that has oc-
cupied the throne FOR five hundred years the
peopIe have successfully resisted alien influences
Tor the greater part Of that time, but at last
they are awakening TO a better understanding
OF what civilization means. OF course their
gains are accompanied by some losses The
Introduction Of Western inventions TO Corea,'
saws Mr.. Hamilton. has gradually eliminated
from contemporary CoTean life many customs
which, associated with the people and their
traditions from time inmemorial impaired much
Of the repose and picturesqueness which have so
Ear distinguished the little kingdom But H.
es this author says il was thought few years
ago that the glory Of the ancient city Of Seoul
had departed. the capital is to-day marked by
improvements almost incalculable in value. Ger
tainly It would be difficult to overestimate the
Importance OF the changes indicated In the fol-
lowing paragraphs:
The old order is giving way 10 the new. So
quickly has the population learned 10 appreciate
the results OF foreign intercourse that IN rev
more years Il viii be difficult 70 hn5 IN SeouI
any remaining link with the capital y yore-
The changes have been somewhat radical The
introduction Of biography has made Il Unne-es-
saIy 20 signal rightly the safety Of the kingdom
10y heacons from the crests Of the mountains.
The gates are no longer closed AT night; 10
more Goes the evening bell Clang sono' CusN
throughout the city al sunset and the runners
before the chairs OF the officials have FOR some
time ceased 70 announce IN strldent voices me
passing Of their masters. improvements which
have been wrought also IN the conditions OF the
cifY-in Its streets ana houses, IN us sanitary
measures and in its methods Of communication
have replaced these ancient customs. An eN-
cellenJ and rapid train runs from CheInulpo;
electric trans afford quick transit within and
beyond the capital; even electric lights Llu-
inmate by night some parts Of the chief city
~ the Hermit Kingdom. Moreover, an aqueduct
SIS mentioned: the police force has been reorgan-
lied: drains have come and evil OdOrs have
fed. The population Of the capital for the year
1903 was 10 90 adults. This is a decrease Of
2,546 upon the year 1902.
Reforms in education have also taken place; 4
schools and hospitals have been opened; banks, I
foreign shops and agencies have sprung up; a 4
factory for the manufacture Of porcelain ware Is /
IN operation; and the number and variety Of the /
religions with which foreign missionaries are /
wooing the people are as amazing and complex 1
as IN China There VIII be no absence IN the 1
future Of those soothing conJectures from which
the consolations Of religion may be derived. The /
conduct Of educational affairs is arranged upon 4
basis which now gives every facility FOR the 4
study Of foreign subjects Special schools for !
foreign languages. conducted by the government /
under the supervision Of foreign teachers. have .
been instituted. Indeed, most striking changes
have been made in the curriculum Of the COM /
raphv, history. besides foreign languages, are /
eli subjects in the courses Of these esta blish- !
ments. and. only lately, special school Of sur
vey under foreign direction, has been opened. .
The enlightenment which Is thus spreading 4
throughout the lower classes cannot fail 10
secure some eventual modification OF the views
and sentiments by which the upper classes re-
gard the progress Of the country. As a sign
OF the times. il is worthy TO note that several I
native newspapers have been started: while the
increase Of business has created the necessity
for improved facilities in financial transactions.
other blessings have been conferred upon the
C-oresrs ar1ong them a rapidlv growing postal
service. In short here. as IN Japan. the East is
slowly but steadily rrohting by the example Of
the West In the mean time what OF the Corean /
character? How is Il developing under the pres
sure OF foreign Influences Mr. Hamilton throws
q good deal o. light on the subject In a brief
sentence stating that the Coreans are peculiar
~ proficient In the art Of doing nothing grace
fully" Among the lower and middle classes the
men lean heavily on the energies OF the women.
who work like beasts OF burden. and IN many
ways confess to the subordinate and even de-
graded position from which the sex IN the East
has so sorely suffered. The best educated Corean
women are the dancers. Only the woman VINO
has high place in the social scale may prac-
tise medicine or teach. OF the man who might
DO something materially 20 better the condi-
don OF HIS people, the Emperor, Mr.. Hamilton
speaks with blended approval and criticism
NORMALLY, & seems. this ruler enjoys the pre-
rogative and Independence Of an autocrat. but
IN reality he is IN the hands Of that party
whose intrigues Tor the time being may have
given them the upper hand" and while he often
lends his support 10 reforms. he devotes him
SELF. on the whole, willingly enough 10 the cor
rupt and extraN agant life % court in which
INSCRIPTIONS leaders. both men and women,
stand 6oggcdly for reactionary measures. The 4
exactions and dishonesty Of the officials" Mr.