The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-03-21
IN THE FAR EAST
THE LAND or THE TEAR
 BASKET.
psoturesoue Korea and Its Quaint Tnhabffants--Ths Toilet of Nrasampo Belle-Heart Cloths
 and Their Uses---A Strange
 Headdress for Women.


 all Koreans This does not make the visitor to their country love them less
 Why do you shake your husbands gown Sc ferociously every morning?'' the writer said to her hostess In Seoul, Are you afraid spider may be weaving In it7's
 s.Oh. no. moon-face.'' was the reply; The must be in Japan now--s0 far 1t is-- and his spirit comes every night to this gown. So tired must he be in the morn- ing to 60 back so far into his body again. '
 And she wept copiously. dropping each tear very carefully into metai-lined little basket hung from hcr waist. If her husband had died on his journey tho basket would have been nearly full by this time; every one who had any regard for her would have added a drop CT two. and her mourning would have been as intricate q performance as a case in in- tear basket was steeped in incense and many heart breaking songs and proverbs walled over 1t. Wecp-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 deco rate one side: motherlsss child may imprint kiss upon 1t for the good of the spirit.
 E DO men ever wear the tear basket for womon?" I once inquired
 "Oh, moon-face. you are curious so much.,' was the reply. 'Women never 60 away from men in Kowli."
 But they die."
 ''Yes, and then vera often the good men wear the tear basket in secret mourning =
 Secret Mourning in Korea.
 There is much secret mourning ir Korea. and 1t is like the Irishman's secret everybody knows 1t and respects 1t. A woman who has loved the wrong man may wear secret mourning clothes for him and don the tear basket filled with tears of persons who have not delgned to speak to her in the lifetime of the loved one. At certain hours she may wall round his grave and leave the best of everything to eat on his tomb fof of the departed looks on, and often fl seems she is fattered by the perform ance. A slave may mourn secretly for the queen. and anybody who wants to may sympathiss without hurt for q be- headed criminal
 Next to the tear basket. the heart cloth Is the quaAntest symbol of Kowli emo tions. One is never permitted to know of this precious ornament unless 1t is worn for his or her sake. In old Korea, 1t was placed over the heart of the be- loved before benig worn in any other breast. One heart cloth often does for a whole family. being worn by different members in turn. Characters repre- senting poetic sayings arc appliqued upon
 without thee dwell with the spirit 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 head male rnourner, and the joo foo. leading female mourner.
 The little brown men have seized Masampo and are using 1t as an in- portant basis for military operations in Korea. It is not far from picturesque Fusan. which. since the Chino-J Japanese war has become almost Japanase in char acter. Masampo has remained Korean. Her shopping district consists of innu- merable mats spread out on the ground upon which are exhibited the wares of their owners, whJ squat beside them.
 But the chief joys of Masampo are her deliciousiy strange little women-the neverstosbe-forgotten 5Masampones, wild eyed. glossy zhaired dumplings with cher ry lines for mouths. who waddle around and about. quaczing in fascinating tones.
 A 1Easampo Woman's Toilet.
 The Masamp0 belfe's toilet is worthy of the time she spends upon it. Her face is washed with honey oil instead of water Sometimes she sifts a fine powder scented with her favorite flower over 1t.
 She may stain her complexion to suit her fancy, but generally she prefers 1t to be the natural color. which is a beau- tiful ecru Though she may never be seen by man, save husband or father, during curfew time or women's hours, D. m. and a. m. she may go out freely visiting friends and relatives. Her hair Is brushed with a fragrant bunch of switches and glued into many different forms. Sometimes 1t makes a butterfly or a tortoise and at other times lot of leaves or a little sampan.
 When 1t is properly shaped big jade or glass pins are stuck in. The only cap she ever wears has no crown. Its back is shaped like e helmet, and there are two long tassels hanging from forehead and neck brim. Her cotton trousers are as full as divided skirt. and become narrow at the ankles. where they meet little socks made of grass and picturesque shoes. Her skirt Is very full and shirred at the top into an eight-inch band. This fits tightly round ths chest, and under the aryus. The jacket worn iS not over seven inches in length and runs the gamut of Korean blues and greens. which arc somewhat the tints of the peacock's g tail.
 If of the common people she may allow her small feet and ankles to show. but if of noble blood her skirts must sweep the streets. All women carry with them a long cape so that if by any possibility