The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1904-06-03
LADY
Missionary in
Korea
Writes a Letter to
Her Mother.
| lULUE. FREY
Tells of the Burning
of the Palace
And of Other Affairs Tran
spring in the Far East.
And of Other Affairs Tran
spring in the Far East.

Mrs. Emma K. Frey is in receipt of
the following letter from her daughter
who is stationed as q missionary in
Korea:
Seoul, Korea, April 20. 1904
Dear Mother:
Friday night we had big fire in the
palace Miss Paine and / had just re-
ired when / heard policemen whistling
back and forth and the sound of
many voices and was just about to see
what was going on when some one
called fire We soon saw 1t was in
the palace, and as we are 80 close we
dressed quickly, were not quite dress
ed till the electric lights were cut off
and had to hunt around for candle.
1t was about eleven O'Clock. The hos
pital patients, some IA or 10, were
moved mp here in the school dining
room, for the hospital is near the road,
q short distance from the palace. The
church was the nearest to the fire and
we made all the preparation possible to
save it, but the walls of the palace in
closure were thick and high and so
kept the fire within its bounds.
never saw anything 30 beautiful
There was q fearful wind so it was i'm
possible TO save any building which
once caught fire. The palace means q
small city inside the palace walls
should Judge the burnt district would
be equal to six city squares Some
pigeons were disturbed in some old
ltrees and continued to fiy back and
forth in their unrest. The reflection
of the fire made them look like gold
laga1nst the dark sky. We remarked
labout them many times The mex
day the cause of the fire was much dis
Icussed and the story of the fire birds
sent from heaven gained credence witt
lmany people. The Emperor himsel
feeling he may have offended heayeI
in some way has asked that some o
his dishes be cut off for several day
that he may atone. We did not go 4
sleep till five O'Clock, we were so afrai'
the sparks would set something neare
us ON fine.
Everyone thinks the sensible thin
. flor His Majesty to do would be to NOV
back to one of the other palaces. tw
of which are beautiful. but he an
| lnounced to his court Immediately tina
. any one who should mention such
, thing to him wonla be no friend of his
so preparations are going ON for tn
rebuilding of the buildings at an e1
pense of 2,OO0. OOe yen. He came int
our part of the city to be near the for
eigners and he feels more secure here
He has bought q strip of land Just OF
{ posite M, lying between the Russia
and American legations. which cor
meets with the palace proper by a pr
vate road back of the American legs
> tion. The English legation is ON th
4 other side of the palace. He has tw
, or three good sized foreign-built brio
buildings, which he is using now.
. do not know where he is slowing ava
: his three hundred. more or less. palac
women We fear he looks ON our prof.
lerty with envious eyes We can loo
down ON him from our superior height
The little Prince, six years old, hs
$ been playing about In the grass of th
palace-.opposte our gate for sever
: days. He has an attendance of som
Ieight or ten men and women who al
y at his heels every step he takes.
War news still seems scarce. "
hear of losses by the Russian navy no
- land again. You read of these doub
= less as soon as we do. 1t is il
!, teresting to see the part wirele
telegrsphy is taking. The Japane
are up-to-date. well prepared to figl
= the Russians in every way except the
n cavalry. Their herses are small ar
4 quite unframed, 80 our greatest fear
Al dash through the country by the Ru
sian horsemen. We would never kno
we were having war in Korea. if 1t we
q not for seeing a regiment or two
,s Japanese soldiers now and then. II
t. Russian legation looks dark and deser
le ed The French Minister who n
t. charge of the property. is said to ha'
TO offered it to the Emperor for a ter
lie porary residence, but the Japsne
g. would hardly allow that.
of We are unable to get any stores fro
Of America as all firms refuse to risk sen
20 ing their goods to Korea. We ha
IN planted our garden and are able to bl
s, meat 30 we Will have no famine t
Of fall at least. We have butter, cann
rs milk and -four to last us several month
s, If it comes to tine worst, DIR. Allen c.
J. have q special ship bring us a supp
Sc of stores from China. AS for our wor
,g it goes ON much the same. The ladi
rs are not permitted to travel In the cou
of try at present altho' it seems 50
Sc enough and the people seem mo
I'd anxious than ever to hear the gosI
he message.
| April Esd, I must close my letter a