The Indianapolis journal., 1904-02-21

kEEWsM trees. the drowsy monotone of the
- stringed instruments accompa-
MED by the jangle of the bracelets on the
dancing girls lull the delighted senses of
Xxi Tsu. Korean nobleman, as from his
summer house among the Seoul hills he sips
his tea and gszes down upon the pale mist
of wistaria and honeysuckles in the vale
below. His dreams are interrupted by the
rattle Of adjacent musketry-Japanese sol
diers In the iris fields outside the city wall
at target practice.
He resumes his dreams. Before him, in
the haze or midsummer day, floats Seoul
like a forest Of mushrooms, girded with q
wavy chain OF gray stone wall. Clustered
around the wall, extending even to the
shore where the great Yellow sea heaVes
UP its muddy crests upon the sand, the
huts OF the Korean fishermen are built.
Their tiny tunks can be seen riding at an
chor out at sea, while SlOwmOVing line
of fishermen In milk-blue gowns and broad
brimmed hats is winding along the thread
like road that leads to the Gate of Ele-
waited Humanity"
Another volley from the yellow fusfleers,
Korea merely stirs restlessly in her long
Ciroean slumber, and the string OF Outland-
ish hats files on. The land of the red ar
king and the yelled women does not wish
10 have Its dream disturbed.
The crumbling monastery backed against
the hills, its granulated walls spread over
with the clinging gourds and hOneysuckles
is but little younger than the hills them
selves. Buddhist monk sits dreaming
under the projecting tiles. A waterfall I'm
the enchanted distance spans with its
silver thread a rocky chasm. The peonies
are In full bloom. Within the dim interior
of the primeval shrine the dying sunlight
glances fOI moment on the glimmering
metallic idols, smiling impassively against
the wall. The long mOnOtonous drone of
the monks chanting the Sanskrit prayer is
broken oy the mellow booming of the tenn
pie gong. The fields of peonies are touched
with flame. As the darkness thickens the
signal lights fash from the Cocks Comb,
the altar of KOrea's holiest religious rites.
Their reaSsuring message is ''Alrs WELL
This is the Kingdom Of the Morning
Calm" Its civilization is older than the
civilization of Chaldea More than eleven
of III, illustrious vassal of the Chow dy-
nasty OF China, fled when the Chows were
northeast, where he became King OF
Chosen. Just where Chosen was situated
nobody knows. Perhaps ii nestled in a
valley OF the sungari river; it may have
been swept by the AmOor.
The Kingdom of Morning Calm was
founded by an ancestor or great ConfuciuS.
The Chinese civilization introduced before
the Christian era into the Isolated Kingdom
of Kokorai was assimilated by the bold
and warlike people there who back in the
forgotten days OF history, dreamed of a
conquest of the eastern world. Thus they
inaugurated a campaign that was to last
for seven centuries. The result was that
they established themselves firmly in the
north Of the Korean peninsula.
Light OF the East" the ilIegitimate te son
Of the King of Toll, born of a waiting
maid. cast amOng swine TO die grew up
to manhood nourished by the swine, and
became far-famed archer and a valiant
fighting man. The King appointed him
master of his stables. But the King de-
manding OF him once an exhibition of his
skill In archery. became SO jealous at the
superiority OF the young man that he pur-
sued Light OF the East as far as the
boundary of the kingdom.
Approaching the Sungari river WHAT
said the princeling shall not the Son OF
Rivers cross and be safe from his ene-
mies?' And Immediately bridge of fishes
was formed upon which, 10 the confusion
of his enemies, Light of the East reached
the peninsular shore. where he became the
King OF Fuyu in the southernmOst part OF
Korea. Here the arts were known. the
cultivation of the various grains the science
of manufacturing steel weapons, the prac-
tice of eating with chOpsticks out of wood
en- bowls and the manner OF weaving elab-
crate and costly garments out of silk.
Feudalism finally gave way TO monarchy;
Korea was reOrganzed in the Senth cen
tury. the north and south united for de-
fense and the whole territory was parti-
toned off into eight provinces.
The brilliant period of the Sung dynasty
in China followed. and Korea. sending her
young mobiles TO the Chinese cities to be
educated. quickly adopting Chinese arts
and inventions, led the world at that time
in respect 10 civilization. But under the
MOIkOl at the SlEOn8 ndnQS
of khublai Khan. Korea was subdued and
fell under Chinese influence. The MOngOls
however. racked with internal disputes
were finally succeeded by the Buddhist
monk who. on proclaiming himself delivereT
OF China, took unto himself a wife and
founded the Ming dynasty. The King OF
Korea. wishing To give his sometime mas
ters sanctuary in the country they had
once ruled. was depOsed, and ri Taijo
one OF the most powerful cOuTtiers. sue
ceeded 10 the throne, establishing the pres
ent Korean dynasty Thus, rich in arts
and learning. amateur IN poetry and archi-
lecture, with the ceremonies of the court
perfected 10 magnificence, and with an
army of blue gowns and formidable hats,
Korea slept 200 years.
Her awakening then was fully as rude as
IL has been to-day. The sixteenth century
had hardly dawned when. for a second time
the japanese invaders came Korea still
remembered The destruction OF her army
by the tidal wlve which the Empress Juigil
from her battle junks had caused by throw
ing the Jeweled balls into the sea. gifts
from the mighty Dragon King. The great
Samauri class had risen IN Japan This
was the military class They were toe
proud 10 work. They insisted upon con-
quering other countries. So. incidental to
the conquest OF China, Japanese cOrsairs
and pirates swept down on the coast and
captured Seoul The King or Korea fled
TO Pfng-Yang, on the Tatung river. And