The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1904-01-29
ALLEN AND The KOREANS
Personality Of American Minis
ter TO the Hermit Nation"
HIGHLY FAVORED BY ALL GLASSES

United stntes Envoy Extraordinary
Saved a Princes Life nt His own
Peril and Anerward That of the
Emperor.
The foremost personality in Korea
today is the American minister. II. y.
Al.en. says tx Philadelphia Press The
story Of bis entrance upon the stage
of Korean affairs and of his steady ad.
vancement in the favor OF the people
rs well as in official position is as ro-
mantle as any OF the better known stO-
r.cs OF American enterprise. adventure
ard achievement.
Minister Allen was born I'm Delaware.
o.. in 1SJS and when twenty three was
graduated from Ohio Wesleyan univer-
sity. Two years later. In 1883. he mar
ried classmate Just preparatory to
setting out for China as Presbyterian
missionary. At this time Korea was
attracting considerable attention, for
her gates had just been opened to COY
ilizItion, she having remained 1.-THE
hermit nation" long after China and
Japan had given up their exclusive
ness.
The young missionary doctor had not
been long in China before he made his
way down 10 Korea on a tour OF in
spectiOn at his own expense. Evident
~ he sent back favorable reports TO lis
superior officers in New York. for in Il
short time he received cablegTnm
containing the single word korea"
This he understood to mean that lie
should undertake TO find a footlsold in
tie capital OF this ages old nation with
its avowed intolerance OF Christianity
lie was thus the first Protestant mis-
minister. General Foote. made him
physician TO the legation. thus giving
hiIa an excuse for remaining in Seoul
which no Korean could gainsay.
Two months later the young Ameri-
cans opportunity came. An inslrrec-
tion broke out in Seoul. and six Ko
reins. We're murdered at an Official din
ner party. and seventh, a relative or
the king and the most prominent Of all.
Prince Min Yong TX. who had been
Korean. minister 10 this country. was
badly wounded. Panic at once seized
the city. Every body began to look out
for himself. Even General Foote and
all the Europeans fed TO ChemulpO to
be under the protection of the gunboats.
all except the young missionary doc
| tor. Within half an hour he was at the
side of the wounded prince disregard
ing all danger TO himself.
He found thirteen Korean doctors
gathered around about to pour black
wax into the gaping wound. DIR. Allen
| pluckily withstood them all. while be
tried what western science could do.
| While these looked ON wondering be
tied up the arteries and sewed mp the
wounds and continued his treatmen;
until the prince got well.
Ii was heroic thing for DR.. and Mrs
Allen to remain where buildings were
burning and bullets We're whizzing
| through the streets and treason and
fanaticism We're on every hand. Here
Is what DR.. Allen wrote home at the
time: Il came TO do just such work.
can't leave these wounded people. We
shall live In the legation, with the old
flag flying. and trust the kind Father
10 care for us
The emperor of Korea In recognition
of DIR. Aliens service. by which he had
been converted TO n belief in the use
II fulness OF western knowledge. estab
lished a royal hospital. the House OF
Il Civilized Virtue" with DIR. Allen ia
.s,.r.,. .ha tat4ar i,aino, cffll In, chm ..s,a
ploy Of the Presbyterian board of for
cign missions. In this first Institution
of western civilization In Korea DIR
Allen. within n short time. was per
forming half a dozen or more opera
iions every morning and ministering Il
upward Of 100 dispensary patients Il
the afternoon. The hospital itself &C
commodatcd forty patients.
As II 10 fix firmly the place of thi
>kiilful Yankee missionary in the roya
favor the emperor himself fell sick. L
be cured by DR.. Allen. This gave hin
the title OF court physician and com
manding position at the palace. whiel
latter he has hold to this day.
Another eyidon . If the high favor il
which be was held was his appoint
ment by the direct wish Of tue einpero
to he foreign secretary Of the kOreal
embassy to the United States. lie re
turned after ,ime 10 take up bis rou
tine missionary work. but In 1890. wit
the consent OF the missionary board. b
was made secretary Of the Unite
States legation at Seoul. During ID
Worlds fair at Chicago he served n
commissioner FOR Korea. In 1888 b
was made charge d'affaires nj Seou
by President Cleveland; and Prcsiden
Mckinley appointed him envoy eN
tr7ioTylinary and minister pieninoicT
tiary. which position he still holds.
Minister Allen has identified himsei
with all the best interests Of the eouT
try. and he understands the nativ
character thoroughly. lie has write
a book upon Korea and It's folklore
, well rs several papers dealing wit
scientific. historical and missionar
subjects in connection with Korea.