Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1904-05-06


rr elict which the japanese caused To
issue sbolishing the iopknot Of hair
which Koreans have worn for 2r1
years. He and the people resented the
abolition rs an attempt 10 make them
look like Japanese.
Is Il possible that the compliments
20 Marquis Ito have any lasting sig
The other day north Korean was
shot by japanese rs Russian spy.
In Ito's prefecture people have suf-
fered much from the present invaders.
Phyongyong. for example. was reduced
In the Japan-China war from Il popula-
ton of G0.O00 to population Of H.
400. Four-fifths Of the houses were de
stroyed. and for days afterward IT has
been automatically related. dead ko-
renns lay exposed TO the sky in fes-
tering heaps four or five deep. As
now. the japanese We're friends OF no
rea.
One cannot tell whether the memory
rankles. Conclusion about oriental
feelings are not TO he reached by
means of occidental processes. These
are a people of easy going habit. In
no country one has experience Of are
there so many gentlemen or is idling
so respectable. The main brake on
progress Is the custom of living upon
Il more prosperous relative. II is called
''sorIl.g." No odium attaches to what
we would call sponging. When man
feels overburdened with his own or
his wife's kindred and has himself po-
lltlcal influence he says TO the govern
ment: Here are some relations of
mine who cannot make living. They
must have political office" And the
office Is granted. The word for work
in Korean means unfortunate" to do
nothing is to be genteel. Yet to gain
a living 10 not difficult. Scratch the
soil and enough to live on springs up.
Wealth anyway is discouraged. If rel
atives do not swarm about to subsist
upon what a man has earned the gov
eminent steps in to relieve him of his
accumulations.
Thus one man this happened to a
friend of the editor of the Korean Re
view who was known to have come
into possession of $1,000 was one day
waited upon by an officer of the en-
pire.
Il congratulate you" said he.
"WhyY' inquired the man.
"The emperor has conferred upon you
the Order of Something or Other, and
am here to give you the insignia and
to collect the $1,000 which it is GUS
tomary to pay"
"But | have>only $1,000 to my name
Besides, l don't care for the decora-
ton
What! Reject distinction confer
red by the EMPEROR exclaimed the
messenger.
at was leze majesty. The offending
citizen was brought before a court, the
magistrate was paid 5000 to render
judgment of $4,000, and the man had
to empty his house of goods and yield
up bis bank deposit and go penniless
into the country to live off the soil.
There is wooded hill ON the en-
perors farm which it costs a head to
cut tree from. The crime is capital
owing to the tradition that when trees
are all cut there the Korean nation will
disappear. The time is approaching.
1t is declared by persons daily in con-
tact with the cabinet and the emperor
that one of the things Marquis Ito
came to request was that Korea should
grant to japan the mining, forests and
fisheries concessions. Ito let's 1t be I'M
derstood that his mission was success
full. He threatened, one hears, that
unless Japan's desires were met there
would be troops in Korea to enforce
them, and the wabble kneed emperor
gave in. He has subscribed also to
the Tusan railway, and the crown
princess, who was slashed with Jap
anese sword, has contributed to the
Japanese Red Cross society. These are
| politics so high and so interesting that
| hesitate to write them till am sureI
of my facts. Against what would be
the supposedly human prejudice
against the additionally hated nation
there is to be weighed the overpower
ing physical presence of its people and
armed forces. Hundreds of new i'm
migrants recently arrived at ChemulpO
and if the rate keeps up till midsum
mer Korea's gentle 100000 inhabit
ants will be outnumbered as well as
overawed by their aggressive historical
enemies.
Immense works are being pushed un
der the energetic, strong, peasant band.
from Japan. Hills are being lowered
into the valleys to form new rich rice
fields, and the railway to PhyongyOns
is being graded and laid by counties.
men with remarkable vigor, even sol
diers taking picks and spike hammers
the wish being to have road from Tu
san up the peninsula clear to New
chwang and the Yulu open at once anC
to Picking little later.
Japan is prevailing over Koret
through sheer self assertion (althougl
that is quality which Japan as We
has no word to eXpress), and Korea il
pitifully nonresistant. AS one of thu
observers in Korea puts it, 'To TAXI
over this whole government and coun
try would be merely like stealing can
dy from a blind child"