The daily morning journal and courier., 1905-12-30

by knitting or rearing silkwOrns.
 In the country the care of bees is in- cumbent on every woman, however lofty her social status. She cares for fruit trees, particularly the mulberry. The one profession of these i'm proverished ladies of which they enjoy absolute monopoly is that of physician.
 The lowest class of women are prac- tically outcasts. From this class are recruited the female dancers who Oe- cupy such a large place in Corean life. Of these the kissans are attached to the imperial court.
 They are divided into two groups. one belonging to the bureau of imperial medicine, the other to the Garde Robe of the imperial court. The kissans are strictly dancers of the first class. They have the exclusive privilege of per forming at court Etiquette forbids a dancer of the second or third class to remain in the presence of a kissan
 The kissans are in the pay of the Government. In addition to a fixed salary they have certain perquisties when they sing or dance at the im- perial palace. As .hey are all women of great beauty from the Corean point of view high officials sometimes marry them.
 The marriage ceremony in Corea is conducted under conditions that are practically tests of endurance. On the day of his marriage a Corean has the right, if he can afford it, to assume the costume of any official of the in- perial court. Usually he selects that of a Minister of State.
 In this guise, borne by six bearers in a highly decorated chair, preceded by two red parasols, the insignia of the official he is copying, he leaves his fathers house and proceeds to that of the bride. He finds her ready to re- ceive him, her face 'elabora tely painted, her eyelashes gummed together, tenn porarlly blinded, so that she may not see his features until night.
 When the bridegroom enters the brides house he retires to a corner where he makes oath to be good hus- band. He than approaches the bride, who, being unable to see, is informed of his proximity by an attendant.
 The bride and bridegroom are now bound together with long blue red strings by woman part sorceress and part servant. Wine friendship is tasted by the couple in turn Then follows a grotesque scene. Its intention is to test the earnestness of the bride.
 The young man may laugh, but this is strictly forbidden to the girl. If she succombs to the temptation to laugh the marriage is then and there annulled. the bride having safely passed through this ordeal, she is now tested for capacity to remain silent. The young man tries every device to make her speak. If unsuccessful he cries out that he will not marry a dumb woman. Usually the girl Is proof against the temptation, but if she is resentful and makes retort that is sufficient to annul the marriage.
 This happens when the girl is op- posed to marrying the man. She adopts that method of escape. General ly the bride goes to. live with her hus- bands parents, where she becomes the slave of the mother-ir-law; the Corean species being considered the most ter rible of the whole world.
 NJ. Bourdaret has a good deal to say i in regard to the alimentation of the Corean, who is gluttonous beyond be- lief. Even in high society 1t is con- sidered an honor to the host to eat and i drink to excess.
 i Ordinances is not considered re- proach. One encounters every day in 1 the streets individuals staggering from intoxication or sleeping off & debauch in the gutter.
 The cookery in the restaurants and among the poorer classes is antipathetic i to the European, particularly on ac- count of the way in which food Is pre- pared. On the other hand, among the higher classes meals are scrupulously clean and artistically prepared, with an abundance of condiments and sauces. ! The European misses butter and bread, for which rice is substituted. | In families of wealth beef game, fowl and fish are served daily. The lower classes eat of dog flesh, but only in 1 summer.
 The gastronomic event of the year is the prepartion in November and December of kim-tehi, the national dish. It is an amalgam of cabbage, tur- nips, cut fine, salted and put in large vases, with pepper, onions, garlic, ginger and sometimes pears.
 This mivture is allowed to stand dur 1 ing the entire season, the essence of two kinds of fish being adde occasional ly This connection is analogous to our pickles, but it has g. power that would make our amateurs of pickles recoil with horror if they were obliged to eat one-twentieth part of what a Corean consumes with eager relish.
 Beef is eaten cut in small pieces sometimes eneweloped in an omelet, as are tripe and fish. Soup is made with beef, dog pig and mutton, The last is very rare; it comes from China and is only seen on the tables of the rich Beef is roasted on heated drop plaque pasted with spiced sauce and ginger.
 In general, the Corean steeps his meats in strong sauces which to the Europen have the most revolting odor Dogs are eaten. AS an excuse for kill ing them for this purpose the Coreans say that after they are three years old | they become too intelligent and see