Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1905-07-05
A STORY
FROM THE
FAR EAST
DR.. johnson Writes Enter
tainingly Of His Work in
Far Away Korea

airy in Korea, sends to friends here
an interesting account Of trip into
the country made by himself, an evan
gelistic helper, and the Rev. Addison
Parker, of Richmond, Ind. Before they
started there was much discussion as
to how Mr. Parker should travel. It
was too far TO walk, and If he were
to have a chair carried by coolies the
natives would be shy, thinking him
an official. Riding a pony was dan.
gerous, as roads are bad and a fall
always possible, but that mode was de-
cided upon, DIR. johnson providing a
boys saddle, and Mrs. johnson a sad
die blanket made from a red-fringed
table cloth. DR.. johnson says: "Mr.
Parker took of his coat as soon as we
left the city AID rode in front, a pic.
ture I shall not soon forget. A stout
man in shirt sleeves, almost as broad
of beam as the pony was long, on a
boys saddle with stirrups almost
touching the ground, big white hel.
met above, a bright red table cloth
below, a little Korean pony led by a
bare headed, bare footed boy. 1t is
worthy Of note thpt everywhere along
the road the man and the pony en-.
parisoned with the red fringe excited
much admiration"
A stop was made for the night at
a Buddhist monastery. "Buddhist
temples in Korea" says DR.. Johnson,
care always delightfully."- located high
up among the hills, surrounded by
woods and By springs of pure water
They are open to all travellers or pas
sers-by, and being almost always free
from insects, in marked contrast TO tho
waysido inns, their spare rooms are
generally full. Four or FIVE shaven
monks met us at the gate, and with
clasped hands bowed almost to the
ground in welcome. We were escort.
ed to room where we had supper,
eating the food we had brought with
us. The priests supply travellers with
rice and vegetables at very moder.
ate charge, and ask nothing for their
rooms. We inquired when services
were held But once a day in the
morning, we were told. How many
priests connected with the monasteryl
Twenty-Five, but only six now there.
The rest were travelling and engaged
in business at various market places.
1t is customary for priests TO engage
in business and many OF them are
away from their temples much. Ex-
cept on special days one in the spring
and one in the fall, Buddhist monas-
teries are almost without worshippers,
except near the capital Seoul, whero
the King gives large donations TO some
of the temples, and am told the
worshippers are numerous"
DR. johnson is doing medical work
in Korea under the Presbyterian Board
Of Foreign Missions. On this trip he
went to market day in a town. There
acted then. Dr. johnson says; "We
took our box Of books and drugs,
spread our straw mat, and soon had
a curious crowd around. The ease Of
instruments and the tooth forceps ex-
cited much comment. i invited all
who had aching teeth TO come forward
and have them pulled without charge.
Many responded, and the crowd, with
jokes and laughter at the patients, got
much fun out of it. also saw a num-
ber of sick people, some Of whom were
there given medicine, and others, re-
quiring operation or prolonged treat
ment, were directed 20 go to tho dis
pensary at Taiku. The last patient /
saw was a poor leper with face and
hands thiekly swollen and red. He
had front tooth which projected
back 80 as to render il almost impos-
sible for him to close his mouth firmly
in eating He implOred me TO pull it
for him, which / did without touching
him more than with three fingers on
the temple. Some thought was in
danger Of infection, but washed in
the sand Of a neighboring stream. A
foreigner is in more danger from ma
laria or typhoid than from leprosy. The
later is not particularly contagious
here when ordinary precautions are
taken.
Christian Endeavorers.
Baltimore, Nd, July 5.-The Fifth
regiment armory was crowded almost
to suifoeation this afternoon at the
big welcome meeting that signalized
the formal Opening Of the twenty sec
II s.A.-..4s...I 1910 u IL.