The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-03-04


BY WILLIAM JENNINGS BRYAN.
copyright, 1906, by Joseph B. Bowles-copy-
right in Great Britain-All Rights Re-
served.)
Poor little Korea! One hardly knows
whether to be amused or grieved, so
strangely have comedy and tragedy
been blended in her history.
Mr.. Griffths in his very comprehen-
sive book bearing that title, calls Korea
the Hermit Nation, and the appellation
was a fitting one until within a gen
Grafton. Since that time she might be
described as bone Of contention, for
she has been the cause of several bloody
quarrels.
The position Of Korea on the map of
Asia very much resembles Florida
position on the map Of North America,
and Japan s relative position is some
thing like that which Cuba bears to
Florida. Separated on the south from
Japan by about a hundred miles Of
water and joining both China and Rus
sia on the north, it is not strange that
all three Of these nations have looked
upon her with covetous eyes and be-
grudged each other any advantage OBJ
tanned. The surface of Korea is quite
mountainous, the ranges and valleys ex-
tending for the most part from the
northeast to the southwest. Until re-
Gently the country was inaccessible and
few of the white race have penetrated
the interior. A few years ago a railroad
was built from Seoul, thirty-fve miles
west of Chemulpo, the nearest seaport.
road from Seoul north to Peng Yang
q M "a Tba 10 ~
which has been finished less than
year, is 275 miles long and connects
the Korean capital with the nearest sea-
port to Japan. This railroad is of such
great military Importance to Japan that
she aided the building to the extent Of
guaranteeing 6 per cent interest on the
investment for fifteen years with the
provision that the cost Of the road
should not exceed 25,OO0,000 yen. The
Korean government gave the right Of
way for the road and the free admis-
sion Of material imported for it's con-
struction and equipment. The engines
and cars are Of American style and
make and the road Is standard gage.
1t is now so easy to pass thru Korea
In going from Japan to Picking that
the tourist should not miss it's strange
and interesting sights, but the trip
should be made before November. We
took the train at Fusan and made the
ride nearly all the way in daylight, thus
having an opportunity to see both the
country and the people. The road
crosses three rivers and the water
sheds which separate them, making it's
construction extremely difficult. The
mountains are bare, and we were in
formed that they had been denuded by
the natives and the wood used for fuel.
The Koreans sometimes blame the jap
anese for the appearance Of the coun-
try and attribute it to the invasion
300 years ago; an intelligent son of
Japan replied that as his country re-
covered from earthquake shocks within
few years, the Koreans should have
been able to remove the traces of an
invasion in less than three centuries.
The valleys are fertile, but in tillage
and in evidences Of industry they do
not approach the valleys Of Japan One
misses the orchards, the trees, the vines
and the flowers which are ever present
In the land Of the rising sum-
Rice is the principal crop in the
south, while barley and wheat are more
cultivated in the north. Beans and peas
are also raised in large quantities and
last year constituted the chief article OF
export. Rice, while often the largest
export, fell below beans and peas that
year and was closely followed by hides
and ginseng. ere are some gol6
mines, and the export Of this ore
amounted to nearly 100000 last year
but the country has been SO isolated
that It's mineral wealth has not beer
exhaustively explored. ~ j.. -.
4, J. + + a.
The population of Korea is variouslJ
estimated at from 100000 to $4,000,
600. The men are larger than the Jap
anese and somewhat lighter in color
but mot so alert. Like the Japanese
they have rather scanty beard, but i
seems to be more fashionable for tn,
older men to allow their chin whisker
TO grow. In dress the Korean man il
unique. He wears long white Goa
Of thin cotton reaching to the knees
with trousers generally Of white, yer,
full in the seat and tied around TIL
ankles. The vest is Of red, blue O
green If he is not in mourning, blu
mourning seems to be permanent occu
patton in Korea. It was explained t
us that white is the color used fo
mourning, and that the mourning perio
lasts three years. When one Of tn
royal family dies, all Of the people wea
mourning for the full period, and a
they have sometimes had three roya
funerals within decade, white cam
into general use as matter of econc
..>.. ...,
The hat ordinarily worn is made O
KAISER'S WA