East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1907-07-26

Korea. called by outsiders the Her
init Kingdom" is known to its own
people as Che-sen, meaning morning
calm" or morning freshness"
1t comprises a peninsula of Asia,
northeast Of China, 500 miles long |
1876 miles broad and including an area
of about $4,000 square miles. The
population is estimated at from S,00o,-
900 to 10000, 900 people, including
foreigners, of whom the greater num-
her are Japanese. There are about
| 300 Americans resident in the coun-
try.
The Koreans are of Monaghan or
| igin, tall, robust and rather prepos-
sessing. Their language is polysylla-
bic. In dress, customs and architec-
ture they show the influence Of Chi
nese civilization. The Chinese claim
to have civilized Korea in the 18th
century B. c.
|
ty of China from earliest times, ex-
cept for a brief period between 1892
and 1898, when it Was under Japan
ese protection, until 1876, when Japan
signed treaty recognizing it as an
Independent nation.
The burdens of life fall more heav-
lily upon the women of Korea than in
most countries, even in the Orient. In
deed. it would be difficult to point
to any nation where the lot of woman
is more completely unenviab BILE than in
Korea. The male Korean, except in
the highest classes, regards his wife
as the burden bearer of the family.
Curiously enough, however, the
male Korean does not attain to the
full dignity of mans estate until he
marries. No matter how long he may
defer that event, he is compelled to
go bare-headed and to wear his hair
in a pig-tail until his wedding. He Is
treated as a boy, excluded from the
councils of men and is a person of no
consequence during the pig-tail period
of his life.
Korea is the paradise of quacks. AS
medicine the ground skull of a tiger
5 high in favor for all ills, while
ginseng, pulverized horns of a fawn,
materated spiders and similar mix
lures are consumed in great quantities
with trust and confidence in their
virtues. In surgery their practice is
limited to the crudest operations.
Religion in Korea as far as there
may be said to be any, is modelled on
Chinese patterns with such results as
might be expected. Law and the ad-
ministration of justice are utterly
feeble and reeking with corruption
The reins of government, as in China
are in the hands of class which, by
family tradition, lives by the shame
less oppression and robbery of the
poor.
The land is generously blessed will
animal life. There are no oxen, how
ever, and Koreans never use milk o
any of its products. The work Is al
done by bullocks, which usually at
tain magnificent development With
out his bullock the Korean would b
helpless, and this fact is cited t
prove that the Koreans have neve
been a nomadic people.
Korea produces no sheep, but non
IN that country is so poor as not t
own at least one dog. No famil
would be complete without dog.
Koreans. unlike the japanese, Low
good fire when the chill blasts c
winter sweep across the barren coun
= try This fondness for warmth is tn
cause of that barren appearance
which so often has been referred {
by travellers. The Koreans keep thei
forests cut to the quick to provid
"a fuel while the canny Japs let thei
oi forests grow and shiver.
ne The Koreans are essentially an az
O. ricultural people. They come from
er stock entirely different from the
two great neighbors, China, the mel
y, chant nation, and Japan the fightin
c. people. They are undoubtedly
r Turanian origin with strong admiJ
a. ture Of Chinese and Manchu blood.
DO Seoul. the capital, is an ancier
ne walled city built in network Of hill
IS miles from the sea. 1t is fortifie
of in the strongest fashion by a systel
IL of smells that would drive any but a
r. Asiatic army gasping into the sea.
III Is poor in appearance but rich
ot fleas. On autumn nights tigers an
as other beasts of prey frequently cor
n, test the right of way with the belate
traveller in the streets.
Ia The vista across the housetops {
" Seoul is one Of appalling monoton
y All chimneys empty into the narro
in streets about two feet from tn
d, ground, and at eventide when tn
as good wives start their fires the pa
te of smoke and ashes that settles upo
IS the town would make a London 70