The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1908-06-04
KOREAN MISSIONARY
TALKS OF COUNTRY

A very interesting talk on Korea
was given last Sunday evening at the
Methodist episcopal church by Miss
Margaret Edmunds, retured mission
ary from there. Miss Elmunds is a
sister of DIR. @. W. Edmunds and Mrs.
j. s. Booth of Hood River, and has
gained large circle of friends the
short time which she has been in
Hood River. Miss Edmunds has a
charming personality and while not
in the habit OF speaking In public
her adience was held spell bound for
over hour, which seemed more like
few minutes, as her subject was SO in
teresting ana she had the happy fac
ulty of just knowing how to treat it.
She said in part:
Korea, as dou ubtless you know, is a
peninsula stretching southwards from
the Celestial Empire. Its area con-
sists of 80, 900 SO. miles (about the
size of the state Of Utab) With a pop
uiation of about $4,000. 600,
A journey OF two days by rail is
sufficient time to travel irom the
northern even into the southern prov
inces. Once in the port OF Fusan,
japan can be reached by steamer in a
single night
Korea the Hermit nation, has been
bone OF contention tor many yeaie.
The average Korean is a proud. but,
law abiding, heutle, lovable person.
For centuries these doors were
firmly closed against foreigners and
their trange devices, but now rail.
Ioads, electric street cars, few cHr-
riages, wagons, clocks. watches, two
htoried buildings, glass windows,
churches, schools and In fact the new
emperor recently appeared In com
pany with his bride Ia handsome
victoria. Since this most unusual
happening the wives of high Korean
officials Appeared with their husbands
at a fashionable wedding.
Shortly before His Royal Highness
the Prince left home to attend school
in foreign country, Christmas came,
but as all Palace gates we're then
guarded by japanese soldiers, the lit
tie fellow was unable to leave the Pal
ace grounds even for minute, so
having hesrd the story OF Jesus, he
wanted a Christmas tree 30 badly that
he called to a foreign lady from an
upper window saying, won't you
please find tree for me" Needless to
say, small tree was found and dec
GRATED, not with beautiful tuys as you
are accustomed to receive, but such
odds and ends as that Am lrican
woman could find In her trunk.
When evening came candles were
lighted on said tree, while the Korean
orphan children sang"
Think of it! Until Christianity
came to the rescue there was not a
single organized school for Korean
girls, even the precious sons received
very meagre education consisting
chiefly of Chinese classics This be-
ing the official language all docu-
ment., shucb as diplomas and engage
ment paper, etc., are written In this
character.
Today, however, there is in Seoul q
beautiful two story brick M. E. school
building with an enrolment OF ITO
Kore an girls, who have a graded
course of instruction with the idea OF
graduating pupils this June. s.
In that compound we also have
W. 4. Nj. s. hospital with dispensaEy
aud training school for nurses. In
addition to these we also have a
correspondingly large school which is
known as Paja Haktang. THE year a
more advanced course OF institution
has been introduced embracing the
English language, which study Ia
much appreciated by Korean students
In general.
A theological seminary has been
founded in Seoul for the purpose OF
preparing as speedily as possible our
Korean young men tor the ministry,
for which they have natural ability.
Oratorioal contests, debates, speech
flying or leading meeting is real
delight.
| have seen dear little convalescing
hospital girl voluntarily stand in the
skesence of ous Bishop, Pastors and
haudreds OF other people and with
confidence tell Of her faith In Jesus
This girl OF about fourteen years Of
age has been the means Of leading
other patients In the hospital to
Christ. Among others was a poor
little slave girl with badly diseased
body.
Would you like to visit the little
hospitalr Please leave your shoes at
the door and step in. Yes. this is a
mud floor nicely covered with the
strongest oiled paper, always comfort
ably warm by means OF fires duilt In
| fiues. Here sits oui little handlpss
girl. Yes, that is the name given hy
her parents, or it may be, her Master
| tshe is slave you r"memter., Since