The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1909-06-29

robbery, murder and oppression ara
what is all this II the ghosts of the
thieves and robbers Of the dead ma
ing exphession."
These articles are beautifully writ
ten and the Koreans are delightad
with them.
Another Korean daily is the Tai
Han-Shimpo or the Korean News
This is one of the organs of the gov
eminent, and it's circulation is largely
confined to the officials. A thir3
daily is entitled the Imperial CITY
1t started out as an anti-governmen-
journal. but is now controlled by the
Japanese. A fourth, called the En-
pire, is purely Korean and is haIf
independent. The Empire has a large
circulation and is greatly read bv
tie common people.
The japanese papers are. of course
in favor Of the government, but al
u go to the censors before they ar
issued. Notwithstanding this, obiec-
tionable paragraphs sometimes creep
in. In such cases the police are sent
around to collect and destroy the pap
ers. and if the offense is a g~rievous on
the journal may be SUSPENDED.
Korea Surveyors.
I am surprised at the number 1e
Korean surveyors | see gong about
Seoul. Both in the wide streets of the
cities and in the country, yellOW-fac-
ed young men clad in high black hats
and long white gowns may be seen
setting up and carrying
chains from place to place. Accord
ing to the new laws, all the lands OF
empire have to be surveyed and plots
made for record. This job is one that
the Korean can dc without losing his
dignity. and as a result the young raen
are studying mathematics and prac-
ticing in order to make surveying
their profession. The stores which
sell surveying instruments in Ching
Go-kai are crowded with customers.
It is surprising where the men get
their mOney to buy the instruments.
The BuGhihists in Seoul.
Speaking of the translation of the
Bible and the work of the mission
aries, the religious Japanese are not
idle. The native Christians OF Japan
have a mission here. and the Budd-
hists have built a large temple under
the shadow of the headquarters of the
resident general. They have a mis-
sion situated on one of the main
streets of the japanese section, and
are doing what they can to revive
Buddhism among the Koreans. This
is strange. inasmuch as Buddhism
came to Japan from Korea. Today
the. Koreans despise their priests
They call upon them in times OF
trouble, but otherwise treat them
with contempt. There are three elias
ses of language used among the kO-
reans. One is for superiors, another
for equals and a third for servants
and beggarS. The priests are always
addressed in the lowest language. and
thai even by children. Until the Japa-
nese came. priests were forbidden by
law to enter the capital. and this has
been the case for five hundred years
The Buddhist priesthood today is re-
cruited largely from the lowest classes
and from those of that class who can
do nothing else. The monasteries
largely take the places of orphan asy-
lums, fatherless children being made
over to the monks for education as
priests. l give this on the authority
of the Rev. Mr.. Bruen, a we'll known
Presbyterian missionary in Taiku,
in Southern Korea. Said he:
i have spent much time in tn
moE9asteries and have asked many
priests how they came here. One told
me that when he was small his father
died. and. as his mother wished to
marry again. h made him a priest.
Another said he was the youngest Of
eight children. and that as his parents
large family they had given him over
to the Buddhists. These Korean
priests are ignorant. They shave
their heads and go about with beg
ging bowls in their hands. They
are full of superstition and have
practically no hold on the people at
| large. The missionary work is done
entirely by the japanese Buddhists.
| who are Of a far different character
and who are copying our methods Of
modern church work.
FRANK G CARPrr7TER-
MILITARY COMMISSIONERS.
New Officers in Second Infantry Com