The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1909-05-04

OF frequent appearance and smallpox
is almost universal. Nearly every 9TH
er face one sees is more or less pock-
marked, and parents, l am told, do not
count their children as permanent pos
sibilities until after they have had that
disease. These are some of the condi
tons of this country which Japan is
trying to make over.
A Land Without Roads.
AS to other things, Korea in many
respects is worse off than the Philip
pines. There are practically no roads.
The only ways from place to place are
by bride paths with fords across tn,
streams. Now and then finds q,
rude bridge two or three feet wide.
propped up or poles, aud again ne
has to make his way over such
streams by stepping stones or be car
ried across on the Of men.
all transportation away
from the railroads is by pack bullocks.
ponies and DOrterS. All these carry
great loads; and the men Will take as
much as 500 pounds at a pinch. There
is a big guild Of porters. Its ME ar
found in every city and village and
can be seen every where carrying great
loads over the country.
One Of the first things that the jap
nese Will do will be to make wagon
roads, and military highways. Con
Meeting all parts Of Korea. ! undtr-
sta n they are building some now, and
that four main lines are to be con
structed. A m OF new railrOal -
have been planned and several started.
This is in addition to the S~iX-hGndre1-
mile line now in operation. At present
Japan is SO poor that she can3o push
this feature of her wCrk. but it is H.
intention to extend the railroads at the
earliest possible time.
The PeODlc OF Korea.
] have space here for only q word
about the people Of Korea. They are
among the queereSt and most interest
ing OF the ASiatic races allC have great
possibilities. As to their number. d
census was taken some time 6 and
the count made 10. 900, Q They haze
been sc squeezed and ground down by
taxation. however. that they will not
give out the full number of souls in
each house, and the probability IS that
there are many more than We're count
cd. AS fair estimate. I am told, would
be 10000 0 The Koreans them
selves estimate the population at 90
600. 600, but their figures are OF little
value, as they have no basis to 80 on.
The most of these people live in
villages such as I have described.
There are no very large cities. Seoul
has now perhaps q quarter Of a mil
lion, although the census gave II only
about 100000. Pyengyang has 1000.
Taiku $4,000. and after that come
1t1Cl1IuIpo, = AZ eblISt
Social Conditions.
The people are divided into classes,
and, formerly, the emperor and the
nobility owned most Of the lands and
held all the offices. They have been
the curse of the country and have
squeezed the others unmerciiully. This
nobility until now have gone about
dressed in silks and fine grass cloths,
with q lot OF retainerS about them.
They have had coolies with them 70
hold UP their arms as they walked.
along on each side of the horse to
| see that they did not fall from the sad
die. Thev did absolutely no work and
considered it q disgrace to carry d
bundle. The boys who Went 20 the
modern school, established by the en-
peror. took servants along with them
to carry their pencils and paper, and
some tramDed to the school building
through the rain. because they WOulG
not endure the disgrace Of carrying
an umbrella.
This sentiment prevails somewhat
TO-DAY, although il is fast disappearing.
F. Tho coming in of the japanese the
! most OF the nobility nave lost Their
fat Incomes and the farmers and com
mon people are now to have a better
show. IT is claimed that they are b.
| ing oppressed bv the japanese, but
their condition cannot possibly be a
bad as it has been ia the past an
the dawn of reedonl seems 70 ht
breaking. The are eSta DilS1-
ing courts in the cities, and they pro
government of the province a. VII
| as that here at Seoul.
Young. Girls Are Victims