Evening star., 1909-06-27

ShimpO or the Korean News This il
one OF the organs of the government. and
Its circulation is largely confined to the
officials. a third daily is entitled the
Imperial City. 1t started out as an anti
government journal, but is now controlled
by the japanese. A fourth, called tie
Empire. is purely Korean and is half
independent. The Empire has a large
circulation and is greatly read by the
common people.
The japanese papers are, of course, in
favor of the government. but al must
go to the censors before they are issued
Notwithstanding this objectionable para
graphs sometimes creep in. In such eases
the police are sent around TO collect and
destroy the papers and if the offense is A
grievcus one the journal may be sus-
pended
| am surprised at the number of Korean
surveyors | see going about Seoul. Both
IN the wide streets Of the cities and in
the country yellow-faced young men clad
in high black hats and long white gowns
may be seen setting up compasses and
carrying chains from place to place Ac-
cording to the new laws. all the lands
of the empire have to be surveyed and
plots made for record. This Job is one
that the Korean can do without losing
ms dignity. and as a result the young
men are studying mathematics and prac-
ticing In order to make surveying their
profession. The stores which sell sur
veyillg instruments in Chng-Go-kai are
crowded with customers. 1t is surprising
where the men get their money to buy
the instruments.
Speaking of the translation OF the Bible
and tine work of the missionaries the
religious japanese are not idle The ma
tive Christians of Japan have q mission
here, and the l5uddhists have built a
large temple under the shadow of the
headquarters of the resident general
y mi m a On 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
despise their priests. They call upon
them in times of trouble. but otherwise
treat them with contempt. There are
three classes of language used among the
Koreans. One is for sGoeriors, another
FOR equals and third for servants and
besgars. The priests are always ad-
dressed in the lowest language, and that
even by children. Until the Japanese
came, priests were forbidden by law to
enter the capital. and this has been the
case for FIVE hundred years. The Bud
dhist priesthood today Is recruited largely
from the lowest classes and from those
of that class who can do nothing else
The monasteries largely take the places
OF orphan asylums fatherless children
being made over to the monks for educa-
tion as priests. / give this on the au-
thority of the Rev. Mr.. RrUen well
known Presbyterian missionary In Taiku.
in southern Korea. Said he:
Il have spent much time in the mon
asteries and have asked many priests
how they came there. One told me that
when he was small his father died. and,
as his mother wished TO marry again,
she made him a priest. Another said
he was the youngest or eight children,
and that as his parents were too ponr
to support such a large family they had
given him over to the Buddhlsts. These
Korean priests are ignorant. They shave
their heads and 20 about with begging
bowls in their hands. They are full OF
Superstition and have practically no hold
on the people at large. The missionary
work lis done entirely by the Japanese
Buddhists, who are of a far different
character and who are copying our meth
ods of modern church work.
FRANK G. CARPENTER.