Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1911-10-25

garments, mopped the blood from her
face with handkerchief, apologized
to the mob in a dumb show and hired
a Korean boy.
Contrasts between the customs Of
Korea and those of other countries
are striking everywhere. For in
stance, in most countries snakes are
more or less feared by everyone and
are never liked about the house. They
are certainly unpopular with persons
who are habitual and Incorporate
users of alcoholic beverages. In Korea
snakes live about the caves of native
houses and are not feared or disliked.
The native legend about their intro
duction into the country is that a GER
tain prince who was drunkard or
dered shipload of them from India
to be brought to the palace to drive
away the evil spirits of drink that
possessed him. In other words, to
cure delirium tremens.
In most countries the horse is con-
sidered a better mount than the
donkey. Not so in Korea. Here the
meek and slow moving ass is regard
ed as the mount for gentleman, and
especially the man Of fashion. In
other countries progress is highly re-
garded, but the tortoise is the emblem
of dignified and desirable conserva-
ton in "The Land of the Morning
Calm" where the evening was equally
calm and the middle Of the day more
so when the Koreans ruled the coun-
try.
Street signs are relied upon in the
cities of other countries, and nowhere
are they more used than in China,
which formerly exercised a shadowy
suzeranity over Korea and was her
neighbor. But in Seoul they were not
used at all before the Japanese came
In almost all other countries women
are fond of going shopping and mer-
chants strive to please them and to
sell them something just as good if
they haven't the article asked for
How Shopping Is Regarded.
In Korea it is otherwise. The
women regard shopping as a neces-
sary evil, and the merchants keep
their goods in closets instead of on
counters and shelves and in show
cases. The merchant does not hustle
for trade or argue for a sale. If the
customer asks for something she is
likely TO be shown what the merchant
has and told that he has nothing like
what she wants. The shopkeeper is
fair emulator Of the highly-respected
tortoise that was the national emblem
OF conservation during the halcyon
days Of the Hermit Kingdom when no
diplomatic or trade relations were
sustained with foreign countries.
In most countries retailing liquors
1t not regarded as a suitable avenue
Of activity for an aristocratic woman
whose fortune has dwindled. In
Korea a lady in distress may operate
a saloon without fear of any social
stigma resting upon her. And bar
is the only kind Of shop she may keep
with impunity Her maid acts as
barmaid. but the saloon is given space
in the residence without injuring the
tone Of the establishment. A woman
of social distinction may make shoes
provided she makes such as the com
mon people wear. To make shoes for
her own class would remove her from
that class.
OF the Hermit Kingdom, which was
unknown such a short time ago, only
very small portion Of the outside
world had a glimpse before the Jap
anese began Transforming a country
in which breech loading cannon were
cast centuries before gunpowder was
known in Europe and which fought
naval battles with ironclads more than
three centuries before the Yankee
Cheesebox" eclipsed the glory of the
Merrimac at Hampton Roads.