The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1913-08-08
Copyrighted by Chas. F. ColIyer. 1913.

certain variety of relics of the past
 Continually we come across handsome
 Buddhist monuments of past dynasties and centuries. The characteristic fea-
 lures of each is, that. they are all with
 out inscription. Therefore, having nothin gto proclaim their history, there hangs round them like a shroud the
 vale. of mystery. Here is perfectly
 symmetrtcal Pagoda with it's eight
 stories each a. little smaller than the
 one below it. There are other and
 finer ones. There are also images
 both small and colossal, around each
 of which hangs some forgotten story
 of past deeds: but it was not always
 thus Korea was rich in monuments
 having tablets with inscriptions telling
 the history or significance of each, but
 these were ruthless1y destroyed by the Japanese during the invasion under Hfdeyoshi, in 1892.
 In many. parts of Korea we find plain Pagodas eighteen to twenty feet high,
 built of granite. The age of these is doubtful but everything points to the fact that they were erected many cen turies ago. Clinging to one of these is a legend, which slightly lifts the veil of mystery.
 KIM ATAN-G GIL.
 though still a young man, had attained to. some notoriety, and already held an official position. His prospects were those of a roseate future: yet there was a skeleton in his cupboard, deep. sorrow which only tended to increase with years. Married as is customary, his paretns' choice, he had passed through many of the viciesitudes of wedIoclrs. and to him they had not proved to be unmingled joy. Tn hisI wife he found an utter lack of con- genia1ity for she had grown to be a I k,1- 4K. her charms were not such as Kim ap- preeiated. Finding no ngenfality at home he gathered about him a, number Of young b1oods and with their assist ance did that which was, and still is, of common occurrence.
 One night with his young friends fully armed and leading saddled horse they sped their way to a coun- try village where lived with her pa rents a young widow. Kim had heard of her charms. When they reached the house they threw a sack over the widow and carried her away on the horse This was all done with due caution and with the greatest expedi- l ton so as to avoid an affray with the I
 We must digress for a brief moment to describe some of her charms, or She was expert in eTnbroidery;1 whether it was the simplest kind or the most intricate work, her delft f1n-I gers gave it that exquisite finish oil which the lady of the Orient is the mistress. She was able to play one or two instruments which produced mu- sic Without Harmony and always in a minor key. She was able to dance so we'll and so much to the delectat ton of | those who beheld her that she was1 called "a leaf of sunlight Her danc- ing was nothing like the animated .AI &l-~ W. 1t was rather a matter of graceful pos- turing; or almost effor tless, nnotionless gliding with all that grace and rhythm which gives to natural beauty so perfect a setting.
 Kirn's troubles, however, were far was found that after all she was not 8 widow. Her husband returned home and though he stated he had been trading for 8 numbersof years in the far south Of the Peninsula he was "a poor man. Being without money he could invoke no influence, hence though he claimed his wife he was not able to get her back from so influential a man: as Kim
 According to native law mans wife In his property, and so he appealed to the magistrate; but greater influences through the agency of Kim. who gets him into the hands of the ajuns (na- i've police.)
 These native police placed him in the ok, which is the prison of the uncon- 5emned, where people are kept under while charges are brought, or up against them. Custom re- 1uires that people when in the ok shall cause their friends to feast the ajuns. If this is not done the prisoners are put in the stocks over night, or receive other minor tortures.
 Being, as we have stated, a. poor nan, he was unable to provide the nec-I sssary feast. He had no influences to help him, therefore it was a very easy matter for Kim, by judicfous use of ais money, to have done what he liked with the unfortunate husband One night he was placed in solitary cell and in the morning was found to be strangled. No inquiry was held to- ac- count for his death; he was just wrap ped up in some old coverlet and car ried out of the city upon a crude stretcf1er e of some low hill the carriers deposited .heir burden, dug a shallow grave and ceremony inferred the corpse. No ceremony, no ritual having been observed upon the interment of this poor man. his spirit or soul. joined hose malignant spirits which people he atmosphere, and invoked their aid 70 bring vengeance upon the one who nad bereft him, first of his wife. then ,f his life.
 KIM'S DREAMS.
 Kim dreamt dreams and had visions; le saw apparitions; this so worked lpon him mentally and physically that ( le became thin and haggard; the .harm of his poor little wife" no long $ 1T aI1ured him; for always he heard l he voice of her rightfu1 husband. ( Finally he resolved to go to the Budd- list monastery high up on wonder , mountain There he arranged that no cost should be spared in special ser rices to be rendered to Buddha on the l fifth day of the following moon. I
 The priests, their attendants and $ laves prepare the sacrifice. Huge ] uantities of sweetmeats, dates, etc, (