Abbeville progress. (Abbeville, Vermilion Parish, La.) 1913-1944, 1914-06-13
FACTS ABOUT KOREA
Country Had IronCIads Three
Centuries Ago.
Hermit Kingdom Anticipated Europe
in Use of Movable Type and Astro-
nomicaI instrum ents-Oecline
Due to Invasion.

Geor~e KEENAN,, explorer and lectur-
or recently communicated TO the Ma |
fional Geographic society the IN
formation that Korea built steelclad
battIeships $50 years before the mon
itor and Merrimac. The Hermit King
dom was using movable type ana as
troromical instruments from the
twelfth to the fifteenth centuries anu
employing explosive bombs long pc
fore they we're known in Europe. he
points out that the famous Japanese
Satsuma pottery was made originally
nv Korean workmen who were I'M
ported into the mikados kingdom.
These facts are cited by Mr.. KEENAN,
TO show the terrific downfall expert
enced by Korea He traces us
course from its pinnacle of civlllza-
ton to the depths of degeneracy. ana
expresses great hopes for its future
under the guidance Of Japan.
While Korea was sinking, Japan
was rising, until the island Kingdom,
all by it's own efforts, became such
world power as to defeat a great tu-
ropean nation" he says. The hor-
cans we're a mainland people. They
had taught the medieval Japs all tue
civilization they had. But by rea-
son of their geographical location they
were invaded by vastly inferior peo-
pie. the Mongols, and the ManchuS'
Korea was Influenced to establish
demonology as its religion, us Dloou
was weakened by being crossed WIN
that OF people vastly beneath IL anu
its shirt was broken by the indlghl-
ties heaped upon it by the more pow
erful invaders. 1t was under the IN
fuence of China, which adopted the
semi-sacred books OF Confuclus az
its national system OF education 2,oo'
wears ago. The knowledge OF hiS
works and the ability TO recite ions
chapters of his writings were mace
the chief requirement Of the asplr
ant for hOnors.
AS a result. the only study OF tn
sciences, mathematics and the phe
nomepa Of nature was dropped; tn
memory was overcultivated and Tn
reasoning power stultifed. The hat
its of the Koreans became uncleai
iy; they grew Indifferent to dirt an
smells.
Japan, on the other hand. wa
never invaded in its history; its bloc
was never intermingled and its stoc
was allowed to remain pure. Its N;
tiopal character was developed Wit
ont outside influence. The Shinto r
ligion of the empire has as its card
nal principles purity of body spir
and environment. Japan was not e
posed to the scourges and plague
that Korea's dirt and filth brougl
unon il. The feudal system sprang
in Japan. causing authority to be 7
spected and discipline to be dew
oped
In 1910 Japan annexed Korea. Phi
TO that time as many deaths as 900
day had occurred in Seoul alon
shortly afterward not as many peoI
died from the plague in the VINO
kingdom in one year. Japan forclt
yaccinated 100000 people in o
wear Courts we're established, g
ing authority to $4,000 gendarm
Hundreds of miles of roads are bel
built Afforestation on an extens
scale is being carried on. 10
courage the silkworm industry
900 600 mulberry tree seedlings w
set out In one year.
state and private banks we're
tabIished. The postal system '
installed and one in every six tamil
has a savings account. The peoi
at first suspicious, have learned |
they will get their money back WI
ever they ask for it. In the I
wear after the Japanese occupancy
rice crop was doubled and the WI
and barley crops grew from 14,O
600 to $4,000 900 bushels. The .
anese have built model village
every province, and are encourat
the people to build similar villa
throughout the kingdom.
Mr.. KEENAN, points out that NJ
has the same geographical ad
tages as great part of the cas-
mart of the United States. 1t is
as well fitted to be the home
healthy, prosperous and happy
ple." he says. 1T is located sim
" to the territory bordering on
Atlantic coast, from Portland,
to Charleston. s. c., and extends
ward to Albany, N. Y; Harrist
Pa: Lynchburg. Va. and Coiun
S. c."