The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-06-13
II, JOSEPH J.. &. clarke.

\A/ Tsushima straits with the
w twin Tsushima Islands ris-
ing darkly mountainous from
the sea some seven miles away and the
thought Of the giant combat in these
waters which laid low the pride of
the Russian navy some ten years be-
fore was inevitable. One pictured the
exploding shells, the onrush Of the
japanese battleships, gray and terri
Bile. spouting fire and hurting steel,
and beyond the manning. the surren.
dering. the sinking OF the Russian
ships which had come so far to suffer
such overwhelming defeat. Then the
commanding figure Of Admiral Togo
on his stout ships bridge.
II was night. The air had a de-
licious m.ldness after the red sunset.
To the northwest lifted In indigo a
rugged coast line and presently lights
cleaned. We were on the threshold
OF Corea, at the gate of Asia!
The trip from Shimonoseki at the
southern tip of the main island OF
Japan. l22 miles. o.Fusan. the nearest
Corean port, Is a matter Of a dozen
hours Of smooth sailing in a well APP
pointed, spotlessly clean steamer.
There are -four such steamers on the
line, so the passage is a good deal Of a
ferry crossing. II 1t comes as in my
case 10 a chance of sea rest between
railroad journeys II is very welcome
and enjoyable. There are morning
and evening sailings at either end Of
the route. by all means take the
morning route and do not miss the
transit through the wide winding
channel between headlands.
Through the increasing darkness q
very bright three flash light shone
out. That was in Fusan harbor. A
proper touch Of mystery II brought to
the scene. Soon we had entered the
wide mouth of the haven. lights Of
Fusan showing in tiers on every side,
and then the waterside sounds. tug
Whistles. sailor shouts. q distant mel
ancholy flute. The putting OF a loco
motive gave 1t the true modern touch.
So shore to the Railroad Hotel and a
nigh, OF balmy rest.
COrea Is no inconsiderable item. In
territory it has S+.73S square miles,
unfolding its place between the YELL
low Sea and the Sea of Japan with its
"'N III dIu us DEOdu VAL
leys and a population Of some l6. 00O,-
900 souls. Its interest as a cradle OF
the very old civilizations does not with
the casual visitor offer such attrac-
ton perhaps as the fact that it Is the
nome OF a once proud ace fallen into
lneptltude under q crushing, %rapacious
domestic tyranny and carrying down
with II the family OF sceptred kings
or emperors who have ruled II and
robbed II for over 500 years.
II was Corea that fed the islands Of
Japan with ideas on religion, ideals of
art and crafts 1t was through Corea
mat the Chinese ideographs brought
the possibilities OF literature to Japan
all over 1900 years ago. You are
therefore face to face with something
very old in the human scale, II also
OF something very young in the story
Of world surface building.
1t seemed to me in approaching Asia
from America that in the Hawaiian
group OF Islands one faced the most
recent Of earth developments. The
volcanic peaks seemed to have risen
from the ocean bed but yesterday, as
II were The scar OF the inner earth
nres seemed yet upon the mountain
races under the sparse green Of their
actual surface.
In Japan the multltudinous upstart-
Ing mountain chains and groups fan
tastic seemed older. though still-as
Inc earth's clock runs-recent in their
suhterran"an origin. The narrow val
ieys seemed older. the rounding of
hI'Itops older. In Corea one came
upon "a and older still than Japan.
ana yet Young compared with the in
her sweeps II the great continents Of
"hIch y was an outpost-the great
sweep across Siberia and Russia and
dermaNy 20 the waters Of the North
Sea.
N more present interest still. It
was the one Of a fallen monarchic
100! and the thrilling scene Of a tre-
mendou organized attempt to gall
'an!ze into primal abundance a ter
ram run 'a'ow through centuries, and
70 FesuIr'ct into ambition and poten-
uaLty q people long inert and pitifully
poweflcS-- the scene OF Japan's great
experiment as Il colonizer and builder.
one may not see all these things in
usr cumulative aspect at first.
frank / dId not. The concrete state
meht I" ne Of Baron Maxine, formerly
oecretary for Foreign Affairs. In the
cultured quiet of his home in Toxic,
nat GU Il Corea had come for CEN
'urles he influence most TO be
Ieckon'd with in the relations OF
Japan with the rest OF the world, had
impressed me most about Corea. 1t
was the source of keenest scrutiny.
whoever most prevailed in COrean
counsel. whether 1t was China or
huSsIa, had to be guarded against by
Japan, II had been the land to be
watchfg' Of.
Nov, happily" he added. "slncs
'he war with Russia. Corea has been
annexed and that part Of the problem
s'imiha'ci. The problem now lief
further field"
ihus Il was with the Corea purely
" Today rs 1t met the eye and passed
" IN Outstanding that ! was con
sihlng myself as our marty Altar 4