The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1916-04-04
BY FREDERICK STARR.
professor Of Anthropoloey in the
University OF Chicago


TOXIC. Japan, F ep. 10 (By
mailJ- Seoul. the old capital Of
Korea. is undergoing changes. Tn
III recently rs wall was intact and
gave picturesqueness 10 the city
pleasing 10 western eyes There
were eight gates four OF them
larger than the others and facing
the cardinal points The main
street OF the city ran from the east
10 the west gates and from the south
70 the north Al their Intersection
stood the old boil. which was struck
al intervals through the day-at 6
In the morning. az noon. az s at
night, az 8. and then at midnight
The bell ike most conspicuous
objects In Korea, had a story and
it's Sound in the ears Of many was
wall OF terror They say that
when the bell was to be made II
was matter OF public interest and
OF popular contribution Every one
gave something 10 it's makeup. Mir
rors. rings. ornaments. coins. all
we're given 10 the melting pot.
When finally the day came for the
casting a great crowd gathered. The
metal was finally molten ready to
be run The word was gfVrn and
the hot liquid was poured into the
moli When IL was somewhat
cooled the casting was uncovered bit
by bit. and, 10. it was imperfect
Broken 20 pieces, il was again mol
ten on another day and again 1t was
faved A third time the mishap
occurred and the people were well
nigh discouraged at the evil omen
The master workman ordered a
final trial. Again the crowd az.
sembled, again the broken frag-
ments. submitted 10 the heat. gradu-
ally melted until the crucial mo
ment vas near Al that instant an
unkn 1wn woman OF the common PEG.
pie pressed through the crowd, her
baby IN her arms coming TO the
pot OF molten metal. she cried, But
you have not yet my contribution,
raised the baby and hurled il into
the seething mass,
The moment had come for the
pouring, and before the cry OF hor-
ror had died away upon the lips OF
the crowd. the signal was given and
the hot metal flowed down into the
mold. When it was uncovered the
bell emerged perfect the sacrifice
had been effective: but through the
years mothers at the stroke OF the
old bell have heard in it the wall
ing of the child shriekinG, oh,
mother. my mother
In the old days. and not so very
long ago. the bell gave the signal
for various movements. Women,
save the most common and rustic
we're not permitted freely on the
streets. From midnight to noon and
from noon TO at night. men and
boys were free TO roam. but women
and girls were expected o keep in
doors. But when the old bell struck
az The hour OF .. mer and boys be
took themselves 10 their houses and
femaies we're privileged 10 walk the
streets till the midnight bell drove
them home
Those days are past, but even to
day few women are seen upon The
streets, and those of any social
standing have the face almost con
cealed. The covering is curious II
is apparently a garment FOR the up.
per body. with neck space and
sleeves dangling a the sides. back
falling capelike over the shoulders
and the front coming down on both
sides OF The face. nearly concealing
il. In Seoul this garment is regular
~ OF dull green cloth.
To an extraordinary degree Seoul
is city. OF bridges Not that it is
intersected by rivers OF important
streams there arc only small
brooks or canals within the city.
Nor do these canals make the city
a Venice There are no gondolas
ehere Hut by the scant water in
these streams women squat in
throngs, doing laundry work The
water often is far from ctean, but
what does that matter The worker
uses little wooden club or paddle
and beats tho clothing upon fiat
stones. Garments TO be Numbered
are usually ripped along the seams.
the pieces washed and then again
put together after the work is done.
The briahes are usually Of stone,
we'll built and durable No mortar
or cement SENS 20 be used, but the
cut stones are fitted rather care
fully. On many OF the bridges in
the city stone pillars are carved 10
grotesque animal forms at top
The royal palaces have seen their
days OF glory. The one most used
by the late king was the north pal.