The log cabin Democrat., 1916-05-06

is undergoing changes. Until re- gently it's wall was intact and gave a picturesqueness to the city pleasing to western eyes. There were eight gates-four of them larger than the others and facing the car dinal points. The main street of the city ran from the east to the west gates and from the south to the north At their intersection stood the old bell, which was struck at intervals through the day-at 6 in the morning, at noon, at at night, at g and then at mid night, writes Frederick Starr in the Chicago News.
 The bell, like most conspicuous ob- jects in Korea, had a story and its sound in the ears of many was a vail of terror. They say that when the bell was to be made it was a matter of public interest and of popular con- tribution. Everyone gave something to it's makeup. Mirrors. rings, orna- i ments, coins, all were given to the melting pot. When finally the day came for its casting, great crowd gathered. The metal was finally mol ten ready to be run. The word was given and the hot liquid was poured into the mold. When 1t was some what cooled the casting was uncov- cred bit by bit, and, 10, 1t was imper- feet! Broken to pieces, it was again molten on another day and again it was flawed. A third time the mishap occurred and the people were wellnigh discouraged at the evil omen.
 The master workman ordered a final trial. Again the crowd assembled, again the broken fragments, submitted to the heat, gradually melted until the crucial moment was near. At that in- stant an unknown woman of the com mon people 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" seething mass.
 The moment had come for the pour ing and before the cry of horror 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 per feet; the sacrifice had been effec- tive; but through the years mothers at the stroke of the old bell have heard in 1t the wailing of the child, shriek- ing, "Oh, mother. my mother!"
 When Women Walk Abroad.
 In the old days. and not so very long ago, the bell gave the signal for vari- ous movements. Women, save the most common and rustic. were not per mitted freely on the streets. From midnight to nc 0n and from noon to g at night, men and boys were free to roam, but women and girls were ex- pected to keep indoors. But when the old bell struck at the hour of g, men and boys betook themselves to their houses and females were privileged to walk the streets till the midnight bell drove them home
 Those days are past, but even today few women are seen upon the streets, and those of any social standing have the face almost concealed. The cov- cIIuS IS CuTlOuS. It IS apparently garment for the upper body, with neck space and sleeves, but it is not worn as such, but only laid upon the head, with sleeves dangling at the sides, back falling capelike over the shoul- ders and the front coming down on both sides of the face, nearly conceal ing it. In Seoul this garment is regu- larly of a dull green cloth.
 To an extraordinary degree Seoul is a city of bridges Not that it Is in- tersected by rivers or important streams; there are only small brooks or canals within the city. Nor do these canals make the city Venice. There are no gondolas here But by the scant water In these streams women squat fl throngs, doing laundry work. The water often i far from clean, but what does that matter? The worker uses a little wooden club or paddle and beats the clothing upon flat stones. Garments to be laundered are usually ripped along the seams, the pieces washed, and then again put together