Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1917-08-08

1t is 2SS miles from Moukden to
Seoul. Leaving Moukden in the night
the following morning we awaken to
see a miserable barren mountainous
country. At il the morning we
reach Antong, a large city on the
Yalu river, the boundary between
Manchuria and Korea. Korea is now
called Chosen, the japanese changing
all names to suit their purpose. We
now see the stolid Korean in his
white dress, the seat of his pants
hanging below the knees his happy
"Holligan" horse hair hat on one
side of the head, smoking a pipe full
ly four feet long and about as shift
less being as one could imagine
though looking fairly clean.
The women where married with
their white dresses open at the
breasts, that portion uncovered, but
young girls having loose flap that
drops over that portion. Their skirts
coming up almost under the arms and
no waist.
We see them in the rice paddles
working in the mud with this white
clothing, using the most crude tools.
Here we saw more and better cattle
than in any portion of our trip The
cattle, red, we'll formed, looked we'll
taken care of. They ride these as we
would a horse, have a wooden saddle
On which they pile great burdens.
They are the one beast of burden in
Korea.
Few roads are seen and when we
were there they had taken out all
bridges as if they do not remove them
before the spring floods they wash
away so they are taken out until Sep
TENDER when they are again put in
place
At 1880 we arrive at Seoul now
(Keijyo) since Japan has it. We go
lirect to the Chosen Hotel \ verv
fine hosiery newly built by the Jap
|anese. The hotel was erected on the
grounds of the Korean temple of
heaven, the main temple being left
standing back of the hotel. From my
room the following morning had a
full view of this temple. Built mostly
of carved granite with granite cary
ings of bears on each post surround
ing the temple it presented quite a
novel and imposing appearance.
On going upon the streets we
found ourselves in entirely different
surroundings than we had allowed
our imagination to picture. First we
found good water to drink then the
air as pure as the mountain air of
! Colorado. This in city with so
many American surroundings made
lit more like home than any place
had seen on my long journey. Of
course the natives with their stolid
gaze at you often dropping down in
circles around you sitting on their
launches like dog seemingly en-
tranced il examining the newcomers
attire is not entirely pleasing.
The streets of Seoul are broad.
They have an up-to-date street car
line, the Edison Company having put
in fun lighting and street car sys-
TEN. In fact we saw American en-
terprise everywhere but not at the
high tide it had shown before the
Japanese got possession
We take ride in rickshas to the
Imperial Palace called Kyong PAX
Palace. 1t has fine grounds, carved
granite surroundings. The granite
rails surrounding it mortised into
granite posts AID on each post the
national carving of bear, well CHS
seled in granite. The palace is 100
feet long, rs wide. Beautiful bronze
incense burners at each corner of
immense size, this with its granite
make an imposing appearance.
The first building the home of the
king, the next the place where he
went each morning to look up the
days work, and the last the place of
audience.
To either side were the homes of
the eunochs and farther back the
houses where he kept over 100 con-
cubines. / might here say that con-
cubinage is permitted in Korea and
it is not uncommon for the master of
the household to introduce a new
concubine at any time in spite of the
protest Of those already installed un-
der his roof, but it is said that storms
are frequent under these roofs and
quarrels often result il murder.
We went to the pagoda over 1000
years old. This pagoda is of solid
granite and shows that at that early
period it was possible for these peo-
pie to work granite to perfection.
The Chinese as a punishment pried
off about ten feet of the top of the
pagoda and placed On the level with