The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-08-13
WHERE HOT BLOOD
IS DRUNK AS A TONIC

Washington. D. c.. Aug. because
Of the widespread agitation concern
ing the future political status of Korea,
and the charges of foreign persecution
there, the National Geographic society
has issued bulletin concerning one
corner of "the hermit kingdom"
Although Korea has a civilization
extending nearly 1000 years into the
past. many Of the natives in the north
have never seen white man. says the
bulletin. which is quoted from a com
r.unication by Roy C. Andrews
They are living among the hills to-
day much as did their ancestors cen
turtles ago, worshipping mythical gods
in the rocks and trees on every noun
tain top. keeping their women In semi
slavery, and dying in ignorance that
beyond the narrow confines of their
own peninsula lies world replete
with undreamed of wonders.
Wrapped In the mantle of Orien-
tai seciusion. for centuries Korea sue
cessfully guarded the secrets Of her
mountains and her people; but at last
the clamor of foreigners at her doors
could no longer be stilled. and she
Yielded reluctantly inch by inch. al
though realizing that the foundations
O. her weak government were crumb-
ling beneath her.
1T was in 1882 that the first treaty
with Korea was signed by the United
States. and foreigners took up their
residence with official sanction at Che
r1ulpo, the seaport Of the capital. Seoul
Even with this foothold in the new
country the unwelcome visitors pushed
their way but slowly into other parts
Of the kingdom and as late as 1897
only a relatively small portion had
been visited by white men.
After the an-Japanese war OF
1904. however. when the country was
freely opened to foreigners and its
ra ilway had been completed. the ex-
rloration of the northern part pro-
crossed by leaps and bounds. until the
only extensive unknown area lay along
the north central boundary between
the Tumen and Yalu rivers.
This was said to be a region of
tieacherous swamps. densely forested
plateaus. and gloomy canons-a vast
wilderness. treasuring in its depths
the ghostly peak OF the Long White
mountain. wonderfully beautiful in its
robes of glistening pumice. The Sc
cret Of it's summit. where the Dragon
Princes Pool lies far down in the an
cient crater. had been learned as
carly as 1909 by two Jesuit mission
aries, coming from the north through
Manchuria. but the approaches to its
base from the south and west In Korea
had never been traversed by white
man.
'Musan was revelation Here. on
the very edge of Korea. lies this won
derful ancient city. its grim old walls
hearing five centuries of history. 1t
was like stepping backward to snoth-
er world. into story Of the Arabian
Nights.
Few white men have been fortu-
rate enough to wander inland to the
gates of this ancient city. During the
Kusso-Japanese war several Russians
took refuge there. and since then a
half dozen foreigners have discovered
IL; but. except for these stragglers.
Musan lies unknown to tho western
world. The great central palace. or
reception hall. remains intact. and
close by in partial ruins, is the tenn
pie guest house. The smaller public
buildings. the gates. the watch towers,
and. most of all. the walls themselves.
each one has it's own peculiar fascina-
ton, telling its own story or adding a
ohapted to that OF its neighbor.
we spent nearly three weeks hunt
ing there. These northern tigers are
splendid animals. more beautiful than
their relatives OF India or the Malay
peninsula. and range among the bit
terly cold mountains OF China, Korea
and Manchuria. far up into Siberia.
On the frst days hunt at Hozando
a deer was shot. The bullet. passing
through both lungs. filed the thorax
with clothed blood, and as soon as the
animal was opened Paik, my Korean
gunbearer. plunged his face into the
half-liquid mass. drinking and eating
until the last drop was gone: then
removing the steaming red liver. ne cut
1t into slices. swallowing them as fast
as possible
Il was tremendously surprised but
learned afterward that the Koreans
ielieye the blood Of deer or any wild
animal. IL drunk when warm to be a
splendid tonic. Tigers claws whiskers.
bones and teeth are especially waltz
able. and preparations made from these
materials were often given to soldiers
before battle or any especially
hazardous enterprise. since they we're
believed to inculcate great bravery"
BY making 800 doughnuts in a sim
gle day Mrs John c. Smith. of Mil
Wis, brigadier in the Sal
walton Army, won the International
doughnut making championship.