The Semi-weekly leader., 1922-02-18

tor In size, Plng-Yang, with a popula-
tion Of about 10000. The main streets
Of Seoul are wide and well laid out.
The stores generally are but one story,
hardly deserving the title of buildings.
The means Of conveyance over the
roads, for the most part unpaved, Is
rickshaws, drawn by boys who are
swift and tireless.
The street scenes of Seoul offer great
variety for the kodak, the burden-bear-
ers of both sexes furnishing a con-
stant change of scene; most Of them
being willing victims, entirely satisfied
with a small tip. At the wood mar
ket on one side Of the main street the
patient steer Is seen reclining under
the weight of load Of logs which
would cause a wagon to groan, and one
wonders how he will ever regain his
footing when his master makes a sale
and the time comes to deliver the
goods. These animals appear to
thrive under their burden-bearing, be-
ing sleek and well kept.
How They Make Bread.
The native bread Of Seoul does not
seem very attractive to foreigners
after they have seen the process by
which it is made. However, If its ex-
cellence was alone dependent on the
thoroughness with which 1t is kneaded,
the bread which mother used to make"
would suffer by comparison. After mix
ing, the dough Is placed on board in
the road in front Of the little bakeshOp.
Then two stalwart Coreans proceed to
pound 1t with great mauls. 1t Is not
claimed that the quality Of the bread is
improved by the addition of impurities
in the way Of insects and dust which
naturally result from the open-air treat
ment, but If one objects to eating It,
native will quote a proverb which,
being interpreted, runs: "He who
would enjoy his food should not look
over the kitchen wall''-a maxim not
without force in countries occidental.
A visit to the imperial palace brings
up mental pictures Of more golden
days in Corea. The buildings and
grounds are extensive; handsome pa
CODA standing on a small island is sur
rounded by lotus pond, wealth of
trees adding to the beauty of the
place. During the reign of the old
emperor, his fear Of assassination was
so great that 1t is said 300 bedrooms
in the palace were kept constantly in
readiness for him, no one knowing
which one he would occupy on any
night.
Protected by Great Wall.
One Of the most enjoyable trips from
Seoul is by rickshaw past the Peking
or Independent gate through a pic
turesque road winding among the
mountains. The construction Of the
great wall of Corea at this point ap-
pears marvel of engineering skill, so
seemingly inaccessible is this noun
tain fastness. Proceeding about two
miles, one passes the water-gate,
where the wall crosses the river and
where In time Of attack the iron gates
In these great arches were let down
to protect the city. The view Of this
crossing is one Of the finest in COrea.
Another ride of three miles takes
the traveller to the White Buddha. In
the solitude Of this wilderness, far
from the highway, beside clear noun
tain stream, stands a great boulder,
on the face of which, carved in relief,
is the sitting figure Of Buddha.
Seoul possesses what Is believed to
be the third largest bell in the world.
In shape and general outline 1t is OF
japanese type. In fact, the Coreans
claim that the bells of Dai-Nippon
were modelled after those Of Corea.
The climate of Corea is not very
different from that in similar latitudes
in the United States. from New York
to North Carolina. Structurally the
houses are interesting, for the Coreans
have anticipated our hot-air furnace
by many hundreds Of years. Every
house is raised a foot or two above
the ground, and wide flue runs be-
meath the floor, emerging at the other
end in a tall chimney, made In the
north from hollow log. When fire
is built at the entrance to the fue,
the smoke and heat are drawn be-
meath the house, keeping the rooms
warm during even the coldest days Of
winter.