The Omaha Illustrated Bee
NUMBEtt 340.
Entered Second Class at Omaha Postoffice Published Weekly by The Bee Publishing Co. Subscription, $2.50 Ter Year.
MARCH 4, 1906.
AROUND THE WORLD WITH WILLIAM JENNINGS BRYAN
Conflict of Nations for the Control of Corea Has Decidedly Retarding Effect on People, but Japanese Hope to Correct the Evil During Their Protectorate
POOR little Corea! One hardly knows whether to be amused or
grieved, bo strangely have comedy and tragedy been blended
In her history.
Mr. Griffiths In his very comprehensive book bearing that
title calls Corea the Hermit Nation, and the appellation was a fitting
one until within a generation. Since that time she' might be de
scribed as a bone of contention, for she has been the cause of sev
eral bloody quarrels.
The position of Corea on the map of Asia very much resembles
Florida's position on the map of North America, and Japan's relative
position Is something like that which Cuba bears to Florida. Sep
arated on the south from Japan by about 100 miles of water and
Joining both China and Russia on the north, It is not strange that
all three of these nations have looked upon her with covetous eyes
and begrudged each other any advantage obtained. The surface of
Corea is quite mountainous, the ranges and valleys extending for the
most part from the northeast to the southwest. Until recently the
country was inaccessible and few of the white race have penetrated
the Interior. A few years ago a railroad was built from Seoul thirty
five miles west of Chemulpo, the nearest seaport. Since then the
Japanese have built a road from Seoul north to Peng Yang, and
southeast to Fusan. The last line, which has been finished less than,
a year, is 275 miles long and connects the Corean capital with the
nearest seaport to Japan. -This railroad is of such great military Im
portance to Japan that she aided the building to the extent of guar
anteeing 6 per cent Interest on the Investment for fifteen years, with
the provision that the cost of the road should not exceed 25,000,000
yen. The Corean government gave the righj-of-way for the road and
the free admission of material imported for Its construction and
equipment. The engines and cars are of .American style and make
and the road is standard guage. It is now so easy to pass through,
Corea in going from Japan to Peking that the tourist should not
miss Its strange and interesting sights, but the trip should be madj
before November. We took the train at Fusan and made the ride
nearly all the way in daylight, thus having an opportunity to see
both the country and the people. The road crosses three rivers and
the watersheds which separate them, making its construction ex
tremely difficult. The mountains are bare,' and we were Informed
that they had been denuded by the natives and the wood used for
fuel. The Coreans sometimes blame the .Japanese for the appear
ance of the country and attribute It to the invasion 300 years ago.
An intelligent son of Japan replied that as his country recovered
from earthquake shocksVlthln a few years, the Coreans should have
been able to remove the traces of an invasion in less than three cen
turies. Fertile Valleys and Indolent People
The valleys are fertile, but in tillage and in evidences of indus
try they do not approach the valleys of Japan. One misses the
orchards, the, trees, the vines and the flowers which are ever present
In "the Land of the Rising Sun."
Rice is the principal crop in the south, while barley and wheat
are more cultivated in the north. Beans and peas are also raised in
large quantities and last year constituted the chief article of export.
Rice, while often the largest exp'ort, fell below beans and peas that
year and was closely followed by hides and ginseng. There are spnie
gold mines, and the export of this ore amounted to nearly $50,000
last year, but the country has been so isolated ' that its mineral
wealth has not been exhaustively explored.
The population of Corea is variously estimated at from 8,000,-"
000 to 15,000,000. The men are larger than the Japanese and some
what lighter in color, but not so alert. Like the Japanese they have
rather a scanty beard, but it seems to be more fashionable for the
older men to allow their chin whiskers to grow. In dress the Corean
man is unique. He wears a long white coat of thin cotton reaching
to the knees, with trousers generally of white, very full in the seat
and tied around the ankles. The vest is of red, blue or green if he
is not in mourning, but mourning seems to be a permanent occupa
tion In Corea. It was explained to us that white is the color used for
mourning, and that the mourning period lasts three years. When
one of the royal family dies all of the people wear mourning for the
full period, and as they have sometimes had three royal funerals
within a decade, white came into general use as a matter of
economy.
The hat ordinarily worn is made of wire gauze, and, being only
about a third as large as our hats, they sit upon the top of the head
without covering it. They have a narrow brim of the same material
nnd are tied on with strings under the chin. These hats are gen
erally blank, although different colors may be seen upon the street;
sometimes an enormous straw hat is used for mourning.
Social Customs and Street Scenes
The unmarried men wear the hair in one long braid like the
Chinese pigtail, but when one marries he combs his hair to the top
of his head and ties it in a stiff topknot which is visible through the
gauze hat. The foot is encased in a sock, padded with cotton, and a
canoe-shaped shoe of .grass, cloth, leather or wood. .
The women, except those of the'coolle class, are seldom seen on
the street in the daytime, and the men are not allowed on the street
at night, or were not until western ways began to invade the island.
Even when going out the women wear over their heads a green cape
' with scarlet sleeves and draw it across the face In such a way that
little more than the eyes can be seen. The streets of Seoul and of
the towns through which we passed were full of men, many of them
walking about in a leisurely way or standing in groups smoking long
pipes. -Mingled with them were coolies carrying immense packs on
their backs or leading ponies, oxen or cows laden with hay, wood or
fagots. We saw more idle men in two days in Corea than we saw in
Japan in a month. While the coolies seem to be quite industrious
nnd carry astonishing weights, there seems to be a deep-rooted con
tempt for labor even among the middle classes, and a contractor told
ns that in the employing of the coolies it was necessary to pay them
every day because a week's compensation would have to be spent be
fore they would return to work. An incident will serve to illustrate
the feeling in regard to labor of any kind. In making a purchase
we wanted two things tied together with a string. We called the
guide's attention to it. He handed the things to his attendant and
the attendant handed them to the shopkeeper, who did the tying. We
were also informed that the Coreans lack the power of organized co
operation. Each one works by himself and carries his burden on
forked sticks strapped to his back. In walking he uses what seems
like a staff, but Its real purpose is that of a prop for his load when
he stops to rest.
Shopkeepers Understand Making Bargains
The shopkeepers of Corea have the oriental taste for bargain
ing to a marked degree and always ask a great deal more
than they expect to receive, finding, apparently. Intellectual recre
ation in haggling over the price. In making a few small purchases
we were very much amused at the spirited discussions which took
place between our guide and the merchants. Followed by a crowd
of Interested spectators, numbering from tweuty to fifty, we moved
from shop 'to shop. ' The vendor would announce a price as if his
were a one-price store. The guide would receive the announcement
with absolute contempt and the wordy war would begin. The by
standers took sides and joined in the fray; the clerks and members
of the storekeeper's family flocked to his aid, while the crowd
elbowed each other to get near the scene of action. Usually the
rulde would start toward another store before an agreement could
be reached; sometimes less than half the original price was settled
upon, and in the calm which followed the storm every one seemed
satisfied. We heard of Instances where one-eighth of the price asked
was finally accepted, but either the merchants with whom we dealt
were more reasonable or our guide yielded too soon.
Houses Poorly Built of Mud and Stones
The Corean houses are entirely different from those of Japan;
they are not so high, nor so large, but are more warmly built. They
re usually constructed of stone set in mud and have poorly
thatched roofs of straw; occasionally tile is used. Often the earth
supplies the floor except tor the Uttle sleeping rooms, which have
See Ninth Bryan Letter in Next Sunday's Bee
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Wedding Ceremony in Corea
While in Seoul we were, through the courtesy of Rev. S. F.
Moore, one of the missionaries, invited to the wedding of two
Corean Christians, and after the ceremony had a chance to Inspect
the house of the groom's father. It was neat and clean, but the
houses generally, as seen from the narrow streets, are .dirty and un
inviting. One wonders where the men keep the log Vhite ooaU bjf F;yy
which they seem so proud, until he is informed that the wives wash,
and iron them at night while the lord of the household sleeps.
Speaking of the marriage, I must as a truthful chronicler re
cord that the young man whom we saw married (they marry young
in Corea and the marriages are arranged by the parents) bad a
pleasant face and that the bride was modest and comely. He wore a
dark red, loose-fitting coat, a wide belt and a black gauze hat of in
describable shape. The girl wore a green silk waist which Just
below the armpits joined a very full skirt of red. Her head was or
namented with two very large rolls of hair, which, according to cus
tom, were borrowed for the occasion. We were informed hat the
wedding clothes are often rented and that even the goose which la
the wedding ceremony the wife presents to the husband as a symbol
of constancy is obtained In the same way. As in this case the Chris
tian ceremony was used, the couple did not pledge themselves ac
cording to the native practice by saying: "Black is the hair that
now crowns our heads, yet when it has become as white as the fibers
of the onion root, we shall still be found faithful to each other."
But as among the non-Christian Coreans a man is allowed to take a
concubine into his home whenever he is able to support one, the
pledge would seem to be a mere formality on his part.
People Generally Illiterate
Seoul, the capital and largest city, is surrounded by a sub
stantial wall and entered by gates which until recently were shut at
night, even though the city long ago outgrew the walls. These gates
remind one of the gates described in the Bible, and they are not
lacking in the beggar who finds the gate a convenient place to make
his plea to the passerby. Aside from two or three broad thorough-
TYPICAL COREAN SCEi'IE, SHOWING COSTUMES, METHOD OF BUILDING HOUSES AND SAWINQ TIMBER.
floors of stone covered with oiled paper. These rooms are heated by
flues under the floors which conduct the flame and smoke to the
chimney, which opens on the side of the house. Leaves, fagots,
coarse grass and all sorts of trash are used for fuel, and these stone
floors, heated twice a day, keep .the small rooms quite comfortable.
The people sit on the floor, as in Japan, except that they sit
cross-legged instead of sitting on the feet, and sleep on mats spread
on the floor at night and stowed away during the day.
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COREAN FAMILT GROUP.
Facts About Uncle Sam's Chain of Lighthouses
LIGHTHOUSES are always lnci easing in number, but at
present there are 1,464 of them under the care of Uncle
Sam's lighthouse board. Some of these are what is known
as beacon lights, and do not have a constant keeper, but
the majority of them are lighthouses with from one to four keepers.
The salary list for this establishment is $870,000 for the coming
year; that is to say, the lighthouse board wants that much, and
certainly ought to get it, for the lighthouse keepers are not a highly
paid force In proportion to their Importance, and the life for some
of them is as dreary and lonesome as could well be Imagined.
For instance, two of the loneliest lights in the world are in
the Alaska district, on Uniniak island, and guard the Unimak pass,
by which vessels make their way northward around the extreme
end of the Alaskan peninsula to Nome and the Bering sea. The
lights are Scotch Cap and Sarichef. Fortunately for the keepers,
they are less than fifteen miles apart, but there are months at a
time when the keepers and their families do not see each other.
And even if they do, these two little communities, so far off from
the rest of the world, can hardly find any great variety in an inter
change of visits between eight families.
The Scotch Cap and Sarichef lights were not so hard to build, for
all they are so far from civilization. They have a lot of land, such as
it is, behind them, and the houses are as warm and comfortable as they
can be iuude. There is plenty of fuel and food, so that the keepers
are materially comfortable, and the. mall comes to them about ouce
a mouth, while the lighthouse tenders make regular trips every bIx
months. One of the things that rather riles the lighthouse board, how
ever, is the fact that the vessel carrying mall for these far-off keepers
charge $50 a trip for stopping to deliver It The light are put there
for the guidance and safety of the captains, and they are forced to pass
within arms' reach of the lights in going through the Unimak parage.
But they refuse to stop and lower a boat for less than $50. This makes
the officials of the lighthouse board very tired, but they have to put up
with it for the good of the keepers.
It would be almoxt out of the question to give even a lit of the
remarkable lights that have been erected under the supervision of the
lighthouse board. The work has been going on since 1810, and in that
time there have been a great many remarkable engineering difficulties
overcome. The lighthouse on MInot'a ledge, outside of Boston, has
been renewed once, and is a remarkable piece of work. The Graves
light, which has recently been completed off Boston, Is another that
is a triumph of engineering over natural difficulties, and the Mile Rock
light just la the throat of the Golden Gate, coat the contractor aad the
government officials many a sleepless night before It was completed,
at a total cost of $100.UO0.
But the record light of the whole service for difficulties of con
struction was on the Tillmanook Rock, off the coast of Oregon. This
light was twenty miles south of the mouth of the Columbia rlvir. IU
construction is a whole story lu itself. It was at first thought that the
light might be placed on the mainland. But the fogs in that region
made it imperative to locate the light ou the rock itself. This rock is
about a mile from shore and rose originally 120 feet above mean wuter.
It was necessary to cut off the whole top of the rock to get the founda
tion for the station, and this work uloue took months.
The building of the station ufter the rock cup was reduced was a
comparatively easy matter, and now there is a comfortable first-class
li:ht established on the rock with a steam fog siren and all the com
forts of home. Despite the fact that It is so close to clvilizutiou, the
lighthouse Is one of the most inaccessible in the service and the keeper
is almost as much cut off from home und friends as though he were lu
Alaska or the farthest section of the I'hilljjpiues.
Much the same thing Is true of the Mile Rock light, Just outside
of San Francisco. This light is a tlilrd-cluss station and is much
smaller in every way than the Tlllmuiiook Rock, which has been in
cperutlon since ISM. The Mile Rock light hgad a surface of about
1.000 square feet and the cap had to be cut down to allow the founda
tion plates of the little station to be bolted to It. There Is a l'-'-knot
current past the rock and the weather conditions are about as bad as
they could be for working. Ho. although the undertaking was much
smaller than that at Tillmanook, the difficulties encountered were of
much the same sort. The lighthouse itself had to be built on a circular
cement tilled steel foundation, and so violent were the storms that
when the steel foundation was filled with hulf-drled cement it was
dented by the force of the waves.
Many of the lights on the southern const nre of yon and stand
aplder-Uke ou the keys and islets off the Florida and gulf coasts. Kooie
of them are almost as little visited as the lights of Alaska, but they
have better weather as a rule and are more to be desired as peruiaueut
stations. But there are no permanent stations in the service. When
a man has served a tour of duty at one of the faraway points the
hoard tries to get Lim placed for a while at one of the more desirable
lights. There is no fixed tour of duty, but changes are made as the
good of the service indicates and a man is promoted for faithful
service and disagreeable duty as he would be in any other jveU
cond acted establishment Washington Star. ' v
fares, the streets are narrow, crooked and filthy. The open sowers
on either side are filled with refuse matter and reek with foul odors.
There Is no ceneral educatlonnl system iu Corea, and the per
centage of illiteracy is naturally large. The missionary schools are
doing an excellent work and a few of tho young men have boon scut
to China, Japan and America. During recent years there has been
quite an awakening among the young men, and they are showing an
Increasing desire to learn about western civilization. So great is
this interest that a newly organized branch of the Young Men's
Christian association at Seoul hud a membership of over 500, four
fifths of whom are not professing Christians, but are drawn to the
institution because it gives them a chance to study western prob
lems afcd methods. Mr. Wanamaker, the merchant prince of Phil
adelphia, has Just offered to supply the money necessary for a per
manent Young Men's Christian association building In Seoul, and,
having attended a meeting in the present crowded quarters, I can
testify that a new hall Is badly needed.
The Chinese characters are used In writing, but the Coreans
have a spoken langunge which is quite different. There is no ex
tensive literature that can be called Corean, although Dr. Allen, for
many years American minister at Seoul, has published in a volume
entitled, "Corea; Facts and Fancies," a number of delightful folk
lore stories, which show an appreciation of the love story and a very
clear recognition of the personal virtues as illustrated In dally llfo.
Mr. Allen's book also conalns an interesting chronology of the prin
cipal events, but it is significant of the change wrought by foreign
influence that it only requires twelve pages of the things worth
mentioning from the beginning of the Christian era down to 1875,
while eighty pages are devoted to the things that have transpired
since.
What Missionaries Have Wrought
In examining the pages devoted to the last century one is
struck with the disinclination of the Corean government to accept
the offers of Intercourse made by the various nations of Europe
since 1875, and with the number of missionaries who suffered for
religion's sake prior to that date. Persecution, however, seems to
have increased rather than diminished the zeal of the various de
nominations, and today Corea Is regarded ns one of the most prom
ising of the missionary fields. While Confucianism has influenced
Corea, Buddhism never gained such a foothold in this country as In
China nnd-Japan. There are no gorgeous temples here, and for 600
years (and until recently) Buddhist priests were not allowed within
the walls of Seoul. There are missionary stations throughout the
country, and at Peng Yang there is a native congregation of 1,500.
At Seoul, a modern hospital, built with money given by Mr. Sever
ance of Cleveland, O., has been opened by Dr. Avison, where, be
sides care of the sick, medical training is furnished to natives who
desire to fit themselves for this profession. I was assured by Dr.
Avison and by missionaries residing here that young Coreans, both
men and women, learn quickly and are faithful assistants. The
medical missionary, being in an excellent position to show his Chris
tian spirit by helpful service, is doing much to aid in the propaga
tion of our religion in the orient. In this connection I might add
that Dr. Allen went to Corea as a medical missionary and became
the emperor's physician. This intimate relation gave our country a
good standing here when the doctor afterward became the Amer
ican minister. These friendly relations are still maintained through
present Minister Morgan.
, Effect of an Absolute Monarchy
The government of Corea is an absolute monarchy and has a
reigning family which has held the throne for about 500 years. All
authority emanates from the emperor and is exercised through
ministers, governors and subordinate officials appointed by him. If
one can trust the stories afloat, the government Is as corrupt an or
ganization as can be found on earth. Just who is responsible is not
clearly known, but that offices are sold and all sorts of extortion
practiced there can scarcely be doubt. There is no Bpirit of patriot
ism, such as is to be found in Japan, and why should there bo when
the government gives so little return for the burdens which it im
poses? Changes in the cabinet are of frequent occurrence, there
having been something like sixty within a year.
For a long time Chinese influence was paramount and the Chi
nese government bad a resident minister in Seoul who was the con
fidential adviser of the royal family. But Chinese influence ended
with Japan's victory in 1894. Soon afterward Queen Mln, the wife
of the present emperor, was put to death, and, the murder being
charged to tho Japanese, the emperor took refuge at tho Russian
legation. Now that Japan has driven Russia out, she is virtually In
control of the country, although the nominal sovereignty of the em
peror has not been lnterfe.'ed with. Just what form the Japanese
protectorate will take hw, not yet been decided, or at least has not
yet been announced. Marquis Ito Is in Seoul now as the representa
tive of his government conferring with the emperor arid his
ministry.
Japan Now Controls the Country
In the end the protectorate will be whatever Japan desires to
have it, for neither Corea nor Russia nor China is in a position to
question her decision. Besides building railroads through Corea,
the Japanese have established banks and issued a currency for
Corea in place of the copper cash generally used. The government.
recognizing the Inconvenience of currency which had to be kept in
huge boxes and paid out at the rate of 1,000 or more to the dollar,
had farmed out the right to coin nickels and these were soon coun
terfeited. The counterfeit nickels have been classified as, first, bet
ter than the originals; second, good imitations; third, poor Imita
tions, and, fourth, those that can only be passed on a dark night.
Japanese soldiers are to be seen everywhere and Japanese set
tlements are to be found In all the larger cities. The Coreans as a
rule regard the new Japanese invasion with silent distrust and are
In doubt whether the purpose of Japan is simply to protect herself
from future danger at the hands of China and Russia, or whether
she la expecting to colonize Corea with her own people. If Japan
purifies the government and makes it honest; if she establishes
schools and raises the intellectual standard of the people; If she re
vives the industries now fallen into decay and introduces new ones;
if, in other words, she exercises her power for the upbuilding of
Corea and for the advancement of the Corean people, she may in
time overcome the prejudice which centuries of hostility have
created. But what nation has ever exercised power in this way?
And bow can Japan do it without developing an educated class
which will finally challenge her authority? If she keeps the Coreans
in Ignorance and poverty, they will be sullen subjects; if she leada
them to higher levels they will the more quickly demand their inde
pendence and be better prepared to secure it. Which course will
she pursue? W. j. BRYAN.
(Copyright, 1906.)
. Fooling a Scientific Man
The Belgians ence succeeded in getting cut rates on au operation
from Sir Morell Mackenzie. He engaged to attend a cuse at Antwerp.
When he lauded he was met by three men In mourning, who informed
him that the patient had died, but that they would pay his full fee.
"And now," said the man, "since you are here, what do you say
to visiting the city hospital and giving a clinic for the benefit of our
local surgeons? It is not often they have au opportunity of benefiting
by such science as yours."
Sir Morell said he would gladly comply. He went to the hospital
and performed many operation., uuioug which were two of a slinllur
natnre to that for which he hud been called' over. When be finished
all thanked hlna profusely Ou the steamer going home lie met a
friend who had a business house lu Antwerp.
"Pretty scurvy trick they played on you, Sir Morell."
"What do you mean?" asked the surgeon.
Told you the patient died before you arrived, didn't they?"
Yes." ,
"Lied. You operated on him and a friend with the same trouble
at the clinic. Got two operaOwia lor one jtrfcer' Reader Slafiaiine.
7"
