35
THE SUNDAY 0REG0NIA2T, PORTLAND, FEBRUARY 14, 1901.
STORg OF AME-RieA'S BIG LEAD IN COREA
BY ARCHER BUTLER HULBERT, FORMERLY
EDITOR OF COREAN INDEPENDENT-
7HW SGrCT ACROSS 77iF 7?IV2Z? JMy
COREA is the only foreign country In
which Americans have taken the
leading part In Its oommerclal ex
ploitation; and It was purely by accident
that Americans began to play the impor
tant role in the development of the her
mit kingdom that she has played during
the past generation.
It was Just 20 years ago, after the
emeute of 1SS4, that an American medical
missionary. Dr. Horace Allen, was called'
upon to perform a serious operation on
the mangled body of Prince Min Yung Ik.
a Corean nobleman. The operation was
successful and attracted the attention of
the Corean Emperor, who Immediately ap
pointed Dr. Allen King's physician.
Tho American missionaries other than
medical were also achieving the begin
ning of their successes. At the same time.
In order to found a school for the train
ing of Corean noblemen's eons for gov
ernment and diplomatic positions, the Co
rean government sent to America, asking
for three teachers to found a govern
ment school or Royal College. Thus. In
the space of a few years, Americans
took the lead In Corea In missionary,
medical and educational lines. They were
looked upon as friends by the natives,
and were loved; they were not meddling
In politics: not asking for coaling sta
tions or open ports. They came to do
good, and thoy did good and nothing
else.
First Foothold.
The first chapter of modern Corean his
tory ended with the outbreak of the
Japan-China "War. Corea had nominally
belonged to China up to this time; though
the Catholic missionaries had been in Co
rea almost since the Puritans landed at
Plymouth Rock, France had sought no
political power In the government. The
Royal Hospital had been founded through
Dr. All en 6 influence. At the close of
tho war, Corea became free from out
siders, and spoil for her own robber
princes. Being free, Corea had the right
to grant foreign concessions. Various
parties sought those vigorously, but un
successfully; for In almost every Instance
there seemed to be an ulterior political
motive In view. Horace Allen had. now
become American Ambassador to Corea,
and it was plain that America's whole
some Introduction to Corea through mis
sionary, physician and educator was to
lead to commercial successes which would
also be unrivaled.
In a short time James H. Morse, of
the American Trading Company, secured
two concessions from the Corean govern
ment, one for opening gold mines in the
mountains In the north of Corea, and
another for buHdlng the first railway In
the country, from the seaport of Chemul
po to the capital. Seoul, 27 miles inland.
The mining concession was leased to
Leigh Hunt; a plant .costing $250,000
is now In operation. J. Sloat Pas
sett, of New York, being one of the best
known Interested parties. The contract
for building the railway was "given to
the American & Oriental Construction
Company formed by Messrs. Collbron and
James, of Denver and Chattanooga, re
spectively. In the building ofthe road
W. C. Carlcy was first engincer-ln-charge;
H. R. Bostwick. auditor, and S. F. Philips,
supcrlntendcnt-ln-chargc.
A Wonderful Bridge.
The principle feat In the construction of
the road was throwing an eight-span
bridge across the great river Han. three
miles from Seoul. This bridge. 1650 feet
long, was sent across tho Atlantic In
pieces on a special vessel. It made tho
Coreans open their yes to see a three
masted schooner come blundering safely
into the half-charted Corean port under
the Arm hand of a Yankee skipper; but
their wonder became amazement when
the strange pieces of iron it bore as cargo
were carried 23 miles inland and swung
safely above the mad tides of the chief
river of Corea. The total length of the
bridge Is 2150 feet. Including approaches.
Upon completion a Japanese company se
cured the road.
This road had Its terminus without the
"West Gate (of Seoul. American enterprise
now put on foot an electric railway run
ning from the railway terminus into Seoul
through the city and out to the tomb of
the murdered Empress Min. throb miles
east of the city, and a mecca for Coreans.
The Seoul Electric Company was organ
ized; It comprised Coreans only, with the
Governor of the city as president. The
franchise, came from he Department of
Public Works. The company was capital
ized at $30,009; one-half of this sum was
immediately paid to the same construc
tion company which had built the Seoul
Chemulpo Railway.
Numerous Accidents.
The motormen have been Japanese, and
the conductors Coreans. Of course, a
number of accidents have happened; at
one of these a car was demolished, and
the company's plant was endangered. The
Coreans are a very stately race of men;
they move slowly, and have no wit In
avoiding accidents and the trolleycar the
world over Is no respecter of dignity. The
commonest surgical operation In Corea.
the medical missionaries say, Is to pull a
two or three-foot plpestem out of lho
back of a Corean' s neck; by accidents, In
wheeling around corners, or by falling
down when intoxicated, these pipestems
are Jammed downwards, or backwards, ad
infinitum.
Other more marvelous objections have
beon raised to these "make-themselves-go
machines," so named by the people who
call the bicycle the "man-make-himself-go
machine." The people affirm that a re
cent drouth had been caused by the elec
tric wires which are strung across Seoul,
in all six miles In length- They declared
that the wires cut off the influence of
heaven. Others are not satisfied whether
the blame should be given the wires or
7?
the location of the power bouse of the
electric plant; it was found oh examina
tion of the records that the house stood
on a sacred spot and desecrated it- The
power house remains, however, on the hal
lowed spot.
Missionary Work.
During these years of commercial ex
ploitation the American missionaries have
not been backward; the Presbyterian mis
sions In the north number 7000 converts,
and tho Methodist missions in the center
of the little kingdom count over 5000. Tho
Methodists have paid special attention to
publishing; their first plant, the Trilingual
Press, having played an Important part In
the opening of Corea. The Roman Catho
lics number 40.000 converts; they entered
Corea two centuries ago, when the Jesuits
were leading the way Into the heart of the
American continent. The Coreans have
"practically given up Buddhism and Con
fucianism." according to Minister Allen.
S77?OLLEy GVB OF LINE SZAMDING
A few American trading houses have
sprung up; the Standard Oil Company
does a large business In Corea, but the
future of American trade, of course, de
pends, like everything else, upon the po-'
litlcal turn which things may take in the
future In the land of the Morning Calm.
Seventy per cent of the trade of Corea Is
with England; Japan and Russia havo a
little on the east and north.
Thanks to the wisdom of her represen
tative In Corea, America has maintained
her place with dignity and success. As
Mr. Allen has modestly stated, "Today
Americans are found to be in possession
pf rights and privileges of great material
value, obtained by peaceful means from
the good will of the people."
Amid all the excitement of various up
risings, of the Japan-China war and of
the surprising days of 1S3S, American in
terests have not lost ground. 6n one oc
casion, at least, the; Corean Emperor
sought to come to the American Lega
tion for protection at a time when several
foreign ambassadors would have done
anything to have obtained his majesty's
person; but he was kindly but firmly re
fused the necessary permission. Nothing
would have been gained to America's best
interests by having the possession of the
King, and a thousand dangers would have
been run. The Emperor leads a haunted
life, sleeping in day time, when all the
world's awake,and holding his Cabinet
meetings and doing all his business by
night. He has deserted his old palace in
the native portion of the city, and lives In
a straw-thatched barn of a building in a
frog pond In the foreign quarter within
reach of the Legations In case of trouble.
From any point of view, America must
be greatly Interested in and connected
with the future ofCorea. Twice as many
Americans can talk the Corean language
as any other nationality of foreigners ia
Corea; America has led In commercial ex
ploitation; America has led in disseminat
ing political knowledge. Dr. Philip Jalso
hu, a naturalized American of Corean
parentage, and adviser to the Cabinet,
founded the first English paper In Corea,
the native editions of which circulated
widely jand played an important part in,
tho early" work of the Independence Club.
When filled with fears of assassination,
just after the murder of his Queen, tho
Emperor of Corea put not a mouthful of
food to his Hps that was not prepared by
the hands of an American missionary and
taken secretly to the palace. On the oc
casion of a riot on Thanksgiving day
night, 1836, threo Americans, lay In the
ante-room ojf the King's bedchamber at
the palace with cocked revolvers and other
weapons in their hands, ready to beat
back the mob if it came.
There Is something splendid In the mera
fact that America has taken no advan
tage of the "Inside track" that she has
secured in Corea to gain political power.
Her refusal to take such advantage haa
given her almost the power that others
havo desired; and it would be a smalt
surprise to the well-informed In Far East
ern politics If Americans should possess
an Influence in storm-tossed Corea. which,
irrespective of the outcome of the war be
tweenRussia and Japan, should, for ona
thing, put a serious prohibition on Rus
sian advance in that direction. It would
be interesting If American influence la
Corea should be the real power that Rus
sia should find in Corea when she raps at
the door again.
Note. Indeed, there Is a treaty, in force
since 18S3, between Corea and the "United
States, a clause of which reads as follows:
"If other powers deal unjustly or op
pressively with either government, the
other will exert Its good offices, on being
Informed of the case, to bring about an
amicable arrangement, thus showing thela
friendly feelings." Editor.
(Copyright. 1904, by Arthur B. Hulberty,
COMMENDATION FOR ANDY CARNEGIE
"SI" COMPARES HIM T71TH THE CREATOR AND
WISHES HIM WELL IN REFORM EFFORTS.
T HAS been announced that Andrew
H Carnegie intends making of Dunferm
" line.. Scotland, a model city, a sort of
municipal Utopia, which implies that Mr.
Carnegie will attempt what omnipotence,
up to the present time, has utterly failed
to accomplish. There's no tolling how
many centuries of dismal failure the Al
mighty might have been spared if he had
served his time as one of our "Great Cap
tains of Industry" before going into the
creation business. A glance at the map
of Scotland doesn't throw much light, on
the subject. Dunfermline appears com
monplace enough as a little black dot in
Counts' Fife; an inland town with five
little nervous-looking, Irregular railroad
lines radiating from it, resembling very
much the wire spokes of a badly demoral
ized child's wagon-wheel In September.
How Dunfermline is to be divested of the'
national bag-pipe and other discordant
and distracting features Is not for us to
know. The town Is near enough to the
River Firth so that American visitors
chased into despondoncy by the sinuous
strains of "Thej Campbells Are Coming"
may quietly slip down by rail to a place
where tho tide ebbs and flows twice In 21
hours there to drown their sorrows in
eternal sleep beneath tho oozy bosom of
the river where even the music of the
highland bagpipe can never percolate. But
as the cheerful liar said when he realized
that he unnecessarily uttered the truth,
wo have "digressed" "Dunfermline" has
a sort of labor-saving sound, as if'lt
might be an American advertisement of
some health food, or laundry soap, or por
celain enamel dressing, or complexion
wash, or possibly a. specific for blotches,
splotches, pimples, freckles and warts.
Dunfermline will bo made a model city
if millions in money directed by a philan
thropic impulse can accomplish it Can
it be done? Can an ideal society, even
within c, limited area, precede the dis
covery of the Ideal man? Admitting for
the sake of gallantry, that the feminine
portion of society with abject poverty and
abject wealth as sources of moral degra
dation removed, may be sufficiently ethe
rlallzed. along the more practical lines, to
be themselves Ideal denizens of an ideal
city and make It easier for their erring
husbands to put aside the sins and idio
syncrasies that do so easily beset them,
still there lingers a wicked doubt. Can
the woman of Dunfermline so control her
self as to contribute to the "general
welfare" by remaining in "the silence"
or even maintain a peaceful attitude of
mind while her socially inferior neighbor's
unwashed and sorely be frazzled sky terrier
pup hauls her dollies from the clothes
basket in the backyard right before the
eyes of the stupid hired girl who is pass
ing the time o day with the policeman,
while the doilies are walloped about the
surface of the earth very much as a Puri
tan loved to wallop a Quaker In the good
old days when the Creator resided in Bos
ton and was a Congregatlonallst, and the
star of empire was roosting (mixed meta
phor) on the shores of the Delaware.
And how about the men of Dunfermline?
Ah, there's the rub! Can the Ethiopian
eradicate his spots or the leopard change
his skin? Will the men of Dunfermline
cease to expectorate and swear and read
prizefight contests by rounds at the break
fast table? Will they cease to address
philippics at refractory collar-buttons that
go bouncing along the human vertebra?
Possibly so. If so, 'tis well; 'twere bet
ter thus. Will sources of Irritation and
sin be eliminated or will these commonly
recognized enemies of Christian progress
be converted into moral dynamic power!
The sin-sick world has learned one thing:
The world can never be reformed by rais
ing the minister's salary or putting a
pianola In the parsonage.
So we say to Mr. Carnegie: "Go ahead,
Andy. It's your money. The kind of
steel that made your money or caused It to
gravitate your way has two "e's" In It.
The ordinary processes of social develop
ment have been painfully slow and debil
itating. The breed of hog that can out
run a nigger hasn't yet been produced.
Much was expected from the revision of
the Presbyterian creed, but while un
doubtedly the list of the saved has been
considerably augmented, we can't help
noticing that the bottom of the little
berry-boxes go right on creepln up. I
don't see as the mlllenlum Is any nearer
than It was ten years ago."
It is as difficult to buy nursery trees
true to name or sugar that don't smell like
an ancient sea beach as It was before
church union or international arbitration
were first contemplated. Maybe money'll
do It. "We'll see. Nobody knows what
the Lord might have accomplished with
the mites of the world's poor If he could
have handled more of it. It was diverted
to pay salaries and choirs and things till
what he saw of It was really not worth
mentioning, and no wonder men and
women have needed bread within hearing
distance of the cheerful and pleasantly
modulated voice of the man who preaches.
Dunfermline won't be the worst of Scot
land's municipalities with millions devoted
to its moral and social development. SI.
If We Could Know.
If we could know
"Which of us, carting; would be first to go.
Which would be nrst to breast the swelling
tide. - "
And step alone upon, the other side.
If It were yon?
Should I walk softly, keeping' death InviewT
Should I my lore to you more oft express.
Or should I grlere you, darling, any Ies3
If it were you? ' .
If it were I,
Should I Improve the moments slipping by? -Should
I more closely follow God's great plan.
Be filled with sweeter charity to man
If it were I?
If we could know;
We cannot, darling; and. 'Us better so.
I should forget. Just as I do today.
And walk along the same old stumbling way
It I could know.
I would not know
Which of us, darling, will be first to. go.
I only wish the. space may not be long
Between the parting and the greeting song;
But when, or where, or how we're called to go,
I would not know.
Julia. Harris May.
PROPOSALS WENT POP-POP-POPPING
TEN GIRLS AND TWENTY MEN SELECT LIFE
PARTNERS AT ONE "WEDDING
New Tork Times.
ialCHAEL t COLTJMBO, Mayor of
8 Worth street, and Mies Nora Fe-
rando, belle of Little Italy, and
daughter of Bunker Ferando, were mar
ried last night. There was never anything
in Nev Tork like the reception which fol
lowed the ceremony. The reception took
place In Lyrings Lyceum, at 25 Center
street. "
Aside from the fact that there were 30
Mayors present, representing the constit
uencies of as many notable sections of
New York, the feature of the affair was a
whirlwind of wedding proposals among
the guests, at least 20 young men sud
denly popping the question to their fair
companions, and at least ten young wo
men proposing marriage to the young
men with whom they danced, and who
accepted, with" tears of joy. then and there
setting the dates for at least 30 more
marriages.
Folks may talk about their leap-year
parties, but there' was never a leap-year
paty that caused such an outburst of
"Wlll-you-be-mlnes?" as that brought on
b'y the Columbo wedding. And there prob
ably was not a person at the wedding
who proposed in words similar to those
used by another person present. For In
stance, one young man turned to his wo
man companion and said:
"Cassabona, why not we marry?" And
Cassabona answered, "I will If you will,
but when shall It be?" Whereupon the
young man said, "And time," and the girl
remarked. "Let us make It next Sunday
week. That's two weeks from today."
In another instance a young woman
said:
"Joe, we have: been keeping company for
four months. When are we going to be
married?" And Joe answered: "Any
tlme'll suft me." Then the girl said. "Fix
It for the- first week in February." and
.Joe said he would see where he could hire'
an East Side hall for, some night in the
week selected.
Then Joe tpld his friend Minnettl. who
was talking to a young- woman named
Rcsa, and Rosa said: "Oh, yee, it is
proper for a girl to propose,- for this is
leap year." Minnettl replied: "Maybe if
you proposed I'd take you at your word.
I dare you!" Rosa refused to be dared
and p'roposed while laughing, but it was
no laughing matter," for she was accepted
and the dato set for her wedding. Within
a few minutes almost every unmarried
person in the hall was either proposing
marriage or accepting a proposal.
The stampede was. started when Guido
Perassa handed around printed Invitations
for the marriage of his daughter Dora to
Joseph Ross, with the announcement that
the wedding would take place on the night
of February 7, In Seminole Hall, at 414
Grand street. The marriage notice was
read from the stage Ju3t after the an
nouncement, of "Don't forget the grand
annual ball of the Paul Cella Association
at Everett Hall tonight!"
"Let's us get married, too," was the
way one young woman put it, and then
followed the awful rush.
"I hope it don't spread, dot marry
fever." whispered Humpy Hanover, the
Mayor of Avenue A. "Vhen ve have yet
more marriage, down town I ill be
broke on buying vedding presents."
"I don't like so many veddings yust be
hind Christmas, neider-" answered Sam
Elenbogen, the Mayor of Canal street
"I vere on two In Poverty Hollow, and
three funerals between, der Battery since
Thursday."
"Speaking on funerals," remarked Stein
gut, the Mayor of Second avenue, "I
don't see here our friend, Shariey Batchy
galoop, der undertaker, tonight. I von
der how it comes."
"Shariey is spending Lakevood over
Sunday," explained .Mayor Levy of Essex
street. -"He sented a telegram of condo
lence to der bride und vished her'Merry
Christmas "
"You mean he sent a, cablegram of con
izations," corrected Ellenbogen. .
"No, ho manes consanguinity," added
Pat Connolly, the Mayor of Poverty Hol
low. "Me and Tim Campbell knew them
words before they got Into the directory.
Don't talk at wed din's till ye're etlquet
ted." Then Connolly glanced contemptuously
at his fellow-statesmen from tho east sido
and they became silent.
The wedding ceremony was performed
by tho Rev. Father Bernandeno of tha
Italian Catholic Church on Baxter street.
Domlnick Vicorito, who is known as tha
Mayor of Baxter street, acted as best
man, and Miss Josephine Blanchl was tho
maid of honor. The presents Included all
sorts of household utensils, articles of
bric-a-brac and Jewelry. The dance ma.
sic was furnished by Carmodys orchestra
of 16 pieces, and the Calla Bella Balla's
Fife and-Drum corps helped along the ex
citement that followed speechmaklng- In
various languages.
Tho Two Villages.
Above the river on the hill,
Lleth a village, white and still.
"While all around the forest trees
Shiver and. whisper with, the breeze;
Over it sailing shadows go
Of soaring hawk and screaming crow, v.
- And mountain grasses, low and sweat.
Grown In the middle of' the street.
Beside the river, 'neath the hill.
Another village lleth still;
There I see, on a cloudy night.
The twinkling stars of household bright.
Flees that gleam from the smithy's door,
Mists that curl from the river's shore,
But in the road no grasses grow.
No wheels that hasten to and fro.
In that village upon the hill
Nertr a sound of smith or mill;
Houces thatched with grass or flowers
Bloom and fade with changing hours;
Doors of marble always shut,.
Closing entrance to ball or hut;
Silent at rest, they He In sleep,
Never again to sow or reap;
Never to dream, to mourn, or sigh;
Done Is their task here, quiet they lie.
1 In that village, 'neath the bill,
"When the night Is "etarry and still,
Many a weary soul In prayer
Looks to that other village there.
And weeping, sighing, longs to go
Up to that home from this below;
Langs to rest from this world of strife.
Through the Redeemer to be with wife
May ,to that prayer this answer fall,
"Patience, that village shall hold you all."
Rose Terry Cooke.
There are thousands of bicycles being sold
this season through the Southern States, where
the bicycle craze has struck the negroes, and
the wheel has almost been abandoned by th