July 22, 1907.]
became unfriendly and from that time forward he was in a great measure excluded from any participation in governmental business and forced into a retirement from which he has never emerged, except at short intervals, in some of the troubles which have occurred during the King's reign. In fact, he has been a kind of storm petrel, making his appearance and getting to the front only when there has been trouble and disorder in the country.
The late Queen had received a good education, from an eastern point of view, before her mar riage and afterward became a great student and is said to have been the best scholar in the Chinese ideograph of any woman in Korea, perhaps the equal of any in the East.
The Tai Won Kan rebuilt the Kyeng Pok Palace during bis regency. His Majesty, when he assumed the reins of power, which his father according to all reports was loathe to resign, occupied the Chang Duk Koong or Eastern Palace, for a period of four years after which he moved into the Kyeng Pok Koong. This however had the reputation of being an unlucky abode, so that, after several years, the Royal Family moved back again into the astern Palace where they were during the emute of 1884. In 1885 the King, on account of the unpleasant association of the previous year, again changed to the Kyeng Pok Koong, only the strange coincidences that Her Majesty leaving it in 1895 for a short time. It is one of should meet her violent death in the very home she had mistrusted for some years and which was erected by one whom she had little reason to love.
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT. versed in both Chinese characters and Unman, While not regarded by the Koreans with the and from the Korean point of view, is high. religious veneration with which the subjects of ly educated. It has been and still is his habit some of the other countries of Asia regard thair to keep in his suite scholars and historians who rulers-while no one claims that he is a descend. read to him and consult with him often. He is said to be more conversant with the history of
ant of a San Goddess, or is the Son of Heaven, or has diving attributes, there can bɔ no doubt his own country, both modern and ancient, that he is universally beloved by the people. than any other man in the kingdom. The He is looked upon as the father of the whole Roya! library is quite extensive and we have it people as the Queen was, during her lifetime, from Korean officials that whenever any ques-recognizid as the mother. tion
We hear frequent as to old oastoms or the past arises complaints against some of the Ministers and among the Ministers, they refer to His Majesty other officials, but the people have nothing who can point with unerring precision to the but kind words and affectionate regard for reign and particulars of any historical event. their King. His Majesty speaks none of the languags of the western countries.
Discussing sanitary matters at Hoakoag, the Straits Times of July 4th says the papers bave placed too much blame on the officials, and goes on:-
*
of their own arobiteots know to be a mensos to
Nominally the Government of Korea is an absolute monarchy, all powers being vested in His Majesty. There is no written or unwritten constitution, no Parliament or Congress, and all the laws are promulgated as Edic's of the Kinging the recent history of Hongkeng, we feel that In the first plac›, it seems to us—and kaow. His word and will are law. In all governments. no matter how absolute or despotic, the ruler is
we can write impartially and with knowledge of necessarily governed and restrained by old
the facts,that the blame lies primarily with customs and traditions. This of cours ob'ains
the Chinese residents, who are filthy ia their in Korea, but perhaps to a less extent than in
habits beyond all European conception of any other Asiatic country. His Majesty devotes
Althiness. There is not a law known to the much time and attention to public business and
student of hygiene which they do not break, und is extremely industrious, supervising and over-
ouraged nature takes its toll periodically in seeing every branch of the government. Indeed
epidemic death-rate. In the second pl.cs,
much attention to details and undertakes to do, the public health They rented out their property the criticism is sometimes heard that he pays too property owners have built houses which som in looking over every thing, more than any mortal can find time to perform. In a word, occupiers resorted to sub-division by oubioles and at high rates which could not be paid uules, the the Korean government is essentially personal.mezzanine floors until each hous· be sme a human His Majesty does most of his official work at It is foreign to the object of this article tonight, and the sessions with his Ministers,
warren. Absentee landlordism and rack-renting enter into any details as to the untimely fate of
were two of the curses of Hongkong a few years the late Queen, or as to the stirring events which
ago, and we do not know that conditions have bave occured during the reign of His Majesty,
erred at all, it was in being too lenient towards changed very much since 190-6. If the officials this being intended as a brief sketob, personal, rather than otherwise, of the King.
the landlords; and now that the officials are striving to remedy matters-and they have done much good work since 1894, as is known by the few who have an intimate knowledge of the coming from those who pose as public represent inner life of the Colony-instead of co-operation
hostile criticism is kept up until farther action atives, obstacles are placed in the way, and
is paralysed."
nervous energy.
&
Advisers and other officers are frequently con- tinned until dawa or after.
His Majesty is progressive and is evidently not imbued with the ideas-may we say pre- judices-which are prevalent in most parts of His Majesty is, as compared with the ordinary the East, against western people, institutions Korean, rather under siz), being about five feet and customs He is most interested in educa- three or four inches high. His face is handsom;tional matters, and material advances have been when composed, the expression is some-made in this direction within the last few years. what inanimate, but when engaged in con- There is a Minister of Education as well as a versation, it brightens into kind and Vice-Minister and these are influential members pleasing smile, His voice is pleasant, well of the Cabinet. Public schools, where reading modulated, and he speaks rapidly, and distinctly. and writing, in both Chinese characters and In talking, he is vivacious and speaks with native Unmun, as well as geography, arithmetic, history and so forth are taught, have been The King has always been very accessible to established in Seoul and in various other paris foreigners. Many audiences have been extended of the country. In addition to these, there are not only to the diplomatic representatives on separate schools maintained in Seoul, at public his birthdays and other national holidays or expense, for teaching the English, French, public occasions, but also to unofficial residents Hussian and Japanese language. There is also and to distinguished visitors to the Capital. a school of Law connected with the Law Depart But little ceremony is required at ihese ment and a Normal school where teachers are audiences. The person going to audience is fitted for their work. The establishment and accompanied, as a rule, by a Court chamberlain maintenance for the last ten years of the Royal and an interpreter, who are of course dressed in Government Hospital in the Capital under the Court costume, with the curions winged hats sole supervision of foreign physicians and to peculiar to Korea, and is received in a plain which people resort from all parts of the room. On entering the room, the chamberlain country to get the benefit of foreign medicine, and interpreter prostrate themselves, making surgery nd medical skill, may also be mentioned the kowtow in the most approved oriental in this connection. fashion, but the guest is expected and required In religion the King, like most of his subjects, to make only the three bows customary in is a Confucianist if Confucianism can be called occidental royal receptions. Usually His Royal a religion. He observes like them the rites and Highness, the Crown Prince, receives with his ceremonies at the shrines and before the tablets father and holds more or less conversation with of bis ancestors. In the strict sense of the term the guest.
there is no state or national religion.
+
44
At these aud'encas, His Majesty is generally Toleration in religious matters has marked dressed in a red silk coat, very heavily the reign of His Majesty. While, during the embroidered with
gold braid, and with regency of the Tai Won Kun, Christians were tr users in Turkish style either colored or white, rigorously persecuted, and in 1866 thousands He sometimes wears the gossamer hat similar to of Catholic Korean Christians were cruelly those worn by his subjects on the streets, but slaughtered and two French Bishops and other at other times appears in the simple cap of the French priests executed, nothing of this kind scholar which is a band of fine horse hair fire or has occurred since His Majesty assumed the six inches broad or high, opened at the top, and reins of power. On the contrary, not only having four or more sharp triangular points has no one been interfered with, but on more, around the upper edge. At these audiences His occasions than one, the King has given distinct Majesty is affable and unceremonious, always and direct encouragement to misionaries, kindly addressing more or less conversation to or as he terms them, teachers." And ou each person admitted.
the occasion of an audience accorded to Bishop While the Koreans have a phonetic alphabet of Ninde of the Methodist Episcopal Church in the twenty-five letters, which is one of the most simple beginning of 1325, His Majesty not only ex. and perfect in the world, in the official papers and pressed his appreciation of the good work done records, and indeed in the standard literature of by them, and thanks of the same, bat spoke the country, and corre pondence between educat- those memorable words which the churches ed persons, the Chinese characters or ideographs cannot and must not forget "Send more are used. The use of these Chinese characters. | teachers." altho' bearing Korean and not Chinese names, The disposition of the King is kindly and sustains somewhat the same relation to the amiable. Ail bear testimony to this. He is Unman as the Latin did to the English in Great certainly a merciful raler, and sincerely desirous Britain several centuries ago. His Majesty is well of the welfare and advancement of his country.
WATER RETURN.
Level and storage of water in reservoirs on the 1st July-
Tytam
Byewash Pokfulam
LEVEL.
1906.
1907. Below overflow. Abɔve overflow. 13 ft. 84 in. 0 ft. 11 in.
23 fr. 6 in. 0 ft. 1 in. O ft. 6 in. 0 ft. in. Balow overflow. Balow overt›w, Wongnaicheog. I ft. 7 in. 2 ft. V} in.
STORAGE GALLONS.
1906. 278,470,000 1,264,000 64924,000
Tytam Byewash Pokfulam Wongnaicheong. 6,548,00
1907. 384,8-0,000 22,366,0 10
66,000,000
27,930,000
591,086,000
Total 331,207,000
CONSUMPTION OF WATER IN THE CITY OF VICTORIA AND HILL DISTRICT DURING THE MONTH OF JUNE.
1906.
1907.
Estimated popa. Consumption...113,695,000 132,731,00 gallons
lation
Consumption per
233,700 205,110
hal per day
16.2
21.5 gallons Rider Main in operation during the whole of June 19 6 in the Central and W stern Distorits, staat sapply throughout entire city during the and constant supply in all other Districts. Con-
whole of June 1907.
11
CONBU PTION OF WATER IN KOWLOON PENINSULA DURING THE MONTH OF JUNE.
1906.
Estimated popu- Consumption 15,694,00)
79,650
6.6
lation
1907. 19,849,000 gallon s
78,5.0
Consumption per head per day
8.4 gallons The Government analyst reports that the water is of excellent quality.
W, CHATHAM,
Water Authority.