PAM. JK6BEA Bn Evening Bmong tbe Cop= Inicts A Group of Korean Lassies facts Culled by Clara M- Cushman Price, Ten Cents. Woman’s Foreign Missionary Society, Methodist Episcopal Church, 36 Bromfield Street, Boston, Mass. the Top- knots * H Dialogue for “^oung Ladies and 6entlemen JFacts GulleO bg Clara /lb. Cusbman Platform arranged to represent a parlor. Mary, the chairman of the program committee, has list of previous assignments. Other members have papers, maga- zines, books or clippings. Some of the longest may be read, but most should be given in an off-hand, natural way. Characters. — Leader, Program Committee, Mary, Ruth, Grace, Emma, Sarah, Lucy, Abbie, Gladys, Efhe, Edith, Florence, Eva, Clara, George, Henry. Leader — In behalf of I extend to you all a cordial welcome. It is our purpose to represent a meeting of a program committee preparing for a Korean evening. They are supposed to have had one meeting, at which their parts were assigned. We will thus present to you, in an informal way, a few facts about Korea, which we trust will prove of interest to you. Mary — As our committee is nearly all here, we will begin at once. Ruth, will you and Grace please sit down in front and act as critics and audience? (Girls take seats in front, while Mary looks over her list.) Emma, we asked you to find some- thing about the country. Emma (reads) — A cross-eyed Korean officer was followed in office by another cross-eyed man. A gentleman asked, “Why do you always have a cross-eyed man in this office?” “Ah, your honor,” was the reply, “we need to be cross-eyed, to keep one eye on Japan, and one on China.” Korea, as all the world knows, has long been the bone of contention between these two countries, which has not always been good for the bone. The peninsula is about as large as Utah, 600 miles long, about 135 broad, touch- ing Russia upon the north eleven miles. Chemulpo, the port of the capital, is thirty hours’ sail from Shanghai, and about forty from Nagasaki. Near the coast are many islands, with broad rivers in the interior. It is so hilly that it is said to re- semble “a sea in a fierce gale.” Koreans often ask foreigners, “Do your mountains sit so close together, in your honorable country, as in ours?” In some parts the scenery equals that of Japan. The climate is good, the winters are called “absolutely superb,” natural resources are rich. Foreigners have grown delicious Bartlett pears, corn with twenty-six rows in the ear, and pumpkins as big as a clothes basket, so big that it took two men to lift one into the “jiggy.” George — Whew! I’d like pumpkins like those for jacklanterns. Sarah — Where did you get that story about the cross-eyed man? AN EVENING AMONG THE TOP-KNOTS Emma — Oh, I read that in the Woman’s Missionary Friend, where I get lots of interesting things. Sarah — I never found them. Emma — Do you read it? Sarah — Well, — I — can’t say I do. Emma — ’Tis strange you don’t find it interesting, isn't it? ( All laugh or make natural observations.) Abbie — I wonder if you would like this poem that I had at school. Mary — Let's hear it. Abbie — It is called “That Far-away Land of Chosen.” There’s a singular land, far over the seas, Which is known to the world as Korea. And there's nothing to charm one, and nothing to please, And of cleanliness, not an idea. Where a lucid description of persons and things Quite baffles the readiest pen, And stirs up strange qualms in the poet who sings Of the far-away land of Chosen. Where the garments are made on a very queer plan And are something quite out of the common. The women wear pantaloons just like a man, Young men braid their hair like a woman. The married man gathers his hair at the top, In a knot much resembling a wen, The fc^pale coiffure is a huge ugly mop In the far-away land of Chosen. Where foreigners (lock to improve the ideas Of the natives, and help them make money, Where hives are well filled by the Korean bees, But the foreigners get all the honey. Where the shop-keepers ought to be rolling in wealth, From the prices they charge one, but then It is not at all likely they go for their health, To that far-away land of Chosen. Where the King in a manner becoming a prince, Is charmed with each fresh innovation, And plays with postoffices, steamers and mints, At a grievous expense to the nation. Where those who escape never care to return, To that “Morning Calm Country” again, Where there’s nothing on earth that would cause one to yearn For that far-away land of Chosen. Mary — What do you critics think about that? Ruth — I like it. Grace — It is bright enough, but it is pretty hard on Korea. Mary — Well, if we use it we must say that it was written by a naval officer, and not by a missionary. Is Korea a Llermit Nation? Gladys — Thirty years ago it was. One often sees old wayside tablets that say, “If you meet a foreigner, kill him. He who lets him go by is a traitor to his coun- 3 AN EVENING AMONG THE TOP-KNOTS try.’’ Every door was closed to every nation. No commerce brought wealth to the people, no travelers visited the country. Koreans had seen a few white men, and promptly killed most of them. The white man seemed a wild, thieving savage, his language sounded like the chattering of magpies, his dress and customs seemed strange and repulsive. In 1876 Korea concluded a treaty with Japan; not till six years later did she sign a treaty with America. Dr. Heber Jones says : “America led the way in opening up Korea, diplomatically. Christian missions immediately followed, and in the van, commanding one wing of the advance guard, was our Methodist Church.” The other wing was Presbyterian. At the close of the war between China and Japan, Korea became an inde- pendent country. The old archway, on the road to China, through which so much tribute had been carried, was torn down, and a beautiful Independence Arch erected. Mary — What did you find about the people, Lucy? Lucy (reads ) — There are about 15,000,000. Mrs. Bishop claimed that they are a handsome people. The missionaries say they are a “gentle, friendly, warm- hearted, open-handed, generous, patient and long-suffering people.” Koreans say, “Our race descended from the gods, slightly mixed with the Chinese.” I found pictures of Korean girls that were very quaint and attractive. Nine-tenths of the people are farmers, even though they have other business. To describe the ignorance and simplicity of the farmers, a Korean invented this fable : “A fish from the sea fell into a well, where lived a frog. ‘Where did you come from?’ said the frog. ‘From the big ocean.’ ‘How big i^it? Is it as big as this well?’ and he hopped across the well.” The missionaries found that they had no Western learning, but from an Oriental view-point they were well educated and cultivated. They were “wholly heathen,” and very superstitious. “The farmers have to fight for their wells, and the young widows, who are likely to be seized at any time and borne away forcibly and married to some wid- ower. One day, after a hard fight, a widower and eleven friends secured a widow and carried her off. But he got the wrong woman, and the next day the farmers followed her up, tore down the widower’s house, and bore her home in triumph.” Many writers tell of the widows’ being carried off. Henry — My stars ! Young widows seem to be popular the world over, except in India. Imagine anything like that in America, though! Lucy — Don’t interrupt, Henry. No American widower would have spirit enough for such a deed. But listen to this from Bishop Cranston : “As we looked from the ship’s deck, we saw long processions of uniformly dressed men, in white, with similar head-gear. They looked like priests, but were all classes of men, about their ordinary business, which seemed to be loafing and smoking. They walk with a long stride, and more or less of a swagger, in their unvarying dress of ghostly white. Same hat covering, same little top-knot, same long white coat reach- ing to the ankles, same baggy trousers, same white padded foot and ankle gear, same peculiar shoes, same belt about the waist, same fan in the same hand, same dull, quiet, meek and otherwise inscrutable expressions. We saw few women, but 4 AN EVENING AMONG THE TOP-KNOTS the same sameness of dress. But,” he adds, “enter one of our churches, and see how the faces can brighten up. How they listen, how they pray, how their bodies re- spond to the melodies of praise. Those dirty, naked children, see them in the school room, or in the front seats of the worshipers, and see what a transformation.” And just hear this about the women. Very competent but also very hard-worked. I call them. “The man of Korea appears like a gentleman of leisure, the woman drudges. The women of Korea cook 200.000 bags of rice every day. Xo man tailors share with the Korean woman in clothing the race. She launders all the garments. In the streets at all hours of the night one hears her pit-a-pat, pit-a-pat, as with painful care she irons the white clothes for husband, children, and self, deprived of physical comforts, social and intellectual privileges, the slave of man. The garments are ripped apart, and washed at the brook, then pounded till they shine. (Note: This may be represented in the room or just outside the door. The cloth is rolled over a round piece of zuood, and pounded, women sitting on the door ivith a stick in each hand.) Mary — Can you tell us, Effie, about the common homes. Effie — They are like little huts, plastered over with mud. They have sliding doors, windows of oiled paper, and inside are two or three rooms six or eight feet square. There is little furniture, perhaps a screen, and a picture on the wall, with a pile of bedding in the corner. The floors make warm beds because of stone flues run- ning underneath in one end of which fires are built. At meal-time each person has a small table, about sixteen inches high. I am sure I should not like to live in them 1 Mary — Oh. Effie ! I am afraid you would not make a good missionary. I see you are down for the “Top-knot,” Edith. Edith — Yes. I used to think that to call the Koreans “Top-knots” was a term of derision, but I find that a Korean regards his top-knot with the same profound re- spect that a Chinese feels for his queue. The boy keeps his baby name, and is treated with little respect till he has a top-knot. “The day he assumes a top-knot he becomes a man, though he may not be ten years old. A small round spot is shaven on the top of his head, the hair is brought up around this, into a twist, about one inch in diameter, and three inches long. It stands up straight, and is orna- mented.” A horsehair band, with a ribbon woven in one edge, is tied around the forehead, in the back, behind the ears, and in front. “Over all this comes the hat, of horsehair, bamboo, hemp, flax or silk, through the open-work of which the be- loved top-knot can be seen. The hat is tied under the chin, with ribbon or beads. Ninety-nine men out of a hundred put on the top-knot and hat at the time of mar- riage. Once a man gets it on, he wears it always in company. He may leave his shoes outside, but he and the hat go in together. When he eats, he takes off his outer garment, but the hat stays on.” Mary — You couldn’t do that, George. But then, your hat doesn’t begin to be so imposing as a Korean gentleman’s. Let us take a peep at the capital next. By the way, though it is spelled Seoul, you musfleave out the e, and pronounce it as an Irishman says soul. Florence — There is a legend that Seoul is built on the back of a dragon, and that if you dig too deep he will wriggle and make trouble. There are eight gates 5 AN EVENING AMONG THE TOP-KNOTS to the city, with a wall about forty-two feet high. It has 200,000 inhabitants, in- cluding 3,000 officials. There are telephones and electrics. High officials go about in sedans, others use ponies and donkeys, or bullock carts that go about two miles an hour. Ladies of rank go in closed chairs, foreigners use bicycles, and govern- ment clerks jinrikishas. “Seoul is the Mecca of Korea. What Seoul does and thinks, the country does and thinks.” There are no temples in the city, but the best kept building, in the better class home, is the room containing the ancestral tablet, where sacrifices are offered on the first and fifteenth of every moon. In the yard you will see a small stake, around which straw is wrapped; on the top is an old sandal, and a small piece of white paper, in honor of the god of the site. (Note: This may be easily imitated.) Blind sorcerers pick their way through the streets to the homes of officials, to cast out the evil spirits who are making trouble. While many a sorceress whirls and dances, drums beat and cymbals clang, to cast out some evil spirit. This is Shamanism. Buddhism was once very popular, but has now declined. Confucian- ism is there, but it is not a religion; it is a system of ethics. Mary — All over the country ancestral worship is observed. “Their interest circles around the graves of their dead, as much as ours does about the home. These are sodded and resodded, raked and combed and brushed, bowed over, spread with food, sprinkled with tears, entertained with wailings, made long pilgrimages to, treasured as sacred. In fact it is a much dearer spot to the family than is their family fireside. Ancestral demons, goblins and spirits all have to be propitiated and kept in good humor, or else there is an end to earthly prosperity.” Did you find a song, Edith? Edith — Yes, I found a simple one. (Sings.) H Korean folk-song. 61 - sa pai - ddi - 6 - ra. JVlun-gyung sai - chai pak- tala - n mu hong - do - kai pang-mamg-i ta na - kan da. Mary — Thank you. We shall want that, it is so quaint and sweet. Florence — I found a funny little love song: “That rock heaved up on yonder shore, Required for a cow. I’ll chisel out, and cut and score, And then my love, if you go 'way And mark the hair, and mark the horns, I’ll saddle up my bovine sray. And put on feet and all the turns And follow you somehow." AN EVENING AMONG THE TOP-KNOTS That sounds very brave for the lover, but the facts are that the father hunts up a wife for him, he hunts up a marriage broker and states his case, the broker hunts up another broker who has a girl on his hands, the parents are informed, and letters pass between them, contracts are signed and astrologers are consulted as to the day for the wedding. The friends of the groom help him twist his hair into a top-knot. The bride’s friends put her hair in a pug, fastened with two long pins. They place a heavy veil over her head, and put her in a closed chair. Friends and relatives follow and, with a goose at the head, the procession starts out. When the veil is lifted in the home of the groom, “lucky is he, and she, too, if the face pleases him." Now she is known as “the wife of so-and-so,” and her husband calls her “Come-here.” All social gatherings are for men and she is seen by no man but her husband and her father-in-law. Mary — I think you will all be interested in a letter that has come into my hands. ( Reads) : Legation of Korea, Washington, D. C., April 27, 1905. Miss Cushman: As to the ideal of a Korean girl from the standpoint of a Korean gentleman, taking it for granted that she possesses all the qualities of a virtuous woman, she should be demure, gentle, and always obedient to those older than herself. Our customs do not permit a young girl to receive the attentions of a gentleman without the consent of her parents, and they are only allowed to see those of their imme- diate family, so we do not have indiscriminate intercourse between our young people. I am, Miss Cushman, yours very respectfully, Teh Moo Sin. George — I am afraid the gentlemen of the Korean Legation get shocked in America. Mary — Yes, I am, too. In fact, one of the high officials once said that American women bind their waists, Japanese women blacken their teeth, Chinese women cripple their feet, but Korean women are all right. So, you see, Korean women are appreciated, at least by one man. Did any one find anything about their super- stitions? Clara — Yes. They say the smallpox is caused by the visitation of an evil spirit, who lives in China, and gets hungry and comes over to Korea. So they do not give any medicine, but make offerings to His Excellency the Smallpox, hoping he will soon be satisfied and go back home. And one of our missionaries was once telling a Korean about Christmas, when he said : “Oh, we have something like that, only it is just the opposite, and not at all like it. On the last day of the year a bad cat comes down and tries to put its foot into the shoe or stocking of even- person. If he gets it in, it brings death or bad luck. So everybody gathers up all their shoes and stockings, and hides them, locking them up securely." Henry — Three cheers for Santa! I’d -rather have him than the old cat. (Va-- rious responses from all.) Mary — This illustrates very well the difference between heathenism and Chris- tianity. Let us not forget to whom we owe everything good and beautiful in our lives. 7 AN EVENING AMONG THE TOP-KNOTS Henry — The Koreans have a saying, “Never hurry, except when you catch fleas.” We have been talking about the Koreans. I found a bit of a poem about the foreigner in the east. Do you want it? All — Oh, yes. By all means. Certainly, etc. Henry reads: An Occidental, newly sent, and keyed up for the tussle Has come to rouse the Orient, and teach it how to hustle. The East, he says, man, woman, child, is chronically lazy, I’ll surely get a move on, or drive the country crazy. He kicked his cook and sacked his groom, and raised a dire disaster; But all in vain his fret and fume, to move the Orient faster. The horse he rode was like his boy, whose maxim was, “to-morrow,” His life became, instead of joy, accumulated sorrow, His nerve gave out and he was left completely off the level, And when he died, the Orient smiled, “A crazy foreign devil.” Mary — Oh, Henry! Do you want that in our missionary program? Henry — Why not? Mary — I don’t know but it is all right. I like it, but some people might think it — well, what do you say, Grace and Ruth? Grace — I think it is funny. I like it. I don’t think it is wrong to smile in a missionary meeting. It isn’t a funeral. Others — Yes, let’s have it. Mary — All right. I see you have a great deal more in your hands, but I fear our program will get too long, and of course we want to hear about the mission- aries and their work. Who was to hunt up Epworth Leagues? Gladys — I was. I think we might take lessons from some of their Leagues. One gave a magic lantern exhibition to aid the famine sufferers, and seven hundred men and women came out to see pictures from the life of our Lord. After it was over the committee sat about the stove counting the door receipts, when suddenly a white bundle dropped down, containing a letter and ten dollars in money. The letter said : “As your noble church is engaged in raising a fund for the destitute among us, please do not look upon the smallness of the gift, or regard it as un- clean, but use it to a good purpose.” It was signed “Madam An,” but no one knows who it is, nor who threw it over the partition. Efhe — I wish our League had a “Madam An” to throw money into our laps ! Gladys — I think our League needs members like Mary Pak, more than it needs money. Twice a month she walks twenty-four miles to attend the Epworth League. She is only twenty-one but she is one of God’s chosen ones. Two years ago they had a terrible famine in her place and many of the Christians were driven away by starvation. When the food gave out her father called the family to- gether and said, “We have met the fate of our neighbors, and we, too, must become wanderers.” Then Mary spoke: “Father, if we go, what will become of the church? I fear it will be wiped out of existence, and never come together again. Surely we must save the church. You and mother go to Chemulpo, where there is food, and remain till the famine is over. I will stay here and observe the Sabbath and mid- week services, and keep our little church from disappearing. God will not let me 8 AN EVENING AMONG THE TOP-KNOTS starve.” So, through those dark months, brave Mary Pak kept the lamp of the Lord burning in that little Korean village. It is of such souls that the League named after Bishop Moore, in Korea, is composed. Mary — Thank you, Gladys. We love to hear such news of the Christians; it makes us feel that the work pays. Gladys — Another Epworth League supports a night school for the benefit of the young business men. They collected $150, hired a room, prepared and pa- pered it, made benches for the pupils, bought matting, a table and chair for the teacher, and a blackboard and stove. Then they brought in geraniums, chrysanthe- mums and roses, and had a formal opening, with the Minister of Education present. Mary — Eva, were you not to give us a little of the history of our mission work? Eva — The Presbyterians entered Korea about the same time as the Methodists and have done splendid work, but I will simply tell you about our own Church work. In 1882 Japanese advocated opening up work in Korea. Dr. John F. Goucher gave $2,000 for the purpose, and in 1884 Rev. R. S. Maclay, D. D., went to Korea and presented a paper to the King, telling of plans to open a mission. He received a courteous reply, expressing gratification, provided he was not a Catholic. The next year Rev. W. B. Scranton, M. D., with his wife, baby and mother, arrived in Korea. They were soon followed by Rev. H. G. Appenzeller and wife. The year 1887 ended with four probationers. The capital of every province had been visited. Missionary work is always slow at first, in any country, for there is the new, strange language to learn and the books with which to work must be translated. But when we remember that it was fifty years before much fruit was seen in China, and in Japan they waited twelve years before they organized their first church, of only six Christians, the spread of Christianity in Korea seems wonderful. In October, 1887, the first public religious service was held very quietly, in a little chapel, called Bethel, and the missionary had the great pleasure of baptizing the first Korean woman Christian. Our boys’ school was opened in 1888 and named by the King, “The Hall for the Training of Useful Men.” The King heard such favorable reports from our girls’ school that he inscribed and sent a name for each department. A Korean once said, “Were there many such firm hearts as that of Dr. Scran- ton, naturally our hearts would be broken open.” Gladys — How did our woman’s work begin? Eva — I found something about that in the Korean Repository. It says : “Mrs. M. F. Scranton was the pioneer founder and missionary of the Woman’s Foreign Missionary Society and she will always hold an honorable place. Of great execu- tive ability, disinterested devotion, burning zeal, kind, thoughtful, patient, she has drawn to herself many Korean women who look to her as their best friend. When she left for America, many men and women walked three miles to the river, crossed over in boats, kneeled down, prayed and wept sore, sorrowing most of all lest they see her face no more. We should thank God that He has spared her to return to them.” We were fortunate in having such people lay the foundation of our work as 9 AN EVENING AMONG THE TOP-KNOTS the Scrantons and Appenzellers. Other workers equally good have built upon their foundation. One of our districts, alone, reports 3,000 natives connected with it, thirty churches and chapels, and $500 raised for self-support. In Pyeng Yang, the church, seating 2,000, is often too small for all who wish to attend. To-day there are in Korea more than sixty missionaries of all denominations, with over 800 churches, and a total of over 40,000 who call themselves Christians. Last year there was added an average of fifty a week into full communion in the various missions. Mary — We should like to hear more about what kind of Christians they make. Edith — I think they must be pretty true-hearted, for some of them went down to Hawaii to get work, and a missionary writes: “Of those who came three hundred are Christians. They are very faithful and will not work on Sundays. They unfurl their church flag and spend most of their time in worship and Bible study. Wher- ever there are Koreans, they have preaching and prayer and class meetings. They have rented headquarters in Honolulu, with large rooms for worship, and a night school.” I am glad they have the New Testament and parts of the Old translated, for I think the work will grow faster now. Mary — Certainly it will. Who was to tell us about the translation? Eihc — It took a long time to agree upon what to call God, and the Holy Spirit, and Jesus, for they had never had those words in their language. They had no native assistants trained for such work, and the missionaries were very busy. It took ten years to get the four Gospels, and Acts and Romans, and then they were not perfect. At last they met every day at ten o’clock, three missionaries and their assistants, with our Dr. George Heber Jones as secretary. Then the first printing had to be done in Japan. Now they have a Korean press. The Koreans love the Bible. Old Mr. Yi, who died last year, was never known to be without his testa- ment in his hand, except when he was eating or sleeping. Mary — I want you to know about the workers of the Woman’s Foreign Mis- sionary Society and so I have written their names and stations upon a big sheet of paper. Here it is. ( Holds it up. See foot note.*) There is so much to tell about all this work that we cannot get it all into one evening, but tell us a bit about our Girls’ School in Seoul, Florence. Florence — One day our school was opened to the public, for all who wished to come. Six hundred and forty-seven visitors came that day. The girls breakfast at seven, and school begins at eight. They study English, and mathematics and general history, and the native language, but most important of all, the Bible. After dinner, the noon prayer bell rings. If you step quietly into * SEOUL. Schools, Josephine O. Paine, Lulu E. Frey. Hospital, Mary M. Cutler, M. D. Nurses' Training School, Margaret J. Edmunds. Evangelistic IVork, Minerva Guthafel, Ella A. Lewis. CHEMULPO. Evangelistic Work and Day Schools, Mary R. Hillman, Lula A. Miller. PYENG YANG. Evangelistic Work and Day Schools, Ethel M. Estey, Henrietta P. Robbins. Hospital and Blind School, Rosetta S. Hall, M. D., Esther K. Pak, M. D., Assistant. Home on leave, Emma Ernsberger, M. D., Josephine O. Paine. (These are the statistics for 1904-5. For later ones, see the General Executive Report, price ten cents, at depots of supplies; or General Secretary of Young People’s Work.) 10 AN EVENING AMONG THE TOP-KNOTS the hall you will hear them in their rooms praying. Miss Frey, their teacher, says: "Fifteen minutes alone with Jesus every day does more for our girls than we are able to tell.” School is out at four, and the little girls are quite ready to play. The older ones find their sewing, for each girl has the care of two or more girls. Mary — Last year our lady doctors treated more than 10,000 patients. Our Training School for Nurses is the only one in Korea. Often as many as fifty women attend the Friday morning prayer meeting, held in a large church ; at the regular Sunday service many of the women have to sit upon the floor in the aisle. We have a large number of Bible women who are doing splendid work. Clara — I should like to put in what I found about the country work. The country women receive little instruction, except when the missionaries visit them, so they go to them as often as possible. They preach salvation from dirt, as well as salvation from sin, and tell the women if they are going to be Jesus’ disciples, they must be cleaner and look a great deal nicer than their neighbors, who know nothing of Him. One poor old lady who was exhorted to go to Heaven, said it would be very good, but added in alarm, ‘‘What if I should fall out, what then !” Oh, how they need instruction and help! In one of Mrs. Scranton’s trips, one wo- man testified that since she became Jesus’ disciple, there was no more quarreling in the house. Another said, “My old heart is all dead.” Another begged her to sing again that song about that dying thief. In one place where she could stop but a short time, the woman begged her to stay, saying, “I am seventy years old, I shall soon die, I want to know more about the Heaven-sure-going road.” I think it is just awful for a missionary to have to go off and leave such a poor old woman, with nobody to help her ! It almost makes me feel like going myself. Mary — The missionaries are just begging for more helpers. Wouldn’t it be splendid if some one could go from our society? Just think how those Bible- women work after they are trained ! During the past year one of them taught 1,861 people, and visited 753 homes. It must be grand to help fit women for such service. I think it pays. Clara — I did not quite finish. One of the missionaries tells of a visit in the home of a Christian. “At evening time the husband came in, and we sat on the open porch, looking out over the rice fields, and there was peace and quiet in our hearts. Only a short time before their only child had died. He was just an ordi- nary man, and he said, ‘I saw that she was worse, and I walked to town, three and a half miles, for medicine, but when I returned I saw that she was beyond hope. I could only hold her in my arms and say, “My God, my God, my God !” When she was dead, I dug a hole and laid her away. Then over her grave we sang, ‘Jesus loves me.’ ” Mary — Is it not beautiful that he had learned to look to God, and that some one had taught him to sing, so that in his sorrow, he had one little song; so that when he laid his only little girl in the hole, he could sing “Jesus loves me”? Miss Paine very kindly sent me the words in Korean and I have written off the chorus, 11 AN EVENING AMONG THE TOP-KNOTS which is very simple, and if Edith (or someone who can sing) will sing the verses, to close our meeting, we can all sing the chorus. (Passes the chorus to the others.) Chu sa-rang nai al-gi-nan, Sung-so mal-sam pun-myung-hai, O-rin a-hai Chu mat-tu, Yun-yak ham-eul put-ten nai. Sa-rang ha-yo nom pa ryo, Nai-ni Chai-ak ta si-go, Ha-nal mun yor-o chu-o, A-hai teu-ro ka-gai hai. Chorus — Ye-su nai sarang, Ye-su nai sa-rang, Ye-su nai sa-rang, Sung-so-e mal is-so. Suggestions. — Korean costumes may be easily improvised with kimonos, and white skirts tied up high under the arms, to represent short-waisted dresses. Comb the hair smoothly, parting in the middle, with long braids for girls, and coils for women. To represent women on the street, bind a handkerchief around the fore- head, and use a long kimono pinned under the chin, and a small girl going ahead carrying a lantern. For a rainy day scene, two men dressed in Korean style, with two inverted clothes baskets for rain hats. In the ironing scene, a little .girl turns the stick, while the women beat the cloth. If the exercise is too long, some of the parts can be readily omitted. Any light refreshments may be served with chopsticks. As sweetmeats, serve candies, small fruits, peanuts, or food cut in small pieces. 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