THE EMPEROR OF KOREA.

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XIII, Issue 2780, 31 July 1907, Page 4

THE EMPEROR OF KOREA.

Ti.e Emperor ot Korea, rk. i ..- ;.b- ---■ dicated the other day. is another who had greatness thrust upon him. Yi Hyong. Emperor of Kona. Kim: of the Ten Thousand Islands. Chief if .Chosen. Lord ol the Laud ct Morning Calm, lias ruled lor 43 must troublesome years. The monarch before him died suddenly. While he lay unconscious on the floor < t his r.par*- , niont. -uironmleil by the Q yen and .i ] few other relatives, the Dowager : Queen burst in. snatched tie seals from tlie Queen and proclaimed Yi Hvong tlu> successor. So the unfortunate Hi Hyong was summoned :rcm ] his kite-flying to a throne at the age ot twelve. Though a royal per* ■ age. j liis father had been obliged to support I bis family through dealing in curios, I ami tlie future Emperor had lived I among the lower classes. He entreated bis supporters with tears to allow tiiin to remain among the lower classes. He bus been described by a resilient in Korea ns having “graceful manners, fluency ol speech, a dignified yet obliging air, all of which, coupled witli his deliberatt but el arming appearance, constitute a character that, impresses one as that ot an approachable private individual rather than as that of the ruler ot tlie Hmpire." But bo i> inconsistent, secretive and deceitful. His energy las been directed towards the maintenance of the royal Kmso. rather than the wellare ot his country and to l int every menus lias been justifiable that would strengthen the court. Yi Syck, the new Kinjieror, is thirty-lhree. When lie contemplated marriage a few years ago an edict was issued that there should lie no marring -s cr.it il tl e Crown Prince bail chosen bis 1 ride, nn incident which is illustrative of the absolutions of the throne. The haired telt by tlie Koreans for th® -1 rc'-o is old. It dates from 1592, when :.u army of 15(t,(i00 men invaded ho country and fought a six years" war with the Korean and Chinese troops. Tlie country was desolated and *\o artists and treasures taken to Inrn. Korea never recovered from this blow.