May. Tue April issue of the Corean Re-posi tory opens with an article by General William Mee. Dye, which should be appreciated by the Corean farmer, if the reforms in the Empire ever become so operative that it will be worth while for the farmer to improve his methods. It is understood that at present the farmer has no inducement to do more than make a livelihood for himself and his family; if by his industry he makes anything more than that, it is taken away from him by the officials. General Dye, who seems to have a practical knowledge of agriculture, gives in this article much useful advice to the Corean farmer. He begins by mentioning the value of the pith of the cora-stalk us a supplement to armour on war-vessels. It promises, we learn, to be "the ideal armour which, although it does not materially resist the penetrating shot, so quickly closes the avenues they make, that no water can enter the punctured vessel." General Dye goes on to show the profit to be made by dairy-farming, and by the breeding of cattle and pigs and sheep, and he incidentally disposes of the assertion often made that sheep will not- live in Corea, "Sheep," he says, "are not apt to thrive here or elsewhere under prolonged ill-treatment. They will not thrive on the coarser grasses of the marshes, which was the principal food of the sheep on his Majesty's farm outside the East gate, the grain intended for them having been habitually stolen." General Dye goes on to discourse on drainage, the treatment of the soil, and the crops best suited to different situations and the success of the Corean farmers who have emigrated to Russian territory, where they are no longer subject to the exactions of their own officials, shows that he is addressing men. who can appreciate his instruction if they are encouraged to put it in practice.
The second article, by the Rev. S.
Moore of the American Presbyterian Mission at Seoul, deals with the Butchers of Corea, He begins with a translation of a petition for the redress of their grievances sent to the Minister of the Home Department three years ago by the butchers living in Koan Chi Kol, in Seoul. They pointed out that they had followed the butcher's calling for, five centuries, faithfully attending to the work required of them by the government in connection with the great annual sacrifices, all of which labour they have performed gratuitously and with a ready mind. the petitioners go on to say Yet we have been treated as the lowest of the seven despised ranks in that, while the other despised classes have all been allowed to wear the large looves, the hat, the manger (a band used to keep the topknot in place), we, your humble servants, only, are not allowed to do so. We receive contempt from all men, and moreover, the underlings from every magistracy in every province and district come frequently, demand money and take it away. If we refuse to give it they strike us in the face, tear our clothes, and curse us with frightful words. Also they arrest us and force us to do a great deal of work for which we receive not one cash in payment, but only mocking, reviling words' Ana what is more, even from boys three feet high we receive low talk. Where in this- world can
company whose grievances and troubles are there be found such a sorrowful, pitiable so many that they cannot be enumerated While the Quangiai (buffoon) who ranks even lower than your humble servants wears the hat, manger, and sash, and dresses like otter men, we alone, your humble servants, are not allowed to do so, and therefore sorrow fills our minds, and penetrates even to our very bones. On bended knee we have heard that your excellency is now renouncing the former oppressive customs and establishing new laws, and since this is what your humble servants have hoped and longed for day and night, we now, casting away far, venture to come boldly before your excellency and on_ bended Knee beg your excellency to issue an
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.