A Corean Ceremony

As I entered Seoul a royal procession, with which the klng visited some oí the ancestral tombs, was returning by another grate, writes a Seoul correspondent, lts novel feature was that the minister of war rode In Europeau evenlng dress and a "bowler" hat. On the day following I wltnfssed a ceremonial new in Corean history, and which may have far-reaching results to Coreana. The Japanese have reBolved to clean the Augean stable oí official corrupüon, and compelled the king to begin the task by proceeding in state to the altar of heaven and there taking an oath before the spirits of ús ancestors to the proposed reforms. Hls majpsty, ly exaggerating a trivial ailment, haj1 for some time delayed the ceremor.. , and, even the day befare, a drea: -., in which an ancestral spirit appe.-xed to him adjurln? him not to depart írom ancestral ways, terrified him from taking the proposed pledge. After a lon# delay aiul inuch quesüonlng as to whether at the last moment the king would resist the forclgn i-repgure, the procession, in solenm silenes, ernerjtd from the palace gate; huge f:ss, on trldent headeel poles, purple bundï'S carried aioft, a stand of sacred sicr.?s ccnveyci with much ccremony, crops wi se riet and blue robed men in hftta sU?. tïd like fools' caps of the same colora, the king's personal sérvants In yeliow robes and yellow bamboo liats, decorated wlth pink rosos, anti m?n carrying bannerets. Then came the red silk umbrella, followed b"- not the magnifioent state ehatr, wlth lts forty bearers, but a plaln wooden chair wlth a green roof and glass sides, In whkh sat the soveroign, looking very pale and deJected, borne by only fov.r men. At a short distance followed th crown prlnce in a similar chair. Hsndarins, ministers, and mlllt.iry officers were then apslsted on thslr caparUoned ponles, and each, wlth W;j attendants holding hls stirrup3 ara! two more leading his pony, a!l In gorgeous raiment. feil in line bchind the home minister on a dark donkey conspleuous by his foreign guard. fluit an hour latei, by pas=int? along a strüet 80 narrow that two horsemen caiinot ride atreast, the kin? rpached the aitar of heaven, wliere the military escort w5 !ít outside the outer wall. ar:l or.'r '. e king. dignitarics and attndi.n{a proceeded to the aitar. Th; rroUfiKg'S of the scarlet-robeil vn?n unr tt 3rk pines v.-as most fifccO. trom an artistlc point of View, and f rom a polítical standpoint the taking of the oath by tho Corean king was one of the most Figrnineant arts tn the teAiou3 drama of the present war.