KOREAN INTERVIEWS. ii 



It forms a great festival for the farmers, and is mucli like a New- 

 England Thanksgiving Day. Gentlemen go to the country to see 

 the festival, have food and wine, and generally get hilarious. 



The ninth day of the ninth month is observed because the 

 maple trees turn red and yellow flowers are in bloom. Poetry is 

 written about the day and its beauties. 



The tenth day of the tenth month is observed by every one 

 making cake in the evening. Each one makes a number of cakes 

 and presents them to all his friends. Friendship is supposed to 

 be bound and strengthened by these gifts. Gentlemen engage in 

 this pastime, and it is also a great day for the farmers. 



On the eleventh month, at the winter solstice, a drink is made 

 of red beans, and on this day sacrifice to ancestors is made. 



On the twelfth day of the twelfth month people go hunting. 

 Young men also call on the old men, who offer food and give 

 good advice, and will say, " One year older, one year more." On 

 this day the young man can sit down in the old man's presence 

 and will listen respectfully to his advice. 



Besides these stated festival days parties are often given, and 

 if ten are invited, for example, provision must be made for three 

 hundred, as each invited guest is accompanied by many servants, 

 high and low. A large table is provided for each guest, and this 

 is heaped with food and fruit, of which little is eaten, as most of 

 it is given to the low servants, special tables being provided for 

 the high servants. An ordinary party of this kind may often 

 cost a thousand dollars. 



A certain kind of picnic is called a " one-dish party.'' This is 

 for men only, and each man brings to such a picnic a dish of 

 some one kind of food sufficient in quantity for all. 



Games. The Koreans have dice, and cards of two kinds, with 

 which several games are played, one being a gambling game, 

 which is forbidden by law. They have chess, and " go," a pecul- 

 iar game with four sticks, and also many puzzles. Children play 

 ball by patting and bouncing it on the ground, have whipping 

 tops, and fly kites. A portion of the kite string has broken glass 

 stuck to it, and by this device they are enabled to cut the strings 

 of other kites. (In Japan a device holding a sharp cutting edge is 

 employed for the same purpose.) Children also play jackstones, 

 using seven balls and having many ways of picking them up ; 

 these ways have their special names, such as " Hatch the chicken," 

 " Laying eggs," " Making the kitchen," " Sawing wood," " Win- 

 nowing wheat," " Collecting eggs," " Striking ground," " Wear- 

 ing the hat," etc. " Pease porridge hot " and " Cat's cradle " are 

 also common ; this last is called " Thread dipping." 



Superstitions. It is believed that if a cat approaches a dead 

 person the body will stand upright. In such a case it must be 



