KOREA— THE HERMIT NATION 151 



The first object to strike the visitor to the Land of Morning Calm 

 is the clotliing of the inhabitants. The universal adoption of white, 

 the singular hats, the foot-gear, all tend to impress upon the stranger 

 the fact that he is in a part of the world which is uncontaminated by 

 the customs of western civilization. The peculiar hats, shown in the 

 illustration, are made of horsehair for the wealthy wearer and of 

 finely split bamboo for his poorer brother; but beneath the hat 

 proper is a sort of cap of the same material and so shaped as to 

 protect the curious little topknot into which tlie hair is gathered after 

 marriage. The band of this under cap is drawn tightly about the 

 brows, oftentimes inflicting severe headaches upon the wearer. The 

 other type of head covering shown is made of rice straw and is worn 

 by country peo[)le and mourners. 



The material of their white clothing may be either cotton, silk, or 

 tlie so-called grass-cloth of China. The larger part of the cotton 

 material used in the country is woven in Japan, but the silk and 

 grass-cloth are frequently the product of domestic looms. 



Many years ago — long before the " western barbarian " reached 

 the shores of Cho-sen — the Koreans were noted among their Chi- 

 nese and Japanese neighbors for the skill and taste displayed in tex- 

 tile manufactures, and the products of their looms could be found side 

 by side with their pottery in all the markets tiien open in the East. 



By the slow but sure degradation of wars, insurrections, and inva- 

 sions manufactures and arts in Korea graduall}' lost their value in 

 both quality and quantity, until today her people, rich and poor 

 alike, are dependent upon China and Japan for a large percentage 

 of their clothing and pottery. 



There is, however, one branch of manufacture, the working of 

 bronze, in which the Hermit Nation easily leads, the use of this metal 

 for domestic purposes being peculiar to this country. The bronze, 

 which is of good quality, hard, and takes a good polish, is of an alloy 

 of copper and tin, with a small per cent of zinc and a trace of iron. 

 The bronze spoons, with which every family is liberally supplied, are 

 models of grace, as are the hibachis or fire-pots, which are largely ex- 

 ported to Japan. These graceful bronze bowls are applied to every 

 domestic use imaginable, in the kitchen for eating purposes and in 

 the sleeping-rooms. The same material is used in the manufacture 

 of the tobacco pipes in universal demand, and much taste is displayed 

 in their ornamentation. 



