Korea by MRS. W. R. SMITH

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jul 21, 1910

Korea

By MRS. W. R. SMITH

MRS. W. R. SMITH

WONSAN is located on the eastern side of Korea, on the Gulf of Korea. By the Japanese the town is called Gen-san, and it is so given on the late maps. We came to this place last November, and are the only Adventist missionaries on this side of the mountains.

Just now the people are very busy putting in their crops. One man with his ox-team plows back and forth across the field, thus turning a double furrow. A man follows him, sticking his heels into the soft dirt to make holes for the seed; then comes a third man, with a large basket swinging in front of him, in which are the seeds and fertilizer thoroughly mixed. As he walks, he throws a handful of this mixture into each depression left by the heels of the man in front. A fourth man covers the seed, and a fifth tramps down the earth with his feet. Wheat, barley, and, in fact, all the crops are sowed or planted in rows, and kept free from weeds by hoeing with a short-handled hoe, the handle not exceeding twelve or fourteen inches in length.

The women are also busy getting the summer clothing ready to wear, and washing the winter clothes. The banks of the streams are lined from early morning till late at night with women and girls pounding the clothes on flat stones with wooden paddles. The winter garments are made of two thicknesses of cloth padded with cotton. In order to wash them, every seam has to be ripped open. Their method of ironing is to fold the garment smoothly over a small block, and then pound it with two sticks shaped something like Indian clubs. If the clothing is kept clean, it means an immense amount of work for the poor women. One who sees their lives of toil can easily understand why they are generally ignorant, and do not learn to read. The boys are given instruction, but from their earliest years the girls are taught to work.

In order that the women may learn their Sabbath-school lessons, I have them meet here once a week, and try to help them. Some come more than ten miles. They were much interested to learn that the Sabbath begins at sundown, and that in order to observe it properly, all our work should be done the day before.

One day the woman who helps me about my work asked why I did not wear a ring. As I was explaining to her that we do not believe the wearing of jewelry to be in accord with the teaching of the Bible, a young girl came in. She at once became interested, and I had her read the familiar texts upon this subject. She asked, “Would not Sabbath-keepers wear rings, like my brother’s wife?” When I said, “No,” she answered, “But it is Korean custom for women to wear them.” “So is it the American custom,” I replied, “for all who can afford it to wear rings; but Adventists do not, because the Bible tells us not to wear gold and costly apparel.” I haven’t seen her sister-in-law wear her rings since. These dear people are willing to take the Bible as it reads.

Wonsan.