most difficult, rhymes with lines of irregular length. Three kinds of prose: First, criticisms of some famous men; second, commentary on some famous literary work; third, discussion or advice on some moral, religious, or political question.

Examinations for scientific officers are held only at Séoul once in three years. The Government has a commission for each of these branches: Astronomy, geography, literature, mathematics, painting, penmanship, ceremonies, foreign languages, etc.

Examinations for prizes are held only at Séoul for students of science four times in a year, and for students of general literature nearly every month, and anywhere in the 400 counties as the magistrate may appoint. The successful applicants in the scientific course receive as rewards a temporary appointment of from three to six months, or money, rolls of cloth, books, stationery, etc. The prizes for literature are similar. The successful men are given a reception of a social character by the magistrates.

MILITARY SERVICE EXAMINATION.

The examinations for the military service are of many kinds, but the two principal ones are for the selection of officers, and the chief examiners are the king, minister of war, all the generals in active service, and the governors of eight provinces. The competitors are examined in gunnery, archery, horsemanship, tactics and military science, and athletics. The prizes are money, rice, and cloth. Those who have received high marks become officers. The times of these examinations are, like the civil examinations, for officers once in three years, for prizes very often. The accession ceremony for the military is not of equal importance with the civil. The examinations are less crowded as they are held in many places at the same time.

EDUCATION OF WOMEN.

All the women of Korea are educated at home, by their parents or other relatives. Lady teachers are often hired for their instruction, but they are very restricted in their intercourse with their pupils, and they are not allowed to punish them. When 6 or 7 years old little girls begin "Ban-jul," or making syllables with pure Korean alphabet. At the age of 10 they study "Un-gan-nok" (letter-writing), penmanship, multiplication tables, names of years and days, and the history of Korea, "Yul-yu-jun" (biographies of famous women), history of Korea, and ceremonies relating to ancestor worship. They also learn sewing and cooking. The Koreans as a nation excel in cooking, and it is considered an important part of every girl's education. Kuemi is an art to which young ladies pay much attention and great skill is often acquired in it by ladies of rank. This is the art of arranging food on dishes for festal occasions. At all feasts immense dishes of meat, cakes, fruits, etc., are placed on the table. These dishes are often

two and three feet high, and the greatest taste is displayed in the arrangement of the different articles of food, producing beautiful effects of color. Jun-kal is also an accomplishment pursued by those ladies hoping for a high social position. It is equivalent to polite letterwriting in America, with the difference that the message is delivered by a servant, who learns it from her mistress. To use the choicest language is the aim of the lady.

The education of girls is usually finished at about 20 years of age. The queen has a special training from the queen dowager. She has a more extended general education and a better knowledge of Chinese than ladies of a lower rank. She also has a thorough knowledge of cookery and sewing. The education of the ladies of the court is similar to that of the queen, and as the aim of each lady is to be private secretary to the queen, special attention is paid to penmanship with almost marvelous results.

Medicine and surgery are sometimes studied by women. There were formerly no schools for women except for the study of medicine, which they were allowed to study under the direction of the physicians to the royal family. Immediately after their graduation they were employed by the Government. At the present time, however, but few women avail themselves of this still existing privilege.

RECENT PROGRESS IN EDUCATION.

A few free schools for the study of English literature and military science have been established by the Korean Government since opening communication with outside countries. The first one was established in 1881 for instruction in military science and the French method of tactics, and hundreds of officers and soldiers were instructed in this school. Since that time the soldiers have used modern rifles instead of the old matchlocks, and they are drilled like modern soldiers. Though this institution was not successful, on account of the revolution which occurred the same year, yet 10,000 of the new Korean troops continue to drill in this method and to use the modern weapons. Another new school was opened in 1882 for the study of the English language and literature. About fifty students are studying under a few English professors. This school is very successful.

Two years later another school was established for young noblemen of high rank, whose professors are Europeans. The course of study consists of English grammar, reading, mathematics, geography, history, sciences, and writing in English. There are about forty pupils. About a year later or in 1885 two new schools were opened; one for medicine, the other for military science. The medical school is not quite successful, but the military academy is improving. The superintendent, Gen. Dye, was recommended by President Cleveland to the King of Korea. There are many assistant instructors, most of whom

are Americans, who receive a liberal compensation. The students are young noblemen of high rank in military families.

There was a strong desire among the progressive party to establish the modern system of public schools but their defeat makes this impossible for the present. There are, however, hundreds of reading clubs among the progressive people and by this means much informa. tion can be obtained concerning the modern world.

The American and English missionaries do valuable work for the education of the Korean people. Among the half dozen schools of the missionaries there is one for young ladies, fifteen of whom have entered the school every year since 1885.

CHAPTER XII.

EDUCATION IN HAWAII,1

The census of 1890 gives 12,099 as the population of school age, or 6 to 15, and the per cent attending school as 81.59. The results of edu cational efforts are seen in the statement that the population over 6 years of age numbers 78,571, of whom 48.85 per cent are able to read and write Hawaiian, English, or some European language. The total population was 89,990, of whom 58,714 were males and 31,276 were females. Attendance is obligatory. The schools are classed as Government common schools, in which only Hawaiian is taught; Government English, in which only English is taught; independent, in which English is the language of instruction. Though these schools are in the main under the auspices of Protestants or Catholics, they are to a considerable extent aided by the Government.

The report of 1892 gives the teachers and pupils as follows:

Nationalities of teachers in the Government English and common schools.

1 Prepared by Hon. John Eaton, ex-commissioner of education.

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