Page:Popular Science Monthly Volume 51.djvu/17

Rh —Co-operations are not hereditary, excepting those connected with the soil, such as mining, brick, tile and pottery kilns, etc. Farm labor is done by freemen and serfs. Serfs are called tributary slaves. The Government pays for its labor. During the times of great depression the Government orders certain work to be done as a relief to the people. Three kinds of public work are done—namely, by the Government, by the city, and by the people. For example, the people living near a river embankment may plant trees upon it (usually the willow, pine, or elm). Serfs in government employ work eight hours a day. In the Department of the Interior, and other departments, the king appoints a secretary or head officer, who in turn employs the subordinates. As an illustration of the shameful waste of time, it is customary for a force of employees to work by installments: thus, if thirty serfs are employed, ten of these work for three days only, then another lot of ten continues the work for three days, and finally the third set of ten takes up the work for the same time; thus, each set of ten have a week's vacation following three days' work. What wonder that the people are among the poorest on earth! There are two kinds of serfs, a higher and a lower kind. The higher serfs take their vacation in precisely the same way. The chiefs of departments have under their control not only various clerks, but also serfs who accompany the chiefs to their houses, and the chiefs may employ them on their own private work. There are no lawyers. Judges there are, and these are appointed by the king.

The commercial ways are very low. In some respects the methods are like those of nomadic tribes. Peddlers are called burden merchants, and travel through the country; if they have means they will buy their food; if not, they beg. They have no house or home, but with their families are traveling all the time. These people have very severe laws among themselves. Adultery is punished with death. When this crime is detected a letter is circulated among them. Hundreds assemble, and each one strikes the adulteress with a stick or club. They are very kind and polite among themselves. In many respects they resemble our gypsies, but are true Koreans, and are considered the lowest class. There are the other kinds of merchants who have no shops, but assemble in small towns on every fifth day to buy and sell. This is derived from an old Chinese custom. The higher classes of merchants have shops. Pawnbrokers abound, and auctions are common.

—The last day of the old year and the first week of the new year are given up to festivities. The fifteenth day of the first month is called the New Moon holiday. A particular kind of food is made at this time, consisting of dates, chestnuts, honey,