Page:The New International Encyclopædia 1st ed. v. 17.djvu/868

* SEOUL. 790 SEPARATISTS. tlu' north bank of the river Han, ami about 19 inilos ill a dircit line east-northeast of Chemulpo, its port ou the Yellow Sea (.Map: Korea, G 4). It lies in a basin surrouiuleii by rugged hills, and several lofty roeky erags rise within the city. The city proper is enclosed by a high wall, having a circuit of about 10 miles and pierced by eight gate-ways. It is divided into four sections by two broad avenues, intersecting at right angles. The remaining streets are mostly narrow and crooked lanes. The houses are as a rule low nu-an dwellings, a large proportion of them mere hovels. The [irincipal edifices are the old and the new royal palaces, the former of which is an e.vtensive group of well Iniilt granite struc- tures surrounded by beautiful parks. Other no- table buildings are a temple of Confucius, the temple of royal ancestors, and a Roman Catholic cathedral, i^eoul has an electric light plant, and an electric street-railway runs to the river (lort, Kiong-san. The Han has not sufficient depth to give access to large vessels, but a railway con- nects the eity with Chemulpo. Other railway lines are under construction to Fusan and Wiju. There is telegraphic comnnmication with the principal cities of the country and with the out- side world. Seoul is the social and educational centre of Korea. Two daily newspapers are pub- lished. There are several schools for the teach- ing of foreign languages. Seoul was made the capital of the kingdom in 1302. and was opened to foreigners in 1883. Population, in 1002, 103,606. SEPARATE ESTATE (Lat. separatus, p.p. of scpanirc. u> scpaiate, from se-, apart + parare, to prepare). A legal term commonly employed to denote that property of a married woman held by her independently of her hus- band's interference and control. In England and in most of the United States the common-law- rule (see Hu.si!and anu Wife) have been modi- fied, and in some respects entirely alirogated. by statutes. Tlie tendency is to give a married woman the complete control of all her property as if she were single. In probably all of the United States, by statutes, the real property of a married woman is now free from all claims of her husband, except his inchoate right to curtesy, and in most States the same rule applies to per- sonal property. In most of the United States the savings of a wife out of money given to her by her husband for household expenses do not become her separate property, but are the property of her husband. Where, however, property is conveyed to a married woman by an instrument containing conditions and limitations as to the possession and disposition, the latter will govern, as the statutes are intended to cover only cases where there is no express limita- tion of ownership, or where pi'operty is owned before marriage or acquired by descent. See Dower ; Curtesy: ilARRiACE. SEPARATION (Lat. se^mratio, from sepa- rare, to separate). A technical legal term, em- ployed to denote a cessation of cohabitation of husband and wife by mutual agreement, and without the intervention of a court of law. This is commonly done where husband and wife be- lieve themselves unable to agree from incompati- bility of temper, but where there is no cause for an absolute divorce, and often no cause for a judicial separation. The parties usually sign a separation agreement, which generally contains ]U'Ovisions for the wife's maintenance by the hus- band, the disposition and custody of the children, and so on. The law does not favor the separation of husband and wife, and, therefore, if the agree- ment is deliberately drawn up with an intention to live apart at a future time, it will be null and void. However, if the parties are living apart, and desire to take this means to avoid disputes as to the amount to be paid for the wife's main- tenance and as to the custody of children, the agreement will be enforced by the courts. Such an agreement does not prevent the parties, at any time, from resuming cohabitation, upon which it becomes void. While a husband and wife are living apart under a separation agreement, the wife caimot bind the husband for her necessaries, if he pays the amount stipulated in the agree- ment ; but if that amount be grossly inadequate the courts may compel him to support her to the best of his ability. As the marriage is not dis- solved by such separation, adultery on the part of eitlier is ground for divorce ; and, by the weight of authority, the husband may have an action for criminal conversation with the wife, although the damages may be nominal. The statutes of several States prescribe the details to be observed in executing articles of separation. See Alimony and Divorce. SEPARATISTS (Ger. Separatisten). A re- ligious social organization which originated in Wiirttemberg, Germany, about the beginning of the nineteenth centurj'. Its members, seeking a deeper religious life than prevailed in the Church, and freedom from military service, to which they were conscientiously opposed, and refusing to send their children to the clerical schools, where principles contrary to theirs were taught, were severely dealt with. Aided by members of the Society of Friends in England and led by Joseph Biiumeler (q.v.), they came to America in 1817, and were received by Friends in Philadelphia. In the same year they bought a tract of land in Tuscarawas County, Ohio, and foimded their settlement of Zoar. In their Code of Prin- ciples they avow belief in the ordinary doc- trines of evangelical Christianity; all ceremonies are banished and declared useless and injurious; honors due to God, such as uncovering the head or bending the knee, are refused to mortals; separation is declared from all ecclesiastical con- nections and constitutions ; the necessit.y of the political government is recognized : and fidelity to the constituted authorities is professed. Al- though a rule of marriage was laid down, com- plete sexual abstinence was held to be more com- mendable; and marriage was not practiced till about 1830, after which time it became common. Articles establishing a community of goods and interests Avere adopted in 1810. ' An act of in- corporation for 'the Separatist Society of Zoar' was obtained from the Legislature of Ohio in 1832. .Joseph Biiumeler was chosen the principal executive officer, or 'general agent,' and contin- ued its spiritual as well as temporal leader till his death in 18.53. The members of the society were of two classes, novices and full members. The novices or probationers served for one year before being admitted to membership of the'sec- ond class. Their obligations were renewed on entering into full membership, and in addition the candidate made a full and final surrender of all his possessions, and of all that he might acquire. Religious services were held on Sun-