Page:The passing of Korea.djvu/438

 admire more, - the skill and perseverance of the instructor or the natural talent displayed by the pupils.

In the various provincial capitals the government has established, in a desultory way, a number of schools of intermediate grade which are fairly successful, but until the public sentiment of the people at large rises to the fact that education is one of the main bulwarks of the state, no work of large dimensions can be done. The time will come.

Various missionary societies have established successful schools in this country, notably in Seoul and in Pyeng-yang, and these institutions rank the highest in the land. Many of their graduates hold positions under the government and command general respect.

There have been numerous attempts to establish private schools, but the enthusiasm seems to die out after, a few years, funds run low and the inevitable end comes. Some of these have been temporarily successful and have demonstrated some slight growth of public sentiment in the right direction.

One hopeful sign is the recent immense increase in the demand for reading matter throughout the land. Those who have in hand the sale of books say that the demand has increased fourfold during the past year.

One of the most powerful educative influences is the native press. This agency has been at work here for some ten years, and, while there have been many failures, yet it cannot be seriously questioned that the various daily, weekly and monthly papers have done an enormous amount of good. The Korean's idea of the daily press is still somewhat crude, and is illustrated by the fact that when some statement is denied he is very likely to say, " It must be true. The paper says so." It is to be hoped that the Korean press will always retain and deserve this reputation for veracity, which we fear had been partially lost in some lands we wot of. And in truth, so far as our observation goes, the native papers make an honest attempt to give straightforward and accurate news.