monarchy to one where the King governed only by the advice of his Ministers.  The power of direct address to the throne was denied to any one under the rank of Governor.  One ordinance created a constitution, and the next dealt with the status of the ladies of the royal seraglio.  At one hour a proclamation went forth that all men were to cut their hair, and the wearied runners on their return were again despatched hot haste with an edict altering the official language.  Nothing was too small, nothing too great, and nothing too contradictory for these constitution-mongers.  Their doings were the laugh and the amazement of every foreigner in the place.

Acting on the Japanese love of order and of defined rank, exact titles of honour were provided for the wives of officials.  These were divided into nine grades:  “Pure and Reverend Lady,” “Pure Lady,” “Chaste Lady,” “Chaste Dame,” “Worthy Dame,” “Courteous Dame,” “Just Dame,” “Peaceful Dame,” and “Upright Dame.”  At the same time the King’s concubines were equally divided, but here eight divisions were sufficient:  “Mistress,” “Noble Lady,” “Resplendent Exemplar,” “Chaste Exemplar,” “Resplendent Demeanour,” “Chaste Demeanour,” “Resplendent Beauty,” and “Chaste Beauty.”  The Japanese advisers instituted a number of sumptuary laws that stirred the country to its depths, relating to the length of pipes, style of dress, and the attiring of the hair of the people.  Pipes were to be short, in place of the long bamboo churchwarden beloved by the Koreans.  Sleeves were to be clipped.  The topknot, worn by all Korean men, was at once to be cut off.  Soldiers at the city gates proceeded to enforce this last regulation rigorously.

Japanese troops remained in the palace for a month, and the King was badly treated during that time.  It did not suit the purpose of the Japanese Government just then to destroy the old Korean form of administration.  It was doubtful how far the European Powers would permit Japan to extend her territory, and so the Japanese decided to allow Korea still to retain a nominal independence.  The King and his Ministers implored Mr. Otori to withdraw his soldiers from the royal presence.  Mr. Otori agreed to do so, at a price, and his price was the royal consent to a number of concessions that would give Japan almost a monopoly of industry in Korea.  The Japanese guard marched out of the palace on August 25th, and was replaced by Korean soldiers armed with sticks.  Later on the Korean soldiers were permitted to carry muskets, but were not served with any ammunition.  Japanese troops still retained possession of the palace gates and adjoining buildings.

Another movement took place at this time as the result of Japanese supremacy.  The Min family—­the family of the Queen—­was driven from power and the Mins, who a few months before held all the important offices in the kingdom, were wiped out of public life, so much so that there was not a single Min in one of the new departments of state.