it a window. There is sometimes a small opening over which is pasted a sheet of paper. The doors are small, usually about three by four feet, often not so large, and are closed by shutters made of latticework covered with paper. Every well-constructed house has its outer and inner rooms, the outer ones for the, men and the inner ones for the women. The house and a small yard are usually inclosed by a walk or a brush fence, the latter being the one most used in our villages. Into the men's room any one is at liberty to enter without any ceremony whatever at any time, but into the women's department no man who is not a near relative is allowed to go without invitation.
The government of the village is very simple. Every village has its elders, who are usually the older and more prominent men in the village, and are selected because of their influence in the community at large. They are not elected by popular vote, there being no such thing as election by ballot known to the politics of Korea. They are selected, however, by a sort of general consent of their fellow-villagers and confirmed by the county magistrate. Their business is to look after things in general and act as the fathers of the village. If there is trouble in the community, they are likely to be called to account for it. Then, too, another important part of their business is to assist the tax collector in squeezing the people. They must also see that village feast days are properly observed and that the spirits are propitiated in the proper manner by being fed and clothed.
