By a special Edict Prince Eui Yang-koon represented His Majesty, the Emperor of Korea, at the formal ceremony of opening the Seoul-Fusan railway.
The Japanese Prince received from the Emperor of Korea the decoration Keum Chuk Tai-soo and the attachés received the Pal Kwa and Tai Keu decorations from His Majesty.
It is proposed to place Korean assistants under the Advisers of the various Departments in the Korean government, with salaries paid by the Finance Department.
The director of all the foreign language schools, Mr. Yi Chong-tai, has communicated with each school to the effect that education is for the mind, the soul and the body. Of late some students have taken a dislike to bodily exercise. The teachers are instructed to require students to take exercise regularly, and all who refuse to obey the order must be dropped from the rolls.
Prince Yi Chai-wan has asked permission of the Household Department to erect a paper mill in Yang Kun district, and it has been granted. When told of this His Majesty ordered the Household Department to collect the old and useless paper from all the Departments now and in the future and send it to the paper company without charge.
On the 13th inst. public exercises of all the primary schools were held and some suitable rewards were distributed by the Educational Department to those excelling in their studies.
Trains are running daily over the military road between Seoul and Pyeng Yang, and the mails are carried regularly. Passenger coaches are not used, and at present no passenger business is desired; but an occasional pass is issued so that one may make the journey on an open flat car, usually loaded with railroad or army equipment. The trip would doubtless be rather taxing on ladies, and the authorities are at present chary in granting them permits.
The governor of North Choong Chung asks the Home Department to see that all magistrates residing in Seoul be sent to the country at once, because robbers are numerous and the people cannot peacefully attend to their crops.
The Foreign Department has announced that it will be impossible to send a special representative to Belgium to the forthcoming congress.