SENTINEL GATE AT PALACE. Frontispiece
iFIFTEEN YEARS
AMONG
THE TOP-KNOTS
OR
LIFE IN KOREA
By
L. H. UNDERWOOD, M.D.
With Introduction
by
Frank F. Ellinwood, D.D., LL.D.
Second Edition
Revised and Enlarged
YOUNG PEOPLE’S MISSIONARY MOVEMENT
OF THE UNITED STATES AND CANADA
NEW YORKii
Copyright, 1904,
By American Tract Society.
Copyright, 1908,
By American Tract Society.
iii
THIS LITTLE VOLUME
IS GRATEFULLY DEDICATED TO
MY HUSBAND
IN MEMORY OF
FIFTEEN HAPPIEST YEARS
ivv
INTRODUCTION
It may be said at once, that Mrs. Underwood’s narrativeof her experience of “Fifteen Years Among the Top-Knots”constitutes a book of no ordinary interest. Thereis no danger that any reader having even a moderatesympathy with the work of missions in the far East willbe disappointed in the perusal. The writer does notundertake to give a comprehensive account of missionsin Korea, or even of the one mission which she represents,but only of the things which she has seen and experienced.
There is something naive and attractive in the way inwhich she takes her readers into her confidence while shetells her story, as trustfully as if she were only writingto a few relatives and friends. Necessarily she deals verylargely with her own work, and that of her husband, asof that she is best qualified to speak. Everywhere, however,there are generous and appreciative references tothe heroic labors of associate missionaries. Nor does sheconfine these tributes to members of her own mission.Some of her highest encomiums are given to members ofother missions, who have laboured and died for the Gospeland the cause of humanity in Korea.
Mrs. Underwood, then Miss Lillias Horton, of Chicago,went to Korea as a medical missionary in 1888. As aSecretary of the Presbyterian Board, accustomed to visitviour candidates before appointment, I found her a brightyoung girl of slight and graceful figure in one of theChicago hospitals, where she was adding to her medicalknowledge some practical experience as a trained nurse.There was nothing of the consciousness of martyrdom inher appearance, but quite the reverse, as with cheerfulcountenance and manner she glided about in her whiteuniform among the ward patients. It was evident thatshe was looking forward with high satisfaction to thework to which she had consecrated her life.
The story of her arrival at Chemulpo, of her firstimpressions of Korea, is best told in her own words.The first arrival of a missionary on the field is always atrying experience. The squalid appearance of the lownative huts, whose huddled groupings Mrs. Un