Rose Foote: The Iron Woman in the American Legation: Part 3

A Korean street in the 19th century. Courtesy of Diane Nars Collection

By Robert Neff

Rose Foote, the wife of the first American representative to Korea, was certainly painted in a negative light by Ensign George C. Foulk but she also had a soft side ― one that he chose not to mention.

According to her biographer (Mary V. Tingley Lawrence, whose prose is definitely dated), even though Rose was busily engaged in the renovation of the legation, it wasn't enough for the energetic woman and she longed to do more.

She chaffed at being locked up on the legation grounds and longed to go out and meet the people. She often climbed a ladder and "looked down over the outer wall to study the spirit and the local color of the busy panorama in the crowded streets. The hard, primitive methods of the men and women at work, the hungry children, the squalid poverty and misery enlisted her serious attention."

A view toward the East Gate of Seoul in the 19th century. Robert Neff Collection

Seizing on the opportunity to teach the Koreans "practical lessons while elevating them spiritually," she enlisted the aid of 30 Korean servants and "other receptive natives" and apparently went into the streets around the legation to administer to the needs of the poverty stricken. She "generously and continuously provided money, fuel, food and various comforts for the wretchedly poor all about Legation Hill, while she ministered to the sick and was known even to dress their wounds."

Her generosity was not limited to mere gifts of food, fuel and money; she also provided life. One of the Korean servants, a youth, was discovered by a fellow servant asphyxiated in the heating quarters of the building. Mrs. Foote was summoned and came quickly and, "with ready wit, inserted a tube in the boy's mouth, then perseveringly blew her own breath into his lungs till life was restored." It was an act that was "never forgotten by the humble people" of Korea.

It is hard to distinguish what is fact and exaggeration. Rose's biographer, her friend, was obviously biased and often portrayed her as an American patriot and saint. Other sources overlooked her saintliness and concentrated on her pettiness.

The Small East Gate of Seoul in the 19th century. Robert Neff Collection

When Dr. George W. Woods visited Seoul in early 1884 he noted: "Mrs. Foote never goes out of the [legation] compound [of thirteen dismal buildings] save to visit the palace…" She seemed aloof and demonstrated a very uncharitable attitude toward Rosalie von Mollendorff ― the wife of Paul Georg von Mollendorff, the German adviser to the Joseon government:

"The only other European lady in Seoul is Mrs. von Mollendorff, the wife of the German who controls the customs, and therefore both have been for many months near each other. They have not met, in consequence of being unable to get over the point of etiquette as to which should make the first call."

He later elaborated: "Mrs. Foote, as the wife of an Ambassador, has the right of entree to the palace. Mrs. V.M., as the wife of an Under Secretary in the Foreign Office, has not; therefore, the latter should call on the former, and in a country where etiquette is worth so much, and every lady, instead of a prayer-book, has her 'Book of Etiquette,' it would not do to waive this point, as it would affect the prestige of the American representative. So the ladies have never met, and are not likely to."

King Gojong in the winter of 1883-84. Robert Neff Collection

THE GAPSIN COUP

On the night of December 4, 1884, a group of young Korean progressives attempted to overthrow the Korean government. Several high Korean officials were murdered and a large number of Japanese were killed by angry mobs. Most of the foreign residents of Seoul, including a large number of the Japanese, sought refuge in the American Legation. Eventually the Japanese managed to make their way to Jemulpo where they were returned to Japan.

While most of the foreigners fled to Jemulpo, Rose was one of the few to remain behind. Apparently King Gojong and Queen Min had asked her to remain to help reassure the Korean people that the Westerners were not abandoning them. According to her biography, Lucius reluctantly agreed to allow her to remain behind but only if the Jeongdong area was surrounded by a joint Korean and Chinese guard.

There was a great deal of uncertainty as to how long the unrest would last. Rose was worried that the people's "thirst for blood" had not yet been satisfied.

The Audience Hall of the palace in the winter of 1883-84. Robert Neff Collection

"The succeeding long hours of apprehension were as years. Sometimes she was startled by a report of an uprising, and every unusual noise caused her heart to jump. One less strongly equipped might have fancied that at night the ghosts of the long-ago valiant decapitated Mins of [Jeongdong] were rising up in sympathy with the uneasy, struggling survivors of their proud house, and stalking about the corridors."

Each morning and evening Rose received a message from the palace asking her if she were in need of anything and thanking her for her steadfastness. It was a brave act that Rose performed by choosing to remain, and she may have felt some satisfaction in knowing that even von Mollendorff's wife had fled to Japan.

Eventually Lucius returned to Seoul and made preparations to leave. His decision to leave Korea was not the result of the recent outbreak of unrest but due to his official position and pay having been downgraded by an act of Congress several months before. Lucius was humiliated and had complained to the State Department which agreed, before the outbreak, to allow him to go on leave ― a leave that he would not return from ― in order to save face.