China War of 1894, when five of the larger ones were divided, making the thirteen which remain till the present time.
The provinces are divided into counties of various sizes, there being an average of about sixteen counties to every province. Each province has a capital, in which the governor resides and administers the affairs of the province. The governor receives his appointment direct from the king, and is in no way responsible to the people for his conduct. In every county there is just one magistrate, who also receives his appointment from the king, and is usually a stranger in the county where he is sent to reside. These county seats are usually about the largest towns in the county, though many of them are little more than country villages and differ little from the other villages except for the official buildings, which are larger and more imposing in general appearance than any to be found in the ordinary village. However, most of these official buildings are old and present a most dilapidated appearance, many of them appearing as if they were about ready to totter and fall. This state of things can be largely accounted for on a well-defined Korean principle of always putting off any work that should be done to-day, not only till to-morrow, but just as long as possible. "What is the use?" says he. "It is all right for to-day, and who knows what a day may bring forth?"
