When the electric trolley-cars were first set running in Seoul, a
peculiar result manifested itself in the nation. We quote from _The
Outlook_:
Little by little the heavens grew dry and the earth rolled up
clouds of dust; day followed day with no signs of rain, and
the caking paddy-fields grinned and gasped. What could be the
cause of it? The geomancers and ground-prophets were consulted,
and their answer was, “The devil that runs the thunder and
lightning wagon has caused the drought.” Eyes no longer looked
with curiosity but glared at the trolley-cars, and men swore
under their breath and curst the “vile beast” as it went humming
by, till, worked up beyond endurance, there was a crash and an
explosion, one car had been rolled over, and another was set on
fire, while a mob of thousands took possession of the streets
foaming and stamping like wild beasts.
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