In Szechwan Province (biggest city: Chungking), drought threatened the crops. Seven Chungking patriots organized a "Praying-for-the-Rain Dragon Corps." They paraded in time-honored rainmaking costume: short trousers, bare chests, bands of green grass around their heads. They shouted and beat gongs.
The Government's Food Ministry and Military Council sent representatives to take part in public prayers for rain. A lama supplicated the heavenly waters by burning incense before an altar for three days.
Cried Chungking's press: ancient super-stitition. The idea of depending on heaven for food was still deeply rooted. It must be discarded. It...
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