ABOUT "WATER-WITCHING."

(WHAT I KNOW.)

I have always observed that when any novelty is presented for the

consideration of man, which is not readily proven by already well

known scientific laws, or which may not be demonstrated by the

knowledge and power of most persons, it is found extremely difficult,

if not impossible, to gain the attention of the devotee of science.

Whether, indeed, it be from lack of interest, from incredulity, or

from the fear of ridicule, or from any other cause, we look with

distrust upon anything which is not in harmony with our preconceived

ideas or theories, and we are apt to raise the cry of humbug or

superstition, and reject, with a contemptuous assumption of

superiority as unbelievers, propositions which properly put to the

test might prove of value to mankind.

Happily for us a wise Providence has not ordained that all minds shall

plough in a single furrow of the great field of knowledge. Some,

therefore, believe nothing but what they see, and frequently doubt the

evidence of their own senses. Others believe everything they see and

nearly everything they hear, and seize with too great credulity upon

every new thing presented to them. There are others who disbelieve

nothing that is presented to them, however apocryphal, without full

and impartial investigation, aided not by testimony alone, but by

actual demonstration. Again, there are men who are afraid to

investigate, lest the world should call them visionary; these are

always prepared to apologize for examining anything outside the mere

routine of their special science. But the most frequent error of

mankind is to doubt and ridicule, without investigation, everything

which is not commonly received. To such I would cite the pungent words

of Solomon: "He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is a

folly and a shame unto him."

I feel that I am speaking to those, who always listen with interest to

every proposition, and are willing to examine it, until its

demonstration is clear and its hidden mysteries revealed, and never

pronounce anything a superstition or an imposture, until from patient

research they have a right, through their own experimental knowledge,

to utter a verdict. But, lest there should be among us one of these

doubting Thomases or disbelieving cynics, I would appeal to him with

the history of the two Spanish students. These two young gentlemen,

while traveling from Peñaflor to Salamanca, stopped at a spring to

quench their thirst, and whilst seated upon the ground near the

fountain observed something like a tombstone, level with the water;

engraven on the stone were these words: "Here lies interred the soul

of Pedro Garcia." The youngest of the students, a thoughtless fellow,

said, laughing loudly: "What a joke. Here lies interred the soul! Who

ever heard of a soul being buried? who can tell me the author of so

ridiculous an epitaph?" The other, a reflective, judicious youth, said

to himself: "There is some mystery here, and I intend to solve it

before I leave this spot." Letting his companion depart, without

losing a moment's time he took out his knife, cut around the stone,

dug under it a little, and there found buried a purse containing one

hundred ducats, with these words in Latin inscribed upon it: "I

declare thee my heir, whomsoe'er thou art, who hast had the genius to

understand the meaning of the inscription; but I charge thee to use

this money better than I used it."

Now to the point. The subject to which I am about to call your

attention--that of finding water by means of the "divining rod"--is

one of those which in modern times is classed among mere

superstitions, and as such unworthy of serious consideration by

sensible people. I think I have it in my power to demonstrate to you,

principally from my own personal experiences--the relation of which I

beg you to accept as strictly accurate--that this is an error on the

part of the over-wise skeptics of our progressive epoch.

Worcester's dictionary gives the following definition of the "divining

rod:--A forked branch, usually of hazel, said to be useful to discern

mines and water." "Witch-hazel--a tall shrub of eastern North America,

remarkable for blossoming late in the autumn."

Another authority gives the following: "Divining rod--A hazel twig cut

in the form of a Y, by the aid of which certain persons (meaning, of

course, sorcerers like myself,) called '_scientific_,' pretend to be

able to discover water or mineral veins. The rod is held in a peculiar

manner, and the 'dowsers' walk backward and forward over the ground to

be tried. As soon as he crosses or approaches a metallic vein or

aqueous spring the twig turns toward it with a slow, rotary motion.

This superstition has not yet died out, and 'dowsers' are yet common

in remote parts of England, France and Germany."

Now, one can easily see that this writer is one of those who apologize

for seeming to believe a thing of the kind by calling it "a

superstition not yet died out."

Here is another definition: "Divining rod--A forked branch, usually of

hazel, by which it has been pretended that minerals and water may be

discovered in the earth. The rod, if slowly carried along in

suspension, dipping and pointing downwards, it is affirmed when

brought over the spot, where the concealed mine or spring is

situated."

The form, the material and the mode of using the divining rod of the

modern miners and water finders seem to be superstitions of

comparative recent introduction. Many persons with some pretensions to

science have been believers in the powers ascribed to the "divining

rod."

Here we have another case of the apologetic historian. He dared not

say that he believed it, even though he had seen it. Why? Simply

because there was no scientific fact or theory upon which he could

base his belief--so he was afraid even to say what he believed, lest

people who read his encyclopedia might say he was visionary.

I read somewhere, a long time ago, that this superstition was also

rife in the eleventh century. Now, like the young students above

cited, some one among you may exclaim, "Who will inform me who can be

the author of this ridiculous superstition?" I wish I could tell you;

I am sorry I can not, but I should not wonder if he lived before the

days of Moses, the first "dowser" on record. When oil was discovered

in this country many of us believed that there was at last "something

new under the sun.' We have only to turn to the Scriptures to learn

that Job was in the oil and dairy business a few thousand years before

Oil City sprung up under our wondering eyes. Job has always been

supposed to refer to some great miracle when he says, in the 29th

chapter of his book, "I washed my steps with butter and the rock

poured me out rivers of oil; the young men saw me and hid themselves."

Also, in Deuteronomy, we read, chapter 32, verse 13, "And he made him

to suck honey out of the rock, and oil out of the flinty rock." Now,

we have these marvels repeating themselves daily; and I think it no

very far-fetched idea to assume that the "divining rod" was used in

the discovery of these precious deposits. I am myself acquainted with

a gentleman who has lately successfully located two oil wells by this

magic (so-called) process.

In fact, who knows but that the first knowledge of the "divining rod"

was a revelation, and that Moses not only understood the art, but

taught it to the Children of Israel, from whence the supposed

superstition has spread.

When Moses found the water at Meribeh-Rephidim and Meribeh-Kadesh, in

the wilderness of Zin, he had received the Almighty's command: "Go

before the people and take with thee the elders of Israel, and thy rod

wherewith thou smotest the river; take it in thine hand and go.

Behold, I will stand before thee upon the rock in Horeb, and thou

shalt smite the rock, and then shall come water out of it, that the

people may drink; and Moses did so in the sight of the elders of

Israel."

In the 20th chapter of Numbers we read of a similar miracle occurring

three years afterward--"And Moses took the rod from before the Lord as

he commanded him, and said, Hear, now, ye rebels, must we fetch water

out of this rock. And Moses lifted up his hand and with his rod smote

the rock twice, and the water came out abundantly and the congregation

drank and their beasts also."

Now in the 21st chapter of Numbers we find these verses: "And from

thence they went to Beer, that is, the well whereof the Lord spake

unto Moses. Gather the people together and I will give them water.

Then sang Israel this song--Spring up, O, well! sing ye unto it. The

princes digged the well, the nobles of the people digged it, by the

direction of the lawgiver, with their staves." This shows that the

lawgiver pointed out the places for them to dig, and the people made

the wells.

There is nothing like faithful searching if you wish to find; so I

advise you to look back also as far as Confucius, and then come down

to the old monk, Roger Bacon, and it would not surprise me if you

should ascertain that those old wise-heads had gone even farther than

your humble servant into the mysteries of the divining rod.

But I will not quote from these ancients; I will only look back a

short hundred years. In Sir David Brewster's Philosophy you will find

that he says that there is no doubt that the presence of water can be

detected by the divining rod, although it can not be demonstrated by

any known science. It was this last paragraph which I stumbled upon

many years ago, that first brought me to a practical knowledge of this

phenomenon. I read it, and being on a visit in Raymond, Miss., I went

to Judge ----, of that place, a scholar and a man of good sense, whom

I took for granted had not failed to gather in, among his great stores

of learning, something about the topic which had struck me so

forcibly. I was not mistaken; the old gentleman told me that he had

not only heard a good deal about this matter, but possessed, himself,

the power of finding water, offering to show me how he proceeded. Soon

after we went, accompanied by my brother, Dr. L., to a spot where

there was a well known under-ground stream. The Judge cut three forked

branches from a peach tree, each took one and we marched over the spot

indicated, holding our rods according to the approved style of the

"dowser" proper. At a certain point the switches in the hands of the

Judge and myself went down simultaneously; the effect was very

apparent; but my brother, in whose hands there was no movement,

mercilessly ridiculed the whole proceeding; neither the Judge nor

I being at all disconcerted by his skeptical derision of our

_scientific_ research. I could not be shaken from faith in my actual,

absolute experience, and was fully convinced that there was a

mysterious power, beyond my ken, that turned the switch. I pondered

over the matter, and resolved that at some future day I would examine

more closely into it.

This, to me, decisive epoch finally came after a great number of

trials, always with satisfactory results as to the bare fact that

water could be traced or discovered. That the switch did turn in my

hand readily was undoubtedly true--the agency which moved it was the

mystery.

I knew that electricity had broad shoulders, and had always carried

the weight of every unexplained phenomenon. I said this switch turns

by electric force. Having evolved my theory, I set out to sustain it,

by experiment. Upon inquiry, I found that not only could water be

discovered, but it was asserted that minerals as readily answered to

the call of the magic rod; and, indeed, that even their depth beneath

the earth's surface might be computed.

Granting this to be true, I concluded that I had not only a

philosophical but a mathematical problem to solve. I, however, never

met any one having any information on this latter point, nor in my

readings did I find any allusion to the possibility of ascertaining

the depth below the surface of any concealed stream or mineral. On the

contrary, I found the general impression to be that the whole thing

was a superstition of ignorant minds. The doubters frequently met me,

and with some show of reason, with this personal argument: "I cannot

believe this thing, because the switch does not turn in my hand." It

is quite true that every hand does not have the power of giving the

motion to the switch; but this does not disprove the fact of its

turning. I have heard that the evidence of one man who heard a bell is

worth that of a dozen who did not hear it. The testimony is,

therefore, to my mind, clearly in favor of the "dowsers." All men are

not the same conductors of electricity. I have known persons who could

light the gas by running across the floor, rubbing their feet upon the

carpet, and pointing a finger at the jet. I never saw this done, but I

have no doubt that there are many who can do it, and also many who

cannot.

Now, although the switch may not turn in the hands of all, this is no

proof that the current producing the movement does not pass through

the persons just the same--the effect is only less perceptible in

some, than in others.

I had made a very large number of experiments, from time to time,

before I had an opportunity to make one which satisfied me that I was

on the right track. I had in these experiments exploded the

superstition of the "witch-hazel," and learned that peach, apple,

willow, dog-wood, beech, maple, iron, steel, copper--in fact, that

even an old barrel hoop possessed all of its virtues, and so concluded

that after all this relic of the necromancer's art of former days was

a very simple matter, if we could but find the clue to it. A few years

ago it happened that I wanted to get water at a place called Coloma,

upon the Chicago, Michigan & Lake Shore Railroad, of which I was then

chief engineer. I concluded to test my electric theory here. I found

that it was necessary to dig a well upon the depot grounds--the point

was to see if I could find water where I needed a tank. I took a

switch and found water near the desired spot; then, with my theory in

view, I made a second experiment. I bought four ink bottles, adjusted

them to a pair of wooden sandals, which I fastened to my feet. Thus

insulated, I walked over the ground, my switch in hand, but, as I had

anticipated, there was no movement--the diviner's rod was powerless. I

therefore assume that I am right in ascribing the phenomenon to

electricity. I continued my experiments, having yet the mathematical

point unsettled. Upon walking over the ground again and again, I found

that the switch commenced always to turn at the same places, equally

(or nearly) distant from a centre, and kept gradually turning until it

pointed directly downward. To assure myself, I repeated this

experiment many times, and arrived at the conclusion that the switch

commenced to turn at an angle of forty-five degrees from the edge of

the water, and that the distance from my hand to the water would be

measured by the distance from the point where the switch commenced to

turn to the point of absolute turn-down, and so it seems to be. The

following diagram will show more clearly my meaning:

A B, B A is the surface of the earth; W, a stream or pool of water

below the surface. Walking along toward A B the switch begins to move

at A, and turns down at B; the angles B A C and B C A being equal, the

distance from A to B is equal to B C. Measure the distance, therefore,

from the point of commencement of turning to the point of turn-down,

and you have the depth from your hand to the water. I have verified

this over many water-courses, upon bridges, etc., and I am satisfied

it is correct, at least for the latitude in which my experiments were

made. Upon this basis I made my first estimate of the depth of the

water at Coloma, and gave it as from twenty-five to thirty feet. I

employed an experienced well borer and had a two and one-half inch

pipe driven into the ground at the exact point my switch indicated,

and found water at twenty-seven feet exactly. I had the pipe driven

down forty feet, and found that I had thirteen feet of water in it. I

then had a windmill erected and a large tank. Up to the time of my

leaving the road, the engines were supplied with the water, which,

besides, proved to be of excellent quality for drinking.

My well borer, who was a doubting Thomas, said he believed that he

could get water at the same depth anywhere. Fortunately for my theory,

a neighboring store-keeper tried the doubter and failed to get water

under fifty-nine feet.

Subsequent to the satisfactory experiment at Coloma it happened that

on one occasion, when I was traveling west on the Hannibal & St.

Joseph Railroad, that I was introduced to a gentleman engaged in

building a road, who related to me that during its construction the

engineers had made use of drive wells as they moved rapidly along. As

the water question was always one of interest to me, our conversation

drifted, naturally, to "water-witching." The gentleman said that all

of his knowledge on this subject had been obtained from his brother--a

young man employed by Horace Greeley on his farm at Chappaqua. Mr.

Greeley had sent for him from hearing of him as extremely intelligent

and thrifty as a farm hand. It happened while the young man was at

Chappaqua that a well was needed, and the question of "water-witching"

came up. The young man said that his belief was, that if one man could

find water, so could another--whereupon he took a forked switch and,

walking about, found that the magic wand turned down over a rock. He

had a blast of powder put in at the point, the smoke of which hardly

cleared away, revealed a spring of water. Here is simply a repetition

of the smiting of the rock. In my own experience I have a similar

instance: I was assistant superintendent at Highlands, on the Vandalia

line. Mr. ----, then chief engineer, had, previous to my arrival,

caused a well of ten feet diameter and forty feet depth to be dug and

walled up with brick, but the supply of water was so small that it

could be pumped out in a few minutes. A hole had then been drilled

sixteen feet to the rock, which was conglomerate, of very great

hardness, with no better results. The well was therefore abandoned. If

I had seen Mr. ----, I should have advised penetrating the rock, but I

did not meet him, and did not wish to interfere with the work.

Mr. Koepfle, the owner of the land upon which the well was located,

arrived just at that time from Switzerland, and I soon became

acquainted with him. He came into my office one day and said: "Mr.

Latimer, do you not think there is water under that ground?" I

replied, "Yes, I thought so." "Did you ever hear of 'water-witching?'"

he then asked. I said "Yes." "Can you tell where water is?" Upon my

affirmative answer he requested me to go down and try a switch. I did

so and found that it turned down in a number of places about the well.

Mr. Koepfle came to me again to say that there was a "dowser" in the

neighborhood and to ask me what I thought of his employing him. I

advised him to try the skill of this man by all means. I was not

present at the trial, but a short time afterward Mr. K. came to me in

great excitement to tell me that the man said there was a subterranean

lake at that very point. Among other things, he told me that the wand

in this case was a bit of whalebone--an item I treasured for future

consideration. Mr. ---- had already commenced another well in a marsh

about half a mile west of the first. Mr. Koepfle asked my advice as to

what he should do. I replied, "I cannot take any action in the matter

officially, but if you will take it upon yourself to bore through that

rock and pay the expense of it, I think that no objection can be made

to it, and I believe that you will get plenty of water--in which case,

I am sure you will not lose your money." "But where can I get a man?"

urged Mr. Koepfle. "Try Mr. ----'s man. I think Mr. ---- will be glad

to get rid of the expense," I said. Mr. K. came soon after with the

man and agreed, by my advice, to give him $7.50 per day for his own

work and that of his man with the drills. In five days the rock was

smitten through with a three-inch drill, and the water immediately

rushed up to a point above the natural surface of the ground, only

held by the railroad bank--which surrounded the well--and there

remained. I am not aware that Mr. ---- ever knew that his excellent

well water was provided for him by the magic power of a morsel of

whalebone and a peach twig.

Upon one occasion, at a farm of one of my connections, the water gave

out in the well, (seventeen feet deep,) which had for years supplied a

large number of cattle. In the first place I ordered the well to be

cleaned out, for it was very dirty; but there was no improvement. It

was then decided to dig another. I found a place about ten feet north

of the old well, where I judged there was a small stream, and

repeatedly estimated the depth to it by my rule, and came to the

conclusion that it was between ten and twelve feet. I was rather

astonished at this, for the water, it may be observed, was seventeen

feet deep in the old well. However the well was begun. I asked the

digger at what depth water ought to be found; he said at seventeen

feet; but I made this a test case, and said, "You will find water here

between ten and twelve feet, but if I should have to say precisely, I

should say at ten feet." Water was found at exactly ten feet, and

stood at that point after the well was finished.

A peculiar test occurred at Toulon, Illinois. I was talking on the

subject with a friend, a lawyer of that place, one dark night at about

nine o'clock. He asked, "Can you tell how deep it is to the water in

the well in this hotel yard?" I answered at once, "Yes," but said, "it

is rather dark, and I know nothing about the yard or the position of

the well." However I went out and started at the kitchen door, only

asking upon which side of the house I should seek. I traced the stream

from the kitchen door, passing back and forth rapidly until I found

the well about forty feet from the kitchen and near the barn. When I

came to the well I said, "This stream passes five feet from the well

and does not go directly into it." I then made some examination with

the rod, and pronounced the depth to the water to be fourteen feet,

which was found by measurement to be correct. I will add, that I was

never before in the hotel yard, did not know where the well was

located, and the night was exceedingly dark. The next morning, while

paying my bill, the landlord said, "You probably do not know how close

was your calculation last night. I had that well dug myself, and we

went down forty feet without finding water. Before giving it up the

digger had himself lowered into the well, listening as he went to hear

the sound of some stream. At fourteen feet he heard water, and boring

in laterally five feet, where you said the stream was, he found a

plentiful supply, filling the well with twenty-three feet of water."

Another experience. One day at Wyoming, Ill., a friend said to me, "I

must introduce you to our 'water-witch,'" who proved to be a gentleman

named ----, a banker of the place. After some conversation with him,

we agreed to try an experiment together and compare experiences

generally. I asked first, "What do you use?" "Willow, hazel or

peach--perhaps any green twig would do as well; but I only employ

those three." "What would you say to an old barrel hoop?" I asked.

"Oh, that would not do at all; there must be sap in the wood." We each

took our rod and went forth, I holding mine in my hands, whilst my

companion held one end of his in his teeth, the other in both hands. I

asked what he meant by that mode of holding the switch. He replied,

"That is my way; there is no chance for presumption or pretence in it;

some persons can make the switch turn and be deceived." I observed

that our switches moved at the same moment, mine turning down, his

sidewise; but in every case we agreed, and thus traced a number of

streams. I tried his plan, but it would not answer, while his switch

moved held in either way. In discussing the matter, I asked his

theory, which he declined to give, but which I divined by a question

he asked, viz: "Did you ever see a switch turn for stagnant water?" I

said, "Yes." "Well," he responded, "I never did, and the rod will not

turn over stagnant water for me." "Now," said I, "I understand your

theory; it is that the friction of running waters underground produces

an electric current which causes the switch to turn." He admitted that

I was right. "Now," I said, "I propose to explode two of your notions

at once. In the first place, let us get an old barrel hoop." I found

one, which we divided. I then went with him across the railroad track,

which at that place runs north and south. The rod turned down for both

of us at once; in this case he used the rod in his hand. "Now, you

see," I said, "that the rail represents stagnant water, and you find

that a dry twig or stick is as good as a green one." I then obtained a

piece of copper wire from the telegraph office and gave him. He walked

across the track with it in his mouth and hands, and in every case the

rod turned to the south for him. In finding water the rod always

turned for him in the direction the stream ran. I found he knew

nothing about estimating the depth beneath the surface. He remarked

that he had fancied that he knew much of the subject, but that a man

must "live and learn." I went with him to his bank, where we threw

down a rod of iron on the floor, and with our switches found the

movement to be the same at every trial. Again, we placed a silver coin

on the floor, with the same result--trying several times with his hand

on my arm. I told him that I meant to invent an instrument for finding

water and estimating its depth. A few months ago I received a letter

from him, asking after my proposed invention. This gentleman gave me a

curious confirmation of my experiment at Coloma. He related that a few

days previous a friend had been out with him to try if the switch

would turn in his hand. It did readily; but after dinner he found,

upon a second trial, that there was no movement. This mystery was soon

explained by the discovery that our neophyte was standing in his

India-rubber shoes.

Another important test I made at the Naval Academy, at Annapolis, a

few years ago. I went there to look at Sir David Thompson's

Electrometer, to ascertain if it could give me a clue to something

which might guide me in the invention of the instrument in question. I

could discover nothing from it, or from the most delicate

galvanometer. One of the professors, however, asked me to give them a

test. I called for a piece of iron wire, walked a few feet, put my

foot down and said "There is something immediately under here." The

board was taken up and disclosed the gas-pipe. I asked if they were

satisfied. "You are a man of quick perceptions and might have noticed

the direction of the pipe," was the answer. "Are you willing to be

blindfolded?" I consented and succeeded repeatedly in locating the

pipe, and what is more, in indicating other points of attraction to

the rod, where all said that my experiment had failed, but which

proved as full a confirmation of my theory as the lead pipe. These

points were those where the iron columns supporting the building

touched the ceiling underneath.

Upon one occasion, I visited Professor Henry, of the Smithsonian

Institute, and presented the subject to him. The professor took notes

in a book, and asked for a test. I gave him several by locating the

gas and water pipes. We then sat down and the professor remarked:

"This is all personal influence." Of course, the question is none the

less important or curious on this account, and I was a little nettled

at the summary disposal of the matter. I therefore replied: "Professor

Henry, you scientific men are always behindhand in discoveries,

because you will not investigate, and it is left to those not well

versed in the laws of science to ferret out mysteries and lay them

bare. I present you two things, Professor--first, I find, by

insulating myself that there is no motion of the rod, which proves

electricity; second, I show that the motion begins at a certain

point--an angle of forty-five degrees from the concealed water or

metal--and the rod turns down directly over it; thus physical science

and mathematics disprove your theory." I will say that my remarks

moved the professor, who then showed a very decided interest and asked

me to come and spend the following morning with him. Unfortunately, my

departure from the city deprived me of the proposed interview. I have

had many other experiences, but the relation of them would demand more

time than it is expedient to give to them at present. I would add that

I have observed in my experiments that the smallest underground stream

affects the rod in my hand in the same degree as the cataract of

Niagara itself, and that the presence of a stove, a bar of iron, or

any other metal--a water or gas pipe, causes it to turn with the same

movement as a large mineral deposit; but it is my belief that there is

a hidden mode of distinguishing between them all, outside of all

questions of personal influence. We know that in what we call the dark

age of the world, all unexplained phenomena were referred to personal

witchcraft. We, as yet, know little of the many phenomena of

electricity, and in the midst of our own intelligent population we

find, that, to very many, the working of the electric telegraph itself

is ascribed to superhuman agency. Only a few days ago an intelligent

telegraph operator and his wife, at Horican, thought the spirits were

communicating with him through the wires because they heard the air

"Home, Sweet Home" in their vibrations--not knowing that he was

receiving a musical message from the newly invented telephone, played

at Chicago, many miles distant.

I have desired to show that the use of the "divining rod" is at least

as old as the Mosaic dispensation; that the knowledge or tradition of

its use has been understood, to some extent, by certain "wise" men in

all ages, and that in the present age--one of inquiry and

research--many have a knowledge of it and make use of it to their own

advantage; that there is no superstition in the matter, but that it is

governed by fixed laws; that it requires only intelligent research and

earnest investigation to understand them thoroughly, and, finally, to

arrive at results of the greatest practical benefit to mankind.

When we understand that the earth is a great electric ball, giving and

receiving electricity with the nature of the conductors which

transport or absorb the various currents, we may arrive at more

comprehensive and correct theories about natural phenomena.

I picked up, a few days since, a periodical containing an admirable

article on the Electric Telegraph, describing most vividly the motion

of the currents, and I make use of the words of the writer to

illustrate how it is possible to bring this subject to a scientific

test:

"The observer, whom we have supposed capable of seeing electricity,

would find that the whole surface of the earth, the atmosphere and

probably the fathomless space beyond, were teeming with manifestations

of the electric force. Every chemical process and every blow in nature

or in art evolves it. The great process of vegetation and the

reciprocal process of animal life all over the globe are accompanied

by it. As incessantly as the sun's rays pass around the earth, warming

every part in alternation with the cooling influences of night, great

currents or fluctuations of magnetic tension, which never cease their

play, circulate about the globe, and other apparently irregular

currents come and go according to laws not yet understood; while the

aurora borealis, flaming in the sky, indicates the measureless extent

of this wonderful power, the existence of which the world has but

begun to discover. Our observer would see that these great earth

currents infinitely transcend the little artificial currents which men

produce in their insulated wires, and that they constantly interfere

with the latter, attracting or driving them from their work, and

making them play truant, greatly to the vexation of the operators and

sometimes to the entire confusion of business. If a thunder-storm

passed across the country, he would see all the wires sparkling with

unusual excitement. When the rain fell and water, which is a

conductor, trickled along the wires and stood in drops upon the

insulators, he would see the electricity of the line deserting its

path and stealing off slyly, in greater or less quantities, over the

wet surface of the insulators or by the wet straws or kite strings

which sometimes hang across the line. Now and then he might see the

free electricity of the storm overleap the barriers and take

possession for the moment of some unguarded circuit, frightening

operators from their posts. Such an observer would realize what it is

difficult adequately to conceive, that electricity is, as has been

said, the hidden force in nature, and still remains, as far as man is

concerned, almost dormant. A high scientific authority has remarked,

in speaking of metals, that the abundance of any object in nature,

bears a proportion to its adaptation to the service of man. If this be

true in general, we may expect electricity will become, one day, a

familiar thing."

I conclude with a word from the wise and godly man I have before

cited: "Oh that mine enemy would write a book," cried Job. Of course,

he meant a book setting forth some new-fangled idea which he knew

would bring upon its author the whole army of cavilers. This my little

book or essay may bring upon me the same legions, grown mightier with

the centuries which have elapsed since Job's day. To them, I can only

reply, "Truth is mighty and will prevail."

* * * * *

_From Dr. Ashburner in Reichenbach's Dynamics of Magnetism._

However vulgar and absurd, because, perhaps, not severely exact to

habitually erroneous thinkers themselves, may appear much of the

knowledge floating among boors and peasants, a very remarkable proof

of the importance of some of it is seen in a singular, though rude

anticipation of a part of the most brilliant of Professor Faraday's

discoveries on magnetism and diamagnetism by means of an instrument,

the name of which has been sufficient to excite the contempt of some

so-styled _savans_ of repute. If knowledge be not in the range of the

thoughts of certain severe cogitators, it is then forsooth, no

knowledge at all. The unmerciful contempt which has been cast on the

_divining rod--virgula divina_ or _baguette divinatoire_--by certain

cultivators of science may be estimated by a reference to the earlier

editions of a translation by Dr. Hutton, of Montucla's improvement of

Ozanam's Mathematical Recreations, a book full of most interesting

matter.--In the last edition of that work, however, Dr. Hutton proved

himself to be, what he always was, a sincere lover of truth. Led into

error at an earlier period, he was open to inquiry, and became,

subsequently, convinced of facts, the existence of which he had at one

time doubted. My friend, Mr. Charles Hutton Gregory, lent me a copy of

the Speculum Anni for the year, 1828, in which he pointed out some

passages relating to this matter which I cannot avoid extracting here,

and premising a few observations on the instrument called the divining

rod, _virgula divina_, _baculus divinatorius_, _baguette divinatoire_.

This has been supposed to be a branch of a tree or shrub, necessarily

of a forked or letter V shape, by the assistance of which, certain

gifted persons were enabled to discover mines, springs of water

underground, hidden treasures, and to practice other occult doings.

This, with regard to shape, is just as vulgar an error as that which

supposes that a stick of any kind of wood, held in the hand, serves as

well as the hazel or white thorn, for the production of the phenomena.

In the counties of Somerset, Devon and Cornwall, the facts on this

subject are well known, and the practice of "dowsing," as it is

called, has been cultivated time out of mind. In France, the men of

scientific pursuit have for the most part ridiculed the use of the

baguette, notwithstanding abundant evidence in various parts of the

country being extant of the success which has attended the practice of

the _sourciers_. The Baron Von Reichenbach has established facts

regarding the emanation of lights from graves which are quite as

remarkable as the proofs of emanations taking place from metals or

from running water. Now that the Baron's researches and the concurrent

testimony of the cultivators of mesmeric science have established that

certain individuals are more susceptible of magnetic impressions than

others, it will not be pronounced impossible that subterraneous

running water may influence some persons and not others. In different

classes the sensitive powers are known to vary greatly as they do

indeed among those of the same species. "But," it has been asked,

"granting that emanations from subterraneous waters may powerfully

effect certain persons, what connection is there between this

impression and the motion or rotation of the hazel rod which is held

in the person's hand or laid over his fingers?" What! is it fact that

the hazel rod or white thorn moves or rotates in the hands of a person

of a certain impressionability, when that person passes over any

ground underneath his footsteps on which there happens to be a

metallic lode or a subterraneous stream of water which we call a

spring? I have been informed by highly respectable persons, who have

in the West of England, witnessed the facts, that under these

circumstances a hazel or a white thorn rod does rotate and does move

and occasionally dips with so energetic a force that on one occasion

the bark of a fresh hazel rod was stripped from the stick and left in

the grasp of the operator's hand.

The following extracts will further illustrate the subject: "Although

the effects or motion of the divining rod, when in the proximity of

springs, has been and is to this day considered by most philosophers a

mere illusion, yet I think the following brief observations relating

to the subject, and which was communicated to Dr. Hutton by a lady of

rank, with the account of her subsequent experiments performed before

him, his family and a number of friends, (as given in the Doctor's

translation of Montucla's edition of Ozanam's Recreations), must

convince the most incredulous that in the hands of some persons in

certain situations the baguette is forcibly acted on by some unknown,

invisible cause. Notwithstanding the incredulity expressed by Montucla

relative to the indication of springs by the baguette or divining rod,

there appears to exist such evidences of the reality of that motion as

it seems next to be impossible to be questioned. This evidence was

brought about in the following manner. Soon after the publication of

the former edition of the Recreations, the editor received by the post

the following well written pseudonymous letter on the subject of this

problem. The letter in question is dated Feb. 10, 1805, and, as with

the whole correspondence it would be too long for our limits, I shall

select such parts only as are immediately essential to a right

understanding of the subject.

"The lady observes, 'In the year 1772, (I was then nineteen), I passed

six months at Aix, in Provence. I there heard the popular story of one

of the fountains in that city having been discovered by a boy who

always expressed an aversion for passing one particular spot, crying

out each time _there was water_. This was held by myself and by the

family I was with, in utter contempt. In the course of the spring the

family went to pass a week at the Chateau d'Ansonis, situated a few

miles to the north of the Durance, a tract of country very mountainous

and where water was ill supplied. We found the Marquis d'Ansonis

busied in erecting what may be termed a miniature aqueduct to convey a

spring the distance of half a league, or nearly as much, to his

chateau, which spring he asserted had been found out by a peasant, who

made the discovery of water his occupation in that country, and

maintained himself by it, and was known by the appellation of _L'Homme

a la Baguette_. This account was received with unbelief almost

amounting to derision. The Marquis, piqued with being discredited,

sent for the man and requested we would witness the experiment. A

large party of French and English accordingly attended. The man was

quite a peasant in manners and appearance: he produced some twigs cut

from a hazel, of different sizes and strength, only they were forked

branches, and hazel was preferred as forking more equally than most

other trees, but it was not requisite that the angle should be of any

particular number of degrees. He held the ends of the twigs between

each forefinger and thumb, with the vertex pointing downwards.

Standing where there was no water, the baguette remained motionless.

Walking gradually to the spot where the spring was _under ground_, the

twig was sensibly affected; and, as he approached the spot, began to

turn round; that is, the vertex raised itself and turned towards his

body, and continued to turn till the point was vertical; it then

descended outwards, and continued to turn, describing a circle as long

as he remained standing over the spring, or till one or both the

branches were broken by the twisting, the ends being firmly grasped by

the fingers and thumbs, and the hands kept stationary, so that the

rotary motion must, of course, twist them. After seeing him do this

repeatedly, the whole party tried the baguette in succession, but

without effect. I chanced to be the last. No sooner did I hold the

twig as directed than it began to move as with him, which startled me

so much, that I dropt it and felt considerably agitated. I was,

however, induced to resume the experiment, and the effect was perfect.

I was then told it was no very unusual thing, many having that

faculty--which, from what has since come to my knowledge, I have

reason to believe is true. On my return to England I forbore to let

this faculty (or whatever you may term it) be known, fearing to become

the topic of conversation or discussion. But two years afterwards,

being on a visit to a nobleman's house, Kimbolton, Huntingdonshire,

and his lady lamenting that she was disappointed of building a dairy

house on a spot she particularly wished, because there was no water to

be found--a supply she looked on as essential--under _promise of

secresy_ I told her I would endeavor to find a spring. I accordingly

procured some hazel twigs, and in the presence of herself and

husband, walked over the ground proposed, till the twig turned with

_considerable force_. A stake was immediately driven into the ground

to mark the spot, which was not very distant from where they had

before sunk. They then took me to another and distant building in the

park, and desired me to try there. I found the baguette turn _very

strong_, so that it soon twisted and broke. The gentleman persisted

that there was no water there, unless at a great depth, the foundation

being very deep (a considerable stone cellar) and that no water

appeared when they dug for it. I could only reply that I knew no

more than from the baguette turning, and that I had too little

experience of its powers or certainty, to answer for the truth of its

indications. He then acknowledged that when that building was erected

they were obliged to drive piles for the whole foundation, as they met

with nothing but a quicksand. This induced him to dig in the spot I

first directed. They met with a very fluent spring; the dairy was

built and it is at this time supplied by it. I could give a long

detail of other trials I have made, all of which have been convincing

of the truth, but they would be tedious. For some years past, I have

been indifferent about its becoming known, and have consequently been

frequently requested to show the experiment, which has often been done

to persons of high estimation for understanding and knowledge, and I

believe they have all been convinced. Three people I have met with who

have, on trying, found themselves possessed of the same faculty. I

shall add only one more particular incident. Having once shown it to a

party, we returned into the house to a room on the ground floor. I was

again asked _how I held the twig_. Taking one in my hand, I found it

turned immediately; on which an old lady, mother to the gentleman of

the house, said that room was formed out of an old cloister, in which

cloister was a _well_, simply boarded over when they made the room.

"'L'Homme a la Baguette, from experience, could with tolerable

accuracy, tell the depth at which the springs were, and their volume,

from the force with which the baguette turned; I can only give a rough

guess. In strong frost, I think its powers not so great. On a bridge

or in a boat, I think it has no effect--the water must be under ground

to affect the baguette, and running through wooden pipes acts the same

as a spring. I can neither make the baguette turn where there is _no

water_, nor prevent it from turning where there is any, and I am

perfectly ignorant of _the cause why it turns_. The only sensation I

am conscious of, is, an emotion similar to that felt on being startled

by sudden noise, or surprise of any kind.

"'I generally use a baguette about six inches from the vertex to the

ends of the twigs where they are cut off.

"'I shall most probably be in London next winter, and will (if you

wish it) afford you an opportunity of making your own observations on

this curious fact.'

"The lady arrived in London, wrote to Dr. Hutton to inform him that

she proposed being in Woolwich on Friday, the 30th inst., (May, 1806,)

at eleven in the forenoon. 'Accordingly,' says Dr. H., 'at the time

appointed, the lady, with all her family, arrived at my house at

Woolwich Common, where, after preparing the rods, etc., they walked

out to the grounds, accompanied by the individuals of my own family

and some friends; when Lady ---- showed the experiment several times

in different places, holding the rods, etc., in the manner as

described in her Ladyship's first letter above given. In the places

where I had good reason to know that no water was to be found, the rod

was always quiescent; but in other places, where I knew there was

water below the surface, the rods turned slowly and regularly, in the

manner above described, till the twigs twisted themselves off below

the fingers, which were considerably indented by so forcibly holding

the rods between them.

"'All the company present stood close around the lady, with all eyes

intently fixed on her hands and the rods, to watch if any particular

motion might be made by the fingers, but in vain; nothing of the kind

was perceived, and all the company could observe no cause or reason

why the rods should move in the manner they were seen to do. After the

experiments were ended, every one of the company tried the rods in the

same manner as they saw the lady had done, but without the least

motion from any of them. And, in my family, among ourselves, we have

since then several times tried if we could possibly cause the rod to

turn by means of any trick, or twisting of the fingers held in the

manner the lady did; but in vain; we had no power to accomplish it.'

"The annexed figure represents the form and position of the rod, about

six inches in length, cut off just below the joint or junction of the

two twigs.

"There can be no impropriety in stating now that the lady in question

was the Honorable Lady Milbanke, wife of Sir Ralph Milbanke, Bart.,

(afterward Noel,) and mother of the present Dowager Lady Byron, wife

and widow of the great poet. A very interesting analogous statement

relating to the same person will be found in the _Quarterly Review_

for March, 1820, No. XLIV, volume 22.

"Lately, in France, the Count de Tristan has published a work on the

subject, and a most interesting volume, containing two memoirs, has

been written by M. Thouvenel, a physician of reputation in France, who

was commissioned in the year 1781, by the king, to analyze and report

upon the mineral and medicinal waters of the kingdom. The author

undertakes a patient and laborious investigation, in the spirit of a

philosopher, and regards his inquiries as leading to a new thread in

the tangled skein of physics, which, like any fact of science, may

lead to the discovery of a thousand others; a fact which may have

escaped the vigilant sagacity of observers, or which may have been

totally abandoned to the blind credulity of worthy soft-headed

persons, or, in short, since the reign of a kind of false philosophy,

the offspring of scientific pride, may have been delivered over to the

presumption of men of false wisdom. Thouvenel found a man named

Bleton, whose business was that of a _sourcier_, or discoverer of

springs by means of the divining rod, and upon this man he made more

than six hundred observations, many of them in the presence of above

one hundred and fifty persons, mostly of important stations, and very

creditable from their high character, who testify to the truth of the

observed phenomena. Among others, was M. Jadelet, professor of physic

at Nancy, a man eminent for his abilities, who was not only a witness

of these experiments, but was actually concerned in the greatest part

of them. As in the case of Lady Milbanke, with Bleton an _internal

feeling_ was coincident with the movement of the rod. Whenever this

man was in a place where there existed subterraneous waters, he was

immediately sensible of a lively impression, referable to the

diaphragm, which he called his "_commotion_." This was followed by a

sense of oppression in the upper part of the chest; at the same time

he felt a shock, with general tremor and chilliness, staggering of the

legs, stiffness of the wrists, with twitchings, a concentrated pulse,

which gradually diminished. All these symptoms were more or less

strong, according to the volume and depth of the water, and they were

more sensibly felt when Bleton _went in a direction against_ the

subterranean current than when he _followed its course_. Stagnant

water under ground did not affect him; nor did open sheets of water,

ponds, lakes or rivers affect him. The nervous system of this man

must have been susceptible, since he was more sensibly affected by

change of weather and variations in the atmosphere than other persons;

otherwise he appeared healthy. A severe acute disorder had absolutely

at one time deprived him of the faculty of perceiving water, and his

sensibility in this respect did not return until three months after

his recovery; so that if he were sensitive, he could not be classed

among the _sick sensitive_.

"But however remarkable these constitutional peculiarities may have

been, there was in Bleton's case a more than usual distinctness in the

behavior of the divining rod. Unlike many _sourciers_, he did not

grasp it closely; he did not warm it in his hands; he did not prefer a

young, hard branch, forked, newly plucked and full of sap. His custom

was to place horizontally on his forefinger and thumb a rod of any

kind of wood (except elder), fresh or dry, not forked, only a little

curved or bent. A very straight rod failed to turn on its axis, but a

bent rod turned on its axis with more or less rapidity, according to

the quantity of the water and the force of the current. Thouvenel

counted from thirty-five to eighty revolutions in a minute, and always

noted an exact proportion between the rotation of the rod and the

convulsive motions of Bleton. If these memoirs be critically examined,

it will be found that the author experimented with full care to avoid

every source of fallacy. The natural motions of the rod on Bleton's

fingers were backward, but as soon as he withdrew from the spring over

which he stood, in any direction whatever, the rod, which instantly

ceased to turn, was subject to a new law, for at a determinate

distance from the spring an action of rotation in a direction contrary

to the former one took place. This was invariable, and upon measuring

the distance of the spot where this retrograde phenomenon took place,

from the spring, the depth could generally be found.

"I pass over an account of numerous experiments made by this

intelligent and careful observer, pointing out the analogies of the

known phenomena of electricity and magnetism, by modifications

resulting to the sensibility of Bleton, and the rotation of the rod by

various ingenious electrical and magnetic trials suggested by the

inventive sagacity of Thouvenel, in order to arrive at the curious

anticipations of some of Professor Faraday's discoveries, by means of

the sensibility of Bleton and the invariable laws which regulated the

rotation of the divining rod, when the experiments were made over

places where various substances had been concealed under ground. It

was found that whether the trials were made in this manner, or over

masses of coal, subterraneous currents of water or metallic veins, the

divining rod indicated a determined sphere of electric activity, and

was, in fact, an _electrometrical rod_. 'Of all the phenomena

relating to the distinction of fossil bodies,' says Thouvenel, 'acting

by their electrical emanations, doubtless the most surprising is this:

upon the mines of iron, of whatever kind they may be, the rods

supported by the fingers of Bleton turned constantly on their axes

from behind forward, as upon the mines of coal; while upon other

metallic mines, as upon other metals extracted from their mines, the

rotary movement took place in the contrary direction, that is to say,

from before backward. This circular movement, which never varies while

Bleton is in a perpendicular position over mines or upon metals,

presents revolutions as rapid and as regular as the revolutions in the

contrary direction upon the mines of iron and coal.'

"The constitutional effects of spasms and convulsive twitchings took

place more or less in all the veins, but copper emanations excited

very strong and disagreeable spasmodic symptoms, accompanied by pains

about the heart, by flatulent movements in the bowels, and by abundant

eructations of air. On lead, there seemed to be less unpleasant

consequences, but stronger again on the mines of antimony. Having

previously determined that for Bleton, on all the metals except iron,

there existed a sphere of electric activity which propagated itself

toward the west, a great number of experiments were made, which always

had the same results. At the depth of two, three or four feet under

ground were buried gold, silver, copper, tin, lead and iron. The

weight of each was only from five to eight pounds. In other similar

pits, pyrites of all kinds, sulphur, coal, resin, wax and lard were

buried. All these different deposits were made at distances from each

other in gardens or in open country, and they were so well covered

over and concealed, that nothing could be perceived but private marks,

to be known only by certain assistants. Over the resin, wax and lard,

Bleton experienced nothing. Over the coal, there was a decided effect,

the convulsive tremor of muscle was manifest, and the rod rotated from

behind forward. Over the iron, the same indications, but more

energetic. A feeble impression from the sulphur, but sufficient to

establish a difference between it and the two preceding; and the rod

over the sulphur turned from before backward. Pyrites produced the

same rotation as sulphur, and a slight tendency of the electric sphere

toward the west. Gold and copper especially exhibited strongly this

singular tendency of the active electric emanations. Over silver, tin

and lead, also, it was more remarkable. It extends itself more or less

from the focus of the metals according to their depth and their mass.

For example, in describing a circle having a radius of three or four

feet from this focus, Bleton felt absolutely no action except on the

line of the west. It was the same when, in proceeding from the

vertical point of the focus, he successively traversed all the radii

of the circle, or even if he went from all the points of the

circumference to proceed to the center. In these two inverse

proceedings it was always only on the radii going westward, that his

person and the rods were affected by movements more or less intense,

according to the kinds of metal.

"It must, however, be admitted that the action of these metals

presenting only the differences of greater or less in degree, either

in the nervous and muscular impressions of the body or in the circular

revolutions of the rods constantly moved from before backward, these

differences do not yield a certain means of distinguishing the five

metals one from the other. The object Thouvenel had in view was

nevertheless fulfilled, for he had established the extent and the

determination of a sphere of electric activity towards the west in

certain metals and on sulphur which does not exist in the same manner,

on iron, on coal, or on streams of water.

"To give a summary then of the relations of these phenomena to those

established by Professor Faraday, it may be said that over iron mines,

the divining rod assumes a movement of rotation diametrically opposite

to that which it exhibits over all other mines. When iron and other

metals are extracted from their ores and deposited under ground, the

phenomenon occurs with the same distinction, that is to say, with the

iron it rotates towards the north. With all other metals submitted to

trial, its action is from east to west. The influence of the red

metals seems to be more energetic than that of the white. But with

regard to this divining rod, let one condition be remarked--the

relation of the organic substance to another organic and living power

of matter, to a human being in a certain susceptible state of nervous

system. Thouvenel describes the symptoms which affected Bleton when he

was in the sphere of metallic action, and the rod becomes the

secondary part of a philosophical instrument composed of an

impressionable human being and a piece of stick.

"A highly respectable girl, the lady's maid of a very clever and

intelligent friend of mine residing in Hertfordshire, offers, when she

is mesmerized, a great many deeply interesting phenomena. She is as

guileless and as good a being as can be met with, and is much beloved

by her excellent and amiable mistress who has repeatedly addressed me

in her case. If a piece of hazel stick or white thorn be presented to

Harriet, she grasps it and sleeps mesmerically in less than a minute.

The sleep is at first very intense and deep, and then the stick is

held so firmly that the spasmodic state of the muscles renders it very

difficult for even a powerful bystander to turn it in her hand.

Harriet P's impressionability was put to a very useful purpose. Her

mistress heard that she had a practice of 'dowsing' for water, and

writes thus to a friend, July, 1845: 'We made a carious experiment

here, some days since, with Harriet P----. We have very bad water here

and have long been unable to find a good spring. Mr. G. has in vain

dug and dug for one. I proposed the divining rod; "for" said I, "Dr.

Ashburner would not think it a foolish experiment." Harriet P. was

willing, so we went forth to a field the most likely one for a

spring--Mr. and Mrs. G., myself, and two friends staying here. We put

Harriet to sleep with the hazel stick. She grasped it so tightly we

were obliged to use the gold chain. She then held it only in one hand,

and immediately began to walk, taking her own way. She went very

carefully for about twenty yards, then suddenly stopped as if she had

been shot. Not a word was uttered by any one. We all looked on, and

were not a little surprised to see the rod slowly turn round until her

hand was almost twisted backwards. It looked as if it must pain her;

still no one spoke. Suddenly she exclaimed, "There! there! don't you

see the stick turn? The water is here, under my hand. I see, oh, I

see; let me look; don't speak to me; I like to look." "How deep is the

water?" said Mrs. G., speaking to Harriet's fingers. "Oh, about three

feet; I can't quite tell, but it is here." In a moment, to our

astonishment, she sank down on the grass, and took the stick again in

her hands. We made a strange group around her, as we were all much

astonished to see what we had come there to see. She seemed so like a

witch. We marked the place, and, after a few minutes, we awoke her. In

the evening she was again mesmerized to sleep, and we asked her what

she saw at the spring. "Why, I saw water, water everywhere." "Then,"

said I, "how do you know where the spring is?" "Oh, because it goes

trinkle, trinkle, I know it is there." "Why did you sit down?" "Why,

because I was so giddy; it seemed as if all was water but the little

piece of ground I stood upon. I saw so much water, all fresh, no sea.

I tried to see the sea but could not; I could not at all." Mr. G.

caused a large hole to be dug, and just at the depth of three feet the

water was found. A brick well has been constructed, and there is a

good supply of excellent water. No one could doubt the action of the

rod, it turned so evidently _of itself_ in her hand. Of course,

when awake, Harriet knew nothing of the circumstance.'"

So many and so various are the testimonies and the facts relating to

the divining rod, that it would be tedious to recite the hundreds of

respectable documents offered by those authors who have written on the

subject. A work by Tardy de Montravel, printed in 1781, entitled

"Memoire Physique et Medicinale sur la Baguette Divinatoire," abounds

in testimonies of the truth of the same class of facts. One of the

most curious works on this subject, is a little book entitled "Occult

Physics, or treatise on the Divining Wand and on its utility in the

discovery of springs of water, mines, concealed treasures, thieves,

and escaped murderers, with principles which explain the most obscure

phenomena of Nature," by L. L. de Vallemont, Ph.D. This work,

embellished with plates, illustrating the different kinds of divining

rods with the various modes of holding them for use, appeared at the

latter part of the seventeenth century, and passed through several

editions in France and Holland. It is remarkable for much curious

literary and historical learning, and for able statements of the

arguments which were used in the controversies rife at that period, on

the realities of the facts under consideration. It contains a curious

catalogue of a great number of mines discovered in France, by means of

the divining rod, made out by a German mineralogist employed for the

purpose by the Cardinal de Richelieu.

* * * * *

[_From Cyclopedia Americana._]

DIVINING ROD.--A rod made with certain superstitions ceremonies,

either single and curved, or with two branches like a fork, of wood,

brass or other metal.

The rod is held in a particular way, and if it bends towards one side,

those who use the rod believe it to be an indication that there is

treasure under the spot.

Some publications respecting a man who, in quite recent times

pretended to be able to discover water and metals under the ground by

his feelings, attracted much attention.

Campetti, an Italian, born at Gargnano, on Lake Garda, has attracted

much attention in our time by pretending to be capable of ascertaining

by his feelings the places where metals and water exist under ground.

Many experiments seem to confirm his statements. The King of Bavaria

sent for him in 1806, and he came to Munich, where the experiments

were renewed.

These experiments were chiefly made with pendulums of sulphurous

pyrites, which are said to vibrate if brought near to metals.

_Rhabdomancy_ is the power considered by some as existing in

particular individuals, partly natural and partly acquired, of

discovering things hid in the earth, especially metals, ores, and

bodies of water, by a change in their perceptions, and likewise the

art of aiding the discovery of these substances by the use of certain

instruments; for example, the divining rod.

That rhabdomancy, generally speaking, is little more than

self-delusion, or intentional deception, is now the opinion of most

natural philosophers and physiologists. Still it has some champions.

From the most remote periods, indications are found of the art of

discovering veins of ore and water concealed in the bowels of the

earth, by a direct perception of their existence.

The divining rod is held in the hand so that the curvature is inclined

outward. If the person who holds the rod possesses the powers of

rhabdomancy, and touches the metallic or any other magnetic substance,

or comes near them, a slow, rotatory motion of the rod ensues in

different directions, according to particular circumstances; and, as

in the other cases, no motion takes place without a direct or indirect

contact with a living person. In the South of France and Switzerland

this art is frequently made use of under the name of METALLOSCOPE

(when discovering or feeling for metals,) and of HYDROSCOPE (when

discovering or feeling for water).

* * * * *

[_From Chamber's Cyclopedia._]

THE DIVINING ROD--often called the Virgula Divina, the Baculus

Divinatorius, the Caduceus, or Wand of Mercury, the Rod of Aaron,

etc.--is a forked branch, usually of hazel, sometimes of iron, or even

brass or copper, by which it has been pretended that minerals and

water have been discovered beneath the surface of the earth.

The rod when suspended by the two prongs, sometimes between the balls

of the thumbs, will distinctly indicate by a decided inclination, it

is alleged, the spot over which the concealed mine or spring is

situated.

Many men, even of some pretensions to scientific knowledge, have been

believers in the occult power ascribed to the magic wand.

Agricola, Sperlingius, and Kirchmayer, all believed in its

supernatural influence. So did Richelet, the author of the Dictionary.

The learned Morhoff remained in suspense, while Thouvenot and Pryce,

in the latter part of the eighteenth century, gave ample records of

its power.

In a work published by Dr. Herbert Mayo, in 1847 and 1851, entitled,

"On the Truth Contained in Popular Superstitions," he gave some

curious illustrations of the art, supposed to be possessed by one in

forty of the Cornish miners. At Weilbach, in Nassau, he likewise met

with one Leebold, who, he says, possessed the power, but afterwards

lost it.

Arthur Phippen, in 1853, published a pamphlet containing an account of

two professional diviners, or "dowsers." One of them, named Adams,

gave remarkable indications of being able to detect water underground.

He not only was able to discover the particular spot where the water

might be found, he could even perceive a whole line of water running

underground.

* * * * *

[_From Hartwig's Subterranean World._]

As far back as the eleventh century, the divining rod came into

practice and found full credence in a superstitious age. A forked

branch of hazel tree, cut during a peculiar phase of the moon, was the

means employed in Germany for the discovery of buried treasures, of

veins of metals, of deposits of salt, or of subterranean sources.

But the miraculous rod did not indiscriminately show its power in

every hand. It was necessary to have been born in certain months,

and soft and warm, or--according to modern expression, _magnetic_

fingers were indispensable for handling it with effect.

The diviner possessing these qualifications took hold of the rod by

its branches so that the stem into which they united was directed

upwards.

On approaching the spot where the sought for treasure lay concealed,

the magical rod slowly turned towards it, until finally the stem had

fully changed its position, pointed vertically downwards.

To increase the solemnity of the scene, the wily conjurers generally

traced magical circles, that were not to be passed, burnt strong

smelling herbs and spices, and uttered powerful charms, to disarm the

enmity of the evil spirits that were supposed to guard the hidden

treasures.

* * * * *

[_From American Cyclopedia._]

DIVINING ROD.--The increase of knowledge has not yet expelled even

from the educated portions of the United States all faith in the magic

virtues of this instrument.

There is a mystery in the hidden flow of subterranean courses of

water, and in the occurrence of deposits of valuable ores, which

encourage a resort to mysterious methods for discovering them.

If the wise can point to no sure clue to them, the ignorant pretender

does not fail to find one, which to many is all the more acceptable

for its extravagant pretensions and inexplicable nature. It is stated

by a writer in the "American Journal of Science," (Vol. 11, 1826,)

that the divining rod has been in frequent use since the eleventh

century.

A work was published in France, in 1871, detailing six hundred

experiments made to ascertain the facts attributed to it, "by which is

unfolded," according to this work, "their resemblance to the admirable

and uniform laws of electricity and magnetism."

These sciences still continue to be appealed to in order to support in

some vague way phenomena which defy other means of explication.

As commonly used, the divining rod is a forked, slender stick of witch

hazel; elastic twigs, however, of any sort, or even two sticks of

whale-bone fastened together at one end, do not appear to be rejected

in the want of the hazel tree.

One branch of the twig is taken in each hand between the thumb and

forefinger, the two ends pointing down. Holding the stick in this

position, the palms towards the face, the gifted operator passes over

the surface of the ground; and whenever the upper point of the stick

bends over and points downward, there he affirms the spring or

metallic vein will be found.

Some even pretend to designate the distance below the surface

according to the force of the movement, or according to the diameter

of the circle over which the action is perceived, one rule being that

the depth is half the diameter of this circle; whence, the deeper the

object is, below the surface, the further is its influence exerted. It

is observable that a rod so held will of necessity turn as the hands

are closed more tightly upon it, though this has at first the

appearance of serving to resist its motion. From the character of many

who use the rod and believe in it, it is also plain that this force is

exerted without any intention or consciousness on their part, and that

they are themselves honestly deceived by the movement.

On putting the experiment to the test by digging, if water is found it

proves the genuineness of the operation; if it is not found, something

else is, to which the effect is attributed, or the water which

attracted the rod is sure to be met with if the digging is only

continued deep enough. Some ingenuity is therefore necessary to expose

the deception.

The writer above referred to succeeded in showing the absurdity of the

operation by taking the "diviners" over the same ground twice, the

second time blindfolded, and each time marking the points designated

by the rod. This, however, is a test to which they are not often

willing to subject their art.

Some operators do not require a forked twig. There was, in 1857, and

may be still, within less than one hundred miles from New York, a man

who believed himself gifted in the use of the divining rod, and was

occasionally sent for to go great distances, to determine the position

of objects of value sunk in the lakes, of ores and of wells of water.

He carried several little cylinders of tin, but what they contained

was a secret. One had an attraction for iron, another for copper, a

third for water, etc. He had in his hand a little rattan cane, which

he used as not likely to excite the observation of those he met.

Taking one of the cylinders out of his pocket he slipped the rattan

into a socket in its end, and holding in his hands the other end of

the stick, he set the contrivance bobbing up and down and around. That

it was attracted and drawn towards any body of ore in the vicinity he

was evidently convinced.

* * * * *

[_From Notes and Queries._]

DIVINING ROD.--Divination by the rod or wand is mentioned in the

prophecy of Ezekiel. Hosea, too, reproaches the Jews as being infected

with the like superstition: "My people ask counsel at their stocks

and their _staff_ declareth unto them." Chap. iv, 12. Not only the

Chaldeans used rods for divination, but almost every nation which has

pretended to that science, has practiced the same method. Herodotus

mentions it as a custom of the Alani, and Tacitus of the old Germans.

See Cambridge's "Scribleriad," book V, note on line 21.

In the manuscript "Discourse on Witchcraft," 1705, written by Mr. John

Bell, page 41, I find the following account from Theophylact on the

subject of _rabdomanteia_ or rod-divination: "They set up two

staffs, and, having whispered some verses and incantations, the staffs

fell by the operation of dæmons. Then they considered which way each

of them fell--forward or backward, to the right or left hand--and

agreeably gave responses, having made use of the fall of their staffs

for their signs."

Dr. Henry, in his "History of Great Britain," tells us (II, 550), that

after the Anglo-Saxons and Danes embraced the Christian religion, the

clergy were commanded by the canons to preach very frequently against

_diviners_, sorcerers, auguries, omens, charms, incantations, and

all the filth of the wicked and dotages of the Gentiles."

The following is from "Epigrams, etc.," published London,

1651--_Virgula Divina_:

"Some sorcerers do boast they have a rod,

Gathered with vowes and sacrifice,

And (borne about) will strangely nod

To hidden treasure where it lies;

Mankind is (sure) that rod divine,

For to the wealthiest (ever) they incline."

The earliest use made of the divining rod by the miners was for the

discovery of the _lode_. So late as three years ago (1850), the

process has been tried. The method of procedure was to cut the twig of

an hazel or apple-tree of twelve months' growth, into a forked shape,

and to hold this by both hands in a peculiar way, walking across the

land until the twig bent, which was taken as an indication of the

locality of the lode. The person who generally practises this

divination boasts himself to be the seventh son of a seventh son. The

twig of hazel bends in his hands to the conviction of the miners that

ore is present; but then the peculiar manner in which the twig is

held, bringing muscular action to bear upon it, accounts for its

gradual deflection, and the circumstance of the strata walked over

always containing ore gives a further credit to the process of

divination.

The vulgar notion still prevalent in the north of England of the

hazel's tendency to a vein of lead ore, seam or stratum of coal, etc.,

seems to be a vestige of this rod divination.

The _virgula divina_ or _baculus divinatorius_ is a forked branch in

the form of a Y, cut off an hazel stick, by means whereof people have

pretended to discover mines, springs, etc., underground. The method of

using it is this: the person who bears it, walking very slowly over

the places where he suspects mines or springs may be, the effluvia

exhaling from the metals, or vapor from the water impregnating the

wood, makes it dip or decline, which is the sign of a discovery.

In the _Living Library_ or _Historical Meditations_ we read: "No man

can tell why forked sticks of hazill (rather than sticks of other

trees growing upon the very same places) are fit to shew the places

where the veins of gold and silver are." See Lilly's History of his

Life and Times, for a curious experiment (which he confesses, however,

to have failed), to discover hidden treasure by the hazel rod.

In the _Gentleman's Magazine_, for February, 1752, xxii, 77, we

read: "M. Linnæus, when he was upon his voyage to Scania, hearing his

secretary highly extol the virtues of his divining rod, was willing to

convince himself of its insufficiency, and for that purpose concealed

a purse of one hundred ducats under a ranunculus which grew by itself

in a meadow and bid the secretary find it if he could. The wand

discovered nothing, and M. Linnæus's mark was soon trampled down by

the company who were present; so that when M. Linnæus went to finish

the experiment by fetching the gold himself, he was utterly at a loss

where to seek it. The man with the wand assisted him and pronounced

that it could not lie the way they were going, but quite the contrary;

so he pursued the direction of his wand and actually dug out the gold.

M. Linnæus adds, that such another experiment would make a proselyte

of him." We read in the same book for November, 1751, xxi, 507: "So

early as Agricola, the divining rod was in much request, and has

obtained great credit for its discovery where to dig for metals and

springs of water; for some years past its reputation has been on the

decline, but lately it has been revived by an ingenious gentleman who,

from numerous experiments, hath good reason to believe its effects to

be more than imagination. He says that hazel and willow rods, he has

by experience found, will actually answer, with all persons in a good

state of health, if they are used with moderation and at some distance

of time, and after meals, when the operator is in good spirits. The

hazel, willow and elm are all attracted by springs of water. Some

persons have the virtue intermittently; the rod in their hands will

attract one half hour and repel the next. The rod is attracted by all

metals, coals, amber and limestone, but with different degrees of

strength. The best rods are those from the hazel or nut tree, as they

are pliant and tough and cut in the winter months. A shoot that

terminates equally forked is to be met with--two single ones of a

length and size may be tied together by a thread and will answer as

well as the other."

In the supplement to the Athenian Oracle, p. 234, we read that "the

experiment of a hazel's tendency 'to a vein' of lead ore is limited to

St. John Baptist's Eve, and that with an hazel of that same year's

growth."

There is a treatise in French entitled, _La Phisique Occulte ou

Traite de la Baguette Divinatoire_, et de son utilite pour la

decouverte des sources d'Eau, des Minieres, de Tresors caches, des

Voleurs et des Meurtriers fugitifs: par M. L. L. de Vallemont pretre

et docteur en theologie; 12 mo., Amsterdam, 1693. 464 pages.

* * * * *

[_From Brand's Popular Antiquities._]

At the end of Henry Alan's edition of Cicero's treatise De Divinatione,

and De Fate, 1839, will be found "Catalogus auctorum de _divinatione_

ac fato, de oraculis, de somniis, de astrologia, de dæmonibus, de

magia id genus aliis."

With the divining rod seems connected a _lusus naturae_ of ash tree

bough resembling the litui of the Roman augurs and the Christian

pastoral staff which still obtains a place, if not on this account I

know not why, in the catalogue of popular superstitions. Seven or

eight years ago, I remember to have seen one of these, which I thought

extremely beautiful and curious, in the house of an old woman at

Beeralston, in Devonshire, of whom I would most gladly have purchased

it; but she declined parting with it on any account, thinking it would

be unlucky to do so. Mr. Gostling, in the Antiquarian Repertory, ii,

164, has some observations on this subject. He thinks the lituus or

staff, with the crook at one end, which the augurs of old carried as

badges of their profession and instruments in the superstitious

exercise of it, was not made of metal but of the substance above

mentioned. Whether, says he, to call it a work of art or nature may be

doubted: some were probably of the former kind; others, Hogarth, in

his Analysis of Beauty, calls _lusus naturæ_ found in plants of

different sorts, and in one of the plates of that work gives a

specimen of a very elegant one, a branch of ash. I should rather,

continues he, style it a distemper or distortion of nature; for it

seems the effect of a wound by some insect which, piercing to the

heart of the plant with its proboscis, poisons that, while the bark

remains uninjured and proceeds in its growth, but formed into various

stripes, flatness and curves for the want of the support which nature

designed it. The beauty, some of these arrive at, might well

consecrate them to the mysterious fopperies of heathenism, and their

rarity occasions imitations of them by art. The pastoral staff of the

Church of Rome seems to have been formed from the vegetable litui,

though the general idea is that it is an imitation of the shepherd's

crook. The engravings given in the Antiquarian Repertory are of carved

branches of the ash.

* * * * *

[_From Modern Magic, by M. Shele de Vere, published 1873._]

The relations in which some men stand to nature are sometimes so close

as to enable them to make discoveries which are impossible to others.

This is, for instance, the case with persons who feel the presence of

waters or of metals. The former have, from time immemorial, generally

used a wand, the so-called divining rod, which, according to Pliny,

was already known to the ancient Etruscans as a means for the

discovery of hidden springs.

An Italian author, Amoretti, who has given special attention to this

subject, states that at least every fifth man is susceptible to the

influence of water and metals, but this is evidently an over-estimate.

In recent times many persons have been known to possess this gift of

discovering hidden springs or subterranean masses of water, and these

have but rarely employed an instrument.

Catharine Beutler, of Thurgovia, in Switzerland, and Anna Maria

Brugger, of the same place, were both so seriously affected by the

presence of water that they fell into violent nervous excitement when

they happened to cross places beneath which, large quantities were

concealed, and became perfectly exhausted.

In France, a class of men, called _sourciers_, have for ages possessed

this instinctive power of perceiving the presence of water, and

others, like the famous Abbe Paramelle, have cultivated the natural

gift till they were finally enabled, by a mere cursory examination of

a landscape, to ascertain whether large masses of water were hidden

anywhere, and to indicate the precise spots where they might be found.

Why water and metals should almost always go hand in hand in

connection with this peculiar gift, is not quite clear; but the staff

of Hermes, having probably the form of the divining rod was always

represented as giving the command over the treasures of the earth, and

the Orphic Hymn (v. 527,) calls it--hence, the golden rod, producing

wealth and happiness.

On the other hand, the Aquæ Virga, the nymph of springs, had also a

divining rod in her hand, and Numa, inspired by a water-nymph,

established the worship of waters in connection of that of the dead.

For here, also, riches and death seem to have entered into a strange

alliance.

Del Rio, in his _Disquisitiones Magicæ_, mentions thus the Rahuri

of Spain--the lynx-eyed, as he translates the name--who were able, on

Wednesdays and Saturdays, to discover all the veins of metals or of

water beneath the surface, all hidden treasures and corpses in their

coffins.

There is at least one instance recorded, where a person possessed the

power to see even more than the Rahuris. This was a Portuguese lady,

Pedegache, who first attracted attention by being able to discover

subterranean springs and their connections, a gift which brought her

great honors after she had informed the king of all the various

supplies of water which were hidden near a palace which he was about

to build. Shafts were sunk according to her directions, and not only

water was found but also various soils and stones which she had

foretold would have to be pierced.

She also seems to have cultivated her talent, for we hear of her next

being able to discover treasures, even valuable antique statues in the

interior of houses, and finally she reached such a degree of intuition

that she saw the inner parts of the human body, and pointed out their

diseases and defects.

The divining rod, originally a twig of willow or hazel, is often made

of metal, and the impression prevails that in such cases an electric

current arising from the subterranean water or metals enters the

diviner's body by the feet, passes through him, and finally affects

the two branches of the rod, which represent opposite poles. It is

certain that when the electric current is interrupted, the power of

the divining rod is suspended.

* * * * *

[_From Notes and Queries._]

Perhaps, like many of your correspondents, I had imagined that the

supposed properties of the divining rod had been a discovery recently

made, either by the great American artist, Mr. Barnum, or by one of

_Dii Minores_ of this country. To my mortification, however, I

find that it is "as old as the hills," or at least contemporaneous

with the Sortes Virgilianæ, _et id genus omne_. I have before me

the works of Mr. Abraham Cowley, in two vols. 12 mo., London, 1681,

and in one of his Pindarique Odes, addressed to Mr. Hobs, I find the

following lines:

To walk in ruines like vain ghosts, we love,

And with fond divining wands,

We search among the dead

For treasures buried.

And to these lines is added the following note:

"Virgula Divina, or divining wand, is a two-forked branch of a hazel

tree which is used for the finding out either of veins or hidden

treasures of gold or silver, and being carried about bends downwards

(or rather is said to do so,) when it comes to the place where they

lye."

"In the first edition of his _Mathematical Recreations_, Dr.

Hutton laughed at the divining rod. In the interval between that and

the second edition a lady made him change his note, by using one

before him, at Woolwich. Hutton had the courage to publish the account

of the experiment in his second edition, after the account he had

previously given. By a letter from Hutton to Bruce, printed in the

memoir of the former which the latter wrote, it appears that the lady

was Lady Milbanke."

"A Cornish lady informs me that the Cornish miners to this day use the

divining rod."

However the pretended effect of the divining rod may be attributed to

knavery and credulity by philosophers who will not take the trouble of

witnessing and investigating the operation, any one who will pay a

visit to the Mendip Hills, in Somersetshire, and the country around

their base, may have abundant proof of the efficacy of it. Its success

has been very strikingly proved along the range of the Pennard Hills,

also, to the south of the Mendip. The faculty of discovering water by

means of the divining rod is not possessed by every one, for indeed

there are but few who possess it in any considerable degree, or in

whose hands the motion of the rod, when passing over an underground

stream, is very decided, and they who have it are quite unconscious of

their capability until made aware of it by experiment.

I saw the operation of the rod, or rather of a fork formed by the

shoots of the last year, held in the hands of the experimenter by the

extremities, with the angle projecting before him. When he came over

the spot beneath which the water flowed, the rod, which had before

been perfectly still, writhed about with considerable force, so that

the holder could not keep it in its former position, and he appealed

to the bystanders to notice that he had made no motion to produce this

effect, and used every effort to prevent it. The operation was several

times repeated with the same result, and each time under the close

inspection of shrewd and doubting, if not incredulous observers. Forks

of any kind of green wood served equally well, but those of dead wood

had no effect. The experimenter had discovered water, in several

instances, in the same parish (Pennard), but was perfectly unaware of

his capability till he was requested by his landlord to try. The

operator had the reputation of a perfectly honest man, whose word

might be safely trusted, and who was incapable of attempting to

deceive any one--as indeed appeared by his open and ingenuous manner

and conversation on this occasion. He was a farmer, and respected by

all his neighbors. So general is the conviction of the efficacy of the

divining rod in discovering both water and the ores of calameni or

zinc all over the Mendip, that the people are quite astonished when

any doubt is expressed about it. The late Dr. Hutton wrote against the

pretension, as one of many instances of deception founded upon gross

ignorance and credulity, when a lady of quality, who herself possessed

the faculty, called upon him and gave him experimental proof, in the

neighborhood of Woolwich, that water was discoverable by that means.

This, Dr. Hutton afterwards publicly acknowledged.

* * * * *

After delivering my essay before the Civil Engineers' Club of the

Northwest, the following letter was forwarded to me by the secretary: