Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1838-05-17


ment OF the divining rod, when EMPLOYED to
discover ore or metal, was associated with
many superstitious observances. The fact.
however, oil the discovery Of water having
been effected with it, when held in the hand
OF certain persons, seems indubitab!a The
following narrative, which has been lately
communicated to us by friend residing in
Norfolk, puts the subject in the clearest point
OF view. And we shall simply slate that the
parties, whose names are we'll known to MAJ
ny OF our readers, are utterly incapable eth
er OF deceiVing others or OF being deceived
themselves: "Jan: 81 1917. 1t is jus. fifty
years since Lady Ms attention was first Cal.
led TO this subject; she was then sixteen
years old, and was on visit with her family
at a chauleau in Provence, the owner of
which wanted TO find spring TO supply hie
house, and for that purpose had sent for q
peasant who could do so with twig. The
English ridculed The idea, but still agreed
to accompany the man, who, after walking
some way pronounced that he had arrived al
the object of his search and they according
iy dug, and found him correct He was
quite an uneducsied man, and could give no
account oil the faculty in him, or of the means
which he employed; but many others, he
said, could do the same.-The English par
ty now tried for themselves, but all in vain,
I'LL ii came TO the turn OF Lady N when, to
her amusement and alarm she found the same
faculty was in her as in the peasant and on
her return 10 England she often exercised il,
though IN sludiOus Concealmect. She was
afraid lest she should be ridicuIed, or perhaps
get The name OF witch, and in either case
she thought that she should never get hus>
band. Oflate years, her scrup,es began 10
wear away; and when DR.. Hutton publish
ed Ozanam's researches in 1902, where the
effect Of the divining rod is led as absurd
lvol. Nv. p. 26O,) she wrote long letter TO
BIN, signed X. Y. H., stating the facts which
she knew.-The Doctor answered it, beg
ging further information. Lady N. wrote
again and he in a second letter requested
The name oil his correspondent that, lady NJ
also gave. A few years afterwards she went
OF Dr. Hutton's particular request to see him
at Wooiwich. and she then showed him the
experiment, and discovered spring in a fine
held which he had lately bought near the
college, then building. The same field he
has since sold to the college, and for large
| price, in consequence OF the spring. Lady
F. this morning showed the experiment to
Lord u. Mr. ;. and me, in the park at w.
She took thin iorked hazel twig, about six>
ieep inches long, and held il by The end. the
joint pointing downwards. When she came
|
the twig Immediately bent, and the motion
was more or less rapid as she approached OF
withdrew from the spring. When Just oveu
IL, the twig turned so quick as 10 snap, break
ing near her fingers, when by pressing they
were indented and heated, and almost bills.
iered. a degree Of agitation was also visi
bic IN her face. When she first made .bs
experiment, she says this agitation was great
and TO this hour she cannot wholly dives
herself OF it, though it gradually decreases
ohe repeated the trial several times, in diff
'erent parts OF the park anil her statement {,
we're always accurate. Among those per
sons IN England who have the same facult,
she never Knew il so strong ss in Sir c. ri
ana MISS r. 1t is extraordinary that no ei
'eci IS produced at a well or ditch, or wber,
earth does not interpose between the iwi.
ana tne water. The exercise OF this faculty
Hindependeni of any volition." So says GU
narrator, IN whom, we repeat, the most i'm
lp'ich confidence may be placed. The facul