The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1883-04-21
A Wonderful Instrument.

The magnetic needle is one of the
most sensitive and delicate of instru-
ments. 1t quivers like the aspen leaf
at the approach of any object that re-
pels OF attracts it. 1t shakes with
| every tremor of the earth or sea. 1t is
seldom at rest; almost as if alive, it
wanders around its limited circle. 1t
seems to have its likes and dislikes, its
feelings, and its impulses. Sometimes
magnetic storm sweeps over it and
drives it from its course. Sometimes
it seems raised to wild excitement by
some opposing influence. But soon
again rest comes, and the delicate, fee
BILE needle points forever to the north.
Upon its firmness and Interchangeable
nature rest the most important human
affairs. 1t guides the steamers that
cross the Atlantic, and brings them
safely to their harbors. Without this
feeble instrument the Alaska would
never venture to rush over the ocean in
cloud, mist, or night, or the Servia
reach her destined aim. 1t leads the
great host of immigrants to the land of
plenty; it carries back the crops of
America to feed the people of Europe.
Without it Columbus could never have
found the New World, and centuries
might have passed before the two hem
ispheres were United. Its delicate
guidance leads the explorer through
tropical forests and over the polar sea.
No one can tell when the magnetic
needle first came in use. 1t was once
thought that it was invented at Amalfi,
a famous seaport of Italy, about the
year 1902, but it was known in Europe
long before. A French poet, Guyot
about 1850, sang of the wonderful
needle that always pointed to the north
star when the sea was dark and gloomy.
1t was known in Sweden in 1850. 1t
seems to have come first from Holland.
But the Chinese assert that they used
the mariners compass before the tenth
century, and it may have been brought
to Europe from that inventive people.
The Western races took up the inyen-
ton, and have made it the foundation
of new science. They have built upon
the magnetic needle the science of
electro-magnetism. Magnetism not
only guides great steamers over the
seas and explorers by land; its delicate
vibrations are made to carry knowledge
around the world, and enable nations
to converse with each other, however
far apart. The system of electric tele-
graphs depends upon the peculiar prop
critics of the magnet. The strange,
mysterious power that was first unfolded
in some Eastern city by the shores of
the Pacific has been turned to new uses.
1t lights our streets, conveys messages,
writes, and may one day drive the rail
car and conduct most of the operations
OF labor. The steam-engine has found
a rival.
The needle does not always point to
the pole. Even Columbus discovered
and was alarmed by its variations. 1t
varies; it changes. And careful OBJ
servers in all parts of the earth have
studied its peculiarities, and endeavored
to account for them. But in vain; no
one can explain the mystery of the
needle. Scientific men have offered
probable theories; careful observers
have noted it's changes in different lati-
tudes and places. 1t is still everywhere
the same delicate, restless, variable
thing that seems often half alive. But
with all its variations it is yet sufficiently
true to afford a safe guidance. 1t re-
turns from every vibration to point
again to the north. 1t is the symbol of
constancy in all its changes. Harper'S
TOu7eQ People.