New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-09-19
THE MAGICAL HAZEL TWIG.
A SCIENTIFIC STUDY OF THE OWN
ING ROD.
pRorrssOD W. r. JARRETT CONFIDENT THAT
ITS INDICATIONS ARE OFTEN CORRECT. BUT
THAT THE OPERATOR. AND NOT THE
ROD. MAKES TIE DISCOVERY.

and position of a stream Of water flowing under
ground at n depth OF q hundred feet or more
by the peculiar behavior of hazel twig held In
your fingers has been looked upon In modern
times as a ridiculous superstition. And any one
who seriously maintained that there was even
a little foundation in fact for such belief ex-
posed himself TO the suspicion if not the charge.
that he was a crank" Scientific people, and
particularly the biologists, have discredted all
stories of this sort long and so decidedly
that other folk have been ashamed TO evince
faith in them.
Now, however, a professor Of physics in the
Royal College OF Scicrce for Ireland, approach
ing the subject with distinct prejudice antago-
nistic to the theory. has been led to change his
mind by an extended investigation. His name IS
w. +. Barrett, and the subtitle of the treatise
in which is embodied the result is "A scientific
and historical research as to the existence ana
practical value OF peculiar human faculty I'M
recognized by SCIENCE. locally Known as do"s-
ing"
The first great step in this work was TO collect
all available narratives in regard to the use Of
the divining rod. The next one WAS to Sft these
like testimony in court 10y corresponding with
disintcrcsted Witnesses and finding out how far
the original statements could be substantiated.
In a few instances the investigator got hold OF a
person who was said TO possess the faculty of
finding water with the aid If twig or similar
device, and himself experimental with the
"dowser."
In time Professor Barrett was confronted with
an amazing quantity of evidence. Scores. il not
hundreds Of these tales given in his treatise.
Here are three samples: \ sanatOrium was 10
be built on high ground in Somcrsctshirc, Eng
land. The site was apparently a dry one. Three
professional ".pWscrs' we sent for separately.
each unknown 10 the others. ana each working
under the conviction that he alone was en-
ployed. All three pointed 10 the same spot a
well was sunk there and abundant water was
found. William Ward Sphinx justice in British
Columbia, walked about oyer his own grounds
for hour hlirdf1!icd and carryin divin-
ing rod in his fingers. Every time the wand
dipped an attendant drove a peg into the earth.
In many cases the justice would pass over
spot where the rod had moved before. and II
would invariably give the same sign again. He
dug wells at only two Of the places indicated.
but got water in both. This man declared that
IL he stood over a garden hose with Il diyining
rod in his fingers he could tell by its conduct
when the water turned and off Al
Newport. Monmou,hshirc. well sunk to a
depth Of ffty-one feet without success. Local
experts. noting the character Of the soil. then
pronounced the quest hopeless. \ Cornishman.
who present, advocated "A trial ~ thu dNin-
inS rod. with which his boy. aged eleven. had
had some successful experience. The Lad vas
sent for. In his hands the twig gave distinct
signs. But the people who would have To- pay
for the excavation were sccpti,al and hesitttcd.
Tho Corrishman offered to take the contract HIN
SELF. aud stipulated that he would demand no
pa. iIt