The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1904-12-14

symptoms in exercising the gift; an
electric shock seems communicated to
them. they turn pale, tremble or have
convulsive movements, similar to
those that disturb the nervous sys-
tenn of a medium who obtains psychic
manifestations.
Sir Lauder Brunton, in writing on
Truths and Delusions" in the Univer-
sal Review, says: when we hear that
a man is able to discover water at
a considerable distance below the
ground on which he stands we are at
first apt to scout the idea as ridicu-
lous. while if we are told that cara
van was crossing the desert, and that
all at once the thirsty camels started
off quickly, and at a distance of mile
or more water was found, we would
look upon the occurrence as natural
Regarding the divining rod as
subject for investigation, the council
of the Society for Physical Research
earnestly requested w. F. Barrett,
professor of experimental physics in
the Royal college of science for Ire
land, to inquire into it. With great
reluctance, and even repugnance," as
he states. he yielded to their wishes
and began his examination, hoping,
however in my ignorance, that few
weeks work would enable me to rele-
gate it into the limbo large and
broad. since called the paradise of
FOOLS"
A report of his long and patient
research concerning the divining rod
was contributed by Professor Barrett
in a paper called 1.-The So-Called Dr.
vining Rod or Virginia Divina." The
outcome of his personal Investigations.
of reliable evidence and scientific
knowledge, may be summed up in his
own words: 1.-The movement of the
rod is not due to trickery, nor any
conscious voluntary effort, but is
more or less violent automatic action
that occurs under certain conditions
in certain Individuals
Having said so much, science still
leaves us in ignorance regarding
human faculty which is the inner
itance of some individuals, and is un-
doubtedly the same power that,
through common piece of wood
called the planchette, under the hands
of certain persons, writes coherent
and sometimes important messages
outside the range of their conscious
intelligence; and is the same force
that has been found to rap out COM
munications on tables
It is interesting, but not surpris-
ing, to learn that the exercise of the
dowser's gift-which has been of i'm
mense service. and that has been en-
ployed by those who frame and ad-
minister our laws-is illegal; and
therefore, that those who receive
money for it's exercise are presum-
ably as liable to fine and punishment
as any gypsy fortune-teller. That,
at least, is what may be gathered by
the decision of w. A. Casson, the To-
cal government auditor for Bedford
shire, who in May, 1879, refused to
allow the fee of water-finder en-
ployed by the urban district council
of Ampthill.
The waterfinder employer was Lei
cester Gataker, one of the most Ia
NOUS dowsers in England, whose
powers have been made use OF by
many public men, by factory owners
and parish councils He is remarkable
for being able at times to dispense
with the rod, instead of which he uses
his out-stretched hands, which seem
to receive a slight electric shock when
he gains a spot where water or min
erals may be found. He is also able
to state correctly, as evidence shows,
| the depth at which water VIII pe
reached and the quantity per hour the
springs will give.
The chairman stated that Mr.. Cat
aker named a number of springs in
one field, and the total of water there
was more than ample for the town.
The auditor said that what he had to
settle was whether the employment OF
a waterfinder was legal or not. In
the only case bearing on the matter
that had come before the courts the
Judges had held that "the pretense OF
of power, whether moral, physical
or supernatural, with intent to OBJ
tain money, was sufficient to constitute
an offense within the meaning of the
law" and as Mr.. Gataker claimed to
exercise some such power. his employ
ment was clearly illegal, and the
amount of his fee would be disallowed