Farmers' champion. (Elgin, Okla.) 1912-1922, 1913-10-02

know what's going on here-there are so many
pipes and wires underneath your streets in New
York-but think there must be water here some
where"
Then one of the older members of the club who
was present remembered and told how. when the
club house being erected. the contractors lay
ing the foundations had great difficulty in con
trolling the rush OF water from vein that was
laid open directly under the spot where the bill
Hard room afterward located.
Another day the two friends guests at the
American Yacht club at Milton Point. Rye. n. Y
The club has had good deal OF trouble recently
trying to get sufficient water supply Franzius
and Vor Usar found this out when they turned
the faucet In their bedroom on the second
floor and got water. Al the breakfast table
Franzius rallied his hosts bit. and then asked:
why don't you get Won Usar here to find you
some water,"
1t was agreed that the Landrat not Only located
subterranean vein OF water by, but discov
,ered that II led almost under OF the
club house. where 1t would be easily accessible
by boring
The so-called rod" that Won Uslar uses is
very simple device The metal rod is merely two
pieces OF rather fine wire. each about foot long.
held together by flexible Joint. The dlviner
grasps the two free ends, In each hand.
which he holds palm upward The wooden rods
may be two pieces Joined natural forked
twg. The flexible Joint OF the rod forms
gle the apex OF which projects forward or upward
AS the diviner. walking about comes over the
the spot where subterranean mineral deposit
vein OF water Is located. the rod turns
violently In his hands. usually away from the
body, and continues to whrl rapidly as long as
the diviner remains over the spot and holds tho
rod In position.
One very curious feature Of the rods move
ment. TO which the writer's attention was called
by Won Uslar. Is that there seems to be involved
sort or closed circuit. Thus. the Iandrat says
II he holds one end OF the rod in his right hand
and places his left hand the back OF the neck
OF another person who In turn holds the other
end Of the rod in one of his hands the influence
will still be felt aud the rod will turn when held
over water or mineral deposits. even though the
second person does not possess the mysterious
power OF divination.
The present deep interest In divining rods IN
Germany s OF comparatively recent growth. yet
the Of divirins rods for locating minerals
water and all sorts OF other things in all
probability practced In very ancient times by
men who no doubt possessed the strange
power The art certainly practced by men
of the Middle Ages, who named It rhabdomancy.
There IL evidence that the ancient Romans may
have recognized the existence Of some such pow.
er by the OF tho socalled "yirgua dvlna as
used IN taking auguries by means Of casting bits
OF sticks descriptions " which found in the
writings OF Tacitus and cicero.
The schlageruthe striking rod forked twlg
OF the German miners OF the fIarz mountains was
brought 10 England by miners who were engaged
beth's time TO emgrae and work in the Cornish
mines. The arr In general has been In use all
the world In spite OF the fact that ons
has far found a satisfactory explanation for
such gift and that II has generally been attack
cd and laughed at by science. The American In
dians and the caravan drivers in Western Cobb
employ these rods 70 look for water.
Just as the peasants In Switzerland and Schles.
wig gliolstein have done since time immemorial
Prof w r. Barrett. + X. s. OF Dublin. who Is
regarded as the chief modern Investigator OF the
subject. believes thit Its employment dating as
II does from the revival OF learning Is based on
the medieval doctrine OF 'iympathy;" that ia.
the dropping of trees and the character OF tho
vegetation give indications OF mineral lodes be.
meath tho earth's surface by means OF a sort of
attraction.
The divinng rod has. however. been used also
In searching for any buried object. In the south
OF France, In the seven teenth century. It was
employed in tracking criminals and heretics. Its
abuse led 70 a decree OF the nquison In 1901
forbiddng Its employment FOR purposes OF Jus.
tice. In modern times the wooden rod has been
much used In England and other places for nnd-
Ing water and In this connection either the rod
or the divner is caller q "douser"
str W. II. Preece celebrated English electri-
cian. taking part In discussion Of the dousers
power In January 1905. repudiated the theory
that any electric force was involved and record
cd Bile opinion that vatsranding b. Q doussr was
due - ~Deohanicai vibsation ~ IN by the frio-
oea ef moving waAsg. aseins upua osasltavo ven,