The Divining Rod. 90% 
furrow marking the vein of water on which the new well had 
been sunk. Afier a few steps, I turned with him, requestin 
him to hold up the rod for discovery. I guided him back, but 
he chose the time of every step. The rod began to turn, 
rest forever, I continued the experiment. I led the lad to 
the next furrow, and the rod missed it. I led him back, 
it missed again. I led him to and fro, across and then along 
his three furrows; and he failed incessantly. I tore off the 
turf at every new place, where the rod pointed out a fountain, 
and ceased not from discoveries, until the russet and bleach- 
ed turf of the acre on which the experiment was conducted, 
became figured with black spots, denoting fountains every 
where. This was as it should be. ‘There could be no mis- 
take. The illusion of the fountains, and of all attraction un- 
der ground, vanished at once. e motion of the r 
mained, but it must be accounted for some other way. 
In all my experiments with diviners since, I have found 
them very shy of a blinder. No diviner has proved so trai- 
torous to his own self-respect as to test the skill of the rod 
by depriving it of the light of his owneyes. One whose 
and respectability obliged me to pay him deference, was 
pleased with the suggestion of trying the rod over running 
water above ground. Across a neighboring stream, a huge 
been prostrated ; its capacious trunk serving for a firm 
pathway over the swift waters. On this the good man cross- 
ed the brook, holding the divining rod properly in his hands. 
As he came over the waters, the point of the rod began to 
turn, but did not reach the end of its motion, until he had 
fairly crossed the stream, and stepped upon the opposite bank. 
In repeating the experiment, his own motions and those of 
the rod were better timed together. His conclusion, careful- 
ly drawn, was, that the rod was aflected by running water a- 
bove ground, but not so much as by water under ground. 
