104 On the Divining Rod. 



abandoned it in despair He soon complained of his dis- 

 appointment. " Did you then dig in the precise spot I told 

 you ?" " I dug as near it as I could without injuring the 

 tree." " Go home and dig up that tree, and if you do not 

 find water at the specified depth, I will defray the expence." 

 He did so ; and obtained an excellent well at the given 

 depth. 



As to the depth, it occurred to me at once, when seeing 

 the operation of the rods in the hands of Mr. Steele, that 

 it might be easily ascertained, by taking the angle they 

 made at a few feet from the spot where they became di- 

 rectly vertical ; and this, I conclude, is the mode of ascer- 

 taining it, though I was not informed. 



Let me also mention a fact in optics, which I have not 

 before witnessed, and which occurred to me when travelling 

 recently in company with a friend. As we were descend- 

 ing the hill perhaps two miles this side of Tolland, we 

 were admiring the fine view of the highlands, which are 

 seen stretching from north to south on the west of the Con- 

 necticut. All at once, the northern half of the range ap- 

 peared to change from the brown hue of an autumnal for- 

 est, to a bright and beautiful green, resembling the verdure 

 of a rich pasture in the spring, or a distant wood of deep 

 evergreens. But after descending a few rods further, il 

 assumed its native aspect. The sun, about three hours be- 

 fore setting, was then shining very brightly on the range, 

 and the sky clear, though damp. I conclude the effect was 

 produced by the particular angle of reflection, and the state 

 of the atmosphere. 



Yours with respect, 



RALPH EMERSON. 



P. S. — One morning, we witnessed a beautiful exhibi- 

 tion in nature, of the " sun's drawing water," (as it is com- 

 monly termed,) produced by the shadow of a copse on a 

 hill, projected across a valley filled with a dense fog. It 

 led me to conclude, that that appearance is never produced 

 except in clouds of so thin a texture that the sun can shine 

 through them — contrary to what I had before supposed. 

 But you are too familiar with so common a phenomenon, to 

 need any remarks upon it from me. R. E. 



