150 



it 



In the presence of Emperor 

 the Colonial Secretary the other morning 

 solemnly pronounced the 

 Kaiser and blessing of the German 

 Divining Government on the "di- 

 •Pnd vlnlng rod" and all Its 

 • K0Q wondrous works. When 

 Herr von Uslar came hack from South- 

 West Africa, after a prolonged course of 

 "dowsing," he reported to the sovereign 

 on his experiments at a special audience 

 and today his majesty came to the Coun- 

 cil Chamber of the Herrenhaus to hear 

 him lecture on the subject. Herr von Us- 

 lar, 'who had his wizard's wand on the 

 desk before him, stated that he had with 

 its assistance indicated 800 spots. Borings 

 had been made in 163 of these, and water 

 was obtained in 117, or 79 per cent. 



His work had been severely questioned 

 and attacked by men of science. A suffi- 

 cient explanation of the facts was, indeed, 

 still wanting. He could not give one him- 

 self. But, In view of the results obtained, 

 it was the duty of science to investigate 

 the cause and effect of the phenomena, in- 

 stead of contesting things which had ac- 

 tually happened. It was, he said, a gift 

 which was given, in a. greater or lesser 

 degree, to many men. He himself believed 

 that it was given to him by God, and he 

 felt himself under an obligation to utilize 

 it among men for the welfare of the 

 Fatherland. He had felt it his duty to 

 follow the call of his majesty, regardless 

 of his family and person, in order to assist 

 In the opening up of the water sources in 

 Southwest Africa. If he had succeeded, 

 he had done nothing more than make use 

 of a power given him by God. 



The address was received with loud ap- 

 plause by members of the German Agri- 

 cultural Council, before whom it was de- 

 livered. Herr Dernburg subsequently said 

 that the imperial Government associated 

 itself with its whole heart with the thanks 



BOSTON EVENING T 



that had reached Herr von Uslar In many 

 letters. It could not find words to ex- 

 press its acknowledgment of his action in 

 going out at his advanced age, and taking 

 many hardships upon himself over a long 

 course of years. There was no doubt that 

 he had done much useful work. 



This public opposition of the Government 

 to the bulk of technical opinion will arouse 

 considerable controversy in scientific 

 circles. 



