symbol. From the “World Almanac” or 
a like source of information you can 
learn what the variation of the compass 
in a given locality happens to be. Spread 
the map out flat, and lay your compass 
on it so that the N on the dial, the north 
end of the needle, and the north line 
shown on the map all coincide. Then, 
slowly revolve the map until the north 
end of the compass needle points to the 
degree of variation on the dial which the 
locality calls for. 
As a practical application of this varia- 
I tion principle we will take a locality in 
I which the magnetic declination is, say. 
20 degrees East. Such a spot would be 
located in the far West. You revolve 
your map until the needle of the compass 
points to 20 degrees East on the dial. 
The position of the north end of the 
needle is now half way Detween N and 
NE on the dial. And it is the N mark 
on the dial, not the compass needle, 
which now points toward the true north. 
If, instead of 20 degrees East, the varia¬ 
tion happens to be 20 degrees West, as it 
is in some parts of Maine, the position 
of the north end of the compass needle, 
after correctly orienting the map, would 
be half way between N and NW. As in 
the former case, the N on the dial would 
point toward true north. And as the 
arrow or meridian lines on the map also 
point true north, it is a simple matter to 
read on the dial the correct compass¬ 
bearing which must be followed in order 
to reach safely a given distant spot shown 
on the map. 
The farther east or west that a section 
is from the zigzag “no variation” line 
which I have mentioned, the greater the 
variation becomes. Thus, in various 
parts of New York State it may range 
from about 7 to 10 degrees, while in 
Maine it is around 20 degrees. Near 
• Chicago it is only 2 or 3 degrees, while 
in parts of the State of Washington it 
is more than 20 degrees. I refrain from 
giving any exact figures, for the reason 
that magnetic declinations change from 
year to year. A comprehensive annual 
almanac gives these changes. This 
j whole subject of compass variation is a 
mystery which scientists so far have 
been unable to solve. We know only 
that it exists and that we must usually 
be guided accordingly when using a com¬ 
pass in connection with a map. 
Of course if one goes walking with 
map and compass in a section which 
happens to be located on the line of “no 
variation,” this element of magnetic dec¬ 
lination need not be considered at all. 
In this particular instance, when the 
north end of the compass needle is di- 
i rectly above N on the dial, the direction 
in which it points is true north. There 
is no correction to be made. Even in 
sections where the variation is slight, 
there is hardly need for correction under 
ordinary conditions unless you feel that 
you need extreme accuracy. But in sec¬ 
tions where the variation figures begin 
to mount up, it is highly essential that 
you make allowances for these. The 
failure to do so would take you seriously 
off your course. 
The natural variation of a compass is 
never a difficult matter to figure out, for 
What Goes Upi-iMust ComeDown 
W p r 
■'Tf 
“The tenth flock in five min¬ 
utes—they’re going up north hy 
the million.” 
“Yes, and what goes up must 
come down. They’ll be coming 
down with a splash next fall — 
when we talk to them with 
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