[To THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR." J
SIR,—Perhaps it may interest some of your readers who have read about the " divining-rod" in your issue of September 21st, to know that a similar experiment was made in this neighbourhood last year, and with marked success.
At the request of Sir H. and Lady Selwin-Ibbetson, I asked a "diviner" who resides near Bristol, to attend at Down Hall, one day about a year ago, and he went through the perform- ance described by " Vacuns Viator," exactly in the same way. He discovered in which direction the outflow from a well passed away, and he "spotted" a water-course, well known to Sir Henry, in a field where there was nothing to lead any one to suspect the existence of water; and, more than this, he declared that there were other streams in places where no one was aware of their existence. Since he left, his accuracy has been tested, and his assertions have turned out to be well founded.
I have no theory on the subject. All I wish to say is, that I have seen the operation, and that I was much surprised and interested, and that I have no doubt some men have this power of"divination" as to water, or by whatever other name you please to call it. I should add that this man used a length of watch-spring, as well as the hazel-rod shaped like an open Y described by your correspondent. He held the ends of the spring in his hands, leaving the middle free, and it jumped up in his face after the same fashion as the rod, when he passed over running water. It should be observed that no effect was produced by a well or tank. The water must be flowing to cause this excitement of the rod or spring.
I wish some scientific person would offer some explanation of facts which, as I think, cannot be disputed, however strange and improbable they may seem.—I am, Sir, &c.,
Moor Hall, Harlow, September 25th. WILLIAM FOWLER.
Previous page
