THE MAGIC ROD.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1743, 7 May 1913, Page 4

THE MAGIC ROD.

TEST OF DIVINERS. i REMARKABLE RESULTS. i Paris, March 24. A number of celebrated scientists today tested tho powers of four wielders of tho divining-rod in the Bois do Viaceiines. , A largo deserted quarry undermines a. portion of tlie wood, and tuo diviners were asked to point, out the .underground galleries and slio lis. At the end of tho experiment their statements were to bo compared by M. Arnuuid Vire, the city surveyor, with a specially' constructed chart. The organisers stated that it was impossible for any of the competitors to have had any previous knowledge of tho subterranean passages, M. Viro being the only person, aware of the exact positions. The first mail with the divining-rod was M. Pclaprat, a sturdy peasant, who carried a supplo forked wand of hazel. I'or some timo he walked .steadily forward, the hazel wand trembling slightly. Suddenly tho wand twitched, and M. I'elaprat, stopping, paid '"A cavity begins here." After walking round on the grassy slope to measure the extent of the cavity, lie gave the result of his observations to M. Viro, saying that the cavern was oyer seventeen yards deep and that it was quite dry. 'J'he other competitors stepped forward in turn. They used wands of whalebone, bamboo, and copper. Three other underground pits wore, lilco the first, marked out by tnoin wit li hi Is of paper, with the approximate* depth. M. rrobst, the lastto use tho trembling rod, wont so far as In indicate, somewhat vaguely it is true, four galleries which branched ofl from tho main shaft, tho silo of which ho hud marked out on the turf. M. Vive, the Mtnvyor, then unrolled th? ollicial map and there was a moment s breathless silence. Kvery one of tlie competitors hnd succeeded with more or loss accuracy in marking out caverns or pit* which actually' existed, and tho Jour galleries spoken of by the Inst competitor wore also traced on tho map. The depths given wore correct. A* a final proof of the virtues of the mngic rod, M. 'Probst, tenanted to bo led blindfold over tho area, and tho result he obtained ct)rro>ponded almost exactly with the first indications ho had given. ,M. Ilomou and M. Magcr. two ot (lie diviners, as a proof, of tho magnetism wit'i whi'h thrv were endowed, placed their hands on an ordinary compass and i muds the nncdlos tump and bwiug from Ltfde .to . Mail/'