WATER DIVINING.

Press, Volume LXVII, Issue 20272, 25 June 1931, Page 11

WATER DIVINING.

TO TBK BDITOB OF TH>? PBBS3 gj r> —Perhaps you will allow me a further note on the subject of "water divin ; ng"; and this time oh the theory. It is well known that most sciences, aud ' dare, say most arts also, have m their origin been swathed in superstitions *nd have arisen out of a belie! in magic. Take one example: chemistry has arisen out of alchemy. Water divining is still in this early stage, arid too often left in the hands Of uncritical persons, and in some cases perhaps of charlatans. Nowadays some still say of a thing that they cannot explain, that it is "magnetism," "electricity," ''radio-activity," or even, that it is .. "of the . devil." Now we have no telegraphic or radio-receiving stations in the brain, so that evep we do there receive ether waves of one kind or another we cannot interpret them. - . It would take top long to that we rnust look elsewhere for explanation of the phenomena of dowsing than in any form of theory- Suffice it to say that all th evidence gops to show that Che mena are psychological; but as he orthodox: psychologist would probabl. start at the use of the term. may say (if you like) with "crvptwsthetic," or with, oitjy J 0 ® gJSSo;" or :with' less scientific mw •&tors:-'^irvoyinifc.". the sabject. receives ■ Kv message-Trhieh.is interpreted to htm y

the movements of the rod, forked stick, pendulum watch spring, or whatever form of autoscope he may useThe literature of the subject is vast, and in water divining we are only on the fringe of an immense region ot little known phenqmeua, for which, 1 much doubt if there is any real explar nation possible so long as wo believe we are beings whose knowledge is entirely derived from the five wellknown gateways of sense.—Yours, etc., R.M.L. June 21th, 1931. TO TBS BDITOB Of THB PRESS Sir,—l enclose a paragraph from a recent number of the "Week-End Review." It. appeared on a page regularly devoted to country life and, but for. Dr. llilgendorf. might have misled me, —Yours, etc., • • QUIA IMPOSSIBLE. June 24th, 1931 [Enclosure.] Water diviners have . been hiving a busy time in the last few months finding .water for wells that will be bored for. the-coming Bummer. The chango over from ceieal-grow-ing to stock-farming haa neceaaitated, increased water supplies throughout the countrv But it is remarkable that there; still exist big firms, specialising in well-boring, who are sceptical of the diviner's powers. Firms that employ diviners, will testify that they have never known-these men to be wrong. By U3ing them they have saved their clients many, thousands of pounds from "fruitli.«B water-hunting by trial-ftnd-error method*. Ilie ' diviners are usually modast >nd • unassuming workmen, not too well paid', who do not pretend to understand their strange gift. All they know is that they can perform what is asked of. thein. • On-i day the scientific explanation will* be better understood, and a faithless generation will not longer be afraid to believe in them. ro THE BDITOB 0* THB PBE3S \ Sir,—Yoiir correspondent "Nor - west" puts forward a . very convincing but somewhat involved case for dowsing or water divining. (Webster). Might not it have been pui thus? (1) The writer ( of' the fallacy is a Professor. ''Nor'-west'' is not. Therefore water divining is a science. . (2)' "The article is put together in a, literary way, like a parson's sermon, who has all,the argument to himself. and bfeins a parson'is right, and everyone else wrong." "Nor west" modestlv (i.e.. without self-esteem), disclaims the possession of literary ability, is not a parson does. not write sermons—in t literarv way—rmakes no preteuce, of having the arglirnent all to himselt—knowing ,thia.t it takes two to make one —is wrong ; and everyone else right. Therefore water'divuung is ra-Bcience.-

(3) Professor and others—"Nor*west" pot included in' the latter—have failed to find a remedy for the depression. Therefore water divining is a science. . . (4) A fortune-teller in Australia told a farmer where to find gold. She was a "limy"—otherwise she would have bought the land and taken the gold herself. Therefore water divining is a science. • Can any further proof be needed? — Yours, etc., . SOU'-EAST (More Wind). 'une 24th. 1931 , P.S.—Perhaps '.'Nor'-west" confused the terms "bowser'' and "dowser." 1 can well imagine gold being obtained from the former—judging by the present correspondence. TO THE SMTOH 0» TUB PRESS Sir,—A simple; test for a divining rod is for the demonstrator to take a iorked willow stick, grasp it m both hands, and hold out to extent of the arms. Then step across a small stream, .or hold over water, and watch the variations of the 6tick—it will either bend up or down—and when 't has reached its zenith to walk away from the water until it goes back to the original position. The distance covered will give you the exact number of yards you are away from water It applies the same to depth of water I lived among Australian bush men, and this test was always'appiied in the ease of a "doubting Thomas."—Yours etc., ■ ' CORNSTALK. June 21 til, 1931 " . P.S.—Water was discovered on tJallopili by- a divining, rod, a: 1 the aiscoverer was decorated.—C.: