Daily Democrat, Volume 2, Number 294, Decatur, Adams County, 22 December 1904 — Page 3

A LARGE SUPPLY OF Edison Phonographs & Records. New Records 35 CcentsEach. V W\ ■ \\l X I L' K'- W 2 t » .j&acags ■ ~ R® ; SCHAFER HARDWARE 7(1 I

THE WATER FINDERS HOW THE DIVINING ROD RESPONDS TO THEIR PECULIAR POWER. Mysterioua Art of the “Dowser” aa I‘raetieed by Gentlefolk and Other* In Ftigfaud—Keiunrkable Powers of One Famous Hod Handler. Those who regard water finding by means of the divining rod as the practice of a foolish superstition will be shocked to hear that in recent times it has been employed by cabinet ministers such as the Marquis of Londonderry, by belted earls like Lord Strathmore, by grave judges and sheriffs, by railway companies such as the Midland, by urban district councils and by land owners without number, writes Fitzgerald Molloy in T. P.’s London Weekly. The art of finding water, minerals and even criminals by means of the divining rod has been known and practiced for centuries in every country in Europe. The rod itself, a symbol of magical power, is mentioned in the ancient mythologies, in the Christian Scriptures as the means by which Moses obtained water and is used in all ceremonial magic. The water tinder s rod is merely a forked twig, usually cut from a hazel, a whitehorn or au apple tree below the bifurcation, and is generally a foot long and about the thickness of a pencil. Its twigs are held at the extreme ends between the fingers and thumb of each hand by the waler find er. or dowser, as he is commonly called, ■who slowly walks over the laud where it is desired to find a spring, until, on coming to the spot where water is. the twigs begins to move and its fork to bend downward. it frequently happens that on reach ing this site the rod, which has previously remained passive in the dowser’s hands, twists itself round with such violence as to break. Ihe statement that water will be found beneath (the depth is occasionally specified! lias seldom been falsified. The experiment has been tried of blindfolding the water tinder and leading him by a different route to the spot he has already Indicated, only to show that the rod repeated its movements on his regain lug it. A second dowser, kept in ignorance of the spot or of the hind over which his predecessor has gone, will almost invariably name the same site as a place where water will be found. Water finding is a special gift, re qulring special physical and psychical qualifications, but is not limited to any class of society, to the educated or the ignorant, to age or youth, to men or women. Mr. .1, I>. Enys, 1- <■. S., became an excellent dowser, while a woman of title in the midlands also became expert at finding water by this means. Hut, though a special gift, experience has siwwn that it can be transmitted that is. when the rod Is held by a person who has not this power, but whose wrists are grasped by n dowser. It will point to a spot where water may be found. No matter how diverse In rank or Intellect or constitution water find ers may bo. they nil Io a greater or less degree betray the same symptoms In exercising the gift an electric shock sei ms <■ mim ii n lea ted to them; they turn pule, tremble or have convulsive move meiils similar to those that disturb the nervous system of u medium who obtains psvchic manifestations. Sir Lauder Brunton in writing on “Trullis and 1 delusions’’ In the I niseigal Review says. "When we hear that a man Is able to discover water nt n considerable distance below the ground — ““ UVI

io scout the idea as naicuious, wane u. we were told that a caravan was crossing the desert and that all at once the thirsty camels started off quickly and at a distance of a mile or more water was found we would look upon the occurrence as natural.” Regarding the divining rod as a subject for investigation, the council of the Society lor Psychical Research earnestly requested Mr. \V. F. Barrett, professor of experimental physics in the Royal College of Science For Ireland. to inquire into it. With "great reluctance and even repugnance.” as lie stated, he yielded to their wishes and began his examination, “hoping, however, in my ignorance that a fewweeks' work would enable me to relegate it ‘into tiie limbo large and broad, since called the paradise of fools.’ ” A report of his long and patient re search concerning the divining rod was contributed by Professor Barrett in a paper called "The So Called Divining Rod. or Virgula Divinn.” The outcome of his personal investigations, of reliable evidence and scientific knowledge, may be summed up in his own words: "The movement of the rod is not due to trickery nor any conscious voluntary effort, lint is a more or less violent automatic action that occurs under certain conditions in certain individuals." Having said so much, science still leaves us in ignorance regarding a human faculty which is the inheritance of some individuals and is undoubted ly tlie same power that, through a common piece of wood called tlie planchette, under the hands of certain persons writes coherent and sometimes important messages outside tlie range of their conscious intelligence and is the same force that has been found to rap out communications on tallies. It is interesting, but not surprising, to learn that the exen Ise of tlie dowser’s gift, which lias been of immense service and which has been employed by those who frame and administer our laws, is Illegal anil therefore that those who rei- -ire money for Its exercise are presumably as liable to tine and punishment as any gypsy fortune teller. That al least Is what may lie gathered from the decision of W. A. Cusson. the local government auditor for Bedford shire, who refused to allow the fee ot a water tinder employed by the urban district council of Ampthill. The waler tinder employed was Leicester Gatnker. one of the most famous dowsers in l-lngliind. whose powers have been made use of by many public men. by fm-tury owners mid purls!) councils, lie is remarkable for being able at times to dispense with the rod. instead of which he uses ids outstretch ed hands, which seem to receive a slight electric shock when lie gains a spot where water or tliiiierals may be found. He is also able to state correctly. as evidence shows, the depth at which water will be rein-lied mid tlie quantity per hour the springs will give. The chnlrmnn stated that Mr. Gutaker nnt'ied a number of springs in one Held, and the total Ilf waler there was more tliuii ample for the town. The auditor said that what lie had to settle was whether the employ meal of n wa ter tlndor was legal or not. In the only ease bearing on the matter tlmt hud enme before the courts the judges had held tlmt "the pretense of power, whether moral, physical or supermini nil, with Intent to obtain money was sufficient I institute mi offense with In the meaning of the law." mid ns Mr. Gntaker claimed to exercise some such power Ids employment was clearly Illegal, and the umo'litt of his fee weu'd be disallowed.

AS A WOMAN LUNCHES. Mrala Tlmt Are Ordered Merely by Force of Suggestion. Lots of women order their luncheons merely by force of suggestion. If you don't think so. watch the wavering ones sit down, look on the card, glance at their nearest neighbor's plate and then order whatever the latter happens to be eating. In a crowded luncheon room on matinee d.-iy one little round table seating four women bore out this statement. Two of the women refreshed themselves on cuke and coffee. The third was putting away a savory clam chowder. A fourth came in. observed the cakes, gazed appreciatively on the chowder and requested the latter. The first chowderer finished and departed, and the woman who Immediately took her place looked around the table and ordered cakes and coffee. By this time the first two cake and coffeeites had finished, and an uncertain looking woman sat down on that side of the table. She looked at the two opposite, glanced at the card and said, “Bring me a clam chowder.” This is a fact, and there is every reason to suppose that nothing but coffee and cakes and chowder was served at that table all the afternoon or at least as long as wavering ladies sat down at It.—Philadelphia Bulletin. FAIRY TALES. One View of the Lessons Thl« Class of Stories Tenehes. The fairy tales are the only true accounts that man lias ever given of his destiny. "Jack the Giant Killer” is the embodiment of the first of the three great paradoxes by which men live. It is the paradox of courage, the paradox which says. “You must defy the thing that is terrifying you; unless you are frightened you are not brave.” “Cinderella” is the embodiment of the second of tlie paradoxes by which men live, the paradox of humility, which says, “Look for the best in the thing ignorant of its merit; he that abases himself shall be exalted.” And "Beauty and the Beast” is the embodiment of the third of the paradoxes by which men live, the paradox of faith, the absolutely necessary and wildly unreasonable maxim which says to every mother with a child or to every patriot with a country, “You must love the thing first and make it lovable afterward.” These tales are far truer than the rhinoceros at the zoo. for you know what these mean. And you can guess what the rhinoceros means’—G. K. Chesterton. GARGOYLES. Origin of These Quaintly Formed Heads or Figures. Gargoyles are quaintly formed heads, faces or figures used in ancient times for decorative purposes and chiefly ap plied as the terminals of waterspouts upon roofs or gables. The rain stream was arranged to flow through the mouth, and the word gargoyle itself is an attempt to imitate the "gurgling” sound made by the water in passing through the throat of the grotesque monster. Gargoyles were the caricatures of mediaeval times. Many were carved by monkish masons, who took the op portunity of handing on to posterity the distorted lineaments of their fel lows or even of their superiors, recog nizable as likenesses from some proud Dent characteristic. The famous gargoyles of Notre Dana in Paris are supposed to have had some such origin, while others of supposedly the same origin are to be seen In churches throughout Brittany and Nor mandy ns well as here and there in England. London Telegraph. Moxa Doctors of Tokyo. A feature of low street life in Tokyo is the "kuisha,” or moxa doctor, who applies small pads made of certain dried herbs to the skin, then sets them alight, the ensuing blisters being supposed to be most effective ns a cure for various ailments. Among the doctor’s remedies, too. are rhinoceros pills, warranted a sure cure for tightness of the chest, gnashing of the teetli and depression of spirits, and ’ furidashi. ' a popular remedy for coughs and colds, which is said to expel the devils and promote circulation, while musk pills are pre < ril ed us mi infallible cure for every ill, from a red nose to seasickness/ The Coquette. There are scores of girls who are neither beautiful nor witty, but they are natural born coquettes, and ns u consequence are perfection In the average man's eyes The beautiful girl gener ally banks on her face being her fortune. but the coquette cultivates the bubit of say Ing pretty, flattering things, studying the trick of amusing half a dozen men at one and the same time and of making each man think he is the one that is being especially favored.—San I'ram isi'o (’all. ><» Hem liidrr. "What's tlie matter';" inquired As cum. "What are you searching your pockets for';" "I tied a knot in my handkerchief this morning,” said tlie absentminded man. "to remind tue of something I was to get for my wife, and now 1 can't find the handkerchief." Exchange. ■I. ' - i Iler Hint. Tlie Malden I lune a fluttering about my heart, mid I have no appetite, doc tor. Tlie Doctor Oh, you're lu love; 1 can't do anything for that. "You can't, doctor';” "Certainly I can't.” “Why, doctor, you're not married.” No matter how stupid, uninteresting mid tiresome a man may lie, there I* always some sentimental woman ready to make n hero of him. Chicago Record Herald.

SPECIAL XMAS BARGAINS! ■" — ~ rn " W _ "" 11 11 ■ I Ilia ■■■■ Every Item as advertised. All Winter Cloaks and Suits at LESS THAN COST. Z’ SPECIAL cut prices in furs. Buy your mother, wife, sister or daughter a nice FUR or winter cloak for Xmas. All Cloaks less than cost. Make your selection early. Some Cloaks and Furs Xmas Offerings- tfz u LES ? T * HAN a n * HANDKERCHIEFS, M 3nUf 3Ct U (6(1 COSt PILLOW TOPS, $20.00 Coats at SIO.OO SHAMS, I U I *lB. 00 Coats at SIO.OO PRESSER SCARFS, \ I i ' $15.00 Coats at $ 9.00 POCKETBOOKS, \ | /\ I $13.50 Coats at $8.50 SILK SHAWLS, w'L / A $12.50 Coats at $7.50 UMBRELLAS. L \ SIO.OO Coats at $6.50 KID GLOVES, // I \ $ 7.50 Coats at $5.00 BLANKETS, // I $ 650 Coats at $4.50 FANCY HOSIERY, / I $ s.soCoats at $4.00 SHIRTWAISTS, C,7 . — All Children’s Cloaks at away less make;our store / \ than COBt ’ Seb our line before - vou YOUR 'HEADQUARTERS j A “ For Your Xmas [Shopping We Can ShowOYou The Largest y_j Open Stock In The City. NIBLICK & CO.

MONEY TO LOAN THE DECATUR ABSTRACT & LOAN COMPANY. (incorporated) A large sum of PRIVATE MONEA as been placed with us io loan ot ■ity property and farms. No dela\ ■ ted tape in making loans. Lowes rates of interest. We are able to clow all loans on the same day of 'eceivinj. application. Will loan i urns o: 150 up, on one to five years time, witl privilege of partial payments. Tbit company can also furnish abstracts o’ title on short notice to any piece o' real estate in Adams county. TH! DECATUR ABSTRACT & LOA* CO. Rooms 3 and 4, Studabake: block. 257dtf

6 Oft I? Feed and Seeds Peninsular Portland Cement Gypsum Rock Wall Plaster We make a specialty of furnishing HIGH GRADE CLEAN COAL that will burn. J. D. HA LE I’flrOH- O Cor. Jefferson and 2nd Sts. Blackburn & Christen Holthouse Drug Co. W. H. Nachtrieb Smith, Yager & Falk < 1 A F 1 Wll E

I g-. I Slarl Rlgnt Here I ■ Your Holiday shopping ought to commence on a H common seence basis, I seful presents are best ap fg predated, and when the useful and beautiful are ■ combined, you have found your ideal present. W There are scores of appropriate presents in our HOLIDAY ASSORTMENT. We can’t begin to B enumerate all of them; but here are a fe.v hints: | Smoking Jackets, I S New and Fancy ■ I Fancy Suspenders, 1 ■ Good as they are Pretty a | A Wilderness' of Beautfui Neckties ■ IO to 50cents a Plain and Funcv Mufflers | 25c to $5.00 ■ Wann Gloves jjfor Riding or Walking ■ a 25C to $5.00 I Suitcases, S I andiCaps 1 ■ and dozens of other artii les that will please anyjjnan or boy. H | Let your shopping begin ■ I Elzev & Vance, I ■ Corner East of Court House * Decatur, Indiana I