Democratic Sentinel, Volume 17, Number 3, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 February 1893 — The Compass in the Watch. [ARTICLE]

The Compass in t he Watch.

A few days ago I was standing by an American gentleman, when I expressed a wish to know what point was the north. He atonco pulled out his watch, looked at it, and pointed to the north. I asked whether he had a compass attached to his watch. “All watches," he replied, “are compasses.” Then he explained to me how tfiis wus. Point the hour hand to the sun, and the south is exactly half way between the hour aud the figure XII on the watch. For instance, suppose that it is four o’clock. Point the hand indicating four to the sun, and II on tho watch is exactly south. Suppose that it is eight o’clock; point the hand indicating eight to the sun, and the figure X od the watch is due south. My Amirican friend was quite surprised that I did not know this. Thinking that very possibly I was ignorant of a thing which every one else knew, and happening to meet Mr. Stanley, I asked that eminent traveler whether he was aware of this simple mode of discovering the points of the compass. He said that he had never heard of it. I presume, therefore, that the world is in the same state of ignorance. Amalfi is proud of having been the home of the inventor of the compass. I do not know what town boaists of my American friend as a citizen.—[London Truth.