Lucky marriage days for girls were cast in the same manner, except that the age of the girl was used as the multiplicator, or multiplier, instead of the number of days in the month. The result was determined similarly, and also by a test of the unlucky days. Thus, if a girl is 18 years old, and thinks of marrying in October, she takes up an Almanac and ascertains the day of the full moon in that month. It occurs on the 24th, and there are 31 days in the month: this leaves 7 for the multiplier. She multiplies this by her age, 18, and the result is 106, which shows the lucky days in that month for her to marry are the 10th and 6th, unless they are destroyed by the test, which is determined as follows: There are 23 days before the 24th, and she must multiply 23 by 18, which gives 414, and shows that the 4th and 14th are the only unlucky days for her to marry; and as they do not conflict with the lucky days, the 6th and 10th may be considered as genuine lucky days for that month, reckoning the moon to have fulled on the 24th. In determining her age, she should reckon any period over half a year a full year.
THE DIVINING ROD:
OR, HOW TO TELL WHERE TO DIG FOR WATER AND ALL KINDS OF METALS.
So early as Agricola, a celebrated conjuror who lived in ancient times, the divining rod was in much request, and has obtained great credit for its discovering where to dig for metals and springs of water; for some years past its reputation has been upon the decline, but lately it has been revived, and with great success, as I have myself found from numerous experiments that its effects are more than imagination, and to enable others to do the like, I have laid down some short rules, as follows:
Directions for choosing Rods. The hazel and willow rods, I have by experience found, will actually answer with all persons who are in a good state of health, if they are used with moderation, and at some distance of time, after meals, when the operator is in good spirits. The hazel, willow, and elm are all attracted by springs of water. Some persons have the virtue intermittently; the rod in their hands will attract one half hour, and repel the next. The rod is attracted by water, all metals, coals, amber, and lime-stone, but with different degrees of strength.
The best rods are those from the hazel, or nut-tree, as they are pliant and rough, and are best cut in the winter months; a shoot that terminates equally forked is to be preferred, (See Fig. 1,) about two feet and a half long; but as such a fork is rarely to be met with, two single ones of a length, and size may be tied together with thread, and they will answer as well as the others. (See Fig. 2.)
The most convenient and handy method of holding the rod is with the palms of the hands turned upward, and the two ends of the rod coming outward; the palms should be held horizontally as nearly as possible; the part of the rod in the hands ought to be straight, and not bent either backward or forward; the upper part of the arm should be kept pretty close to the sides, and the elbows resting on them, the lower part of the arm making nearly a right angle with the upper, though rather a little more acute; the rod ought to be so held that, in its working, the sides may move clear of the little fingers. The position of the rod, when properly held, is much like the following figure, (see Fig. 3,) where the distance between the four downward lines is the part supposed to be held in the hand.
The best manner of carrying the rod is with the end prolaided in an angle of about eighty degrees from the horizon, as by this method of carrying, the repulsion is more plainly perceived than if it was held perpendicularly. But after all the directions that can be given, the adroit use of it can only be attained by practice. It is necessary that the grasp should be steady, for if, when the rod is going, there should be the least succession or counteraction in the hands, though ever so small, it will greatly impair, and generally totally prevent its activity, which is not to be done by the mere strength of the grasp, for provided this be steady, no strength can stop it.