Lodestone

Definition and stakes

John Munro,  Heroes of the Telegraph (1891)

“ During the dark ages the mystical virtues of the lodestone drew more attention than those of the more precious amber, and interesting experiments were made with it. The Romans knew that it could attract iron at some distance through an intervening fence of wood, brass, or stone. One of their experiments was to float a needle on a piece of cork, and make it follow a lodestone held in the hand. ”
Source: Wikisource

Brother Potamian,  Makers of Electricity

“ There is, however, an earlier recognition known of the polarity of the lodestone; for Abbot Neckam, fifty years before, called attention to the dual nature of the physical action of the lodestone, attracting in one part (say) by sympathy and repelling at the other by antipathy. It was the common belief in Bacon's time and for centuries after, that the compass-needle was directed by the pole-star, often called the sailor's star ”
Source: Gutenberg

Portrait of George Frederick Kunz George Frederick Kunz,  The Curious Lore of Precious Stones

“ In classical writings the fascination exercised by a very beautiful woman is sometimes likened to the attractive power of the loadstone, as notably by Lucian,126 who says that if such a woman looks at a man she draws him to her, and leads him whither she will, just as the loadstone draws the iron. To the same idea is probably due the fact that in several languages the name given to the loadstone indicates that its peculiar power was conceived to be a manifestation of the sympathy or love of one mineral substance for another. ”
Source: Gutenberg

Get perspective with Kwize: daily news enlightened by great literature