San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1888-11-29
WONDERS OF THE soRoeAN.
The Japanese System of Ciphering-Rapid
Methods of Counting.

Methods of Counting.
Suppose few articles had been purchased,
and the paltry sum total is only worthy
record in the first example Of a schoolboy's
mental arithmetic. The buyer sums them
instantly in his mind, but the tradesman
deigns not to receive the amount or to per-
pick himself with any mathematical labor,
however triiing. He seizes his soroban,
gives it tilt, and a rattling sweep of the
hand, makes few clicks and announces the
price. There is frequently small difference
in amount, arising from imperfect compre-
hension of the infinitessimal coins, which
play more prominent part in retail trade
here than do the farthings in the English
penny shops But the soroban may be
trusted. 1t does not lie any more than the
multiplication table may A longer ac-
qu&intance transforms the first distrust into
wondering admiration. In competition of
simple addition an ordinary tradesman in
Japan would carry off the palm from any
mathematician Of the west.
The arithmetical process on soroban diff
fers so completely from our cipher that only
study and practice will make it understood.
You know the instrument: A shallow rec
tangular box, with bar of wood, making
an unequal division lengthwise. Wires-gen-
orally seventeen in number, but that is not
cssential-upon which are strung wood balls,
cross the short diameter of the box, running
through the wood bar. In the largest divis-
ion there are five balls on each wire, and in
the smaller only one.
Forget all the arithmetic you have learned,
and begin again with an eastern soul There
will be no fractions to alarm yOu-here will
be only decimals The middle wire will rep
resent units, and the rods on either hand
have place value corresponding to our sys-
tom of numeration To the left are the tens,
hundreds and thousands, to the right the
tenths, hundredths, and so on. Away from
the dividing ball the balls have no significa-
ton or value; pushed to it, they are units in
the larger compartment and fives of the
same denomination in the small one. This
gives almost double system of counting. 1t
is by iives as well as by tens
Suppose the first sum adjusted on the soro-
ban by pushing up balls for every digit.
Tho next ono to be added is Incorporated
with it in the very act of writing-if that
word may stand for the second act of adj
iuStment. Here comes the beginning of
tho difference. The largest numbers are
added first and the smallest last. 1t is like
everything else done in the East, wrong end
first All tho process Of carry ten," which
we master with infinite trouble in childhood,
disappears in the magical movements of
those intermediary fves. Mathematics is
not regarded with awe in this country, nor is
it made point Of measure between male and
female intellect. The bette carries his soro-
ban, and reckons upon it the meals of his
horses. Every kitchen is furnished with it,
although spoons and pans may be minus.
The nurse clicks lbs balls when meditating
the extravaganza Of an added length to her
next gown, and the fearless baby plays with
it for a rattle
If there is anything which, could reconcile
me to being a native Of the far east, it is
being born to use the soroban. The soroban
istbc key to a system of arithmetic so widely
different from ours it deso2s more respect
than, scholars generally &C 20 it.. Oa-its