The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-09-30
III BEAN TEST.
difference in the Philadelphia N
New York Mental Attitude.
Doohoetor Damocrat and Chronicle.

Rochester Democrat anu ChiohiSiC'
There have recently found their way into
some Eastern cities a number of those not
especially unfamiliar vegetable freaks
known as Jumping beans" or devils
BEANS" The jumping beam comes from
Mexico. 1t is shaped rather like a morning
glory seed. but it is very much larger. It's
REGULARITY is that it is endowed with mo-
tive power and jumps about IN a very
lively and unbeaniike manner when LETT TO
it's own devices. This phenomenal activity
is due to the fact that the bean is a mere
energetic worm, whose spasmodic contor-
tons keep his home pretty constantly on
the move. These curious little objects nave
recently excited interest in business circles
In New York and Philadelphia, and the dlt-
ference between the New York and Phiia-
deiphia way OF looking at them serves TO
illustrate the well-recognized difference be-
tween the mental habits of the two cities.
The Philadelphia way is set forth IN d
news article in the Philadelphia Inquirer.
The New York way is described in a news
article in the New York Sun. The Pnila-
delphia merchant in the presence OF the
jumping bean finds his mind disposed to
assume an attitude of superstitious awe.
BY exercising his reasoning and will pow
ers he is able to overcome TINS tendency
and to force himself to regard the nysterl-
Gus bean as a legitimate subject or ma
terialistic scientific inquiry. he carefully
observes the movements of the beam notes
how many times it hops per minute, meas
ures the distance 1t can cover In a gwen
length of time, records the effect produced
upon it by light and arkness and varying
temperatures. He lays the data thus ac-
quired before scientific persons of his &C
quaintance, and, being satisfied with tneir
conclusions, confideS to the reporter MS
intention to consult a professor in Girard
College," whom he is confident will solve
the mystery" His interest in the bean Is
purely scientific. 1t never occurs to him
that it's peculiar qualities may be turned
to practical account.
How different the conduct of the young
and enterprising New York business man,
confronted by a jumping bean, when trade
is depressed. The condition when trade
is depressed is added because If trade were
lively he would not notice the trumpet or
the last judgment, much less a jumping
bean. Having observed that the bean is
possessed of locomotive powers he accepts
the fact without wasting any time in try
ing to account for ii. He derives some Ut
tie amusement from the beams antics and
half unconsciously he notes that the man.
ner in which it is placed on the surface of
his desk seems to have some relation to
the direction of its next movement. He
studies the beams performances until he
finds himself always able to foresee pretty
accurately which way 1t will jump next.
Then he says TO himself, there ought to
be something in this" begins TO thing earn
estly, and after a while constructs a dia-
gram. The diagram consists of a small
circle within a large one, the space be-
tween the inner and outer circles being
divided by straight lines that are p~rolonga-
tons of radii of the smaller circle, into
numbered compartments. When the lunch
con hour arrives he takes his bean and his
diagram with him to his accustomed re-
fectory and, after the meal is finished, says
unto his mates Behold, / have struck a
new racket! Let us place this bean, which
jumps, in this small circle, and let US each
choose one Of these numbered conpart-
ments. Let us also chip in a dollar apiece
| for a pool and let him in whose chosen
compartment the bean shall jump, take the
| pool" And it is so. And it keeps on be-
ing so most of the afternoon. And the
owner of the bean wins a discreet plurality
of the pools by virtue of his previous study
of it's habits, so that the days business
| shows a distinct margin of profit. Such is
and theoretical Philadelphia, as set forth
by representative newspapers of the two
Il novs-oCtaI r;fioo