New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1922-06-11
Wizard Wants to Know
How Player With Three
Fights Should Treat a
Man With a ''Pat'' Hand
His Test Questions
Would Tax Solomon
List Includes Problems in
Salesmanship, Science,
Commerce, Diplomacy

Thomas A. Edison has decided that II
Is not enough for the young men en-
ployed around his plant 20 know his
tory. geography. music. physics. chem
istry. biology. banking. farming. stock
raising. geology. medicine, Latin. as
tronomy, ballistics. hnthropology,
dietetics, mathematics. coal mining,
Photography. insurance, civies, mag
netiSm, etymology, poetry, fiction.
drama. painting and the source Of all
known and unknown raw materials
They also must know how to play
poker.
Although Mr.. Edison covers all the
above subjects in the new list Of ques-
tions which he is propounding to
candidates for positions In his organi-
zation. the versatile young applicants
In addition are supposed 70 be able TO
define spieEeleisen, mcnhaden, rotifer,
co, jute, aqua regia and lupcoeytes.
They should know. too. where Ben
jamin Thompson was born and be
posted on the boundaries OF Persia
since the last change, the Chinese
alphabet. the cause OF beri-beri, the
name OF the largest print cloth mill In
this country. the composition Of grape
nuts and black ink, who arc the
Igorotes, and who started the war
A Test for "Four-Flushers"
pue the ouestionnaire given out yes
terday asks far more searching ques-
tions thar these. For example, Mr..
Edison now wants 20 make sure that
his employees understand poker. II
YOU were playing poker with . stranger
who holds a pat hand on the first deal.
ne asks, what would you do II you had
only $40 ir the world. held three
cights after the draw ard saw the
stranger pu. a quarter into a bo-eent
pot7 Why
That "why" II the big point. Mr..
Edison wants men around him who can
think and do things because they know
the reason for them. Question after
question is asked TO make sure that
candidates net nationally. Why is II
necessary 20 breathe? Why should
food be thoroughly mastieated (masti.
cate means 10 chew Why should
Won buy some canary birds II you werr
running a coal mine7 How can you
prove by scientific apparatus that the
world goes round7
But II Is not only sound thinking
that Mr.. Edison requires. Mr. Edison
wants his subordinates 10 be able 10
think fast. On this point the following
question comes along toward the end
Of the list:
A Triangle Not in Geometry
"You are a salesman making every
effort 70 yet an order from a big man
ufacturer with an unusually jealous
wife. One evening you sec this pros
pective customer dining in n restau-
rant with a chorus girl. What would
you do7
The new qucstionnaire is published
below. The Tribune Is able 10 say that
the answers TO nearly so per cent Of
the test may be .ound in a large die
tionary. But since Mr.. Edison entered
the employment field there is some
doubt as 10 the proper answer 20 the
question calling for the enumeration
OF the qualities TO be required Of a
manufacturing executive Furthermore,
no literature seems 20 be available on
the correct translation Of How come
he amt seen you was not home?" or
the ethics Of melting down gold for
jewelry. And there are several con-
ficting answers now current 70 the
question. "What is a soviet7" But here
is the list:
lin what state Is Pixies Peakl
Prom what country do we get
most articles made Of bamboo?
3-Who was Commodore Perry and
what did he do7
4-In what state are the so-ealled
bad Lands"7
5-To what is the disease called
beri-beri duet
6-Who was Sergei Witte?
I'm what country was first laid the
story OF "Evangeline" by Longfellow
s-Whete Is Mount Popoeatepetl?
9--What state grows the most hops J
I0-Name the largest print-cloth
mill In the United States.
li-Bound Persia.
12-What kind Of tobacco do we i'm
port from Sumatra7
13-Who was Samuel Johnson?
14-What Is Spiegeleisen?
l5-Name two Of the principal salt
producing localities in the United
States.
ls-From what source do we obtain
iodinei
lido you know approximately