"That was the practice when we left home," replied the doctor. "And I
cannot understand how we can do differently. Your views of property are so
strange to us that I am sure my companion will join me in asking you to
explain them more fully."

"I certainly do," I said.

"Property," began Thorwald, "we do not have, but we have many of the
rights of proprietorship in the things we use from time to time. And what
other benefit than the free use of what we need could be derived from the
possession of things? Suppose I, for example, owned a thousand acres of
land and a hundred fine mansions. I could cultivate but a small part of
the land and occupy but one house at a time, and of what value would the
remainder be?"

"Would not such palaces as these on this beautiful street bring a good
rent?" I inquired.

"Don't be stupid," replied Thorwald good-naturedly. "You must know by this
time that we are not a race of self-seekers, each one taking advantage of
the necessity of his neighbor. But I suppose it is difficult for you to
appreciate a state of society in which each individual considers the
feelings and needs of others as much as his own. With us this principle is
not preached any more, but it is actually practiced in all our affairs."

"I will try to keep that in mind," I said, "although it is a fact I can
hardly realize. But about this matter of houses I want to make another
inquiry. After you have become established in a beautiful home to which
you have no more right than anyone else, what is to prevent some other