the one was not tainted by the other. It is a miraculous proof of the
divine mission of the poet."

"And the popular novelist," the lawyer whispered in my ear, but loud
enough for the rest to hear, and they all testified their amusement at my
cost.

The Altrurian, with his weak sense of humor, passed the joke. "It shows no
signs of corruption from greed, but I can't help thinking that, fine as it
is, it might have been much finer if the authors who produced it had been
absolutely freed to their work, and had never felt the spur of need."

"Are they absolutely freed to it in Altruria?" asked the professor. "I
understood you that everybody had to work for his living in Altruria."

"That is a mistake. Nobody works for his living in Altruria; he works for
others' living."

"Ah, that is precisely what our working-men object to doing here," said
the manufacturer. "In that last interview of mine with the walking
delegate he had the impudence to ask me why my men should work for my
living as well as their own."

"He couldn't imagine that you were giving them the work to do--the very
means of life," said the professor.

"Oh no, that's the last thing those fellows want to think of."

"Perhaps," the Altrurian suggested, "they might not have found it such a
hardship to work for your living if their own had been assured, as it is