are pretty well off. The rate at which
we live is as luxurious as we could wish. The rivalry of ostentation,
which in your day led to extravagance in no way conducive to comfort,
finds no place, of course, in a society of people absolutely equal in
resources, and our ambition stops at the surroundings which minister to
the enjoyment of life. We might, indeed, have much larger incomes,
individually, if we chose so to use the surplus of our product, but we
prefer to expend it upon public works and pleasures in which all share,
upon public halls and buildings, art galleries, bridges, statuary,
means of transit, and the conveniences of our cities, great musical and
theatrical exhibitions, and in providing on a vast scale for the
recreations of the people. You have not begun to see how we live yet,
Mr. West. At home we have comfort, but the splendor of our life is, on
its social side, that which we share with our fellows. When you know
more of it you will see where the money goes, as you used to say, and I
think you will agree that we do well so to expend it."

"I suppose," observed Dr. Leete, as we strolled homeward from the
dining hall, "that no reflection would have cut the men of your
wealth-worshiping century more keenly than the suggestion that they did
not know how to make money. Nevertheless that is just the verdict
history has passed on them. Their system of unorganized and
antagonistic industries was as absurd economically as it was morally
abominable. Selfishness was their only science, and in industrial
production selfishness is suicide. Competition, which is the instinct
of selfishness, is another word for dissipation of energy, while
combination is the secret of efficient production; and not till the
idea of increasing the individual hoard gives place to the idea of
increasing the common stock can industrial combination be realized, and
the acquisition of wealth really begin. Even if the principle of share
and share alike for all men were not the only humane and rational basis
for a society, we should still enforce it as economically expedient,
seeing that until the disintegrating influence of self-seeking is
suppressed no true concert of industry is possible."

Chapter 23

That evening, as I sat with Edith in the music room, listening to some
pieces in the programme of that day which had attracted my notice, I
took advantage of an interval in the music to say, "I have a question
to ask you which I fear