the colonists.
Six white shells were exchanged for three purple beads, and these in
turn were equivalent to one English penny.

LESSON LVI

OUR COUNTRY TO-DAY

_PART II_

How has it come about that the number of people in the United States
has increased with such rapidity? It is partly because more have been
born than have died, and partly because so many have come from foreign
countries. Fifty years ago large villages were common in which there
were hardly any foreigners. Now one-sixth of the whole number of
inhabitants of the United States are people who were born in some other
country.

These people are glad to come because the workingmen of America receive
higher wages than those of any other country, and because in America a
man is free to rise to any position that he is fitted to hold. The
country is ready to give the education that will prepare her citizens
to rise to high positions. It is believed that an educated man is
likely to make a better citizen than an ignorant man, and therefore the
public schools of the United States are entirely free. Then, too,
there are public libraries not only in the cities but in many of the
little villages, so that men who are too old to go to school may
educate themselves by reading. There is opportunity to use all kinds
of knowledge in carrying on the manufactures of the country. Almost
everything that used to be made by hand is now made by machinery, and
the skill to invent a machine that will work a little better than the
one in use is always well rewarded. Knowledge is also needed to
develop the mineral wealth of the country. Within the limits of the
United States are metals, coal, natural gas, and petroleum, and it is
the skill and inventive genius of her citizens that have brought such
great wealth to the country from these products.

This inventive genius has also given us rapid and cheap transportation.
In the old days a man had to make or raise most things for himself.
Manufactured articles that could be made very cheaply in one place
became exceedingly dear when they had to be carried long distances by
wagons over poor roads. Many delicate kinds of fruit would spoil on
such long journeys. Now, fruit can be sent from California to Maine in
fine condition. Cheap and rapid transportation is a great convenience.
Business men need not live in the cities near their offices,--the steam
or electric cars will carry them eight or ten miles in the tim