But with
regard to these pink shells, how can you possibly create for them a
certain standard of value? It is merely agreement among yourselves that
fixes any value to them.'
'By no means! you are so rapid! Each shell is immediately convertible
into gold; of which metal, let me again remind you, we possess more than
any other nation; but which, indeed, we only keep as a sort of dress
coin, chiefly to indulge the prejudices of foreigners.'
'But,' said the perpetual Popanilla, 'suppose every man who held a shell
on the same day were to -- '
'My good friend! I really am the last person in the world to give
explanations. In Vraibleusia, we have so much to do that we have no
time to think; a habit which only becomes nations who are not employed.
You are now fast approaching the Great Shell Question; a question which,
I confess, affects the interests of every man in this island more than
any other; but of which, I must candidly own, every man in this island
is more ignorant than of any other. No one, however, can deny that the
system works well; and if anything at any time go wrong, why really Mr.
Pages:
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68