4. During the World War the government promised to pay manufacturers of war materials the cost of production plus 10 per cent. Give an illustration showing what this means. Would it be wise for the government to give a promise like this to all industries at all times? On what ground can the action of the government during the war be justified?

5. Explain the chief reason for products being cheaper now than they were during the World War.

6. What paragraph in this selection reminds you of "The Skyscraper," p. 119? Explain.

7. Our wants come from customs, habits, tastes, imitation, fashions, and esthetic desires. Mention wants you have which come from each of these six sources.

8. Name five wants you have which would disappear if you lived like the pioneers in "Turkey Red" (p. 16), like Ab in "The First Bow and Arrow" (p. 100).

9. Would it be better if we were to live as our grandparents did? Give reasons.

10. An increase in human wants has been the chief factor in causing man to advance in civilization. Do you think this is true? Find in preceding selections evidence which seems to prove or disprove the statement.

II. Volunteer problem. Explain, with illustrations, the next to the last sentence in the selection.

12. Volunteer reports:

a. What the board of trade does.

b. Bear raids in the wheat pit.

13. Answer the questions at the head of this article (p. 210).

14. Read aloud, in turn, the questions which you cannot answer and the details which you do not understand. Let any pupil who can explain these points volunteer to do so. Ask your teacher to clear up any difficulties which remain.

15. What paragraph in the selection is illustrated by the poem which follows?

ADDITIONAL READINGS. -1. "Why We Buy A Study in Advertising," H. F. Adams, in Scribner's Magazine, 67: 608-616. 2. "Living Up to His Advertising," E. E. Calkins, ibid., 71: 105-111. 3. "Imagination in Selling," R. R. Updegraff, in Harper's Magazine, 144: 245-252.

3. CONTENTMENT

OLIVER WENDELL HOLMES

"Man wants but little here below."

Little I ask; my wants are few;
I only wish a hut of stone,
(A very plain brownstone will do),
That I may call my own

And close at hand is such a one,
In yonder street that fronts the sun.

Plain food is quite enough for me;

Three courses are as good as ten If Nature can subsist on three,

Thank Heaven for three. Amen! I always thought cold victual niceMy choice would be vanilla ice.

I care not much for gold or land
Give me a mortgage here and there,
Some good bank stock, some note of hand,
Or trifling railroad share;

I only ask that Fortune send

A little more than I shall spend.

Jewels are baubles; 'tis a sin

To care for such unfruitful things -
One good-sized diamond in a pin
Some, not so large, in rings
A ruby, and a pearl, or so,
Will do for me I laugh at show.

I would not have the horse I drive

So fast that folks must stop and stare; An easy gait two forty-five

Suits me; I do not care
Perhaps, for just a single spurt,
Some seconds less would do no hurt.

Of pictures, I should like to own

Titians and Raphaels three or four-
I love so much their style and tone,
One Turner, and no more,

(A landscape — foreground golden dirt
The sunshine painted with a squirt.)

Busts, cameos, gems such things as these,
Which others often show for pride,

I value for their power to please,

And selfish churls deride

One Stradivarius, I confess,

Two meerschaums, I would fain possess.

Thus humble let me live and die,
Nor long for Midas' golden touch;
If Heaven more generous gifts deny,
I shall not miss them much
Too grateful for the blessing lent
Of simple tastes and mind content!

CLASS ACTIVITIES

1. Name a few of the "simple" wants of the poet. What want would he probably change if he were writing the poem now? 2. Explain with the help of the glossary: mortgage, note of hand, railroad share, easy gait, Titian, Raphael, Turner, cameo, Stradivarius, meerschaum, Midas' golden touch. How does a knowledge of the meaning of these terms help one to enjoy the poem?

3. What was the most costly want of the poet? The least costly? 4. What effect does Holmes wish to produce by the use of italics? By the frequent use of the dash?

5. Read aloud the stanza you like best.

6. Contrast the first statement in each stanza with the rest of the stanza. Point out similar contrasts in other parts of the poem.

What was Holmes's purpose in making these contrasts? Compare in this respect with O'Reilly's purpose in "A Builder's Lesson" (p. 156; see especially Problem 7, p. 157).

7. Tell what makes the humor in the poem.

4. MOSES SELLS THE COLT

OLIVER GOLDSMITH

As we were now to hold up our heads a little higher in the world, it was thought proper to sell the colt at a neighboring fair, and buy us a horse that would carry single or double, and make a pretty appearance at church or upon a visit.

As the annual fair happened on the following day, I had intentions of going myself; but my wife persuaded me that I had a cold, and nothing could prevail upon her to permit me to go from home. "No, my dear," said she, "our son Moses is a discreet boy, and can buy and sell to a very good advantage; you know all our great bargains are of his purchasing. He always stands and actually tires them till he gets a bargain."

As I had some opinion of my son's prudence, I was willing enough to intrust him with this commission, and the next morning I perceived his sisters busy in fitting out Moses for the fair; trimming his hair, brushing his buckles, and cocking his hat with pins. The business of the toilet being over, we had at last the satisfaction of seeing him mounted upon the colt, with a box before him, in which to bring home groceries.

He had on a coat made of that cloth they call "thunderand-lightning," which though grown too short was much too good to be thrown away. His waistcoat was of gosling-green, and his sisters had tied his hair with a broad black ribbon. We all followed him several paces from the door, bawling after him, "Good luck! good luck '" till we could see him no longer.

When it was almost nightfall, I began to wonder what could keep our son so long at the fair.

"Never mind our son," cried my wife; "depend upon it,

he knows what he is about. I'll warrant we'll never see him sell his hen of a rainy day. I have seen him buy such bargains as would amaze one. I'll tell you a good story about that, that will make you split your sides with laughing. But, as I live, yonder comes Moses without a horse, and the box at his back."

As she spoke, Moses came slowly on foot, and sweating under the box, which he had strapped round his shoulders like a pedler.

"Welcome, welcome, Moses! Well, my boy, what have you brought us from the fair?"

"I have brought you myself," said Moses, with a sly look, and resting the box on the dresser.

"Ay, Moses," cried my wife, "that we know; but where is the horse?"

"I have sold him," replied Moses, "for three pounds five shillings and twopence."

"Well done," my good boy," returned she; "I knew you would touch them off. Between ourselves, three pounds five shillings and twopence is no bad day's work. Come, let us have it then."

"I have brought back no money,' cried Moses again; “I have laid it all out in a bargain and here it is," pulling out a bundle from his breast; "here they are a gross of green spectacles, with silver rims and shagreen cases."

"A gross of green spectacles!" repeated my wife, in a faint voice. "And you have parted with the colt, and brought us back nothing but a gross of paltry green spectacles!"

"Dear mother," cried the boy, "why won't you listen to reason? I had them at a great bargain, or I should not have bought them. The silver rims alone will sell for double the money."

"A fig for the silver rims !" cried my wife in a passion. "I dare say they won't sell for above half the money at the rate of broken silver, five shillings an ounce."