"In that event," I said, "I can sit here all day and gorge these, and go to other pavilions when the supply here is low."
"You can do that," she said, "but you will soon become satiated and you will not take advantage of such privilege. It's only the small children who are tempted to partake of more than is good for them. They are not served without their parents, and they are taught restraint. These pavilions are at every crossing and are supplied continually by one of the four adjoining communities for a week each in their turn. Each community tries to outdo the other in quality and service, so as to attract more guests. Pavilions and benches on all our streets contribute a great deal to our social intermingling, especially during the afternoon teas."
"To whom are all these refreshments charged? There must be an enormous supply consumed daily."
"They are charged against the account of public supply," she answered.
"Is there no payment for anything you get here?"
"No! It certainly looks very droll to us when we observe your payments, your nuisance taxes and all other taxes and licenses you impose on your citizens.
"Think of your federal, state, county, and city taxes, your licenses, assessments, permits, and tariffs. How about your large army of salespeople, cashiers, bookkeepers, examiners, accountants, and others? Cash registers and office machinery and other derivative occupations pertaining to your money handling, including your assessors, collectors and other employees, all wasting their time in these your boundless non-productive occupations."
For a minute I didn't answer. Then I commented, "your street cleaners certainly keep your streets in perfect condition. I see no dust, rubbish, leaves, or papers flying around."
"Of course not," she answered in an offended manner. "We have no street cleaners, no garbage collectors who, like your Earth ones, collect rubbish and openly spill it into their wagons, fouling the air of the whole street for the passersby. Our volunteer gardeners prune our trees and shrubberies, cut and trim our hedges and lawns, and plant and keep our flower beds. They have up-to-date tools and machinery, as well as strong vacuum pumps to take up the dust, and dead leaves from lawns and walks. The leaves are used for fertilizer. They take great pride in their work, and each group tries to outdo the other in keeping the parkways and streets clean and beautiful. In the winter time we have no snow, ice accumulations, or slippery walks, because they all are provided with hot water pipes below the surface."
"I have not seen a foot policeman anywhere. Don't you have them, or need them?"