"Do you mean," said the Chief, "that your people are trying to find things they do not need, so they can buy them, and try to make some use of them?"
John could not help but smile at the acuteness of the question. "That, in effect, is just what they do. It is not so considered, however, by our people. It is difficult to say just where necessity ends and luxury begins. But each year, yes every month, new things are brought out, and people begin to buy them, because the traders and the people who sell are shrewd and know how to cultivate taste and the desire for new and startling things."
"But how do the people get the articles to exchange for these things?"
"The people do not accumulate articles to buy other articles with. Instead, they work to get money, and with this money they buy the things."
"I do not know what you mean by that. What is 'money'?"
"It is an article which tells what everything else is worth."
"Then it must be wonderful. I would like to see that remarkable thing which can tell what everything else is worth."
John took some of the coins from his pocket. "Here is some of it, which we use on Wonder Island."
The Chief smiled. He held them in his hand. He knew the meaning of the hole in the center. They were intended, as he thought, to be threaded on a string, and used as an ornament.