Evening Republican, Volume 15, Number 28, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 February 1911 — The ONLOOKER [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

The ONLOOKER

by WILBUR D. NESBIT

Monetless Land

'Twas a dream that I had of a moneyless land— Nobody was begging with tremuloua hand. Nobody was worrying over his bills. Nobody was striving to fill up his tills, Nobody was plotting for profit and gain. Nobody was trading on hunger and pain’. But everyone there had a moneyless tot— Some said it was heaven, some said it was not. When anyone worked—aa they all did, in fact— He toiled for the pleasure he had in th* act; Some labored with cheeriness all of th* while. Some grumbled and growled and were not seen to smile; Each did what he could for his fellow* each day, , But everyone knew there was no coin for pay. The joy of achievement was all that h* got— Some said it was heaven, some said it was not. No bargains on Monday brought people downtown, No worrying debtors faced anyone's frown; There wasn't a cent in the whole of th* land— And some people thought the arrangement was grand, While others declared that no money to spend Was simply a wearying, pleasureless end, No dollar sign there, nor a decimal dot — Some thought it was heaven, some thought it was not. 'Twas a dream that I had, and I wakened at last And mused o’er the vision with brows overcast: I can’t understand it—some people were glad To do without money, and others weresad; / Some people were happy with nothing to lend, Some people were sorry with nothing to spend. I 'can’t give a name to that moneylessspot— Some said it was heaven, some said it. was not.