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some particular thing learned to exchange that thing with 

 some other man M'ho was able to produce advantageously 

 some other commodity, then was learned the first great 

 lesson in practical co-operation. 



It is practical, effective and beneficent co-operation 

 when each man labors in the field in which he can accom- 

 plish most, and gives of the fruits of his toil, in exchange 

 for such commodity or service as he may require. All the 

 agencies of trade, of transportation and of finance exist for 

 and are devoted to, such a simple purpose as the taking 

 from you and me what we do not want, and giving us in- 

 stead the things we need. The more perfect the operation 

 of this process of exchange, the more rapidly does our 

 wealth increase, and the more general is the enjoyment of 

 material prosperity. 



ObviousI}^ a great quantity of goods in our possession 

 will be of little value if we cannot exchange them, or, in 

 other words, sell them. If I make a great many shoes 

 there must be a great many people who make no shoes at 

 all, who will come to me for the supply they must have. 

 If you raise great crops of grain, there must be a great 

 number of people somewhere who raise no grain and who 

 must come to you for so much of your surplus as may be 

 necessary for their subsistence. The same conditions must 

 prevail in relation to all the varieties of merchandise in 

 which men deal. 



In this connection we should also take into consideration 

 the fact that the needs of mankind are never quite satisfied 

 and are continually increasing. As fast as the means of 

 supplying our wants are multiplied, new wants appear. 

 There may always be a demand somewhere for the surplus 

 commodities we produce, no matter how great the quantity . 



