Life — February 20, 1908 — page 10: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

= — THE NEW PLATO The Gambler LAUCON came in while Thrasyma- chus was still silent, and sat beside Adeimantus. He had been at the Exchange and his face was flushed. He wanted to know what the argument was about. About the nature of Justice and In- justice, said Socrates, But unless I am mistaken, you have something better to tell us, for you have, I see, been a victor at some game. Now, I did not suspect you to be adiscusthrower nor yet a verse- maker, and you must tell us what it is that makes you so flushed. For, my dear Glaucon, you cannot be drunk so early in the day. No, indeed, replied Glaucon, only I was thinking, as I came in and learned youwere discussing the nature of Justice and Injustice, that surely there can be nothing more foolish than words of this sort when you might, as I have done, be making ten thousand drachmae on the rise in Copper. And when did this occur? asked Socrates. It has just occurred, replied Glau- con, smiling. And surely Justice and Injustice, the nature of which, I believe, can never be determined, are of small con- sequence beside this Great Fact. Iam sure, Glaucon, said Socrates, that we are all indeed ignorant, as you say ; but as for the rest, by Zeus! I do not understand. And yet I should be glad to know how this may be. That would have been easy if you had bought when I did. And I would have benefited in like proportion with you? Yes. And if Thrasymachus here bought, he would have benefited. Yes, And would Adeimantus? Yes, Adeimantus likewise. And if Thrasymachus and Adeiman- tus, there would be others? had Yes, others. Andif they, then also their friends and acquaintances? Certainly. And if their friends, then the friends of their friends, for if one received a bene- fit, then all would? That is precisely the truth, Socrates, said Glaucon; and do you not see that this would make more buying, so that the price would go still higher ? T cannot deny the truth of that, said Socrates, with a smile, and I would ask you, Glaucon, to admit that as the benefit is for one and slightly more for two, then it would only be complete when all had bought, so that when this was finally ac- complished and every one had become a buyer of Copper, then we would bea nation of rich men. Glaucon assented to this, with some reluctance. And would you, Glaucon, be satisfied with Copper alone, or would you want something else? Something else. You would wish good wine and a seat in the theatre and maybe a chariot or so, and sandals and lambs’ meat and pulse and other things with which to refresh your body? Yes. And so you would wish to exchange some of the Copper you had bought for these things and more? So it would seem. And Thrasymachus here would feel the same? Yes. And also the others? Yes, the others. And each one of them would sell his Copper to get these things, for we cannot live by Copper alone? That is so. And would you bi surprised, my dear Glaucon, when thisth id been done, if the price of Copper shouix fall to where it was when you bought it? I should think that very likely. And even lower? Yes, lower. And I know now of what you are leading me to, Socrates, for you think to catch me in a trap by your honey words. For we cannot, as you say, eat Copper, and therefore we must ex- change it for other things, and the price depends upon the law of supply and de- mand, and not upon a value attached to the thing itself. And this I understand better than any man living, for I know how to buy when it is down and when to sell when it is up. And if all men did ex- actly the same there would, of course, be no actual benefit, but only those who are wise, and who use their judgments ac- cordingly, reap the benefits. For the fear of other men, and likewise their confi- dence, is what I must estimate; and if I do this rightly, I will surely benefit. And what is the use of talking to you, with your hair-splitting distinctions, when the Great Fact remains that I have made the profit, that I have achieved happiness? By Hercules! said Socrates, that is a long speech for you to make, my dear boy, and I seem to be all in confusion and groping about in the dark. And I hardly know how to answer you, although I dare say youareright, and there isnousein talk- ing any more. Still, there is a little matter I should like to have set at rest, and of which I have no doubt you will be able to satisfy me. Let me ask you, therefore, whether this isthe only time you have won, or whether you have won and also lost before; for I believe it to be true that you have spent much time on the Exchange. I have both won and lost before, said Glaucon. LESAN Intern - “I WANT A PAIR OF PANTS TO FIT ME, AND T WANT ’EM QUICK—SEE?” comicbooks.com