/**
 * Something that knows how to compare the string versions of any two
 * objects.
 *
 * @author Samuel A. Rebelsky
 * @version 1.0 of April 1999
 */
public class StringComparator 
  implements Comparator
{
  /**
   * Determine if two things are equal.
   */
  public boolean equals(Object alpha, Object beta) {
    return alpha.equals(beta);
  } // equals(Object, Object)

  /**
   * Determine if one thing is less than another.
   */
  public boolean lessThan(Object first, Object second) {
    String firstString = first.toString();
    String secondString = second.toString();
    // compareTo returns a negative number if the first string
    // is smaller
    return firstString.compareTo(secondString) < 0;
  } // lessThan(Object, Object)
} // interface Comparator