template <class Type>
int List<Type>::operator==( const Type& lhs, const Type& rhs )
{
     // compare lengths first
     if ( lhs.theCount != rhs.theCount )
          return 0;     // lengths differ

     ListCell *lh = lhs.head;
     ListCell *rh = rhs.head;

     for(; lh != 0; lh = lh.next, rh = rh.next )
          if ( lh.value != rh.value )
               return 0;

     return 1;          // if they don't differ, they must match
}