(EQUAL "a" "a") -> ()

[Robert W. Kerns <RWK at MIT-MC>]

    Date: 1 October 1980 1110-EDT (Wednesday)
    From: Guy.Steele at CMU-10A
    To:   bug-lisp
    cc:   miller at MIT-AI
    Re:   (EQUAL "a" "a") -> ()

    I might suggest that there be a separate obarray for interning
    strings--this would prevent the possibility of SETQ conflicts,
    while allowing EQUAL to work on them.
This requires an entire obarray, plus buckets, plus inhibiting GC of them
unless you invoke the great GCTWA.  If you've got the space, why not do
(LOAD '((LISP) STRING)) and get REAL strings?