222 SCIENCE SKETCHES. 



For he was an unpractical man, easily swayed by 

 theories rather than by emotions. 



But the reaction soon came, as it always comes 

 in the politics of France. That it came so early 

 was due to the Clermont newspapers. They pub- 

 lished Jacques's speech in full, with words of great 

 approbation. 



In the Clermont " Liberal " were the head-lines : 

 " Long live Mayor Jacques ! " " Down with the 

 Demagogues ! " " Issoire coming to her senses ! " 

 " The Working-men repudiate the Octroi ! " "Good 

 Prospects for the Clermont Trade ! " 



It was on the very eve of the election that the 

 Clermont papers were received in Issoire. It was 

 enough. What sophistry had seduced, patriotism 

 reclaimed. The mayor said that if Jacques was 

 elected, the octroi would be removed at once, 

 every man in Issoire would be ruined, and the 

 city, bound hand and foot, would be delivered over 

 to Clermont. Ten wagon-loads of goods would be 

 sent in the place of one, and not all the money in 

 the whole city would suffice to pay for them. 

 Then he read from the Clermont " Liberal " an 

 editorial in which Jacques was compared to 

 Arnold Winkelried and to Charles Martel and to 

 Saint Austremoine, the first hero and martyr of 

 Issoire. The effect was tremendous. Every word 

 from Clermont in praise of Jacques was, as the 

 mayor said, " one more nail in his coffin." 



The election-day came at last as such days 

 always come. It was a bright Sabbath afternoon 

 in early August, for in France elections are always 

 held on Sunday afternoons. The birds sang in 



