THE FATE OF ICIODORUM. 207 
industry is the history of all the others, for in one 
way or another all experienced the same changes 
and conditions. 
The profits were large at first, and very soon the 
Issoire Citizens’ Foot-wear Manufacturing Associa- 
tion had no longer a monopoly in boots and shoes. 
The original concern still retained the city contract 
for supplying boots to the laboring-men, but the 
others found the general trade no less profitable. 
But soon an unexpected decline in boot con- 
sumption took place. People perversely wore 
their old boots, which had long passed the season 
of presentability. The children went barefooted 
or shuffled around in sabots. Even worse, many 
parents bought for their children a new kind of 
copper-toed shoe, which was made in Clermont, — 
a shoe that could never wear out at all; one of 
the worst possible things for the shoe-trade in any 
country ! 
When it was found that boots and shoes enough 
to last for five years were for sale in the shops, it 
was evident that something must be done. The 
original concern decided to wait. It closed its fac- 
tory and discharged its workmen. But some of 
the other firms could not wait. They must have 
their money back or go into bankruptcy. Shoes 
began to come down. Every shoe-dealer was 
alarmed, and a meeting was held in the Café de 
la Coméddie to see what could be done. It was 
decided to lower the prices and then to maintain 
them. Boots were rated at fifteen francs per pair, 
and shoes and slippers in proportion. But one 
dealer could not keep his promise. He had avery 
