THE FATE OF ICIODORUM. 2IT 
did so, with the master-workman Jacques at their 
head. Their demand was nine francs a day, or no 
more boots in Issoire. The president had ex- 
pected this. In fact, he had rather hoped for it ; 
and so he had kept a good stock of boots in re- 
serve for such an emergency. 
He spoke very kindly to the deputation, patted 
Jacques softly on the arm, but, in brief, said that 
the state of the trade would permit no increase of 
wages at present. Next day the doors of the fac- 
tories were closed, and each workman received his 
pay in full, and his discharge. 
For a week the factories were empty and silent. 
The Confidence Society was not idle, however, for 
a trusty messenger had been sent at once to the 
village of Jonas. He offered four francs a day to 
the Jonas men if they would come over to work in 
Issoire. Now, Jonas is a queer little town, built 
all around the brow of an old volcano. I doubt if 
there is another like iton earth. The top of the 
hill is made of hard lava, below which is a belt of 
ashes, very old and packed solid, but as easy to 
cut as cheese. Long ago the ancient Gauls bur- 
rowed into this hill and filled it with their habita- 
tions. These appear like gigantic swallows’ nests 
when you look at the hill from below. One of the 
largest of these houses is used as a church, and its 
lava walls are rudely frescoed over in imitation of 
the big church at Issoire. Only very poor people 
live in Jonas now, — people who cannot pay much 
rent, and who do not mind the absence of fire in 
the winter. And the Jonas men were glad to come 
over to Issoire for four francs a day, to take up the 
