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n their predecessors had done。 One of the heads of these two new households started a distillery of potato…spirit； and the other was a wool…washer； each combined these occupations with his official work； and in this way two valuable industries were created among us。
〃Now that the Commune had some revenues of its own； no opposition was raised in any quarter when they were spent on building a town…hall； with a free school for elementary education in the building and accommodation for a teacher。 For this important post I had selected a poor priest who had taken the oath； and had therefore been cast out by the department； and who at last found a refuge among us for his old age。 The schoolmistress is a very worthy woman who had lost all that she had； and was in great distress。 We made up a nice little sum for her； and she has just opened a boarding…school for girls to which the wealthy farmers hereabouts are beginning to send their daughters。
〃If so far； sir； I have been entitled to tell you the story of my own doings as the chronicle of this little spot of earth； I have reached the point where M。 Janvier； the new parson； began to divide the work of regeneration with me。 He has been a second Fenelon； unknown beyond the narrow limits of a country parish； and by some secret of his own has infused a spirit of brotherliness and of charity among these folk that has made them almost like one large family。 M。 Dufau； the justice of the peace； was a late comer； but he in an equal degree deserves the gratitude of the people here。
〃I will put the whole position before you in figures that will make it clearer than any words of mine。 At this moment the Commune owns two hundred acres of woodland； and a hundred and sixty acres of meadow。 Without running up the rates； we give a hundred crowns to supplement the cure's stipend； we pay two hundred francs to the rural policeman； and as much again to the schoolmaster and schoolmistress。 The maintenance of the roads costs us five hundred francs； while necessary repairs to the townhall； the parsonage； and the church； with some few other expenses； also amount to a similar sum。 In fifteen years' time there will be a thousand francs worth of wood to fell for every hundred francs' worth cut now； and the taxes will not cost the inhabitants a penny。 This Commune is bound to become one of the richest in France。 But perhaps I am taxing your patience； sir？〃 said Benassis； suddenly discovering that his companion wore such a pensive expression that it seemed as though his attention was wandering。
〃No！ no！〃 answered the commandant。
〃Our trade； handicrafts； and agriculture so far only supplied the needs of the district；〃 the doctor went on。 〃At a certain point our prosperity came to a standstill。 I wanted a post…office； and sellers of tobacco； stationery； powder and shot。 The receiver of taxes had hitherto preferred to live elsewhere； but now I succeeded in persuading him to take up his abode in the town； holding out as inducements the pleasantness of the place and of the new society。 As time and place permitted I had succeeded in producing a supply of everything for which I had first created a need； in attracting families of hardworking people into the district； and in implanting a desire to own land in them all。 So by degrees； as they saved a little money； the waste land began to be broken up； spade husbandry and small holdings increased； so did the value of property on the mountain。
〃Those struggling folk who； when I knew them first； used to walk over to Grenoble carrying their few cheeses for sale； now made the journey comfortably in a cart； and took fruit； eggs； chickens and turkeys； and before they were aware of it； everyone was a little richer。 Even those who came off worst had a garden at any rate； and grew early vegetables and fruit。 It became the children's work to watch the cattle in the fields； and at last it was found to be a waste of time to bake bread at home。 Here were signs of prosperity！
〃But if this place was to be a permanent forge of industry； fuel must be constantly added to the fire。 The town had not as yet a renascent industry which could maintain this commercial process； an industry which should make great transactions； a warehouse； and a market necessary。 It is not enough that a country should lose none of the money that forms its capital； you will not increase its prosperity by more or less ingenious devices for causing this amount to circulate； by means of production and consumption； through the greatest possible number of hands。 That is not where your problem lies。 When a country is fully developed and its production keeps pace with its consumption； if private wealth is to increase as well as the wealth of the community at large； there must be exchanges with other communities； which will keep a balance on the right side of the balance…sheet。 This thought has let states with a limited territorial basis like Tyre； Carthage； Venice； Holland； and England； for instance； to secure the carrying trade。 I cast about for some such notion as this to apply to our little world； so as to inaugurate a third commercial epoch。 Our town is so much like any other； that our prosperity was scarcely visible to a passing stranger； it was only for me that it was astonishing。 The folk had come together by degrees； they themselves were a part of the change； and could not judge of its effects as a whole。
〃Seven years had gone by when I met with two strangers； the real benefactors of the place； which perhaps some day they will transform into a large town。 One of them is a Tyrolese； an exceedingly clever fellow； who makes rough shoes for country people's wear； and boots for people of fashion in Grenoble as no one can make them； not even in Paris itself。 He was a poor strolling musician； who； singing and working； had made his way through Italy； one of those busy Germans who fashion the tools of their own work； and make the instrument that they play upon。 When he came to the town he asked if any one wanted a pair of shoes。 They sent him to me； and I gave him an order for two pairs of boots； for which he made his own lasts。 The foreigner's skill surprised me。 He gave accurate and consistent answers to the questions I put； and his face and manner confirmed the good opinion I had formed of him。 I suggested that he should settle in the place； undertaking to assist him in business in every way that I could； in fact； I put a fairly large sum of money at his disposal。 He accepted my offer。 I had my own ideas in this。 The quality of our leather had improved； and why should we not use it ourselves； and before very long make our own shoes at moderate prices？
〃It was the basket…maker's business over again on a larger scale。 Chance had put an exceedingly clever hard…working man in my way； and he must be retained so that a steady and profitable trade might be given to the place。 There is a constant demand for foot…gear； and a very slight difference in price is felt at once by the purchaser。
〃This was my reasoning； sir； and fortunately events have justified it。 At this time we have five tanyards； each of which has its bark…mill。 They take all the hides produced in the department itself； and even draw part of their supply from Provence； and yet the Tyrolese uses more leather than they can produce； and has forty work…people in his employ！
〃I happened on the other man after a fashion no whit less strange； but you might find the story tedious。 He is just an ordinary peasant； who discovered a cheaper way of making the great broad…brimmed hats that are worn in this part of the world。 He sells them in other cantons； and even sends them into Switzerland and Savoy。 So long as the quality and the low prices can be maintained； here are two inexhaustible sources of wealth for the canton； which suggested to my mind the idea of establishing three fairs in the year。 The prefect； amazed at our industrial progress； lent his aid in obtaining the royal ordinance which authorized them； and last year we held our three fairs。 They are known as far as Savoy as the Shoe Fair and the Hat Fair。
〃The head clerk of a notary in Grenoble heard of these changes。 He was poor； but he was a well…educated； hardworking young fellow； and Mll