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fe of any man who endeavored to bring them about。 Here； as in other social spheres； if any good is to be done； we come into collision not merely with vested interests； but with something far more dangerous to meddle withreligious ideas crystallized into superstitions； the most permanent form taken by human thought。 I feared nothing。
〃In the first place； I sought for the position of mayor in the canton； and in this I succeeded。 Then； after obtaining a verbal sanction from the prefect； and by paying down the money； I had several of these unfortunate creatures transported over to Aiguebelle； in Savoy； by night。 There are a great many of them there； and they were certain to be very kindly treated。 When this act of humanity came to be known； the whole countryside looked upon me as a monster。 The cure preached against me。 In spite of all the pains I took to explain to all the shrewder heads of the little place the immense importance of being rid of the idiots； and in spite of the fact that I gave my services gratuitously to the sick people of the district； a shot was fired at me from the corner of a wood。
〃I went to the Bishop of Grenoble and asked him to change the cure。 Monseigneur was good enough to allow me to choose a priest who would share in my labors； and it was my happy fortune to meet with one of those rare natures that seemed to have dropped down from heaven。 Then I went on with my enterprise。 After preparing people's minds； I made another transportation by night； and six more cretins were taken away。 In this second attempt I had the support of several people to whom I had rendered some service； and I was backed by the members of the Communal Council； for I had appealed to their parsimonious instincts； showing them how much it cost to support the poor wretches； and pointing out how largely they might gain by converting their plots of ground （to which the idiots had no proper title） into allotments which were needed in the township。
〃All the rich were on my side； but the poor； the old women； the children； and a few pig…headed people were violently opposed to me。 Unluckily it so fell out that my last removal had not been completely carried out。 The cretin whom you have just seen； not having returned to his house； had not been taken away； so that the next morning he was the sole remaining example of his species in the village。 There were several families still living there； but though they were little better than idiots； they were； at any rate； free from the taint of cretinism。 I determined to go through with my work； and came officially in open day to take the luckless creature from his dwelling。 I had no sooner left my house than my intention got abroad。 The cretin's friends were there before me； and in front of his hovel I found a crowd of women and children and old people； who hailed my arrival with insults accompanied by a shower of stones。
〃In the midst of the uproar I should perhaps have fallen a victim to the frenzy that possesses a crowd excited by its own outcries and stirred up by one common feeling； but the cretin saved my life！ The poor creature came out of his hut； and raised the clucking sound of his voice。 He seemed to be an absolute ruler over the fanatical mob； for the sight of him put a sudden stop to the clamor。 It occurred to me that I might arrange a compromise； and thanks to the quiet so opportunely restored； I was able to propose and explain it。 Of course； those who approved of my schemes would not dare to second me in this emergency； their support was sure to be of a purely passive kind； while these superstitious folk would exert the most active vigilance to keep their last idol among them； it was impossible； it seemed to me； to take him away from them。 So I promised to leave the cretin in peace in his dwelling； with the understanding that he should live quite by himself； and that the remaining families in the village should cross the stream and come to live in the town； in some new houses which I myself undertook to build； adding to each house a piece of ground for which the Commune was to repay me later on。
〃Well； my dear sir； it took me fully six months to overcome their objection to this bargain； however much it may have been to the advantage of the village families。 The affection which they have for their wretched hovels in country districts is something quite unexplainable。 No matter how unwholesome his hovel may be； a peasant clings far more to it than a banker does to his mansion。 The reason of it？ That I do not know。 Perhaps thoughts and feelings are strongest in those who have but few of them； simply because they have but few。 Perhaps material things count for much in the lives of those who live so little in thought； certain it is that the less they have； the dearer their possessions are to them。 Perhaps； too； it is with the peasant as with the prisoner he does not squander the powers of his soul； he centres them all upon a single idea； and this is how his feelings come to be so exceedingly strong。 Pardon these reflections on the part of a man who seldom exchanges ideas with any one。 But； indeed； you must not suppose； sir； that I am much taken up with these far…fetched considerations。 We all have to be active and practical here。
〃Alas！ the fewer ideas these poor folk have in their heads； the harder it is to make them see where their real interests lie。 There was nothing for it but to give my whole attention to every trifling detail of my enterprise。 One and all made me the same answer； one of those sayings； filled with homely sense； to which there is no possible reply； 'But your houses are not yet built； sir！' they used to say。 'Very good；' said I； 'promise me that as soon as they are finished you will come and live in them。'
〃Luckily； sir； I obtained a decision to the effect that the whole of the mountain side above the now deserted village was the property of the township。 The sum of money brought in by the woods on the higher slopes paid for the building of the new houses and for the land on which they stood。 They were built forthwith； and when once one of my refractory families was fairly settled in； the rest of them were not slow to follow。 The benefits of the change were so evident that even the most bigoted believer in the village； which you might call soulless as well as sunless； could not but appreciate them。 The final decision in this matter； which gave some property to the Commune； in the possession of which we were confirmed by the Council of State； made me a person of great importance in the canton。 But what a lot of worry there was over it！〃 the doctor remarked； stopping short； and raising a hand which he let fall againa gesture that spoke volumes。 〃No one knows； as I do； the distance between the town and the Prefecturewhence nothing comes outand from the Prefecture to the Council of Statewhere nothing can be got in。
〃Well； after all；〃 he resumed； 〃peace be to the powers of this world！ They yielded to my importunities； and that is saying a great deal。 If you only knew the good that came of a carelessly scrawled signature！ Why； sir； two years after I had taken these momentous trifles in hand； and had carried the matter through to the end； every poor family in the Commune had two cows at least； which they pastured on the mountain side； where （without waiting this time for an authorization from the Council of State） I had established a system of irrigation by means of cross trenches； like those in Switzerland； Auvergne； and Limousin。 Much to their astonishment； the townspeople saw some capital meadows springing up under their eyes； and thanks to the improvement in the pasturage； the yield of milk was very much larger。 The results of this triumph were great indeed。 Every one followed the example set by my system of irrigation； cattle were multiplied； the area of meadow land and every kind of out…turn increased。 I had nothing to fear after that。 I could continue my efforts to improve this； as yet； untilled corner of the earth； and to civilize those who dwelt in it； whose minds had hitherto lain dormant。
〃Well； sir； folk like us； who live out of the world； are very talkative。 If you ask us a question； there is no knowing where the answer will come to an end； but t