The Verity and Value of the Miracles of Christ (1876), fourth thousand. The Poetical Works--Purgatory of Suicides, Paradise of Martyrs, Minor Poems (1877), Evolution, the Stone Book, and the Mosaic Record of Creation (1878), third thousand. The Atonement and other Discourses (1880). CHAPTER X. A Constellation of Celebrated Cobblers. "This day is called the feast of Crispin: .. .. .. . And Crispin Crispian shall ne'er go by, From this day to the ending of the world, But we in it shall be remembered: We few, we happy few, we band of brothers." --_Shakespeare. King Henry Fifth's Address to the Leaders of the English Army on the Eve of the Battle of Agincourt. Act v. Scene 3._ Archbishop Whately once amused a clerical dinner-party by asking the question, "Why do _white_ sheep eat more than _black_ sheep?" When none of his friends could answer the question, the witty Archbishop dryly remarked that _one_ reason undoubtedly was that "there were more of them." The question is often asked, "How are we to account for the fact that shoemakers outnumber any other handicraft in the ranks of illustrious men?"[72] Perhaps this question may be answered in the same way. At all events, the answer "there are more of them," will go a long way toward a solution of this interesting social problem. The sons of Crispin are certainly a very numerous class, and it is but natural that they should figure largely in the lists of famous men. But inquirers on this subject are not generally satisfied by an appeal to statistics. It is felt that something more is required in order to account for the remarkable proportion of shoemakers in the roll of men of mark. In addition to this, it must be borne in mind that the reputation of shoemakers does not depend entirely on their most illustrious representatives. They have, _as a class_, a reputation which is quite unique. The followers of "the gentle craft" have generally stood foremost among artisans as regards intelligence and social influence. Probably no class of workmen could, in these respects, compete with them fifty or a hundred years ago, when education and reading were not so common as they are now. Almost to a man they had some credit for thoughtfulness, shrewdness, logical skill, and debating power; and their knowledge derived from books was admitted to be beyond the average among operatives. They were generally referred to by men of their own social status for the settlement of disputed points in literature, science, politics, or theology. Advocates of political, social, or religious reform, local preachers, Methodist "class-leaders," and Sunday-school teachers, were drafted in larger numbers from the fraternity of shoemakers than from any other craft.