The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1840-01-28 00:00:00

SELECT EXTRACTS.

SINGULAR INDIAN SUPERSTITION. —The Indians fre-
quently bring us salmon ; and we observe, that, invariably
before they part with them, they are careful to remove. the
hearts. This superstition is religiously adhered to by all the
Chinook tribe. Before the fish is split and prepared for eat-
ing, a small 'hOle is made in the breast, the heart taken out,
roasted, and eaten in silence, and with great gravity. This
practice is continued only during the first month in which
the salmon make their appearance, and is intended as a kind
of. propitiation to the particular deity or spirit who presides
over the finny tribes.—Townshend' s Sporting Excursions in
the Rocky Mountains.
HIDES AND LEATHER.—There are, in Great Britain and
Ireland, six or seven million head of cattle. But these do not
afford a supply of leather sufficiently large for the numerous
uses to which it serves. We import hides from Lithuania,
and other provinces of Russia, where the cattle run wild in
the forests ; and in Paraguay the vast herds which range the
boundless plains are pursued and skinned, while the rest of
the animal is of so little value, that the carcase is left to rot
upon the ground. The troubled state of these South Ameri-
can states has kept up the price of leather, by preventing the
trade in skins.. The largest tanneries in the world are at
Bermondsey on the outskirts of London. The value of arti-
cles made of leather is fifteen millions per annum, and shoes
take more than one-half of that amount. Leather is not an
article we export, for other nations can supply themselves
Imore cheaply than we can.' Gloves are made at Worcester,
Yedvil, Ludlow, and Woodstock.

How TO AVOID CATCHING COLD.—Accustom yourself to
the use of sponging with cold water every morning on first
getting out ofrbed. It should be done quickly, and followed
with a good deal of rubbing with a rough towel. It has con-
siderable effect in giving tone to the skin, and maintaining a
proper action in it, and thu.proves a safeguard to the inju-
rious influence of cold and sudden changes of temperature:
therefore, a person who is in the habit of thus fortifying the
skin will be much less likely to suffer injury from heated
rooms, and the change from a hot room to the cold air. Sir
Astley Cooper says, " The methods by which I preserve my
own health are temperance, early rising,.and sponging the
body every morning with cold water immediately after get-
tirignut of bed, a practice which I haver-adopted for 30years ;
and' though I go from the hot theatre into the squares of the
hosPital, in the severest winter nights, Yet I scarcely ever
have a cold."—T. .1. Graham, M.D.
:Viyigordc RlVER.—Altliough sulphur is found to exist
more or less in the vicinity:9l„every volcano,,-the only in-
stance with which we are acquainted of sulphuric acid being
found in a state of nature, is in the island' of Java, near
Batavia, the capital: A. lake of sulphuric acid occupies the
crater of an extinct volcana, from -which reservoir it flows in
a rivulet down the sides of the mountain to a considerable
distance. During the dry season of the year, this remark-
able stream becomes absorbed by the thirsty; areuaceous soil
through which it runs ; but in the rainy period it forms a
confluence with another stream called the White River. The
water of the.latter, although saturated with whitish clay, is
not pernicious, far less fatal, either to fish or other animals.
But the moment it is joined' by the acid rivulet, the stream
becomes transparent from• the acid precipitating,the earthy
matter which it holds in solution; and it not only destroys
the fish, but also the whole of the vegetation over which it.
passes. •
GREAT MATCH BETWEEN THE NORTH AND SOUTH
COUNTRY.—Setting aside the, in our opinion, absurd story
of Dr. Hawksworth concerning Dragon—setting this story
aside, one of the earliest anecdotes connected with the turf
is that relating to the great match between a south country
horse of Mr. Frampton, the name of which is not recorded,
and Old Merlin, the best horse, as' tliel(orkslicremen consi-
dered, that their county had ever yet produced, Merlin was
the property of Sir Matthew Peirson, but the match became
a public concern, north against south. Sir William Strick-
land figures in the tale as a principal, and ably did he-main-
tain the reputation of." wily Yorkshiree!-;s„,!.`,lmmediately,''.
says the old Turf Register--and our meaders will probably
prefer the contemporaneous narrative—" Immediately on the-
match being closed, there was great betting between the
north and south country gentlemen. After Merlin had been
some little time at Newmarket under the care of oneHesel-

tine, Mr. Frampton's groom endeavoured to bring himlover
to run the two horses a private trial at the stated weights
and distance agreed on in the match ; observing by what
means they might both make their fortunes. Heseltine re-
fused, but in such a manner as to give the other hopes of
bringing him over. In the meanwhile Heseltine took the
opportunity of communicating, by letter into Yorkshire, the
proposed offer to Sir William Strickland, who was prin-
cipally concerned in making the match. Sir William replied
that he might accept of it, and instructed Heseltine to be sure
to deceive his competitor .by letting Merlin -carry seven
pounds mere weight than that agreed upon, and at the same
time laying a particular injunction on seerecy... Soon 'after
-Heseltine received this hint. he consented
:to the,proposal ;
previous thereto Mr. Frampton had given his groom similar
instructions. The two .herses we're prepared,:started, and
ran over the course agreed to- in the articles of the match,
when Merlin beat his cpponent something more .than a length,
after excellent running. 'TfilS 'hieing communicated to each
party'by their secret and faithful grooms, who. both rode the
trialMatterc_cl erAch wit p coxtainty rifsuccess--_—Merlin's friends
'observing, that; 'as iitlier'Vrith seven pounds
extra. weight, :-hb ieibuld*iviit his Tate easy': on. the other side,
-says "Mr. --Frampton,:` as :Iny.horse- ran.: Merlin so hard with
seven-pounds.over-w.eight, he will win his race to a certainty.
-Immediately after Proposals were made on both sides to a
very enormous amount, arid accepted, and it has been as-
serted that more -money was betted on this event than was
ever known, . some gentlemen not only staking all the cash
they-were able to advance,_ but their other property also.
At length the important hour arrived for the determination
of this great event, and, each party flushed with hope of suc-
cess, the south country gentlemen observed to those of the
north, " that they would bet them gold while gold they had,
and then they might sell their land." The horses started,
and the race was won by Merlin about the same distance as
in the secret trial. In a short time the whole scheme be-
came generally known, to the mortification of its.inventor,
Tregonwell Frampton, Esq. Merlin was rode by James
Hare, of Cold Kirby, near Hambleton, the celebrated York-
shire training ground. We are also told, that it was in con-
sequence of the ruinous betting which had taken place on the
above race, that the well-known but little respected law was
enacted against the recovery of any sum of money above
ten pounds betted on a horse race. The date of the above
race is not mentioned : it most probably took place about
1706.—01 d Sportiny Magazine for January.
A TORNADO.—In Sillirnan's American Journal of Science
and Arts for July, 1839, there is a very interesting account
of 'an extraordinary tornado, from which we shall transcribe

the following pcirtion :—" Having visited and examined the
scene of the tornado, so well described by Mr. Willis Gay-
lord, of Otisco Onondago County', New York, in the Genes-
see Farmer, November 10th, 1838, we also can bear witness
to thd tremendous devastation which that whirlwind pro-
duced. NN e were on the ground in September, about two
months after the event. Before the tornado, -a region of
400 or 500 acres bad been covered by a dense forest of pine
trees, many of them very tall and large; roads had been cut
through this forest, and a few solitary houses were planted in
it, here and there. Now we 'looked in vain over the whole
tract fora single perfect tree. Those which had not been
uprooted or broken in too near the ground, were shivered
and twisted off at different elevations, leaving only a portion
of a shattered trunk, so that not a single tree top, and hardly
a single branch, were found standing in the air there were
instead only mutilated stems, presenting a striking scene of
desolation wherever our eyes ranged over the now almost
empty aerial space. On the ground the appearances were'
still more remarkable. The trees were interwoven in every
possible way, so as to form a truly military abattis of the
most impassable kind, nor immediately after the gale could
any. progress be in fact made through the gigantic thickets of
entangled trunks and branches, without the labour of bands
of pioneers, who cut off the innumerable logs that choked
every avenue. We had before seen many avenues made
through forests by 'winds, prostrating the trees, and laying
them down in the direction of its course; but never had we
seen such a perfect desolation by a gyratory movement, be-
fore which the thick and lofty forest and the strongest framed
buildings vanished in an instant, and' their ruins were
whirled irresistibly around like flying leaves or gossamer.
Still it was truly wonderful, that people were buried in the
ruins of their houses, and travellers with their horses and
cattle were exposed to this driving storm of trees which.
literally filled the air, and still not a single life was lost,
although some persons were wounded."
HOSPITALITY OF ANCIENT GREECE.—Their rule of hos-
pitality was one of true politeness, formed on the golden
mean between indifference and excessive attention. They
deemed it equally wrong to dismiss the stranger who was
posed to remain, as to detain him who was anxious to depart.
While he abided with them, they were happy in his company,
and whenever he pleased to go. away, he carried with him
their best wishes for his welfare. It was selddm, indeed,
that a guest did go away, particularly if he was discovered to
be a person of distinction, or was an hereditary guest of the
family, without prolonging his visit to nine or ten days at
the' least. Before the hour of the banquet arrived, he was
led to an inner apartment, where maids of the household
were in waiting with warm water, which, after removing his
mantle, and lowering his tunic, they poured upon his head
and shoulders, while he bent over a brazen vase. The daugh-
ter of the family, even if she were a princess, as she had the
care of the garments, attended with a fresh tunic and mantle;
and when the maid had laved and anointed him, she present-

. _
ed him with the apparel. His feet were next bathed, and,
having braced on new sandals. he was prepared to make his
appearance in the banquet hall. Here every mark of favour
awaited him. There was no reasonable request which he
could make which the host would refuse, if for no other cause
than merely that he was under his roof. To offer au indig-
nity to a stranger in such circumstances, still more to take
away his life, was a crime so heinous, that no man was deem-
ed capable of committing it who acknowledged the power and
feared the wrath of Jupiter. A warm bed was prepared for
him ; and, when he finally took his departure, a silver cup,
a shield, a falchion, or some other present was bestowed upon
him. In return for these kindnesses, he expressed his gra-
titude in the warmest terms, and charged himself with their
affectionate remembrances to such of their distant friends as
it was probable he should see in the course of his journey.-
I,oudo7z Saturday Journal.
, SURMISING EFFECTS OF CAMIIIIIDR ON VEGETABLES.
—The stimulant effects of cam.phor iipon the human and some
other animal bodies are well known ; but those on vegetables
are not only new, but astonishing in their nature. A piece
of the woody stein of the tulip tree, with one flower and two
leaves, taken out of a pot of water, containing several other
flowers of the same plant,
.to all appearance, in the same
istate,r
placed in eight ounces of water, which had been
e
for some time with' one scruple of good camphor:
Inta r
littlep li
while, an unusually lively appearance was remark-
able in the flower in the camphor; while the others, though
they had the benefit of a large quantity of water, were sensibly
drooping: The two leaves first elevated themselves consider-
ably on their footstalks i the flower expanded more than in a
natural state ;' the stamina orchives receded from the pistil-
lum ; and the calix, or flower-cup, were remarkably reflected
back, and grew extremely rigid and elastic. The internal
surface of the petals of the flower perspired considerably,
though a similar perspiration could not be perceived in the
flower of the sameplant, in the same room and temperature.
The camphorated plant continued in a very invigorated state
leavesf o r two wholeroope drooped
and
tyl sd; afterdee ay whichcsoo ne it began
ntotiroop ; hut the
flower.
The other
flowers and leaves of the tulip tree left in simple water, did
not live more than half as long as that in the water impregna-
ted with camphor. Notwithstanding
ei r thanb g
these surprising effects,
no odour of camphor could be traced in any part of the
branch except what was immersed in the fluid. This circum-
stance seems to render it probable that the camphor was not
absorbed by the plant, but that it exerted its remarkable in-
fluence entirely through the solids to which it was immedi-
ately applied. The appearance, however, was very striking,
and might be compared to the beneficial effects of opium on
the human constitution. Several other experiments were
made with camphor on plants, in all of which it was very evi-
dent that camphor operated as a powerful and wholesome
stimulant. A stalk of yellow iris, with on, expanded flower,
.
was , •
tiken out of a phial of water, i n which it had been placed
'more than a day. The flower had began to droop ; but in a
few minutes after being put in a phial of the same size, con-
taining a few grains of camphor, it began to revive, and con-
tinned in a vigorous state for many hours.
As camphor is
sparingly soluble in water,
but very it is natural to conclude
that the stimulant effects were produced by a very small part
mingled with the water. This discovery •
of the quantity
with camphor as
induce us to make experiments. manure, if
I • l a
on a scale sut icient y large the expense of trying them.
may were
we apply the camphor in the
not excessive. But still,_ .
. d • and can that be termed a useless
manner before mentioned !
purpose ? A few grains or camphor, acting as a cordial, will
•
revive adrooping plant, increase its beauty, and prolong its
florist,these are objects of no
existence. In the eye of the
'ons on the Curiosities of
mean importance.-:-Biires Observations
Nature..

BEE-HUNTING IN AUSTRALIA.—The natives catch one of
the bees, and attach to it, with some resin or gum, the light
down of the swan or owl. Thus laden, the bee makes for the
branch of some lofty tree, and so betrays its home of sweets
to in keen-eyed pursuers.—Nitchell's Australia.
DESCENT OF SPIDERS.—A letter from Sukkur, on the
Indus, dated 17th September, mentions the following 'phe-
nomenon :—" I was taking a stroll into 'the fields, when I
found myself suddenly covered with a whole host of small
and large spiders. On looking about, I observed that I was
standing in the midst of a large cloud of those animals, who
appeared descending in a filmy web of no small dimensions
from the upper regions. Having extricated myself with some
difficulty from their embraces, 1 took a position from whence
I could see about me, without being annoyed by them ; and
to my astonishment I beheld descending, maze within maze,
and fold within fold, an innumerable host of spiders, all sus-
pended and dancing on their numberless tiny threads, which
were at times seen to glance in every variety of shade, amid
the beams of the rising sun. The morning was somewhat
dark and louring, and the stillness was now and then broken
by some distant rumbling of thunder."—Asiatic journal.

THE CORPORAL.—During the American revolution, an
officer, not habited in his military costume, was • passing by
where a small company of soldiers were at work, making
some repairs upon a small redoubt. The commander of the
little squad was giving orders to those who were under him,
relative to a stick of timber, which they were endeavouring
to raise to the top of the works. The timber went up hard :
on this account the voice of the little great man was often
heard in his regular vociferations of " Heave away ! There
she goes ! Heave oh!" &c. The officer before spoken of
stopped his•horse when arrived at the place,. and, seeing the
timber sometimes scarcely move, asked the commander why
he did not take hold, and render a little assistance. The lat-
ter, appearing to be somewhat astonished, turning to the
officer with the pomp of an emperor, said, " Sir, I am a cor-
poral !"—" You are not though, are you ?" said the officer ;
" I was not aware of it." And taking off his hat and bow-
ing, " I ask your pardon, Mr. Corporal." Upon this he
dismounted his elegant steed, flung the bridle over the post,
and lifted till the sweat stood in drops upon his forehead.
'When the timber was elevated to its proper station, turning
to the man clothed in brief authority, " Mr. Corporal Com-
mander," said he, '• when you have another such a job, and
have. not hands enow, send to your commander-in-chief, and
I wilt come and help you a second time." The corporal was
thiinaerstruck. It was Washington !—Naval and Military
Gazette.

INDIAN MEDICINE MEN.---Their mode of "making me-
dicine," to use their own term, is this: The sick man is laid
upon a bed of mats and blankets, elevated from the ground,
and surrounded by a raised frame-work of hewn boards.
Upon this frame two " medical men" (sorcerers) place them-
selves, and commence chanting, in a low voice, a kind of
long-drawn, sighing song. Each holds a stout stick, of about
four feet long in his hand, with which he beats upon the
frame-work, and keeps accurate time with the music. After
a few minutes the song begins to increase in loudness and
quickness, a corresponding force and celerity being given to
the stick, until in a short time the noise becomes almost
deafening, and may well serve, in many instances, to accele-
rate the exit of him whom it is their intention to benefit.—
Toumshend's Sporting Excursions in the Rocky Mountains.

BUFFALOES IN THE BLUFFS.—We went around to lee-
ward, and upon approaching nearer, saw the hug animals
rolling over and over in the sands with astonishing agility,
enveloping themselves by the exercise in a perfect atmosphere
of dust ; occasionally two of the bulk would spring from the
ground and attack each other with amazing address and
fury, retreating for ten or twelve feet, and then rushing sud-
denly forward, and dashing their enormous fronts together
with a shock that seemed annihilating. In these rencontres,
one of the combatants was often thrown back upon his
haunches, and tumbled sprawling upon the ground ; in which
case the victor, with the true prize-fighting generosity,
refrained from persecuting his fallen adversary, contenting
himself with a hearty resumption of his rolling fit, and kick-
ing up the dust with more than his former vigour, as if to
celebrate his victory.—Townshend's Sporting Excursions in
the Rocky Mountains.

SPORTING ANECDOTE.—When the celebrated Mr. John
Ward hunted the Oxfordshire country, the hounds frequently
met at Middleton Stoney, where they often found a fox that
took them away at a flying pace to the park wall at Wood-
stock—l believe six miles as the crow flies. Here at one
spot they always lost hint. One day Mr. Price, of. Wood-
stock, a well-known member of the hunt, was riding along
the road near the spot where they had but a few days before'
lost Reynard : he was addressed by a man who was mending
the highway—" Zo, zur, you lost mi sold freend agin t'other
day ; aye, Ido know where he goes ti." " Where, my good
fellow ? ' said Mr. Price. Ay, that's it," said he, with a
knowing leer. " Why not tell me?" "'Cause ye'll kill
he with them great dogs it I do.'.' Upon the promise ,of a
good reward, he was induced to betray his friend, and he
offered the next time to show the very spot where poor 'pug
secreted himself. A meeting at Middleton Stoney soon took
place ; they had not drawn long before a cry was heard in
the cover—in another minute " Tally-ho !" sounded from
the lower end—and off they went like madness ; their old
friend was:found, and they had a rattling burst to the park-
.wall ; the 'hounds flung up the scent—the man made his
appearance—he was capped for, when 'three 'pounds seven-
teen shillings were collected. " Ay—good ; but yell .now
take away them noisy dogs," for he would not " ha' him
kill'd wi' them noisy dogs." The hounds were taken from
the spot, and the man showed Mr. Ward sly. Reynard
perched up in a magpie's nest in a fir tree just within the
plantation. This he got to by running up a wall, going some
way along it, then springing with one bound into his hiding-
place. With a pole they unlodged him, the hounds were
laid on at him as quick as possible, but pug was too much
for them ;, he got clear off, and was too cunning ever again
to try the magpie's nest. Mr. Price never afterwards met
this man on the road but he was accosted with, " Ay, zur
what, wi' all yer noisy dogs ye could na kill him—ay ?"
Oxford paper.
..

WOMEN OF I-lorrouurtu.—l have repeatedly seen women
with hair of two, and, in sonic instances, of three distinct
colours ; deep black and chestnut browns not promiscuously
mingled throughout, but lying in separate masses ; and in
the rare instances of which I have spoken, they were black,
drown, and a kind of ash colour, giving to the head a most
singular appearance. I had supposed that this party-co-
loured character of the hair was the effect of art, but was
soon informed to the contrary, and perceived that by the
natives themselves it was considered a deformity.--Towns-
head's Sporting Excursions in the Rocky Mountain's.
VILLAIN, CLOWN, KNAVE, Boow.—ln many languages
there is a transition, not altogether unnatural, from lowness
of condition to lowness of character. It is so in Greek, and
it is so in English. A villain was originally only a villanus
or inhabitant of the ville, dependent on the great man or
lord of the soil ; now, a villain is a knave. But a knave
was formerly only a servant, nay, before that, only a boy.
The German Inaba is now a boy, but the English, after be-
coming a servant (Wickliffe's Version of the Bible has
" Paul, a knave of Jesus Christ," that is, a servant of, &c.)
has now become a rogue. In the same way, though colere
in Latin meant to till the land, and colonus a tiller of the
land, the English clown means not merely a countryman,
'but a countryfied or rustic man. So, though the German
hauen means to till the land, and Bauer a countryman or
peasant, the English boor, which is the same word, means
more, and implies something of the clown ; and the adjectives,
boorish and clownish, are nearly synonymous. In the word
neighbOur, that is nigh-boor, the word has lost its peculiar
meaning. Now, on the other hand, while countryfied,
clownish,' boorish, and rustic, imply something coarse,
cityfied implies something polite, as we see in the word
urbane, from orbs, " a city," or civil, from civic, " a
citizen."—C'hambers's Journal.

A REGAL FROLIC (OTAHEITE.)—WhiIe we were pro-
ceeding, a man suddenly sprung up behind my saddle, and
fixed his arms firmly around my waist. I was not more as-
tonished than my horse at this intrusion ; and the spirited
animal which I rode, not being accustomed to carrying dou-
ble, and feeling unwilling to be imposed upon, began kicking
up his heels, and darting wildly about the road. I requested
the intruder to dismount instantly ; but the only attention
which was paid to this was a reply in the native language,
which I did not understand. Supposing him to be one of
the servants who had been heated by the refuse wine of the
feast, and considering myself in real danger from the unruly
conduct of my horse, I turned half round, and I dealt my
merry companion a blow in the chest, which I intended
should have unseated him. How was I astonished to hear
the exclamation, " Don't strike so hard, hauri" from him
who occupied my crupper ! and I was not long in discovering
that : the joker was the King, Kauikeaouli, himself.—
Towhsends Excursions.

CATALINI'S LOVE OF THE ENGLISH.—She always speaks
with great warmth of the kindness she experienced in Eng-
land, and says she feels that she can never do enough to prove
to the English her deep sense of gratitude for all the hos-
pitality she received from them. Her frankness and cordiality
emboldened us, before taking leave of her, to prefer a humble
petition for a song. With the most perfect good-humour she
instantly complied with our request, though she said she was
still suffering from the effects of a recent cold, and hoped we
would put up with some petite bagatelle. With a truly
French refinement of politeness, she sang " Home, sweet
home ;" thinking, no doubt, that nothing could be more
grateful to our English ears.—Diary of a Nun.
EVILS OF WHISKEY.—There is a tradition in Scotland
that a dram of whiskey produced the restoration of Charles
the Second. The messenger from the parliament had brought
letters to Monk whilst he remained at Edinburgh. This
messenger was also entrusted with despatches to the Gover-
nor of Edinburgh Castle; a circumstance which he mentioned
to one of Monk's servants, while on his journey. The man,
a serjeant saw something unusual in this, and prevailed upon
his fellow-traveller to drink a drain of whiskey with him
at a neighbouring ale house, where the messenger became
ultimately.so drunk that the serjeant was enabled to take the
papers from his custody without detection. This done, he
posted to his general with the packet, who, on perusing its
contents, found an order for his arrest and detention in the
castle. Policy and resentment at once directed the eyes of
Monk to Charles, and his restoration succeeded.—Harrison
Flather, High School, Jan. 14, 1840.

CHANGING WINE.—As to de men passengers, I always
let deco shift for themselves, for dere isn't werry few of dem
is real superfine gentlemen, but jist refidge a leetle varnished
over de surface like, all pretence. Dey all make believe dat
dey know wine, when, dam um, dere isn't hardly none of em
know him-by name even. One buccra says, Steward, I can't
drink dis wine, it is werry poor stuff ; what de debit do you
mean by giving me such trash as dis ? He no fit to drink at
all ! Change him directly, and gib me some dat is fit for a
gentleman. Well, I takes up de wine, and looks at um werry.
knowing, and den whisper in his ear not to speak so loud lest
everybody hear; and I put de finger on my nose and nods,
and I goes and brings him another bottle of de werry identical
same wine, and he taste him, smack his lip, and say, Ah, dat
is de wine, steward, always bring me dat wine, and I remem-
ber you when I leab the ship. Hush, I say, massa, not so
loud, sir, if you please, for dere is-only a werry few bottles
of dat ere wine, and I keep him for you, for I sees you knows
de good wine when you sees him, which is more nor most
gentlemen does. Dey is cussed stupid is dem whites, and
werry conceited, Mr. Labender ; but there is notting like let-
ting him hab his own way.—Letter Bag of the Great Western.
THE FEET.—The foot is a very important member of the
human frame, even if simply considered as the organ of loco-
motion. It is an appropriate and elegant finish to the figure ;
and when suffered to exhibit the untrammelled formation and
proportion of nature, is indeed beautiful. The usages of so-
ciety in modern Europe, at once judiciously combining health,
comfort, and elegance, forbid the exhibition of the unclothed
foot ; but the exquisite sculptures of early Greece and of pa-
trician Rome sufficiently attest the accuracy of our assertion.
Witness in those matchless statues which have hitherto de-
fied the arch-enemy of all human labours, Time—the -finely
proportioned feet only protected by the simple sandal; the
arched and muscular instep ; the dimpled joints, and straight
slender toes falling equally to the ground. We feel at once,
as we look on them, their perfect adaptation to the purpose
of graceful exercise, their peculiar beauty of formation and
finish in themselves, and their capability of supporting the
unequalled superstrticture of which they form so elegant a
part. Yet a small foot, meaning a narrow shapeless one, is
now so generally admired—and such excessive pains are taken
to obtain it, by restricting the growth of the foot in early life,
nl afndisnrieytiyelidnintghisaheonens—nttrhya,tairneatlhlye
huapnpder.
some foot is rarely found to accompany figures of even fault-
abnydthmeidudsele
ftuhiallyi ladies, who, 'careless of medical
obtains chiefly among the
of
classessm al
fault-
less proportions otherwise. This absurd prejudice indeed
and mechanical advice and opinion to the contrary, continue
their feet actually require, and do in many instances cheer.
to make use of shoes smaller in size than the dimensions of
nature has given him
feet :sauubnmwitthteowthnreldmotnstpcerureeelivself-imposed restraint) rather
properly proportioned to the development of their per-
-30,19.--'MPhun's Pocket Guide to the Toilette.