The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1843-08-08 00:00:00

much of friction off the toes, so as to' remove'

their cause. This we advance
from long observation and personal experience. Discard,
then, the absurdity of the present fashion ; have the shoe
long, broad-toed, and

or boot made eas _
home to the arch of the foot, as the-Shoemaker would
term it, and we vouch for it—the toes will do their duty
cheerfully without ever complaining or hanging out sig-
stress, even after a long walk ; and then pedes-
trian exertion will become, in reality, what nature in-
tended it should be—a luxury common to all ! '
37. The Oxford' shoe, as it is called, lacing up the
middle and over the instep, is the best of shoes, and has
but one objection, viz., the frequent breaking of the lace
or tave, or silk ribbon, which is worn for neatness to the
sacrifice of strength ; and this is most apt to occur, when
most annoying, on the swelling of the foot in hard con-
tinued exercise ; this unlucky trifling accident has often
been a practical illustration of the importance of " little
things,' as they are termed, and has frequently reminded
our companions in a ramble, of poor Richard's terse
couplet—,

even" w•a

.. For want of a nail the shoe was lost ;
For want of a shoe the horse was lost ;
For want of a horse the rider was lost,
All for want of a horse-shoe nail."

38. There is an improvement then to be introduced, thing as a knapsack. In the half dozen pockets you can
and we find ready to hand, suggested by this very cir- so dispose symmetrically around you all your travelling
cumstance— viz., a return back again to the old buckle chattels, as to carry them at the least expenditure of
of our forefathers for a fastening, modified so as to pre- strength ; and, therefore, more agreeably than when
sent a less formidable appearance, and yet to give all dangling about in the folds of a long-skirted coat ; though
the security needful. A flap or valve of leather gives wd do not find fault with the long tail of a frock coat, pro-
an opening over the instep, whereby the shoe is slipped vided your journey's length, &c. requires the introduction
on, and fastens by a small tongue of leather on the of a wallet upon your shoulders. Another shirt, a pair or
outside of the shoe to the buckle alluded to. Such a two of stockings or socks, a small case of " morning exer-
plan effectually prevents any water getting inside the cises " as the condensed toilet case has been facetiously
shoe, and will allow of a graduated adjustment to the labelled, a pair of light shoes for a change in the resting
swelling of the foot at the end of a day's walk—a fact place, and an extra handkerchief or so, will generally be
not duly calculated for, and a reason why a Wellington sufficient. A silk night cap is no bad addition to this
boot, if fitting neatly at first, becomes inconveniently slender stock of usefuls, for those, especially, who are
tight at the close of a " long run." A boot may be fond of lying down to take their siesta on the inviting
excellent for riding, and, by the same rule, very preju- fresh grass under the shade of some, perhaps, " far
dicial to the freer exercise of the foot in pedestrianism. spreading beech," when the hat can never completely be
The high heel is another bad arrangement for walking, retained on the head. It forms a protection against
which it were a waste ofwords to enter upon the demon- catching cold in the head ; and further by pulling it over
stration of here—the body being thrown forward too the ears it will prevent insects from getting into them ;
much, the shoulders raised, and the strain thrown across for although in the generality of cases the drum of the
the toes in dropping the foot on the ground, instead of ear is a perfect barrier, securing the internal ear from
being received by the natural heel in the first place. foreign bodies, yet this is not the case in every instance-
We have given a sketch of the kind of shoe in the ad- having in a certain proportion of cases been attacked by in-
joining figure, so that any one can get the shoe made flammation, causing more or less destruction of its mem-
from this idea. They were first introduced a year or brane, in which case small insects might have an oppor-
two ago, by a shoemaker of the name of Smith, in Dub- tunity of gratifying their prying curiosity to thread the
lin. We have worn none other for some time past, mazy labyrinth of your ear : or, in any case they might
except when riding on horseback, to which, however, lodge themselves in the outward tube of the ear much to
they are not unsuited either : they will admit of spur, your annoyance, though unattended with further conse-
&c., being fitted, in box or strap kind. Another ad- quences

vantage of this kind of shoe over a Wellington or Blu- * A fact which accounts for the interior of the india•rubber
cher boot, is to be found in the fact, that, like an coats being moist after being worn sometime, and which is
" Oxford," they will be so easy when unbuckled as to therefore supposed to leak, but improperly.

form a slipper for the hour of repose ' • at least, such is
our experience. Further, they will admit evidently of
being better adapted to be worn with comfort, along with
any change of socks, from cotton or silk to woollen, &c.
A great advantage in the foregoing recommendations The Scenery and Antiquities of Ireland Illustrated
about shoes is self-evident, viz., that whilst modelled on London : G. Virtue.
nature, in preference to working on mathematical prin- The 27th part of this elegant and interesting work forms
ciples, by which Gulliver's coat was cut out, the foot will one of the periodicals of the month ; and in point of illus-
be allowed to retain thereby unimpeded that elastic play tration and printing is quite equal, if not superior, to the
and perfection of form which the Great Artificer of its numbers that have preceded it, the publisher, with his
exquisite multiform adaptations designed. The shoe so accustomed good faith, being determined to redeem, to
made will retain its shape to the last, if people would the utmost extent, the pledge he gave to the public in the
only take the pains to fulfil, by a little attention, the outset. There are four beautiful engravings on steel, exe-
needful condition of setting their feet down evenly and cuted in the finest line manner, by various artists, from
steadily, preserving the due planes of the parts of the drawings by the celebrated W. Bartlett, who evinces a
foot, as they successively come in contact with the classical taste not only in his selection of the most striking
portions of the diversified scenery of the sister land, but
ground ; instead of walking on the outside of their foot,
of the most points of view whence they may be c"
Cork
was not adapted exactly for that purpose! The plated to the best advantage. We have here " Cork
reason why this uncomfortable and careless habit is River," from below Glanmire Road, a rich landscape,
formed, is owing to the idle gait of turning the toes in with shipping on the placid waters—equal to the finest
instead of out, whereby the necessity of the case flings lake scenery of Ireland ; " The South Wall Lighthouse,"
the weight of the body on the outside of the foot, ex- with the Hill of Howth in the distance, the sea animated
tending the base in order to obtain firmer support for the by a brisk breeze—figures on shore and vessels under sail ;
body. The only wonder is, that a whole regiment of "The Valley of Blackwater," between Lismore and
Youghall, also a delightful lake scene, with a fine castel-
* The artist who etched these accompanying spirited little il-
lated mansion in the foreground ; and the " Seven
lustrations has been accustomed all his former life to the broad- Churches of Clonmacnoise, on the Upper Shannon, at
pointed and long boot and shoe so universal on the Continent, sunset, a most romantic and accurate representation of
where he was born and lived ;he has loud complaints to enter those ruins which tradition has invested with an unusual
against the present horrid narrow toes—he declares that he degree of interest. The literary portion of the number
never knew what corns were until he lately made use of narrow-
(by N. P. Willis, Esq.) is in continuation of the de '
toed boots: he has himself walked, as a student, over the .
of scrip-
Iron Dublin in the last number, and includes a concert-
northern parts of Italy and Switzerland, and underwent great
les in the camp, both on horseback and on foot. Our own trated view of its ancient history. The public buildings,
rifles the converse of this as well, for since using ecclesiastical and civil, and the numerous institutions,
d long shoes we lost our corns. devoted to learning, charity and the arts, are all briefly,

(TO BE CONTINUED.)

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