Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1869-03-03

RooYsi ID $40. IS. -. ne Scientific American
ysvs Ts IS somewhat surprising that, with all
our boasteG improvements, We have not yet
produced proper covering for the foot Bar
barous people, if their climate admits, 60 with
hare feet or wear sandals, covering only the
sole and portion of the leg, while civilized
humanity enyelop their feet in material almost
mneryious to air or moisture, aud generally
uneOmfortably hard and rigid. The color and
Dolish of our boots sre directly calculated to
attract the suns rays and the enamel on
natent leather, and the blaeking on caltskln,
tends To harden anu soidify the substance,
closing the pores and making air tight cases
for q portion o. the body which exudes more
perspiratop than a1g other, and ls subjected
to greater strain. },lg boots in summer par
boil our feet in ram bath, and in winter
freeze thera la aa ;c7 envelope. lt Is doubtful
+ wet feet are, l. themselves, very conducive
10 disease, some Taecical Inen TO the contrary
Notwithstanding brS eramped confinement OF
the feet ir aG icy cole envelope generated by
perspiratOn anG chilled by the external atmos-
phere thus shutting the imprisoned feet almost
air tight, is s. Gnhe1lthy IS 1t is uncomforta
bic. For hos IeGihec there is hardly any shoe
SO agreeable IS that Introduced within the past
three or four yeas. l;poWn as the army shoe,
Il ofa heavy 3enVssS cad unblacked leather.
It is cool anC remarkably easy tothe foot. The
texture Of Inc canvass allows the escape OF the
oerspirator. anc cha oo!or OF the shoe does not
sttract the leat c. >a3 sun. Ii would seem
that the plan o. cCTsTin3 other portions OF our
nodies with matesisl lerViOUs TO air might al
geatageously &c extended 10 our feet. There
Is no natural ,eGso, 7hy cur ieet should be so
much less aensitiv5 lAnu our hands. They
Become iniureteC 2aC deprived oftheir natural
activity py LONG, elca3 con&nemont. The peO
Die of warm olin,otac, VINO us2 their toes as We
do our fingers. GnC ne seboolOoy, who picks
up and throws pebbles With his teet, shows
that the fool OF 1ae civilized adult IN our climate
IL much abused member 4 more flexible
aud porous material i0g CuF boots and shoes
night save nc from many OF those terrible an
noyances g9hich, 10 the form of cnrns and
buniOns, v2s;ls o1r pilgrimage one OF pain.
--~43%--
TgE 1g-cEA1. BOTANICAL GARDEN. Daring
The past 3weive months the Botanical Garden
It the foel ol .be Capitol mas been considerably
enlarged o7 archiog oyer the entire portion of
qiber creek ghica extends through the western
portion OF she grounds, and The space thus re-
claimed has been utiIized by Mr. Smith IN the
rnosl excellent manner, SO as to make the gar
dea one o. sae mos attractive OF all the public
squares c. ths e;ty
Durine t0e zile mentioned an extensive
col1eFVelo2v Ara been added 20 the attractions
oi tie Dlece, uhiof IS nearly completed, and
which. wLai finished, will be the feature of
the Garden. !a :s aGoul three hundred feet
long. and from its centre beautifully designed
ccne rises 20 the leigat Of sixty feet. 1t is the
Gesign o. the gardener &c devote the centre
come 10 sae cultivation o. the tropical plants
o. large egowtn, ant the adjoining laralleO
crsus anG oetagonai ends to tropical shrubbery
0t cmaileg Growth, epG 10 japanese and Aus
t?al;en productions it is considered that this
conservatory aaa eli me appliances Tor the sue
eascGrl cultivation 0. exotic llAntS possessed by
nv aiT,ilar not AoCsl il the world, the design
rr6 details of its construction being regarded
&c Derlect. lSy the addition Of this lmpOrtant
auGilcry tae gardener will DE enabled TO add
several thousands OF new species 10 hlsjalready
extensive collection. a principal object to be
accomplished by augmenting the facilities tor
the growth of exotic plants is the Illustration OF
economic botany, and the professors or the med
c2l colleges here will be provided with speci
mens from this source MIR. Smith has recent
ly bestowed great attention 10 the cultivation
OF the RGmie plant, the newly discovered sui
sutute for cotton the hbres OF which are con
'sIuble into cloth ct the hneSt material. The
grounds surrounding the conserVatores Will,
during the coming summer, be handsomely or,
hamened with grass plats, pleasant gravel
walks, and all the variety OF out door shIuooery
and flowers suitable tC this climate, thus lorA-
'ng one OF the most agreeable resorts Tor sum-
her $ afternoon stroll. lbdShtRgtOa ETpTeSS.
"a INRENCH DRESSING FOE LADIES' AND