The Andrew County Republican. [volume] (Savannah, Mo.) 1871-1876, 1871-11-29
The Introduction Of india Rubh
Shoes.

Perhaps never was the fact that large
dustries often grow out of small beginnin
better illustrated than in the introduction
India rubber shoes.
In a recent conversation with we
known wealthy and distinguished citizen
New York, he casually remarked that
was the first man that ever wore pair I
India rubber shoes in this country. Our d
riosity being excited by this statement.
gratified US by a narration so interestil
ana instructive that we herewith give 1t
substance to our readers.
Previous to 1921, India rubber had be-
imported only as curiosities, In the form
crOcodiles and turtles, and other reptiles, al
also small bottles used for erasing pend
marks. In that year an intelligent sea ca
tain brought home from a voyage pair
what appeared to be models of shoes mad
of solid pure India rubber. They were on
five or six inches In length, were closed
the top, and of the natuaal creamy color !
the inspissated juice OF the caoutchouc tre5
The shoes were given to the gentlemS
above referred to, then lad, possessing
the inqulsitiveness natural TO the intelligeI|
youthful specimens of the genus homo.
Asusual, this lad had jackknife amonil
the treasures of tops. kitestrings, and Othel
incongruities with which boys pockets aIl
generally stuffed, and possessing that uni
versally strong boyish impulse, to use hi
notice, This, coupled with a desire I!
see the inside of these queer little shoe
prompted him to cut them open upon th'
instep.
The opening disclosed two cay lasts
which were easily broken up and removed
by the knife.
The thickness of the rubber was found t(
be at least thrce-quarters of an inch.
How to get these miniature shoes upon hi
feet was the problem this lad now undertook
to solve. They would not stretch enough
to Ego oon," notwithstanding the well-knowI
ingenuity with which boys Of his age con-
trive to get through small holes in fences
to Chamber up precipices impossible t.
adults, and TO accomplish feats astonishing
to all who forget they ever were boys them
selves.
Whether il was suggested from something
he had read, or whether in random expert
ment. our ever-to-be-conquered youth con
ceived the idea of softening the rubber by
boiling water and stretching the refractory
shoes upon lasts as large as his feet. Thi
done, the shoes were perfected except il
color.
The natural resort of schoolboys In sucl
an emergency, ink, was tried, but to hi:
chagrin, it washed of as soon as the shoe.
were wet. 1t is probable the boy had reat
something of blackening rubber by smoke
but if. he had not, it is certainly singular
that Ne should have hit upon the yer,
method which has been used so long TO
this purpose. He saturated the shoes will
carbon deposit by hanging them in {
chimney. Then triuuphantly donning hi
new acquisition, lie marched out into th'
streets, through puddle and pool, the envy
and admired Of all the boys who saw him
And 1t came to pass that, this thing beins
brought TO the notice of the sea captain WHIT
presented the shoes to the lad. he had tn,
sagsc.ty to import more of the shoes on hi
rext voyage, which finding ready sale, tn
sale, the regular trade in rubber shoes com
menced, and in 1923 it was an establishe.
business.
This trade gradually brought into publi
notice the vast supplies of caoutchouc ex
isting in various parts of The world. and LEI
to the experiments of Goodyear and Others
which have developed the manulactu.e o
an endless variety of rubber articles int
one of the most important industries Of th'
age.