Middletown transcript., 1873-03-29
Shoes.

ID ancient times. osly the solss Of tho
~ uers covered with the shoe, or more
eosreclly speaking. the sandal. Its cou-
stfuction was very simple, n sole tied =
round the foot aud ankle with thongs or
seraps called shoe catches. Al 6rst these
ssles werc Of wood. coarse aud clumsy,
bst answering the purpose for which they
we're dsvised-protrction to the feet from
the hot sand. aud from the Hiniy stone
which paves wha, ARE called the roads,
bat sre net really much more than bridlc-
paths in Syria. Il was tho duty Of the
servans to carry these for his master. to |
put them on, and 10 take them of. To do
this signifies inferiorisy. as all who arc
acquainted with the ancient history Of the
East already know. Tho putting on aud
putting Of of shoes and the transfer Of
them. have had certain meanings with
different nations. In Brazil, to wear a
shoe is a sign that one is u free man. A
slave goes barcfootcd in that country. In
conveying property, the Jews took OF
shoe and gave it TO the purchaser. In
times Of great mourning they indicated
t,eir grief by appearing in the street bare
foot At their solemn feasis, on entering
. holy place and in the presence Of their
superiors. they KEEP, their heads covered,
but removed their sandals. The latter
custom is still observed by the Orientals.
But shoes gradually became ornamental,
a. well a. useful aud symbolieal articles,
and they have in many countries varied
from reign to reign in shape and adorn-
meu,s. Wealth has been displayed in
their decoration as in other articles Of
dress. ln the old Roman triumphs the
conqueror appeared in buskins embossed
with pearls Even the barnafic Huns
paraded their spols on their feet the
shoes Of Aaric their chief. were studded
with gol aud precious stones. But poor
Montcxuma of Mexico carried this kind Of
extravaganza to its height, for the very
soles Of his shoes were Of solid gold. Men
have shown quite us much vanity as
women 10 tho adornment Of their feet. In
the latter part Of the reign Of Elizabeth,
aud the first part Of her successors the
conrticrs wore boots aud spurs with kind
Of bell attached, which jnglcd at every
step. There was an age Of rosetics aud
long pointed toes attached TO tho kneo by
silver chains, aud Of immense buckles. on
which man might spend fortune il he
chose. Extravaganza in these was car.
ried TO such a height that diamonds were
sometimes set in the buckles A portrait
Of Charles has white sa,in shoes with
rcsettes AT the christening Of Charles
ii. the state robes were Of white satin. Sc,
Of with crimson, aud crimson stockings
were worn. When the Earl Of Northum
berlaud went in great state to meet the
young queen Of James ". Of Scotland
his boots were Of black velvet. wrough,
with gold. The royal bridegroom wore
scarlet stockings Scarlet and crimson
seem to have been the fisoritc colors. Al
the present time such thirgs would lc
looked upon as rather snowy for gentle.
men. Even the great Fox wore red heels,
like the dandy Of his day. Marie An.
toinette displayed great ,as'c and care in
selecting her shoes. rejoicing to Sc, of
her beautiful foo. to adsantage-that foot
whirh at last passed the scatold. II j.
said that when har body was taken from
the scafroli. one Of her little shoes fell of
aud was preserved as memento of til.
queen BY the person who chanced to picl
II up.--Loadoa Aets.