Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1873-06-17
GIRLS BOOTS AND SHOES.
DR.. do LEWIS.

been remarking that the soles were uni
iormly too narrow. when Miss b. spoke
up:
"Wby, Doctor, my shoes are perfectly
immense. Why.they are twice rs broad
as my foot"
Miss B. will you be kind enough to
take off one of your shoes, and send it
iorward?" 1t was cheerlully and quickly
done.
Henry, please bring the ruler Now
VIC will measure this sole"
Miss b., lind this sole is two and
one half inches wide; do you think your
foot is narrower than that ?"
"Oh a great deal. That shoe sole is
twice as wide as my foot"
Mis- b. will you please come to the
platform q moment" So, limping
along, one shoe off and one shoe on, she
presented herself.
Miss B., will you be kind enough to
/ put you foot upon that sheet of white
paper? Lift up your other foot, and let
your full weight press upon this one.
There. now. hold still minute, and let
me draw around your foot. There, that
will do. Now we will measure this
mark, and see Just how broad your foot
is. Why, Miss b., find that your foot
is three inches and three quarters broad;
no, stop, ii is three inches and seven
eigh tbs; no. stop again, it really is four
inches broad. Now what do you think
You may take the rule and measure
yourself if you doubt it. The sole is
four inches broad!"
But. doctor. it is iour inches broad
only wnen it is spread out by standing
my whole weight on this one foot"
Yes, Miss b but that is exactly
what takes place every time you step.
This shoe sole, which you think is i'm.
mense, is two inches and halt wide.
Now what do you suppose becomes Ol
the inch and half OF foot which has no
sole TO rest upon? Either the upper
leather holds the foot, and prevents it
spreading, OF the foot spreads on either
side beyond the sole. and presses down
upon the edge of the sole.
Very few girls walk in a firm, strong
way. Notice one. You can see that she
is balancing upon narrow sole. There
is an unstcadness, sidewise vibration.
Besides, she has not breadth of toe
enough, she cannot push her body for
ward il that elastic way which we all so
much admire.
Again. the pressure OF the upper
leather checks the circulation in the foot
and makes it cold. If you check the cir
culation in any part. it becomes cold.
The tight shoes, with an elastic worn
about the legs just below the knee. so
check the circulation in tho foot. that the
great majority OF girls have cold feet.
1t would indeed, be rare to find one with
warm feet like q boy"
Miss B. took her shoe and limped back
to her seat quite crest fallen. Now a
dozen girls eagerly put up their hands.
Six or eight other girls insisted on
having their shoes and feet measured,
but among them all we did not find one
that had less than an inch and a quarter
OF loot not matched by the sole.
Miss s.. quiet, earnest girl, rose and
said:
Il have always thought that shoes
should have broad solcs, and I have tried
for years to induce my shoemaker to give
ME broad soles. He always says he will,
but never does. How can q young lady
get broad soles if the shoemaker won't
make them? | am sure should be glad
to have mine as broad as the widest part
of my foot, bat / cannot get them.
SURE WAY TO GET BROAD soLEs.
Miss S , if l will tell you how to in.
duce your shoemaker to make the soles
oil your shoes as broad as your feet, will
you try it?"
Il will, and should be very thankful
for the suggestion"
go TO him and say, Mr.. Smith, please
let me put my foot on q sheet of paper,
resting my whole weight upon one loot,
and then, if you please. mark around it
with your pencil"
"Of course he will do it very cheer.
fully"
Indeed, for some purpose. which l am
sure no man can explain, ,shoemakers are
quite in the habit OF taking the size and
shape of The foot.
Then say to Mr.. Smith, please meas
ure that and tell me just how wide it is"
"Mr. Smith measures. You look on.
He finds that the width is exactly three
inches and seven eighths."
"'Bur he will say, Miss S., what is
all this lor?'
"'No matter. Now. Nr. Smith, will
you make the soles of this pair as broad
rs my feet?'
Certainly, Miss S.. will make them
all nice and broad
"Mr. Smith. please make the soles as
broad as my feet this time
"'Why. certainly, Miss. what is the
trouble? l will give them to you real
nice and wide
"'You always tell me so; but when
they come home. they are always those
little narrow ones