Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1873-08-23

FooT- COVERINGS The mistaken notion that
ouly small foot can lay claim to'beauty, even
though it's smallness come by compression and
not by nature, is slowly but surely giving way !;
and the shoemakers will hasten to avail them
selves Of the change.
Last Summer an attempt lit failed, we are
sorry to say) was made to introduce broad soies
and square, English toes. Standing 10 the
shopwlndows, their effect was not so pretty as
the effect of the dainty narrow-tipped, pointed
heecd French CATERS. Therefore they were
secuted as unganly by the happy mortaIs whose
feet, despite hong siege of French boots, were
still toierably sound This year, however, some
relief is looked for; and the only permanent re-
lief will come, not with plasters and lotions, but
with wide, sensible soles, and low, broad heels
The way has already been opened by the intro
duction, this season, OF these desirable altera-
,iuus into the low shoes called indiferently 'Cro-
quet slippers, - Oxford ties, Newport ties, !"
aud variety Of other Dames. These are to be
followed in the Autumn by buttoned walk
ng-b boots of kid and goat-skin, having square
toes with rounded corners, broad soles,-the
widening from toe to joint being scarcely per-
ceptible, and low heels, not more than halt
the height of the absurd French once. But it
must uut be supposed that, lin thus obtaining
comfort, good looks are abandoned. Anybody
who has worn these ease-givicg shoes knows that
they are vastly more becomlng than the strictly
Partisan gaiier. The breadth Of sole, permit
ting corresponding naTrowness OF the upper
leather, so Sustains the foot that, even IN an
old boot, it is Lotginclined to- spread, as 1t must
where the upper Is wide, and the sole slender.
wel-shaped foot, though it be large, Is beau
tltul; aud missbapen foot, as small as Cln-
derellas, IS ugly. No foot can remain beau
IItul where the toes are un1aturally cramped,
or when the entire weight OF the body is thrown
on the toes by exaggerated heels.
Beyond this important change ln form, tnore
will be but little difference in the new Fall
boots. Buttoned CATERS are such decided To-
VOrltes that it is unlikely they will be displaced
before another Spring. though baimoral boots
la4gng on top, and kid CATERS, laclDg on the IL
sde will be somewhat worn by those who pre-
Ter novelty to grace Scribner's Naga=iue.
SIGNATURE oR TIE Cross. The mark which
persons who are unable to write are required to
make instead Of their signatures, is In the form
vl cross; aud this practice, having formerly
been followed by kings and mobiles, is constant
" referred to as an instance OF the deplorab!e
ignorance of ancient times This signature is
hot, however, invariably proof of such iguo-
rance. Apciently the use OF the mark was not
confined TO ilfterate persons; for among the
Saxous the mark of. the cross as an attesation
OF the good faith of the person signing, was re-
Iulred to be attached to the signature of those
who could write, rs well as to stand In the place
OF the signature of those who could not write.
10 those tiuies, il; "a man could write, or even
read, his knowledge was considered proof pre-
slmiptive that he was in holy orders The
cIerIcus, or clerk, was Synonymous with pen
man; and the laity, or people who are not clerks,
a'u not teel any urgent necessity for the use Of
letters. The ancient use of the cross was there
10. lore universal, alike by those who could and
those who could not write; it was, indeed, the
symbol otau oath, from its sacred associations,
aS a; vel! as the mark generally adopted. Hence
Tue origin Of the expression, Save the mark, y
a. iorm OF ejaculation approaching the char
ac'er of an OATH