Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1878-06-13


human body contributes SO literally to
its locomotive powers as the feet. How
rarely we see the feet of our fair sisters
in the beautiful and useful form the
Creator made them. Each trotter has
twenty-six bones, most wisely and sd-
mirably fitted to each other They
form a strong and elastic base. They
support the body, however heavy il
may be, and bear it easily on its wonted
way. These many bones vary in size
in different persons, but always, ii
treated fairly, retain their natural form
and relations to each other. Wonder
fuI to say, they are more beautiful and
delicate in the females of our race, as if
they were intended to be objects of ad-
miration. We rarely see them, unless
il be in the mazes OF the dance, and
then they are covered. So we must
say, that the normal female human foot
makes right angle with the body, fiat
and curved upon its upper surface, con-
cave and wisely arched below, aud mar
rowest behind. The number and beau
ty of its curves are wonderful. 1t has
no straight lines, unless made by art.
The Instep has an arch of seven bones,
the number of perfection. These sup
port and protect all the adjacent parts
from compression and displacement.
Attached by ligaments TO the larger
bones Of the leg, or tibia, Of this lower
limb is the astralagus. So this ti6ia and
astralazus form the ankle joint, so USE
M in shaking tbe light fantastic Toe. |"
Below this j the heeT bone, that not
only supports the body. but aids In rais-
ing il as the cultivated foot moves quiet
w along. Too nanyladies do not move
these lower limbs with grace. They
initiate the Indians Of our plains and
forests, and throw their feet straight
forward, as if they expected to meet OBJ
stacles in their walks. Projecting the
feet slightly outward lends grace and
beauty TO the lower limbs. Some of
the lower races, ii not all, are marked
by a longer heel, hatter calf and
straightforward movement of the feet.
Grace of motion charms the eye hardly
less than the grace of character attracts
the soul.
In front of the astragalus are second
row Of fine bones. They form the arch
from side to side, and from front to rear.
This arch, or hollow OF the foot, has
been long admired by all men of thought
and science. Its elasticity gives ease
and comfort to the spinal column and
all its dependent parts.
In the normal state of woman, the
second toe Of each foot is the longest of
the total row. But in civilized cohamu-
mites, The length, direction and COM
fort Of this leading member ''of the hu-
man form divine" is totally disregarded.
Ill-ftting shoes change their course.
They displace the bones and compel
the several toes to ride upon each 9TH
eT.
No part Of the human body, unless it
be the chest, is so much abused ss those
on which It rests. A compressed and
contracted chest invites disease and
death. A compressed and contracted
foot invites corns and bunions, suffer
ings and pains. Let the toes be free TO
move easily among themselves, and let
their common covering be SO large that
they may retain the form, direction and
beauty Nature gave them. High heels
should be as indicative OF low life as
long ones are. Small feet even now
indicate the smallness Of the mind.
Let the arch so wisely made be allowed
to retain its beneficial elasticity. "A
compressed waist and contracted feet
form pitiable illustration oi human fol-
".
The beautiful arch of the human foot
Is flexible and yielding, so as 10 adapt
its form 10 inequalities Of surface, and SO
elastic - 10 relieve the brain from shocks
in the ordinary walks of life.
The heel was made 10 be the chief
basis Of support. The toes were made
to steady the action Of the foot. IL the
balancing of the body i changed, the
whole body suffers. The feet are dis
sorted, the limbs are unsteadily support.
ed, the trunk il thrown into an abnoT-
NAL position, the spine y very often
harmed. The whole process Of walk
ing is unnecessarily laborious. The re-
suits are iatigues nervous and spinal IF-
ritation. Some nations consider an
arched foot mark Of beauty aud intel
ligence. They consider that female >
slave under whose foot the water can
not aow. II some degenera te races
the mental powers keep pace with the
aTching Of the foot. A 1af-footed race
i always an inferior one. Preserve the
ieet IN al theH curves and beauty.