The Centre reporter. [volume] (Centre Hall, Pa.) 1871-1940, 1878-03-14
"THE GENTLE CRAFT"
~horz, Anricnt aud Modern -~hormakers
who Have become Famous.

shor., Ancient aud Modern shoemaker
Who Have become Famous.
Shoes date from very remote period
and the shoemaker is relic of antiqut,
who lived and had his being in yer,
early times. The jews wore woodei
shoes long before the age of Augustus
and sometimes leather shoes are men
toned. The Jewish soldiers coyere,
their feet with copper or with iron. TIL,
shoes of the Egyptians were Of pdpgrus
the Chinese aud the Indians manutac
turcd theirs of silk, Of bark Of trees, %
brass, gold or silver, according as theil
fortune permitted or their fancy die
tated. At Rome, as in Greece, leath
er WAS the material which covered
the feet of most every one. In classical
times the Romans wore cork sOles n
the shoes 10 secure their feet from water,
especially IN winter, and Rs high heel,
were not then introduced, the. Roman
ladies', who wished TO appear taller, put
plenty of cork under themselves. The
Roman ladies' wore white shoes; the
common people wore black, aud the
magistrates and those Of exalted rank
set their feet of with red shoes and en-
pluyed the crescent IA an ornament
they were often very costly. The Gus.
tom Of making shoes right aud left was
common IN classical times. Only one
instance is drawn uf an ancient monu-
ment exhibiting shoes with separate
heel pieces. Tue streets uf Rome in the
time of Domitian were blocked up by
c0bbler's stalls, which he therefore
caused 90 be removed.
The fashion Of boots and shoes has
undergone innumerAble changes Under
William Rufus, SON Of the Duke of
Normandy, who conquered at Hastings
IN 1866. IA fashion was introduced by
wearing long pointed shoes with up
turned toes curved like ram's horn
and stuffed with tow In the fourteenth
century they connected these poiuts
with the knee by chains Of gold and sill
yer-they were called cracows. Buckles
were also worn in this century. The
laboring classes wore them of copper
Other persons had them of gold and
silver. Not long after shoe rosettes
came in fashion. Ia the las, century.
the high heels of ladies shoes became a
munstrusity. In our day the general
dlsuse Of the shoe proper, and the in
PRODUCTION 81 short ankle boots, form
the chief change Of fashion.
About a century ago il WAS no uncom-
mon practice un the part Of 4" fast men +"
10 drink bumpers to the health 81 lady
oat of her shoe The Earl OF Cork. in
an amusing paper IN the CoHHOissciir,
relates an incident of this kind. and 90
carry the compliment still further he
states that the shoe WAS ordered 20 be
dressed and a. be served for supper.
"Th, cook set himself seriously 10
work up1n ii; he pulled the upper part,
which was 81 fine damask. into shrcia
and tossed them mp in ragout. minced
the soles. fried them in batter. aud
placed them round the dish for garnish.
The company testified their affection
Tor the lady hy eating heartily 81 this
exquisite impromptu. Within the last
score 81 years. at a dinner Of Irish
sQu,res. the health oi a beautiful girl.
whose foo, WAS as pretty as her face.
was drunk in champagne from one Of
her satin shoes. which an almircr oi the
lady had coutrived a. obtain posses
sion Of
The patron saints OF shocmakers are
ST. Crispin and his brothcr Crispian.
who supported themselves hv making
shoes while they preached % the people
of Gaul and Britain. In compliment 10
these saints. the trade of shoemaking is
called "thc gentle craft. The craft is
rich in names which have become in
4 4. 4 II
crtv. among which may be found Hhus
Sachs, tho poet Of Nuremberg AMI the
friend of Luther. the eccentric Lacking
ton, Who. in the title page Of his auto
SAYS that he came 10 London
with 81 n his pocket. and rose 10 be a
bookseller. having an annual sale O!
100. 600 volumes Richard Savage. the
poet BLOOMFIELD and his brother, and n
whole constellation o' minor bards.
headed by James Laokington. Of the
Temple Of the MUSES. Sir Cloudesly
shovel. the rclonbtahle admiral Sir
William Reed. th" powerful Clifford OF
tho OuarfcriV the ralical Hardy and
he astrological Partridge. SIR Simon
Eyre, Benedict Bandorh. Jacob Boeh-
man. Samuel Drew, George Fox. the
real original Friend. William Hunting
ton, John Pounds. John Brand, Hans
christian Andersen. DR. Carey, DR.
Morrison, DIR. Ebonezer Henderson, DR.
Marshman. DIR. John Kitto and many
others - nll shoemakers before they
turned their thoughts and energies into
literary channels
Among the Anglo-SaXons the trade of
was somewhat comprehensive
He manufactured and supplied ankle
leather. shoes, leather hose. bottles,
birdie thongs. trappings, TASKS, boiling
vessels. leather neck pieces, halters,
wallets and pouches.
In the United States the manufacture
Of shoes has attained the highest per
Npctisu. chiefly in Massachusetts,, and in
Philadelphia, also, the shoe manufacture
has attained considerable Importance.
and the sole leather and the morocco of
Philadelphia are far.famed.
The antiquity Of the art ot leather
dressing dates far back. Tho seven
teenth book OF niad speaks Of tanners
skins 10 make leather Of them.
Over three hundred wears ago the tan
uers composed n very important body in
England. An account is given Of
furious quarrel which broke ont in
Queen Elizabeth's time. between them
and the shoemakers. Troy Times.