The daily gazette., 1880-12-31
From thr Shoe and Leather Reporter.
THE ODOGRAPH.

An instrument called the odoRraph,
the invention ot q Mr.. NJ ORGY, has called
he attention Of secular journals TO the
question of high or lbw heels for boots
aud shoes. The instrument is intended
ts register the length and frequency Of
the step, and consists OF q small oylln-
Ter, which totateH W. means Of clock
work IN ITS Interior, and a pen, which
Registers on the cylinder a mark cor
responding to the SUep, the pen being
raised VI lowered At each movement OF
the tuoi by the impulse communicated
| oy small buib OF alr beneath the sole
Having attached Lhe new invention
TO the Ieet OF sevetal young soldiers.
careful observation developed the fol-
| lowing facts: la going up an incl ne the
step Is longer tbaa in descending a hili.
| When burden Is Carried the step short.
ems. With high heels the step is short
| with low heels IL ls long. Thick solrs
aud tLose prolonged a hIttle beyond the
| loot Increase the length while short aud
dextble sOles dlmlulsh the reach Of the
step. proportion always exists be-
| tween the ienRih aud frequency OF the
sep when walking On level ground.-
In going up hll the length increases but
the frequency decrtases. IN coming
Town an Incline the reverse is true
High heels especially, aud short soles o
= lesser degree, tend to "A totteriEg and
| irregular walk, ami frequent pausos for
rest, This l. because natures law, that
The whole loot mast tqsaily support the
body, IS entirely diaregarded, and the
whole weight thrown forward, compel
ing a person, from the waist up TO bend
over the toes In order to keep the GENRE
Of gravity over lis base Hence with
high heels came what was commonly
called the "GIeeian Bend" the "Provi-
dence DIP" aud other equally ridiculous
and unnatural modes or totternR. No
professional pedestrian would be fool
uardy enough - undertake to walk for a
wager IN other than low heels and broad
prolong. d suleS. 20 amateur would nos.
sess 30 little sense as To undertake a
Walk IN the country IN high-heeled or
} tight fitting foot covarinE. Yet unnl re-
, Gently the dictates uf fashion have been
such that high heel, set we'll under the
: ceutre o the foot, entailing leg weari.
) ness, irregular steps, staggering walk
and frequent pauseSt has been the only
cOrre-t tning in whldh d lady could en-
= case her foot. Without good shaped
law heel boot, no lady, however prett,
her foot, or graceful her carriage, car
e walk becomIngy, with ease, or give
= proper deXiOn to tht muscles Of the fee
and legs.
o Physicians assert that more than one
% halt the weak auk les, corns, b1nious
~ anu uioCdbtb ~
le the feet and legs, are directly atLribut
able to heels being too high to form
eady base for tue weight Of the bod,
and the toes too pointed to allow th
proper expansion and use Of the fee
p Scientific observation, as evidenced d
ia the odogrAph, also condemns tight-fittin q
boots and high heels, and demonstrate
lr by practical expe ents, that the hs
Al, can, with benefit TO the health an
," graceful carriage of the whole body, /
4 aimo most Indefinitely lowered ,aud that al
m solute rigid soles, Or those prolonge
7O beyond a certain limit, are disadvant
ne geous. Both me liclue and 1ciepce eo
)o demning the same style, tits to be hon,
that hereafter the Votaries of fashif
r Will rememaer that the legs and fe
M were gwen us TO exercise she body upo
w and ihat they can dD the human race ,
greater favor than to forever froy
upon anything in tue the shane of TO
- gear that does not possess the commo
oh sense elements of low heels broad sol
and comfortable, rounded toes,