The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1882-10-19
Fashionable Shoes.

Many fashionable ladies' would be
surprised to learn how very many Of
the French shoes and boots which they
consider superior TO all that America
can produce are in reality of home man
ufacture, and that there arc scarcely any
shoes imported for the American mar
ket, and none at all for New York. On
the contrary, there is considerable ex-
port trade, and families living in Paris,
with all tho manifold marYels OF the
Palais Royal and boulcvards at their dis
posal, order their boots from New
York, whose manufactures stand un-
riyated for the finish and style of their
shoes. The leather alone comes from
foreign sources, that employed by the
best manufacturers mainly from France
French kid either polished or dull, the
latter being known in the trade as mat
kid, forming the staple material for the
purpose of Hppers.
This kid, either dressed or undressed,
is found better suited for wear than any
other kind. So-called morocco is of
home production, and is generally made
from South American gcat-skins. tanned
aud expressly prepared for the native
manufacturers. The finest shoes in the
trade are made in New York itself, and
many of those which find their way 10
the West and are manufactured in Mas
sachusetts are made upon lasts fur
nished by firms in this city. In spite Of
the vast improvements made in ma
chinerv and the extent to which it is
employed in this industry, the best
shoes are always handmade, and in this
we find the reason for the high price Of
American rs compared with foreign
shoes.
English work stands high for durabiI-
ity and the care bestowed upon il, but
it is generally wanting in finish and
style English mechanics coming here
are considered valuable workmcn on ac-
count of their thorougbness. but are al
ways subjected to a certain drilling be-
fore they are equal TO the requirements
of the American manufacturer. French
shoes and French worzmen, on the other
hand, are noted for the lightness and
style Of their work, but almost equally
50 for its wants of durability; it is in the
comb nation of the excellences of both
that the American expert stands un-
riyaled at his trade as a shoemaker.
German shoes have nothing to recon-
mend them to the American public, who
would as soon think of wearing a sabot
ar a boot imported from Germany. The
mention Of sabots reminds us Of Curl
Gus use to which we have seen them put
in Holland. where, in the heated days Of
summer. dusty and travel-stained wom-
en- and children may be seen at the city
fountains deliberately making the wood
en- shoe which has been worn in from
the village many miles away serve as a
drink ng vessel.
These sabots, with their clatter, elat-
ter, come back to memory as most ina
p0rtant factors in Dutch life; probably
IN many a village around New York
they might be found slowed away as
relics of the Fathcriand, long since re-
placed by the substantial leather boot
Of the American artisan. The study Of
boots and shoes. If one had time to in-
dulge in it, would indeed bc full Of i'm
terest. What changes might be rung.
what histories and adventures imagined
in considering q collection Of modern
boots and shoes, from the stout miner q
boot. high up the leg, TO the fragile fab
rieatiOn Of embroidered kid or satin
which has played its part In some rev.
elrv at the capital. But our interest,
for the moment nc least, lies rather IN
the practical details of the manufact-
ure of these most Indispensable arti-
cles, and we must not wander into the
realms Of fancy. Everybody, 1t Is pre-
sumed, admits tho need Of being well
shod; everybody, that is, except a few
visionary moFtals. like n late Bishop Of
Honolulu. with whom we were ae-
quainted. who objected TO coverings
for the feet upon hygienic principles,
and condemned six lusty children To go
unshod until they reached fhe are 81
seven, when they were held capable of
choosing for themselves. Perhaps 1t
was Inherited depravity which made
them unanimous in the choice Of the
largest and heaviest boots they could
find when once thai age was reached.
It y q satisfactioa 10 find, upon i'm
quiry, that heels are entirely out of
fashion in ehiidren's boots, what are
known as s'sprfng heels only being
adopted; that il to say. just sufficient
increase Of sole st the heel 10 raise y
above the level ~ \. Times.