The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1882-06-30
Oar Feet.

er ana narrower IMAM tn0 MANU- Az
solid parts are tirmer than the corre-
spending parts of the hand; the nova
bic parts are less movable than those OF
the hand. The foot has two arches;
one from front to rear composed Oh
eight bones, and another from side ia
side composed of four. These arches.
on account of the cartilage interposed
between the segments that compose
them, are flexible and give elasticity to
the step and gracefulness to the gait.
The largest bone in the long arch OF the
foot is the heel bone, and to this is at
tached the largest tendon in the body.
In this tendon the three muscles which
compose the calf of the leg and which
are of the greatest value to us in the act
of walking unite.
The earliest form of foot cover wac
the simple sandal. secured to the FOG;
by thongs and often by button, coL..
inc between the first and second tOes
The material used for shoes and sandal
is various, chiefly, however, the skins {.
animals. Wooden shoes are much worS
in Europe and are becoming commonin
this country. The Japanese wear SAN
dals of straw, and South Americans, in
some localities, sandals of plated hemp.
The early Greeks went barefoot, or
wore simple sandals. the Romans wore
buskins, similar to the mOccasins of the
American Indians.
1t was the custom when those who
are now gray-haired were young, for
boys and girls to go barefooted in the;
summer time, and as long as that Gus
tom prevailed there were far fewer ILL
shapen and deformed feet than now,
and much less suffering from ill-ftting
shoes. Now, all children whose parents,
can afford shoes and stockings for them
are shod the year round, and their feet
often crowded into shoes that are SO
short or narrow as to produce pain and.
deformity. 1t is very wholesome fOr the
foot to be left entirely free from all
covering during part, at least. of the
summer months. A skillful anatomist
SAYS that if we wore shoes day and
night the feet would become permanent-s
" and hopelessly diseased-but the
airing and change they get while we
sleep keeps them in tolera5le condition.
We never think of working with our
hands when they are gloved, and all we.
ask of glove is that it. fit neatly the,
hand VIXEN at rest. But we never think
Of walking any distance in unshod feet
and what we want of shoes is not cover
ing only but aid in lOcomotion. Many
4 shoe is comfortable enough when one
is sitting still that becomes eXcrutiating
when one walks in it. Room is not.
given for the play of the various mus
cles of the foot, the arches OF the. foot.
are pressed out OF shape, the circulation
is INSTRUCTED, and the exercise of walk
ing, which should be delightful. be-
comes intolerable, the gait which should
be graceful and easy becomes imping
and awkward.
The skillful shoemaker or shoe-fitter
should undstand the anatomy of the
foot as well as the art of making shoes,
and he should be able to fit each shoe,
to the foot that is to wear it, but prob
ably not one shoemaker in q million
ever dissected human foot with view
to learning how shoes should be made.
There are shOe-makers, however, who
have thus laid foundation for perfect
of their trade, and who are
able, therefore, to make perfectly fit
ting shoes. May their number in
crease.
The chief variations of fashion in
shoes are as to high or low heels, and
round or square toes. As to-
Inc toes Of shoes, it matters compara-
lively little what their shape may be
provided room enough is given the foot
and it is properly supported by the.
shoe and not pressed out of shape.
The more nearly the shoe approaches
he form of the foot the easier will it be.
70 walk in. But high heels are nothing
out an injury to not only the foot but
he whole body. The fex, the three
muscles in the calf of the leg that give
,rectness to the body, throw the weight
If the body on to the ball of the foot,
brow the knees forward and put the
whole mechanism out of poise. 1t was.
lad enough when the heel was put on
he extreme enc of the shoe, but when,-
Is was recently the fashion, the heel
vas built on the shoe so as to come al
most under the center of the long arch=
# the foot, that was barbarism and
cruelty. Fashion now dictates low heels
md so far is sensible and hygienic in.
Ter behests.
Judging from the number of mis-
udpcu ACtt Ouc SECS Wucu travelling
where the feet of wayfayers are ex--
'osed to view, there is a good deal of
differing that is not much talked about
nd is probably considered incurable..
'ut it might all, or nearly all. have
'een prevented but for ill-ftting shoes.
When people are educated up to the
'oint of requiring that in the construc-
ion of shoes the maker shall show that
e understands the anatomy of the foot
S we'll as the making of shoes. we shall
ave a larger proportion of handsome.
eet, more graceful pedestrianism and
acreased vigor in the masses of the peo-
le.-M y Tribune.
"A Chattanooga letter says: Already
here is invested here over So, 600, 600 in,
manufacturing enterprises, over 81, OOO.--
90 of which is in iron interests. One.
alone. the Roane Iron Com