Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1882-12-30
Pinching the Pink Toes.

A shoe-dealer said to New York re.
porter that the caaiority of mothers ex-
hibited more vanity than Judgment in
the selection of shoes for their Young
children. zone will bring her baby in
here" he continued, "and ask me to
try pair of shoes on it that will look
real sweet [ know what that means,
but I'm always sorry for the baby. who
Is usually In its first short dress and as
skIttlsh as any old maid about having
its feet meddled with. I don't say that
l am going to put shoe on it a size
larger than the foot seems to be. but I
do; at least get it on as we'll as any
one could fit foot operated by per-
petual-motion power. Then trust to
the mothers sense for results. If it's
her first baby she viii be indignant and
say that she doesn't want the treasure
to look sloppy in it's shoes They
must fit exactly or she won't take them.
l insist that the child's weight will push
the foot out at least fourth of an inch,
and that the shoe is just right. If she
objects again I give up and find what
she wants. The foot is squeezed into a
tight and the baby protests by squall-
ing. She says the seraph is teething or
colicky or hasn't had its usual nap, and
she shakes it up vigorously, while de-
clar1ng the shoes are Just lovely and
that its papa will be delighted
The chances are that when she wants
another pair she will leave the baby at
home and bring down it's shoes liter
ally burst out at the toe. She wants
several pairs to take home for trial, and
notice that the only ones I considered
unsuitable are the very pair she prefers.
Children would have better looking feet
If they had wiser mothers, and the fault
lies IN the first shoe worn. One pair
too short will ruin the feet, no matter
how loose subsequent ones may be-"
Then some women learn your phil
osophy?"
Yes, but after the little people have
laid foundation for corns and bunions.
I know many children between the ages
of 2 and 3 years who have both these
affections because their mothers wanted
them to look cute, as they term this
phrase of foot squeezing"
SIS there no change IN the shape of
children's shoes?"
"None. There can't we'll be, because
the sole must be sufficiently broad to
stand the wear and tear Square toes
are preferred to round toes because they
allow free development of the toes. The
spring heel, which was introduced
nearly two years ago, is worn as early
as two years of age and has recently
become fashionable for girls in their
teens. It is nothing but slip of
leather inserted between the sole and
that part of the shoe pressed by the
wearer's heel. It is seldom that
smaller than No. is made with regu-
lar heel, and that is on the common
sense plan, low and broad These and
the larger sizes have higher top than
has been usual for several years.
''Tell me something about baby shoes.
How high are they numbered?"
mo. is the first shoe out of baby
hood. No. 0 has soft sole of white
kid and pasteboard, and is the successor
Of the little knit wool boots that are
sold for babies in long dresses Nos. 1,
2, and 3 have what is called the turned
sole, sewed together on the wrong side
and turned out. There are from four
to five buttons on the side, and black
tassel is fastened at the top in front.
The latest is now to have vamp of
French kid with calf uppers; or, what
is still better, half-boxed round toe
tipped with patent leather"