Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1883-07-26
SUNNY SIDE SHOES.
Tricks by which the Poor are swindlsd
-Ueesptions In Foot Wear.

-DsespuOns IN oot "ssFs
"You newspaper fellows have had
your whack at a great many frauds Of
the day, but you have thus far over
looked the c0mmoncst and in some re-
spects the meancst Of all frauds, that
in shoes Why don't you expose itF'
The speaker was a middle-aged man Of
natty dress, evidently member Of the
craft known as commercial travellers,
and the one addressed reporter for
the COmmtTcidi. The latter, overlook.
ing the Aippancy with which journal.
lists had been classed as fellows"
asked for plans and specifications as TO
frauds in shoes, and was enlightened
in this wise:
at would take too much Of your
space 10 go into minute details as 70
how frauds are perpetrated on the
purchaser Of shoes, 50 numerous and
ingenious are they. / will therefore
merely tell you about some Of the Ordi-
nary ways Of getting up cheap shoes
Of deceptive appearance. Good leather
Of all kinds. as you are aware, costs
money. and a great deal Of il, in com
parison with prices twenty-five years
ago, and a great deal Of ingenuity has
been expended in deyising methods for
making a little Of the tanners product
20 great way. sole leather is the
most costly Of all, and naturally there
is more fraud in the soles Of shoes than
in the uppers, In great many Of the
cheaper grades Of shoes now sold the
sules consist Of very thin sheet Of
leather for the bottom, just enough 70
hold it together, and the space between
II and the so-called insole, which usual
ly consists Of a strip Of muslin, is filed
either with leather shayings pressed
together or with common straw board
The wearcrs Of this kind Of leather
goods should always be careful 70
avoid the shady side Of the street, as
dampness is ruinous TO this sort Of
shoe. causing the biggest part Of the
sole 70 crumbIe to pieces.
The uppers which the seller always
assures the purchaser are genuine
calf-skin. are split cow-hide, and wear
little if any better than the soles. The
heels are in strict keeping with the
other parts. consisting Of thin outer
rim Of leather and a slender bottom Of
the same material. the remainder
being made up Of scrap leather. Half
the ready-madc shoes worn in Pitts
burg. ! don't hesitate to assert, are
shams Of one sort or another, in part
or in whole.
The Justification IS not confined 10
mems shoes: Oh. no. There is fully as
much or more fraud in women's foot
gear. There is pebble goat made out
uf nlackcned muslin. with soles Of
plated hash as pressed scraps are
termed.
"Sheepskin is skillfully dressed to
initiate Kid. and many Of the shoes
made Of it and sold for sewed work are
merely pasted together and dissolve,
so to speak. the first time they are wet.
This sort Of fraud sets hardest on the
poor. and especially the unreasoning
poor. who must economise from force
Of necessity. and always buy things
that are cheap without much refer
cnce to their quality or durability.
Shoes at half price are always temp
ta,ion to the poor. but II they would
give the matter a little study they
would soon discover that one pair Of
honest shoes, sold at a fair price,
would outlast three or four pairs Of
the other kind. though when first put
on the latter look just as nice or nicer
than the better kind. ."--Pfttsburg
| (Pa,) Commercial