The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1883-01-24

ing within the cells OF the ligneous fiber,
and this process has impaired to them
palish brown tint; but those which have
not been so treated retain the yellowisn
color of the wood from which they have.
been cut out. Tire. arohed front-piece
under which the toes slip; the sides and
the part which represent the sole and
heel, have all been formed out of a solid.
oblong, four-sided block of timber, and
give the idea that no other cutting in>
strurnents than hatchet and gouge. and
those none of the keenest, nave been
employed by the sabofier to mold them.
When we remark to NJ. &c that the
thing is unshapely, unfinished. and
might with advantage be fined down a
bit, he replies: Perhaps so, monsieur.
but what can you expectin a shoe which
sells in France for one franc, and-which
can dispose of herefor fifteen pence?h and
we are forced TO admit. not much. "Will
these sabots wear well?" say we. ''Why
note half q lifetime, jooosely answers
NJ. &c, -and when done with one
can turn them to account in keeping
the pot-au-feh simmering."
Next to these low-priced and inferior
sabots come those worked out of neater
blocks of inferior wood, on which more
pains have been bestowed in shaping
and where there has evidently been a
touch or two OF the chisel, the scoop and
the knife. The soles of these are thinner
and hatter, the heels are plainly demon
strated bya ridge; sand-paper has re-
moved many uncomfortable asperities;
| in some few there has even been a rude
attempt at ornamentation while others
have been daubed over with dull coat
ing of black paint, both for preservation
and show. These would-be improve
ments have, however. raised the value
of the article to two francs more. "Who
put ON things of this kindp' we inquire.
| ssYoung farmers, little tradesmen, mar
ket women and such like folks" replied
Mr.. &c. 'Bul have seen a juge
de Ia paix, otherwise faultless!y dressed.
come clattering into court with sabots
| Just like these upon his judicial feet, and
Mile. Marie, the village coquette, would
rather go pit-a-patting down the road
with those on than with a pair of M.
| Lecocb's best balmorsls."
| Next in the category of sabots come
those made for "gens de condition" F"
male and female, and which, though
still bearing the generic name, hardly
deserve it, for it is only their soles and
heels which are cut out of wood, the rest
of the shoes being out of leather.
Some are plain, some embossed and
otherwise embelifshed, the kid or cali
skin Fittings" being lacquered and
fastened with plated buckles or buttons
and all are turned ont in a style which
speaks more of the boutique of the cor
donnier than the hovel Of the cabotier.
"I can't sell these" says the exhibitor,
taking up pair Of the best, ''under tive
or six shillings."
Throwing aside several kinds of wooden
shoes, some excellent. some poor. some
very spruce, and some uncommonly
clumsy, NJ. &c dives into q trunk
and triumphantly takes out pair which
he admiringly holds up and says: ''Loos
here, gentlemen, here is the perfection
of the sabot; here is present worthy to
give madame the wife, or-airing hi:
English-leetle Miss re daughter-price
vun half guinee." We look as requested
and see o pair OF lady's ''claques" size
of the smallest. The sole is of close
grained wood, and it has been rubbed
down with glsss-paper or emery until Il
has become as smooth and as polished as
ivory; so also is the heel, which, In shape
and setting Is the exact counterfeit pre-.
sentiment of the boot-heel of the young
lady of the period-that is TO say, high,
narrow, scooped away and thrown toe
much forward at q right angle from the
center of gravity. The whole of the from
is of patent leather creased into wrinkles
as were our once popular Hessians. Some
gilt hooks and initiation lacings of bright
red cord pass across the instep; the side.
are also bound with scarlet ribbon, anC
velvet of the same color lines them
"Are they not beautiful" repeats NJ
&c. "Quite too. too utterly utter,
say we, ..but surely intended for the
stage and not for the streets" .'Par
dor. sare! zey are not for re theater, zeI
are for re promenade, and will take.
- Tbs O,Ese,1