St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-12-26
FITTING ODD FEET.
The Trials Of SaIeszssn ia Fashionable
Boot aud Shoe Stores


A reporter stood in popular shoe store
the other day celebrating about making q
purchase, aud at the same time watching the
various customers as they came and went
The chief demand seemed 10 be for gu N
shoes, and the customers were quickly fur
nished with what they wanted. 'That makes
the forty-secoud pair Of rubbers that have
sold to-day. said clerk as be bowed his
lady customer out at tie door. "a vet,
rainy day in the fsll Of the year is sure TO
make an inrosd in that line Of our stock.
They are easy 10 sell, too. All we have 20
know is the size Of the shoe the party wears
and then we can produce the right fit No
one IS very particular about the ct OF an
ove-shOe. but our lady customers sometimes
haggle over the price. But they do that on
whatever they buy. Oversboes vary in style
from the big, hardensome arctic to the light
gossamer which may be wrapped up aud put
in the pocket
As the accommodating clerk was con-
elnding his remarks lady. evidently verg-
ing on the age OF thirty-five years and single,
hunnced in After attracting considerable
attention among other customers. she seated
herself and whispered that she wanted pair
OF gaiters, No. 81. The clerk, somewhat In
doubt, cast his experienced eye towards the
bottom OF her dress, and started for tbs
shoes. Having had some experience in the
business, aud being economical Of his
strength, he picked out 4 pair or 6ves,
hoping TO make but one trip. but be was 10
be disappointed. The styl. OF the shoe did
not suit, and the lady would not so much as
m he hrrft frwr. 81
both iyes. Selecting the largest OF the Two
pairs, when the clerk was diplomAiIcally
looking mother way, she struggled with III.
shoe until her foot was finally forced intoit
with rainbow curve. THERE'S one OF the
troubles" she remarked, with a schoolgirl
giggle, Il have such an awfully high in
step"
On Bonded knee the clerk began the task
of buttouing. Toe third button hole he tried
was stout Que, and did not break, aud as
the work proceeded the woman.s face got
red and white by turns from the pain sh=
was suffering. "a beautiful fif," be re-
marked, land If you will pardon me, will
say, that IL makes the shapeliest loot we have
had in the house to-day.
81 thinK / viii take that pair" said the
customer.
''Do you wish TO try on the otherln
81. will not be necessary" answered the
buyer, aud, paying the requisite SUN, she
LETT the store. As she did so the clerk
gave a protracted wink: ''she's one OF
'em."
zone Of whstgn
''Thc kind that puts on one clean stocking
when going 10 buy shoes, aud doesn't want
TO give the other foot away. Here comes
trouble" he flushed, as q young miss came
tripping in. Such proved To be the case, for
the new arrival tried on pair after pair IN I'll
at least dozen varieties were living around
On the floor, and then she did not buy, but
said she would call again. ''Yes she viii, in
horn," soliooulzrd the afable and gem
tlemanly clerk. In strong contras, 10 this
occurrence was the appearance OF we'll
known business man, whc, without letting
go OF the door-knoh, said: Send me 4
pair Of No Waukenphasts, ID width, d WA
to the house, and the bill with 'em; / have Mt
time 10 stop" and bang went tie door.
NOW, there's Christian gentlemen. II
had the money we'd 90 oct and have a beer
on it. You'd be surprised at the change thai
ladies' have undergone in the matter OF foot
wear. You recollect those prunella paper
soled shoes they used TO wear the year
rOuDd"
"M-m-m"
GAN gone now. They are following SEN
sible English fashions, and use the com
mon sense Shoe broad toe, low, fat heel
aud wide, thick sole. The foot is improved
in appearance, and, Lord, the comfort. As
Yet the upper class Of women only are using
them, working girls sticking 10 the old pinch
toe kind with the same persistency that they
do to the straight, plastered bangs that went
out OF fashion long ago. / could 20 and
stand on the sidewalk with you for half an
hour, and without seeing the feet point out
without missing one all who wear tight shoes
tell IL by their faces, which show lines and
drawn muscles that no amount Of paint DOW
der or grimaces can conceal. Tight shoes make
women feverish, ill-tempered and spoil their
digestion, which in turn reaches for the COM
plexiou and ruins IL, andthe ruin is further
complsted By literal apple atoms Of face pow
der, containing in its ingredients bismuth.
lead and other poisonous substances that
bring on paralysis and early death. Are you
getting theref''
81 am"
''Now for leather. What is called or sold
as French kid is made in the United States:
that is, ninety-nine one-hundredths Of Il
The genuine article is scarce aud high. One
New York frm has a monopoly on IL. No
leather will keep out snow water. prepar-
alton OF glue, rubber, plaster OF paris and
turnpike cement will do it, but after il dries
you will have 10 blast your way down 10 the
leather 10 put On a polish. Tue Cardiff giant
wore this kind. Bull leather and OK hide Is
lasting, but it's too thick Horse hide. great
deal OF which is used now, is thinner. has
greater elasticity, q finer grain and is far
more enduring. In France hundreds of
thsse animals are slaughtered annually Cor
the shoe trade Nowadays hides are tanned
in q o much OF a hurry, the process besng
ka1v a 49,. IL -.
rot the material. You know that old story of
the soldier during the war who bought a pair
OF boots and had only gone about 4 square
in the rain when the soles melted OF. and he
came back with the tapping. uppers TO the
storekeeper, who said. throwing up his hands,
why, you haven't been walking in them.
have you! Them's cavalry boots" They
were made OF this kind OF leather. The
longer the hide is lett to soak in the tan watts
the better and tougher the product. II you
want something that will wear for time and
ages get English sole leather-if YOU can.
But when you find II let me know, and IN
get pair for myself. Here's neat thing
that's go ing 10 save lots Of colds. You see
it's rubber and waterproof Logging in COM
bination, 10 go over the shoe AMI stocking.
Buttoning as it does, it is easily and quickly
put on and of. Il is an effrctual Offset 10
the dangers Of the cold wet skirts hitting
against the ankles. Rubbers have been won
derfully improved. They used to be cumber-
some and heavy. Look at these, weighing
about four ounces 20 the pair. You can roll
them up and stick them in your vest peck
cts. Hold on didn't mean for You TO do
it You can have them in the legitimate
way If you want for dollar. The rubber is
just as hne as silk. Rubser-do you fol-
lowln
'Why don't you hire halll''
Like the dude Democrats did, aud get