Connecticut western news., 1886-02-03
FOOT WEAR CHANGES.
Notable Variations Within the
 Past Generation.
Some Facts of Interest About the Differ ent Styles of Boots and Shoes

There have been notable changes in the fashion of footwear within generation. In early days males wore long top boots the year round almost exclusively, only varying in thickness. Even ip this re- spect the variations were frequently linn. tied to the process of oiling or ''greas- ing" The women stuck quite persist 1ently to low cut shoes, or, to speak pre- cisely, to slippers for summer and bus kins for winter. These dainty slippers laced with galloon upon the ankle pro- duced a bew1tching effect. Occasionally one saw woman in bootees. These were the pioneers of side-laced gaiters which came along later. Of course there was some better protection required to overcome the discomforts from deep snows and weariness of travel, for the facilities were then so meager, and these were afforded by the ubiquitous woolen socks which were worn over the shoes and ankles. Save in large cities or
  These were luxuries seldom indulged in, because of the cost and of the lack of knowledge as to their repellant qualities, as we'll as to the labor required in con- forming the ungainly things to the con- tour of the shoe. In the course of events customs have changed materially, with the incoming of women's gaiter boots men began to grow more partial to shoes, and gradually discarded the long leg ap- bondage. The prevalence of hoop-skirts among women rendered species of pro- tective footwear necessary, while on the other hand the style of tight fitting trousers with men made the legs of boots an incumbrance. Rubber shoes, mean- while, have become cheap and popular, so that both sexes are on plane of equal ity in the matter of covering for the feet.
 The custom of measurement shoemak- ing that formerly prevailed so extensive ly is worth mentioning. Sale work, called derisively "shop york;" was rare- ly seen or handled. A shoe store in the most populous towns was place where ready-made shoes could be procured, though the largest portion of it's custom CTS left their measures, which were in turn transferred to various cordwainers to be attended to. Many of these latter made periodical visits to the houses o1 customers and supplied their wants. Tho incest boots were found among the i'm porters. We had not then acquired the facility for producing boot equal ir style and fit to the French article.
 The immediate predecessors of india rubber shoes, for wear in the cities where paths were prepared during the snowy seasons, were articles technically described as "galoches." They were, in fact leather ovcrshoes, save that the protec tion came to the soul of the foot rathe, than to other parts. The prototype o1 the shoe was the ancient "clog," which indeed, was worn as a shoe or foot GOV ering, instead of an extraneous protector In later years the pattern of England was kindred to the "galoche." There was always something natty in the appear ance of this article, and the facility witf which it could be donned was in its ia vor as we'll. Yet, woe to the individua who attempted the use of new pal upon icy walks, where the hard ani smooth soles beguiled frequent down falling to the uninitiated. The origina vulcanized rubber shoes had leathe bottom, and it constituted an objection hard to overcome, because the, were so slippery. The use of bot toms came as a pension to the apprecia tion of this species of foot wear" "-Sho and Leather Reporter.