Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1886-01-27
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 in this re-
spect the variations were frequently lin
tied to the process of oiling or "grcas-
ing" The women stuck quite persist
emily 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 bcwltching effect Occasionally
one saw a woman in bootccs. These
were the pioneers of sidc-laced gaitcrs
which came along later. OF course
there was some better protection required
to overcome the discomforts from
deep SHOWS and WEAKNESS of travel, for
the facilities were then so meager, and
these were afforded by the ubiquitous
woolcn socks which were worn over the
shoes and ankles Save in large cities or
villages very few rubber shoes were worn,
These were luXuries seldom INDUCED in,
/ because OF the cost and of the lack OF
knowledge as to their rcpcllant qualities,
as well 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 gaitcr boots
men began to grow more partial to shoes,
and gradually discarded the long leg APP
pendagc. The prevalence of hoop-skirts
among women rendered species of pro-
tcctive footwear necessary, while on the
other hand the style of tight-titting
trousers with men made the legs of boots
an incumbrancc. Rubber shoes, mean
while, have become cheap and popular,
50 that both sexes are on plane Of equal
ity in the matter of covering for the feet
The custom of measurement shocmak.
inc that formerly prevailed 50 extensive.
ly is worth mentioning. Sale work,
called derisively "shop work." was rare
" seen or handled. A shoe store in tho
most populous towns was apacc whcr'
rcady-mude shoes could be procured
though the largest portion of its custom
ers left their measures, which were il
turn transferred to various cordwainers tt
be attended to. Many of these latte
made periodical visits to the houses o
customers and supplied their wants, TIL,
incest boots were found among the i'm
portcrs. We had not then acquired tht
facility for producing boot equal il
style and fit to the French article.
The immediate predecessors Of india
rubber shoes, for wear in the cities wher
paths were prepared during the snow,
seasons, were articles technically described
as "galochcs." They were, in fact
leather overshoes, save that the protec
ton came to the soul Of the foot rathc
than to other parts. The prototype o
the shoe was the ancient "clog," which
indeed, was worn as shoe or foot coy
cring, instead of an eXtraneous protector
In later years the pattern of England wa
kindred to the "gaoche." There wa
always something natty in the appear
ancc of this article, and the facility wit
which it could be donned was in its ia
vor as well. Yet. woe to the individual
who attempted the use OF new pal
upon icy walks, where the hard ant
smooth solcs bcgIiled frequent down
falling to the uninitiatcd. The origini
vulcanined rubber shoes had leathc
bottom, and it constituted an objectio
hard to overcome, because the
were so slippery. The use of bot
toms came as Il pension to the apprcciG
tion of this species of foot wear. "-Shc
md Leather Reporter.