Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-05-29

makers are bunglers, and even when the
upper is cut, cannot fasten it to the sole
so as to preserve the shape, except once
in awhile by accident. Though people
generally do not know it, shoe is one of
the hardest things to mase-that is, when
made properly and so as to fit every wrin-
kle in the foot without pressure or strain
upon any part. People risk their feet and
future comfort in the hands of men who
claim to be shOemakers, but who have
never been taught anything more than
the way to put on heel ana sole. Ma
chine work has driven handmade shoes
out of the market to large extent. But
a man who makes machine shoes cannot
be called a shoemaker. He only makes a
part of a shoe. There are five distinct
processes in making an upper and eleven
in putting on and finishing soles. Where
the work is done by machinery each of
these processes is done by one man. The
man who cuts the uppers by iron pat
terms knows nothing about putting on the
soles, except in general way, and so on
in every other branch of the work. By
machinery complete shoe can be turned
out in as many minutes as it takes hours
by hand. Team work is more profitable
to the workman, but the product is not
as economical to the purchaser. Despite
all claims TO the contrary, machine shoes
wear out sooner than handmade, and
only retain their shape for a few days.
The seams give and the upper stretches
in every direction. Machine-work, of
course, is accurate and teams become eX-
pert at it and do creditable work of the
kind, but one of these shoes which will
fit to-day tomorrow Will be large enough
for foot and half.
''ls there any dull season in the shoe
trade? Yes, it begins about July l and
lasts until Sept. 10, and also from Dec. 10
to Feb. 10. Between these periods the
main part of the shoe business is done.
The profit on shoes ranges from 80 to 100
per cent; in individual cases it is fire.
quently more or less than these amounts.
The largest price | ever got for pair or
shoes or boots was $l25. This was for pair
OftOp boots ordered by an actor whose
name is known the world over. They were
for use on the stage and were simply gor-
geOus. They were not worth nearly that
amount, but had an order to make the
finest boot that could be turned out, no
matter what it might cost, and by putting
up the price to good figure it gave the
impression of value that did not exist. If
| had placed the same boots at $40 he
would have thrown them into the street.
But the shoemaker has trials. Human
nature is queer compound. Ive been
selling shoes for forty years, and never
met man yet who put on shoe for the
first time who did not have a word or two
to say against it. Bnt | would rather Fl
ten men than one woman. A shoe that
just fits her foot so as to be comfortable is
always too big for anything, but when her
foot is cramped, twisted, contorted and
generally deformed, she looks into your
face with a smile that hides her suffering
and tells you it is just the thing. How
some women can walk with the shoes
they wear is more than | can understand.
People never take proper care Of their
shoes. Backing ruins the leather. If
used it should be washed off thoroughly
every two weeks at least and the leather
rubbed with neatsfoot oil. A little shell
lac in solution put on the soles once in a
while will keep them hard and add greatly
to their durability. Thus, for about loo.
for these two items, at least 100 per cent.
will be added to the wearing capacity OF
shoes.