The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1886-01-28
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 linn
tied to the process of oiling or ''gr as
ing" The women stuck quite persist
emily to low cut shoes, or, to speak pre-
ciseiy, to slippers for summer and bus
kins for winter These dainty slippers
laced with galloon upon the ankle pro-
duced bewltching effect. Occasionally
one saw woman in bootees. 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
woolen 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 repellant 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 gaiter boots
men began to grow more partial to shoes,
and gradually discarded the long leg ap-
pendage. The prevalence of hoop-skirts
among women rendered species of pro-
tcctive 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 work." 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 its custom
crs left their measures, which were in
turn transferred to various cord wainers to
be attended to- Many of these latter
made periodical visits to the houses of
customers and supplied their wants. The
incest boots were found among the i'm
porters. We had not then acquired the
facility for producing boot equal in
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 overshoes, save that the protec-
tion came to the soul of the foot rather
than to other parts. The prototype of
the shoe was the ancient ''clog," which,
indeed, was worn as Il shoe or foot COW
cring, instead Of an extraneous protector.
In later years the pattern of England was
kindred to the "galoche." There was
always something natty i'll the appear.
ancc Of this article, and the facility with
which it could be donned was in its fa
vor as well. Yet, woe to the individual
who attempted the use of new pail
upon icy walks, where the hard and
smooth soles beguiled frequent down
falling to the uninitiated. The origina
vulcanized rubber shoes had leather
bottom, and it constituted an objection
hard TO overcome, because they
were so slippery. The use of bot
toms came as bension to the apprecia
tion of this species of foot wear. ."-Sho
and Leather Reporter.