The Arkansaw traveler., 1888-02-25
QUEEN BESS' SHOE.
New York Commercial Advertiser

New York Commercial Advertiser.
 A souvenir of England's virgin queen is extant to-day in the shape of slipper and sandal worn by her more than 300 years ago. They are at present in the possession of MT. Jo- seph F. Graham, who keeps a shoe store in an old building at the corner of Vesey and Greenwich streets. So rare and precious is the relic that he keeps it in his safe with as much care as any of his other valuables. The shoe, notwithstanding the centuries that have passed since it encased the queens foot, is still in a wonderful state of preservation, and is interest ing not only for it's associations, but as a specimen of the handicraft of the Crispins of those days.
 The queen must have had a tiny foot, as the shoe is only a number one in length, though rather too broad to be considered precisely shapely at the present time. It is very similar in shape and form, however, to a lady's fashionable dress shoe ot to-day. It is made of yellow brocaded satin, lined with fine stout linen canvas. The sole is of oak tanned leather, some what coarser and heavier than would be put into such shoe to-day. The heel is like the high French heel of modern times, though we'll under the heel of the foot, and is at least two inches high. The toe of the shoe runs to a sharp point. Across the instep are two satin straps which were evidently fastened with buckle or clasp, and the back of the shoe is entirely devoid of counter or stiffening. The edges are bound with yellow silk braid. The workmanship is remarkably good, as many shoe manufacturers who have seen it testify.
 Accompanying the shoe is sandal, evidently made to go with it, as the bits of silk in the straps across the in step are of the same yellow satin of which the shoe itself is made. The sandal is even more curious in its way than the shoe. It consists simply of two thicknesses of sole leather, cor responding in size and shape with the sole of the shoe, except that it is flat on the bottom and heelless. On the upper side there is an elevation to fit in the hollow of the shoe itself. It was evidently only intended to Keep the sole of the shoe from contact with the ground, and is without sides or up- pers except the narrow straps to hold it in place, and which, like the straps on the shoe, were intended to be fast ened with buckles.
 The authenticity of the relic is vouched for by the possessor, who has its history back to the time when one of the queens maids of honor gained possession of it at the time of the queens death and retained it as a souvenir, handing it down to her son, an officer under Charles II, who was killed at Marston Moor. The shoe then came into possession of younger son, who fled to France at the time of the execution of Charles the First, and returned with it to England at the time of the restoration. The shoe was kept at his house in the north of England as semi religious relic for many years, descending from father to son and becoming more valuable as a souvenir as the years rolled into cen- turies. Early in the present century the main line of the family became extinct and then the shoe came into possession of 8 collateral branch, who had secured royal concession of terri tory in Louisiana, and went there to live.
 The only living descendant of the family espoused the southern cause in the late rebellion, was wounded at Gettysburg and retired to his planta- tion, where he lived for several years, but never recovered from his wound. Captain Vorheis, an officer in New York regiment, became the provost marshal of the city district where the southern officer lived, and became we'll and pleasantly acquainted with him. Being interested in historical subjects and relics, his southern friend told him he should have the shoe after he was dead. In time the southern man died and the captain came north and brought the shoe with him. A few years ago he gave it to MT. Graham for safe keeping until such time as he should turn it over to some historical society or museum.
 
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