Wichita eagle., 1888-09-04
SHOES THAT FIT WELL.
THE ARTISTIC SIDE OF THE SHOE.
MAKERS BUSINESS.

| Scientifically Made Lasts to Accommodate
Corns, Bunions and ChiIblains-Men a.
Particular as Women About the Shape
OF Their Footgear-Lasts.
Don't you want q last NADER rather
soicitously inquired a fashionable shoe
maker the other day Of a well TO do Gus
| toner.
"a lastI what forP was the surprised re-
joinder.
SIN order to get perfect ft for your foot, ;
answered the shoemaker.
And after q brief conversation the Gus
toner had his measure taken for last. and
his bunious, corns and chilblaics viii receive
due anatomical consideration.
HAbout 60 per cent. of my customers have
their own lasts" said the shoemaker subse-
quently, sand they are all perfectly satisfied
with the ease ard perfect fit 81 their shoes.
There are some men Oh my books whom !
haven't seen for five years. They simply
send me written order for q pair of shoes
or boots. and as have their lasts there is no
extra measuring to be done. The shoes are
made. and the only reply get Is check for
the bill when it is presented"
''What does last of this character costr'
"WeIl, from IS to SIS, according to the
peculiarly of the foot and the necessity for
extra work upon it. It is a surprising fact,
but the feet of no two men are alike, and
therefore no stock last viii answer in max
ing perfect fitting boot or shoe. Every last
has to be altered in some particular for each
customer Some men have calloused joints;
some are suffering with bunions; some have
corns and others have trihing deformities,
which must be regarded if the shoe is to fit
and give comfort to the wearer."
Are men particular about the shape Of
their shoes as ciass:'
We'll, l should say 80. There is scarcely
a customer of mine but is as anxious to get 8
good looking shoe as a lady is. OF course,
they insist that the shoe must fit and be easy
but they are Just as anxious that it shall be
trim and neat. Many Of them want little
deformities hidden by a general change
in the shape Of the shoe, and then,
again, some win wear an extra amount of
leather to cure slight imping in their gait,
owing to the fact that one leg is a triis
shorter than the other Altogether l think
men are as particular in this regard as the
ladies.
SHOES FOR DEFOANED FEET.
actually deformed feet for which shoes have
to be made, and in these cases we have to
take perfect plaster cast Of the foot, and
form the mold, construct last upon which
to construct a good fitting shoe, which will
allow Of ease and comfort in walking. Some
men have feet that turn up on the outside,
and, of course, the soles OF their shoes have
to be so put on as to allow for the wear on
that particular place.
"We have some very queer specimens"
said the shoemaker, and he produced col
lection Of lasts that looked as though they
might do service in a dime museum. Some
were of club footed men; some of men whose
feet turned inward; some with pheno1nenally
high insteps and some with no insteps at all
A rather pain suggesting assortment had
little Jumps and bumps upon them which told
the story of oorns and bumps ell too plant
lively. The collection was decidedly unique
CHE
you've no idea how particular a gentle.
man with pet and carefully trained buniol
IS to have good looking shoe, and at the
same time TO have it SO that there will be no
pinching OF pain when it is worn. Other
men have gracefully formed feet, entirely
clear of the slightest blemish, and these are
peculiarly anxious to have a shoe made that
will do full justice to the beauty and SYM
nletsy OF their pedal extremity. II must not
be toolong OF too broad, the instep mnst be
gracefully arched, and the hollow in the ball
Of the foot most carefully arranged. Now,
this can only be accomplished by having
special last made, and it is to the credit Of
these gentlemen TO say that they never object
to the cost Of such luxury"
''Of what material are these lasts generally
madea"
mostly Of maple or persimmon wood.
When properly seasoned, these woods do not
warp or crack, and are easily worked into
the required shape. Sometimes we make the
first lasts of cork, which is easily cut into
form, and after that we make them of the
wood. Chicago Herald.