The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1888-07-07
SHOES EoR cRlppLes.
A Queer Little New York Cobbler Whe
Does Rushing Business.

a Queer Little New York Cobbler Whe
Does u Rushing Business.
There's a funny little man who runs
q queer little shoe shop IN East Broad.
way. IL is n 'hole in the WALL" and
might properly be called den. II is
not a tidy place, either, but It malsos
no difference to its pinch-faced occu-
pant, for he gets a lot of money by
making boots and shoes for ciipples.
He does nothing else, and seems to cn-
Joy monopoly of the custom of people
with deformed feet.
''How much do you charge for such
pair Of shoesp" asked q reporter, as
he picked UP a Congrass gaiter orna-
mented with 5-inch heel and 2-inch
sole.
Twelve dollars; but" he added,
II usually get $15. This pair OF shoes,
how&vcr, is for poor man who can't
afford to pay the regular price. Some
times l get 500 for u pair, but not
often"
The little shoemaker said that per-
son desiring shoe comes in and re-
moves his foot covering, then he meas.
ures the distance between the bottom
OF the shoe and the floor to determine
how much cork is needed in the SOLE
The measuring Of the foot proper does
not differ much from the measuring of
ordinary feet. He makes only three
measurements at the ball Of the
| foot, one at the heel and one at the toe.
Certain afflicted persons wish their
shoes made with space between tho
heel and the sole on the idea that it
\ gives the foot spring it would not
D possess were the sole and heel one
piece. Each customer has his pecu-
liarities.
The nan had just finisi led three pairs
1 or gentleman in the wholesale liquor
business in this city, who flrmerly had
\ his shoes made in Paris, London and
Vienna without getting satisfaction.
That gentleman has short foot, but
SO deGly is it clothed that even his in
innate friends do not know that he is
deformed. .s3s-
II Instead of putting the cork which
raises the foot on the outside he places
it inside, thus making the boot well
II proportioned. The wearer's foot rests
easily, the heel half way up the leg
with curved, slop.ng support for tho
instep and the toes about half way down
the middle of the foot. The little man
said there were many persons who have
one foot shorter than the other, and il
y their shoes We're made to fit the short
| foot it would give them the appearance
of having had their toes amputated.
\ "There's nothing easier" remarked
the little man, .'than to prevent this by
A making the shoe for the short foot as
long as the shoe for the normal foot,
and filling in the space between the end
4 of the toes and the end of the shoe
Y with light cork
N More trouble is experienced in con-
structing shoes for club-footed people
than any other. This is principally
because the foot is turned in and up
ward, so that the sole is presented to
1.-THE reVr and the person has to walk on
1.-THE side of his foot. Measurements of
such feet can not be successfully taken.
and then last formed from that the
sole must be of cork and the upper
carefully fitted into every curve and
wrinkle in the foot 1t requires much
skill to make shoe for mar whose
foot has been cut off just above the
ankle, for he is obliged to make q leg
as we'll as last.
The queer little cobbler was unable
to say how many men with deformed
feet had come under his eye, but he
knew there were thousands of them.
Some cripples wear ordinary shoes,
while others use the old-fashioned iron
lifts; but these are cumbersome and
even oangerous,s for the wearer may
trip and stumble.
"Yes, do big business" said the
cobbler, land it keeps four assistants
Y pretty busy filling orders. People
who are afflicted can't go into Il shoe
store and purchase ready-made mons
trosities, and SO they come to me-
~ Y Telegram,