The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1888-03-08
QUEEN RESS. SHOE.
An Interesting Relic Now in the Posses.
sion of q New Yorker.

An interesting Relic Now in the Posses.
sion of q New Yorker.
A so uvenir of England S virgin Qneen
is extant to-day in the shape of slip
per and sandal worn by her more than
three hundred years ago. They are at
present in the possession of Mr.. Joseph
F. Graham, who keeps 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, not
outstanding the centuries that have
passed since it encased the Queens
foot. is still in wonderful state of
preservation, and is interesting not
only for its associations bat as speci-
men of the handicraft of the Crispins
of those days.
The Queen must have had a tiny
foot, as the shoe is only number one
in length. though rather too broad to
be considered precisely shapely at the
present time. 1t is very similar in
shape and form, however, to lady's
fashionable dress shoe of to-day. 1t is
made of yellow brocaded satin, lined
with fine stout linen canvas. The
sole is of oak-tanned leather, somewhat
coarser and heavier than would be put
into such a shoe to-day. The heel is
exactly like the high French heel of
modern times, though well under the
heel of the foot. and is at least two
inches high. The toe of the shoe runs
to 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 a counter or stiffening. The
edges are bound with yellow silk braid.
The workmanship is remarkably good.
us 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. 1t consists simply of
two thicknessess of sole leather, cor
responding in size and shape with the
sole of the shoe except that it is fiat on
the bottom and heellcss. On the upper
side there is an elevation to fit in the
hollow of the shoe itself. 1t was evil
IDENTIFY only intended to keep the
sole of the shoe from contact with the
ground, and is without sides or uppers
except the narrow straps to hold it in
place and which, like the straps on the
shoe, were intended to be fastened W it'll
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 rs
souvenir, handing it down 70 her son,
an officer under Charles III, 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 re-
turned with it to England at the time
of the restoration. The shoe was kept
at his house in the north of England as
a semi-religious relic for many years,
descending from father to son and be-
coming more valuable as souvenir as
the years rolled into centuries. Early
in the present century the main line of
the family became extinct and then the
shoe came into possession of collateral
branch. who had secured royal con-
cession of territory 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 Get
tysburg and retired to his plantation,
where he lived for several years. but
never recovered from his wound. Cap
tain Vorheis. an officer in New Y ork
regiment, became the provost marsh al
of the city district where the Southern
officer lived. and became well and
acquainted with him. B eing
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 tn e
shoe with him. A few years ago he
gave it to Mr.. Graham for safekeeping
until such time as he should turn it
over to some historical society or mu-
seum.-N. Y Commercial advertiser.