St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1888-07-21
CHARACTER IN FEET.


C6AHAOJeH IN PEEL
Reading Life from the Management -
the Pedal Extromities.
The use of feet is moro char acteris-
tic than the feet themselves Ol
course. there is some character even
in shape; there is the common and
careless fiat foot, and the neat foot.
and the vain foot. and the quick foot.
In Hcrrick's old poem the whole por.
trait Of dainty white-slippcred girl is
suggested by the words:
Like mice beneath her pctticoat
Her little feet went in and out.
But the distinctions of character arc
not seen. really. in the feet themselves.
but in what the owner does with them.
Sometimes it is significant that their
owner does not know what to do with
them. He is vulgarly. deiiantly self
sufficient and despises ceremony. so
when he smokes q cigar he puts his
feet on the mantle piece. out Of the
way. Or he IS a country
pumpkin. painfully sclf-conscious. 30
he stands on one foot and then on the
other and shifts them about. perplexcd
what 10 do with them. rs i'll bred
folks. when they sit idle and sociable.
are pcrplexcl by possessing a pair Of
hands on the contrary the fop. whose
feet are clad without spot or speck.
and regardless Of expense. knows very
well what to do with them; they are
part of the exhibition which is his con-
stant care. In general. it is a sign Of
vanity to thrust forward habitually o
neat foot when one is at rest A con-
ceited man nurses leg and admires
a foot. which hc twitches and twirls
beneath his delighted eye. quite un-
consciously and in a d ffercnt manner
from the fop for tho vain man thinks
Of the effect produced upon other peo-
pie. but the conceited man is satisfied
with himself. without any regard to
the ordinary morials who may chance
10 be observing him.
Very diff rent is the generous mind
of the rhilanthropist. who thinks
constantly Of the rest Of the world.
aud not Of himself There is nothing
cramped about any of his ideas or OF
his possessions He forgcts such small
matters rs fashion and details of ap.
pcarancc. Except on state occasions.
he considers ncatncss to be n him
drancc; every thing about him is large.
from his benevolent schemes down TO
his wcll-worn shoes
His stand is not alert but patient.
well set on tho ground; he is ready
and steady; he waits 10 give what he
can. and to do with he
can. and while he thinks of wcighty
matters. personal details are forgot.
ten He may walk 1at-footcd in old
shoes; instcps and heels arc Infinitely
beneath his consideration. SO his foot
is not the type that tho dancing mas
ter believes to be the one thing necc>-
sary for gentleman; but he has al
ready nattencl injustice under his
feet. and the horror of tho dancing
master shall never reach his cars.
This philan,hropic man has done a
great deal to widen aud smooth lifc's
roads for crowds of feet Of another
type. On the roads he has improved.
the hobn allied boots so more content.
edly.
They Uhc 'hobnails'') are strong
and rather defiant; for instance. they
have q defiant way OF turning up
They stand straight together. just rs
their owners rs class stand shoulder
to shoulder. Their size and width are
suggestive Of possible bad kicks; but
their bulk and hard-worn bend arc
also suggestive of work done; and the
country could not thrive nor the COM
munity exist without tho feet that
wear hobnailcd SHOES
The firm foot is the ordinary type
in men. A firm walk is sign of self.
control rs we'll as Of power When
the shoes thicken so obstinatcly that
the foot can not bend it. and when the
walker docs not caro- what noise he
makes. the firmncss and power are
to \ degree that may in-
weaker or more sensitive
folk.
The weak foot IS more common.
Tho stand suggests n knock-knecd
body and mind not strong enough 10
make the best of lifc-one Nigh,
almost say altogether knock-knccd
character that is always stepping
and going its way with un-
certain gait Casse,rs Family Naga-