The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-11-24
PEDOMANCY A NEW FAD.
CRAZE FOR READING CHARACTER
BY FOOT LINES.
What It's Dainty Outlines Reveal-The
Wild Western Foot With Its Pre-
hensile uggestiveness-The Impas-
stoned Southern Foot.

copyrighted 1881
NEW YORK, Nov. 23.-Every season
brings with it some new fad or "wrinkle"
from across the Atlantic, to amuse society
and help enliven the recreations Of the
winter. The latest importation of this sort
ia pedomancy, the art Of reading character
in the curves, angles and general contour of
the foot. 1t has entertained the fashionable
of Berlin and Vienna for many months
past. amounting almost to craze in these
mystery-loving capitals, and there is every
prospect that it will shortly become mild
form of mania here, as well.
Among the artists and sculptors the new
fad is making rapid Roadway In one stu.
do en- Seventeenth street recently, group
of artists were discussing the outlines of the
plaster cast of an exceedingly graceful
cot
ut is the foot of a southern girl" said an
enthusiast. observe the delicate tracery
of the veins beside the small ankle, the trim,
rising instep curved like a bow, and the
narrow, slender shape generally. That
woman could readily wear No. 2 SHOE"
american ladies take greater pride in
their feet than do those of any other coun-
try" he added Spanish and Cuban
women. in fact. all of the Spanish or semi
Spanish blood-have almost perfect feet,
with high insteps, and a beautiful shape. /
learned in Vienna to read character by the
feet. In every variety of disposition and
every style of dress and manner they play
very important part. Small feet indicate
livelness and always belong to some one
who wants you to stand around; such
persons do their business in a
short time, and are quick and
snappy in all they do. A small footed woman
is apt to be coquettish and bit of a flirt.
One who has a long foot is quiet and re-
served, with aesthetic tendencies Others
have feet of fat form and a very low
instep, in which the whole pressure comes
on the toes, so that corns are developed,
especially when the high-heeled shoe is
worn. This makes person of an irritable
disposition. Unless ones feet are comfort
able one is sure to be ill-tempered, you
know"
what do large feet indicator
"When well-formed and of good proper
ton they indicate breadth of mind, firmness
of character and purpose. One of the
largest-footed men know is lawyer Henry
L. Clinton of the famous historical Clinton
family. His foot is solid and broad, but
not ungainly. The same may be said of
Senator Maxey of Texas. Don Cameron
of Pennsylvania and Secretary Sam Fes-
senden, of the republican national COM
mi5tee. Clinton and Maxcey each wear a
No. IL shoe. William Pitt Kellogg of
louisiana is another possessor of large
understanding. Large men very rarely
have small feet. Berry Wall has a long,
slim foot. Banker John Bloodgood is one
of the best-footed men in this country. His
are as neat as possible, very stylish and he
wears number six shoe.
"Spaniards, as rule, have feet of femi-
,as,,. Ill IL. II u
Monte, the rich banker, has foot with.
very high instep, and so has Banker Bareda.
Such feet indicate quick, impetuous temp
eraments.n
And as to American feet-?n
The American foot is almost incompre-
he1sible in its variety, just like the Ameri-
can character. Now, the New York girls
foot is a composite affair; pink and white
and beautiful as to flesh, but firm and
really strong, although it looks delicate
enough. 1t is long and narrow and
at least so some Of them have
told me. The male foot is well formed also.
The ladies of Washington, as l observed,
have broad-soled, fiat-heeled foot, one
that should be very serviceable in climbing
stairs 1t is built good deal on the center
board principle, while the New York foot
is more on the cutter pattern. The western
loot Is distinct species, with suggestion
OF prehensie qualities in some sections of
the country. 1t is foot that grows up with
The country. When once the western foot
catches anything it can hold on. Its
localized formis found in the Chicago foot,
which has developed grasping qualities that
are wonderful. have seen a Chicago girl,
while bathing at Newport, pick up clans
with her toes"
One of the most expert pedomancists in
the United States is Bryan g. McSwyny,
the aesthetic shoemaker, who has built more
1ootgear for public men, statesmen and
pugilists alike Lthan any one else in the
United States.
Il have made the reading of character
tby the feet a study for years." he said,
and have become familiar with my
patrons and many others in that way. One
must judge not alone by the shape of the
Icot and the lines upon it, but also Of the
way IN which man wears his shoe. This
really more of science than phrenology.
:, Here is the last belonging to John L.
sullivan. See its breadth and length. 1t
Is ~ inches long; yet it isn't big foot.
IL shows that Sullivan is a better balanced
man than most people suppose. The general
contour of the foot shows him to be firm
and even obstinate, but neither selfish nor
narrow minded. He is capable of better
tangs than pugilism.
- Inc biggest foot in New York is that of
commissioner of Charities Thomas A Bren-
nan, who wears No. IL shoe; the smallest
ana neatest belongs to District Attorney
Fellows, who has an extra high instep and
wears small No. shoe. The very best
SNAPPED feet l remember are those of Robert
u ingersol, who, whatever may be amiss
~ MS theology, is certainly well set on his
pms They are full of character, those feet
VI his, and one who has studied the art can
1raw very good sermon out of them. The
laales! Q, well, Mrs. Sarony, wife of the
artIst-photographer, has divine foot. See,n
ADDED ADDED Mr.. McSwynY, enthusiastically,
tnere is its conformation
;, turning to book he disclosed the out
li9es OF singularly beautiful foot Be-
full. od0-' B.
That is the next in point of artistic form
s anu beauty" said the pedomanclst. st is
me loot of young unmarried lady of 1S-
MISS McGovern, the daughter Of a rich
merchant of this city,
=, both had remarkably high insteps and
eue curves were so regular and rvthmic in
each that they might have belonged to the
The most beautiful and artistically
moulded foot in New York is that of
d Lillian Russell" declared leading chiropo-
Sn I She has very high instep. See,
9 Sere Is a last of her foot. She takes No.
I229 ,snoe, the same size as that of Mime.
sIo1Jseka, who, by the way, has an instep a
ouaue lower than Lillian's. These two have