The Logan County banner. [volume] (Logan, W. Va.) 1889-1903, 1889-09-12
KANGAROO LEATHER.
IL II sofs and More Fiiabls Than Caif-skis
or Kid.

- Sf4e s-.srrr e.ss-'-~ 1853
'.Why don't you wear shoes Of kanga-
roo skinp' asked the old shoemaker.
as he knelt TO take the measure Of HIS
customers foot
II don't know" responded the Gus
tonicr, unable TO construct aifneo f de-
Tense on that very'moment. And then,
perceiving that something more was
expected OF him, he quericd rather
helplessly. '.Why should II what Is
the advantage OF them?n
IF you ever have tender feet" an
swcred the shoe man, you would
fully appreciate kangaroo skin. Why,
the leather is soft and pliable-very
much more SO than calfskin or kid.
That makes the shoe ever so much
easier to the foot Then 1t is
a great deal lighter than those
other materials. and that's an advan-
tage. and, as for wear. why, kangaroo
Islsinvis fs.sss.head- hers, y and ge=
ing TO his bench, he picked up two
scraps OF leather. ''Now, this is kan
CARGO skim and with his sharp shoe
| makers knife no made two short incl
sions from the edge. Now tear from
these But this the customer though
not man OF weakness. was unable to
do, The same experiment bong made
With .calfskin, that was torn with
csse That" ended the old man.
shows the difference in wear, and the
price is just about the same
But tho customer was newspaper
man. Immediately he turned Swamp
ward. and within half an hour stood
in the presence Of one OF the city's
largest kangaroo men.
The kangaroo began this gentle
man, lis, as yom know. q native Of
Australia Prior TO ten years ago
| they existed in untold numbers. They
became such pest and so disastrous
| to the sheep pastures that the colonial
government offered a bounty for their
destruction. Now, up to that time
thcre bad been no permanent or set
tied use for their skins and hides. To
go back a little, however, say twelve
to fifteen years ago. these skins came
to America in considerable quantities.
Burt at that time their value was un-
recognized. Strange as they certain
| ~ were TO A1nerfcnh manufacturcrs.
their disposal was only possible at
rliineus loss. The parties interested
in the scheme withdrew; worse of by
| some 100000. :
Now, about this sime-say 1SS0-a
new process OF tanning was devised
by which kangaroo hide was made
into a shoe leather, superior in
strength. durability. softncss ana
fincness to any thing OF like weight
and nature ever before used for-tfc
purpose. Then was the manufactured
leather trade-marked Under the name
| .camelepard.'
From that time forward did the
merits OF kangaroo skin become more
generally recognized. AT the present
! time the sales are enormous, the
material having. in q large measure,
supplanted waxed calf. gloved calf,
French calf, kid and similar goods
used in the manufacture OF the lighter
and finer foot wear. And the manu-
facture of foot wear, you know, has
reached its most magnificent pro-
portions in America. Hore moro
taste is displayed and money expended
on this article OF attire than any
where else on earth.
'.Only~in America has a successful
| system OF tanning bcen devised. Over
in European countries kangaroo skin
is tanned, 1t is true. but it is in COM
paratiyely little use. Hero the tan
ming is not by any means solely OF
the 'camelopard' brand. Other manu-
facturers have devised systems very
like unto it. and the product OF these
is In very general use.
"As is always the case when any
thing meets with extraordinary suc-
cess, as this very truly has. many imi-
tations have been brought into THE
market. Often and often have women
| especially bought boots OF Dongola
goat under the impression that they
were of Kangaroo skin. Again has
the manufactured product OF sheep
shin been passed Off in imitation.
"The trade in Kangaroo skins shows.
| indeed, great and gratifying in
crease. IN. Y. Mail and Express.