The Lafayette advertiser. [volume] (Vermilionville [i.e. Lafayette], La.) 1865-19??, 1889-02-02
WORN BY QUEEN BEsS.
IN. Y. Commercial Advc1

A souvenir of EnglanYs virgin
queen is extant to-day in the shape of
slipper and sandal worn by her more
than three hundred yeaN They
are at present in the p91 of q:
Joseph F. Graham, wit Is a shoe
store in an old buildih Dthe corner
of Vesey and Greenwich streets, New
York. So rare and precious is the
relic that he keeps it in his safe with
as much care as any of his other val
uables.
The shoe, Notwithstanding the cen
tnries that have passed since it encased
the Queens foot, is still in wonder
full state Of preservation, and is inter-
esting not only for its association, but
as specimen of the handieraft of the
crispins Of those days. The Queen
must have tiny foot, as the shoe is
only No. / in length, though rather
too broad to be considered precisely
shapely at the present time. 1t is
very similar in shape and form, how
ever, 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, some
what coaser 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 un-
der the rear Of the foot, and is at least
two inches high. The toe of the shoe
runs to sharp point. Across the in
step are two satin straps which were
evidently fastened to buckle or clasp,
and the back Of the shoe is entirely
devoid of counter, or stiffening. The
edges are bound with yellow silk
braid. The workmanship is remarka-
bly, good, as many shoe manufacturers
who have seen it testify. The stitch
ing is very fine and regular, and cam
not be excelled by the best that Is
done to-day.
Accompanying the shoe is sandal,
evidently made to accompany it, as
the bits of silk in the straps across the.
instep 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 thicknesses Of sole leather, cores
ponding in size and shape with the
0 sole of the shoe, except that it is flat
on the bottom and heelless. On the
!: upper side there is an elevation to fit
into the hollow of the shoe itself. 1t
n was evidently only intended to keep
the sole from contact with the ground,
n and is without slider or uppers except
= the narrow straps to hold it in place,
and which, like the straps on the shoe,
+ were intended to be fastened with
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 as a
souvenir, handing it down to her son.
an officer under Charles II, who was
killed at Marston Moor. The shoe
then came into the possession of a
,e younger son, who fled to France al
e the time of the execution of Charlie,
4 l, and returned with it to England al
= the time OF the restoration. The shoe
# was kept at his house in the North OF
Of England as semi-religious relic fol
o many years, descending from father
:, v to son, and becoming more valuable
as a souvenir as the years rolled into
u centuries. Early in the present cen
- tury the main line Of the family be
I'd came extinct, and then the shoe came
into the possession Of O collatera
branch which had secured royal ces
SION of territory in Louisiana, ane
went there to live.
The only living descendant of th'
family espoused the Southern cause
in the late rebellion, was wounded a
Gettysburg, and returned to his plan
t tation, where he lived for severa
years, but never recovered from hi
wound. Captain Vorhies, an office
., ne in New York regiment, became tn
ie. provost mashal of the city distric
i'll where the Southern officer lived, an'
I'D became we'll and pleasantly acquainte'
q q with him. Being interested in histor
ical subjects and relies, his Southerl
,p- friend told him he should have tn
it; shoe after he was dead. In time tn
Southern man died, and the captai
came North and brought the shoe sit
him. A few years ago he gave it t
- Mr.. Graham for safe keeping until h
should turn it over to some histories
/, society or museum.
Nrm 0orrANs My o1th 1883