Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1889-10-20
CELESTIAL COBBLING.
PICKED UP IN THE SHOP OF A
CHINESE SHOE REPAlRER.

CHINESE SHOE REPAiRER.
How Sing Lee Repairs Damaged Foot
WeU-Aorviceable Leather Unknown In
Chin.-.nteresting Facts About the Shoes
- tbs 1Ionxolians.
Although there are no Celestial shoemakers
In Boston's little Chinatown, there is one old
Celestial who, if he doesn't pretend to be able
to manufacture shoes in the advanced state
Of perfection in which they are made in the
land OF tea, yet he can repair the sabots with
neatness and dispatch, and while he does not
make that his sole means Of support, he man
ages to earn So or s. every week by mending
the dilapidated shoes of some of his almond
eyed brethren.
1t was for the purpose Of finding out some
thing about the curious looking shoes that
the writer paid old Sing Lee visit. His
shop is situated In the cellar Of one of the
houses Of the block on Harrison avenue, be-
tween Essex aud Beach streets
Everything was as dark as pitch in the cell
inr, which sn1elled close and damp, while the
dir was laden with the stale fumes Of opium.
IT BRIGGS him EVERY TINE.
"What you wanteef' came in treble key
from the occupant of the room, who was as
yet invisible to the intruder, who. neverthe-
less shouted, ''Ho-la-mah?' which is the Chi
nese for how do you dos and further added,
~ came to see you mend some shoes, Sing"
"AIe not mend shoe; you go home." said
the old Celestial, who was now seen in the
dim light that struggled through the little
- ,a1l1 eiff 1,rv,1
which. previous to the interruption, he had
evidently been snooZing.
1t wasn't a very warm reception, but then
Cinnamon are seldom polite or pleasant to
white people who may chance to inTude
upsn them in their own apartments, that is,
unless there is money in it. The writer fully
approaching this fact, made his way to
where the old "Chink" was seated, and, put
ting quarter into his hand, offering him at
the same time cigar, and mentioning the
name Of the Chinanan who sent him, pro-
ceeded to make himself as comfortable as
possible by appropriating stool that was
near.
It was curious to see the effect of the money
and the cigar on the old man, who, with a
'.snile that was childlike and bland" said:
sob, me see You hkee lookee see how
China boy shoe be mended."
Eyes, that is it." returned the writer.
"You mend shoes, don't you"
''Oh, yes, me mendee shoe, he said with a
grin. Before me not know who you be,
me hkee you to go away. Now me know,
you stop and see."
''All right, I'll watch you mend shoe, and
then l won't bother you any more"
''No trouble" said Sing, and he reached for
a pile of shoes that lay in a heap on the floor
at the foot of the bunk. Picking out one on
which the sole had been badly worn, he pro-
ceeded to rip off portion of the old felt, and,
getting smooth surface at last, he pulled
big sheet of thick felting from drawer and
proceeded, after the fashion of Yankee cob
bier, to cut a new SOLE This done, he fitted
it upon the sabot, and then taking an awl,
through the handle of which thong was
run, he placed the point on the surface Of the
felt, the shoe being held firmly between his
knees. Then, taking the thong in both hands,
he gave it a peculiar twist and the awl went
through the new felt and the old sole that re-
NAMED on the shoe.
Repeating this operation several times, he
stuck small pegs in the holes to hold the felt
in position and then proceeded to bore holes
in rows all over the surface of the sole Of the
shoe, until there were eight or ten rows of
many holes each. Then the sewing COM
menced, and it was surprising to watch how
dextrously he used the needle. When sewed
on it would seem that a sole would never rip
off, and, in fact, Sing said they seldom do.
That part of the work finished, he took
sharp knife and pared tho new sole down at
the sides until it exactly fitted with the old,
and the dipping little stiff brush into some
thing that looked like whiting he daubed it
all around the edges and over the bottom,
and after rubbing it over with a cloth, the
shoe was pronounced complete.
SOME FINE ONES.
The writer, during the above operations,
asked many questions, and as Sing had
warmed into pleasant aud communicative
mood, the following very interesting infor-
nation regarding shoes was cleaned:
In China, where of course the greater por-
ton of all the shoes worn by Celestials in
this country are made, there is an absence of
well tanned leather, and it is for this all
important reason that the leather soled
shoes are made so thick. If a thin layer of
that poor leather were used the shoes would
wear out in no time, and as they are rather
expensive from a Celestial point of view
wearer of thin soled shoes would have a
heavy bill for foot wear to pay. 1t is for
the same reason that the uppers of all the
shoes are made of cloth, for there is very lit
tie of the thin. ornamental leather in the
country. and as the Chinese are not very
progressive they would never think of inn
porting that very useful article so as to make
their shoes more durable
Of the cloth tops there are many varieties
Nv faV In Ento Of
Cinnamon wear those of black silk or cotton,
ornamented with embroideries OF different
sorts. The designs upon them take many
forms, and some of the more elaborate Of the
sabots cost as high as SIP or SIS pair, while
those worn by the rich mandarins In China
are even more expensive than that. An or
binary pair of shoes. however. can be pur
chased for about IS, and it is only the well to
do merchants or laundry men or the Celestial
dudes who buy the more expensive sorts.
Chinese dudes, by the way, often wear
shoes the urpers of which are made OF blue,
purple or red satin or silk embroidered with
some other contrasting color, but these, as q
rule, are sent to them direct from China,
where some sweetheart or living almond eyed
wife has worked on them for many days, 50
that her absent lord may cut a dash among
the swells of Chinatown.
The shoes with felt soles are much more
popular than the other. and it is thought by
the wearers OF them that they last longer and
look better than those made of leather. The
soles are also e.sier to whiten. and this is a
great point in their favor.
The Tartar ladies. who do not follow the
custom of Chinese ladies' of rank In cramping
their feet. wear the same sort Of shoes as the
men. but the soles are made thicker.