Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1889-05-24
SHOES AND SHOEMAKING.
THE ORIGIN AND DEvELaPNENT
OF COVERING FOR THE FEET.
The Celtic Buskin-FOot Wear Of In
tanned Leathcr-.RiShtS" and
"Lcfts"-Shoe SuDerS;itiOns,

but at length somebody made q pair OF
shoes, rough foot mats or shields OF
woven reeds or skins. The original shoe
maker sought comfort. Style came later.
The Celt, who at times wandered over
moor or morass, at others over stony
mountains, invented a shoe admirably
adapted to his use. \ sole Of heavy
hides protected his feet from sharp
stones, while uppers or legs Of lighter
skins protected his ankles and legs from
thOrns and bushes. The buskin was so
constructed that the water eNudcd from
it as soon as the foot ceased to be i'm
mersed. In the modern shoe the idea is
that water be kept out, not let out. The
Celtic buskin was tough and elastic, and
could be replaced whenever there were
untanned skins at hand. Every Celt was
his own shoemaker. With the Norman
Conquest came the introduction into the
British Isles of tanned leather, which had
long been in use in Normandy, where it
had been introduced by the Romans.
The old good soft shoes of Unframed
leather, which must have beer delicious
ly comfortable, were set aside, and then
came curiously shaped shoes of many
styles and variety Of cOlors. From the
close-ftting shoe, fashion led to many
extremes. First came long, pointed toes,
which soon assumed the shape of peak,
fashioned like ships prov, and in time
assuming the likeness of a scorpion 5 tail,
which in time grew to ''devil's claws, "
and fastened to the wearer's knees. King
Richard, the Lion hearted, had his boots
LII, r l.
brother, wore boots spotted with golden
circles; while Henry III. wore boots
checkered with golden lines, every square
of which were enriched with a lion.
Cardinal Wolsey's shoes were
Of gold and stone precious,
Costing many a thousand pounds.
Sir Walter Raleigh wore shoes studded
with diamonds said to have cost $780,
600. The gallants in Charles lis time
wore their high boot tops turned down to
the ankles to show the gorgeous laces
with which they were lined. High hceled
boots were worn by ladies for three parts
Of the eighteenth century. They raised
their fair wearerS some inches, rendering
walking difficult and running impossible.
Boots and shoes of all kinds have been
wOrn-shOes made Of wood, leather and
reeds; brass bound, iron bound, gold
bound; with wide toes, narrow toes, and
pointed toes a foot long, but the right
and left shoe were shaped exactly alike.
About the year 1900, however, an Eng
lishman invented t'rights and lefts.
This was soon followed by many i'm
provements, both in style of the shoe and
the tanning of the leather.
The Highlander carved brogans out of
the hide Of the deer, the staying Of which
had afforded sport and adventure. He
gained for himself the name Of Cred
Shanks" by wearing boot legs from the
same hide, dashed around his calves with
the hair outward.
1t is supposed to be unlucky to put
either shoe on the wrong foot, nor must
one put the left shoe on before the right,
unless one wished to bring about some
dircful calamity. Augustus Caesar, it is
said, put on his left shoe first, and before
ni9htfall he narrowly escaped assassina-
ton. The Jewish custom of piuckin9 Oft
the shoe or sandal is frequently referred
to in the Scri ptures. In the story Of
Ruth it is recorded that a compact which
BOaz made was scaled by a shoe being
drawn off one Of the verses reads: ''NOW,
this was the manner in former time in
Israel concerning redeeming, and con
corning changing, for to confirm all things
6 man plucked off his shoe and gave it
to his neighbor; and this was a testimony
in Israel"
The Jew who failed to keep a COM
&c I j,x
authorities, and if he then refused to full
fill his compact, the offended party would
loosen his shoe, spit in his face, land, >"
as Holy Writ says, Ibis name shall be
called in Israel, the house OF him that
hath his shoe loosed."
To say mans Gin his boots" i'm
plies that he is very drunk 1t comes
from an old Welsh word, ''boozie, ''mean-
ing to be saturated with liquor But to
stand in anOther's shoes is to claim the
hOnOrs Of another. 1t mas its origin from
custom common among the ancient
Mortimer among whom if man adopted
son in order that the youth might law
fully inherit, he must for a certain length
of time wear the shoes of his adOpteI.
An old Roman, much to the surprise Of
his friends, sought to divorce his wife,
with whom it was always supposed that
he lived very happily. He was blamed
for taking this step, and inreply put out his
foot and asked if his shoes were not new
and we'll made. Yet" said he, none
of you can tell where it pinches." From
this incident is said to have come the
saying, ''where the shoe pinches.'
As q sign OF respect the Japanese, when