Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1889-07-03
SHOES IN FOLKLORE.
ouPerstitl0ns and Customs Prevailing n
Different Parts OF tho Globe.

superstitlons and Customs Prevailing 10
Dlnerents Parts OF tho Globe.
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 wishes to bring
about some direful calamity. Angus
tus Caesar, it is said, put on his left
shoe first, and before nightfall he mar
rowly escaped assassination. DR..
brewer says that plucking off the shoe
among the Jews, smoking the pipe
among the Indians, thumb-licking
among the Scotch, breaking a straw
together among the Teutons and shak-
ing hands among the English are all
ceremonies to confirm q bargain. The
Jewish custom of plucking off the shoe
or sandal is frequently referred to in
the Scriptures. In the story of Ruth
it is recorded that the compact which
Boaz made was sealed by shoe being
drawn off-one of the verses reads:
"Now, this was the manner in former
time in Israel concerning redeeming,
and concerning changing, for to con-
firm all things man plucked of his
shoe and gave it to his neighbor; and
this was testimony in Israel"
10 say mans ''in his boots" i'm
plies that he is very drunk. It comes
from an old Welsh word, "boozi."
meaning to be saturated with liquor.
But to stand in another's shoes is to
claim the honors of another. It has
its origin from a custom common
among the ancient Mortimer, among
whom II man adopted son in order
that the youth might lawfully inherit,
nc must for a certain length of time
wear the shoes of his adopter.
AS sigh of respect the Japanese.
when they meet on the street, take off
their slippers. The custom almost
prevails in the East. An inferior.
when he enters the house of his
superior, removes his shoes or slippers
and leaves them at the door until his
departure. This is done as a mark Of
humility, as shoeless foot denotes
servltude. The slipper is also left at
the door of the Mohammedan mosque.
Tor the reason that leather is regarded
as an unclean thing and must not be
brought into the presence of the holy.
Ihe custom OF throwing an old shoe
AFTER newly-married couple is uni
versal. Some think that it is a. relic
OF the days when the gallant lover car
rled off his sweetheart by force. Others
ascrlbe good luck to an old shoe and
throw it after the newly married couple
with the best intent. This certainly is
the most popular view, and few parents
dream that when they throw her old
shoes after her they hereby give up for
good and all their control and RIGHT
over their daughter. Yet this is the
significance it had in the DAYS when
the Anglo-Saxon father handed to the
bridegroom an old shoe of the bride.
The husband touched the bride on the
mead with it as an assertion of his au-
thorlty, while the father, by the giving
OF the shoe, signified his willingness to
relinquish all claim or authority. In
Turkey, however, it is the bridegroom
himself who is touched, and some
times quite severely. for the moment
he is married his friends and relatives
set upon him and pelt him with their
slippers as a sort of affectionate fare
we'll.
When pair of new shoes is brought
home, never place them on a shelf
higher than your head if you would
have good luck while wearing them.
and never blacl1en them before YOU
have had both shoes on, else YOU NAV
meet with an accident and perhaps
sudden death. So say the old Irish
women who have made a study of
these matters. The Scotch lassie be-
lieves that should she by accident drop
her new shoes before they have been
worn, they will surely lead her into
trouble. The German mother saws
that should she loose the heel of her
shoe one of her children will die be-
fore the year is out, while should
French lady meet with such an acct
dent to her high-heeled slippers, dis
in love is sure to follow,
Even fairies have been credited with
taking an interest in shoes, for We are
told that the merry little Cornish
pixies liked nothing so we'll as to ham,
mer away in the dead of night al the
unfinished shoes on the cobbler's
bench, to surprise and gladden. him
next morning with the OUTCOME of
their energy.-N. Y. Sun.