The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1889-06-12
Two BenefactOrS.

we still ShlVer when hearing or read
ing of the torture the women of China
endure to give them feet of the re-
quired dimensions. We can not under
stand why the pudgy, deformed foot
and the lettering, feeble carriage that
are result of the torture should com
pensate for the freedom of movement
and the shapeliness that it sacrifices.
We are told that the unclassica' d.
mansions of the forms of the women of
the western world cause as great
commotion among the women of the
Flowery Kingdom, and each is as
tonished at the sacrifice made to &C
complish these physical standards of
grace or beauty. Can anything COM
pensate for the loss of physical free
dom? Do we not see every day on
peculiar mark of physical power and
beauty-a free, even carriage-to tight
shoes and tight waist? They go
about with wrinkled forehead, purple
complexion and hobbled steps, hug
ging the idea that the cramped foot and
waist are beautiful. 1t may be hope
less to protest against these evils, as
they are the sins of little minds. Ridi-
Guile is a weapon that has rid the world
of many evils, and perhaps will prove
an effective weapon for these evils.
The following is taken from trade
journal, which publishes it as a fact:
" l want pair of French kid button
boots: Let me see the very best you
have"
8" This way, please. Here they are;
made by Ready, Sale e Co.; the very
best in the market What size, did you
say?"
g l wear threes, SLIM"
"Ah! here we are; now, then. Fits
you like a glove. If had taken your
measure | couldn't have done better"
" They seem to be all right. BY the
way, are these the same make of shoes
that Mrs. Lightfoot wears?"
" Well, to tell the truth, no. She al
ways wears a make that costs dollar
pair more"
But you said these were the very
best"
d" For wear and quality-so they are"
"Then why should Mrs. Lightfoot
pay dollar extra for hers?"
Why, she won't have any other
shoe but Fitem and Co.'s, because she
can wear a size smaller of theirs than
she can of any others"
COIL but you really don't mean to
say that | could wear No. 2 of What's
his-name's make, do your"
Certainly you could. You see they
have got designer of patterns who is
a perfect genius, and who understands
the human foot the same as school
master does his A B C's. He ex-
planned his system to me, one day, and
| find he is thoroughly posted. His
idea is, in the first place, to abbreviate
the longitudinal pressure forward,
and then, by propelling the lateral dis
tention sideways, he of course makes
the shoe size shorter than it would
have been had he made it the full
length"
"Dear me! How simple that seemsl
And you are sure l could wear a No. 2
of this make?"
Positive. Here is a pair. Try
them on and see for yourself"
"Why, these are just too nice for
anythingl They fit perfectly. They
aint'ta bit tight. Are you sure they are
only twos?"
You can see for yourself. Size
mark stamped in plain figures on the
sole and lining, There it is; size No.
2, width A."
" Well, III take this pair, and after
this you won't catch me wearing any
other make"
This sounds like fiction, but it is a
literal fact. The conversation took
place just as it is written, with the ex-
ception of the names. Although the
measurements of the woman's foot
called for No. 3, she was fitted per-
fectly with No. 2. The explanation
is simply this: There are manufacture
ers who, when ordering sets of lasts,
instruct the sellers to deliver them I'M
stamped. The stamping is done in the
shoe factory, each last being marked
half-size or a size smaller than it meas
ures. The uppers are numbered to
match the last, and the deception is
complete"
The shoemaker is benefactor who
can always fit No. foot with a No.
2 shoe, though he indulge in decep-
ton that shows his moral ethics weak.