Waterbury evening Democrat., 1889-12-03
PEDOMANCY A NEW FAD
Society Craze for Reading Charac.
 ter by the Lines of the Foot.
What It's Dainty Outlines Revcal-Th Wild Western Foot With Its Prehen. silc Suggestiveness-The Impas-
 stoned Southern Foot.
COPYRIGHT 1889.

Every season brings with it some new fad or wrinkle" from across the Allan tic, to amuse society and help enliven the recreations of the winter. The latest importation of this sort is pe- domancy, the art of reading character in the curves, angles and general con- tour of the foot. It has entertained the fashionable of Berlin and Vienna for many months past, amounting almost to a craze in these myStery-loving capi .tals, and there is every prospect that it will shortly become mild form of mania here, as we'll.
 Among the artists and sculptors the new fad is making rapid headway. In one studio on Seventeenth street re- gently group of artists were discussing the outlines of the plaster cast of an exceedingly graceful foot.
 Ut is the foot of Southern girl" said an enthusiast. "Observe the deli cate tracery of the veins beside the small ankle, the trim, rising instep, curved like bow, and the narrow, slender shape generally. That woman could readily wear No. shoe.''
 American ladies take greater pride in their feet than do those of spanish and Cuban woman in fact all of the Spanish or semi-Span blood-have almost perfect feet, with high insteps, and beautiful shape. Ilearned in Vienna to read character by the feet. In every variety of disposition and every style of dress and manner they play very important part. Small feet indicate liveliness and always be- long to some one who wants you to stand around; such persons do their business in 8 short time, and are quick and snappy in all they do. small footed woman is apt to be coquettish and 9 bit of a tlirt. One who has long foot is quiet and reserved, with asthetic tendencies. Others have feet of a flat form and very low instep, in which the whole pressure comes on the toes, 50 that corns are developed, especially | when the high -heeled shoe is worn. | This makes person of an irritable diSpo. ! isition. Unless ones feet are comforta. l ble, one is sure to be ill-tempered, you 1 know"
 | What do large feet indicator" | "When well-formed and of good pro. | portions they indicate breadth of mind, i irmness of character and purpose. One | of the largest-footed men l know is lawyer Henry l.. Clinton of the famous historical Clinton family. His foot is solid and broad but not ungainly. The | same may be said of Senator Massey ot Texas. Don Cameron of Pennsylvania and Secretary Sam Fessenden, of the Republican National committee. Clin- I William Pitt Kellogg of Pennsylvania, is another possessor of large under | standing. Large men very rarely have small feet. Berry Wall has a long, | slim foot. Banker John Bloodgood is ! ono of the best-footed men in this coun- i try. His are as neat as possible, very l stylish and he wears numb Der six shoe. | .'Spaniards. as a rule have feet of 1 feminine smallness and delicacy. Senor 1 Del Monte the rich banker has a foot 1 with a very high instep, and so has i Banker Bareda. Such feet indicate quick, impetuous temperaments."
 And as to American feet-?'
 ''The American foot is almost incom- prehensible in it's variety, just like the
 American character. Now, tho, New
 York girls foot is a compost te affair; pink
 and white and beautiful as to flesh. but
 firm and really strong, although it
 looks delicate enough. It is long and
 narrow and is the delight of the chi
 ropodists-at least so some of them have
 told me. The male foot is well formed
 also. The ladies of Washington, as
 have observed have a broad-soled, flat
 heeled foot, one that should be very
 serviceable in climbing stairs. It is
 built good deal on the center board
 principle, while the New York foot. is
 more on the cutter pattern. The
 Western foot is a distinct species,
 W1Jl a suggestion Ol DfeuonSllo
 in some sections of the country. It is
 foot that grows up with tho country
 When once the Western foot catches
 anything it can hold on. It's idealized
 form is found in the Chicago foot which
 has developed grasping qualities that
 are wonderful. I have seen 8 Chicago
 girl, while bathing at Newport, pick
 up clans with her toes.
 | One of the most expert pedomancists
 in the United States is Bryan G
 McSwyny, the 2sthetic shoemaker, who
 has built more footgear for public men
 statesman and pugilists alike than any
 one else in the United States.
 'I have made the reading of character
 by the feet a study for years," he said
 "and have become familiar with my
 patrons and many others in that way
 One must judge not alone by the shape
 of the foot and the lines upon it, bu
 also of the way in which man wear
 his shoe. This is really more of sci
 ence than phrenology.
 "Here is the last belonging to Joh1
 l., Sullivan. See it's breadth and length
 It Is 11A inches long; yet it isn't a biz
 foot. It shows that Sullivan is bette balanced man than most people suppose 1 The general contour of the foot show him to be firm and even obstinate bu
 neither selfish nor narrow minded. H' ) is capable of better things t. m pugi , lism.
 } "The biggest foot in New York is tha of Commissioner of Charities Thoma
 A. Brennan, who wears a No. 12 shoe the smallest and neatest belongs t. District Attorney Fellows, who has al extra high instep and wears smal No. 5 shoe. The very best-shaped fee l remember are those of Robert G. In gersoll, who, whatever maybe amiss il his theology, is certainly we'll set o1 his pins. They are full of character 7 those feet of his, and ono who ha , studied the art can draw very goot sermon out of them. The ladies! Oh
 well, Mrs. Sarony, wife of the artist photographer, has divine foot. See, added MT. McSwyny, enthusiastically there Is it's conformation"
 Turning to book he disclosed tn : outlines of a singularly beautiful foot Beside it was another almost equall graceful
 ''That is the next in point of artisti form and beauty" said the pedoman ] cist. Ut is the foot of a young unmal } l ried lady of 1S-a Miss McGovern, tn