Evening capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1888-1893, 1890-03-11
FEMININE FOOTWEAR.
Tight Shoes as Popular as Ever-A Re-
form Needed Badly.

Tight Shoes as Popular as Ever--A Re-
form Needed Badly.
"Why do women wear tight shoes9" was
lsKed Ieaulng StaJe street. OooU-maKer Tor
he fair sex by a Chicago Tribune reporter
because they are foolish" he replied
''That is the only answer / can make, but II
were to try 10 convince my customers OF
he fact 1 would lose their trade. The ladies
ire particular about their pet vanity and
hey pay great deal of attention to anobty
and snug-fltting sh pe."
What are the effects of wearing tight
shoes?" was asked of another maker
"The effects are corns and diseased and
crippled feet and continual misery. Women
buy tight shoes because they are vain. Nine
out of ten of the ladies' who come in here
tell the clerks they want shoes that are at
east one size too small for them BY dint
If stretching and the use of powdered soap
stone many are enabled to get on and wear
away shoes that are half q size or size too
small for them; but occasionally one is com
1elled to take the proper size for her feet,
but it is at a sacrifice of her vanity and the
physical comfort enjoyed does not 'seem to
compensate her for her apparent mental
discomfort. A great many ladies insist on
having shoes from special lasts that in no
wise match the shape of their feet, and, as
rule, they are the kind who want high heels,
although the stilt-like underpinning has
largely gone out of fashion. The evils of
nigh heels are, Of course, well known
"Most of our lady customers buy shoes
hat are too small for them,n said another
lealer. THE habit of wear' g tight shoes
is as bad as the Chinese pracuce of band
aging and deiorming the feet of their fc-
male in fants. The red Indians of America
and the natives of Africa can give civiliza-
ton instruction in respect to proper care If
the feet. The natives never toe out, but
put their feet forward in perfectly
straight line when walking. Livingstone,
in his writings on Africa, relates how the
natives laughed at the shape of the white.
mans feet, which they attributed TO the
boots they wore. The Crow Indians make
their moccasins to toe in instead of out;
they walk perfectly straight and have fine
" formed feet. There are ladies OF my ac.
ouaintance who are almost confirmed in
valids, and their ailments were brought
about by wearing tight, high-heeled shoes,
which threw their body forward and
caused them to toe outward in walking
Many of my lady customers are such suffer
ers from corns that they do not like TO go
out of the house and are in misery all ofth5
time when walking, yet they will not forego
their vanity ard wear sensible, easy
fitting, broad-soled, low-heeled shoe. Some
of them do not venture 10 walk at all, and
only 90 out in their carriages or upon short
expeditions where the street-cars can be
utilized for almost the entire distance they
desire TO travel. notice that great deal
is said about dress reform for women, and
hope all contemplated reforms include the
important matter Of footwear. or course,
| it makes no difference TO us; the Prices
would remain the same were the fashion 10
change, but we have TO supply the demand
or 90 out Of business, and 1t is undeniable
that as far as the ladies' ire concerned the
greatest demand is for tight shoes.n