The Opelousas courier., 1890-03-22
SHOES OF MANY SHAPES.
unw PEOPLE OF VARIOUS coUN.
TRIES DRESS THEIR FEET.
Partisan Models Generally Followed
Primitive shoemaking in MEX.
leo and Yucatan.

shoes of American manufacture gen.
arally follow Partisan models. The
French have peculiar tastes, and con.
sider their productions to be u~napnroach,
able in material, workmanship, and,
above all, in style. Their wares are
largely exported to America, and it is a
sad fact that they are sold readily for
their distressingly pointed toe and very
high heel, sloping from the place where
the heel belongs to the center of the foot,
which makes them prove to their wearers
what they appear to a casual observer, a
q refined instrument of torture.
In Spain the people of the upper
classes follow the prevailing fashions in
France in ladies' and gentlemen's foot.
wear, and as pedestrianism is not in
dulged in to any remarkable extent, the
elegant appearance Of the shoe is of vast
IL more Importance than the comfort. It
is generally conceded that a person wear
ING a sauare-toed, broad-soled boot is an
Englishman, or, at all events, not of Cas-
tilian birth. The poor people of the
country use a sort Of slipper made of
canvas, with a sole of hem-rope called
a~alpergatas,'' and it is found to be SO
comfortable thatit is employed by soldiers
on the march in Spain. These goods are
manufactured largely in the Basque pro-
vinees, the cost being only from ten to
fifteen peletas Il dozen.
On the Isthmus of Panama people of
all classes are most fastidious in the fash
ion of their footgear for outdoor wear.
The poorest colored man, who goes bare
foot to work, must take his holiday in
the dressiest style of Partisan boot if he
can get them large enough, and the
women who wear the most slatternly
clippers inside adopt the extreme of fash
ion when dressing for a promenade. The
French style of congress gaiter is most
largely in demand, with high heels and
narrow toes, the warm climate and lazy
nature of the people causing them to re-
lect the lace or button shoe as requiring
100 much exertion to adjust.
In Mexico a large proportion of the
population that is not OF European origin.
DO not wear shoes at all, but continue
10 use the ancient Indian sandal, which
Is considered the most economical, COM
Portable and healthy for the climate.
This sandal consists of a sole of rawhide,
Or woven maguey fibre, which is strapped
TO the bottom of the foot by strings or
thongs Of the same material, and it is so
highly esteemed that the Mexican army,
which is equipped without regard to ex-
pense, continues to use this ancient foot
covering in presence of any other kind
bf boot or shoe.
Shoemaking in Yucatan is a brief and
primitive operation. The unshod indi-
vidual p~roeures a piece of hide or sole
leather, and placing his feet thereon
follows the contour of each foot with a
sharp knife. HaFing completed this
operation he passes a string or leather
thong between the big toe and the
one rsxt, winds it around the ankle
md again through the sole at the heel,
confines it in place and proceeds on his
way IN a spirit of content. But the
feminine natives of the country take great
delight on fete days in having their stock
ingless feet thrust into a pair of pale blue
hgh-heeled shoes OF French make.
The warm and agreeable climate of the
Madeira Islands permits the foot covering
Of the people t@ be composed of the
iightest materials. The p~easantry in
eludes about two-tlllrds of the population,
many of whom go barefooted throughout
the year, and q large portion put on boots
md shoes on dress occasions only. This
class, both male and female, wear a buff
leather boot, made high and turned down
ID cavalier on the top, without heels,
md with only one thickness of sole.
This soft and flexible footgear is well
adapted to o people who must be n
~tinually going up hill and down upon
Dne of the most rugged islands in the
world. The buff boots of the poorer
classes make no pretention to shape.
The better classes, however, proud of
their small feet, employ no material
heavier than goat or kid, and patent
leather is much worn. Ladies affect the
Extreme of fashion, and as they walk very
little, they generally select low, light
shoes with very high heels.
Every place in Turkey seems to have a
different form or style. The higher
classes wear fine shoes, similar to those
worn in France, which are, however, of
home manufacture, and compare favor
ably with the best made in Europe or
America; but the common people wear
cheap, ilI-made shoes called s,Roun-
Eoaras. Both in summer and winter
Che Turkish officials clothe the feet in
vanished leather oyershoes called gallo
saes Z and the use of them becomes gen
sEal during the rainy season.
a great industry is carried on in Aus
sfalia il the manufacture of leather from
he skins of animals native to the
by The kangaroo, wallaby and paddy
melons, the two latter being a smaller
species of the kangaroo, are largely used
ZOE foot coverings, and SO is a great vari-
sty 81 opossum skins, kaolo, bondicoot,
lingo and platypus. The body Of the
plaaypus resembles that of a small otter,
knd il covered with short grayish brown
laFs After 4 few stiff hairs are removed
lle fur is very soft and viii stand a
gzeat deal of hard usage. It is made
ute caps and rugs, as well as being
largely employed for slippers.
The shoe OF the Chinese is familiar TO
us from the foot covering commonly
woFn BY these people who dwell in our
lnstast but IN China the officials adopt a
higher style Of boot, which is made of
Dick silk OF cloth, with felt or leather
so1es These are made loose in the legs
Nd admit If carrvinu naaaers and doc11-