The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1890-03-10
CHINESE SHOES.
They Have Eleven Soles and Are
Not Very Expensive.

New York, said q Broadway retalier
to a reporter for the Journal, ''you
will find ON the foot of a Chinaman.n
"Why is this?u
Because the Chinese know that
cleanliness is life to them. In their
own country, where they live in the
smallest possible compass, they must
observe the most rigid sanitary laws.
Ii these laws are neglected, disease,
this idea, the Chinese keep their
bodies and clothes scrupulously clean.
OF their feet they take especial care.n
The remarks of the retailer sug-
gested a visit to the Chinese quarters
of New York, which is known through
out the country as Mott street. On
this thoroughfare there are nine stores
where Chinese shoes may be pur-
chased. The writer visited two of
them.
II want to see a pair of shoes made
in Gilman
How much cost?''
II don't know; let me see solne.n
Want to buyYn
II don't want to buy anything IN
til / see it,
How much costg" CThe Celestial
evidently suspected that the visit was
of curiosity.)
'Show me a pair of the cheapest
and a pair of the best
With a remark that may have been
an imprecation Or a legend from u tea
box, the proprietor turned to a section
of glass doors, and opening one of
them, produced a package carefully
covered with soft paper. Removing
the wrapping he exhibited a shoe
without a flaw, a stain, a spot or a
particle of dust to detract from its APP
pearance. The thick. broad, fiat, fat
sole was as white as the whitest Of
coloring could make it.
Where was this pair OF shoes
nader"
Want to buy?n
l told the storekeeper that / came
from a newspaper, and that it was my
desire to secure some facts as a basis
for an article on Chinese footgear.
Then the native courtesy of the race
was made pleasantly apparent. Drop
ping the cold, commercial role which
he had been playing, Chang Wing
said 'sAll lite, " and s1nilingly answered
the question:
Made Canton.n
Are all the Canton shoes made by
hand?''
Yes, all made by hand; no 'chinely;
''chineiy machinery nc good; mnchee
dirt; Cinnamon no like dirt"
How is this sole NADER"
Mot n sole; eleven soles all made
like one.n
A closer examination of the shoe
1.co1ac11 l. Fon4 A.. ALL Mil -x,I.+o
section which looks like a single piece
of wood when viewed casually, is
really composed OF eleven layers or
lifts of leather, each about a sixth of
an inch in thickness. They are fast
ened together by thread, and SO Sc
curely is the sewing done that the
durability of the sole is unmistakable.
What is the price of this pair?n
zone dol, sixty-five cent. Vely
cheap. See? eileen silk?'
The proprietor directed attention
to the handsome border of green silk
that ornamented the uppers, which
were composed of u quality of black
silk that looks as if it would outwear
three of the American silken fabrics.
What is the lining made Off
white cloth. You see vely soft fol
the foot; much cotton inside; no make
foot much pain like Mclean shoe"
rs this the cheapest shoe you
haye?'
Another glass door was opened and
a package covered with soft brown
tissue paper was forthcoming. These
shoes were fashioned Of a tough quail
ity of straw, colored, from a dark
brown to a graduation of yellowish'
red tint. They weighed but four
ounce and nothing cooler in the
shape of foot covering can be inn
agined. The price was fifty cents.
The sole was made of a fibred wood,
quite elastic, which was covered with
a layer of tough leather, undressed.
After much patient questioning /
ascertained that the workmen in Cam
ton employed upon this grade of
footgear earn from four to six cents
per day. They are a favored class,
having mastered a trade, and are
therefore certain to have occupation
as long as they are able to work.
Now please show me the finest
pair of shoes that you have?o
Another glass door was opened and
another package swathed in tissue
paper was laid on the counter. This
pair of shoes is retailed at So. 1t is
something that could not be dupli-
Gated in this country for $40. The
amount of handiwork on it was so in
tricate in design and extensive in
| quantity that nothing short of Celes-
tial patience would suffice to produce
it.
On the toe point of the upper was a
medallion worked in gold, silver and
fancy colored gilded silks. On the
sides was minute applique work in
stitching and embroidery. Around
the heel were beautiful patterns out
lined in etching. The broadcast part
of the upper was deliberately decor
ated with figures and scenes finished
in a style which is a decided improve
on what American ladies call Ken
sington work" The colors were
artIstically blended, although the
general effect was what would be.
letermed '.loud.n
The proprietor claimed for the
Chinese shoes a decided advantage in
ease, economy and wear. When the
sole, which comes In contact with the
pavement Ghe outer one Of the
feleyen(, is worn out, it is replaced by
q fresh layer, and that in turn by an
other, SO that the same pair of shoes
can be worn for years.
Have you seen shoes in Canton
that cost more than this pair2"
Eyes, two hundred dol, take ten