Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-09-08
TRAGEDY OF A BOOT.
Bloody Shoes on a Murdered Actress
Feet Betray the Assassin.
FOOTWEAR USED ON THE STAGE.
Lolita Kicks With Dainty Shoes and Minnie
Palmer Wears No. Is.
SONG AND DANCE AND OPERA STYLES

CORRESPONDENCE OF THE DIsPATcH.l.
NEW YORK, September 7.-"Professional
people, don't you know, are necessarily very
particular about their footwear" said a
bright little soubrette, at supper. after the
play. She displayed neatly fitting stage
boot that set off the trim, round ankle to
perfection.
"Shoes-stage shoes-cost us lots of money.
especially in parts where there is a good
deal of fine dressing. 1t used to be different
before the stage wardrobe formed the i'm
portant part it now plays in dramatic per-
formances. Now a leading lady must have
as many pairs of shoes as she has costumes.
They must match or harmonic with the rest
of her outfit. Even variety people, and all
of us who do dancing parts, must go nicely
booted, for all ewes are on our feet And
shoes thus used must be replaced as soon as
they show the least sign Of wear A good
many actresses spend more money for shoes
than most ladies in private life spend ior
dresses in the same time. Women ike
Lotta and Minnie Palmer buy from 10 to 70
pairs of shoes at time"
WHAT LoTTA KICKS WITH.
"Are they relatively more expensive than
those worn by other people p
"Oh, yes, Indeedl But go down to Hirsch's
shoe store, corner of Grand and Center
streets, and they'll tell you all about it. 1t
is where most of us 90 to get stage shoes.
This was tip. l went. 1t is an unpre-
tentious establishment, though it covers
good deal of ground, and the lower floors
were piled up with job lots of shoes of all
kinds and prices. The house deals in man
ufacturers' stock and samples and also has
large retail trade. Manager Meyer politely
responded to all nv queries.
81 don't know how dramatic people got
to coming wav down here for their shoes.
The custom just grew from one woman 10
another, suppose, and tine actors followed
suit We don't make speciality OF stage
shoes, though we have good many profess
sional customers. Yes, Lolita is one of
these Here is pair we have just finished
for her, for when we haven't the right thing
in stock we make it to order. 1t is a cute
little shoe" he added, noting my admira-
ton. zone and half"
ABOUT FooTLIGHT FAvoRITEs.
The ''cute little shoe" rested on the little
old wooden counter. 1t is called the
Turkish Sailors" and has Int. L. X. V.
heels-whatever that isis low cut, with
red morocco top running from a point at the
throat where it meets with dainty, narrow
red ribbon, down to the red heel. The por
ton of upper which covers the toes and ball
of the foot is black patent leather. A very
simple shoe taken all in all and one that
looks as if it might be found in stock at any
ine store. But it can't and therefore must
be made
We've sold the charming Lotta great
many shoes, as high as 20 pairs at time.
She has prettily shaped foot, and has her
own taste in dressing it. / think she has
had 20 pairs within six months. Minnie
Palmer, also, has pretty foot-Still smaller
than Lotta's. Miss Palmer wears is. She
gets great many shoes, too, probably
good many abroad. Her husband, Mr.
Rodgers, is also one of our customers, and
is quite as fastidious as his little wife.
Annie PiIley comes here. She has we'll
turned foot. There is Miss Vaders, with
Thomas Keene, 1 believe; Felix sisters,
Clara Coleman, Irwin sisters, Lena Mer-
vile and her sister Marion Elmore, Annie
Hart, Maggie Cline, and, OH lots of those
people And among the actors. NJ. B. Cur
tbs, 'Saml of Posen,' you know, Lester and
Allen, Pat Riley, Frank Bush, Donaldson
i can't remember half of them who come
every week.
SONG AND DANCE BOOTS.
'Song and dance and all variety people
are particular about their shoes-quite as
much so as those Of the legitimate. They
want them just so, and don't care for the
price if they suit. They will be measured,
and will come again and again. Prices
range from Sc to S25. Yes, it does seem
high, but good many shoes you see on the
stage cost from $40 to S18. Here is pair,
now," he went on, taking a curious looking
article out of a case, "worth S25."
They were a pair of ladies' opera boots
apparently, buff calfskin, laced up the side
and topped above the calf with four inches
of amber satin.
"No; they're for song and dance artist
The tops, you will notice, are all one piece,
and are shaped to lace closely over the calf
OF the leg and nearly to the knee. They are
not usually worn. Dramatic people like
novelties in foot attire and are ready for
anything that combines utility with beauty
and novelty. Now mark the contrast. Here
is a pair of what we call 'Adalina PATHS
from the fact that she introduced them
here"
A DAINTY PAIR
He displayed an exquisite little shoe OF
low counters, cardinal red leather, lined
with soft white downy fur. The fur fuffed
over the edges in the most inviting way, as
if eager to embrace the foot of any divinity
delicate enough to claim their protection.
The heels were fully an inch and half
high and gracefully turned. They were as
dainty of shape and size as could have been
imagined by the inventor of the failed
slipper of Cinderella. There were many
other curious pairs in big case. One
sweet thing, the "Pompei OPERA" with long
narrow soles and pointed Turkish turned
up toes, in embossed leather hand-painted
Chinese figures. Another, delicate satin
slipper for premieres danseuse, with the
satin upper extending an inch beyond the
sole to facilitate toe dancing. The sole
itself is but an inch and half in width at
the widest part and is without heels. Looks
like long baby shoe. There were endless
varieties of high-legged military boots, for
both ladies and gentlemen.
"We recently made lot of these for the
Shenandoah company" said the manager.
'They were all burned up, 1 believe, in the
McVicker Theater fire at Chicago. Fred
Warde, the tragedian, has his boots made
here. also Joe Murphy and several leading
men of as many companies. Most of the
women reporters on the dailyipapers are our
customers. Nellie BLY, got her round-the-
world shoes here. She wears high-cut 23-
button and pays S8 to $40 pair for them.
BURLEsQUE BOOTS.
eyes, that is a nice little boot-bur-
lesquer." Referring to q pretty little thing
in pale morocco ana embroidered satin.
"Ahi there is curious story connected
with a companion pair. / don't think it