The Pioche weekly record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1877-1900, 1892-01-07
A CHAPTER ON SHOES.
The Clumsy Footwear of Oriental
Countries.
Slow Evolution Of Our Modern and Hand
some Creations from the Primitive
Forms of the Notwithstanding OF
the Greeks and Romans.

sandal, winch Is nothing but sole.
The Egyptian priests wore sandals OF
palm leaves and papyrus, while those
of the common people were made OF
leather. The papyrus shoe was inter-
woven like n mat. Homer generally
speaks of his heroes as barefooted, but
the use of the sandal was general
,monp the ancient Greek and Roman
women, and gradually became fashion
able for the men also.
The Greek crepida consisted of
thick sole, welted on to piece of
leather, which had in it number of
eyes, through which a throng passed to
Lind it to the foot, or sometimes
loops merely were welted on to the
sole and passed over the foot.
The Romans had shoes of various
kinds, says the Waverly Magazine. The
talceus covered the whole foot, and was
made on last. Senators wore cal
ocus different from that of other citi-
ems, with straps wrapped around the
ankle. The calceus repandus was u
very old style, being found on Egyptian
and Etruscan monuments, and is the
origin of the long medieval shoe, to be
mentioned hereafter. The soldiers shoe
was very strong, and its sole was
tudded with nails The Roman patri-
ians wore an ivory crescent on their
hoes nH04tH tH
lleliogabalus had his shoes covered
with white linen, and Caligula orna-
mented his with precious stones. Tho
simple sandal was worn by both sexes
among the Romans, but usually in the
house only, it being considered an affec-
tation going on the street with them.
they thus correspond somewhat to our
slippers. They had also slipper with
out any tie, which completely covered
the foot and was worn only females
and performers of comedy, and many
other styles Of footgear Some of the
Grecll and Roman shoes lad soles four
inches thick; such were worn by short
females in order to appear taller. The
streets of Rome, In the reign of Domi-
tan, were at orc time SO filled with cob
blers' stalls that the emperor issued an
order for their removal.
The cary Saxon shoes were shaped
on the Roman model; indeed, the only
difference between the ancient and mod
ern laced shoe seems to be that the for.
rner was laced to the toe, the latter to
the instep only.
In the middle ages shoes of an cy-
travagant length became popular. In
The reign of Richard III. the tips of some
reached to the knee, to which they were
secured by gold and silver chains The
upper parts were frequently cut to imi-
tate church windows. Such shoes were
called "Cracliows,' after the city OF
Craclkow. They were introduced into
England during the reign of Richard
III. by john the grandfather of his
queen. Several bills were issuel
against these extravagances, but long
toed shoes held their sway for nearly
three hundred years. Lotto Et
The English parliament at one time
regulated by act not only the quality of
the leather, but the number of stitches
to be taken in every shoe. In LACE
parliament prohibited the making of
any shoes for the unprivileged classes
with points more than two inches long.
The top boots, so familiar to us in the
pictures of the early Puritans, were in
troduccd some time during the sixteenth
century. = aaw EYg q
Shoe-malcing, hoe-mcnding and shoe
selling are distinct branches of indus
try in China. Chinese shoes exhibit
great variety Of shape. Except in the
hob-nailed shoe, for wet weather, there
is little leather used, the materials be-
ing principally calico, silk, satin, vol
vet and felt. tgIyTs, a
Children's summer shoes are made of
line open rushwork, with bright lining.
Ladies' shoes are madesand mended by.
their wearers. From their childhood
girls OF the upper classes have their feet
tightly bound, and they are thus, at the
cost OF years of suffering, enabled to
wear shoes about three inches long.
The Chinese cobbler goes from house to
house, and announces his presence Will,
peculiar rattle.
In European countries wooden shoes
are in general use among the peasantry.
They are clumsy, but comfortable and
cheap. The Malay women generally
go barefooted, but they are very slsillful
i'll embroidering slippers in gold tinscl,
which, like those of the Turks, are
worn just over the toes by ladies' of the
higher class.
The inhabitants of northern climates
travel rapidly on the broad surfaces of
snowshoes. Both men and women wear
them, and the stories of the number of
miles sometimes got over by able-bod-
led skaters of either sex in n day
sound extrayagant to- one not awaresof
the facility with which they can be
managed by an expert.
The snowshoe consists Of n fiat
frame from eight to fourteen inches
in breadth at its widest part, and
sometimes as much as seven feet
long, though generally four feet. 1t is
either made wholly of wood or is a
wooden frame filed in with wicker
work, and has cross straps to fasten it
on the feet. ..Se~-
The present form of shoe was adopted
early in the seventeenth century, and the
buckle was added about sixty years
later. The style of shoe has not varied
much Tor many years; the narrow sole,
the broad sole, the "box-toe" and the
high and low heel being the principal
aiiferences between one pair and an
other.
Y.
II Al " ia L 3