Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1892-08-23
TRADE IN OLD SHOES.

Hut few % the people having occaslon
On psss down sixth street In the vicinity
Of frsnkiln square, aud Who see the
long strings III old shoes hanging out
la front Of the several stor,. in that
nclghborhood, have any idea at the class
of people who pstroaise these places,
how the shoes arr procured or tile
amount of business done ln that line.
The supIosltlou of most people IL that
the lover Glasses alone are the custom
err ON account of the cheapness of the
shoes. while this class IL depended on
largely Tor the sale of very cheap shoes,
q large business Il done With The middle
classes also. The writer having met
With a painful accklent to hls left foot,
aud being DESTROYS of obtaining a shoe
several size. larger than his own, u o.
currrd to him Ia visit one Of these
stores, under the Impression that be
might bc able Ia procure the desired
shoe.
The Interior did not present very In
wiling appearance. SEATED on benches
against the wall ~ere two cobblers peg.
cling away as u their very lives depend
Ell on their work. Rows of shel,c. &C.
cuplcd Que side Of the place, aud these
were dlled with hslf-hnished shoes, old
up,~rs aud pieces III leather. On the
other side 81 the stor', hanging on Ion.
sticks were strings of shoes of all dcscrip-
lions, from raw-hide boot Ia an evening
patent leather shoe. All were neatly
polished, and the old sole. had been ~
placci BY new ones. The ne~com.r all
dressed himself to little girl, Who Was
backing shoe near the door.
"Can you furnish mc with an odd
shoe Tor the left footr'
- SUPPOSE So" abe replied. Turning
Ia one Of the cobblers, she told him in
German what vas desired, aud be im-
mediately dropped hi tool. and began
rumnsging among the shelves. \ nuu =
her of .ho~. we're brought forth, but
they we're either too small ar too large
or we're for the wrong foot. lie had
just given up Ia despair and th. ~ould-
lie purchaser Was about Ia depart, when
a stout man entered the place. carrying
on hi. back q large bag, FROM the toy oi
which we're sticking t~o small roll. oi
new sole leather.
"fatbcr, said the girl, "therc 7. u
gentleman Who wants an odd Shoe fof
the left foot, ani ". cant lind any Ia
suit"
"Ju.t walt a moment" be replied,
"apd III zee what can do"
The customer resumed hi seat, and
the stout man threw his bag on the
fioor. and while mopplng III. face asked
the question, "Whst .ly- do You take =
upOu being told, d. aid: "lou viii
want q sho. at least two siycs larger
than that Tor that foot, aud ] have got
the very thing"
Suiting the action Ia hl. words he
pallssi the leather FROM ia. bag aud
thrust la hi. hand. When d. drcw IL
forth again he brought out about q
dorm pair. of old shoes. Selecting one
bee threw IL over Ia lace customer With
th. remark: There you are; try that
On."
IL va. found To bc the right size, aud
bargain being struck, the shoe was ac-
c,ptcd.
~ suppose YOU do quite . good bu.i.
n.-. In old shoes" ssd the purchaser
while laclng the shoe.
"Oh. yc-, Ne do fairly WE'LL" he re-
jolne,i, "but bushes. Away. falls on
during July aud August"
SLEW sof'
"well. YOU sec, most of oar good Gus
toner. ar, at the .cashorc and other
summer rrsoit..'
"lou don't mean I" tell me-" said
the surprised buyer, "illat p"ople Who
lstrouiIc YOU are able Ia 81 Ia the sea
.bor-, do your
"why. crrtsinly. have among my
customer. many professional mcn-law-
,cr-, doctors, hu.ine.. men aud on.
Judge"
"why .hould tl,e.. people come Ia
YOU for their .ho-sy'' Va. asked.
"lI-csu.e they cannot wear new ones
on account 81 the Tenderness. of their
feet, az l-csu.. 81 corns, or bunlob.."
lie theu went on io explain how many
people with tender f,et wet- driven al.
Ino-t crazy when they attempted io
war q b.s .ho. on account ~ the burn
lag. aud srr- willing Ia pay any price
for = secondhand pair II they could get
one. that suited them. Few of thes.
people. b. .sLi, ever ,i.lt-i hl. store.
They drip Hun letter or postal card,
aud, knowing just what Sire u required,
Ia visit. thru at their hom.. or place Of
business. carrying the footwear Ia =
neat little handbag. some oi the pro
pie, lac saii, pay him .. high a. 80 aud
=. a psiT for th. shoes.