The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1892-03-26
soueAKlNo BOOTS.
Boms Eehrctinna on the subject Of Self
Assertlvs Footwear.

Boms Redrctinna on the subject of Self
Assertlvs Footwear.
The earliest impression of squeaking
boots which we have treasured in our
memory was Of Col Talmadge, of Litch-
field, in Connecticut. lie was tall and
venerable gentleman of the old school.
His dress was precise. His manners
were very dignifed. II was sight
worth watching for, on Sunday, to see
him issue from his house, and walk
with military precision, under the shad-
ing elms, to the village church-not a
specls on his coat, not an unregulated
hair on his head or wig, with immacu-
late ruiiles to his shirt, and sort of
Gen. Washington look on his face. He
had the air of man who had not mo-
ticed anything within yard of the
yround for score of years. Our eyes
Tell from his face timidly, but found
comfort in looking at his boots, which
were great broad, easy boots-none of
your modern ones, that cling to the feet
| like close fitting glove to the hand
but broad, ample, well creased by cross
wrinkle, and affording TO the foot room
enough for n door-yard all around it.
But, though polished like a mirror,
their brilliancy was not the chief at
traction. They were musical boots.
Every time the venerable man laid his
foot upon the ground his boots re-
sponded. If it was on week day they
said: "March March! March!' as
! plainly as squeaking leather could
speak. But it was on Sunday, and the
colonel was on his way to meeting"
every time his foot came up or rested
down it said: Amen! A-men!' At
| least so our little ears used to interpret
the sound.
1t was at that time a matter of silent
speculation with us why boots squeaked.
| At one time shadowy idea of life and
suffering suggested itself Then we
imagined that there were humble bees
in them; we don't know why unless the
sound resembled that made by bees
when some one stepped on their nest
in the moving lot.
Squeaking shoes! There is such an
air of pretenson in them, they sound
their own praises in such an unneces-
sary manner that we find our temper
bristling up at the very sound. Who
wants to hear mans boots proclaim
ing his advance along the hall-saying
plainly, Here l come, Here / come"
Or the congregation is gathered, the
organ has ceased. The audience is lis
tening to the invocation. just then
some fat man, very much at peace with
himself, pert and smiling, enters the
door. OF course, his pew is at the other
end of the aisle. He will not wait till
the prayer is over-not he. He only
walks a little slower, so as to give the
squeak it's full effect, Squ-e ak
squ-e-all! as if the organist had lent
him the sesquialtera stop of the organ
, or the cornet in five ranks. About half
way down the aisle, it occurs to the
owner of the boots that they are making
a noise, and that all the nervous people
are scowling at him, and the boys and
girls are looking with a worldly curl
osity So, to mend matters he begins
to walk on tiptoe. A fat man walking
tiptoe in squeaking boots in meeting
time! The noise is none the less. The
squeak is simply rolled out little thin
ner and prolonged little more veX-
atiously.
Before it was a frank and jolly
"squ-ea-k! -squ-ea.kw-real staccatoI
But now it is sq-u-e-e'
a-k!-sq- sq-u-e-e-e-e-a-k-e- kr'-with a
, vanishing quirl TO it In order to make
the most of it, he walks slower and
slower, holding out as long as the min
5 lister does, and sitting down in the pew
l with complacent look just as tn,
y Amen" is uttered.-N. Y. Ledger