Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1893-09-22
TOLD BY THE FEET.
CHARACTER AS READ IN THE
PEDAL ExTREMITIES
Mans Peculfaritics May Be De.
tected by n Careful study of His
Manner of WaIking-SOme Things
Worth Knowing.

Man's PeculfariticS May Be Dc.
tected by n Careful study of His
Mnnncrof WaIking-Some Things
Worth Knowing.
In the form of the foot the sexes
differ as much or even more than in
that OF the hand. A woman's loot is
usually narrower in proportion than
that of a mans, while he will be con-
siderably stronger in the ankle and
more powerful in the formation OF the
toes, especially of the ball OF the great
toe. When a woman owns a strong,
firm, wide foot, many of us experience
no sensation OF surprise at finding her
" strOng-minded;" when a man trips
along on a delicate little foot people
instinctively believe him to be lacking
in power and often put him down as
effeminate. If instead of the cramp-
ing imprisonment of boots and shoes
the foot from infancy were allowed
free and natural development, it is
likely that under such conditions it
might be rendered capable of perform
ing other functions besides those Of
locomotion and sustaining the weight
OF the body. Certainly it is, says the
Boston Herald, that some unlucky
mortals born without arms have
managed to use a knife, fork, spoon,
pen, paint brush and even a violin
bow. That the right foot is, like the
right hand, ordinarilymore mobile, and
at the same time stronger than the
left might be attributed to the more
frequent exertion on this side were it
not that the popularity is said to ex-
tend itself even to the constitution,
and the left extremities are asserted
to be more liable to disease than the
right. The most difficult movements
in stage dancing are usually executed
upon the right foot, and it is generally
considered that unless double practice
be accorded to the left leg an ungrace.
full preference for the right will be
SHOWN by the dancers in their public
performance.
Many people tread more firmly with
the right than with the left foot.
There might seem to be a greater
capacity for propelling the body with
the right foot. From this the horse
man springs with his left foot in the
stirrup, and unless left-handed no boy
in his play hops naturally on his left
foot. To the attentive eye none OF the
ordinary gestures of movements betray
peculiarities of individual character
more plainly than the gait-the sailors
rolling, the soldiers stiff, the coun.
tryman's jolting gait are Immediately
recognized. Slow steps, whether long
or short, suggest gentle or reflective
sort of mind, as the case may be, while
on the contrary, quick steps seem to
speak of agitation and energy. Re.
Election is revealed in frequent pauses
and walking to and fro, backward and
forward; the direction of the steps
wavering and following every chang
ing impulse OF the mind, inevitably
betrays uncertainty, hesitation and in
decision. The proud step is slow ant
measured, the toes are conspicuously
turned out, the leg is Strengthened
In vanity, the toes are rather more
gracefully turned, the stride little
shorter and there is often an affecta
ton of modesty. Tiptoe walking sym
bolizes surprise, curiosity, discretion
or mystery. Obstinate people who
in an argument, rely more on mus
cularity than on intellectual power
rest their feet fiat and firm on the
ground and stand with the legs firmly
planted and far apart. Turned-in
toes are often found with unoccupied
absent-minded persons. The toes
pointed and dragged ON the ground
with slow, measured step give a
pompous appearance. Perplexity
occasions irregular steps and abrnpt
movements. The prudent walk is
measured and regular, entirely free
from hurry, agitation or precipitation.
The miser's walk is represented as
STOPPING, noisless, with short, nervous
anxious steps. In joy the walk is
lively, for lightness, grace, suppleness
characterize happy mind, although
the walk here is often modified, in
harmony with the cause of the Joy
the joy of gratified ambition, fol-
example. betraying itself by differen.
outward semblance than the Joy of g
happy love. Disappointment walks
heavily with slow and irregular steps.