Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1894-11-12
SHOE SBPERSTITIONS.
An Augusta Shoe Dealer Speaks OF the Pecu.
liar Sayings About Shoes.


many little sayings that he has heard
when selling people footwear Some people
place considerable confidence in these su.
perstitions, while Others look upon them
as myths. The dealer quoted from his
little note book few of these amusing
sayings such as. Worn on the heel
spends good aeal -" Worn on the hall.
spends it all; - Worn on the vamp, look
out for scamp Worn on the toes,
spends as he goes; Worn on the side,
will be rich mans bride, . all of which
may be taken for just what they are worth.
IAN old sign says that if a young man
is careless of hts shoe lacing, he will neg
lect his wife; but on the contrary, if he
laces them tight he will be very stingy
in his dealings with her BY the way if
young man is going 10 see his sweetheart
and stubs his right toe, he may know that
he is to be welcome; but if he stubs his
left one he may as well turn around and
go home, because she does not want TO see
him. Again if his lacings keep coming
united his lady-love is talking or thinking
about him.
"When you buy a pair of new shoes,
never put them on shelf higher than your
head, unless you want to bring bad luck
and if you blackcn them before you have
had both shoes on, you may meet with an
accident or even have sudden death
This is an old Irish superstition. The
Scottish girls believe that if they drop their
shoes before they are worn, trouble will
ensue, while Il French lady losing her
heel is sure of some disappointment in
love, and German mother in the same
predicament feels that she will soon lose
one of her children by death.
"You must not put your right shoe on
your left foot, or your left on your right
nor must you put your left shoe on before
the right, unless you want bad luck.
This superstition dates back to one of the
Emperors of Rome. who, it is recorded, put
on his left shoe first one morning and
came very near being assassinated dur
ing the day.
"As sign of respect the japanese take
off their slippers when they meet in the
street, and the Jews used to pluck off one
of theirs to confirm IA bargain. Through
out the East, when an inferior enters the
presence of his superior, he leaves his
shoes or slippers at the door. a great
many people still follow the old custom of
throwing an old shoe after a bridal couple
but very few know The old significance of
this. 1t is supposed to bring good luck,and
those that throw it after a newly married
couple do so with the best intentions in the
world This custom however really came
from the old Anglo Saxon times, when
the father invariably handed the bride
groom one of the brides old shoes, which
signifies the giving up Of all authority
over the girl to her husband, so that those
who throw an old shoe after the departing
couple nowadays are really signifying
tlittl Hiit IL MS Pi'H'itNi 60 -
times.
1t is supposed TO bring good luck to keep
an old pair Of shoes that j, past wearing
around the house, but if they are burned
up, according to an old sign. snakes will
squirm away from the place and will leave
bad luck behind them. Old negro aunt
les in the South burn up old shoes, hog
hoofs. and use mixture of the two for
coughs. 1t would seem as though good
smart cold would be preferable to this
remedy.
'"To be in anothcr's shoes, is a quota
ton in vogue today. Among the ancient
Norsemcn, when a man adopted son he
must always. for a certain time at least,
wear the shoes of his adopted father in or
der to lawfully inherit his property and
so it came about that to stand in another's
shoes means to claim the honors of an
other. -
Thus cndcth the shoe dealers cOllcc-
ton of shoe knowledge in this line and
doubtless many who read this will be able
to add some other superstition in regard
to the shoe. but be sure to put on your
right shoe first in the morning.