The Washington times., 1894-06-10
If You Black
Your Own Shoes

A well-stocked backing brush box should
always be kept on hand, and this should con-
tain the best OF backing. together with three
good brushes. One of the brushes should be
quite hard, TO effectually rid the boots of all
mud and dirt, another should be soft, in order
to insure the successful application of the
blacking. and the third should be classed in
the happy medium, so as to give satisfactory
polish and SHINE Each should have its
own distinct mission to perform and there
uses must never be confounded. says a CORE
spondent of The Household. who also gives
the following advice:
The backing. if liquid, should be kept well
corked, and after all traces of mud have been
removed from the boots it should be applied
to the brush by means of a sponge, which
ia tied to a stick. and from thence to the
leather. This having been accomplished, the
boots should be we'll polished with the regu-
lation brush and a firm. vigorous hand. Much
more delicacy Of treatment Is required in
cleaning ladies' boots, except when they are
the stout common-sense ones used for walk
ing or skating, great care always being taken
to avoid soiling the lining of the boots.
made from the following ingredients: Mix
ounces Of ivory black with 4 ounces Of treacle
In an earthen jar. to which and an ounce OF
sulphuric acid, stirring the mixture all the
while. Then pour in 2 teaspoonfuls OF olive
oil, and after this has been thoroughly incor-
porated add by degrees II pints OF white
wine vinegar.
Another polish which is more suited to
ladies' fine boots Is made by mixing equal
proportions of sweet oil, treacle, and vinegar
with an ounce Of lamp black, and applying
with sponge.
Patent-leAther boots require entirely differ
ent treatment. They should first be wiped
with a damp sponge and afterward with a
ened with either water or milk, but the latter
should not be used too often. Occasionally a
little oil might be applied with very good ef-
feet, but backing should never be used ex-
cept upon the edges of the soles.
Lots Of people do not know what to do for
a pair of shoes after soaking rain. There is
an unfailing remedy: First wipe off gently
with a soft cloth all surface water and mud
Then rub we'll with paraffine oil. using a fan
mel rag for the purpose. Set the shoes aside
till partially dry, and then repeat the rubbing
with oil. They let the shoes dry thoroughly,
but gradually. Before applying final dress
ing of polish give them one more rub with
the flannel. with just trife of oil on it, and
the shoes will be as soft and flexible as new
kid Shoes will last twice as long if properly
cared for.
Does any one Of my readers happen to have
encountered or to have utilized the services
of "shoe-breaker?" ask the question be-
cause an American paper has discovered that
''shoe-breaking" has been added to the ever
growing list OF recognized employments for
women in this country. And now, perhaps,
had better explain who and what ''shoe-
breaker" is, says writer in the Ladies' Pic
torIal. She is, gather. a person VINO under
takes, for a consideration, to wear other peo-
ple's new shoes for while, and to walk about
in them until their rigid newness has worn
off. and their consequent discomfort Is re-
moved.
Personally. I have not yet met with any one
who has taken up this realty terrible pro-
fession, which certainly ought to command
remuneration on q very liberal scale to com
pensate for lis attendant agonies. Apart
from the perpetual martyrdom that must be
entailed by its practice, one hardly sees how
the difficulty Of varying shapes and sizes is
to be adequately met. It would be so easy in
some cases to break out pair Of shoes while
attempting to break them in. and so impos-
sible in other cases to produce any relaxing
effect at all, that the profession could not be
other than q precarious, as well as painful
one.