The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1896-12-24
IDEAS tor Q5Wotnen.

~
Really woman cannot be accused OF
ereliction in the matter Of polishing her
understanding. The latest addition to
the smart woman's belongings is her foot
box. This. says the Chicago Record. "
like the perfect manicure case, is of
American continuance, and is one of the
gifts brides of this season usually receive
from their mothers. To all appearances
the foot box is much like a large English
dispatch box. only made of leather, and
a most elegant affair, where the brides
mother is rich and indulgent. Its stout
trunk-shaped frame on the outside is
morntcd in polished yellow pigskin, bear
ing c silver initial disk on the lid, silver
hinges. locks and reinforcement about
the corners.
Within the lining is done in a fine quail
ity of brown French kid, and a woman
not initiated in the revived art of car
ing for her feet would be puzzled at first
to know just what to do with the amaz-
Ing array Of dainty articles disclosed to
view. Looking to the fine well being Of
the foot is a custom revived from the
time of sandaled Greeks and Romans.
They rightly required that these ex-
tremities shouid be not only correct in
shape, and without corners or big joints.
! but plump, white. with rosy soles, gleam-
ing nails, and altogether as inviting
members to touch and show as are the
best kept hands. Since the rational
round-toes shoes and fiat heels lave come
sdntc again the foot is to get
its ancient due of attention, and she who
owns a foot box puts its contents to use
once or twice every day.
So
Inside the lid she finds slipped under
straps an ivory horn. a couple of big hooks
and q little one. to button fragile evening
slippers with, and then the interior of the
box is divided up into a series of trays.
\Everything her feet or shoes could need
are contained here, First, a complete set
IF ebony-backed brushes for removing
Rust, putting On lacquer and blacking poll
b, and some Of them in the form of fam
Ell or charnois covered finishers.
INTO appropriate hooks fit a series of
lass boxes, to hold the various pomades
pr treating French kid, calfskin and fine
Russia leather slippers, and these are ac-
- ~ q v " "a tORRC
tai bottles, full Of liquid dressings, var
pishes and special fluids for taking stains
put of satin shoes and fine skins of which
house ties are made. Down in one corner
is coiled a small rope, loosely woven, of
every type, color and material of laces, a
box Of assorted buttons, spools OF silk and
waxed shoe threads, and a cobbler's
needle, thimble and scissors, but the low
er tray contains the articles of particular
interest.
First a case lifts n unrolls, to
display a cleaning array of silver handled
steel instruments, cunningly contrived for
every sort of amateur surgical treatment
q well-cared-for foot might need. Deli
cate. long-handled scissors. files, nippers,
knives, beveling sand paper and what not.
Out with the case comes a small easel
mirror, meant, when one treats ones own
ten toes, to rest on the floor and reveal
points difficult to see otherwise without
great gymnastic efforts.
80
Beside the instruments are cases of
foot soaps, salves. soothing plasters, a
box and down puff holding talcum pow
der, and not least, though last, an array
of supports and bandages for the heal
ing of an injured foot or the helping of
one disfiglrred by many years use of
nfll-ftting shoes.
Now, the way to derive genuine bene-
ft from a foot box is to use it every day,
and the result will be not only additional
beauty to person, but physical comfort.
Every morning the feet ought to be
slipped in a basin CT warm suds. dried
with a crash towel and then, after the
soles have a bit of cold cream or lis
tcrine rubbed into them and the nails
manieured. lightly use a puff full Of yio-
let talcum powder. AT night very near
~ the same process ought to be repeated.
end then, if the feet have been really
driven out of shape by too small. short
or pointed toes, take a hint from the con-
tents of the bottom tray Of the foot-box
and put them in corrective pandages for
the hours in bed.
OF course, the traditional mitten that
q make a man miserable has no kin
ship with the one that now makes sensi-
BILE women comfortable. Since the cold
weather has really come to stav the
thrifty shopper finds that there is untold
comfort in a mitten which no glove can
JNSAN, diNi tiit result IS that SILK
woven IN all sorts of pretty patterns. is
1.-THE acceptable hand covering of the bour
Kid glove, as a matter of course. hold
their own, both for ornament and for
use, but let fair woman start out on a
shopping expedition and she win soon
md that there is nothing to be worn that
her soul as will mittens which
l'ke those that Dickens put on honest
Toby Beck. have "a private apartment
lot the thumb and a common or tan
room for the fingers"
II there is one thing more annovine
fhan anotheY to anyone out on ..hospjta-
PIE Thoughts intent" it is to have four
reezing fingers and a ben, mbed tbumb
interfering with every purchase that IS
0 be tnade. When buying certain
fhings a kloyed hand is simply a super
Fhuous attachment, and IT must be uncov-
red beige the goods facing one can be
broperl mtested.
buf tlat a trouble to pull off five kid
app tents" and then put them on
@sefore seeking the next shop.
ow, a silk mitten carries comfort IN
every stitch. 1t compels sociability
ong the heretofore exclusive die,ts
M I'D -A-a2 -.