The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-11-08
THE SECRET OF THE FOOT.
GIRLS LEARN ABOUr THEMSELVES
IN :. NEW FASHION.
ThinRs Tint Arched Instepa and Rosy
Toes Embellishments Reading rrom
the Foot-siS Girls who Tcatcd the

Things 'rhnt A-ched Instep- and Rosy
Toes signirv-Chnrnctor Reading rrom
the Foot-siS Girls who Tested the
System and What They discovered.
The seats OF the six. as they sat in n parlor on
Madison avenue, formed an uneven crescent.
Five wore Fifth avenue girls: ono wasn't. AZ
the trim French maid moved from one TO au-
other, slipping Off their stylish boots and silk
stockings, the gowns of all six gave that subtle
swish, swish, Indicative of silk Innings against
silken underwear, n sound peculiarly delicious
to ears of the up-to-date woman. One by ono
tho dainty foot coverings were removed from
the six pairs of feet and placed beneath the
chairs of their owners. Then the little French
maid arose from her knees and. with a curtsey
and n smile that included the ak. said:
MADAME will enter shortly" as she disap.
pears behind the silkcn portieres.
After a moment the %portieres stirred again,
and instantly the eyes OF each girl fastened upon
them. Madame. fat. fair. and forty. entered
and was greeted by a silence palpatating with
awe. Six smiles returned Madame's smile of
greeting. and six pairs of eyes glanced down to-
ward the rim of the six gowns, from which
peeped the six pairs of uncovered toes.
II will take your foot. II you please. made
moiselle." said Madame to the, tall, slender girl
at the end of the line. "Ah. quito a nice foot,
'moisclle." she continued, as though personally
gratited. "The instep Is high and denotes CO.
priciousness, but that is well nigh overbalanced
by this deep line underneath, which means that
you can love very deeply. The heel Is small,
almost too small for n shoemaker's idea of sym.
metry. and denotes devotion to any cause uns
dertakcn. These fine lines underneath signify
n keen sense Of honor and deiicacy Of percep-
ton. These long toes, which permit the wear
ing of pointed shoes, bespeak artistic talent"
"Ahem." said the next girl as Madame
reached for her foot, 81 hope my foot will prove
as interesting"
Your foot is OF unusual interest, made
moiselle," Madame replied. turning the small.
slender white foot almost around. Were l .
man / should like to marry 4 woman with just
such n foot. You are u sincere friend. q loving
sweetheart. and will make n comfortable wife.
How can | tell, you ask BY the shape and tho
lines. my dear. You are religious, for you have
so little instep. Your great toe is longer than
the others and tells of talent. This curve Mt the
ankle denotes a love of fun, while this little arch
just beneath shows a taste for luxury. The
downward curve OF the toes denote amiability,
their length, trustworthiness, and the cushions
underneath bespeak order"
That is true. Madame" chimedt the other girls
from Fifth avenue. The owner of the pretty
foot was a favorite, and her friends smiled with
pleasure at the good account Madame had given
of her character.
Here is a foot" continued Madame. taking
the foot Of a plump little girl with golden hair
and dimpies. that l would steer clear of wereI
O poor man. Don't be displeased. how
ever. for you can not help it any moro
than /. Go to your parents and your selfish.
comfort-loving ancestors. Your foot is I'M
usually pretty to look at. but people
with short toes like these never do anything to
help others. You would never care whether
your husband was dead or alive so long as your
little aims and ambitions were gratihed. Never
mind what the needs of others are around you,
the lines of these toes will always fall on easy
places. These arched insteps show a decided
love for luxury. and these smooth. round heels,
so free OF marks, indicate the lack OF any talent
~forceful enough to utilize"
The little girl admitted weakly that she had
been called selfish. But, but, couldn't Madame
with a tremor that sounded wofully like
her something good ? Surely every ndicatio n in
her feet wasn't bad. for the palmist had told her
with dark hair and lots of money.
why: my dear" Madame replied. eanse.-
inglv. Il have told you nothing dreadful. Don't
you trouble your pretty head about having
selfish toes, a man never thinks of a woman's
viii m snsrry sP sen nss e IS efSsety e iH feil Ss s Who VIII
think yop the darlingest piece of perfection
be a ,~tootstool for these short toes. and will end
his days happy that these luIury-loving insteps
DO let us be the last. We wish to be tho
last the last two girls from Fifth avenue
chorused as Madame came to them.
Then. ~madamoiselle, let me see your foot"
taking the foot OF the girl who wasn't from
a foot one seldom sees. II YOU had yoae way to
make in the world you would succeed. for these
little lines in the arch OF the instep tell me that
once decided on. This great toe shows tact and
resource. These lines aud crosses on your heel
SHOW talent or no mean sort These separate
toes show ambition. This dimple. thought. This
curve a love Of fun. and this deep, deep line
tails mn \ h kGan oil ir1 ran lr~a NrN
not many SO deeply as your foot would indicate.'
That is very nice" said the next girl, look
Madame; since Mabel wishes TO be the last"
the little rosy toes on her palm, denotes char:
acter and cleverness. You have an ideal foot"
ously toward her. These marks on the bali say
You are somewha afraid OF the world. The
indicate. art. talent, and ambition. The thin.
Grcled instep shows a love OF applause. but
ire Of, the ,ihstep says you are lovely to your
friends and %nnselhsh TO those around YOU"
bent forward listening intently and SCI scrutinizinT
the dainty pink member which was giving 80
good Va a ch Mp = to Us 9% yi.G, ma ,.s,.,.a
TIE foot OF the last girl and was examining IL
Through her lorEnette, have a foot belonging
commonly found as the extremities of the labor
ing class. II is something of which you may bo
proud. This heavy. somewhat high instep.
shows a capacity for continuous effort. These
toes. long and crooked. show hard common
sense and business ability. You would make a
successful merchant, would know how to make
and keep money. In many ways your foot tells
me that you are amiable, painstaking. and to DO
depended upon"
During. this last reading three OF the girls
from Fifth avenue had kept their heads to-
gether in mysterious whisperings. When
Madame arose from her knees they turned
toward her, and one OF them asked:
Madame, YOU never tell your classes of
men about what You see in our feet. do you p
She solemnly assured them that she did not,
and they wAnI their hpvnral VIVA nnnfhnnf THAI
their secrets were safe.