Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1896-04-14
A FOOT SOCIAL.

Around the Ramapo Mountains here
they never heard of Du Maurier and
Trilby, but they do know feet. They
had "foot social" last week, which
cast into the shade any entertainment
which has been given there for months.
The young persons who compose
the Epworth League determined to do
something to pay off the deficit in the
salary of the pastor of the Methodist
church, who was about to be assigned
by the conference to another field of
usefulness. Something new and start
ling was needed, and Mrs. Moore said
the latest thing out was feet. All the
young women stayed after the regular
meeting of the league Sunday or so
ago and talked about Mrs. Moore's
scheme, and the result was that they
al clapped their hands and said
Let's
The youth and flower of Sufern and
many from the villages which nestle
around the base of the Ramapo Noun
tains met Tor the sociable in the lecture
room of the Methodist Church. The
| preacher was there, so were Mrs.
Moore, who is a school teacher, and
many matrons of the church. A cur
tain was placed at the rear of the ball,
and from behind it came the most musi-
cal gigglings and gurglings and shut
filings.
c. G. Wiley, superintendent of the
Sunday school, who presided, an
nourced that he would have an auc'
ton. The young women were to thrust
their shapely right feet out from under
the curtain, which would be raised just
trife, and the young men were to bid
| for them. The ones who made the
highest offer were to have the honor of
escorting the fair possessor of the feet
to supper.
A city fellow from Paterson was
there, and he leaned over to the girl in
pink silk waist and said: "You have
read 'Trilby,' and, before she could
deny the charge, ne began to tell every.
body about the required length OF sec
ond toes and the requisite proportion
of ankles. You see, he was from Pater-
son, and wasn't acquainted with the
Sufern proprieties.
a look of disappointment and grief
| fitted across his features when the cur
tain was lifted just little aud he saw
the patent leather tip of shapely boot.
'iShe's got shoes on ~ he gasped, and
the young woman who hadn't heard of
Trilby looked at him aghast.
From his point of view it was dis
play of footwear, for all the contestants
! o,n,o cboa- opfI thara uo- oply ono rair
of Oxford ties in the number. Each fair
Young woman took her turn in thrust
ing her right foot under the curtain.
Opinions differ as to the height the cur
tain was raised. Mrs. Moore said
she could see only the patent leather
tips of the shoes. One of Suflern's gild-
ed youths exclaimed:
"Shucks Mrs. Moore warn't lookin'
on. She warn't up as clost to the cur
tain as ! was. 1 couldn't get no closer"
The consensus OF opinion is that the
ankles were plainly visible.
1t was triumph of pedal symmetry
and the shoemaker's art. There were
| kid shoes with patent leather tips, calf
skin shoes, and dainty shoes partly cov-
cred with bows OF blue ribbon. And
there was the dainty foot in the Oxford
tie with silver buckle, and it had
black yarn above it, woven around
dainty white clocks.
The youth saw the graceful ankle,
and spirited bidding ensued. Even
the young man from Paterson, who
had been to New York several times,
took a languid interest in the proceed
ines and made bid of % cents. Sew
eral of the Suffern plungers joined in
the bidding, and the foot in the Oxford
tie with the supernumerary silver
buckle sold for 40 cents. A maiden
"suffused as to her ears" with bushes
emerged from behind the curtain and a
very happy young man claimed her
and declared mis- earnest purpose OF TAX
ing her to supper.
a foot which, it is said, suggested
ferry boats rather than fairy boots,
emerged from cover. Perhaps the
ankle was rather thick. The boy in
the salt and pepper suit had no busi-
ness saying so ifit was.
''One cent" yelled youth from the
Ramapian hills.
1.-Two cents" said the Paterson celeb
rity, and then there was assileuce.
1.-TWO cents-cents. Coin at two
cents" yelled the auctioneer. "All
done?"
yep" sighed one of the gilded.
Something gave that curtain a vigor-
Gus kick, we'll developed foot was
withdrawn from view and lady could
be heard saying things on the other
side of the sheet of cotton.
And after that the attention of the
company was drawn to curious cir
cumstance. a shapeIy foot emerged
and two young men made frantic
dash forward and began to bid, just as
though they knew whose foot it was.
Anuncharitable young woman said that
! dnck of foot was turned pigeon wise,
so the owners two devoted admirers
might by that sign know whose foot it
was and bid accordingly. The one who
bid the most would show the greatest
devotion. A..
"By jimmy spruce" said one OF the
| LIIill hlou, avarV cent I'VE