The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1896-01-01

lAWAA 49,
SHOES FOR WOMEN.
A New Mode That is Comfortable
stylish and Warm = Carriage
Shoes.
Eva Petty in New York Sun.
"Here it is the first of December
and the shoe season is just getting a
start" said the manager of leading
shoe house to q customer as he measur-
ed her for pair Of shoes.
"Why, how's that?" she asked.
"Has your business been dull? /
thought people always had to wear
shoes.n
$50 they do,n was the reply .'but
the unusually warm weather has kept
them from buying their winter boots
and shoes. Late falls are very bad for
the shoe trade. People have been
clinging to their summer footwear,
but this cold snap has sent them fly
ing to the shoe houses, and all OF the
managers report that business is thriv-
ing. Now, what shoes do you wish to
order"
"Well," said the customer with q
laugh, "I'm going to leave that to you.
You see, pve been telling the shoe
men what was the correct thing and
now Pm going to turn over new leaf
and let them give me the benefit OF
their superior experience and knowl-
edge. Ny shoes haven't been very
satisfactory for the last two years,
though I always have them made to
order and pay good prices for them,
and /, find that each time when I've
gone against the advice of the, shoe
man I've suffered in consequence. j
used to tell my dentist how to fill my
teeth, Wasn't that nonsensical 1t
wasn't any more foolish than to try to
tell man who has spent the best
years of his life how shoes should be
made and what material should be
used. Now, I'll tell you what / want
the shoes for, and You can tell me
what kind will serve me best. I walk
ten miles every day, no matter what
the weather is, and / want these shoes
to walk In" Z . ~
The manager was evidently pleased
to find one woman who realized that
he knew more about his business than
she did, and he answered quickly.
"Then by all means have 8 cushion
shoe made. tits the very thing for
your purpose and meets all the re-
quirements Of rigorous climate.
For many years shoes have been made
for women that are both dry and
warm, but they were clumsy and I'M
slightly. Do you see anything bad
looking about this ?" he asked, hold
ing up boot constructed on a fashion
able last. 1t was made of French kid,
had heel only an inch high and was
fastened with laces.
"That Is nobby looking If the soles
are thick, !" she answered. What are
its aGvantages?" M
SIN the first place, 1t lacks none of
the grace and elegance of the ordinary
shoes, such as you have on, which
endangers q woman's health every
time she wears them out on cold raw
day. 4,
One Of the most famous doctors in
this city told me that cold ankles caus-
ed more women to die than broken
hearts, and that manufacturers ought
to invent shoe that would remedy
this. This shoe has done it, and wo-
men are taking to 1t right along.
Every factory that turns 1t out and
every house that sells 1t reports the
same thing. The soles are flexible
and at the same time waterproof, keep
ing the foot dry and warm. It can be
made in calfskin or French kid, and
some like them In cloth top with an
enamelIed vamp."
"Must get q buttoned or laced
boot, and what material would wear
best ?" asked the customer. <
"Calfskin wears well, but the
French kid wears q great deal better
and looks much handsomer. I notice
you run your heels down little, 80 !
advise you to get laced boot. People
with weak ankles run down their
heels and should never wear button
boots, and they should be very careful
in obtaining q fit 10 see that the boots
are snug from the instep to thecou nter.
The counter is that stiff part at the
back Of the shoe. Weak ankles re-
quire stiff counters and low heels. II
there is any play In the instep the
ankle turns in walking and the heel
runs down on one side. II the shoe Is
laced the wearer can draw 1t together
tightly and 1t supports the ankle.
Persons who run down their heels
should always have star plates, which
are made Of iron, or q half circle of
iron nails fastened on the edge of their
heeles. The steel nails really wear
much better than the iron, but they
are dangerous. as they are apt to cause
one to clip. Wearing shoes with run
down heels make the feet tender, and
ruins their shape"
"Why in the world do the soles of
my boots wear off at the toes almost
as soon as I get them ?" was the next
question. ~ have dozen pairs and
each one of them looks as If mice had
nibbled off the toes"
"That's what every woman who
comes in here says" was the laugh
ing response, land its easily explain
ed. Shoe men never heard that COM
plant up to two years ago, but as soon
as the pointed toes came into style wo-
men began to complain. The toes are
80 narrow that they strike whatever
comes in their way first, and begin to
there is such tiny piece Of leather to
wear, whereas If the toe Of the boot is