The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1896-04-17
SHOES FROM THE MAYFLoWER.
Foctgear of a Colonial Dame of 48(

r OCCS0ar Oh n COlOnl6A Dam0 OF $50
Years Ago.
Mrs. Eliza A. Brown of Brownsville,
Me-, has in her possession a pair of
This particular pair of shoes was made
at Chatham, London, in 1417, by John
Hose, whose trademark can still be OBJ
served. Mrs. Brown inherited the shoes
from her mother, Mrs. Lydia Gilman of
Acton, Me.
Mrs. Gilman had her choice between
two pairs, the only authentic relics of
this nature of the famous Puritan expe-
dition. They are of green brocade satin
with buckles, and tie over the instep
The heels are made of cork and are
very light. Between the so1es and up
pers there is a piping Of white kid. The
stitching, which is visible, is done as
neatly and exactly as in any speciment
of latter-day machine work.
The shoes are an interesting example
of the rotation of fashions. Although
style of the fashionable indoor woman's
shoe for 1896. The toes are of the
toothpick variety. as pointed as they can
be, and turned up a little The ancient
shoes seem to be broader at the ball of
the foot than is the vogue today. The
uppers are of a curious looking green bro
cade satin the color of which has not
This rare old pair of shoes could be
worn by a fashionable New York woman
today without exciting any comment.
G.u,ne Belts
3. NJ. Gunston of Oswego, n Y, con-
tributes the following to the Scientific
American:
In the Scientific American Of February
!, 1896, is an article on "Glue Joints
in Belts" l heartily agree with your
correspondent in regard to rivets being
nuisance and of no use whatever in a
properly glued belt. l have glued great
many belts for the last thirteen years,
and, to my mind. it is the only proper
way to join belt In the room that I
have charge of there are eighteen ma
chimes Woodworking, and for the past
or used a single hide of string leather
and but few papers of belt hooks.
We keep three or four belts of differ
ent widths to hook on, if a belt breaks
on machine that cannot be spared long
enough for glue to dry, and then about
night glue on the belt that belongs on
and let it dry over night, and it is ready
to use in the morning. If we wish to
take up or tighten a belt. we do it just
before night and let it dry over night.
n good quality of common glue is just
as good as any cement you can make,
and, if properly done. will last for
months, and sometimes many years. and
can hardly be got apart to tighten. |
have used them on tenoning machines
where hooks or string lacing would not
last but few days, but the glue joint
would wear several months.
Our modus Operandi is this: Allow
about eight inches for lap, smooth with a
plane each end. or scarf off with a scrap
er until the lap would be the same thick
ness as the rest of belt and then roughen
the surface with an old saw. or some
similar tool, so the glue will take hold
of the fiber or grain of the leather; then
take piece of board two feet long with
straight edge, and nail each end of belt
to board nails near the end of board, so
that lap comes about the middle and
edge of belt or straight edge of board,
to keep the belt straight. Put a piece
of paper between board and belt to keep
belt from sticking to board by surplus
glue. Apply thin hot glue (well cookeD
to both surfaces that come together and
be quick about it. so glue won't get cold,
rubbing and pounding out all surplus glue
until we'll stuck down. and let stand I'M
til morning. Then take it off board and
trim, and it is ready for Use.
If a belt is greasy, take ammonia wa
ter and rub lap with that and let it dry
before gluing. A belt put together this
way will run smooth and draw steady
and does not pound out the Babbitt
boxes as lacing and hooking does. and,
under all ordinary usage. will last longer
than any other joint l know of.
or at my house. L have taken it for
I,nsr fvv-n nOy