Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1897-12-10
OUR BOOTS AND SHOES.
PRACTICAL HINTS ABOUT The WEAR
AND CARE or FooTcEAR

fliablr Aft-r Being soaked hN water
Removing Dust from tie Leather
To he neatly shod, SAYS Dora VI.
Morrell in the New York Ledger, Is
one characteristic Of the gentlewoman,
and this depends more upon the care
of footgear than upon expense. She
who buys cheap shoe ar boot and
gives II the attention It should have
will find herself better dressed rs to
her feet than is her sister who pays
treble rs much. bat takes no care OF
what she has. often the shoe man
receives blame which is not his due,
because his goods have worn badly.
Neglect will make the best of leather
prove unsatisfactory.
Every woman should have three
pairs, at least. of foot coverings. There
should he the old pair, to serve under
rubbers or overShoes m rainy weather;
! the trim pair, for street wear on pleas
ant days and pair Tor housewear.
/ TO these others may he adyantageously
added, but are not absolutely neces-
sary. except to the woman who goes
| to many parties.
In buying boots or shoes examine
| the seams for breaks. The scanned
back with stay and the worked button
| holes add strength enough to the boot
| to make it worth while to pay the diff
/ ference in price. All shoe stores i'll
large cities have sales twice II year,
and then is the time to buy the year
supply, for these goods are in no sense
damaged. Indeed, they wear rather
better as the leather has become
thoroughly seasoned, and they sell at
much less than the original price. The
difference in the styles and those
which come in is so slight that it is no
! disadvantage to the ordinary buyer,
/ though it is to dealer
1t is an economy to have two pairs
of shoes for business and wear them
/ in alienation. BY doing this the
/ boot keeps fresh and bears no odor of
/ perSpiration, which does not have a
chance to rot the leather, The per
! spiration of the feet is one of the most
destructive agencies with which boots
! rOAtend.
When one removes the boots he or
she should wipe them free from dust,
being very careful about the seams
and the joining OF sole to upper A
soft rag, dipped in oil or yaseline, will
! clean the leather well and also make
it soft. Oil is very beneficial to kid
and leather and should be applied to
black shoes every month. \ shoe
should have thorough rubbing with
oil before it is worn at all. \ shoe
thus protected will wear much longer
than one not given an oil bath
If buttons are off boot. it will lose
its shape and wear unevenly on the
sole and heels Buttons off boot is
the sign of slattern. 1t isuot IA wise
plan to set buttons from the place
where they were first, as the fit OF the
boot depends upon the position of the
buttons. A wider last should be
chosen, and the choice will give a
prettier foot and better-wearing
shoe.
When one has been caught in a
shower and a pair of shoes soak ed
through and through remain to be
treated, the stiff, damaged leather may
be made pliable by soaking in kero.
sene, in milk, or by stuiiing the boot,
with oats The first will improve the
leather in texture and appearance, the
second will soften, but not improve
the color. Ladies dressing, as &
rule, does shoes no good, except il
shine and color, and often cracking ot
the leather, Vaseline or oil, applied
with a wooden rag, will keep the
leather black and soft, and improve
its wearing qualities.
When new boot hurts the foot rul
the part affected with vaseline i'll gen
crous quantity, putting it on the
stocking 1t will not leave a greasy
place, but will be absorbed by the
leather Just where the foot needs the
softness. This is the best way pos
sible to make a stiff, hard shoe easy to
the foot.
When shoes are removed, after be-
ing busted, buttons sewed ON that are
missing, or fresh ties put in, they
should be stood up neatly, with but
tons fastened to hold them in shape,
and put in current of fresh air.
Shoes flung in corner will soon lose
their form. Those which are worn
only occasionally should be stuffed
with paper until they are in trim, and
then stood away in pairs.
Vaseline must not be used on any
boot but black, as it will change the
color in spots. If a shoe is soaked il
kerosene or other oil, it will deepen
its color, but evenly throughout Ooze
kid must not be treated with oily sub.
stances, but it is possible to clean the
delicate and white shades with ben.
zine bath. To do this use the benzine
Tor gasoline, which is equally gooG
and cheaper) freely, and ont Of doors
Use one bath for washing then
and another for rinsing They viii
look like new. Unless the fluid is
used literally the articles will be il
streaks, 1t will require half a gallon
for pair, but that amount will an
swer for two pairs.
Care of ones shoes is an economy
which pays i'll money, and much NOR,
i'll satisfaction, and will save the selle-
from the charge of selling poor goods
for which he gets blame more Otter
than ne deserves.