Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1897-11-04
CARE Or THE FEET.
Directions for Reducing Their Swoi-
len Condition and Pain.


len Condition and Pain.
1t is a never-ending source Of wonder
! that so very few women understand the
proper care Of the feet. They would be
shocked beyond words if told that their
feet were entirely neglected, but such is
the case. How very few women would
feel perfectly at ease if they were sud-
denly asked to remove their stockings.
For cleanliness is not everything, and if
the feet are neglected the nails get out
Of shape and order, and the skin is not
as smooth and white as nature intended
it should be.
Then, again, feet are tortured into
footwear that are a size TOO small, that
fits in no particular, that presses on the
flesh and causes corns, and, above all,
that makes US limp and waddle like so
many ducks. Why women will persist
in wearing hideously high heels no per-
son in the world besides themselves
could say. Not only does it throw the
whole weight Of the body forward on to
the toes, causing very painful disor-
der, but it throws all the important in
ternal organs out of place and very
terrible troubles and premature death
arc frequently the result. Besides
which it is very ugly, and causes smile
TO arise on seeing large lady lettering
Ia Chinese on tiny heels far too slender
to bear her.
People are much mistaken in think
ing that high heels make the foot look
smaller. AS a matter of fact they make
it look far larger, as it is compressed
into an ugly fat mass that swells out
over the top of the slipper in anything
but a graceful manner.
To put the foot in well-ftting shoe
OF the size that properly belongs to it
and to wear low heels is the best way
to preserve the foot in perfect health,
and let me gently whisper that nothing
50 soon brings redness to the tip of the
nose as tight shoes.
IL you have long, narrow foot, or a
fat one, you must have your shoes and
boots made expressly for you, as ready
made boots never take into considera-
ton anything out of the common as re-
CARDS the formation of the foot. If you
have flat foot do not wear too arched
instep; if your foot is very arched, see
that your shoe is made to fit it.
II you wish the foot to appear small
by perfectly natural means, always
wear black kid or satin. A white shoe
makes Il foot look large and very wide
and should never be worn except where
the foot is faultless in shape and very
small to look at. IF the shoes are darker
in color than the dress, the feet will ap-
pear to much more advantage.
You should always have your shoes
cased for you before wearing them, and
be careful never to take long walks
when wearing a new pair. Very grave
trouble is often the result Of walking in
shoes that are stiff to the feet. [ have
known severe lameness to ensue, and
very great pain is the inevitable result.
If you wish to preserve the proper
shape Of the foot, never walk about the
house in loose old slippers. They may
perhaps be comfortab BILE, but they will
entirely ruin the shape, and all elegance
will be lost sight of if this untidy course
is persisted in.
II seems StpeFHuOuS 10 say that the
feet should be well washed twice day.
Tepid water should be used, and the
heels, toes and soles should be daily
rubbed with pumice stone or pumice
powder. This will entirely prevent all
thickening Of the skin, which is so I'M
pleasant.
The feet must not be soaked in the
water, but only kept in long enough to
wash them. Too hot water and keeping
the feet too long in it will make the
skin very tender, and cause various
troubles if you are at all delicate.
To keep the flesh in good, healthy con-
dition, rub a little salt on the soles
when still wet. This viii not only
strengthen them, but keep them from
catching cold. If lime flowers, tincture
of benzoin or few drops of ammonia is
put in the water the feet are washed in,
it will rest and sothe them very much.
Salt and water dashed over the feet will
strengthen them.-PhiladeIph Times.