Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1899-11-21
AS rr's DONE I'M AMERICA.
London to Adopt Cur Way of Having
Shoes Shined


a very simple custom which is
threatened with speedy extinction is
shoeblacking in the streets Of London.
Hitherto, and even to-day, everyone
who wants to have his boots BACKED
in London streets must perforce stand
up what time the red -iacketed iuchin
who, having rot customer through
his shrill cries of "Shine yer boots,
sir?" operates on the dusty or muddy
footgcar. But why should one stand
when seats have been invented, and
why should one be jostled hy passers-
by when such things as shops exist?
When you come to think oft, there is
more reason in having your boots
BACKED coram populo than in being
shaved or having your trousers button
sewed on in the public streets. This
extraordinary discovery has already
been made abroad. and in France.
Spain, Italy and other continental
countries one walks into little open
room, seats ones self down en- 9 com
Portable chair. md, while enjoying
cigarette and a peep at the morning
or evening paper. ones boots or shoes
are polished with perfect comfort to
the wearer. Our cousins across The
Atlantic have also discovered and for
years enjoyed this luxurious and de-
cent manner Of having their boots
BACKED, and now we learn that they
are going to be so good as to confer
both upon us more old fashicnedfolk
in England
The American system Of hootblack-
ing is practically what we have de-
scribed above; but, as it will soon be
in active operation in London, to be
followed doubtlessly by the more en-
terprising provincial towns, it may
not be amiss to give a more detailed
description of the American system.
First of all, then, the boot cleaning is
not done out of doors, but in an APP
propriately-ftted room, where one is
not subject to the jostling Of the
passer-by nor the rude stare of the
vulgar crowd-a thing which will be
much appreciated by those of a retir-
ing or nervous disposition. Secondly,
you are seated in a comfortable chair
instead of being somewhat unsteadi-
ly balanced on one leg while the shoe
on the other is being polished. On
either side of the chair is an inclined
footrest upon which, of course, the
feet are firmly planted during the OPP
Grafton of cleaning. We presume that
smoking will not be prohibited, and,
as newspapers will be provided free,
reading can be INDUCED mall the
time" as our cousins would say. Thus
the annoyance of having ones boots
BACKED in busy street will be
TUNED into the enjoyment Of five
minutes rest, "far from the madding
crowd"
But this is not all. If what we
hear proves true, the system of polish
ing will be altogether as new and as
beneficial as the chair itself. Hither-
to but little attention has been paid
to the proper removal of old coating
of backing or of accumulated dirt on
the boots. Now all is to be altered, |
the shoes will first be scraped Of all |
such accumulations, then they will be |
sponged and dried before the new coat |
of backing or polish be applied.
When all is done a final artistic touch |
is given with specially prepared
cloth, Thus it will be seen that the |
new system-at least new to England |
has much to commend it; indeed, |
its advantages are so obvious that the |
only wonder is why on earth it was
never thought of before!-St. James
Budget
THE ONE-LAUGH PIECE.