Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1899-11-18
DrurgSey'S Patent Shoes
By Kenneth E. Harris
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nRURGSEY was disappointed in his /
shoes. They had been the pride of
his heart for about a week, for they
were not ordinary shoes, with plain up I
pers. counters and soles and nothing !
more except the laces and eyelet holes.
They were the latest development OF
sanitary science applied TO the doFues'-
tic arts. A savant with a noble brow
and double convex spectacles had de-
voted years of study to the evolving of |
this shoe. At times this savant almost !
despaired of attaining his ideal and |
poverty stared him rudely in heiface. !
His wife would break in on him at |
critical moments during his expert |
ments and tell him that the soap twas
out and the children were crying for
tomato catchup, and things like that
p Then she would speak of the prosperity
of her sisters practical husband John,
who had devoted himself steadily TO
sewer contracts. 1t was In vain that
the savant would plead that he had no
genius for sewer contracts. His wife
was one of those illogical women. New
ertheless he had persevered, and the
hygienic footwear was sprung upon the
NOIlO- Wdn OhS u '~-AS - -
to adopt the invention
The> shoes were SO contrived that a
sort Of ventilation shaft penetrated
their depths, running from the counter
10 the heel and thence along the inseam
to the shank. They had perforated in
sole, with a substratum of India rub
Der, so thatth raising of the footcreat
ed a auction in the ventilating pipe and
drew refreshingly cool streams of cir
into, the shoe, forcing them out again
when the foot was pressed on the
ground. a little circular, with a sec
tional draft decorated with figures al
the angles and. little arrows IN full
flight indicating the direction Of the
air currents, went with every pair 1t
was about as scientific thing alto
.gether. as can be bought for six dollars,
without, taking iRto consideration its
practical utility. Then, it is a form OF
entertainment. When conversation
Jagged Drurgsey could always lift his
left foot on his right knee and say.
with simulated carelessness: Here's
rather an ingenious thing in the way of
"a shoe" and then. proceed to lecture
upon it, He carried rhe circular about
with him minis pocketbook, and it was
nearly worn, out by the time the shoes
began to rip.
They had seemed to be strong shoes
and well sewn. Drurgsey concluded
that the mechanism had been deranged
IN some way. He said. il was his be
lief that the shank had kOuled one OF
the piston valves or that the insean
had expanded and jammed the shaft
Whatever the cause mightsh ave been
there wasan NnsightIy rip that afforded
more ventilation than was necessary
'srn send them around TO Hindman'
and get them fixed" said .Qrurgsey
''They didn't guarantee them to las
week. but ] guess they would hav
done SO if had asked them, AND the.
won't have the nerve to make an.
charge"
st might send Mary with them to tn
cobbler's," suggested his wife.
These aren't shoes to send to a col
bier" said Drurgsey. bitterly. IF ther
was a competent machinist in th
neighborhood / might consider tia
proposition, but it's fifty to one whetl
er this man would know the .ditferenc
between a connecting rod and q cyliI
der cover. The best way will be to sen
them around to the maker, and the
If there are any of the castings mis-
ing they will have them in stock"
He began to lace up the shoes as
spoke.
''Why don't you put on an old pair;
asked Mrs. Drurgsey. ''You must
getting absent-minded. You don't e,
pect them to mend those shoes viii
you wait?'
''Wen. I'll be in the office all the afte
noon. III just send the Office boy rouI
with them and work in my stoelkir
feet. I don't want to carry bund
of old leather downtown and back"
Mrs. Drurgsey said she thought til
would be a good idea. She then TO
her husband to be home in time +
dinner, as the Glovers were coming.
said that he would remember.
That afternoon Drurgsey, unheedi
the protest of his partner, took off
sanitary shoes and gave them to Hem
the Office boy, to take over to the ms
ers. "Ten them that want them
1880 OF five o'clock at the outside"
said. "Say who they are for and
them you'll call for them. And tell thu
that bought those shoes less than
days ago, Seq what they say to tina