The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-02-03

women { in the French settlements IN
Northern Maine in great numbers ana
retail in the :tores at 10 cents a pair. Il
the amount of wooilena ga IN i VI gu ~ =
were employed in making factory-h !. i
stockings such as are sold in the clties.s
the quantity in each legsin would ma Re
dozen pair. With his lesgins on. anu
his noccasins, shoepa cts; or larrlsaiis
over them the woodman cares nor ~"
deep the snow may be. 5 VtreT.l II sets wv
deep fo- walking he gets out his sno"snoSs,
and on these Skins the surface OF tie
white covering of earth as easily Do 4
rabbit.
MOOSEHIDE SCARCE.
Owing to the restrictions fhat hafe
been placed on the hunting OF moose
z there are not SO many Inoosehlde mecca
sins to be seen in Name now as IN Years
past, when moose were hunted bE the
Oitftown Indans and others for their
hides. All til0 moosellides secured now III
g. season in. Maine would not cut :.eco
pair: OF noccasi:rs il each was used AS
most of the hides taken by sportsmen
arc sent out of the Sta.e. it will be seen
that the SUPPLY for ,rlcccasin leather is
small at the best This makes the leather
the more IsrizsG.
There are but three shops outside of
Bangor where u ebusiTess is made OF tho
manufacture of moccasins. Ihey are all
in the region around the west branch OF
tire Fenobscot below Twin Lakes. In
these shops. which are small PAGES. two
c. three men are employed to make moe
cas,rs for suartsmen and lumbsrnen. The
supply Cf nlGosehiGe being small. Elost
OF the moccasi:s are made Of ''Eeat.s;
hide, and sewed With deer skin. cut into
st-ings..
The process of preparing tie deer hide
for swiDS the mcccasins Is an interest,
-.
raw hide" and cut into strips
while wcc. These strips are strung OIL
nails and allowed 10 dry. They are then
transparent but stiff. Raforc using they
are placed in 2 Bottle with both ends
CUT ana; the bottle is filiel with wate".
After soaking for some time they become
perfectly pia6!c. wiliic the ENDS remain
hard These ends are shaped when the
strips. Oh. strings. as they are now, are
needed for sewing. and form needles to
sew with.
Cutting a moccasin is a simple affair
There are but two patterns. one for the
sole, which is also tho sides after being
shaped, and the ether for the top sides
The relative size of the pattern for these
two pieces is about seven to one. NO last
is used in making a moccasn. the toe
is gathered Up around the small top piece
and cr;nped. stitch 10y stitch, special
entire toe of u shoe has been made
stc!: with ii round end is introduced. and
the toe is further shaped by pounding.
The heel is then closed up. and small
ear IS left st the bottom by cutting from
The heei Itself . short strip. that is used
for pulling The mOccasin on. When thus
shaped the shoe is complete. except for
the string, which is introduced through
holes in the top made with q punch. This
fri, n,,n fI,, ton nj
drawing II around tho foot. and As tied
over the instep When properly tied
mOccaSin cannot slip Off
GLOVE FINISH.
Tho majority of moosehidc moccasns
made in Maine now are for summer wear
in dry weather, or for use as slippers in
the house. They are soft tanned with 4
glove finish. The tanning is done in New
Hampshire. all the skins used in Maine
being sent there to be cured. The outer
surface is buffcd and colorcd like buck
skin. Moccasns made from this are very
warm. As a summer shoe in the woods
they are well nigh perfect.
When shod with moccasins the hunter
can feel every twig he steps on, and If he
is tracking deer of moose ne makes no
more noise than if lbarefooted. Should he
step/on a twig he raise his foot be-
ford it breaks and thus prevent its snap
pinA In still hunting this is very i'm
portrait. as the snap of a twiS will APP
prise game in tho neiShborhood of the
hunter as effcctually as the discharge of
{. gun. The guide who takes you into the
woods sums up the argument for the
moccasin as follows:
"These dude hunters come down here
in what they call a hunting costume.
and they don't get nothing. They wear
shoes with nails in 'em and soles as thick
&c land they have what thew