Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1900-09-18
NEGLECTED SLAVES.

Overworked and tired feet are Z
source Of INFINITE misery. Probably
every woman who does even part Of bel
work, and every house servant approach.
ing middle age, suffer more or less from
this cause. There IL no part Of the
human body so generally neglected %
almost everyone, not excepting the hair
and teeth, which better repay intelligen,
care.
We are not so much wiser than oui
forebears as we are apt 70 imagine
When the ancients anointed their feet
with oil, after long journeys, they knew
what they were about. In the German
army, that military model for all the
world, especial attention IL paid to the
feet of the men. Every private must
bsthe his feet once day and grease
them thoroughly, rubbing the ointment
well into the flesh and msssaging the
soles to keep them soft and flexible. II
the women who uncomplainIngly suffer
such tortures would do likewise, much,
II not all, Of their suffering might be
avoided.
Continual standing strains every
muscle, and causes far more fatigue thar
walking. Nothing rests and relieves thli
fatigue like soaking In warm water u
which little salt has been added, aud
rubbing with q coarse towel until tht
feet are in healthy glow.
Corns and callouses rarely TALL to yield
to continued course Of vaseline well
rubbed In every night before going to
bed. Persistent application for two OF
three weeks Is usually sufficient TO effect
n cure, except In most stubborn cases
II the corn IL too tender to bear handling
put the vaseline on In q dab and wrap
first with absorbent cotton, then band
Rge, to keep IL on.
For an ingrowin nail take . wooden
toothpick and gently push bit OF white
wool under the corner Of the nall, be
tween Ii and the flesh. II there IL In
fismmstion, use vxseline on the wool
Then trim the nail inward from the cor.
ners as deep in the centre a. you can
using very sharp pair Of scissors FOL
the purpose. This treatment makes the
nail grow away from the edges, Ia order
to oil up the cavity, and thus puts IN
end to the ingrowlng process. 1t will
auu kLCabiy w tuC CO0kOIb Va yO0t 4COt
II you keep the skin pushed away at The
base Of the toe-nail In the same manner
which fashion prescribes In manicuring
Shoes which are too loose are almost
as bad as those which are too tight, and
stockings should 1t smoothly. Apropoi
OF stockings, II can here be said that
mothers may save themselves great
amount of darning BY making heel-pro.
tectors Of Canton flannel, shaped like the
heel Of stocking or an old-fashloned
baby-cap. with crown rounded ut the
top, and straight band. The heel-pro-
tectors are to be worn over the stocking,
between It and the heel Of the shoe.
when you select pair OF shoes, try
on both Of them, and make sure that you
can stand and step comfortably, as well
a. move your toes In them, before CON-
plesing the purchase. NQer buy shoes
which bind your feet across the instep,
nor those which are too short for you.
Fortunately common sense 10 ct last A.
sertipg itself with regard 70 the sfse OF
the feet; no longer ID their beauty, e.
pecially the beauty Of feminine feet, con-
sldered to be In proportion TO their
smallness. Modern art has gone back 70
the wisdom Of the ancient Greeks and
Romans, and demands that the size Of
the foot shall be proportional TO the
size Of the body which It's TO support.
Shoes for growing children should
allow for growth. The best authorities
allow half q size increase every six
months ~ IN average, which may Be- less
or more, according 70 the rapidity Of
growth. Great care, should, Of course,
30 exercised In buying shoes for adults,
bat care ID even more necessary In pur-
chasing them for children, for though
an ill-shaped or ill-ftting shoe can do
much damage to matured foot, Il can
not do nearly % much q u can 70 the
one which Il growing. Carelessly %
lected shoes may cause permanent Injury
and hfslong pain.-Woman's Home
Companion.