Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1901-12-24
HOMEMAKERS COLUMN.
uorrespondence on topics Of interest % The ladlo
IL solicited. Address: Editor HO1xeAKkks
CoLU1N. Oxford Democrat, Paris. Maine.
THE CARE OF SHOES.

THE CARE OF SHOES.
In winter, shoes appear to wear out
with astonishing speed, and where the
purchase of new ones is matter OF
moment to a slender purse, the knowl-
edge Of how to care for footgear becomes
valuable.
It is essential, In snowy or very wet
weather, that the leather should not be
wax mixed forms q very good grease
ball for rendering the leather waterproof:
The raw suet is shredded, with an equal
part lof shredded beeswax, into jam
Dot, which Is kept surrounded by boil
ing water until its contents are melted.
When it is nearly cool, the waxy stuff Is
moulded by hand into balls and kept in
the blacking box. On going out in the
snow, ball Is rubbed over the soles and
welts of the shoes as we'll as all over the
uppers. Soles and heels treated thus In
muddy weather will not take the mud.
Creased thus, shoes are difficult to
clean in the ordinary way, when a fine
day, guiltless of snow, mud, or wet ar
rives, and shining gear is needed in place
of dull footwear. Yet there need be but
little difficulty if fine ashes are applied
literally. These take off all surplus
grease, and the boot must be next brush
ed quite free of ash dust, after which
the usual backing and polishing may be
given.
New shoes are other sinners, at first,
in the matter of shining. +. They often
refuse to take any polish. A cut lemon
or an orange-quarter, or the skin OF q
banana, will remedy the deficiency.
The acid juice makes a combination with
the surface of the leather that enables 1t
to take the backing we'll and to shine
with extra brilliance after brushing.
To get fine polish on ordinary house
shoes, sugar and vinegar may be mixed
with the backing. The sugar is a form
of carbon, and carbon is also contained
in the lampblack, which is the main
portion of backing; in fact, lampblack
is pure carbon or coal. And carbon is
the diamond also. 1t is supposed that
the electricity produced by the friction
of the polishing brush acts chemically
on all this carbon spread over the leath-
er, and crystallizes it in some way so as
to produce an abundance of minute
atoms of diamonds. To this is due the
shining appearance known as polish.
If, unfortunately, pair of shoes is
caught in the snow or wet, being un:
protected by the grease-ball, it will
never do to set them away to dry as they
are. If SO, the leather will stiffen and
spoil; the shape, too, will be lost. The
wet shoes must be laced or buttoned up
over stuffing of tissue paper, which
will keep them in shape while absorbing
all the moisture. Some people keep a
bag of bran for the same purpose. A
bag will last all the winter. 1t is set in
the oven to get warm through, then is
poured into the boots and shoes. Wheat
or oats serve the same purpose again
The grains are put in quite hot, and they
speedily take in all moisture leaving the
leather supple. A warm, not hot
place, should contain the shoes until
they are quite dry. A good rubbing
with paraffine over uppers and soles alike
will soon soften the outside leather.
Vaseline, a purified product Of paraffine
is perhaps the best form in which to use
this softening agent. If neither Of these
should be handy, then castor oil may be
nsed instead. Some people use castor
oil or olive oil in place of suet for rem
dering leather water-tight.
Squeaking shoes are unpleasant tt
wear. If the soles are soaked in oil they
will lose this disagreeable tendency
Cheap shoes err most in this matter
also large ones are given to emitting thu
sounds.
Pipe-clay cleans white leather shoes
spirits of wine restores satin ones; cream
and egg-white for kids; harness polisl