The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-04-19

so 1t takes you the best part OF a da
to buy a pair OF shoes. and while you ma
not feel that you can afford this you &c
to learn the shoe business by observin,
the way things are done, and you also hav,
an opportunity to study women when the,
buy their shoes-and they are even a bi
funnier when they buy shoes than wher
purchasing hats.
women always dress their feet for the
occasion when they go to buy shoes. just as
they do when they go TO the chiropodist's
lhey don silk stocking or Isle gauze OF
els, a lacy eject over the ankle and instep.
A sup cial observer might think this
was to Imp ess the salesman, but IL is not
, 1t is rather TO get the best effect Of the shoe
! low shoe will look very different with a
neat decorative effect in openwork or silk:
! and before a woman buys a shoe she looks
al 1t from every point Of view and twists
her ankles into all sorts Of shapes trying
10 get the leather TO wrinkle SO she NAV
demand another pair from the salesman.
There are little mirrors next the floor
IN tine sample shoe shop as in all good shoe
shops and after tine shoe is laced or but
toned on the purchaser stands before the
mirror with her skirt raised from the floor
and examines the outline Of the new shoe.
"A woman buying shoes is real and earnest
All her frivoliIy departs from her and she
becomes serious and thoughtful. She
may he purchasing something with a sky
scraping heel and a buckle suggesting
comic opera, but her face never relaxes
iiOui It's StfiiTtNS as riit tAdUllIles u.
There are certain women who will al
ways wear FpEch heels On their street
shoes. just as some women will wear low
cut sh as through the winter. They get
an idea that tn, ir feet lock better so, and
thy let good taste and goo d hi alth 60 by
the board and persist in their fads
All women are more or ] SIS vain Of their
feet, but some women are inordinat, ly so
A woman who has been told that she has
pretty feet will pose than at all pos ibe
M n raj vtll call
tartion to them in various ways She |
will always b. p 'rfectly shod also.
-One OF the reasons why the ankle-length |
skirt became so popular was that II allowed |
will see any number Of women who wear
high Louis-heeled boots with walking |
skirts.
You can zee them all at the sample shoe
shop sitting with one shoe Of ard enc thee
on. waiting for the salesman 10 &C me bsok I
with something they don't want. But
you can always pick out the sort Of shoe
that certain sorts r. women will buy.
'Soubrcttish little girls with Jig penn
p1dours want the highest heel they can
with gl,sses will call for an snams IL cd
boot, mans last, and seem to rlory in the
uncomprc misitg severity d their shoes.
Old ladies' CT II fer gaittrs end We mtn with
babies in tn, If arms will bc fitted with gor-
yeous patent leather shc cs fiji for carriages.
In reality the sample shoe habit Is an ex-
pensive one, for il wears on time and nerves
unless you manage to get some fun out
)f it. The most Interesting thing about
he sample shoe shop is the fact that you
will see more queer shapes and styles In
shoes In an afternoon than you could at
my museum.
Il once bought pair OF russell shoes
n the sample shoe shop for $3.50. They
pore on the insole the name Of a famous
maker. whose charge for such pair of boots
would be ss-more II made to order
They We're worn occasionally for nearly
year without In the least showing any
violence OF becoming pliable, as a shoe
loes when 1t loses its first stiffness The
oles remained firm. the uppers stretched I
lot a bit. No matter how many lasts or !
rees were tried on them these shoes re-
NAMED the same.
Then they were worn in storms and on
vet days, but they refused TO show any
igns Of wear. They simply wouldn't I
i've, and they remained as uncomfortable
; such a shoe always IL.
Years passed by. summers changed to
'inter and winters blossomed into spring, (
ut the shoes still kept their excellent shape {
nd their wonderful rich russell color that
ad withstood SHOWS and rain and mud
hat would have ruined another pair. O
III there was a mountain TO climb or a G
avs skating or trudge over sandy roads a
r rocky pathways. these everlasting shoes 4
ERE brought out and worn, but they never o
ave in. About the sixth year they began ! 4
, timber up and show signs Of wear such as u
rdinary shoes show In few months. 4
They were certainly remarkable samples "
endurance and good looks, but they
ere never comfortable, and they must 4
ave been made from the hide Of some !,
oov. d