Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-08-20
FooTGEAR oF THE JAPANESE.
Kind That Makes the Feet Hard and
the Ankles Strong.

Fro the London Chronicle.
The Japanese shoes, or "geta," as they
are called, are one of the singu1arly distinc-
tive features of Japanese life which will
strike the observer with wonderment as
soon as he sees them looming along the
roadway, or hears them scraping the gravel
with an irritable squeak that makes his
very nerves shudder. Nevertheless, awk-
ward though the shoes appear, they are of
kind constituted to make feet as hard as
sheet iron, and ankles as strong as steel
orders
The shoes are divided into two varieties;
the low shoe is called the "komageta" and
Is only used when the roads are in good
condition. The high shoes. named "ashida,"
are worn when the weather is rainy and the
roads are muddy Both kinds have a thin
thong attached to the surface to secure
them to the feet, which are therefore not
covered as II they were in shoes, but are
left exposed to atmospheric conditions The
komageta" resemble somewhat the Lam
cashire clog. and their construction merely
entails the carving of block of wood to
the proper size. The "ashida" however
are of more complicated design. They have
two thin pieces of wood about three inches
high at right angles to the soles, and occa-
sionaily, IN the case of priests or pilgrims.
only one bar attached
Some of the "geta" worn by little girls
are painted in many colors. and others
have a tiny bell hanging from hollow
place at the back. which, it tinkles in a
mystic way, heralds the approach of chill
dren. The superior makes are covered with
mats. made of panama. The highest price
amounts to about ten yen, or S., while the
cheapest is less than ten sen, or a few
cents; but then the "geta" will not last
longer than month, and once out of re-
pair can never be mended.
Learning to walk on "geta" is an ex-
ceedingly difficult process. Indeed. 1t is far
easier to acquire skating or silt walking
The average child in Japan takes about two
months before being able to move along
on the national foOtgear, and the little ones
repeatedly slip from the wooden blocks,
falling to the ground, which seems to their
miniature imaginations considerable dis
lance beneath them. Although foreigners
usually take with readiness to the customs
of Japan. they are absolutely unable to
manipulate the perilous 'geta."
A curious story is told Of a San Francisco
merchant who was invited to attend fancy
dress ball. He thought it would be quite
the correct thing to attend in Japanese cos
tune. and wrote to friend in Yokohama
to send complete suit Of the costume of a
gentleman of high class. On receipt of the
costume he was immensely surprised at its
extensive variety. He mastered all the in
trtcacies of the flowing robes, but when he
unearthed the "geta" he was completely at
a loss to understand it's use. Having only
just arrived in the country, and not being
over observant, he had omitted to notice
the foot arrangements Of the people. After
much earnest consideration, he was sudden
ly seized with brilliant idea. "Ah." he ex-
claimed, in his desire to extol everything
japanese, this wooden block has got a very
lovely shape. it is very beautifully carved
and artistic. Therefore, 1t must be a kind
of decoration to be worn on the shoulders
like epauletteS And so the merchant
went to the ball with "geta'' on each
shoulder instead of on each foot!
Some parents allow their children to play
barefoot in the streets, but when going out
with their elders or paying visits, it is
sential that every one, from the smallest
to the talest, must mount the wooden clog
and propel themselves in this odd fashion.
The dislike of the Japanese children for the
activity of outdoor games is to be mainly
attributed to the awkward membranes
with which their little feet are loaded. For
instance. one seldom sees Japanese children
gamboling in open play grounds-they have
yet to learn the feverish pleasures of hide
and seek or FOUNDERS while such a
thing as top spinning or foot ball never OBJ
StructS the rOadwayS-
the "geta," which at times are decidedly
useful When host desires that a too at
tentive caller should depart, he induces
somebody to burn moxa, which has q pc
culiar odor, upon his shoes, which are out
side the door. The guest will Immediately
take the hint and simultaneously his leave.
When a thong of 'geta Is accidentally
severed on the return from the visit to a
sick person a firm belief exists that the pa
dearly love the "geta," and although civili-
cation may teach them to win battles It
will never induce them to wear leather
boots.