Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1904-07-08
JAPANESE FOOTCEAR.
Kind That Makes the Feet Hard
and Ankles Strong.
SHOES ARE OF TWO VARIETIES.
The Low Kind II Called 'sKomsgeta"
and the High "Ashida" - Learning
to walk on the Former n Very
Difficult Process Curious super
stitions Associated with "Geta."

Difficult Process - Curious super
stitions Associated with "Geta."
The japanese shoes, or "geta," as
they are called, are one of the singular
ly distinctive features of Japanese life
which will strike the observer with
wonderment as soon as he sees then
looming along the roadway or hears
them scraping the gravel with an irri
table squeak that makes his very
nerves shudder. Nevertheless, awk.
ward though the shoes appear, they
are of a kind constituted to make feet
as hard as sheet iron and ankles as
strong as steel girders, says the Lon
don Chronicle.
The shoes are divided into two varie
ties. The low shoe is called the "koma
geta" 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 if they were in shoes, but
are left exposed to atmospheric condi
tions. The "komageta" resemble some
what the Lancashire clog, and theiI
construction merely entails the carving
of a 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
occasionally, in the case of priests oil
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 q
hollow place at the back, which, as il
tinkles In a mystic way, heralds the
approach of children. The superior
makes are covered with mats made OF
panama. The highest price amounts
to about 10 yen. or IS, while the cheap
est Is less than 10 sen, or a few cents
but, then. the 'geta" will not last long
er than a month and once out of repair
can never be mended.
Learning to walk on a 'geta' is al
exceedingly difficult process. Indeed
II is far easier to acquire skating OF
stilt walking. The average child IL
Japan takes about two months before
being able to move along on the ma
tional footgear, and the little ones re
>peatedly slip from the wooden blocks
falling to the ground, which seems tC
their miniature imaginations a consid
cradle distance beneath them. AL
though foreigners usually take will
readiness to the customs of Japan, they
are absolutely unable to manipulate
the perilous "geta."
A curious story is told of Sar
Francisco merchant who was invited
to attend a fancy dress ball. HI
thought it would be quite the correc
thing to attend in japanese costum,
and wrote to a friend in Yokohama t
send a complete suit of the costume Of
a gentleman Of high class. On receip
Of the costume he was immensely sur
prised at its extensive variety. H,
mastered all the intricacies of the flow
ing robes, but when he unearthed thu
''geta" he was completely at loss t.
understand its use. Having only JUS
arrived in the country and not beins
overobservant, he had omitted to no
tice the foot arrangements of the peo
pie After much earnest consideration
he was suddenly seized with brillian
idea. All" he exclaimed in his de
sire to extoi everything japanese, "thi:
wooden block has got very lovely
shape. 1t is very beautifully carvet
and artistic. Therefore it must be {
kind of decoration to be worn on thu
shoulders like epaulettes. And so tn,
on each shoulder instead of on eacl
foot!
Some parents allow their children t.
play barefoot in the streets. but wheI
going out with their elders or payin.
visits it is essential that every one
from the smallest to the tallest, mus
mount the wooden clog and prope
themselves in this odd fashion. TIL,
dislike of the japanese children fol
the activity Of outdoor games is to b.
mainly attributed to the awkward en-
cumbrances with which their little fee
are loaded. For instance, one seldom
sees Japanese children gamboling IL
open Fairgrounds. They have yet t.
learn the feverish pleasures of hid,
and seek" or "rounders," while such ,
thing as top spinning or football neveI
obstructs the roadways.
Singular superstitiOns are associated
with the "geta," which at times are de
cidedly useful. When host desire
that too attentive caller should de
part, he induces somebody to burr
moxa, which has peculiar odor, upol
his shoes, which are outside the door
The guest will Immediately take th'
hint and simultaneously his leave
| When a thong of "geta" is accidental
Iy severed on the return from the visi
to sick person firm belief exist
/ that the patient must die. The Japa
nese, however, dearly love the "geta,
and, although civilization may teacl
fhem to win battles, it will never in
.ue them to wear leather boots.
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