The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1904-07-21
JAPANESE FOOTCEAR.
Kind That Makes the Feet Hard
and Ankles Strong.
SHOES ARE OF TWO VARIETIES.
The Low Kind Is Called "KOmageta"
and the High "Ashida" - Learning
to Walk on the Former Very
Difficult Process Curious Super
stitiOns Associated With "Geta."

to Walk on the Former Very
Difficult Process - Curious Super
stitions Associated with "Geta."
The Japanese shoes, or .''geta," as
they are called, are one of the singular
" distinctive 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 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 Orders, says the Lon
don Chronicle.
The shoes are divided into two yarie-
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-
lions. The ''komageta'' resemble some
what the Lancashire 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
occasionally, 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 tiny bell hanging from a
hollow place at the back, which, as it
t1nkles in 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 So, 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 'geta" is an
exceedingly difficult process. Indeed,
It Is far easier to acquire skating or
silt walking. The average child in
Japan takes about two months before
tional footgear, and the little ones re-
peatedly slip from the wooden blocks
falling to the ground, which seems to
their miniature imaginations a consid
cradle distance beneath them. AL
though 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 San
Francisco merchant who was invited
to attend a fancy dress ball. He
thought it would be quite the correct
thing to attend in Japanese costume
and wrote to a friend in Yokohama TO
send a complete suit of the costume OF
q gentleman Of high class. On receipt
Of the costume he was immensely sur
prised at it's extensive variety. He
mastered all the intricacies of the flow
ing 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
overobservant, he had omitted to no.
dce the foot arrangements Of the peO-
pie. After much earnest consideration
he was suddenly seized with brilliant
idea. "Ah," he exclaimed In his de-
sire to extol everything Japanese, this
wooden block has got very lovely
shape. It Is very beautifully carved
and artistic. Therefore it must be 3
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 essential that every one,
from the smallest to the tallest, 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 en-
cumbrances with which their little feet
are loaded. For instance, one seldom
sees Japanese children gamboling in
open Fairgrounds. They have yet to
learn the feverish pleasures of "hide
and seek" or FOUNDERS" while such a
thing as top spinning or football never
obstructs the roadways.
Singular superstitions are associated
with the "geta," which at times are Ge-
cidedly useful. When a host desires
that too attentive caller should de-
part, he induces somebody to burn
moxa, which has a peculiar odor, upon
his shoes, witch are outside the door.
The guest will Immediately take the
hint and simultaneously his leave.
When thong of ''geta" is accidental
" severed on the return from the visit
to sick person a firm belief exists
that the patient must die. The Japa-
nese, however, dearly love the "geta,"
and, although civilization may teach
them to win battles, it will never in
due them to wear leather boots.