The Kennewick courier. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1905-1914, 1905-07-14
or THE JApAn...
They Make the Feet Hard ma a,
Ankles Strong S

AhhicS strong.
The Japanese shoes, or "pet,
they are called, are on Of the SIM
| larly distinctive features of Jananes.
life which will strike the Observer r..,s'
wonderment as soon as he sees +ha-.
looming along the roadway or hoo.
them scraping the gravel with an :.
ritable squeak that makes his vow
nerves shudder, says the Iorda
Chronicle. Nevertheless awkwon,
though the shoes appear, they ara -,
kind constituted to make foot =.
hard as sheet iron and ankles as stron.
as steel girders.
The shoes are divided into two vou.
ties; the low shoe is called the "kouo
geta" and Is only used when the rood.
are in good condition. The high sboa.
named "ashida." are worn when ~.
weather Is rainy and the roads a..
muddy. Both kinds have a thin +bor.
attached to the surface to secure tbon,
to the feet, which are therefore NJ.
covered as if they were in shoes bu.
are left exposed to atmospheric con.
ditions. The 'komageta" resemble.
somewhat the Lancashire clog and
their construction merely entails tbo
carving Of block of wood to the nron-
er size. The "ashida," however, are q,
more complicated design. They have
two thin pieces of wood about thru.
Inches high at right angles to tbs
soles, and occasionally, in the case o.
priests or pilgrims, only one bar At.
tached.
Some Of the "geta" worn by lttlst
girls are painted in many colors, and
others have tiny bell hanging from
hollow place at the back, which, as II
tinkles in mystic way, heralds thu
approach Of children. The superior
makes are covered with mats, made Of
panama. The highest price amounts
to about 10 yen, or IS, while thu
cheapest is less than 10 sen, or feA,
cents; but the "geta" will not last
longer than month, and once out Of
repair can never be mended.
Learning to walk on a "geta" ia an 4
exceedingly difficult process. Indeed 3
1t Is far easier to acquire skating or
silt walking. The average child In
Japan takes about two months befov
being able to move along on the nj
tional footgear, and the little ones n 4
peatedly slip from the wooden blocks
falling to the ground, which seems 10
their miniature imaginations a consd 4
cradle distance beneath them. Al \
though foreigners usually take with
readiness to the customs Of Japan
they are absolutely unable to manipu.
late the perilous 'geta."
A curious story Is told Of a San
Francisco merchant who was invited 4
to attend a fancy dress ball. He
thought it would be quite the correct
thing to attend in Japanese costume
and wrote to q friend in Yokohama to
send complete suit Of the costume Of &
gentleman of high class. On receipt
of the costume he was immensely sur
prised at its extensive variety. Hs
mastered all the intricacies Of the fow.
ing robes, but when he unearthed the
"geta" he was completely at q losssh
understand Its use. Having only Just
arrived In the country and not being
over observant, he had omitted to no.
tee the foot arrangements Of the peo.
pie. After much earnest consideration
he was suddenly seized with brilliant
idea. "Ah," he exclaimed In his desire
to extol everything Japanese, this
wooden block has got very lovely &
shape, It Is very beautifully carved
and artistic. Therefore, It must be Z
kind Of decorat don to be worn on the
shoulders like epaulets." And 80 the E
merchant went to the BAH with
"geta' on each shoulder instead Of On
each foot!
Some parents allow their children b
play barefoot in the streets, but when
going <outa with their. eaders or. paying d
visits it IL essential that every one
from the smallest to the tallest, must
mount the wooden clog and props
themselves in this odd fashion. Tho
dislike Of the japanese children for the
activity Of outdoor games 10 TO b
mainly attributed to the awkward in'sY
cumbrances with which their httH
feet are loaded. For instance. one ser
dom sees Japanese children gambolne
open playgrounds-they have yet %
learn the feverish pleasures OF "hios y
and seek" or FOUNDERS" while sucn
thing as top-spinning or football never
Obstructs the roadways. n
Singular superstitions are associa1eo
with the "geta," which at times aU
decidedly useful. When host desires
that a too attentive caller should de'
part he induces somebody to DUN
moxa, which has a peculiar odor, upon
his shoes, which are outside the doof'
The guest will Immediately take ln'
hint and simultaneously his leave
When a thong of 'geta" is accidenr
ally severed on the return from wv
visit to a sick person firm belie1 ei
lists that the patient must die Is
Japanese, however, dearly love Wv
"geta" and although civilization n'a.
teach them to win battles 1t will ne'a
ipduoo thon, RI uoar leather boots