The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1905-05-01
81 i 3 4 F0 II
ISSTHEG 6ETa MAX e N FEET HARD
A, g, STtl II tLEs STR iss

Al sTHE les sTso owe.
There Are Two ynrie cites, Lew r.nsi
High Shoes, and LcarnInE 10 sse
z the Latter Is an rssseedfnKis piai-
cult i,roeess--5G "a sapsrstts ions.
\ The japanese Shoes, orss SS;eta., aa
they are called, Sarc one sof the singh.
larry distinctive features OF Japanese
life which will strike the Observer
with wondermcnt as soon a lie seq
thcm looming along tic roadway or
hears them scraping the gravel With
an irritable squeak that mn es hi
very nerves shudder. Seycsthelsss
awkward though the shoes appear.
theyiare Of u kind constituted 10 make
feet as hard as sheet iron md saniles
rs strong rs steel Orders
The shoes are divided into tsso yarI.
etlcs. The low shoe Is called the '.lso-
mageta' mud Is only useil when The (
roads are in good condition The high
shoes. named .asidda,, are worn yslistI
tho wcathc. Is rainy and the roads are
muddy. Both kinds have d thin tlonE
attached TO tho surface Ia sectife
them TO the feet; which are therefore,
not covered us IL they We're III shoes,
but are left exposed 10 attnosp nerie
conditions Tho tskomagetal reselnbieI
somewhat tho Lancashire clog, and
tllclr construction merely entails the
carving OF n block OF wood ~ Ehe
proper size The .ashlda, however.
are of more complicated design. qhessl
have two thin pieces {of GOD about
three inches high ut right angles to
the soles, and occasionally in the enss!
Of priests or pilgrims, only one bar
attached, b;
Some of the 'geta' worn by little
girls are painted In many colors, and
others have q tiny bell hanging from
a hollow place ut the back &llich ~
1t tlnklcs In a mystic swny heraids the
approach of children. The superior
makes are covered with mat made 81
panama. Tho highest price ffliofiiiA
to about 10 yen, or $40, whilo tils
cheapest Is less than 4 9 sen or d i.su
cents but then the y seta ~ not ,nst
longer tlian a month and once oiit 81
repnlri can1neyer DO lrended.
| Learning to walk on d i gcta's IS an
exceedingly difficult process Indeed It
Is far easier to, acquire ska ting or stilt
walking Tile average child in 3npaii
takes about two orths before being
/ able ITO move along on Tie iiational
footscar, innd tho little ones Repeatedly
slip from the " oodens bio falling to
the ground, which seems 10 Their min
s lnture lmaginat iDns; ID colsil erablo dis
lance beneaths tilem Altliongh foreign
crs usually take with read lines 10 The
1 customs OF Jhpan, they are abscIuteiy
unable to- manipulate the periIopsi
/ "geta.nr! (
A curious story Is told OF a San
Francisco merchant who was Invited
+ to attend n fancy dress bull. Hi
3 thought 1t would he guile the correct
L thing to attend IN Jppafiesc costume
{ and wrote to ID friend IN Yolsoiiaiiis u
send d complete suit 81 tho Cd tuine Of
n gentleman OF shigh5c class. ON tecript
4 OF the costume he was Immensely sur,
y prlsed at Its extensiyc ariety He
\ mastered all the intricac lea of tliesaows
Ing robes. but when he uneartl ied tlin
..'geta" lie was comple tely ut d loss 10
q understand theirsuse Hayitg only Just
arrived In tho country md not sbeIns
overobserYnnt, he had omitted tasalas
tIce the foot arrange ments Of tile sprD-
pie. AftcrSm much earnest consid ernIin,i
he was suddenly seized with ii bril-
: liant idea. All, e he exclaimed In his
desire to extol everything Japanese.
. this wooden block has got d yery
y lovely shapes 1t! IS very beautifully
y carved md artistic. therefore II INNS!
y be a kind OF decorati lion 10 be worn On
: the shoulders like epauletss Aid 80
the merchant went to the bail With 0
"getaa on each should Ter Instead Of og
!. each foot
Some parents allow their isrel Il
play barefoot In the street hut when
a going out with their elders Or pay iiis
L visits It Is essential that every onr,
i from the smallest to the tallest. rsusi
mount the; wooden clog and psspss;
y himself In this old fashion THE dis
" like of the Japanese children for tn
activity Of outdoor gaiies Is ~: