The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1905-07-20

Kind That Mskss shs Fsst hsrS o.
ths Ankles otrono.


Kind That Makes shs Pest Hsrk ard
ths Ankles otrsns.
London Chronicle: The japanese sspcA
Or "geta." a. they are called. are one
Of the singuiariy distinctive features %
Japanese NE which win strike the OBJ
ssrver with wondermept m soon 80 he see~
them looming along the roadway, or hears
them scraping the gravel With an irrita-.
BILE squeak that makes hss very nerves
yhuddsr. Nevertheless. awkward though
the shoes appear. they are % kind con-
stitutsd % make feet - hare - sheet hon
and ankles - streag - stssi gtrders.
The shoes are divided into tive varietiss;,
the low shos'fs called the ''koasgsfa'" and
% only used when the roads are In goosA
condition. The high shoes. named "ashi-
Ca" are worn when me weather = rainy
and the roads are muddy. Both kinds have
thin thenw attached to the sarfses 70 Sc
cure then to the feet. which are thesefcre
net covered - n they were In ssses. but
are lsfx sxpsssd 20 atmesphsric esseassons.
The .'komagsta" resemble seuswhat the
Lancashire clog. ana their consfruction
merely entails the carving % Mock OF
wood % the proper size. The ''ashids."
however. are Of more cs0piicstea osesgn.
They have two thin pieces % ves4 seoss
three inches high. ~ risht ANGLES 70 Ne
solss. ana occasionally. In the case %
some q shs ''gsta" wern ~ hsfas giris
ere painted IN many eoa0rs. snA othsrS
have = tiny bell hanging froa hollow
place at the hack. which. 80 u tinkies IN .
mystic way, hsralds The approach % emil
aren. The superior makes are coveree
With nsts. made Of panama. the highess
price ame0sss 20 about ten zen. or =.
q few eeats: but then the ''geta" VIII nos
last longer than moath. and once out ee
repair can never be mended.
Learning 20 walk on . ''geta" " an en-
eeedingiy difficuis process. Indeed. IL I'D
tar easier to acquire skating or stiit walk
iag. The average child In Japan takes
two months before being able to move
along on The national footgear. and ths
little ones repeatc teddy alp from tho wooden
blocks. failing to the grosnd. which seems
TO their miniature lima ginations consid-
cradle distance beneath them. Although
foreigners usually take with readiness 10
the customs Of Japan. they are absolutely
unable 10 manipulate tho periious "getAA"
A curious story II told Of Ian Francis
20 merchant who was invited to attend q
fancy dress ball. He thought IL would 90
quite the correct thing to attend In JApAr
nesc costume. and wrote 70 n friend In Yo-
kohama TO send complete suit OF the Co.'S
tune OF q gentleman OF high class. On
receipt OF the costume he was immensely
SURPRISED at liz extensive variety. He mas.
tered all thu intrtcaciss % tbs Rowing
robes. hut when he uncarthed the "Geta"
he was completely ut . loss 10 understand
It's use. Having only just arrived In the
,ountry. and not being over obseryant. no
had omitted co notice thu fset arrange
ments OF the people. Aft4 hsch earnest
consideration. ne WIS su6deniy ssizsd with
A brilliant idea. "Ah." he exclaimed, In
his desire TO extoi everything japanese.
'this wooden block has rot . very
lovely shape. 80 % very beautifully carved
and artistic. Therefore. tt must bs kind
sf decoration to be worn on the shoulders
like epaulettes." And 10 the merchant
went to the ball with q "geta" on each
shoulder instead OF on each foot.
Some parents allow their children TO
play barefoot In tho streets. but when TO-
lng out with their elders. or paying visits.
k 10 essential that every one. from the
smallest 10 the tailest. must mount the
wooden clog and propcl themselves In this
odd fashion. The dislike OF the japanese
cniidren for the activity Of outdoor games
IL to be mainly attributed TO the awkward
membranes with which their little feet
are loaded. For instance. one seldom sees
japanese children Esmboiing In open play
grourds-they have yet 90 learn the fever
lsh pleasures OF hide and seek" or ''roun-
ders." while such q thing ~ toy spanning
or foot ball never obstructs the roadwsys.
Singular supcrstitiohs are associated
with the ''geta.'' which at times are de-
cidediy useful. when q host desires that
q too attentive caller should depart. he
induces somebody 10 burn moxa, which
has q peculiar odor. upon his shoes.
which are outside the dor. The guest will
Immediately take the hint and simuitan-
eously his leave. when n thong OF a
''geta" In accidentally severed on the re-
turn from the visit to q sick person a Arm
belief exists that the patient must die.
The japanese, however. dearly love che
'geta," and although civilization map
teach them 10 win battles u viii never In.
| duce them TO wear leather boots.