The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1892-1907, 1905-02-18
JAPANESE FOOTGEAR.
Kind That Makes the Feet Hard
and Ankles Strong.
SHOES ARE OF TWO VARIETIES

saaatoas Associated with e9eta.s
The Japanese shoes. or 'geta." a.
they are called, are one u the singular /
" distinctive features Of Japanese life /
which viii strike the observer with /
wOndernent as soon IS he seea them /
lootnIng along the roadway or hears /.
them seFapihg the gravel with an irri
table squeak that makes his very
nerves shudder. Nevertheless, awk
ward though the shoes appaaF. they
are OF a kind constituted TO make feet
as hard az sheet iron and ankles az
strong az steei girdsrs. says the Lon
don chrOniele-
The sla0es nFe divided into two VMFie
liea The low shoe II called the ''koma.
gela" and h only used when the roads
are In good condition. The high nhoea
named "ashida." ART worn when the
weather y rainy and the r0Ads are
muddy. both kinds have q thin thong
attached 10 the surface 10 secure theln
% the feet. which are therefore moi
covered an IL they were IN Shoes. but
are left exposed u atIaoapheTic condi
tiolls. Tbs -komaEeta'' resemble some
what the Lancashire clog. and thsif
construction merely entails the carving
Of 3 bioek Of wood 70 the proper HlEe.
The 'aShida.- however. are Of more
complicated design. TtsUy have two
Ihln plrcsa u Wpad. about thrse inches
high 10 right angles 20 the soles. and
occasionally. In Ite case Of priests %
pilgrims. only ong bar attached
soute u the -Eeta" Nofn BY httis
girls aFe painted IN many colora and
others have q tiny beil hanging fr8ul
holiow place at The hack. which, ~ Il
tinkisa Ia q mysttc way. h~Fnlds tbs
appFuach Of elllldrvn. The superior
makes aFv rovervd with mats made Of
panataa. The highest pricc amounts
20 ntrout 10 yUn. ~ IS. whiis the cheap
eel Is k-as than 10 srn. oF = few ccnts,
bat. then. thu 'geta" viii not last bong
cF than a ua0nth and once 0at q rsspali
can nogrg ~ mrnsird
IsaFnins 70 wnlk on q gets" IL an
exceedingly dtfaenit prsncrsA. ipdessi
n b far easieE 10 acquire skating %
atiit walking The average child "a
Japan takes about tao tnantias tscguEs
heinT nbir 10 move along on tbs ma
tinnal fnotsuaF aud the iittis onea ~
psagnsily alp frptn the wooden blocks
falling to the ground. which stVas 4
their miniature tina kinatlous cutaaid
syubso distance bgneuth thetn Al
thoaEh foreigners usually take with
readiness 10 tie customs % Japan. titrl
aFv absolutely unable 20 manipulate
the pcriiona "Egta."
A curious story h told nf = Sal
Rrnnciarn mcgrhnnt who visa invite
to attend fancy dress hall ~
thought Il would ~ quite the currec
thing 10 attend IN Japanese CuHttm
ana wrote % a friend In Yokohama I
ss-slsi complete auil u the costume a
= Eentisuan ~ high class On rcceiT
of the costume be- Was immensely SUI
prtzssi OF is extensive variety. u
mastered al fhe lntf9caciea % the Gov
ing Fulsca. but wlsru be- unrarthnd IA
''grga'' he wnH completely at n loss
nndrFataud itp usr Having onlY jus
arrived ia the country and not bcln
utrru,sarrvnnt. be Ind omitted 10 ~
tee the foot arrangements % the ~
hr waa suddenly ppiEs-i with hrilllnf
idea. "Ah." he exclaimed In bis d
SIR 10 sxtol everything Japanese. 9Th
wooden bluck has gui vary luvel
shape IL II very beautifully carve
and artistic Therefore II must be
kiui 81 decoration to I've woru on q
shoulders IKE spauiettoa" And - =
merchant went TO the bah with a gets
on each shoulder instead Of on eaS
fputl
some parents allow their childrea
play barefoot IN the streets. bot whg
going out with thCir elders OF paSiI
Visits Il n essential that every on
from the smallest 20 the tnllcst, ms
mount the wooden clog and prup
themselves In this odd fashion. II
dislike 81 the Japanese children {
the activity Of outdoor games II to
mainly attributed to the awkward 2
cumhnncca with which their little fc
are loaded. For instance. one seldo
nfca japanese Children gambnling
open Playground They have yet
learn the fcvcrish pleasures Of hi
and seek OF '.roundern." while such
thing as top spinning OF foutbail nev
ubstructH the roadwHys.
Singular superatitinnH are asaoclat
with the "Reta." which at times are /,
cidpdly useful when host desIi
that a too attentive caller should I
part, he induces somebody 20 bu
moxa. which has peculiar oior. up
hia Shoes, which are outside the do
The guest will Immediately. take
hint and simultaneously his lea
When a thong OF ''geta" In accident
~ severed on the rpturn from the Vi
20 a sick person firm belief ext
that the patient must die. The Jal
neae, however. dearly love the "gct
and. although civilization may tes
them 10 win battles, Il win never
due them TO wear leather boots.
The ooasaek'a Tsl1ea.