The Press., 1905-01-04
JAPANESE FOOTGEAR
THE GETA MAKE THE FEET HARD
AND THE ANKLES STRONG.


AND THE ANKLES STRONG.
There Are Two Varieties, Low and
High Shoes, and Learning to Use
the Latter In an Exceedingly DIM
cult PrOcesS-Geta SuperstitiOns.
The japanese shoes, or "geta," as
| they are called, are one of the singu-
larry distinctive features of Japanese
life which will strike the observer
with wonderment as soon as he sees
them looming along the roadway OIL
hears them scraping the gravel with
an irritable squeak that makes HE
very nerves shudder. Nevertheless,
awkward though the shoes appear
they are of kind constituted to make
feet as hard as sheet iron and ankles
as strong az steel girders.
The shoes are divided into two vari
cites. The low shoe is called the ''ko.
mageta" 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
conditions. The ''komageta" resemble
somewhat the Lancashire clog, and
their construction merely entails the
carving of a 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
hollow place at the back, which as
it tinkies in mystic way heralds the
approach of children. The superior
makes are covered VIII mats made of
panama. The highest price amounts
to about 10 yen, OF $40, while the
cheapest is less than 10 sen, or u few
cents, but then the 'geta" will not last
longer than month and once out of
repair can never be mended.
Learning to walk OIL a ''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 being
able to move along on the national
footgear, and the little ones repeatedly
slip from the wooden blocks, falling to
the ground, which seems to their min
iature imaginationS a considerable dis
lance beneath them. Although foreign
ers 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 Il friend in Yokohama to
send complete suit of the costume Of
a gentleman of high class. On receipt
Of the costume he was immensely sur
prisei 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 their use. Having only just
arrived In the country AMI not being
overobservant, he had omitted to no
tice the foot arrangements Of the peo
pie. After much earnest consideration
he was suddenly seized with brill
liant 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 kind of decoration to be worn on
the shoulders like epaulets." And SO
the merchant went to the ball with o
"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 |
himself in this old fashion. Tie dis
like of the Japaneje children for the |
activity of outdoor games is to be
mainly attributed to the awkward in |
cumbrances with which their little |
feet are loaded. For instance, one sell |
dom sees Japanese children gamboling !
In open Fairgrounds. They have yet |
to learn the feverish pleasures Of hide
and seek" or FOUNDERS" while such q
thing as top spinning or football never |
obstructs the roadways. ...1
Singular superstitions are associated |
with the ''geta," which at times are |
decidedly useful. When host desires |
that n too attentive caller should de- |
part, he induces somebody to burn |
moxa, which has peculiar odor, upon
his shoes, which are outside Of the |
door, The guest will Immediately take |
the hint and simultaneously his leave. |
When a thong Of "geta" Is accidentally |
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
duce them 10 wear leather boots.-Lon-
don Chronicle