Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1906-05-30
LIE FOOL AND The SHOE
A statement OF Correct irif oipics .
Footwear.

Footwear.
The subject Of footwear seriously
concerns almost every individual. as
most Of US use our feet the greater ps ri
of the waking hours says writer in
Success Magazine Physical culture
is receiving the keencst attention and
walking IN the open air has been scien-
titically demonstrated one Of the best
forms Of general exercise and one of
the greatest benefits TO health. For
this reason the proper clothing OF the
feet becomes of vital importance.
Sixty per cent 1--WE might be more
nearly correct il we said seventy -hvel
Of adults have some form or degree of
fat foot, often causing the most ex-
cruciating pain, affecting the whole
nervous system and reaching 20 the
brain. The beginning Of nervous
breakdowns is very often caused by i'll
fitting shoes.
The human foot has the most com.
plex mechanism of any portion of the
body. There are twenty-six bones Pc
culiarly constructed and put together,
each yielding, bending or moving in
some way Whenever the body is in mo-
tion. Owing to the delicate flexible
structure of the bones they are espe-
cially liable to deformty. Their func-
tions are a marvellous provision Tor
strength elasticity and freedom of
movement and should be carefully
studied.
The most important part of a shoe is
the heel (insidel, next is the arch,
then the ball and toe. Unless the
shoes are adapted TO meet the normal
features Of the foot there Is always
discomfort and often torture in walk
ing
Most Of the present style Of shoes
/ are too long from the back Of the shoe
20 the ball, too short from the ball to
the toe, and give little OF no support
| 20 the arch of the foot. The heel in
side of the shoe is made unnecessarily
/ large and too fiat. This, with the
enrire lack of support 10 the arch,
allows the foot 10 slide forward in the
shoe while walking, and causes q tre-
mendous strain upon the cords and
muscles of the. ankle joint, which is
the beginning az ftt foot
The neel of the foot is round. or,
more accurately, egg-shaped. and
should have similar shape to rest on
in the shoe. The heel receives the
whole weight of the body first, and
should receive normal support.
There are many details and techni-
cal features regarding the construction
I of the heel Of a last VIII ch are import
ant TO the wearer, but in which manu-
/ iacturers show little interest. The
shoe should also hold up the scaphoid.
or instep bones. Nine tenths Of the
strength of the foot comes down the
inside Of the instep into the great toe.
] This shows the need of support for the
arch, and calls for the most scientific
and painstaking modelling of lasts.
1 Readymade clothing has. been so
thoroughly systematized that men of
almost every variation in form and
size can he neatly and we'll fitted.
I Why should not shoes be made with
the same perfection Of system and
classification? There is a great va
riety in shapes of feet as in forms Of
bodies, heads or faces, and, because
the feet bear the weight of the body,
it Is of greatest Importance that they
should be properly fitted
Children need classified shoes.
Their feet grow very rapidly from 8
TO l3 or "a years and at the-latter ace
are about as long as they will ever be.
No conventional shoe Is made which
provides for this rapid growth, conse-
quently most children wear shoes too
short These force the great toe out
ard and make a wide toe Joint, which
can never be wholly restored. This,
in degree, causes the instep bones
TO fiat ,en, or the arch of the foot to
fall, and greatly weakens the motive
power OF the body. A special last pro-
viding for wide toe joint should be
made for this class of feet. This one
class OF shoes and there are dozens of
othersl, is very much needed, and the
public are vainly demanding il. II
made, this class alone would keep the
I largest factory in the country running
day and night, and would not even
then half supply the demand.
A large proportion Of feet have the
second and third toes nearly as long as
the great toe. This form requires a
wide toe shoe, for the toes are the pro
pelling power of the body. If such a
shg ped foot is cramped into a narrow
toed shoe, the dorsal bones are wedged
together, and, becoming inhamed.
people think they have rheumatism ia
their feet. This inflammation often
affects the limb up to and above the
knee, causing intense pain. A last
should be modelled for thin, bony feet,
while a very different one should be
provided for short, thick, feshy feet.
Another form should he made for
people who are obliged TO be on their
feet continually through the day, such
as statesmen, school teachers. nurses,
policemen, railroad men and express
men. Students should give their foot
wear the most careful attention.
Brain-workers cannot afford to lose or
waste any nervous energy. Perfect tit
ting shoes are restful 60 the whole
nervous system.
What will bring about a decided and
permanent Improvement in footwear?
The public should continuously and
persistently demand from the retailer
a shoe which shall support the arch
of the foot, hold the heel firmly, pre-
vent great strain upon the ankle Joint,
and provide room enough for the toes.
Such a shoe must be made on COM
paratively straight last, with no
spiral twist" and without freak
styles in the shape of the toe.