Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1912-10-19
SETS SETS SHOE FASHION
Footwear of United States
Standard for Universe.
Backward Evolution In Foot Covering
Puts the Wcarer Behind the An
clients In Walking Ability
Has Many Defects.

New York.-Everybody wears shoes
at least one size too small. 1t is as
serted, and with toes too narrow:
This gives room for only the great toe
to grow and perform its functions,
but congresses the other toes until
the smallest one IS mere scrap: The
loot OF man should spread like an ami
mails paw with every step he takes
This Is impossible in shoe which
fits" the foot.
Walter C. Taylor, editor-in-chief Of
the Boot and Shoe Recorder. says:
"The greatest waste in shoe buying
is one for which the consumer him
self Is largely responsible. 1t comes
through the buying Of shoes which
are poorly fitted"
We not only wear our shoes too
small and our heels too high, but we
ALLOW fashion to influence us. and
there Is constant demand for
change in style ana material; de-
mand which the manufacturers supply
abundantly." Mr. Taylor says that It
would DO worth millions 70 the trade
and to the consumer If this could be
rtghted by common sense view OF
our foot covering. Or course the
women are blamed for the greater
part OF this extravaganza. for dainty
foot has long been considered much
TO be desired Gradually shoes have
developed Into things Of beauty nero
~ and we buy them with the thought
of their appearance and not Of their
use. In fact, Americans, as rule.
do not expect to walk great distances.
It seems that the development OF
the shoemaker's art Is in inverse ratio
70 the development Of the foot. for
here In America our feet are notori-
Dusty unieyeloped. and yet America
leads the world in the making Of
shoes. Almost everything else in tie
way Of wearing apparel depends more
or less on foreign impoTtations, bit
America influences tho shoe styles
Of England, Germany and Franco, ard
American methods are standard for
the world
American supremacy In shoemakirg
fs due largely to specialization.
Abroad an operative does half a
Dozen different things. here he per
forms one simple process. and hero
also one factory makes ONO hind Of
shoes. II large manufacturer makos
III nc, sc ch hn
separate factory for each kind
What O sight the modern shoe fac
tory would be to the primitive Shoe
maker CT colonial days, WHO was nm
itinerant workman, carried his tools
with him and stayed with each family
long enough to make up the farmer
supply Of home tanned leather into
shoes enough to last until hIs next
annual visit His last was roughly
whitfield out OF 4 piece Of wood 70
suit the largest foot in the family,
and then pared down for the succea-
sipe sizes. He sat on low bench.
enc end OF which VOC divided into
compartments where hio avis ham
ners. knives aDd raspe were kep:,
with his pots Of paste and blackinS.
mis- pals. thread. Innings and buttona.
shoulder sticks" and rub sticks"
With all Of our wonderful machin-
cry we produce shoes which are not
so good for our feet, as the most prin-
tive and simplest Of foot coverings.
the sandal, which Is considered ideal
by those who appreciate the beauty CT
the human foot and wish to preserve
It. The sandal was worn by the az
cient Egyptians and Greeks and thu
shoes" Of the Bible were sandals.
The same type is still worn by the
peoples Of Central Asia, India, Japan
and China.
The Indian moccas!n. which extends
over the top Of the foot, but has thu
sole and main part IN one piece. IS
one Of the best of foot coverings. soft,
flexible and durable. Out of a CON-
b1nation Of these two the sole without
an upper and the upper without 4
sole the modern shoe has been
evolved.