The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1914-08-20
HISTORY BUILDERS.
How the Congress Cater Got Its Name
Written Expressly for The Hsrah.)
Nv DR. r., j. EDWARDS.

Capt Frederick C. Wagner. who was
lproVost-marshall Of the city of New York
at the time OF the draft riots of 1853. and
who assisted the police department and
State militia in subduing the rioters and
saving the city from contemplated de-
struction, is still living. Although in his
elghty-fourth year. he preserves his men
tai yigor and much OF his physical
strength. His name Is familiar one TO
those who are Of the Masonic fraternity,
partly because II was due largely to his
efforts that the fine Masonic home at
Utica, N. Y, was built and richly endow-
ed.
] knew that Capt. Wagner. shortly be-
fore his appointment by President Lin
coin as provost-marshal of New York.
was prominently Identified with the rub
Der manufacturing interest OF the United
States, but 1 did not know until he told
me In the course OF a conversation that
II was he and his partner, Horace Day.
who fixed upon the name for an article
which became not only the most popular
and widely used footwear for men, but
one which supplanted the calf-skin boot
which for many years was regarded as
an essential part of the dress of one who
wanted to be thought a gentleman. There
are many still living who will easily re-
call the popularity OF the Congress gaiter.
Capt. Wagner and few Of his friends
knew how the name was fixed upon for
this article.
For many years every man who want
ed to be thought well dressed wore calf
skin boots" said Capt. Wagner. "They
reached from the sole up as far as the
knee. Some OF them were very elabor-
ately made. Ny partner. Mr.. Day, and I
controlled the manufacture Of what was
hNT
weaving narrow, very fine strips OF rub
ber into linen cloth, the cloth being some
what loosely woven. Somebody conceiv-
ed the idea of using this kind of elastic
cloth in the manufacture OF SHOES Of
good quality. Experiments were made
and II was found that y inserting a piece
OF elastic cloth upon each side of the
shoe just in front of the heel and reach
ing UP to the instep II was possible to
and on with perfect convenience and that
II would hold its place perfectly.
After this was demonstrated, Mr.. Day
and were convinced that there would
be instantly a large sale for this kind
OF shoe. One evening We were chatting
about II. realizing that our only interest
in the thing was that We could find q
very large market for our elastic cloth
II the shoes proved to be popular. While
denly occurred to me that in order to
aid in putting these shoes upon the mar
ket We ought TO find a good name for
them. We did not want to call them
shoes.
Mr.. Day was OF my mind, and after
silent thinking he suddenly said to me:
I have got IL. Wen can them Congress
CATERS The word Congress will appeal
to everybody and the word gaiter has
more fashionable sound than shoe
The name was hit and so were the
CATERS themselves. Very rapidly they
supplanted the calf-skin boot, and it was
chiefly due to them that the fashion Of
wearing boots ended. A. the time OF the
civil war they were almost exclusively
used throughout the United States"
/ asked Capt Wagner II he could ex-
plain why they had lost their popularity.
'oh. yes" he replied Somebody in
vented the button shoe, and that inven-