The Caldwell watchman. (Columbia, La.) 1885-1946, 1914-07-24
Copyright, 1914. by A. S. Gray}
THE SHOE.

ttary authority the world has pre-
duced, is quoted as stating that al
army travels on its belly" but mod
ern military authorities have discov
cred that an army needs feet fully a!
much as food to be an efficient light
ing machine.
The records show that over 10000
German soldiers were incapacitate(
for duty during the first few weeks o.
the francoPrusSian war on accoun
or injuries to the feet; and excoria
tons OF the feet figure as the cause Of
one-third of all exemptions from active
service among young French soldiers
during campaign.
Under date Of February S, 1914, the
acting surgeon general, war depart
ment. Washington, D. c., writes as fol
lows:
Many examples might here be cited
but the following instance which oc,
CURED In the experience Of the shoe
board IS sufficiently typical,
In 1908, battalion of United States
infantry took a practise march in
shoes which the men had themselves
selected. 1t marched eight miles, went
into camp for "a hours, and then re.
turned by the same route to the post
me members of the board examined
the feet Of all the men Of the bat
TALON at the end of tho first day and
on their return. On the first day 80
per cent, and on the last day 3S per
cent OF the command were found to
nave severe foot injuries. some re-
quiring hospital treatment"
The shoe board above referred to
was board OF officers of the United
states army detailed to locate the
source of and remedy for foot trou-
Dies. which have been the bane of all
armies since shoes have been worn
The army board went at the problem
with thoroughness never before prac-
used In any country by the military
authorities. The feet of thousands of
men were measured, photographed,
anu A-ray pictures of the bones were
taken, ig all sorts of positions and
under all kinds Of conditions. And
after four years of such thorough in
Vestigation the board has reported it's
remedy-a perfect fitting shoe. Sure.
iy, Q simple and fundamental solution
correct the cause and there can be
no trouble.
Secretary Of War Stimson accept.
ed the report, and so important do
the military authorities regard this
matter that the shoe recommended is
the only type which officers and en-
listed men are permitted to wear with
their uniforms.
More than rs per cent of the people
have trouble with their feet. Their
shoes don't hurt them, it's their feet"
this being one of those peculiar in.
tellectual bubbles We are all guilty of
when forced to admit stupid stand.
point.
The shoe is shrouded In all the pref.
udice. the tradition and the mist of
antiquity, and Is therefore a subject
on which the majority are exceedingly
opinionated and touchy. The very
high heel was invented by the an.
clients. They distinguished their &C.
tors who represented gods and heroes
by making them wear shoes with very
high heels and thick soles. or course.
the women Of short stature were not
long In grasping the idea, and 1t quick.
ly became fashionable.
The Latin races ruled the world OF
fashion in the thirteenth and four.
teenth centuries. In those days shoe
makers journeyed from city to city,
making their homo with the noblemen
while they designed and made shoes
Tor the household. The artisans of
those early centuries were very skill
ful and the Italian and Spanish feet
were short, and the shoes then pro.
duced were designed and made to meet
the demands Of class that neither
walked nor labored.
POUND for pound OF normal body
weight, the Anglo-Saxon woman has
approximately the same size and
shaped foot as the man, and 1t is a
long and narrow foot; but you never
would suspect 1t from the foot prints
made by the two walking side by side
shod IN the conventional shoes of the
two sexes. We know something from
our recorded army experience of what
even an approximately correct shoe
VIII do to strong, welLtrained men
What is happening to millions Of
American men and women as the re.
suit of incorrect shoeing staggers ones
imaginative powers to try to compre.
bend
In all industrial establishments the
records show steadily increasing per.
centage Of accidents hour after hour
until the noon rest. Then, beginning
some below the noon maximum, the
afternoon record advances progressive.
ly to the maximum for the day Obyi.
ously lack of alertness due to exhaus.
ton is responsible for this phenome.
non How much longer will these
blood sacrifices be made to the god Of
fashion and onpvantiop9 rh; ::