Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-08-30
Bootjacks-

A GOOD many relics may be seen in
livery stable. and one of the articles
which the Rambler saw which seemed
out of joint with the present rushing
world was a bootjack. 1t was in the
dressing room Of one of those stables
where a number of Washington horse
men and horsewomen keep their saddle
horses. park horses, chargers and hunt
ers. That old bootjack stretched out on
the floor vas reminiscent of the days
of yore and the days of boots.
Some of the civilian riders in WASH
ington and a number of army officers
in the mounted service wear boots be-
cause of their belief that boots look
horsier. but many wear shoes and pig
skin puttees because of their conviction
that they are more serviceabl easier to
get into and out of and generally more
sensible. A good many of the tradition
ally dressed or costumed coachmen in
Washington cling to boots. The chauf-
feur. a fellow who prides himself
being abreast of the times, and perhaps
a century or two ahead of the times.
does not wear boots. II is puttees for
him. However. that old bootjacl1 brought
up recollections of the times when no
home was happy or complete without
bootjack, and when bootjack was as
necessary part of IL mans equipment
as a hairbrush and comb
Fifty years ago most men in the Unit
ed States considered it unthnkable that
the boot would pass away and that Gu
rlouS looking things called shoes would
be almost universally worn. The idea
that man would take to wearing low
shoes would have seemed funny. 1t
would certainly have been thought effem-
mate, though. of course. in an older
time low shoes, long hose and small
clothes were the male fashion. The idea
of readymade shoes, shoes turned out
by machinery ready to fit almost any
size and shape of foot. could not be
generally grasped. 1t was not even pos
sible to wear readymade clothing. even
If there was such a thing in the times OF
which We are thinking.
1t was at about the time of the civil
war that men took to wearing shoes. The
armies were introduced to them. but in
many minds and hearts there was bit
ter prejudice against such an innovation
and abbreviation in footwear. Neverthe-
less. there are more boots sold in the
country districts and worn in Congress
than the average wearer of shoes wots of.
Rubbers were not known used when
boots We're at the top of their popularity.
Men used to grease their boots with
mutton tallow to keep out the slush and
rain. Many a mans disposition has
been put to the test in getting out OF
wet boots and many tempers have been
ting into wet boots, if that can be done.
which it cannot be. The only way to
get into wet boots is to fill them with
oats, hang them up and let the oats
dry out the boots and keep them from
shrinking II you have wet boots. please
do not substitute corn for oats, unless
you are willing to buy a new pair OF
boots. The corn will take up the mois.
ture, true, but wet corn will swell and
no boot can stop wet corn when it wants
to swell.
Many men will recall difficulties with
boots and how sometimes it was neces-
sary to kick them on by beating the
toe against the wall or the side of the
fireplace until the foot got passed the
counter. Is there a man alive today. who
as a boy rejoiced in pair of red top
boots, with brass "kickers'' on the toes
who can look at an old bootjack without
letting his memory drift back through
the years? Well with the Rambler that
venerable bootjack lying on the floor OF
the dressing room of the livery stable
brought up a good many memories OF
the days long gone.