Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1917-04-15
\ ~TRIkE FOR FREEDOM

}t-s; 2 ls have witnessed with
- .-- amusement .ha- seriousness the
-l--..a IN O re.zhto- state - @
..a.-e at men who pledge themselves
-a Eezr rs m1-e shoes from naa on
--,l -ss G-.-e q footwear comes J own
20 O. reasonable figure. We have 30
.-~ been bound % the convention
,l-t le--eed that respectable human
beings must endure the det.lta-ne
torture q enclosed feet that we are
SLOW 20 realize that cur friends men
-1rel above have struck f5r double
freedom In returning % natures meth
o1s !, seems funny T. Us that any
body should dare 70 fling defiance at
one and the same time % the manipu-
,a,1rs o.: --ate and the DEGREES q con-
VeItionr Of course il gives the funny
paragraphers ot the country a chance
70 exercise their tr.l.lan, wits. and
this temptation they w.I fall for even
Z nobody ever gets 10 see the sober
side = The question. Not as a matter
4 reason. not from a SENSE Of what
IS best or most enuobling 20 human
kind. but from an unconscious preil-
dice built up BY centuries Of develop
ment IN the way of more and more
encumherlng the human body and
limbs with useless and damaging ap-
planes In the name OF fashion. the
public will probably see more 20 laugh
at than 20 consider soberly This on
s!aught OF the barefoot brigade.
Yet aside from the merits OF the
proposition as a death blow 20 a part
OF the high cost Of living. !nasmuch
as it Is calculated should the idea
spread sufficiently that the shoe
makers would 20 around begging peo-
pie 70 buy their product at their own
price. IL is well for us TO control our
amusement long enough 10 calculate
how much human misery would be
knocked out and how much happiness
and good health would increase IL the
general public should issue declara-
ton Of Independence against the tor
mentors Of human feet We have
worn shoes, whatever kind fashion
said was proper. until our feet are too
tender 10 travel the road of lie with
out protection. We think. Yet many
people besides the ignorant yokels
from the backw0ods have demon
strated that people can walk. and walk
better without tho shoemakers aid
Bare feet excite our risibnues yet
bare feet are healthier. more COM
Portable. more sensible and more beau
uful IN the estimation u sensible peo-
pie who have tried il. than those
which are shod whether it be In the
trosaus Of the plowman or the dainty
footwear of the society debutante.
As one lady said. and she was not a
homeiy one either. Whenever in the
privacy u my boudoir ! get glimpse
u my uncovered feet am ashamed Of
my face" Yet there are circum-
stances and conditions. Of course.
whore foot protection IS desirable. In
oriental countries sandals we're
adopted 20 keep the feet from scorch-
ing on the hot sands. ard modern
methods have compelled us 20 travel
ln ways where bare feet would be at
a disadvantage. but that does not
account for the universally Of wear
Ing modern shoes. Some day. per-
haps. with the advantage before us OF
the happy example Of the barefoot
boy with cheek Of tan" the embodi-
mcnt of happy freedom. and the added
Impulse Of the pioneer barefoot league,
there will be a more general return to
nature and nature will reward the race
with better things than the present
day human can realize.