Year: 1873

cussing before the assembled school the
subject of shoes for women, and had
been remarking that the soles were uni
formly too narrow, when Miss B Spoke
up: '9--! 4a


"Why. Doctor. my coles are perfectly
immense. Why, they are twice as broad
as my foot" ac i'' %. .'-2 y'at u


"Miss b will you be kind enough to
take off one of your shoes, and send it
forward q 1t was cheerfully and quick
ly done. i..t rt


Henry, please bring the rule Now
we will measure this sole q


"Miss B | find this sole is two ana
one half inches wide; do you think your
foot is narrower than that ?" ai


"Oh great deal. That shoe sole is
twice as wide as my foo"


"Miss b., will you please come to the
platform moment p So. limping along
one shoe off and one shoe on, she pre-
sented herself.


"Niss b, will you be kind enough to
put your foot upon that sheet of white
paper Now hold up your other foot.
and let your full weight press upon this
one There, now, hold still minute,
and let me draw the pencil around your
foot. There that will do. Now we will
measure this mark and see just ho W
broad your foot is. Why, Miss b,
find that your foot is three inches and
three-quarters broad no, stop, it is
three inches and seven -eighths mo,
stop again, it really is four inches broad
Now what do you think !? You may
take the rule aud measure yourself if you
doubt it. The sole is two inches
and half, and your foot is four inches
broad y


"But, doctor, it is four inches broad
only when It's spread out by standing
my whole weight on this one foot"


"Yes, Miss B., but that is exactly
what takes place every time you step.
This shoe sole, which you think is i'm
mense, is two inches and half wide.
Now what do You suppose becomes of
the inch and half of foot which has no
sole to rest upon Either the upper
leather holds the foot, and prevents it
spreading, or the foot spreads on either
side beyond the sole, and presses down
upon the edge of the sole.


Every few girls walk in a firm. strong
way. Notice one You can see that she
is balancing upon a narrow sole. There
is an unsteadiness, sidewise vibration.
Besides, as she has not breadth of toe
enough, she cannot push her body for
ward in that elastic way which we all SO
much admire ......-..


again, the pressure of the upper
leather checks the circulation in the foot
and makes it cold If you check the
circulation in any part. it becomes cold
The tight shoes, with an elastic worn
about the leg just below the knee, SO
check the circulation in the foot, that the
great majority of girls have cold feet
1t would. indeed, be rare to find one with
warm feet like a boy"


Miss B. took her shoe and limped back
to her seat quite crest-fallen. Now a
dozen girls eagerly put up their hands.


Six or eight other girls insisted on hav-
ing their shoes and feet measured, but
among them all we did not find one that
had less than an inch and quarter OF
foot not matched by the sole


Miss S.. quiet, earnest girl, rose and
said 'f. .. ..-.


Il have always thought that shoes
should have broad soles, and have trie
for years to induce my shoemaker to give
me broad soles. He always says he will
but he never does. How can a young
! lady get broad soles if the shoemaker
won't make them am sure l should
be glad to have mine as broad as the
widest of my foot, but l cannot get
tn en-"


SURE WAY TO GET BROAD SOLES.


"Miss S., if will tell you how to in
dace your shoemaker to make the soles
of your shoes as broad as your feet, will
you try it p


81 will, and should be very thankful
for the suggestion"


"Go to him and say, Mr.. Smith please
let me put my foot on sheet of paper
resting my whole weight upon one oot
and then. if you please, mark around it
with your pencil


"Of course he will do it very cheer
fully.


Indeed, for some purpose, which l am
sure no man can explain, shoemakers are
quite in the habit of taking the size and
shape Of the foot.


Then say to Mr.. Smith, Please meas
; ure that and tell me just how wide it is


"Mr. Smith measures. You look on
He finds that the width is exactly three
inches and seven eighths. E0s fal-


"'But,' he will say, Miss s, what is
all this for 2


".No matter. Now, Mr.. Smith, will