The book of the feet; a history of boots and shoes by Hall Joseph Sparkes

Author:Hall, Joseph Sparkes
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Boots and shoes, Shoemakers
Publisher: New-York, W. H. Graham
Published: 1847-03-25T05:00:00+00:00

I am indebted to the countess of Blessington, and Lady Charlotte Bacon, for some of the earliest hints and suggestions for its improvement; also to Mrs. S. C. Hall, the Baroness de Calabrella, and other ladies of literary fame, who were among the first to patronise the invention. One of my earliest customers, a lady of great originality of thought and expression, first induced me to make it an article of universal sale, by saying:—

" These boots are the comfort of my life, if you were only to give them a sounding name—if you like, call them lazy hoots and turn it into Greek —all the world will buy them, and you'll make your fortune."

For many years I have scarcely made any other kind of boots but the elastic; but, I have not

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mS1«0RT OF BOOTS AND SHOES. 119

TQade a fortune. I am happy, faowevor, if in any way I haye^ contributed to the comfort of my fellow-creatures, or been inBtrumental in affording employment to my own countrymen.

Her majesty has been pleased to honor the invention with the most marked and continued patronage ; it has been my privilege for some years to make boots of this kind for her majesty, and no one who reads the court circular, or is acquainted with her majesty's habits of walking and exercise in the open air, can doubt the superior claims of the elastic over every other kind of boots; it has been well remarked, " the road to health is a fi)ot-path.'*

The materials for making ladies' boots have been various, the best of course have been those which combine strength with a thin delicate texture; for strong double or cork sole boots, cloth, kerseymere, or cashmere ;.for single sole, summer, or dress boots, silk, satin, and an improved prunella, with a twilled silk back, is best.

The neatest, firmest, and the coolest material I have ever used is a silk web, called stocking-net; this I have had woven in black and colors, and as it readily moulds to the form of the foot, and can be made up without seams, it is a favorite material with her majesty, and the most distinguished ladies

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120 HISTORY OF BOOTS AND SHOES.

of her court: this boot would appear to be the veritable "boote newe and faire'^ of old Chaucer's time, 60 thoroughly light, elastic, and graceful, as it is to a pretty foot.

The leather best adapted for ladies' boots is morocco or goat-skiu, which, when properly dressed, is sufficiently strong and durable—kid being the skin of the young goat, is naturally finer and more delicate; the enamel or varnish leather, commonly called patent, is also very suitable, and being made of calf-skin, is sttong. For the little toecaps and golashes of ladies' boots it answers admirably, and as it requires no cleaning, always looks well, and the upper part of the boot is kept clean and tidy.

Some ladies, however, can not bear any leather— the material best adapted for such is the Pannus-corium, or leather-cloth.

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