the shape of the foot; and the upper parts formed of soft, supple, and well-tanned leather. This latter caution is of vital importance at the present day, when rapid chymical processes have been substituted for the ancient system of bark tanning; in consequence of which, the leather is not only pervious to damp, but often also acquires hardness and wrinkles, that are extremely pernicious to the foot of the wearer. If shoes of well-tanned leather cannot be procured, they ought to be well oiled at repeated intervals, not only to fill up the pores of the leather, but also to soften any asperities that may arise from contraction through wet, &c. Even the best tanned leather will become hard and unpliable, especially in the dirty weather of winter, if, when covered with mud or dirt, they are thrown by for the night without cleaning, or perhaps laid aside and forgotten by careless servants. "To sportsmen, whether in the fishing or shooting seasons, these hints will be extremely useful. Many persons have had reason to date their corns from fishing-parties on the Wye, or shooting excursions on the moors, when sport was the only object in view, and the non-necessity for a spruce appearance operated so as to prevent sometimes the usual attention to neatness in all parts of the dress. At the time, these consequences were not thought of; but the sufferer has afterwards recollected his shoes that were suffered to grow hard whilst drying, and the pain and difficulty which he experienced in pulling them on hastily, whilst the pointers were at the door, or his brother fishermen were calling him to the river's side. "An extraordinary harshness is often imparted, even to the best leather, in the winter season, by an injudicious use of the fire, for the purpose of warming the feet a thing that ought to be sedulously avoided, for other reasons also which shall be explained when we come to speak of chilblains." He then follows up his remarks by showing that friction is more the cause of corns and callosities on the feet than pressure; and that pumice-stone or sandpaper will often counteract the incipient stages of these. Wet shoes should be wiped well and greased overnight. 34. If any individual, so advanced in years as to feel a prejudice in favour of the old plan of wearing straight shoes, should, on casting his eye over these pages, feel inclined to inquire why they have so long since been exploded by a supposed mere dictum of fashion in favour of "rights and lefts;" we may as well pause a moment to assure such reader, that if, merely because of the caprice of a fashion they are disused, the matter might still be left an open question, and every one might innocently follow his own fashion; but that there is a good and sufficient reason, the words of another, and a concluding quotation from our old friend, may be better evidence than our own. "It is well known that the size of the two feet is never precisely the same; if, therefore, a person shifts his shoes from foot to foot daily, it must always happen that the largest foot, every other day, will be exposed to a greater pressure than usual in some specific part, and therefore will there acquire a greater tendency to disease. Where the length of the shoes differs, this disease (bunnion) is more likely to arise than when they are merely too tight across the toes." 35. It is a far greater comfort than will be generally credited to have boots and shoes made fully an inch longer than the foot (technically three sizes); and, more * Art of preserving the Feet, &c. over, with very broad toes, which will allow all the toes to expand with requisite freedom and ease; and to yield to that pressure of the whole body which is found naturally producing an elongation of the foot. You can only justly appreciate the actual amount of this lengthening out of the foot, by standing on one leg, when you will be struck with the room that the foot really and most remarkably takes up in the length of the shoe. Such is the true dimension of the foot, and which each foot should take up at every step of progression. In no other way will you obtain a correct estimate of this; and it is from neglect of this rule of testing the fit of a boot or shoe, that so many people pay the penalty of taking only short measuresitting down to try on a shoe, instead of standing deliberately on one foot at a time, whilst fitting. From the cramping of the toes by the common crabbedshaped shoe, preventing their free spreading, and causing extra and gratuitous friction against the side and end of the shoe, corns, callosities, and blisters take their wonted origin. If people would but use their common sense, as they do on many other subjects, and get longer shoes and boots, with broader toes, they would not only save themselves pain and distress in walking-producing real lameness on going over anything else than smooth ground -but also their shoes would retain their proper shape much longer, and consequently, wear much longer too. 36. The shoe may be then made narrow in the general length, and fine in the run, so as to clasp home the arch of the foot, supporting it in the hollow especially, which affords a great relief, taking away much of the friction off the toes, and removing corns by diminishing their cause. This we advance from long observation and personal experience. Discard, then, the absurdity of the present fashion; have the shoe or boot made easy every way-long, broad-toed, and home to the arch of the foot, as the shoemaker would term it, and we vouch for it-the toes will do their duty cheerfully without ever complaining or hanging out signals of distress, even after a long walk; and then pedestrian exertion will become, in reality, what nature intended it should be-a luxury common to all! 66 37. The Oxford" shoe, as it is called, lacing up the middle and over the instep, is the best of shoes, but for one objection, viz. the frequent breaking of the lace or tape, or the silk ribbon, which is worn for neatness to the sacrifice of strength; and this is most apt to occur, when most annoying, on the swelling of the foot in hard, continued exercise. This apparently trivial accident has often been a practical illustration of the importance of "little things," as they are termed, and has frequently reminded our companions in a ramble, of poor Richard's terse couplet― "For want of a nail the shoe was lost; 38. There is an improvement then to be introduced, suggested by this very circumstance, and we find it ready to hand, viz. a return to the old buckle of our forefathers for a fastening, modified so as to present a less formidable appearance, and yet to give all the security needful. A flap or valve of leather gives an opening over the instep, whereby the shoe is slipped on, and fastens by a small tongue of leather on the outside of the shoe to the buckle alluded to. Such a plan effectually prevents any water from getting inside the shoe, and will allow of a graduated adjustment to the swelling of the foot at the end of a day's walk-a fact not duly calculated for, and a reason why a Wellington boot, if fitting neatly at first, becomes inconveniently tight at the close of a "long run." A boot may be excellent for riding, and, by the same rule, very prejudicial to the freer exercise of the foot in pedestrianism. The high heel is another bad arrangement for walking, which it were a waste of words to enter upon the demonstration of here-the body being thrown much too forward, the shoulders raised, and the strain thrown across the toes in dropping the foot on the ground, instead of being received by the natural heel in the first place. Buckled shoes were first introduced a few years ago, by a shoemaker of the name of Smith, in Dublin. We have worn none other for sometime past, except when riding on horseback, to which, however, they are not unsuited either they will admit of spur, &c. being fitted, either of the box or strap kind. Another advantage of this kind of shoe over a Wellington or Blucher boot is to be found in the fact, that, like an “ Oxford,” it will be so easy when unbuckled as to form a slipper for the hour of repose; at least, such is our experience. Further, it will admit, evidently, of being better adapted to be worn with comfort, along with any change of socks, from cotton or silk to woollen, &c. 66 A great advantage attending the foregoing recommendations is self-evident, viz. that whilst the shoe is modelled on nature, in preference to working on mathematical principles, by which Gulliver's coat was cut out, the foot will be allowed to retain unimpeded that elastic play and perfection of form which the Great Artificer of its exquisite, multiform adaptations designed. The shoe so made will retain its shape to the last, if |