ABSTRACT

Our feet play no insignificant part in our personal appearance and in our quarter’s allowance; and everybody who leads an active life knows how all-important is perfect comfort in this particular. Yet there is no portion of our bodies so branded for our sins as our poor feet. The actresses were in fact thinly stockinged, with sandals beneath the feet, an embroidered strap coming between the two first toes across the instep after the old Roman fashion. A deformed foot is hidden by a shoe, so all the pretty feet must be hidden in shoes. While we are on the subject of foot-gear, and in anticipation of an English winter, a few words on clogs or pattens will not be inappropriate. Every artist knows that any foot that has ever worn a shoe is deformed. Perhaps cleanliness, and a certain amount of protection for the foot against cold, wet, and friction: this in the case of men at least.