Fig. 19.—Meyer’s Form of Sole.
Fig. 20.—Natural Foot.
The foot is a wide one, and the shoe-sole rather narrow; but this need not be taken into account, for the same want of harmony would exist if the widths were alike. A narrow foot, however, may be seen by reference to Fig. 8, in a preceding chapter.
The only way out of this awkward inconsistency is the acceptance of the form before suggested, and here reproduced (Fig. 21) to be compared with its competitors.
Fig. 21.—Eureka.
This has all the merits of any of them, and the additional one that it allows as much freedom to the toes at the outside of the foot as to those at the inside. All have a chance, provided other things are as they should be, to develop normally and to perform their functions without interference. There is an agreement between it and the foot, not only on one side, but on both sides and all around. It represents completely the idea of Dr. Camper, which cannot be done by anything of the narrow-toed form. By a very slight addition to the width from the ball forward, on the inside, it also represents the idea of Prof. Meyer. So far as we can see, it fulfils all the requirements that can be made concerning the form of sole. It is proposed to name it the Eureka.
If a requirement were made that it should agree with the present popular taste, this pattern would signally fail. But though it does not do this, still, if it corresponds with the true form of the foot, and possesses the merits claimed, its excellence will, in time, be acknowledged, and public taste will come to see its elegance also. If there is any reason at all why a thing is beautiful, that reason consists in its fitness or propriety; and if there is any shape more fit and proper for a sole that is to be trod upon by an undeformed foot, will some one discover it and make it known.