The above are but a few of the various styles introduced by them, and a visit to their establishment will convince all of the high reputation their goods have achieved in the last twenty-five years.
Shoes have not only been used for their natural purpose of covering the feet, but from remote time have played a part in many of the important actions of life. Years ago it was the custom in Ireland to elect a person to a certain office by throwing an old shoe over his head. But on one occasion an excited elector, whose place it was to throw the shoe, aimed too low, so that the shoe hit the candidate on the head, instantly killing him. After this occurrence the practice fell into disrepute.
Fig. 45.
Fig. 46.
In England it was once customary to bind contracts by the exchange of old shoes, while we are all familiar with the practice of throwing an old shoe after a bride for good luck; but I wonder how many know what it originally signified. It is a custom that has come to us from the Saxons, and with them denoted that the authority under which the bride lived while in her father’s home was now delivered over to the husband, who was privileged to exact implicit obedience from his wife.
Shoes have also had their share of superstition attached to them, it being considered to portend great evil, if by chance one should put the right shoe on the left foot, or vice versa. Even one of the Roman Emperors is said to have run the greatest risk from just this cause alone.