400 THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



Objection is made that boots with a straight, or nearly straight, in- 

 side line give the feet a pigeon-toed or inverted appearance, which is 

 unnatural. This is not altogether due to the eye being accustomed to 

 a more conventional pattern. It is, I am sure, mainly due to a re- 

 movable cause. Any conspicuous line, that of the laces or a seam, is 

 always carried from the front of the leg to a central point on the 

 upper surface of the foot. The eye, falling on this line, in imagina- 

 tion continues or produces it, and so divides the front part diagonally 

 into two very unequal portions, the larger on the inner side. I have 

 found that if the line of the laces or seam be kept parallel throughout 

 to the line of the long extensor tendon — in other words, along the 

 crest of the ridge, thus marking out a distinctive feature — the un- 

 pleasant effect is removed. 



In proper walking, which can not be done in an improper boot, 

 friction of the foot on the sole and of the latter on the ground is re- 

 duced to a minimum, the sole being pressed against, not rubbed along, 

 the surface. This is shown by the very little wearing of the leather ; 

 when at last it does give way, it should be at an oval spot a little dis- 

 tance from the margin of the sole, under the middle joint of the great- 

 toe. This is the last point to leave the ground in walking ; here, 

 therefore, is the greatest tendency to slide on the surface and conse- 

 quent friction. 



The great-toe, in any but the most perfect feet now to be found, 

 is so easily diverted outward that socks and stockings with a straight 

 inner line are very desirable ; indeed, no others can be said to really fit 

 the feet. When any considerable distortion exists, a separate stall for 

 the great-toe is necessary. 



For the reasons given, a last should have the inner margin nearly 

 in a line with the inner side of the heel, and joining in front by a 

 rounded angle a long curve on the outer margin, where no angle 

 should be shown. The sole should be flat, touching the base-line in 

 front. The thickest part (highest vertically) should throughout be 

 on the inner margin, especially above the ball of the great-toe. The 

 boots should have low heels — to be perfect, none. The line of laces or 

 of any conspicuous seam down the front should be in a line correspond- 

 ing with the inner margin of the foot along the highest part. The 

 boot should, if possible, be left on the last for a considerable time, to 

 overcome the tendency of the leather to recoil after the forcible 

 stretching to which it has been subjected, and so to fix it in its proper 

 shape. — Lancet. 



