Popular Science Monthly 



101 



Straw Raincoats of Japan 



THERE are as many dilTerent kinds 

 of alleged waterproof raiment in 

 existence as there are straws in the 

 grotescjue costume of the Japanese in 

 the accompanying illustration. But 

 there is just one raincoat which lives 

 up to its rain[)roof claims, and, in fact, 

 has lived up to them for a thousand 

 years and more, and that is the rice- 

 straw combination worn by the Nippon. 



In addition to being light, porous and 

 warm in cold, wet weather it serves as 

 a "blind" for the war^' fish which can 

 discern no danger lurking in a fishing- 

 pole protruding from what appears to 

 be a mere sheath of grass. A Nippon 

 angler seated on a river bank wearing 

 his rice-straw cloak resembles so closely 

 a tuft of rank grass or a growing scrub 

 that the most preyed-upon animals fail 

 to detect danger. 



From the score of waterproof materials 

 and imper\"ious clothing there is a new 

 Paris product which is said to be very 

 effective, pro\iding one doesn't approach 

 too close to the fire. It is highly inflam- 

 mable on chance ignition, since its inner 

 lining is composed of guncotton sheeting. 

 There is also an English raincoat which 

 weighs but nine pounds when dry, but 



which, when worn through rain, will 

 absorb water as readily as a sponge. In 

 an hour it has been known to absorb six 

 pounds of water, adding greatly to its 

 weight and accelerating physical ex- 

 haustion. Yes, it's waterproof. 



What? Only Three Kinds of Feet? 



A RECENT meeting of foot doctors 

 brought forth the information that 

 all feet are divided into three classes, 

 namely, inflared, outflared and straight — 

 the first two classes being scientific 

 divisions for the common afiflictions 

 known as pigeon-toes and bow-legs. One 

 doctor said: "Shoes are pro\erbially 

 made to fit the eye and the pocketbook, 

 but not the feet." In other words the 

 manufacturers have not kept step with 

 the times by making shoesof thrceclasses. 

 The ordinary classification of boots, 

 shoes and slippers does not fit with the 

 inflared, outflared and straight classes of 

 feet, stated the doctors, as was proved 

 by the fact that most manufacturers 

 ride in automobiles. To remedy the 

 situation it is proposed that all shoes be 

 manufactured to conform with the three 

 general classes of feet, that both feet 

 and shoes may advance side by side in 

 the scale of civilization. 



The rice-straw cloak on this Japanese is the oldest as well as the most effective of all the 

 various kinds of waterproof clothing extant 



