WAYS AND MEANS 



itary' soles and heels they are better still, — 

 probably combining all the virtues that a 

 mortal bootmaker can assemble; but water 

 will nevertheless find its way down, if not 

 through, in the course of a long day in the 

 rain. 



Good boots deserve the best of dubbin; 

 here is the recipe for one that is clean, 

 without smell, and very resistent to water: 

 Mutton-fat, six ounces; white-wax, six 

 ounces; Canada balsam, four ounces; raw 

 linseed-oil, three pounds. Boil slowly to- 

 gether for about an hour — until it cools to 

 the consistency of vaseline. This has the 

 further excellence of being an agreeable 

 and very soothing emollient. 



Some possess tender and enlightened 

 consciences; others have the same discom- 

 fort with their feet. A light smooth pair 

 of socks under heavy woollen stockings 

 helps the second condition, for the first I 

 have no remedy to propose. When a long 

 tramp is in prospect, time can well be 

 spared to soap the inside of the socks; a 

 free lathering prevents blistering and sore- 

 ness. On a walk that drew out to thirty- 

 five miles, over what bore the courtesy title 

 of a road — the last two hours of it through 

 wash-outs and boulders in the pitch-black- 

 217 



