How to Make a Shoe

Excerpt

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INTRODUCTION.

The Author of the book in hand, having passed through the various scenes through which he would accompany his readers, was prompted to make this offering to the craft and the public in order to relieve his mind of the thoughts had upon the subject of making shoes, as well as to contribute something of a literary character which, in the broad range of possibilities, may become useful as a text-book, or family-book, for those who may feel interested in making or wearing shoes, and perhaps lead to something better. Realizing the imperfections and shortcomings of the human family, to some extent at least, no claim beyond that which you are disposed to put upon it is held, so that any communication will be gladly received and noted. This opportunity is also taken to express thanks for some valuable suggestions from the U. S. Bureau of Education, and others, concerning the publication of this little volume, and in its present shape you are invited to read and make the best use of it you can.

Author.

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The subject, seated on a chair,One knee the other to rest,Has his measure taken fair,The foot at ease is best.The Artist views the foot,And straightway takes the length,By measuring it from heel to toe,Hissizebrings content.From twelve to eighteen inches long—Thisstickhas manysizes;Three to the inch is now our song,Subject to compromises.Some feet have long toes behind—In the language of thecraft;These are not so hard to find,And oft to us been waft.Our Artist here will best succeed,If a little head he can measure,For out of that comes very muchTo make the feet a treasure.

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Next, around the heel a strap we bring,To the centre of the curve,A leather or linenstrapis used,And don’t affect the nerve.
The marks on this an inch represents,Also fractions of inch preserved;When made complete it then presentsAn appearance well deserved.
Around the heel, I’ve already said,But that is not quite so;For around in part and through insteadWill make it more the go.
Now let us here make up our minds,If this trade we would study,That thecraftis subject to many finesIf the subject gets verymuddy.

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With strap in hand theinstepmeasure—Be sure you get it right;For at this place some have a treasure,Which prompts them oft to fight.
A littlelumpwe will it now call,Not knowing the exact name of it;Nor let ourstrapthe least bit fall,But measure just above it.
When we’ve done this, and done quite well,Another move will follow,Which takes us nearly on theball,And brings us from thehollow.

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From thehollownow we’ve just come out,With strap in hand to takeThe measure neat, near on theball,So that ourfitswon’t shake.
If they should shake the remedy comes,A false sole we do make,To please our subjects at their homesThesoleswe there do take.
Onward now the way we press,And move along just so,Until we reach the part well knownTo be the toe, the toe.

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This is the place of which folks do talk,If there is any pressure,Because they cannot easy walk,Theshoeymissed the measure.
Just below theball, across the toes,Is where we next are found;For there is nothing worn likeshoesWhen used upon the ground.
From here we feel like soaring higher,And soon get at the ankle,Which must be fit to suit the buyer,Thus avoiding any wrangle.

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Theanklereached, we then with careMeasure neat and true;If anything is noticed there,’Twill surely be the shoe.
That notice is just what we want,From that we get our living;And if we make a miss on that,It might be past forgiving.
From toe to ankle we have come,With an uncertain height,And with the measures we’ve put downWill now add that right.

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To have the height right is our aim;Some like shoes high, some low;But to have them fit is all the same,And this we try to show.
Some in one way, some in another,These measures have been taken,Until we have them all together,We should not try to shapen....