A foot which is flatly formed appears much larger to the
eye than one which is finely arched, although, in reality, its
surface may not be greater, and a judicious method of reducing
its bulk in appearance, and perhaps improving its shape, is to
adopt those coverings which, by form and color, are calculated
to produce that effect by optical delusion. White and fancy
stockings should be avoided by those whose feet possess this
peculiar development, as white and other light colors, from
their well-known power of reflecting light, give the form of
the object to which they are applied a peculiar distinctness.
Black, on the other hand, sends back few, if any, rays of light
to meet the eye, and, consequently, the feet, if clothed in this
color, will appear themselves sensibly diminished. Black
stockings and dark-colored boots and shoes, invariably black,
whatever their material may be, should, therefore, be worn by
those who have large and flat feet, and, by skillful management,
will not appear out of keeping with the rest of the dress. The
shoe, moreover, should be made to come high upon the instep,
for nothing tends so much to give a degree of awkwardness to
the feet as their being allowed to overflow, as it were, the
leather, since they are certain to look large if anything in the
vicinity should happen to be disproportionately small. The
heel should, in addition, be considerably elevated, with a view-
to increase the height of the arch, by which, in turn, the gene-
ral flatness is diminished, and the appearance of breadth con-
sequently lessened. Such, we doubt not, our fair readers will
find on trial to be a better way of remedying apparent and
even real defects in size than the ordinary method by com-
pression; let greater attention be paid to the color of the
stocking and the form of the shoe, and less to the thinness of
the former and smallness and lightness of the latter, and bene-
fits greater than may appear at first sight will, we iinnly be-
ETIQUETTE. 67
lieve, result to those who alter their line of procedure. A
walking shoe should be particularly easy and of firm materials,
with a thick sole; boots are not well adapted for this purpose,
as they are usually tight and do not admit of the free play of
the muscles of the foot and ankle so necessary to walk with
either grace or comfort; a slight shoe with a slight sole induces
fatigue, from its inability of yielding a firm support to the foot.
Ladies are too much in the habit of neglecting the practice of
walking as a means of healthful exercise, although part of the
blame attaches to their natural protectors, who have absurd
ideas of the impropriety of women being frequently seen out
doors. Those, indeed, who possess carriages do not confine
themselves so rigorously, but walking is by far the most pre-
ferable mode of taking the air. Our continental neighbors
differ from us in no respect more than in their fondness for ex-
ercise in the open air, and to the opportunities of thus fulfilling
the dictates of* nature we may ascribe the elegance which
marks the movements of their wives and daughters. The
women of Paris and Madrid are celebrated for the elegance of
their feet, but then they cultivate them properly by constant
walking, which they look upon as a graceful accomplishment.
Page 45
Presented as published in 1883. Historical recipes may not meet modern food-safety standards. Cook from the modern interpretation, not the original instructions.
AI-modernized reading of the original text
A foot which is flatly formed appears much larger to the eye than one which is finely arched, although, in reality, its surface may not be greater, and a judicious method of reducing its bulk in appearance, and perhaps improving its shape, is to adopt those coverings which, by form and color, are calculated to produce that effect by optical delusion. White and fancy stockings should be avoided by those whose feet possess this peculiar development, as white and other light colors, from their well-known power of reflecting light, give the form of the object to which they are applied a peculiar distinctness. Black, on the other hand, sends back few, if any, rays of light to meet the eye, and, consequently, the feet, if clothed in this color, will appear themselves sensibly diminished. Black stockings and dark-colored boots and shoes, invariably black, whatever their material may be, should, therefore, be worn by those who have large and flat feet, and, by skillful management, will not appear out of keeping with the rest of the dress. The shoe, moreover, should be made to come high upon the instep, for nothing tends so much to give a degree of awkwardness to the feet as their being allowed to overflow, as it were, the leather, since they are certain to look large if anything in the vicinity should happen to be disproportionately small. The heel should, in addition, be considerably elevated, with a viewto increase the height of the arch, by which, in turn, the general flatness is diminished, and the appearance of breadth consequently lessened. Such, we doubt not, our fair readers will find on trial to be a better way of remedying apparent and even real defects in size than the ordinary method by compression; let greater attention be paid to the color of the stocking and the form of the shoe, and less to the thinness of the former and smallness and lightness of the latter, and benefits greater than may appear at first sight will, we firmly be-
lieve, result to those who alter their line of procedure. A walking shoe should be particularly easy and of firm materials, with a thick sole; boots are not well adapted for this purpose, as they are usually tight and do not admit of the free play of the muscles of the foot and ankle so necessary to walk with either grace or comfort; a slight shoe with a slight sole induces fatigue, from its inability of yielding a firm support to the foot. Ladies are too much in the habit of neglecting the practice of walking as a means of healthful exercise, although part of the blame attaches to their natural protectors, who have absurd ideas of the impropriety of women being frequently seen out doors. Those, indeed, who possess carriages do not confine themselves so rigorously, but walking is by far the most preferable mode of taking the air. Our continental neighbors differ from us in no respect more than in their fondness for exercise in the open air, and to the opportunities of thus fulfilling the dictates of* nature we may ascribe the elegance which marks the movements of their wives and daughters. The women of Paris and Madrid are celebrated for the elegance of their feet, but then they cultivate them properly by constant walking, which they look upon as a graceful accomplishment.