Page:Science ofDress244.png

244 boots for  children;   ladies   prefer   to  buy   them ready-made, and save expense."

This matter, however, is one in which money ought not to be saved at the expense of health and future suffering to the little ones. It will be a comfort, however, to those who are anxious to save expense to know that stockings and boots when made of good materials and to fit the shape of the foot, wear twice as long as those of ordinary manufacture. For the feet pressed on by ill-fitting boots or stockings struggle against the oppression, and in the endeavour to regain their natural shape wear through their coverings. This is the reason of the common experience that holes in stockings always commence over the big toe.

For adults, either male or female, the boots shown in Figs. 24 and 25 are to be highly recommended, and they are in accordance with all the principles of construction which I have laid down.6

These boots, called the "Hygeia" boots, were invented and registered a few years back by Messrs. Marshall and Burt, of 444, Oxford Street, W., and are far superior to any I have seen elsewhere. They should of course be made in most cases to fit the wearer, from proper measurements on lasts, which should be retained for future use, and from these lasts boot-trees should be constructed; but many people have feet which can be fitted from stock, and this saves expense. Boot-trees are a