way of workmanship is equal to what is termed blind stabbing: the leather held between the workman's

knees, is pierced with a small pointed awl, which he holds together with the flax or silken thread that is to follow in his right hand; his left on the inside of the boot leg, and in the dark, in an instant sends through the bristle, and receives through the same little hole the point of the right hand one; the thread is drawn the stitch formed, quickly another hole is made, and the same operation repeated.

Nothing in the way of sewing or stitching can equal this blind stabbing, one half of which is done in the dark, the skill being acquired by constant practice and the extreme delicacy of the touch; from 20 to 30 stitches have been done to the inch in this way, and in prize work as many as 60, every stitch being clear, sharply defined, and beautifully regular.

THE ELASTIC BOOT FOR GENTLEMEN, is a light and easy article; it does not encumber the leg, and unlike the half-and-half clarence with its valve of folded leather and all kinds of holes and contrivances-it fits

the ankle like a stocking, and readily yields and elasti

cates to every motion of the feet and legs.

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The cut represents an elastic boot with a golosh of leather all round, the upper part being cloth, silk, prunella, cashmere, kid, or the silk stocking net; the material generally determining the kind of boot it is to be, and the thickness of the sole. When it is required that the elastic boot should have the appearance of a Wellington, it is made entirely of leather, spring and all, and thus made when on the foot has every appearance of it, as no join is ever detected above the instep when the trowsers accidentally rise a little higher than the wearer of a would-be-Wellington sometimes wishes them.

Travellers find these boots great comforts, they

take up very little room in the portmanteau, are soon cleaned, and are on and off in an instant, if made of patent leather they need only a wipe with an old silk handkerchief.

No boot hooks are ever required, the best hooks being nature's own, the fingers, and the only boot jack ever wanted is the toe of one boot applied to the heel of the other.

Dress Pumps-are almost the only shoes now worn, they are generally made of patent leather, and should be cut to sit well at the quarters.

The Oxonion Shoe is, however, a very useful article, and if properly made, is the best shoe for walking, and for wear. It laces up in front with three or four holes and sits snug about the quarters and heel, the vamp comes well above the joint and never hurts, by seams or pressure, the little toes-if it were not for the seam across the instep, girding and making it difficult to get the shoe on, and the frequent breaking at that part from the strain it undergoes, no shoe I could be better.

I have, however, effected a great improvement in

it, which remedies the evil at once, gives great freedom in putting on, and entirely prevents the breaking of the seam and vamp, this improvement would, however, be hardly intelligible from description, and must therefore, be seen to be understood properly. For shooting, and strong wear, it will be found extremely suitable, and it is perhaps the best of all shoes for young gentlemen.

STOCKINGS-WASHING THE FEET, &c.,-much more of comfort to the feet depends on the stockings than people are aware of; nothing can be worse than a stocking too large or one too small, the more common case is its largeness, and when I see a cotton or thread stocking tucked under at the toe and by the perspiration of the foot and the tread, become quite hard and compact, a hard ridge of a seam pressing on the toes, which shew the marks produced by the pressure all over the surface, I wonder how persons can expect comfort.

The best stocking for general wear are those made of lamb's wool, vigonia, and shetland knit, the pedestrian well knows the difference on a long day's

walk between a cotton or linen stocking and one of wool, he knows that the former soon becomes hard, damp and chilly with the moisture of the foot, whereas the latter enables him to bear fatigue, defends his foot from the friction of the shoe, secures it from blisters, and in every way ministers to his comfort.

Persons, however, who do not use much exercise may indulge in a silk stocking, ladies will not only find this the most elegant of all coverings for the feet, but at the same time far more comfortable than either cotton or linen, if the best silk is considered too expensive then a thick spun silk is a good substitute.

The frequent change of the stockings conduces much to comfort, and they should, in cases of corns or tender feet, be worn inside-out; even the little seam of a stocking has aggravated in a great measure a corn just appearing, which but for that pressure might soon have been got rid of.

Let the feet be bathed at least three times a week in tepid or cold water. For some years I was in the

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