Dear Sir, - It is as an important an asset to any woman who takes a proper interest in the well-being of her outward appearance, that her nether limbs should be well and suitably clothed, as it is that her head should be suitably adorned or covered; and there is no greater or better acquisition toward this end than the encasing of her lovely limbs in a pair of equally lovely, well-fitting, high-laced boots. The effect they have upon the general appearance of the wearer more than amply compensates for expense, time and trouble involved.
But none of these things can be said of Russians, Cossacks, Wellingtons, and the like. They look slovenly, ungainly, and are only fitting foot-sacks for the limbs that are equally ungainly, and altogether the very reverse of beautiful.
That they may have their advantages in the countries from which they originate, and for the purposes for which they were originally made, is not for one moment being doubted; but for their introduction into the civil life of this country their was positively no just cause, and they altogether distract from the charm and queenly femininity of the wearer.
There are some other styles and patterns of high boots that are far in front of these; but to my mind there are none that can be mentioned in the same breath with the magnificent specimens of bootcraft that one sees embracing the queenly limbs of the ladies one meets perambulating from place to place in our cities and towns. And these are generally laced boots pulled tight over the limbs, reaching well up to the knee, or nearly so, stand erect and symmetrically upon well-shaped heels, from preferences from 2 inches to 3 inches high, that make it no stretch of the imagination to belief them to be the feet of a goddess and to furnish in the mind of an admirer a complete picture of the divine creature, suggested by the majestic and exquisite sweetness of the limbs upon which she moves and evades his admiring glances among the thoughtless and jostling crowds.
The modern representatives of the ancient craft of the bootmaker turn out some really wonderful and even magnificent specimens of their skill and craftsmanship to charm the eye and tickle the fancy of all aesthetic natural female grace and ladylike physical expression that should be the prerogative of our sex and the ambition of all the members belonging thereto. I have known in wonderful changes in outline and in improvements in deportment being wrought through this simple method of training; and probably, for this purpose, buttoned boots have the advantage over laced ones. And I think it is quite possible to improve, if not correct, some of the defects of pose and carriage in walking by the mere adoption of this class of covering and adornment for the nether limbs, and a determination to improve the outline thereof; for the correct carriage of the body is largely dependent upon the symmetrical and elegant deportment of the lower limbs.
Having said all this I am not forgetful of my own serious handicap; for although I have only one leg, I am quite satisfied that, by the correct carriage of my one nether limb, and the elegance of the garment in which it is clothed, the rest of my person is benefited, and the age within me enabled my gratification of expression, which the urge within me aspires, and my innermost soul improves.
Trusting that I have not encroached unduly upon your valuable space by the expression of these thoughts of mine, on what, to me, is a charming and engrossing subject, I beg to remain thanking you for all past favours and wishing your most admirable paper the real unadulterated success it so deserves Yours truly,
Lill.