Figure 11 shows a lady’s shoe richly painted with small flowers. In front is a knob of brilliant color, divided into segments to imitate the petals of a flower, and at every step the wearer takes she presses a spring concealed under the sole, which causes the petals to alternately open and close. One can easily imagine the sensation such a shoe would cause, seen promenading along any of our prominent thoroughfares for the first time. The shoes worn by the wealthy are of the richest description, being overlaid with gold and silver, and embroidered with precious stones. Others, like Figure 14, are adorned with inlaid work of pearls or delicate shells set in gold, closely resembling _cloissonne_ enamel, while many employ the wings of gorgeous insects in their decoration. The color of shoes in the East seems to be a matter of importance, indicating the rank or caste of the wearer, red and yellow being the favorite shades. In olden times the Mohammedans were very jealous that none should wear yellow but themselves, wishing it to be preserved as their distinctive mark; and there is an old story which tells how some charitable person gave a Christian beggar an old pair of yellow slippers, and the Sultan happening to see them had the old man thrown into prison, and despite his explanations and protestations of innocence would not spare his life. * * * * * [Illustration: _Fig. 15._ _Fig. 16._ _Fig. 17._ _Fig. 18._ _Fig. 19._] Leaving the East, and coming back to Europe, we find that in the early days of the Church at Rome there lived a pious man named Crispin, and his brother, who became converted to Christianity, and leaving their native village traveled into France and Britain. While on their travels they supported themselves by making shoes, which they sold to the poor at very low prices. (There is a legend which says that an angel supplied them with all the leather, which probably accounts for their moderate charges.) At any rate, they are said to have done a great deal of good among the poor, but were finally martyred for their faith, in the third century. Ever since their memory has been celebrated by the faithful of their craft with great rejoicing and merriment on the 25th of October, which is known as St. Crispin’s Day, while he is considered the patron saint of all shoemakers. * * * * * In the ninth and tenth centuries, we find the use of wooden shoes, or _sabots_, very general throughout Europe, princes of all degrees wearing them. Their reign was of short duration, however, as they were soon relegated to the poorer classes, by whom they have been worn ever since. [Illustration: _Fig. 20._ _Fig. 21._ _Fig. 22._ _Fig. 23._ _Fig. 24._]