There is an additional elegance, and general appearance of elevation given to the foot by having the sole of the boot made as thin and light in the shank or waist as possible. This can be done in men’s boots by driving a row of pegs through the shank-piece, putting the pegs close together, to create stiffness, without increasing the thickness of the leather. The shoemaker will understand. A shank made in this manner will be firm enough in drawing off the boot, the thickly-driven pegs not leaving room between them for the leather to _break_; while it is much more flexible than a thick one. It is thus _better adapted to the foot_, at the same time that it is _quite as reliable for its own proper purpose_. One piece of leather may thus take the place of two or three. Where a metallic shank is used, there will of course be the appearance of lightness. The model boot or shoe of the future, however, will be one in which there shall exist no need of stiffness in order to draw it off, but where this part of the sole will be so thin and flexible as to be easily pressed downward by the large ligament under the arch when the toes are raised, while it will cling upward close to the hollow of the foot when the arch is raised and the toes extended. Another hint to the bootmaker may not be inappropriate. It is generally considered desirable to have the side seams correspond with, or meet, the forward corners of the heel. To effect this when a long heel is made it is only necessary to add half an inch, or more, to the width of the _back-pattern_ at the bottom, before cutting. This width may be added at the bottom, and lessened gradually toward the top, or continued through the whole length of the pattern equally, as preferred. A corresponding amount must of course be taken off from the width of the _front_ pattern at the same time. In a boot without sideseams the same rule applies in cutting the ends of the outside counter. The front of the heel should not be cut out in curved form, as is sometimes done, because that is a virtual shortening of it; though there is no objection to cutting out the upper lifts of the leather, letting the point of the knife come out before touching the sole, which makes a shortened appearance without affecting the length at all where the sole and heel surfaces unite. A heel _rounded out_, lengthwise, would be preferable to one curved _in_, though it might not be thought so elegant unless indorsed by fashion. We speak thus particularly about the construction of the heel, because it is important; as the good or ill form of the foot’s arch seems to depend upon it more than upon anything else, except it be the strengthening of the muscles.