Fig. 15.Fig. 16.Fig. 17.Fig. 18.Fig. 19.
Fig. 15.Fig. 16.Fig. 17.Fig. 18.Fig. 19.
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 therelived 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, orsabots, 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.