1906 A Bachelor's Cupboard

A BACHELOR'S CUPBOARD How a Man May Valet Himself working the toes about In the shoe and making it con- form to the shape of the foot as the leather expands. This will not injure patent leather, but it is a good plan to rub over with vaseline or petroleum jelly on a flannel rag after wetting. This nearly always gives instantaneous relief from pinching shoes. For tan shoes, banana peelings possess some coloring matter and tannic acid that seems essential in polish- ing red leather. Rub the inside of the peel on the shoe and polish with a flannel rag. This gives the best of results. To dry wet shoes quickly when one is far from a shoe- tree, put some small pebbles or gravel in a pan and heat, not too hot, and fill the shoes w^ith them. It may be necessary to repeat the process. To restore the softness of leather that has been wet, rub the shoes with kerosene oil, pinching the leather and working it between the fingers as you do so. Rubber boots should be dried carefully, and when they become wet inside they need heroic treatment. Have a peck of oats, or, failing these, coarse sand, or even old rags. Heat quite hot, then put inside the boot, and repeat until the boot is quite dry. Allow mud to dr>^ on the shoes before brushing it Then rub over with kerosene oil and glycerine off.

is not available, the oil

in equal parts.

If glycerine

alone may be used.

Even tallow or melted lard may

be used in emergencies. For creaking shoes, put in a shallow pan or pie tin

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