Democratic Sentinel, Volume 17, Number 40, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 20 October 1893 — Are We to Become Toeless? [ARTICLE]

Are We to Become Toeless?

That the civilized part of us is changing our physical structure in answer to the conditions under which we live is a fact to which the poor little toes in the corners of our boots might tearfully testify if we could consult them in the spirit. This member, which our prehistoric lady ancestors doubtless found aesthetically useful, when, while grasping with the foot an article of food, they elegantly elevated the little toe from the others, as the little finger of the damsel from the teacup of to-day, has now so fallen from its high estate that in 36.25 per cent, of men and women the first joint of the little toe has been replaced by a solid, inflexible bone. It is to be supposed that if we continue fora few more aeons to walk with our junior toe doubled up like a leaf in a book we shall some day look all around our foot and find no toe at all. As the process continues and each rushing cycle knocks off another toe we shall finally have in place of the present artistically befringed pediments a pair of solid pads, on which will rest five useless commemorative nails, like sb many tombstones erected to those departed members which went to join the dodo rather than accept shoes that did not fit.—[St. Louis Star-Sayings.