not only the warmth essential to this but also the ability to
use every part of our bodily structure with as little restraint as
possible. If we could wear a costume which would permit us to feel just
as free and untrammeled in our movements as we do when without clothing
such a form of dress would be ideal. Our movements should not be
restricted by our clothing any more than is absolutely unavoidable. The
ordinary skirt, supposed to be a necessary part of feminine apparel, Is
in its nature an evil of first importance. Every step taken by a woman
wearing such a garment is hampered; she is continuously handicapped by
her skirt. If a man were compelled to walk through tall, heavy grass
all his life he would get some idea of the extent to which the feminine
skirt interferes with the freedom of woman.

Numerous other defects of our costumes interfere with bodily freedom.
Take our tight and ungainly shoes. Here is an abominable instance of
our slavery to style. In most instances the foot is made to fit the
shoe, and the suffering that is endured by many so-called stylish people
for the purpose of making the foot fit the shoe would be difficult to
describe. A shoe should fit the foot. The more nearly you approximate
the same freedom when walking in a shoe as you do when barefooted the
more perfect the shoe. The toes should not be squeezed out of shape. The
great toe should follow the straight line of the inside of the foot
instead of being bent over to the position normally occupied by the
middle toe. All the toes should be allowed to spread out in the shoe,
at least to a reasonable extent. Furthermore, a shoe that really
fits should feel comfortable the first time it is put on. There should
be no necessity for "breaking in" a shoe.

The artificial heel added to the ordinary shoe is another curious freak
of fashion. If the Almighty in perfecting the human foot had found a
high heel necessary it would have been provided. The artificial heel,
especially the very high heel commonly used on shoes worn by women, is
an insult to Nature, to the Creator. Some day, when we are really
civilized, high heels will be unknown. I am convinced that the
Omnipotent Creator knew his business thoroughly when he created the
human foot, that the sole of the human foot, heel included, was made for
locomotion, and that it is impossible for human ingenuity to improve
upon the foot. In other words, if you can secure footwea