ving back a shoe, the symbol of
rejecting or resigning it.

Among the Jews, the brother of a childless man was bound to marry his
widow: or, at least, he "had the refusal of her," and the lady could not
marry again till her husband's brother had formally rejected her. The
ceremony by which this rejection was performed took place in open court,
and is mentioned in Deut. xxv. If the brother publicly refused her, "she
loosed his shoe from off his foot, and spat in his face;" or, as great
Hebraists translate it, "spat before his face." _His_ giving up the shoe
was a symbol that _he_ abandoned all dominion over her; and _her_
spitting before _him_ was a defiance, and an assertion of independence.
This construction is in accordance with the opinions of Michaelis, as
stated in his _Laws of Moses_, vol. ii. p. 31.

This practice is still further illustrated by the story of Ruth. Her
nearest kinsman refused to marry her, and to redeem her inheritance: he
was publicly called on so to do by Boaz, and as publicly refused. And
the Bible adds, "as it was the custom in Israel concerning changing,
that a man plucked off his shoe and delivered it to his neighbour," the
kinsman plucked off his shoe and delivered it to Boaz as a public
renunciation of Ruth, of all dominion over her, and of his right of
pre-marriage.

These ceremonies were evidently not unknown to the early Christians.
When the Emperor Wladimir made proposals of marriage to the daughter of
Raguald, she refused him, saying, "That she would not take off her shoe
to the son of a slave."

There is a passage in _Gregory of Tours_ (c. 20.) where, speaking of
espousals, he says, "The bridegroom having given a ring to the fiancee,
presents her with a shoe."

From Michelet's _Life of Luther_ we learn, that the great reformer was
at the wedding of Jean Luffte. After supper, he conducted the bride to
bed, and told the bridegroom that, according to common custom, he ought
to be master in his own house _when_ his wife was not there: and for a
symbol, he took off the husband's shoe, and put it upon the head of the
bed--"afin qu'il prit ainsi la domination et gouvernement."

{412}
I would suggest for the consideration of your correspondents that the
throwing a shoe after a bride was a symbol of renunciation of dominion
and authority over her by her father or guardian; and the receipt of the
shoe by the bridegroom, even if accidental, was an omen that that
authority was transferre