ARCTICS, the term commonly applied to overshoes of rubber or rubberized fabric, worn over the ordinary shoes in stormy weather. They fasten up the leg with buttons, latches or by an interlocking mechanism known in the United States as the zipper. The original arctic was of black waterproofed material, fleece lined and constructed for utility rather than for style. It became popular with young people, particularly-college students, but since the great vogue among women for dainty shoes and light-coloured hosiery arctics have been generally adopted by them only for warmth and protection during winter weather. They have become an important factor in shoe manufacture and every effort is made to offer a dainty and stylish article to the fastidious patron. In large cities where heavy traffic keeps the streets in a muddy state over a long winter season the arctic has supplanted the old fashioned "rubber" or low overshoe which is clumsy and offers no protection except to the sole and lower part of the shoe.