English SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS(3 Mark)

The title refers to the great quality boots which Mr Gessler made. It is an ideal title for the lesson. It refers to the business practices followed these days where no one cares about quality. For Mr Gessler, quality was of immense significance. He worked for long hours, didn’t allow anyone else to meddle with style of shoemaking. He lost on business, was spending days in poverty still the man didn’t compromise on quality.

Mr Gessler used to speak English with a German accent. His English sounded funny and a bit difficult to understand. Mr Gessler would have spoken these lines as – Id comes and never ‘sobs. Does ‘Id bidder’s me? ‘Nod ad all’. Ask my ‘brother, please.

Mr Gessler was having a tough time in his final years. He had lost his customers because of the delay in delivery of his orders.

Author had mistaken Mr Gessler for his elder brother because he looked too old. There was very thin lining of hair left on the top portion of his head. During the last meeting with the author within a period s of one year, Mr Gessler had grown older by around 10 years. He looked tired and exhausted. The hardships of the trade have taken a toll on his health. He even failed to recognise the author at first.

Mr Gessler was successful as a bootmaker because his customers were immensely satisfied with the boots he made. They perfectly fit them and lasted long. Yes, he was a failure as a competitive businessman.
He didn’t have money like the big firms so couldn’t invest on advertisements. He lost his business to them. He took time in delivering the boots because he made them alone. He lost his customers because of the delay in delivery. He worked hard, striving for long hours. Whatever he earned went on paying the rent for his shop and for buying leather. He spent his days in great poverty.