Regarding yesterday’s comments about privacy. Even as late as the 1700s, privacy as we know it simply didn’t exist. Unless you were wildly wealthy, everyone slept together in the same room. The parents might have a poster bed with curtains, but as soon as they were dry, children slept in one of two other beds – one for the boys and another for the girls. At President Buchanan’s home in Lancaster, the necessary house is about 15 feet square, and lined on two sides with “stair step” holes. You went in, found a likely spot, did what needed to be done, and left. And you were seldom alone. In Williamsburg, there are small, octagonal houses along the streets, for the same usage. There were even buffet-like pieces of furniture that held chamber pot; the shelf with the pot slid out, and you pushed it back in when you were finished. There were drawers on either side of this to store heaven-knows-what. Just hope it wasn’t the silverware!
Regarding yesterday’s comments about privacy. Even as late as the 1700s, privacy as we know it simply didn’t exist. Unless you were wildly wealthy, everyone slept together in the same room. The parents might have a poster bed with curtains, but as soon as they were dry, children slept in one of two other beds – one for the boys and another for the girls. At President Buchanan’s home in Lancaster, the necessary house is about 15 feet square, and lined on two sides with “stair step” holes. You went in, found a likely spot, did what needed to be done, and left. And you were seldom alone. In Williamsburg, there are small, octagonal houses along the streets, for the same usage. There were even buffet-like pieces of furniture that held chamber pot; the shelf with the pot slid out, and you pushed it back in when you were finished. There were drawers on either side of this to store heaven-knows-what. Just hope it wasn’t the silverware!
And here endeth today’s sermon!