Garden Hermits : Re: Re: Re: Re: Fingernails

» CarolWallace - Re: Re: Re: Re: Fingernails

In response to message posted by Kirk_Johnson:
I wouldn't know - mine have never reached a stage that could actually be called "long" - but I do know that when they get a bit longer than usual they can hurt when you poke them into your ears.

True in the 19th century hygiene wasn't what it is now, and it must have been really tought to get some of those elaborate clothing pieces clean - but most people had SOME sort of hygiene (at least a lick and a promise at the old wash stand) and the hermit would have none. So even the nest pomanders or tussy mussies wouldn't have made it pleasant to get too close.

I have alwasy wondered how they cleaned their clothing - the velvets and silks with all that ornamentation especially. There wasn't any kind of dry cleaning available until - I forget exactly now but it may have been either late 1900s and only for the very rich - or early 20th century.

But baths they had - look at Jean Paul Marat who nearly lived (and definitely died) in his. I've seen those old tubs in the Marche au Puces in Paris - they look a bit like a shoe with a bench in the heel portion.

-- posted by CarolWallace