Greetings all...fun discussion! Let's bust some myths or substantiate
them as fact! I have a vague memory that Ben Franklin, in his copious
writings, may have advocated sleeping in a more upright position. But
I'm not a Franklin scholar and have not the resources in hand to find
any quotes. Anyone out there that can help? Ever curious, I remain,
YHS, VivianLea Stevens
Lori Allen wrote:
> So, now I am really, really curious..... I have visited historic homes all
> over the country and been told the beds were shorter because "they" slept
> propped up on pillows to avoid various lung ailments, vapors, whatever. If
> "they" didn't sleep propped up?, the WHY ARE the beds so short??? Average
> height for humans (in America) has increased just like lifespan, shoe size,
> etc., but not THAT much. Those beds were short, even for me and I am only
> 5'2". Somebody on this list just HAS to know this......(fingers crossed)
>
> Lori Allen
> Graduate Student, History and Museum Studies
> University of Missouri - St. Louis
>
> "Well behaved women rarely make history."
> - Laurel Thatcher Ulrich, Historian
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Museum discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On
> Behalf Of Carol Ely
> Sent: Tuesday, May 07, 2002 1:26 PM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: AAM Poster session
>
>
>
>>Subject: Re: AAM Poster session
>>
>
>
>>They were shorter back then. (in reference to the shorter length of
>>
> bedsteads - no they weren't - they slept >sleeping up in order to prevent
> themselves from drowning in their humors [yellow bile, black bile, blood,
> and >phlegm])
>
> Wait a minute. I think you've punctured one myth only to replace it with
> another one. No, "they" weren't "shorter" as a general rule, with
> exceptions
> for time, place, income level, nutritional level, and genetic endowment...
> BUT, "they" didn't sleep sitting up either - it was recommended once by
> Benjamin Rush, but I've never seen any evidence that this was a widely
> adopted practice. If anyone has any primary evidence that this is true as
> any kind of general practice, please share, but I'm not believing it until
> I
> see it.
>
> Carol Ely
> Museum Consultant, Louisville
>
> =========================================================
> Important Subscriber Information:
>
> The Museum-L FAQ file is located at
> http://www.finalchapter.com/museum-l-faq/ . You may obtain detailed
> information about the listserv commands by sending a one line e-mail
> message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should
> read "help" (without the quotes).
>
> If you decide to leave Museum-L, please send a one line e-mail message to
> [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "Signoff
> Museum-L" (without the quotes).
>
> =========================================================
> Important Subscriber Information:
>
> The Museum-L FAQ file is located at http://www.finalchapter.com/museum-l-faq/ . You may obtain detailed information about the listserv commands by sending a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "help" (without the quotes).
>
> If you decide to leave Museum-L, please send a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "Signoff Museum-L" (without the quotes).
>
>
>
--
VivianLea Stevens
Regional Sales Manager
Re:discovery Software, Inc.
3040 Berkmar Drive, Suite B1
Charlottesville, VA 22901
434-975-3256, x 12
434-975-3935 (FAX)
[log in to unmask]
www.rediscov.com
=========================================================
Important Subscriber Information:
The Museum-L FAQ file is located at http://www.finalchapter.com/museum-l-faq/ . You may obtain detailed information about the listserv commands by sending a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "help" (without the quotes).
If you decide to leave Museum-L, please send a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "Signoff Museum-L" (without the quotes).
|
