I am quite certain the bed length issue is easily understood when one
refers to certain woodcut illustrations in the Gutenberg Bible (my
roomate's  sister in college took a class with someone who had heard
about this) which clearly indicate that, prior to 1850, people's
heads grew underneath their shoulders, with their faces occupying the
space that we would now call the "chest".  This would logically mean
they required shorter beds.

This fact is also corroborated my cousin, who read a book (written by
someone who knows a lot about these things) about how the character
of the "Queen of Hearts" in Alice in Wonderland yelled "Off with
their Heads!" as an illustration by Lewis Carroll to the British
aristocracy's resistance to the new trend amongst the working classes
of growing their heads on top of their necks.  This was a trend which
came to America shortly thereafter.  At least, that's what my
grandfather used to tell me, and he was a barber, so he should know.
--
Scott Hilton
Program Administrative Assistant
Explorit Science Center
3141 Fifth St.
P.O. Box 1288
Davis, CA 95616
530-756-0191 ph
530-756-1227 fax
http://www.explorit.org

"To involve people in science
experiences that touch our lives."

**Celebrating 20 years of discovery**
**1982-2002**
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