[Nita Nupress]

Have you ever wondered what it must have been like back in the 1800s when the pioneer people didn't take showers every day and wore their clothes dozens of times without washing them?

And have you ever added that little tidbit of knowledge to the fact that the "typical" family consisted of 10 or more kids?

That's just disgusting. Does that mean they took about 10 baths a year? 'Cause I wouldn't let a man come NEAR me if he had smelly 'pits. I wouldn't care if he WAS my betrothed.

[Nita Nupress]

Wait a minute... Scratch "betrothed." Meant to say "spouse."

[softwarecreator]

Have you ever wondered what it must have been like back in the 1800s when the pioneer people didn't take showers every day and wore their clothes dozens of times without washing them?

ummmmm ... no, can't say I ever have.  But if I had to venture a guess I would say: quite smelly.

[Humidston]

Now we know why they used those boards to separate sleeping partners!

But on the subject of all the kids?? You got me there! People must have chain-smoked to kill their sense of smell. I know I'd have been sleeping outside. Waaaay outside!

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

Yes. It must have been quite fragrant...

Traditionally they took one bath a week but they did wash up. The unwashed clothes must have been horrific.

They did re-use the bath water...

[hiredhand]

One of my sons is 15. He had been clearing the fenceline with a weedeater one afternoon, and then I came home from work. He was through and was sitting at his computer in his room. I went in just to say hi and "IT" crawled up my nose.

I moved just a little closer to be sure of the source. That kid had the worst case of B.O. I've smelled in a LONG time. I said, "Son...you should take a shower NOW because if your mother or sister get wind of you, they're going to be ill. If I can smell you, you're going to just KILL them!".

But before he could get to the shower, he passed his 12 yr old sister in the hallway, who shrieked and ran outside for fresh air.

What is it with you females and that sense of smell? ...and when you're pregnant, it's like it gets magnified. :-)