The Ladies TeaStop in and grab a quick cup of tea! All sorts of ladies issues are disscussed here. Both Ladies and Gentlemen are welcome to join in the conversations.
I was reluctant to jump in until I saw that aphillbilly had already done so.
My own ggmother would make Frances Clayton look like Cindy Crawford. The probable fact was that the women of the middle 1800's were not selected universally so much for their looks as they were for their utility. And their service, with or without husbands, stands as testimony to their fortitude. We've seen women taking over when the need arose, whether in peacetime or during war. Weaker sex? My sorry bu**!
Fortunately, the one with which I am associated (notice, I didn't say "mine"?) allows me to think I run the show. My salute to the stronger sex!
Thanks for the salute Ole! Hate to say it, but that's why women have children. Sorry to say, but the human race would have died out a long time ago if it weren't for the ladies dealing with child birth :-)!!
And as for looks, you're right, they weren't really selected for that, although some were very darling. I think it was where you were raised and how your life was. But think of it, would you as a man select a wome when she had to wear bear grease in her hair to make it smooth and managable? Or no deoderant? And make up! Now that was considered for harlots!!
By the same token, Jenna, think of those poor women. You were considered an old maid if you'd not married by age 23. The men you were forced to choose among didn't consider "bathing" high on their "To-do list" (ranking right up there with brushing their teeth with whatever was available!), plus they satiated their lusts with women of ill repute until "Miss Right" came along. No telling what diseases these couplings produced!
On top of that a man that chose "You" to be his little bride might be taking you across country, away from your family, to build a home while you lived in a tent, cooked, farmed, AND had babies, supposedly without batting an eye!
Seems to me the life of a nun would look awfully appealing.....
__________________ Thea
No one has permission to use any material from any of my posts on any CWT forum, the archives, or any other forum without my express written permission.
That is why I say thank goodness for modern times. I would never have made it, but I guess that's because I know what today is like. But the closest I guess we get to life of the time is after a weekend being out re-enacting, not washing up all weekend. That's enough for me.
And my hat is off to you, Jenna, for making it through the week-end without the amenities of home.
We went to the Battle of Selma Sunday and I marvelled at all the people there who'd spent the week-end living in those terrible conditions.
This year we had something new too, there was a gentleman walking around, quite tall with a stove-pipe hat, and was the spitting image of Abe Lincoln. He came all the way from Lewisburg, Tenn to portray Lincoln. I thought it quite brave! <grin>
__________________ Thea
No one has permission to use any material from any of my posts on any CWT forum, the archives, or any other forum without my express written permission.
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