Comments on: She Had a Question, 1911 (3)

By: Chad Too

Chad Too — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 04:54:01 +0000

“But since all I know of early 20th century beauty techniques comes from these columns, don’t bet anything you can’t afford to lose on my supposition.”

My overtired brain read the last word as “suppository” and I was simply going to refer you to the article on Constipation in the September Journal.

By: Clark

Clark — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 21:34:35 +0000

Or bedsheets. I know several grandmotherly aged women who insist on ironing bedsheets. Why?? (Maybe they didn’t read Mrs. Hearst, and are still convinced their health will be affected…

By: Mark B.

Mark B. — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 17:20:08 +0000

Her bloomers, of course!

By: David B

David B — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 17:13:15 +0000

I think your health would be just about the same whether you ironed them or not.

I really, really, really want to know what the question was—i seriously can’t figure out what it could have been.

By: Ardis E. Parshall

Ardis E. Parshall — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 23:25:55 +0000

Here’s a special edition of “kevinf Had a Question”:

I think, am not absolutely sure, that a bran bag was used while bathing, or at least while washing the face, the way we might use a loofa or some chemical facial scrub today. A bag made of such loose-woven fabric as Mrs. Hurst describes would have allowed the rough texture of the bran to serve as an exfoliant while the soap lubricated and cleansed.

But since all I know of early 20th century beauty techniques comes from these columns, don’t bet anything you can’t afford to lose on my supposition.

By: kevinf

kevinf — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 22:47:07 +0000

All we are missing is this small addition to the last question:

No, it is not right to be forced to marry one whom you do not love. Much unhappiness would come to both of you. Note the article on constipation in the Sept. journal.

And what the heck is a bran bag?

By: Ardis E. Parshall

Ardis E. Parshall — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 20:13:47 +0000

And luckily for you, Paradox, you can point people to that article at this link -- I meant to link that in the OP and have now done so.

By: Paradox

Paradox — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 19:15:26 +0000

Whenever I grow tired of explaining detail, I should tell people to consult the article on Constipation in the September Journal

By: Hunter

Hunter — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 16:26:46 +0000

I never tire of reading these. Thanks.

By: Bruce Crow

Bruce Crow — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 16:11:54 +0000

Interesting. "Heat producing foods" is not a category we hear much of today. Reminds me of the way the Chinese describe foods (i.e. according to when you should eat them). Snake, for example, should be eaten in the winter as it will keep you warm.