(08-01-2020, 01:31 PM)727Sky Wrote:Quote:
In Shakespeare's
time, mattresses were secured on bed frames by ropes.
When you pulled on the ropes, the mattress tightened,
making the bed firmer to sleep on. Hence the
phrase...'Goodnight , sleep tight'
Beds used to be like that here in the mountains, too. Rope replaced the springs, and the mattress (usually a feather or straw tick) sat on top of the ropes. There were holes bored every few inches along the footboard, the headboard, and both the sideboards. Rope was passed through the holes and woven in and out of the perpendicular rope strands, and there were wooden pegs in each hole to wedge the rope. To tighten it and make the mattress firmer and less saggy in the middle, you would start at one end of the rope, remove the peg, and snatch the rope tight, replace the peg to wedge the rope, and then move on to the next hole.
Every spring, during spring cleaning, the mattresses would be removed and the filler - whether straw or feathers - would be removed and spread out in the sun to disinfect it.
.
Diogenes was eating bread and lentils for supper. He was seen by the philosopher Aristippus, who lived comfortably by flattering the king.
Said Aristippus, ‘If you would learn to be subservient to the king you would not have to live on lentils.’ Said Diogenes, ‘Learn to live on lentils and you will not have to be subservient to the king.’
Said Aristippus, ‘If you would learn to be subservient to the king you would not have to live on lentils.’ Said Diogenes, ‘Learn to live on lentils and you will not have to be subservient to the king.’