Mr. Boolie "Chigger" Jackson from Hind Lick West Virginia asks...
Dear Mr. Knowitall, 'Why are there crescent moons on outhouse doors?'
Dear Chigger...The main reasons of course are light and ventilation!
But in olden times, outhouse builders for Inns and business' used cut-outs of the moon and the sun to indicate which gender the privy was intended. The moon was for women, and the sun was for men. These symbols helped foreign travelers. It didn't matter if they spoke a different language, these symbols were universal!
After a while, and for economy reasons, many Inns only constructed outhouses for women, since most men prefered to piss outside anyway. (and still do...hehehehe)
This custom became so widespread that eventually the moon became the symbol for all outhouses..
And while we are on the subject...Before paper was not so readily available, corn cobs were indeed used to swab and wipe ones ass after evacuation. There was usually a bucket of water soaked corn cobs on standby. If you didn't soak them first....?
YIKES!!!!
Thanks again Chigger...Good question!
If you have a question for Mr. Knowitall, and just don't trust those lying bastards over at Wikepedia, shoot me an E-Mail, I'll set ya straight....
See you next Sunday....Peace!!
19 comments:
Well that was interesting! LOL
No wonder I love corn so much. What a valuable piece of information :) LOL
The always educational G-Man!
Now we know. :)
It would be funny if you hacked Wiki, and put in the G-man's version of history.
well thank tyou, mr. knowitall. i was aware of the corncob practice but not the origin of the moons.
Hind lick... hehehehe.
You are awesome.
And I have always wondered why there were moons on outhouses!!
--snow
Well, I never knew that before. Of course, I haven't been privy to the ins and outs of privies much, either. I heard tales of corncobs from my grandparents, still can't wrap my head around the whole idea.:)
and knowing is half the battle...yo joe!
i am going to have nightmares about corn cobs now...
Very informative.
Interesting.
Well, I was just about to head to bed and I can lay my head on the pillow and truly rest now that I have learned this valuable information. jeNN
Something kept saying check out The knowitall blog Just maybe he has something new up and you need enlightened. Reading about outhouses and why moon symbols are cut out of the door was really lots of information that I did indeed need being my last name is Moon....This is why all the images plastered all over my site are of stars, moons, planets, comets, and so fourth. I now feel extremely enlightened after reading and of course using the loo while I was there. Thanks for the Information GMan you really are Mr knowitall..my place on the net is below...
This Blog Of Mine
ol'wiseman! Actually one thanksgiving sitting in the floor with about 7 of my husbands aunts ... they began telling stories of growing up in a 2 bedroom home with 11 children. They bathed QUICKLY in a natural spring ... used the corn cobs, slept as many as you can imagine in a bed under goose down comforters, road sundays to church in a wagon and took food with them to picnic on the way home!..
OMG Its monday!
...and here I thought it meant, "I will grow wings and fly to the moon before using that disgusting outhouse!" Silly me.
Might also explain why I don't call my blog "Opinions and Corn Holes"..:)
Yaaay! The moose is back!
That was interesting. Moon is a she & sun is a he ....hehehe! :D
Well, it all makes perfect sense now. Thanks.
Meet My Mates #3 - Quilly
I had a typically sparkling-witted, insightful comment along with my thank-you to leave here, *ahem* and then I read Thom's comment.
Now all that's left in my head is
=:-O
Oh well!
LOL
Anyhow Galen, thanks for giving us the whole poop about outhouses!
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