Historic knowledge or myths

In George Washington's days, there were no cameras.
One's image was either sculpted or painted.
Some paintings of George Washington showed him standing behind a desk with
one arm behind his back while others showed
Both legs and both arms.
Prices charged by painters were not based on how many people were to be
painted, but by how many limbs were to be painted.
Arms and legs are "limbs," therefore painting them would cost the buyer
more.
Hence the expression,
"Okay, but it'll cost you an arm and a leg."


As incredible as it sounds, men and women took baths only twice a year (May
and October)!
Women kept their hair covered, while men shaved their heads (because of lice
and bugs) and wore wigs.
Wealthy men could afford good wigs made from wool.
They couldn't wash the wigs,
So, to clean them they would carve out a loaf of bread, put the wig in the
shell, and bake it for 30 minutes.
The heat would make the wig big and fluffy, hence the term "big wig."
Today we often use the term "here comes the Big Wig" because someone appears
to be or is powerful and wealthy.


In the late 1700s, many houses consisted of a large room with only one
chair.
Commonly, a long wide board folded down from the wall, and was used for
dining.
The "head of the household" always sat in the chair while everyone else ate
sitting on the floor.
Occasionally a guest, who was usually a man, would be invited to sit in this
chair during a meal.
To sit in the chair meant you were important and in charge.
They called the one sitting in the chair the "chair man."
Today in business, we use the expression or title "Chairman" or "Chairman of
the Board."


Personal hygiene left much room for improvement.
As a result, many women and men had developed acne scars by adulthood.
The women would spread bees' wax over their facial skin to smooth out their
complexions.
When they were speaking to each other, if a woman began to stare at another
woman's face she was told,
"mind your own bee's wax."
Should the woman smile, the wax would crack,
Hence, the term "crack a smile."
In addition, when they sat too close to the fire, the wax would melt . . .
Therefore, the expression "losing face."


Ladies wore corsets, which would lace up in the front.
A proper and dignified woman as in "straight laced". .
Wore a tightly tied lace.


Common entertainment included playing cards.
However, there was a tax levied when purchasing playing cards but only
applicable to the "Ace of Spades."
To avoid paying the tax, people would purchase 51 cards instead.
Yet, since most games require 52 cards, these people were thought to be
stupid or dumb because they weren't "playing with a full deck."


Early politicians required feedback from the public to determine what the
people considered important.
Since there were no telephones, TV's or radios, the politicians sent their
assistants to local taverns, pubs, and bars.
They were told to "go sip some ale" and listen to people's conversations and
political concerns.
Many assistants were dispatched at different times.
"You go sip here" and "You go sip there."
The two words "go sip" were eventually combined when referring to the local
opinion and, thus we have the term "gossip."