The latest "Poop"
Posted by Bob Whitworth on August 20, 1998 at 12:11:33:
Marilou asked me to check my references and see if I could find anything on the history of toilet paper, so here goes.
Toilet Paper:
For centuries, various things served for toilet paper, from old clothing, moss, leaves, (don’t use poison ivy) and grass--to corncobs. And ever since the printed word, those old books, magazines and journals have served the purpose, generally giving the user the “upper hand”.
Before, during, and after the Regency period this commodity was euphemistically known as “bum fodder”, and is described in the Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue as: Soft paper for the necessary house or torchecul. (torchecul is another word for bum fodder)
^^^^^^^
Toilet paper as a commodity for purchase was first brought to market by an Englishman during the mid- Victorian era (this info can be found on Microsoft Encarta or Bookshelf, I forget which). It was sold in sheets, not rolls. It was a hard sell though, and his business quickly went into the crapper--or didn’t--depending on your point of view. A short time after this failure, I believe it was an American who decided to try this venture and packaged it in rolls. After heavily advertising, the business grew and left the gentleman very flush with cash. He left us with a roll model for everyone to follow.
NOTE: I found this other stuff directly above in Microsoft Bookshelf last night, and should have printed it out, because I can’t find it now--or remember how I got to the “history” of toilet paper. It’s there. The funny stuff, I made up myself.
~Bob Whitworth
- Ahem! Barbara 23:12:35 8/20/98
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- Torchecul Bob Whitworth 23:53:42 8/20/98
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- Barbara, please verify Caroline 09:39:35 8/21/98
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- Connotations Barbara 13:22:16 8/21/98
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- Verified. NFM Bob Whitworth 10:36:18 8/21/98
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- Connotations Barbara 13:22:16 8/21/98
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- Barbara, please verify Caroline 09:39:35 8/21/98
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- Torchecul Bob Whitworth 23:53:42 8/20/98
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- Bob, as I said before... Lou 14:59:14 8/20/98
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- Just to get things absolutely straight.... Caroline 14:31:22 8/20/98
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- Thank you, and OT on corncobs... Lynn 12:57:21 8/20/98
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- Toilet Paper and the Great Scotts SuzanneR 12:55:06 8/20/98
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- Roll call Bob Whitworth 17:08:53 8/20/98
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- More TP comments Dinan LB 15:59:58 8/21/98
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- A scholarly note John W 17:28:53 8/22/98
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- Small correction Helen 14:23:19 8/24/98
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- Small correction Helen 14:23:19 8/24/98
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- A scholarly note John W 17:28:53 8/22/98
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- More TP comments Dinan LB 15:59:58 8/21/98
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- Roll call Bob Whitworth 17:08:53 8/20/98
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