stormdog: a woman with light skin and long brown hair that cascades over one shoulder. On her other side, she is holding a large plush shark against herself. She has pink fingernails and pink cat eye glasses (Default)
MeghanIsMe ([personal profile] stormdog) wrote2020-10-06 01:37 pm
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What are Comfortables?

A talk with a professor reminded me of this 1858 ad for the Kenosha Water-Cure that I turned up while researching Pike Creek.

The ad notes that that "invalids will bring six crash towels, two cotton or linen sheets, a flannel blanket, and two comfortables."

What are comfortables in this context? Underwear? Something else?

1858 Advertisement for the Kenosha Water Cure
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cmcmck: (Default)

[personal profile] cmcmck 2020-10-06 04:23 pm (UTC)(link)
I think it may be what we used to call an eiderdown- a forerunner of the continental quilt which topped a bed over the blankets.
stormdog: a woman with light skin and long brown hair that cascades over one shoulder. On her other side, she is holding a large plush shark against herself. She has pink fingernails and pink cat eye glasses (Default)

[personal profile] stormdog 2020-10-10 04:33 pm (UTC)(link)
That would make sense. Someone on LJ suggested it might be pillows too? I'm so curious!
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