| There was a time when beds did not have mattresses constructed of foam and other soft materials. Mattresses would be filled with straw and feathers, and although they would be more comfortable than nothing, the straw and feathers would tend to bunch up, making thick and thin spots. The housewife would use the bed paddle to slap the thick, bunched up portions of the mattress in order to smooth it out a bit. Below, left is an image of the paddle's "bottom" side, which is unadorned; to the right is an image of the "top" side, on which the date is carved. |
