The History Guy tackles a touchy subject with fascinating facts…and humor:
Something I never knew about toilets throughout the ages: The kings (and queens) of England used to have special servants (gentlemen and ladies in waiting, no less) whose job it was to wipe the Royal Derrière. And far from being an undesirable job, it was actually a highly coveted one, because it placed one above the Privy Council in terms of counselling His or Her Majesty while they were on the privy. It was considered a sign of high favor (or at least, inordinate amounts of trust) to be appointed to that position. Alas, it fell out of favor in the late Victorian era, when flush-toilets came into fashion in high-toned households and hotels — supposedly. (I refuse to believe that it ever died, because I know for a fact that the royal butler still puts toothpaste on the royal toothbrushes.)
Oh! And if you ever wondered where the term “cornhole” came into being, just watch…and you will wonder nevermore.
