The trouble with a straight cane was it could pierce older carpets, so the beater was an improvement.
The weight of the home made peg rugs ,made from old clothes cut into strips
on a sackcloth backing,throwing that over the line !!!
Brass taps polished every morning, likewise the steel trimmings on the huge black range,that was done with emery paper or emery cloth was better.
Step stoning - what a stupid idea! It was ruined as soon as someone dared to step on it.
My Mum( yes her again)once cleaned the flight of four stone steps from her mother’s house and the flagstones , and the foot scraper and coal hole lid were blackleaded.
She was pouring the water along the gutter to wash away the dried horse manure which in those far off days was always blowing along gutters.
My paternal grandfather to be came along and walked on her cleaned flags and shook his pipe also,she had a short fuse,so threw the water over him instead.
We loved that story as children,although I liked him very much.
Viktoria.
