Practicing the Laughing Stuff

Ahh, you had buttons?

Take kids through older houses here in the US, they have NO idea what the buttons on the wall near the doors do. LOL! Some adults don't, either. During a tour of Stan Hywett (if you want to see pics of my dream house, click here: http://community.webshots.com/album/9514161IvLtPiKytQ) the tour guide asked if anyone knew what the buttons on the wall in the formal dining room were for.

"To call the servants?" asked one.

I just burst out laughing. I mean, if these folks had buttons installed to call the servants, wouldn't they be located under the table? If you had to get up from the table to call the servants, why not just fetch whatever you needed for yourself?

They were light switches, of course. My grandparents had them in their home.

Jessie

P.S. Here's another of my favorite homes: http://www.tulsacouncil.org/IMAGES/gallery_images/Philbrook%20garden.jpg (the grounds are gorgeous, and though it's a museum, it's a lovely place to have a picnic).