The costume pictured in this 1903 article below apparently assisted in warding off the plague in the Middle Ages. It would have been very welcome in my house last night. I had one of those nights that all parents dread, the Night of the Sick Kid.
The Daily News 13 Aug 1903 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article82019331
Unfortunately I didn’t have a beaked mask filled with aromatic herbs, or the big stick.
The reason for the big stick isn’t noted in the article but if there had been one to hand I would have employed it to poke the aforementioned kid whenever he got comfortable. Well, I was kept up all night, he should have been too!
The hat’s purpose isn’t mentioned either.
I wonder if it is just for the walk between plague houses? After all, the Middle ages weren’t known for their advanced plumbing were they? A wide-brimmed hat like that might be helpful in keeping the out-the-window chamber pot ‘flushing’ off your morocco leather plague outfit.
Hopefully I have a more peaceful night tonight but, after having to pick up the other kid also sick from school after just a few hours (which meant the Night of the Sick Kid just kept on going), I suspect that the plague he bought home is just biding its time until it gets the chance to infect us all.
If there is no post tomorrow you know why….
“Bring out your dead!”
Buried words and Bushwa. 
You must be logged in to post a comment.