Yes, and the hoop skirts made a dandy "surround" for the lady doing what she needed to do in the woods or wherever.  Then she would lift the hoop and step gingerly away before repositioning it and walking off.  If she had other ladies with her, it could be a coordinated group effort.  (I asked and received all kinds of interesting info from my grandmothers about their mothers and grandmothers.  I was a nosy child and one grandmother was born in the 1870s.)

--
Melinda C. P. Skinner
Richmond, VA


 -------------- Original message ----------------------
From: Ronald Whitaker <[log in to unmask]>
> Thanks Colleen.  Even at my age I had no idea nor had I seen it referenced 
> anywhere!  I am a mite smarter today.  Ron
> 
> 
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Colleen Formby" <[log in to unmask]>
> To: <[log in to unmask]>
> Sent: Tuesday, May 01, 2007 12:34 PM
> Subject: Re: Before the Portable Toilet
> 
> 
> > --One wonders how the process was achieved for the ladies adorned in hoop
> > skirts and layers of garments often required by fashion.  That would seem
> > quite a chose in a facility, but in the woods......?
> >
> >
> > Drawers that are worn under hoop skirts are split crotch, and so therefore 
> > the layers are not a factor.
> >
> > Colleen Formby
> > Maryland Room Librarian
> > Prince Georges County Library System
> >
> >
> > Colleen Formby
> > http://www.geocities.com/col90/civilwar.html
> > AGSAS
> > http://www.agsas.org
> >
> > ---------------------------------
> > Ahhh...imagining that irresistible "new car" smell?
> > Check outnew cars at Yahoo! Autos.
> >