Sweet Bags Mask Odors

Shortly after awakening, James and Larkin would roll up the bed ticks and put them in the corner of the sleeping chamber. In 1709, long before the invention of indoor plumbing, guests at the ordinary went to the bathroom in chamber pots. The chamber pots were kept in a corner of the sleeping quarters and were usually covered with cloths to keep flies away and mask unpleasant odors. To empty the chamber pots, young Mehitable would open a window and toss the contents outside.

To avoid foul odors, Mehitable might have had a sweet bag, filled with the same pleasant-smelling herbs that were used to repel insects from the bed ticks. It was common to carry a sweet bag in a pocket or tucked in a sleeve, and was not considered rude to wave the bag around when offended by an odor.