"show ankle" query

[Amy West]

I hate to say it, but don't believe the tour guide. They often pass
along oral-tradition information that isn't supported. Yes, some of
the perpetuators of the "closet tax" myth are historic house tour
guides.

---Amy West, whose other job is museum tour guide

>Date:    Tue, 13 Feb 2007 20:04:06 -0600
>From:    "Cohen, Gerald Leonard" <gcohen at UMR.EDU>
>Subject: Re: "show ankle" query
>
>      Some years ago I visited several southern U.S. cities and took a =
>tour in one of them--I believe it was Savanna.  The guide showed us a =
>house with an outside dual-staircase and explained that the reason for =
>the two staircases was to prevent the men from catching a glimpse of a =
>woman's ankle as she walked up the stairs.  One staircase was for the =
>women and the other was for the men.
>=20
>      I know this isn't conclusive evidence, but now that the question =
>has arisen, it should be easy to check it out with a Southern historical =
>society. =20
>=20
>Gerald Cohen

------------------------------------------------------------
The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org