BS: The flush of success

Subject: The flush of success
From: sledge
Date: 26 Jul 00 - 04:50 AM

China has flushed Britain's claims to have invented the water closet down the pan with the discovery of a 2,000-year-old toilet complete with running water, a stone seat and a comfortable armrest.

Archaeologists found the antique latrine in the tomb of a king of the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC to 24 AD), who believed his soul would need to enjoy human life after death, the official Xinhua news agency said on Wednesday.

"This top-grade stool is the earliest of its kind ever discovered in the world, meaning that the Chinese used the world's earliest water closet which is quite like what we are using today," Xinhua quoted the archaeologists' report as saying.

"It was a great invention and a symbol of social civilisation of that time," Xinhua said.

The invention of the flush toilet is widely attributed to London plumber Thomas Crapper, who patented a U-bend siphoning system for flushing the pan in the late 19th century, and who also installed toilets for Queen Victoria.

Among other inventions claimed by China are toilet paper, fireworks, gunpowder, the compass, paper money, kites, printing and the clock.

The toilet tomb was discovered in Shangqiu county in the central province of Henan, Xinhua said.

Archaeologists also found a queen consort's stone tomb, more than 210 metres (690 feet) long and consisting of more than 30 rooms including a bathroom, toilet, kitchen and an ice-store.

What they dont mention folks is that the toilet roll holder was empty, the seat was left up and there was a stash of men only scolls behind the door.

Sledge

Subject: RE: BS: The flush of success
From: Peter Kasin
Date: 26 Jul 00 - 05:34 AM

Great punchline, Sledge. Of all the improvements in civilization, one thing remains the same.

Years ago someone gave my mechanical engineering father a copy of a biography of Thomas Crapper, called "Flushed With Pride: The Story Of Thomas Crapper." My father's one-word opinion of the book? You guessed it.

The Chinese are sounding more like the Russians (who once claimed to have invented baseball among too many other things). Next thing you know the Chinese will claim they invented spaghetti. Ha! (oops - they did)

But seriously, it is fascinating what we learn about ancient civilizations and some of their advancements that later disappeared, only to be reinvented and improved on centuries later.

Subject: RE: BS: The flush of success
From: GUEST,Roger the skiffler
Date: 26 Jul 00 - 05:41 AM

This is outrageous thread creep, I know, but my system here has stopped me creating new threads ( someone has good sense!) and I felt I would like to share with you, especialy the Canadians, that a poll of about 1,000 respondents to the BBC Online website nominated Ms Dion's song from Titanic (The Heart goes on (and on and on...))as the one they found most irritating, beating such contenders as the Birdy Song, "Sir" Cliff's Millennium Prayer and Renee and Renata' infamous opus.
End of thread crep, must get back to work
RtS

Subject: RE: BS: The flush of success
From: Jim the Bart
Date: 26 Jul 00 - 02:10 PM

Somehow I find mention of The Heart Goes On in a thread about an ancient crapper somehow appropriate. All these centuries of excrement removal technology and we still haven't found away to avoid stuff like that spewed by Ms Dion. No offense intended - just my own personal opinion flying in the face of the masses once again.

Subject: RE: BS: The flush of success
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 26 Jul 00 - 05:21 PM

AAhh, flushed from the bathroom of my heart......

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: The flush of success
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 26 Jul 00 - 05:41 PM

Henry Moule invented the earth closet.

And it was Thomas Crapper invented a flushing toilet.

The Romans had communal toilets, one in Pompei seating up to 60 at once.

The standard British toilet flush is measured by dropping half a torn up Daily Telegraph newspaper down it and flushing. If it goes, it passes, if it doesn't the flush isn't strong enough.

Posted elsewhere, but relevant, none the less....

At one time, the public loos in Aldershot (a military town) had paper with 'Government Property - now wash your hands please' written on it.....

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: The flush of success
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 26 Jul 00 - 07:23 PM

Jennings' "Pedestal Vase" won the Gold Medal Award at the Health Exhibition of 1884, being judged "as perfect a sanitary closet as can be made". In a test it completely cleared with a 2-gallon flush

10 apples averaging 1 1/4 inches diameter
1 flat sponge about 4 1/2 inches diameter
Plumbers "smudge" coated over the pan
4 pieces of paper adhering closely to the soiled surface.

A simpler test was that improvised by Mr Shanks who, when trying a new model, seized the cap from the head of an attendant apprentice, thrust it in, pulled the chain, saw it go, and cried out happily, "It works!"

That comes from a book called "Clean and Decent - the fascinating hostory of the Bathroom and the WC" by Lawrence Wright, published originally in 1960. (Ah, the swinging sixties...) No bog library is complete without this master work of social history.

Subject: RE: BS: The flush of success
From: SINSULL
Date: 26 Jul 00 - 07:36 PM

No S**t!?!

Subject: RE: BS: The flush of success
From: bob jr
Date: 27 Jul 00 - 12:49 AM

again thread names throw me off i thought this was gonna be about cards....

Subject: RE: BS: The flush of success
From: IanS
Date: 27 Jul 00 - 11:33 AM

Trying to get back on thread, can anybody add any more tunes to the following lavatorially named melodies?

1) The Smell of the Bog 2) The Convienience Reel 3) The Creach in the Creel

Ian

Subject: RE: BS: The flush of success
From: Peter T.
Date: 27 Jul 00 - 11:38 AM

YES!!! CELINE WINS AGAIN!! o canada, terre de nos aieux!!!yours, Peter T.

Subject: RE: BS: The flush of success
From: Peter Kasin
Date: 28 Jul 00 - 02:46 AM

"The Muckin' O' Geordie's Byre "(the cleaning of Geordie's outhouse)

There's an Irish tune accordion player Jackie Daly recorded called "Trip To The Jacks."

McGrath, my late father also had a copy of Clean And Decent. Good bathroom reading material, wouldn't you say?

Subject: RE: BS: The flush of success
From: Melani
Date: 28 Jul 00 - 02:55 AM

I thought a byre was a stable.

Subject: RE: BS: The flush of success
From: Peter Kasin
Date: 28 Jul 00 - 03:26 AM

Is that what I used? No wonder they through me out.

Subject: RE: BS: The flush of success
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 28 Jul 00 - 12:36 PM

Skip to the loo my darling....

LTS