In this month’s new issue (hitting stands next week!), Linda Rodriguez has written a genius piece on the America’s greatest invention: toilet paper. It’s a fascinating story, but you don’t have to take our word for it. Here’s just a brief and incomplete that we included as a sidebar. Enjoy!
Great Moments in Toilet Paper History
* Ever ahead of the curve, the Chinese begin wiping with scraps of rice paper as far back as the 6th century. In the 14th century, the Bureau of Imperial Supplies commissions 2 ft. by 3 ft. sheets for the emperor’s personal use.
*In 1532, French writer François Rabelais satirizes financial excess with characters who brag about the joys of wiping with the neck of a “well-downed goose.” Rabelais’ exaggerations aside, the French do take their toilet solutions seriously. French royalty and persons of wealth allegedly begin using lace scented with rose or lavender water.
*The New York Times prints the phrase “toilet paper” for the first time in 1888. The article covers a hazing scandal at the U.S. Naval Academy where some cadets forced others to “chew their toilet paper.” No mention of whether said toilet paper had been already used.
*A 1935 advertisement for Northern Tissue touts the product’s “splinter-free” superiority. Most toilet paper at the time is uncomfortable (if not painful), owing to a less-fine milling process.
*Though initially slow to embrace toilet paper, the English contribute to its evolution in 1942, when St. Andrew’s Paper Mill invents two-ply.
*In some countries, buying toilet paper is still considered flushing your money down the toilet—most literally in Zimbabwe, where inflation has reached an astronomical 234 million percent. There, it’s cheaper, per sheet, to wipe with a 1,000-dollar Zimbabwe note than with toilet paper. Worse still, the currency wreaks havoc on plumbing systems. The notes have caused so much damage that some public toilets bear signs saying “No Zim Dollars.”
*Japan releases another potty-related invention in 1997, the mock flusher. Because natural restroom sounds are a source of shame in Japan, people in public stalls often cover up the noise by flushing the toilet several times during the act. Concerns about water waste led to the invention of the mock flusher, which simulates the sound of flushing without actually letting water go down the drain.
But that just scratches the surface! Curious what else is in the magazine? Then pick up the new issue of mental_floss magazine here. Or take advantage of our latest offer and pick up a t-shirt with your subscription for just a couple of dollars more.Â
Comments (12)
Comment
- subscribe /
- give a gift /
- terms of service /
- about /
- contact us /
- write for us /
- ad info /
- subscriber services /
- press /
- privacy policy /
- rss /
© 2012 Mental Floss Inc. All Rights Reserved. Mental Floss is a registered trademark owned by Felix Dennis. mentalfloss.com is a trademark owned by Felix Dennis.
Disclaimer: All submissions made to mental_floss become the property of Mental Floss Inc and may be used without further permission by the submitter and without compensation to the submitter. If you do not agree to these terms, please do not submit anything to mental_floss.
2 foot by 3 foot sheets? That’s about as big as a hotel bath towel. Why would anyone want to use something that big as toilet paper.
posted by Melissa on 6-19-2009 at 1:06 pm
Since it was rice paper maybe they tore it into pieces?
posted by Brian on 6-19-2009 at 1:58 pm
Have you ever seen how THIN rice paper is? If I had to wipe with it, I think I’d want a sheet that big too!
posted by JC on 6-19-2009 at 2:10 pm
Japan releases another potty-related invention in 1997, the mock flusher. Because natural restroom sounds are a source of shame in Japan, people in public stalls often cover up the noise by flushing the toilet several times during the act. Concerns about water waste led to the invention of the mock flusher, which simulates the sound of flushing without actually letting water go down the drain.
posted by Barbra on 6-19-2009 at 3:03 pm
Local tradition in this part of the country (Arkansas) says that until fairly modern times, once catalogs went out of date, they made their way to the out house. Big ones with thin pages like the Sears and Roebuck were very popular, not only for making purchases, but for re-purposing into bathroom tissue.
posted by Melissa on 6-19-2009 at 3:04 pm
The Sears catalog and corn cobs for wiping stories were a huge part of my upbringing. My mother swears that is what they used until they moved from NC when she was 8 years old. That would have been 1955!
posted by Karen on 6-19-2009 at 3:23 pm
The mock flusher…
I never thought that “courtesy flushing” would spawn an invention. Yea I’m kind of “ANAL” about toilet sounds too…
Haha I used a pun… lowest form of comedy, dont udge me.
posted by Chrystani on 6-19-2009 at 3:53 pm
I love these magazine sneak peeks! They keep me entertained until I get the hard copy!
posted by Sara in AL on 6-19-2009 at 8:42 pm
inflation @ 234 million percent !!!
holy CRAP. that really STINKS.
posted by david on 6-20-2009 at 12:34 am
Consider yourself udged!
If I had to choose I think I’d prefer thin rice paper or a harsh corn cob to lace. Practically and symbolically that is just ick!
(Great reCAPTCHAs today: gutter greatneck)
posted by Bassman on 6-20-2009 at 9:33 am
JC….Some rice paper is actually quite thick, if I remember my college art class from years back one of the thickest is called “Hoya”….thick and absorbent it would be excellent for butt wiping.
posted by Charlie Sommers on 6-20-2009 at 1:57 pm
It is impossible to clean with just paper. Paper leaves a residue that allows bacteria or fungus to flourish. This can result in undesired itching, odor and the possibility of inflammation or infection. Water, of course, is the only way to clean.
posted by Wash It on 7-7-2009 at 12:19 pm