Post by SnappedBones on Jun 5, 2016 14:36:39 GMT -5
So, to simplify the Era for those not familiar, it went like this:
1: Getting Around. Horses were still the main method of transportation. Mules were more common and more affordable, not to mention stronger and sturdier, so they were the main item. Asses or Burros were more common than all as they were the work animal of the mines. Few had carriages, some had buggies, and wagons were most common of all.
2: The Style of the dress at the time is as follows... Women wore dresses, though more often shirts and skirts, and no they did not have to wear corsets. They had a very antique version of our modern day bra, which allowed for movement and ease of living. Pantaloons were still a must as the underwear of the era, though they were much shorter, and more like our version of 'bubble shorts'. Women COULD wear pants, but that often came with it's own share of sexual harassment and scandal, keep that in mind. Men wore shirts and pants with boots, some wore vests and jackets, depending on the status of living.
3: Notes of Payment. Fancy OIU's. Many used these in lieu of actual cash since having more than a few dollars on you at a time got you robbed and more often than not killed. These were taken at the end of day by shop owners to the bank to be cashed and deposited in accounts. All accounts were tallied in books.
4: Ammunitions: Bullets were the same cost as a shot glass of whiskey, hence the term 'shot glass'. Often bullets were used as a form of payment by both gunmen and ranchers alike. It was far safer and simply more economic to use them as a form of currency.
5: A man was measured by his gun. The better his guns, the higher his standing, and the more likely he knew how to use them or he wouldn't still have them!
6: The Law. There were Lawmen and Rangers, Lawmen for in City, and Rangers for those who hunted bounties and surrounding territories. They also fought the Indians and outlaw bandit bands. There was No Common Law. Each city made up it's own laws, and more often than not, only the wealthy or lucky could use the law in the first place. More often than not, anyone thought cheating at cards, stealing someone's claim, or otherwise doing something someone else didn't like? They were shot dead and their corpse looted long before the law arrived.
7: Bathing. It was most often done by women of the night, as they are one of the few who can afford the luxury, and need it given their call of trade. Usually it was every other day by those with means and money, such as Bankers, Saloon Owners, Brothel owners and other businessmen. Regular people or the common folk was once a week. As you can imagine, this can lead to some rather... Interesting smells.
8: Health Care: Good Luck. Some bigger cities had one or two doctors, and if you were REALLY lucky, had a hospital. Most of the time if you did, it was usually full of injured miners or some other form of work hazard injury. Usually it was just a town doctor who set bones, treated fevers, and delivered babies. Most people used the Apothecarian as they were the more common, affordable, and well known way to get treatment. These were also often midwives and nurses, and yes, they were also the ones who aided the Red Lights with unwanted offspring. Dental Health was on the up and up though, and many could afford to brush their teeth, and tooth decay was less common.
9: Miners and Mining: It was hard, ugly, and deadly. You were either sweating your balls off or freezing them, the conditions were poor and 'black lung' was an inevitable outcome, regardless of not mining coal. Methane pockets were a constant danger and Canaries were your best friend. Cave in's weren't always common but they were something that could happen at any time, to any one. If that wasn't enough, at the end of the day, it was back breaking labor. Many miners choose to drink and gamble once the sun goes down. Many miners are single men, though some have families, but not many.
10: Saloons and Dens of Debauchery: Many were crooked, from the dealers to the players, and it was always a risk going into one. You could be shot for cheating, even if you weren't, and if you won too many hands you were likely to get your face punched in. Loose women also didn't help things as sexually transmitted diseases were nothing to clap at. (ba dum tiss) The most common were Crabs (Pediculosis pubis), Syphilis and Gonorrhea. During the early stages, Syphilis has no outwards symptoms, and it might take years for them to show, long after it is contracted. Mercury was the only treatment at the time as in small doses it allayed the symptoms, but there was no cure, and death was long and drawn out and incredibly painful. You dipped your wick at your own risk. Perk: Condoms WERE around at this time, and though not 100%, it was still better than nothing.
11: Diet and Nutrition were all based on your standard of living. For the miners it was usually hard tack, gruel, and whiskey... Lots of whiskey. For the Average Man, Meat and Potatoes, fancier vegetables were not common as farming in the area is very hard. Most produce is brought in via Train from areas less harsh and demanding. For the Middle Upper Class and On, they often had fish and pork and other finer meats, as well as vegetables and fruits regularly.
12: General Work Outside of Saloons and Mining... They did exist. There were post men, general good's store owners, perfumers, barbers, dentists... There were those who maintained the town as well, such as construction men, blacksmiths, bricklayers and veterinarians. They were the people who kept the town going while the others allowed it to exist. Think heart plus blood vessels, plus veins, and you get the gyst of it.
General Info on the Sexes:
Women were still pretty much on the bottom of the food chain, somewhere below a horse and above a new bed. However, they did lead a more relaxed life in places like this, many of them did carry guns AND knew how to use them. They were often allowed to go to places on their own without a male accompaniment, and nine out of ten they were left alone and unharassed. A woman could turn down an offer of marriage and live alone without much public ridicule. Some could even own and run their own ranches. Businesses were our of their reach though as a woman running one was considered taboo and unfeminine. (Basically it didn't appeal to the male ego)
Men were in charge in every facet. Men were the judges and jury, men were the doctors and dentists, the property and business owners. Men ruled. A female could only have a part in certain things through a male, be it sexually or through marriage. Preferably the later as the former can end up with a lot more trouble than it's worth. Once a man married a woman, everything she owned became his, and in the event of a divorce he kept what ever he gained in the marriage. A man could beat his wife and no one would go after him for it. A man could kill his wife and get off on an excuse if he knew the right people. A man could kill period, and get away with it in these times, and more often than not didn't even need a reason for it. (Not a real one, anyways, anything would do!)
1: Getting Around. Horses were still the main method of transportation. Mules were more common and more affordable, not to mention stronger and sturdier, so they were the main item. Asses or Burros were more common than all as they were the work animal of the mines. Few had carriages, some had buggies, and wagons were most common of all.
2: The Style of the dress at the time is as follows... Women wore dresses, though more often shirts and skirts, and no they did not have to wear corsets. They had a very antique version of our modern day bra, which allowed for movement and ease of living. Pantaloons were still a must as the underwear of the era, though they were much shorter, and more like our version of 'bubble shorts'. Women COULD wear pants, but that often came with it's own share of sexual harassment and scandal, keep that in mind. Men wore shirts and pants with boots, some wore vests and jackets, depending on the status of living.
3: Notes of Payment. Fancy OIU's. Many used these in lieu of actual cash since having more than a few dollars on you at a time got you robbed and more often than not killed. These were taken at the end of day by shop owners to the bank to be cashed and deposited in accounts. All accounts were tallied in books.
4: Ammunitions: Bullets were the same cost as a shot glass of whiskey, hence the term 'shot glass'. Often bullets were used as a form of payment by both gunmen and ranchers alike. It was far safer and simply more economic to use them as a form of currency.
5: A man was measured by his gun. The better his guns, the higher his standing, and the more likely he knew how to use them or he wouldn't still have them!
6: The Law. There were Lawmen and Rangers, Lawmen for in City, and Rangers for those who hunted bounties and surrounding territories. They also fought the Indians and outlaw bandit bands. There was No Common Law. Each city made up it's own laws, and more often than not, only the wealthy or lucky could use the law in the first place. More often than not, anyone thought cheating at cards, stealing someone's claim, or otherwise doing something someone else didn't like? They were shot dead and their corpse looted long before the law arrived.
7: Bathing. It was most often done by women of the night, as they are one of the few who can afford the luxury, and need it given their call of trade. Usually it was every other day by those with means and money, such as Bankers, Saloon Owners, Brothel owners and other businessmen. Regular people or the common folk was once a week. As you can imagine, this can lead to some rather... Interesting smells.
8: Health Care: Good Luck. Some bigger cities had one or two doctors, and if you were REALLY lucky, had a hospital. Most of the time if you did, it was usually full of injured miners or some other form of work hazard injury. Usually it was just a town doctor who set bones, treated fevers, and delivered babies. Most people used the Apothecarian as they were the more common, affordable, and well known way to get treatment. These were also often midwives and nurses, and yes, they were also the ones who aided the Red Lights with unwanted offspring. Dental Health was on the up and up though, and many could afford to brush their teeth, and tooth decay was less common.
9: Miners and Mining: It was hard, ugly, and deadly. You were either sweating your balls off or freezing them, the conditions were poor and 'black lung' was an inevitable outcome, regardless of not mining coal. Methane pockets were a constant danger and Canaries were your best friend. Cave in's weren't always common but they were something that could happen at any time, to any one. If that wasn't enough, at the end of the day, it was back breaking labor. Many miners choose to drink and gamble once the sun goes down. Many miners are single men, though some have families, but not many.
10: Saloons and Dens of Debauchery: Many were crooked, from the dealers to the players, and it was always a risk going into one. You could be shot for cheating, even if you weren't, and if you won too many hands you were likely to get your face punched in. Loose women also didn't help things as sexually transmitted diseases were nothing to clap at. (ba dum tiss) The most common were Crabs (Pediculosis pubis), Syphilis and Gonorrhea. During the early stages, Syphilis has no outwards symptoms, and it might take years for them to show, long after it is contracted. Mercury was the only treatment at the time as in small doses it allayed the symptoms, but there was no cure, and death was long and drawn out and incredibly painful. You dipped your wick at your own risk. Perk: Condoms WERE around at this time, and though not 100%, it was still better than nothing.
11: Diet and Nutrition were all based on your standard of living. For the miners it was usually hard tack, gruel, and whiskey... Lots of whiskey. For the Average Man, Meat and Potatoes, fancier vegetables were not common as farming in the area is very hard. Most produce is brought in via Train from areas less harsh and demanding. For the Middle Upper Class and On, they often had fish and pork and other finer meats, as well as vegetables and fruits regularly.
12: General Work Outside of Saloons and Mining... They did exist. There were post men, general good's store owners, perfumers, barbers, dentists... There were those who maintained the town as well, such as construction men, blacksmiths, bricklayers and veterinarians. They were the people who kept the town going while the others allowed it to exist. Think heart plus blood vessels, plus veins, and you get the gyst of it.
General Info on the Sexes:
Women were still pretty much on the bottom of the food chain, somewhere below a horse and above a new bed. However, they did lead a more relaxed life in places like this, many of them did carry guns AND knew how to use them. They were often allowed to go to places on their own without a male accompaniment, and nine out of ten they were left alone and unharassed. A woman could turn down an offer of marriage and live alone without much public ridicule. Some could even own and run their own ranches. Businesses were our of their reach though as a woman running one was considered taboo and unfeminine. (Basically it didn't appeal to the male ego)
Men were in charge in every facet. Men were the judges and jury, men were the doctors and dentists, the property and business owners. Men ruled. A female could only have a part in certain things through a male, be it sexually or through marriage. Preferably the later as the former can end up with a lot more trouble than it's worth. Once a man married a woman, everything she owned became his, and in the event of a divorce he kept what ever he gained in the marriage. A man could beat his wife and no one would go after him for it. A man could kill his wife and get off on an excuse if he knew the right people. A man could kill period, and get away with it in these times, and more often than not didn't even need a reason for it. (Not a real one, anyways, anything would do!)