RE: "Bolster mattress." I had never heard of a bolster mattress. We had bolster pillows. A bolster pillow was a single pillow that went across the width of the bed. If the bed was 54" wide, the bolster pillow was 54" long, and regular width. I believe the designers of bed linens today are making the bolster pillow. My dau-in-law bought one made by "Eddie Bauer." (Folks, he hasn't got us fooled! His idea isn't new. It's Old! Just a rebirth.) Pat O'Neal -----Original Message----- From: MILanders@aol.com <MILanders@aol.com> To: SW_VA-L@rootsweb.com <SW_VA-L@rootsweb.com> Date: Saturday, February 20, 1999 9:56 PM Subject: shuck beans & featherbeds >Mr. Howard wrote for an explanation of the above subject. I don't know much >about shuck beans, but I know a little about goose feather pillows. Usually >the mattresses (called bolsters) were made of the goose or chicken feathers, >but most people used goose "down", a fluffly part of the feather (at it's >base), to make pillows. I have one on my bed now. It never gets firm or >beaten down. Give it a little punch and it's right back to "fluffy". Also, >feathers and down were sometimes mixed for some bed bolsters. > >Ruth > > >==== SW_VA Mailing List ==== >#1 When you have a new email address please UNSUBSCRIBE from the >old BEFORE you lose it; and SUBCRIBE from the NEW address as soon >as you get access to it. If you fail to do this please send the >old and new address to: ehoward@conknet.com and the Mailing List name >-sysop > >