Wednesday, November 28, 2012 10:37:24 AM
Bizarre? Not really. A knocker-upper made perfect sense when whole towns serviced a single mine or ship-yard and had to be on shift. A siren would wake everybody but a knocker-upper had a list of who was on what shift.
I understand that Prince Charles has his toothpaste placed on his brush by a servant although on assumes he wipes his own arse. Elaborate royal clothing might well have justified a helping hand at closet. And jester just = entertainer.
I do remember hearing about a woman who made a good living selling time. She had an accurate watch and a licence so that early every morning it was set according to the Greenwich timepiece, making it the most accurate time available. She then visited clients who set their own clocks by her watch.