Originally Posted by gollytwo
Originally Posted by ShirlinAZ
Have you heard newspapers being called rags? The paper used was made from rags that the poor collected from the trash of the rich and sold to paper factories. No lie. I'm sure some people continued using newspapers after they were mostly wood fiber without realizing a change had happened.
The first time I read about newspapers used as filler it referred to a Massachusetts quilt made in the 1700s, so paper, as you say, was probably recycled rags.
My Mom used to tell us stories of when she was young and growing up during the depression years. One was about people who used to go around the neighborhood and ask for old clothes, etc. She said they were called "rag pickers." Mom's family usually didn't have anything to share because there were 12 in the family and all of the older kids clothes went to the younger ones. Her father was out of work until he got a job with the WPA. I think that is the right name. I used to feel so sad when she told of the really poor people. She said they didn't feel poor because they took care of each other and her Mom had two jobs. My Mom quit school at the age of twelve to take care of the babies so her Mom could work outside the home. Mom is the only member of her family still living she is 87 and doing great and she keeps her sewing machine busy.