Yellow Bellies

This is from a Twitter feed of interesting nuggets from science and history:

This photo from 1902 shows French knife grinders. They would work on their stomachs in order to save their backs from being hunched all day.

Finally an alternative to those ridiculous standing desks!

They were also encouraged to bring their dogs to work to keep them company and also act as mini heaters by having them rest on their owners’ legs.

So office doggos aren’t a new thing after all.

They were also called ventres jaunes (“yellow bellies” in English) because of the yellow dust that would be released from the grinding wheel.

Better a yellow belly than a brown nose. Bring back the literal grind!

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About

Robert Wringham is the editor of New Escapologist. He also writes books and articles. Read more at wringham.co.uk

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