>>>
>>>This "sword arm" thing is interesting; I once read that the reason why women's and men's clothes fasten on different sides is to do with that too:
>>>
>>>In the days when cloaks etc, were secured by a pin or brooch, the woman needed access to hers with her right hand, cos the left arm supported a baby, whereas a man, needing his sword-arm free accessed his wih his left hand.
>>>
>>>Apochryphal or not, it makes sense.
>>
>>
>>What I read is that wealthy women (unlike wealthy men) were not expected to have to dress themselves, and it was easier for the 'ladies maids' to fasten the clothes on a woman if the buttons were reversed.
>
>So if you went into the Wal-Mart of the day the peasants' clothes would have all had the same fastening for men and women?
>
>Why would it be easier whichever hands the lady's maids used? Women today have no problem fastening buttons with their left hands

Terry;

Didn’t you know? The female of today is left-handed! :)

Tom