Stockings for Camels

In the early 1960s, Alan Abel ran a long-running hoax involving an organization (The Society for Indecency to Naked Animals) whose members wanted to put clothes on all the naked animals in the world. So I was amused to discover there was a similar, but non-hoax, campaign back in 1926. The "philanthropic Englishwoman" Mrs. F.K. Hosall spearheaded an effort to get women to donate their old stockings so they could be worn by the donkeys and camels of north Africa. However, it wasn't exactly similar, because it sounds like Mrs. Hosall had a sensible reason to put stockings on the camels — to prevent fly bites.

Source: The Alamance Gleaner (Graham, N.C.) - Feb 11, 1926.

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Alex Boese Alex is the creator and curator of the Museum of Hoaxes. He's also the author of various weird, non-fiction, science-themed books such as Elephants on Acid and Psychedelic Apes. Paul Di Filippo Paul has been paid to put weird ideas into fictional form for over forty years, in his career as a noted science fiction writer. Contact Us

Posted By: Alex - Tue Jan 20, 2015
Category: Animals | Fashion | 1920s

Comments

Typical, even today, for a certain type of individual to be more concerned with critters than with humans.

Posted by Expat47 in Athens, Greece on 01/20/15 at 11:19 AM

Just hosing some ass.

Posted by BMN on 01/20/15 at 11:46 AM

A philanthropic Englishwoman, Mrs. F.K. Hosall. As in "Hose For All"?

Posted by KDP on 01/20/15 at 11:59 AM

I believe the name is "Hosali", not "Hosall".
I can't think of ladies and donkeys at the same time without thinking of a sleazy nightspot in Tijuana.

Posted by tadchem on 01/20/15 at 03:00 PM

Bug spray works better and is much easier to apply.

Posted by Patty in Ohio, USA on 01/20/15 at 03:52 PM

Ooga booga (chest thumps) <- Grammar correct that :coolgrin:

Posted by BrokeDad in Midwest US on 01/20/15 at 08:15 PM

Ass socks? :lol: :coolsmile:

Posted by Tyrusguy on 01/20/15 at 09:15 PM

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