I think there was a lot more free time then we can imagine, so they would do anything to keep busy, even something as crazy as that. ;) I remember my mom telling me that when she was in college she was a bank teller for awhile and ended up getting her nails done every week, just so she could look at something pretty as she used her hands all day. The same principle might apply here, since unless they were wealthy, they had to stare at those damn linens all. the. time.