3. Your own garden hermit
A garden hermit in Germany in the 18th century by Johann Schmitt, 1795.
At the end of the 18th century, it was very fashionable to have not only a beautiful garden but also a wild one. In this type of garden, there was a hut for a garden hermit where one could have some alone time. But it was especially cool when there was a real hermit living in the hut so the owner could proudly show off the hermit to their guests.
Rich landlords often hired homeless people who were supposed to do certain things. English poet Charles Hamilton had these requirements for his hermit: “(A hermit must) continue on the Hermitage for 7 years, where he shall be provided with a Bible, optical glasses, a mat for his feet, a hassock for his pillow, an hourglass for timepiece, water for his beverage, and food from the house. He must wear a camlet robe, and never, under any circumstances, must he cut his hair, beard, or nails, stray beyond the limits of Mr. Hamilton’s grounds, or exchange one word with the servants.”
Of course, this job is not for everyone. That’s why instead of real hermits, a dummy was used. According to one version of the story, this why garden gnomes are still so popular.