Actually these jobs are only odd by today's standards they were once necessary for day to day life. One of those jobs was a herb strewer, that job entailed keeping the air fresh before the invention of flush toilets which meant strolling the grounds/buildings scattering herbs, flowers, and other natural fragrances to keep the smell more pleasant. Another common job was a linkboy which was a young lower class male who escorted people through the darkened streets before there were streetlights. The phrase "can't hold a candle to" is likely a reference to someone of even less status than a linkboy. I wonder if the phrase "carrying a torch for" may also be a reference to the forgotten linkboys?
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