stairs

up 

"...I told Mrs. Linden that I thought I was ready to retire, as I knew I should have an exciting and unusual day on the morrow.
'Very well,' she replied in her sweet way. She escorted me to a small elevator, which, by the way, was to be found in every home of the 2905 type. This I thought was a good idea too, as many women were actually tired out in my day, by going up and down stairs.
I remarked to Mrs. Linden the convenience of it. She replied that the people used elevators more than stairs, and that they, too, were put in during the construction of the house. 'Did you not have elevators in your day, Miss Tillman?'
'Certainly.' I answered, "'In public buildings, but they were not common in private houses.' 
'Queer,' she replied, 'that they did not think of putting them into use in all homes.'..." 

~ Bessie Story Rogers, As it may be A Story of the Future, 1905 (excerpt from: A Celebration of Women Writers)

Photograph submitted in response to The Life of B’s monthly square challenge … the absolute rule – Your main photograph must be square in shape!

Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge: Which Ways – Featuring Steps or Stairs

stirrup

The English word “stirrup” stems from Old English stirap, stigrap, Middle English stirop, styrope,[2] i.e. a mounting or climbing-rope. From Old English stīgan “to ascend”

A stirrup is a light frame or ring that holds the foot of a rider, attached to the saddle by a strap, often called a stirrup leather. Stirrups are usually paired and are used to aid in mounting and as a support while using a riding animal (usually a horse or other equine, such as a mule). They greatly increase the rider’s ability to stay in the saddle and control the mount, increasing the animal’s usefulness to humans in areas such as communication, transportation and warfare.

In antiquity, the earliest foot supports consisted of riders placing their feet under a girth or using a simple toe loop. Later, a single stirrup was used as a mounting aid, and paired stirrups appeared after the invention of the treed saddle. The use of paired stirrups is credited to the Chinese Jin Dynasty and came to Europe during the Middle Ages. Some argue that the stirrup was one of the basic tools used to create and spread modern civilization, possibly as important as the wheel or printing press.*

The second week of the Cee’s Fun Foto Which Way challenge  is all about steps or stairs of any type.

source:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stirrup