Carroll Hotel: 1906

The windows on the balconys were floor length and doubled as doors. The lower sash opened as any double hung window does but opened high enough to act as a door. This arrangment was common throughout the south in the 18th & 19th century and some remain today.

and from a different angle (sans sinister chambermaid):

http://www.shorpy.com/node/6026

Actually, I wonder if the woman isn't a rag-picker. The "chamber pot" looks a tad too big and I would have thought they would have disposed of the contents in a more discrete location than right outside the hotel.

She looks more like she's going through the debris in front of her and likely carried the pot on her head while walking.

This figure is quite sinister. What is she looking at so intently in the bowl? Is she wearing a mask? Presumably it's all a trick of the light adding drama to a prosaic moment and there is an obvious reason for her bending over. I just can't think of it.

[Sinister chambermaid. Attacking evil chamberpot. - Dave]

Were those for actual use or merely decoration? Never seen a terrace style door leading out to these very ornate balconies. Or did the person simply step on through the huge double hung windows?