Meaning of "blue bag"


In Cakes and Ale, Maughm writes,



She was a pattern of propriety and she would never have women in her house, you never knew what they were up to ("It's men, men, men all the time with them, and afternoon tea and thin bread and butter, and openin' the door and ringin' for 'ot water and I don't know what all"); but in conversation she did not hesitate to use what was called in those days the blue bag. (146–7)



I can't find the meaning of blue bag in this context. Anyone?




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