Count Ferdinand von Wilczek

Getting around

Vienna to Budapest rail travel time reduction

When the rail line between Vienna and Budapest first opened, a direct train took about six hours, a time which fell to four and a half hours by 1900.

Daily life

Homemade lighting and fire safety precautions

In the 19th century, the cheapest source of light was a simple wooden piece known as a torchlight, which burned for about ten minutes and had to be constantly replaced. To prevent fire in wooden homes, children kept the light over a vessel filled with water so the burning end would drop safely into it.

What people wore

Men's work jacket

Men frequently wore a short, waist-length, form-fitting jacket called a spenzl for work, which was typically blue or red and lacked a collar.

Music

Harpist hired for tavern dances

A blind harpist from the village of Syrovín continued to be hired by local youths to play at tavern dances until around 1890. It was common for folk musicians to perform for intimate occasions, sometimes playing alone while singing and stomping to keep the rhythm.

At the table

Coffee substitutes for families

When coffee was too expensive, families brewed substitutes from ingredients like chicory, malt, or rye.