Konstancja Żwanowa

What people wore

Restricted Movement in Tight Prussian Uniforms

Prussian soldiers wore tight uniforms and white linen summer breeches that were so fitted they risked splitting if the wearer moved suddenly. They were required to keep their hair powdered, pulled back with a ribbon, and were never seen without their gaiters.

Getting around

Common vs. noble travel methods

Ordinary travelers used simple carts without springs called calèches or kolasa, while wealthy nobles moved in large caravans of dozens of wagons, sometimes accompanied by exotic animals like camels.

At the table

Warm beer breakfast drink with eggs

A common breakfast drink for Poles, as noted by contemporary observers, consisted of warm beer mixed with sugar, ginger, and eggs.

Music

Musical instruments used in local ensembles

Music ensembles at a boarding school in Slutsk regularly used instruments like trumpets, French horns, oboes, violins, and kettledrums purchased in Königsberg.

Daily life

Hard Labor: Preparing Winter Fuel

In some rural areas, families bundled green pine branches into small, straw-tied packages called Kulelkes to fuel their wide ovens during the winter. A child might be required to chop and tie nine of these bundles every evening after school to ensure the home remained heated.

What it cost

Earnings of skilled journeymen in Berlin

A journeyman craftsman such as a tailor, mason, or carpenter in Berlin typically earned 8 to 9 Taler per month.