Princess Bathildis of Schaumburg-Lippe

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.

Getting around

Shift from carriages to trains

Travel by carriage was often considered expensive, slow, and uncomfortable, while the railway offered a more accessible and faster alternative. Trips that previously required two days, such as Prague to Karlovy Vary, became possible in just 6 hours by train.

Music

Paying six kreutzers for a song

At local village feasts, musicians were paid six kreutzers per song. Some attendees would dance all day without paying, leading to frequent fights with the young people who hosted the events.

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.