Oscar I of Sweden

What people wore

Commoners often went barefoot and wore secondhand

Ordinary rural people in France often went barefoot during the warmer seasons and relied heavily on secondhand clothing, as buying new outfits was exceptional.

Getting around

Fast winter mountain descent by sled

Adventurous travelers crossing the Alps at Mont-Cenis in winter could descend into France on a sled in a 15-minute thrill ride called the ramasse. The sleds were guided by a conductor who steered the craft down the snowy slopes at high speed.

At the table

Bread Rationing During the Revolution

During the Revolution, bread was rationed and sold for 14 sous per 60 grams, often of such poor quality that even sheepdogs would refuse to eat it.

Music

Wind instruments dominated outdoor civic festivals

Wind instruments, especially the bassoon-serpent, were highly prized for outdoor festivities and civic celebrations because they were loud enough to be heard by large crowds. During the Revolution, the government promoted powerful patriotic hymns like La Marseillaise, often played by wind ensembles to help mobilize and unify citizens.

Daily life

Limited rural schooling

In many rural areas, primary education was inconsistently provided by the local priest or his vicar, focusing only on basic reading, writing, and catechism.

What it cost

Wages and the high cost of bread

A typical manual laborer in the late 18th century earned between 20 and 30 sous per day. Bread was a staple that consumed about half of a family's income in normal times.