Karl Josef Henckel von Donnersmarck

What people wore

Pride in household linens and curtains

Luxembourgish housewives took immense pride in their household linens, often comparing the ornate lace curtains in their windows to delicate personal undergarments.

Getting around

Bus travel to Kirchberg

A private bus service between the railway station and Kirchberg operated twice on weekdays and four times on market days or Sundays, with a journey time of 30 minutes.

What it cost

Price of bread in 1922

In August 1922, the price of a 5-pound loaf of bread was 2.25 francs in Luxembourg City, while it cost 2.10 francs in surrounding areas like Esch-sur-Alzette.

Music

Street musicians collected donations during fairs

Musicians paraded through streets playing the Hämmelsmarsch, a traditional song, to invite people to fairs and collect financial donations from the public.

Daily life

Schooling and child labor exemptions

While a 1912 law established seven years of free primary schooling for all, many children were granted temporary exemptions starting at age 11 to work. Additionally, due to high class sizes, the few available schools struggled to accommodate all children.

Work

Working Day Rhythms and Training

Industrial shifts lasted eight hours, but textile workers sometimes worked up to 14 hours per day. Vocational training at the Institut Emile Metz used psychophysiological labs to drill apprentices in economical body movements to maximize output.