Queen Charlotte of Württemberg

Princess Charlotte of Schaumburg-Lippe was Queen of Württemberg from 6 October 1891 to 30 November 1918 as the second wife and consort of King William II. Charlotte was not only the last queen of Württemberg, but the last surviving queen of any German state.

Flax drying costs

To dry flax, farmers paid a fee of 20 kreuzers to a local flax worker for scaffold space and provided him with daily food.

Hay-stuffed skirt enhancers

Women prioritized the number of their skirts, which were kept voluminous by a hay-stuffed pouch attached under their bodices.

Intimate musical performances

Beyond formal feasts, people enjoyed music in intimate settings, sometimes accompanied by just a single musician such as a hurdy-gurdy player or a blind harpist. Musicians were often paid not only in cash but also in food, drink, or grain.

Paying for music at feasts

In the mid-19th century, musicians often played for money, with one song costing six kreutzers. If dancers avoided paying, fights frequently broke out at feast parties.

Easier travel across borders

Administrative barriers to travel were significantly reduced when a decree in 1857 abolished the requirement for passports for travel within the Austrian monarchy. By 1865, passport controls were also removed at the external borders of the monarchy.

Railway revolutionized travel times

Before the railway, a carriage journey from Prague to Vienna took up to 36 hours, but the train reduced this time to 8 hours.

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.

Street food for the poor

Street kitchens in Prague served the poorest people, providing meals like soups, sausages, or dumplings for prices as low as 2 to 3 kreutzers. Diners often stood to eat, and it was common for them to borrow a spoon or even have food served directly into their hands by vendors.

Affordable meals at workers' cooperatives

Workers’ food cooperatives were established in Prague between 1865 and 1872 to provide affordable meals, such as a full lunch featuring soup, a side dish, and meat for 16 kreutzers. These establishments offered a cleaner alternative to street kitchens, providing diners with tables and cutlery like knives and forks.

Worker Income and Food Prices

By the mid-19th century, an average worker's family earned about 20 gold (gulden) per month, with nearly half of their income spent on rent. In 1860, one kilogram of bread cost 11 kreuzer, while one kilogram of meat cost about 40 kreuzer.

Survival and extreme dietary measures

Due to extreme poverty, some workers supplemented their scarce diet by hunting sparrows, crows, or even consuming cats and cockchafers. Street kitchens also served the poorest, often reusing tools without cleaning them between customers.

Long hours for domestic servants

Domestic servants in burgher households during the 19th century faced a grueling existence, with a typical working day lasting between 16 and 18 hours.