Countess Elisabeth Dobržensky de Dobrženicz

Elisabeth Maria Adelheid Dobrženský von Dobrženitz was a Bohemian noblewoman whose marriage to the son of the former heiress to the throne of Brazil prompted renunciation of his claim to the abolished monarchy's throne.

Weekday skirts for women

Working-class women often wore blue-dyed linen or cotton skirts on weekdays, frequently embellished with white printed patterns known as moäraeck.

Intricate apron embroidery

Peasant women created aprons with elaborate embroidered blossom borders that could take an experienced worker more than a full week to complete.

Harpist hired for tavern dances

A blind harpist from the village of Syrovín continued to be hired by local youths to play at tavern dances until around 1890. It was common for folk musicians to perform for intimate occasions, sometimes playing alone while singing and stomping to keep the rhythm.

Popularity of Kde domov muj

The song Kde domov muj was commonly performed at national festivals, banner consecrations, and political demonstrations. It was even sung in a fantastic underworld setting inside caverns during a banner dedication ceremony in 1864.

Faster travel between Vienna and Graz

Taking the train from Vienna to Graz took nine hours, which was a significant improvement over the twenty-nine hours required by post coach.

Horse-drawn railway journey and restaurant stop

The horse-drawn railway from České Budějovice to Linz took 14 hours, with a midday break at the Kerschbaum station, which hosted the first railway restaurant in Europe.

Scarce hot water and shared baths

Hot water was so scarce that in 1875, a single bucket of hot water brought from a brewery cost 4 krejcary. Families often bathed in the same water in a portable tub in the kitchen.

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.

Cost of a meal in 1870

In 1870, a full meal at a Prague canteen cost 18 kreuzers, with soup priced at 3 kreuzers, beef at 7 kreuzers, and a pint of beer at 12 kreuzers.

Daily meals of working-class families

Ordinary working-class families frequently relied on basic soups, bread, potatoes, and legumes like lentils or peas, with meat being a rare treat for Sunday dinners. Breakfast often consisted of bread and coffee, while evening meals were simple, sometimes just bread with butter, cheese, or beer.

Worker earnings and housing costs

In 1900, an average worker earned between 60 and 120 crowns per month, while mid-19th-century workers typically brought home about 20 gold coins monthly. Rent often consumed nearly half of these earnings.

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.

Common Skilled Trades

The most common skilled trades included shoemakers, bakers, tailors, carpenters, locksmiths, plumbers, butchers, barbers, and glaziers.

Difficult Living and Working Conditions

In a Prague glove workshop, inspectors found 20 apprentices for only 26 workers, while some bakers locked their apprentices in cellar dormitories at night to prevent theft. Workers in Vienna often spent up to one-third of their earnings just on rent for cellar or attic dwellings.