Archduke Joseph Francis of Austria

Josef Franz, Archduke of Austria, Prince of Hungary, was the eldest son of Archduke Joseph August of Austria and Princess Auguste Maria of Bavaria. As his father was the last Palatine of Hungary and was briefly considered a potential King of Hungary in 1919–1920, Josef Franz was a potential crown prince of Hungary. He was born during the reign of his maternal great-grandfather, Emperor Franz Joseph I of Austria.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Bathing rituals in the household

Families used a single tin bathtub brought into the kitchen, which was filled with water heated on a stove. To conserve resources, the entire family bathed in the same water, typically with children going first, followed by the wife, and finally the husband.

Children's work and education

Children in families engaged in domestic production were often required to work from a very young age, which frequently resulted in the neglect of their school attendance. In the Czech districts, compulsory education lasted for eight years, starting at age six.

Coffee substitutes for families

When coffee was too expensive, families brewed substitutes from ingredients like chicory, malt, or rye.

Meat consumption habits

Working-class families typically ate meat only twice a week, usually on Saturdays and Sundays.

Food and footwear prices

At the turn of the century, 1 kilogram of bread cost 0.20 to 0.30 crowns, and 1 kilogram of pork cost 1.20 to 1.50 crowns. A pair of shoes was priced at 5 to 10 crowns, which was a significant expense for a modest family.

Low agricultural wages for families

Some women working in agriculture earned only 24 kreutzers per day for labor lasting from sunrise to sunset, while young boys received 12 kreutzers.

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.