Prince Sixtus of Parma

Prince Sixtus of Bourbon-Parma was a member of the House of Bourbon-Parma, a Belgian officer in World War I, and the central figure in the Sixtus Affair, an attempt to negotiate a treaty to end Austria-Hungary's participation in the Great War separate from its Central Powers allies. He also wrote a number of books.

Distinctive herdsmen accessories

Appenzell herdsmen wore unique earrings called Ohreschueffe, consisting of a miniature cream ladle attached to a snake's head chain. They also displayed wealth through silver watch-chains adorned with actual coins and medals.

Festive attire and social status indicators

Printed cotton accessories like aprons and headscarves became widespread social indicators for the common classes and were essential for showing off during feast days. In some regions, wedding crowns made of gold or silver flakes were worn to signify marital status or celebration.

Paying for Dance Music

To pay for music at dance events, attendees could either pay for individual tunes or purchase dance ribbons, which acted like multi-trip tickets for several songs.

The Popular Home Zither

The zither was a popular instrument for home music-making across all social classes because it was inexpensive and relatively easy to learn to play.

Exclusive tram travel in Zurich

In the 1880s, horse-drawn trams in Zurich were a luxury for the upper classes; it was unthinkable for workers or servants to use them.

Railway expansion and stagecoach traffic

The Gotthard railway opened in 1882, transforming travel, while the Simplon stagecoach route remained busy, carrying 28,190 passengers in 1876 alone.

Children often missed school

Accounts of rural life note that many children did not get to school and were often illiterate, with the few schools mainly run by the village priest.

Porcelain stoves with hot-water pot

A described peasant home used porcelain stoves heated with wood or turf; near the stove there was a receptacle for warming dishes and keeping hot water.

High food costs for working families

Working-class families spent 62 percent of their total budget on food, primarily on bread, coffee, or chicory substitutes.

Liquor as a staple food

Industrial workers in Winterthur drank liquor as a staple, sometimes consuming a pre-work shot in taverns for 20 centimes.

Food prices in Zurich

In late 19th-century Zurich, potatoes cost about 7 rappen per kilo, while a kilo of beef cost 1.50 francs and bread was approximately 30 rappen per kilo.

Worker salaries in late 19th-century Zurich

In Zurich, an unskilled laborer earned an average daily salary of 3.10 francs for a 10-hour workday, while a skilled typographer could earn 62 rappen per hour.

Common Jobs: Combining Farming and Industry

In the late 19th century, many Swiss people combined industrial work, such as silk weaving, cotton spinning, or watchmaking, with small-scale subsistence farming. This dual activity was a common way for rural families to secure cash for necessities like taxes and clothing.

Memorable Facts: Sledges and Child Lace-Makers

Alpine hay-mowers carried their own wooden sledges on their shoulders to descend steep mountains, sliding down at arrow-like speed. Meanwhile, young lace-makers in mountain valleys began working at age six, tasked with creating half a meter of lace daily.