The Victorian era was characterized by a fascination with science and exploration, leading to peculiar beliefs and theories. One such belief was the idea that there was life on Mars. Italian astronomer Giovanni Schiaparelli fueled this notion when he reported observing artificial waterways on the Martian surface through his telescope. These “canals” were interpreted as evidence of intelligent life and advanced extraterrestrial civilizations.
The Victorians enthusiastically embraced this idea, which sparked interest in scientific endeavors related to contacting aliens. Many individuals made significant contributions to unconventional scientific causes, hoping to establish communication with beings from other worlds. These efforts ranged from elaborate experiments to spiritualistic practices, all in pursuit of connecting with extraterrestrial intelligence.
The Modesty Boards
While certain fashions were quite daring back then, modesty was the name of the game - especially for women. Revealing flesh was highly taboo, and that rule went for even the juiciest part of the woman's body - the ankle. To curb all and any of these monstrous fashion transgressions, Victorian society invented the modesty board.
These boards were propped up or nailed to the ground in order to ensure that a woman's ankles were not exposed while seated. Heaven forbid a gentleman caught a glimpse of that sensual little bone. The whole tea room would be aghast in horror, and hot tea would be everywhere.
Visiting Hours
The 19th century was a time of not only the industrial revolution but also rigid social codes. Among these customs was the practice of "paying a call," which involved visiting friends and acquaintances. However, this activity was strictly confined to the afternoons, and one had to navigate the intricate rules of social etiquette. When paying a call, it was essential to be attuned to subtle social cues.
The host would never directly indicate that it was time to leave, relying on more subtle hints. A discreet yawn or a glazed-over stare might be a polite way of signaling that it was time for the visitor to make their departure. Adhering to these unspoken rules was crucial to maintaining proper decorum and social harmony in a society where appearances and manners held great significance.
Holy Water
There's a reason why the English love their beer so much; their water (at least for so many years) was undrinkable. Clean and unpolluted water was hard to come by, and beer was considered a safer option, even by pregnant women and children. Kids, after a hard day's work in the mines, would love a cup of warm, frothy beer, too. What a time to be alive!
Beer was considered a safer alternative to water due to the brewing process, which involved boiling the water and adding hops, which helped kill bacteria and make it drinkable. The low-alcohol "small beer" was commonly consumed by children, who worked long hours in labor-intensive jobs such as mining. It provided them with hydration and some nourishment in a time when clean water was scarce.
School's Out
Back in the good old days, education wasn't exactly a top concern. Kids had more important things to do, like earning a living! Who needs to know how to read and write when you can be a pint-sized chimney sweep, right? Sure, there were some fancy-pants church schools that were supposedly "free," but let's be real, most poor families needed every penny they could scrape together.
Meanwhile, the rich folks were sending their snobby offspring to prestigious institutions where they learned fancy stuff like Latin and Greek. Talk about priorities! Thankfully, someone in the government finally woke up from their afternoon tea-induced slumber and decided to make education compulsory for all kids under 13.