There is still much that remains unknown about life in the 1800s, especially for teenagers. Most people living today did not experience the Victorian era, when the technologies we now consider old-fashioned were cutting-edge. In this recently uncovered 1970s clip from the BBC, two elderly women reflect on what it was like to be teenagers during a time when the horse and buggy was the primary mode of transportation.
While cars were on the horizon as the common means of transportation towards the end of the 19th century, it is fascinating to consider the experiences of these women. Frances “Effy” Jones recounted how, at 17, her brother encouraged her to check out a new contraption in a storefront window. It turned out to be a typewriter, and after receiving training on how to use it, Jones would sit in the store window typing while people outside gathered to watch. Soon, classes were established for women to learn how to use a typewriter, sparking a new movement for women at that time. The second woman, Berta Ruck, shared with the BBC that she would often get in trouble at boarding school for drawing instead of completing her school work. This talent led Ruck to art school in London, where she would ride buses around town, attempting to keep mud off her long skirt. However, she noted that her efforts were futile, and she would spend hours brushing the mud from her skirt before wearing it out again. You might be surprised to learn that these were not the buses we are familiar with today. They were double-decker horse-drawn carriages. It’s quite difficult to imagine, which is why you should watch the video below:www.youtube.com1970: VICTORIAN TEENAGERS reminisce | Yesterday’s Witness | Voice of the People | BBC ArchiveThis article originally appeared on 08.29.22From Your Site ArticlesRelated Articles Around the Web
