We'd consider these pieces "historical" -- but at the time, they were glimpses of contemporary life. Here's some up-close, personal looks at how Victorians lived and worked, as well as features about social institutions such as the Royal Mail, court judges, the police force (and the Thames police force), and more.
A little piece about the evils of fashion-mad young women driving seamstresses literally to their deaths with demands for fancy dresses to be sewn at the last minute.
An interesting little article recommending a sort of portable one-legged stool that shop-girls could "wear" to give them a chance to rest between customers.
Interesting advice to Sunday School teachers on making the lessons interesting (Sunday schools at this time also taught many basic skills); less interesting advice for students on how to better appreciate the teaching.
Besides being a great description of what servants were expected to do, this article also supplies information on wages for different types of servants.
A detailed four-part article on the evolution of British government, as well as a description of how the various branches of that government operated in Victorian times.
This purports to be a letter from a servant girl who has taken many of GOP's lessons to heart and applied them in her life and residence; one does wonder, however, if it isn't just a bit too "neat" and perhaps an editorial "plant"...
A deputation of British "maidens" present a Bible to Princess Helena of Walbeck on the occasion of her marriage to Prince Leopold, Duke of Albany, youngest son of Queen Victoria.
This is a delightful look by a French writer at the women of Victorian America -- women who considered themselves every bit the equals of their menfolk, if not more so!
Particularly noteworthy is the first picture in this article: A sketch by Queen Victoria of her first baby; next up is a copy of the first portrait of Queen Victoria painted after her coronation (nice for those who wonder what she looked like as a young woman).
