Ten Sous of Rum Please
Wall Art and Photo Gifts from Mary Evans Picture Library
Ten Sous of Rum Please
Schoolmistress to a pupil: " Here, get me ten sous worth of best rum from the corner shop". Date: 1906
Mary Evans Picture Library makes available wonderful images created for people to enjoy over the centuries
Media ID 14293776
© Mary Evans Picture Library
Alcohol Classroom Pupil Sous Temperance Schoolmistress
EDITORS COMMENTS
This evocative photograph, titled "Ten Sous of Rum Please: A Schoolmistress and Her Pupil," was captured in 1906 and is a poignant snapshot of a moment in French educational history. The image shows a stern-looking schoolmistress, dressed in a high-collared blouse and an apron, leaning over her young pupil's desk. With a firm hand, she points to a piece of paper that bears the inscription "10 sous," indicating the sum of money she is requesting from the child. The object of her demand is not a textbook or a pencil, but rather a bottle of rum from the corner shop. The scene unfolds in a dimly lit classroom, filled with the dusty aroma of old books and the faint sound of children's whispers. The atmosphere is heavy with the weight of tradition and the passing of time. The use of ten sous, an old French coin worth approximately 5 cents, adds an authentic touch to the image, further emphasizing its historical significance. The image raises intriguing questions about the role of alcohol in French society during the early 1900s and the attitudes towards it, particularly in the context of education. Was this a common practice, or an isolated incident? Was the schoolmistress encouraging her pupil to drink, or was she using the rum as a form of punishment? The photograph leaves these questions unanswered, inviting the viewer to delve deeper into the complexities of the past. Despite the intrigue, the image also conveys a sense of nostalgia for a bygone era, a time when the world moved at a slower pace, and the simple pleasures of life were cherished. The photograph is a reminder of the rich and complex history that lies hidden in the corners of our past, waiting to be discovered and explored.
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