Social And Political Reactions Of The Bruges Popular Mass At The End Of The Ancien Regime (1770-1794): Generally speaking the conditions of life of the lower social classes at Bruges were the same as in all other West European cities. The popular mass had to contend with continuous price increases whereas wages remained stationary or even decreased. Without support the Bruges working-class families could not possibly make both ends meet. A t Bruges, this support was remarkably well organized, but eventually proved insufficient.