SATURDAY STORY - GOTTFRIED QUAAS - DECEMBER 10, 2022

  SATURDAY STORY - GOTTFRIED QUAAS - DECEMBER 10, 2022

Gottfried Quaas, Edward Bauer, and Peter Wagner arrived in Munich, Bavaria.  Gottfried and Edward were ambassadors from Saxony-Thuringia, and Peter was newly assigned to them by the Austrian Chancellor in Vienna.  They had taken the train from Vienna to Munich

Gottfried and Edward had been sent on their mission to see if Germany could be reunited as one country instead of small states.  Their first stop had been Vienna to see if Austria was willing to be a partner in such unification.

Gottfried and Edward were watching their money as they had stayed longer than they had planned in Vienna.  They opted for a cheaper inn while in Munich, the Curious Cat Inn.  Peter with the financial pull of Austria stayed in the Royal Inn.  

They arrived about five p.m. on Monday and would call on the Bavarian government in the morning.  Before they parted they agreed on a nine a.m. meeting time at Peter’s inn since it was closer to the government buildings.  

Munich was a pretty city.  Gottfried had come from Heckendorf, a small village in Thuringia, and was experiencing being in larger cities.  He had gone to Dresden in Saxony to work on unification and met Edward.  Together they had traveled to Prague Bohemia on horseback and then to Vienna on the train.  Train travel was fairly new to this area of the German-speaking world, and Gottfried was still amazed at the speed of trains.  He constantly looked out the windows at the mountains and forests they traveled through.  

Munich was an old city (as was Prague and Vienna).  Located in the foothills of the Alps, the area was a center of agricultural commerce.  Cows and goats dotted the hillsides and Munich was a center of cheese making.  Likewise, there were multiple fields of barley and hops for the brewing of bier.

Gottfried’s family made their own bier back on the farm in Heckendorf.  He knew a little about the brewing process from malted barley to hops for flavoring and good spring water.  But, there was a lot he didn’t know - wheat bier (weissbier), ale, pilsner, lager, porter, stout, and some of the local variations.  He wasn’t a heavy drinker, but savored and sipped his bier to note the delicate differences.  

The Curious Cat was a worker’s kind of inn.  It was much cheaper than the Royal Inn, but also afforded Gottfried and Edward a chance to meet and interact with the common folks.  That evening the two sat in the common room.  Dietrich Schmitt was a hop salesman.  Sitting next to Dietrick, Gottfried learned that hops add bitterness to the bier which balances the sweetness of the barley malt.  More hops gave a different taste to the bier.  Karl Weingart, the innkeeper at the Curious Cat had three biers, and the men sampled all three.  Dietrich carefully described the differences.  Gottfried was learning.  His family grew a plot of hops on their farm and since they used the same hops and barley, the family brew was pretty consistent from batch to batch.  

Sampling the three varieties at the Curious Cat with Dietrich the hops expert and Karl the innkeeper and brewer made Gottfried want to buy some different hops for the farm for the next growing season.  

But they also talked of the political environment in Bavaria.  Karl, the innkeeper, said there weren't riots that took place in other European areas in 1848.  

Karl said “There were a few rabble-rousers that seemed to like to make trouble, but Munich is a good place.  Taxes aren’t too high, and the economy is good. We first had some manufacturing that made beer vats and barrels, but they have branched into plows and farm equipment.  Then others are making train equipment.  We buy and sell, import and export around Europe.  This train connection is really opening up commerce, and it is time we had a unified Germany.

Dietrich agreed.  “I ordered some hops from Bohemia two years ago and that makes for real good bier.  I can also sell different barleys and wheat for bier making.”

There was another table of three men that joined them.  They were a carpenter, a mason, and a cooper.  They readily agreed that a unified Germany would be good for them.

*****

As they went to bed, Gottfried and Edward nodded to each other as they climbed the stairs.  This was a good night for the unification of Germany.

*****

Gottfried and Edward were at the Royal Inn a little before 9:00 the next morning.  Peter wasn’t in the common room.  Edward asked the innkeeper if Peter had been down to breakfast, the innkeeper wasn’t sure who Peter was, but knew for sure that Peter hadn’t had breakfast.

At twenty minutes past 9, Peter walked into the common room, wearing fine linens like noble people wore.  Under his breath, Edward said to Gottfried, “Oh No”. 

Edward said, “Are you ready to go Peter?”  

Peter answered, “Not yet, I haven’t had breakfast yet”.  

Edward said “I wanted us to get to the Bavaria offices early enough to have a good meeting.  If we wait for you to have breakfast, they will be at lunch when we get there and we might miss out.  You can have breakfast and Gottfried and I will go to the chancellor, or you can skip breakfast and go with us.  Your choice.”

Edward and Gottfried got up to leave.  

Peter said “That isn’t fair.  I came as a representative of the Austrian government, you can’t cut me out.”

Edward nodded and Gottfried started walking to the door of the inn.  Peter jumped up and joined them.  You could almost see the steam coming off Edward’s forehead from his irritation with the young nobleman.  

The Royal Inn was three blocks from the main government offices for Bavaria and the three men arrived in short order.  Edward went in and found the chancellor’s office and asked the secretary for a half-hour appointment.  The secretary wanted to know their reason to see the chancellor and Edward told him that three representatives from Saxony, Thuringia, and Austria wanted to talk about German unification.  

The secretary said, “I know that is a priority of the chancellor, let’s get you in now.”

He walked down the hall and came back in two minutes.  He said, “Yes, the chancellor is able to talk to you now”.  He escorted the three visitors into the chancellor.

The chancellor said, “Guten Tag.  I am Heinrich Elkhart, the chancellor of Bavaria.  I understand from my secretary that you are from three different areas.  Welcome to Bavaria”.

Edward, as the spokesperson, bowed and said, “Thank you, Herr Chancellor.  I am Edward Bauer from Saxony and authorized by the King of Saxony, King Francis, on this mission.  With me is Gottfried Quaas, a representative from Thuringia, and Peter Wagner from Austria.

Edward continued, “Saxony and Thuringia have entered into a unification agreement between those two neighboring states.  King Mallory and King Francis see unification as an important issue.  Germany, as separate states, can’t compete with Britain, France, or even Spain in terms of international affairs.  With the riots and rebellions of last summer and with the French revolution and the American revolution, the time for unification is vital.” 

Heinrich Elkhart nodded.  “I agree with you as does Prince Wilhelm.  With the industrial revolution, the speed of trains, and communications, our world is shrinking and it is definitely time to work on unification.”

Edward and Gottfried nodded.  But, Peter interrupted.  “As an ambassador from Austria, I urge the German states to join with Austria in a new Austrian Empire - strengthened by Bavaria and the other German states.”

Heinrich Elkhart looked at Edward and Gottfried, “Is this your viewpoint too?”

Edward said, “No.  At this point, it is not a good plan to develop the final organization, but to approach unification carefully.  It may be that Prussia, Hamburg, or Berlin might have different views of unification.  This is our third stop (after first working on Saxony and Thuringia, then Austria, and now Bavaria. We think it should be a grassroots movement and realize it might take years or even decades to achieve the goal, but it needs to be started.”

Peter tried to interrupt, but Heinrich Elkhart said, “Young man, please let Herr Bauer lay out the concepts, please”.  

Edward continued, “We hope to visit all the various states and encourage honest discussion.  I’m not sure that will be Gottfried and my task - we’d prefer it to be an open process and not one with just representatives from Saxony and Thuringia.”.

Heinrich nodded, and then asked, “Peter, what is your involvement with this effort?”

Peter answered “Last week these two came to Vienna.  Our chancellor believes that Austria should be the lead in this process and assigned me to accompany Edward and Gottfried here.  After all, Austria has the experience with such unifications with the Holy Roman Empire, the Austria-Hungarian Empire, and other noble achievements.”

Heinrich said, “Thank you, Peter.  I think Bavaria would prefer to let this organization grow systematically without a conclusion yet.  In other words, if others agree on an Austrian lead unification, so be it; but if others agree on some other form or unification, let that happen.”

He continued, “I will take this to my colleagues here.  Gottfried and Peter, can I excuse you as I would like to continue for a few minutes with Edward.”

Gottfried nodded agreement, but it seemed as if Peter was opposed to any discussion that didn’t involve him or Austria as Heinrich stood and opened the door to the hallway, he didn’t have much choice but to leave.

*****

Gottfried and Peter went down the hall to the reception room with the secretary, and Edward remained with Heinrich.

*****

Heinrich had a big grin.  “I’m guessing that young Peter was thrust upon you in Vienna, much to your dismay.”

Edward laughed out loud. “That’s right Chancellor Elkhart.”

Heinrich said, “Call my Heinrich.  Over the centuries, Bavaria has been a part of some of the Austrian so-called empires.  We find that Vienna built monuments and grandeur based on Bavaria (and others) hard work and steep taxes.  Yes, we are interested in German unification, but let the process work out, and not be dominated by Austria and the Peter Wagners of the world.

Again, Edward laughed.  

Edward had an idea.  “Please excuse me for this, if I am out of line, let me know.  Gottfried and I stayed at the Curious Cat Inn last night.  Why don’t you and some of your friends join us there tonight and over a few of their excellent biers talk casually?  And, we will, ah, forget to invite Peter!”

At that Heinrich laughed. “You’ve got a deal.  How about Bavaria pick up the tab for the food and drink?”

Edward laughed, “We’d be glad for you to pick up the tab.” and he added with another laugh, “I think I’m going to be extra thirsty tonight”.

Both laughed and Heinrich showed Edward out.  

*****

Edward met up with the other two. “Well, I don’t think there is much need to stay around here.  Chancellor Elkhart will want to discuss this with his staff.  Peter, I think you can catch a train back to Vienna this afternoon.  Gottfried and I will catch a train tomorrow to Prague.”

Peter looked at Edward and said “Why are you going to Prague?  That’s the wrong direction for you.”

Edward said, “We rode horses from Dresden to Prague and then took the train to Vienna.  Our horses are in Prague and then we can make our way north.  We can keep you informed by mail, and possibly by this new invention, the telegraph.”  

The three walked out and to the Royal Inn, where Peter left them to go to Vienna.

Gottfried and Edward stopped for lunch at a small inn and talked.

Edward said, “Heinrich and a group of his staff are coming to the Curious Cat tonight for dinner and bier, and Bavaria is paying for it.  I’m pretty sure, our friend Peter will not be joining us.”

Gottfried laughed at that.

Edward continued, “Yes, Heinrich doesn’t seem to think much of the lad or of Austria being in charge of a reunified Germany.”

*****

Heinrich and three others joined Gottfried and Edward at the Curious Cat and they had a great night of dinner, good bier, and talking about unification.

************

End of this week’s episode.

LOVE WINS

LOVE TRANSFORMS

KAREN ANNE WHITE, © DECEMBER 10, 2022