Franz Xaver Hynek and the foundation of the museum @museum.de

Hynek:

How beautifully you have set it all out, my dear, the gentlemen will feel right at home. The gooseberry wine is properly chilled, is it?

Hausdame:

Of course, Franz Xaver. I’m glad you’re pleased.

Hynek:

When my guests arrive, we’ll have to be more formal, my dear. After all, there’s no need for them to know how intimately we are connected.

Hausdame:

I know, I know. I just wish I were your wife and could be by your side in public, too.

Hynek:

But Clara, we still have so much time. After all, I’m only 42…

Hausdame:

Professor Heinrich and Dr. Scheider, the mayor.

Hynek:

Welcome to my house! Mr. Mayor, I am especially delighted you are able to be present at our meeting today.

Scheider:

The pleasure is all mine. After all, the matter is very close to my heart.

Heinrich:

Then we should quickly bring it to a successful conclusion. Thank you, my dear Hynek, for your kind welcome.

Scheider:

If only it were so easy, Professor Heinrich…

Heinrich:

Well, Oschatz, Strehla and even Gröba have had their own museums of local history for ages now.

Hynek:

To set one up, we first need to establish an association. We can’t take the second step before the first.

Scheider:

And that’s exactly why we have come together here today.

Hynek:

Right. How does the saying go: if you can’t do it on your own, join forces with others who want the same thing.

Heinrich:

That would certainly be an ideal principle for the association we’re supposed to be founding.

Scheider:

To my mind, it’s more appropriate to say: Only people who know their home country in the present -- and in the past -- can muster patriotism and an understanding of their homeland.

Hynek:

As far as our objective goes, that hits the nail on the head. Very well put, Mr. Mayor. And the association must bring together all the local people who appreciate the notion of heritage.

Heinrich:

In my view, the most important thing is to encourage people to become members of our future association.

Hynek:

First of all, we need committed fellow campaigners to constitute a board. That’s why I took the liberty to invite my friend Alfred Mirtschin and Cichorius, the teacher, to attend this evening. They’re very open to the idea of a museum of local history.

Scheider:

Excellent, Herr Hynek. We should also let the town council know in good time – a museum needs premises.

Hynek:

In the first instance, I could provide space at my sawmill.

Until we find suitable premises, objects from the collection could be kept here at the factory.

I could even imagine the residents of Riesa coming to see them here. We could encourage their curiousity about the museum and gain new supporters as well.

Heinrich:

A very good idea, Franz Xaver. One very important factor would, of course, be if you, Mr. Mayor, would agree to become chairman of the board.

Scheider:

That would be the seventh association of which I hold the chairmanship! Of course, I’d be happy to oblige. After all, this is about our town and the people who live here!

Hynek:

Then we should choose a date. I propose that the founding assembly be held in October, on the 12th of that month at the “Elbterrasse” restaurant.

Heinrich:

Would you organise a little cultural programme, Franz Xaver? With your contacts, that should be easy enough.

Hynek:

No problem, I’ll be happy to.

Hausdame:

Gentlemen, Herr Mirtschin and Herr Cichorius have arrived.