Chapter 191: Retirement Ceremony Part I
In the German Reich, there were two legislative bodies within Parliament, much like in the United States and its own legislative branch. And like the United States these two bodies were chosen based upon two distinctive factors.
Within the German Empire, the lower branch of Parliament was elected via popular vote by the citizens of the Empire. While in the higher of the two branches, that being Parliament, the Bundesrat and its members were chosen by the regional governments of every State within the Empire.
This was actually similar to how the United States senate functioned originally and even still at this time. It would only be a year from now, in 1913, where US Senators were elected via popular both at the booth by citizens.
A change that would never manifest in the German Reich, or at least within Bruno's past life, and hopefully never. After retiring from the military as a tried and true veteran of both the Austro-Prussian war of 1866, and the later Franco-Prussian War of 1871, and having earned both classes of the Iron cross, as well as a Pour Le Merite no less.
Bruno's father who shared the same name as his youngest son had easily climbed the ranks of German politics, first having been elected and served with distinction within the Reichstag for a number of years, before eventually being appointed by the Kingdom of Prussia to the Reichstag.
It was, of course a surprise to his fellow members of parliament that he rather suddenly decided to retire. And in doing so, Bruno's father was being granted a massive farewell party. Of course Bruno himself, as well as his family were invited to attend the event, as well as all of his siblings and their families as well.
One could never truly underestimate the grandeur of the parties thrown by the nobility of European Kingdoms and empires.
And this retirement party was no exception. Having been thrown by the Kaiser himself, which was rather unusual, but when one understood it was a means of showing respect to an aging member of the Bundesrat whose service to the country could not be underestimated, one naturally understood why this was the case.
Bruno, as always was far from a social butterfly, paying pleasantries where need be, but otherwise trying his best to be a fly on the wall. Heidi was his gregarious half who managed to convince people that her husband was far less menacing than he seemed.
And while Bruno was definitely more of an introvert than he was a social butterfly. What really made him behave so anti-socially at these venues was the fact that he just really hated the fakeness which the nobility in this era seemed to personify.