Torsello, Davide - Pappová, Melinda: Social Networks in Movement. Time, interaction and interethnic spaces in Central Eastern Europe - Nostra Tempora 8. (Somorja-Dunaszerdahely, 2003)
Interaction, migration and change
Property, power, and emotions 243 of these experiences in relatively fixed narrative structures in which the rich intruder Hulshoff was simply “the bad guy”. The stories portrayed him as somebody who made huge profits from his hunting lodge while his employees only earned average Czech wages. They also accused him of being a burglar and a drugs dealer, and reported his “crimes” to the police. Hulshoff, called the stories "absolutely absurd” and argued that the rumour-mongers were basically driven by envy. Capitalist ownership and notions of “patronage” The villagers did not just protest against the disappearance of “communal (i.e. state) ownership”. They also objected to some of the ways in which the Dutchman handled his private property. Some people complained that his pheasants ruined their gardens, and covered the graves in the cemetery with excrement. In Hulshoff’s view, the best way to respond to anger and objections was by subsidizing a number of communal projects. He explained that “patronage” was common practice to estate owners: In our family, we always had country estates. Having an estate means owning a larger plot of land, and that brings with it social obligations. Normally you do that in consultation with the people who live there. So the first thing I did was to waterproof the town hall. Secondly we renovated the chapel by the graveyard. And then, much against my wishes, we financed a new stretch of asphalt. A gravelled road would have been much more picturesque. Through his “help” to the village, Hulshoff clearly intended to construct an image of himself as a willing, caring "patron” who should be welcomed instead of envied. A number of villagers I spoke with indeed appreciated his concern. Hulshoff, however, was disappointed that his actions did not stop the gossip and the “antics”.
