Konstantina, Henscher's Fox

Konstantina, also known as Hensher's Fox, is a Guntrelandite fox, residing in Eustata, companion of the Chairman of the Committee of Public Command of the Republic of Guntreland.

Earlier life

According to the estimates of the scientists, Konstantina is no more than 2 years old, which means that she did not live under other regimes before the Republic. Her exact place of birth is unknown. About the earlier life of Henscher's fox only assumptions can be made, and that is that, like other foxes in the rural areas south of Eustata, she fed herself by hunting in the forests and stealing from the villages. Her thin physiognomy at the time of discovery as well as the circumstances of the revolutionary war and the blockade around Guntreland suggest her diet was not abundant. Since she was given to Henscher and celebrated, several peasants boasted that they knew this fox from before and that they left food for her, but there is no reliable evidence of this.

Discovery and cure

Henscher's fox was found in the Year 19th Republican era in the village of Fiesdorf south of Eustata by a group of peasants. She was found injured, wounded and immobile, in a farmyard hit by a royalist air raid. It is assumed that hunger and the search for feathered poultry brought her to the farmyard. Taking pity on the animal, the villagers cured her, fed her and tamed her at the common expense of the village municipality. The municipality gave her the name Konstantina, which is associated with the Constitution. After that, by decision of the municipality, due to the symbolism she has as a victim of air raids but also as an animal which is a natural enemy of the aristocracy, a heroine of fables and a symbol of the Republic, she was brought to the National Assembly as a gift to Herman Henscher. As Henscher immediately paid attention to this animal, fed her from his hand and let her follow him wherever he went, he quickly gained her trust.

In the National Assembly

Arriving at the National Assembly, where Henscher spends most of the day, although tame and without aggression towards people, Konstantina could not unlearn some habits that are incompatible with such a place, and the problem was that no one, not even Henscher himself, dared to discipline her in any way, respecting her dignity and considering any coercion towards such a noble animal disgusting. For example, Konstantina began to destroy the Assembly's ceremonial carpets and tapestries. It is said that what was decisive for her transfer was her urinating in front of the bust of Emile Dustel, the Republican hero accordionist who went to his death for singing the anthem with Republican rather than royalist words in front of royalist gendarmes. Some "decent" NRs, mostly Masdenists and neutrals, also complained about her smell. Thus, after only a few days in the National Assembly, Henscher was forced to accept that this animal should leave the Assembly's edifice, despite all her symbolism. As she would still feel cramped and lonely in Henscher's private apartment, because she would be alone most of the day as Hensher has no family, and having in mind that as a result of all this she would probably behave even more harmfully towards Hensher's valuable carved wood salon (a gift from a municipal committee, confiscated from an aristocratic family who once - perhaps on one of the carved armchairs now belonging to Hensher - entertained the king himself in their home), it was decided that Konstantina will live in the yarded home of Henscher's friend, journalist Renburger, by analogy with the care of a friend's children proclaimed by the Republican Code.

Henscher's companion

Although Konstantina now lives with the citizen Renburger, Henscher regularly visits his fox and takes her for walks along the banks of the Eusta, during which he thinks about the political situation, devises and writes down speeches and legislative projects. When he is not being followed by spies, and sometimes precisely because he is, he speaks his political ideas out loud to his red-furred companion.

In a parliamentary speech, Wolf Schmeck stated that Hensher is learning cunning from his fox, with which he will expose all the vile plots of the enemies of the Republic. However, he often tells Hensher himself that he must "still learn cunning from his fox", thus actually admonishing Henscher that in his, Schmek's opinion, Henscher's pure idealism and principledness also includes a certain naivety towards the goodness, honesty and sincerity of people, which he must overcome in order to achieve his political goals.

Fishermen who fish every day along the coast of Eusta, when Henscher and Konstantina pass by, often give this animal free fish, either to please Henscher or really out of a desire to make this animal happy. As proof of her civility, Henscher points out that his fox prefers to eat fried (as those fishermen usually fry their catch on the spot and sell it to passers-by) rather than live fish.

Appearance

Konstantina's hair is predominantly red, while white color predominates on her cheeks and muzzle. White also predominates on her tail, which turns into pure black to the tip of the tail, over gray giving an association with the Republican tricolor.

Personality

It is said that the fox Konstantina is characterized by modesty, because in the home of citizen Renburger she gives way to Renburger's cats. Her cunning and cleverness are proverbial, and it is said that although full of respect for Renburger's cats, and although Henscher received a civil word of honor from his friend that this fox would neither be privileged nor discriminated against in his household, she always finds a way to get the best pieces of food. She is loyal to Henscher, which can be seen from the fact that she happily follows him on his walks without any leash.

Inimical Propaganda

In an effort to portray the Republic of Guntreland and its leaders as despicable abnormality, cartoonists of the enemy monarchies, paid by their governments, often depict Konstantina as Henscher's wife, in indiscreet poses and dressed in human female garb. The same motif appears less often in the Masdenite and Hrebsenite press, which therefore comes into conflict with the Republican Code.