In the seventeenth century, in the time of Louis XIV., all Germany fell under the sway of French influence. There were French conversation, prayers and oaths, French amusements and French sins, French eating and drinking. An effort to imitate all the French fashions that the cavaliers brought from Paris was a characteristic of the sad season that followed, a time sad for patriots, sad for beer brewers and for beer. Beer was _une boisson de commun_. The beautifully ornamented mugs and beakers were put away in the lumber-room (_rumpel kammer_) and champagne glasses from Paris took their place. At evening, where formerly the jovial barons and their chief followers had encamped round the carved-oak table and laid a strong grasp on the mug—there was now a service of cakes and tea, and where formerly milk and pepper or beer was used as a morning draught, the coffee breakfast constantly acquired more use and repute. The common people, however, stood fast for the old way, and were never better pleased than when the privileged beer came to honor. At this time, too, the change of rôles took place, and South Germany entered on its new and important course at the beginning of the present century. (The brewery at St. Marx was built in 1710, and in 1732 there were three brew-houses at Schwechat.) It is as if the minds of men slumbered long, only to come at once into a never suspected activity. In the midst of the tumult we find Balling, Dreher, Sedlmayer, Kaiser, Otto and many others. Everything in brewing is changed. Laboratories spring out of the ground and discoveries and inventions come in countless numbers, brewing journals are started, schools opened, fairs and associations multiply, and all in the space of a single half century. CHAPTER IV. MODERN HISTORY OF BEER. From the account already given, it will be seen that beer not only took an early hold on the affections of the people, but kept its position wherever it was introduced. It is now well established in every civilized country and plays so important a part in the economy of nations that a review of the light in which it is regarded by different governments cannot fail to be both interesting and useful.