Category: Cosima Wagner Diaries

Early in the morning to our friend, who then goes to fetch her husband[i] in Neumarkt. Spent the whole afternoon very pleasantly together; the minister, just come from the confirmation of the Crown Prince’s son, tells us of the Prince’s admirable profession of faith. But he confirms that the Prince’s left…

The whole day, from morning to evening,  devoted to our friend [Marie Schleinitz]. In the morning I was alarmed by a sudden red flush on Fidi’s skin, but to our great joy it turns out to be nothing.  We take our friend, who is extraordinarily pretty and interesting in her appearance,…

No church, the children not well, I write letters; around noon our friends Heckel and Zeroni, with whom R. goes for a walk, and who then join us in the evening.  At 11 o’clock I go to the railroad station to meet Marie Schleinitz. With her until around midnight. Affairs…

R. works, finds it difficult to concentrate, however, and has to orchestrate one page twice. I have several letters to write after giving the children their lessons. After lunch, over coffee, R. sings me “Mad Margaret[i]” from La Dame Blanche[ii] and says what an impression it made on him in his…

Still no rain, severe drought. Work with the children, R. on his score. After lunch he tells me in great perturbation about the attached report on a Carlist atrocity (a newspaper clipping reporting the execution of 87 captured Carabineros in Flayers near Olot). He would like to send it to…

Sedan[i] celebrated with cannon fire and flags, also with a big procession. Walked a little with the children, but Fidi still indisposed. —  At lunch yesterday R. mentioned the great agitation in Austria because their cannons are worthless—a fine world, in which this warrants particular attention! I set out with the…