Category: September 1874

Very bad night, during which I drafted amid tears an invocation to music for Marie Muchanoff. Bath with Lusch, work with the children, and after that wrote seven or eight letters. In the evening read “The Witch”[i] by Greene, without pleasure—a genius has no predecessors. (Before that attended a coffee party…

Isolde surprised us yesterday with a complete historical lecture, which Fidi brought to an end (it was about the quarrel between Louis the Pious and his sons) with the remark, “They squabbled as in a chicken coop.” Farewell visit from our friendly sponsors, who were extremely kind to the children….

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…