Cosima's Diaries

Diary Entry of April 17, 1869

Overview

A large packet of newspapers arrives while Cosima spends the morning with the children and later writes to Mathilde. Claire's news that Cosima's mother has been placed in a mental home makes the month feel especially hard. Gray weather and new green leaves give the day the look of children's sorrow.

Content

Saturday, April 17:

Je ne me plains plus de la fortune par ennui. Pour connaître mes secrets il faut commencer par me corrompre, et cela n’est pas facile. — Frederick the Great.

In the morning, a large package of newspapers: Julius Lang, J. J. Weber. With the children as usual.

After lunch they go to Countess Bassenheim’s. I write to Mathilde and then receive from Claire the news that Mother has been put in a mental home! A hard month, this.

The weather is overcast; the trees producing their green against a gray sky. It is like children’s sorrow.