Cosima's Diaries

Diary Entry of February 4, 1872

Overview

R. sent word that he would be returning the next day, and the sudden promise of reunion coincided with the return of sunshine. The writer marked Saint Richard’s Day with extraordinary northern lights, which transformed the countryside into a scene of rare beauty and grandeur. Alongside these bright omens, she also noted correspondence from Elisabeth Krockow and a message from Nietzsche about a future visit to Basel.

Content

Sunday, February 4:

Telegram from R.; he is returning tomorrow, at the same time the sunshine returns. It is Saint Richard’s Day, which I always used to celebrate; today the sky celebrated it with northern lights such as I have never seen before; the countryside looked indescribable, Götterdämmerung lights!

Letter from Elisabeth Krockow, sending me a few lines from Countess Donhoff, to whom Hans had said that he would be seeing “Wagner and his wife” in the course of this year. Prof. Nietzsche writes me that Hans thanked him for sending his book and said he would be visiting Basel in March.