Thursday, April 4:
More annoyance! J. J. Weber writes, claiming to have the right to issue new editions of Der Ring des Nibelungen again a duel of constant annoyance! R. just goes on with his work, but he cannot achieve much in this evil atmosphere.
At lunch he says: “I have cut several things, for example, Glücklich in Leid und Lust etc. I shall retain it in the reading text, but what is this maxim doing in the drama? One knows it anyway, having just gone through it all. It would seem almost childish if she were yet again to turn to the people to proclaim her wisdom.”
After lunch to town with R.; we separate at the post office. R. sends Richter a telegram, I go to see Countess Bassenheim, who shows me in the N.A.Z. an appeal by the students on behalf of Bayreuth, which is very fine.
No letter from Bayreuth. I am also apprehensive because no announcement of the Ninth Symphony has yet been made by the management committee. It looks as if we are surrounded only by treachery. Children’s coughs; Fidi is in bed; his friendly ways are very touching.