Friday, May 24:
Touching letter from a working man, who asks us to be godfather and godmother to his child, born on the 22nd. We consent with pleasure.
Unpleasant feelings concerning the publication of the King’s telegram despite R.’s veto; R. cables to Councillor D. to point this out.
The children to the Eremitage with our excellent friend Malwida. Many visitors, among them an English journalist who was very disappointed with the music festival in Düsseldorf and very delighted and impressed with ours. After him Herr v. G., the Ritters, and Malwida, who stayed all evening.
In the morning a conference took place with Brandt, who is quite an outstanding person, fully aware of the difficulties involved but always ready to help with imaginative ideas. Herr Forges was also here this morning; R. had to tell him a few home truths, which affected him painfully; an unhappy character.
Saturday, May 25:
Unfortunately R. had a very bad night; he would like to be able to sing, “Ruhe ward dem Wurm gegeben!”
Brückwald, the architect (nothing is heard of Herr Neumann), comes in the morning. Many things are discussed. I advise letting the stage tower rise boldly above the whole building as its main feature and not concealing it, but keeping the auditorium as low as possible, as a sort of low entry hall to the stage.
Yesterday R. sent to the Tageblatt a message of thanks to Bayreuth, but it has not yet appeared. R. rests a bit. We once more discuss the Jewish question, since the Israelite participation in the Berlin Wagner Society leaves us with a very bad taste. R. says he still hopes that this whole phenomenon is a sickness which will disappear; an amalgamation is impossible, and we cannot believe that the Germans will be subjugated by the Jews. Our military exploits have shown us to be too strong for that.
Telegram from Niemann; he is appeased. R. writes to Herr Nettke, who was also offended at not having been personally noticed! Herr v. Gersdorff to lunch; he relates that one of our friends (Herr Falko), while walking in the palace gardens, heard a man with decorations say, “Well, if Wagner causes too much scandal here, we shall take steps.” About Herr v. Lerchenfeld of the Catholic party we also hear curious things.
As we are having supper with Herr v. G., four young people who want to “register” are announced. They are four of R.’s singers who had heard that R. wanted to know the names of his people, and after an outing in the surrounding countryside of Franconian Switzerland they have now come to take their leave. Good, vigorous people, one of them from Saxony. R. is very touched by them.
Then our friend Gersdorff takes his leave with tears in his eyes. And so it has all gone past like a dream; who was not there? What did not happen? All vanished now, a lovely dream!