Cosima's Diaries

Diary Entry of May 31, 1869

Overview

A rainy indoor day begins with breakfast upstairs with Richard and lessons with the children while he sketches. A biography and portrait of Hans upset Cosima, though the household remains industrious and cheerful until the cat kills the rescued birds. Don Quixote and delight in Boni's improved meekness and modesty close the day on a note of maternal observation.

Content

Monday, May 31:

Day indoors; it is raining. Breakfasted with R. in the upper apartment. Then worked with the children. R. goes to his sketches. After lunch, the Illustrirte Zeitung has a biography of Hans with a portrait; the latter upsets me deeply.

The rest of the day with R. and the children; we are all industrious and cheerful. But our little birds have been killed by the cat! In the evening Don Quixote, read by R.

R. and I much delighted with the development of Boni's character. It is as if my absence had made a very great impression on her. The spitefulness, indeed maliciousness, which previously distressed me in her, has now given way to great meekness and modesty. Yet she is very lively and healthy and is very contented.