Cosima's Diaries

Diary Entry of December 16, 1872

Overview

The morning is spent with the children in gloomy weather, while R. makes his usual beer outing with Rus, who is delighted simply to accompany him. In the afternoon our mood darkens when Herr Am Rhyn, after benefiting enormously from R.’s investment, sends an audacious bill for additional payment. The financial pressure feels endless, and even ordinary purchases become painful. To distract ourselves, we read Hermann’s rectorial speech and admire its learning, even as we notice how much it avoids the central substance of the works it discusses.

Content

Monday, December 16:

Spent the morning with the children; wretched weather. R. goes to Angermann's again to drink his beer, accompanied by Russ, who was almost mad with joy.

But in the afternoon great vexations arise; Herr Am Rhyn thinks it nice, after R. put 20,000 francs into his house, to send him a bill for 3,000 francs! R. answers briefly and to the point; besides that, bills from Lucerne of the most bare-faced kind. I am very despondent whenever I think of our constant financial state; every purchase becomes a torment. We both write to Lucerne.

To dispel unpleasant thoughts we read Hermann's rectorial speech, a fine survey of the achievements of the Indians in all spheres of life. I have to admire, or rather to feel surprise over, the way he finds it possible, with all his profound knowledge, to keep so silent about the real content of these writings.