Sunday, April 20:
Took leave of the children, who are well, thank goodness! Also of the mayor, and R. tells him not to expect too much. R. tells me how embarrassing he finds this play-acting for the sake of keeping up people’s spirits, etc. He feels happy only in an atmosphere of complete truth. Pleasure in the scenery, the widening of the river Main.
In Würzburg at 5 o’clock, once again at the Kronprinz; I have some trouble in talking to the Ritters about the birthday, since R. does not leave me alone. A pleasant sort of trouble! Lovely walk in the splendid palace gardens; in the evening at the Ritters’. He relates a remarkable story: he sent a petition to the King urging the reform of the music school in Würzburg; his plan is adopted, but the position is given, through Lachner’s agency, to one of the chief musical bigots, Herr Kirchner! Thus it is everywhere. Telegram from Cologne, revealing nothing.