Cosima's Diaries

Diary Entry of July 31, 1873

Overview

The children visited their grandfather and enjoyed themselves, but the day ended badly when a quarrel broke out at home, as usual centered on Eva. She appealed to R. to discipline the older girls, and for the first time he struck Daniella and Blandine, shocking them deeply. That evening the dean, mayor, and Dr. Landgraf came to hear music, and the performance of the Opus 106 adagio overwhelmed the guests. Afterward R. fell into remorse, weeping and lamenting that he had no right to punish the children.

Content

Thursday, July 31:

Invitation from my father; all the children at table, much fun, but unfortunately an ugly quarrel breaks out among the children when they get home, directed as always against Eva, and I have to call on R. for help, to punish the older girls. I tell him about the incidents which have piled up, and ask him to exercise the strict office of a father; for the first time he gives Daniella and Blandine each a blow, and they are profoundly shocked.

In the evening the dean, the mayor, Dr. Landgraf; my father plays the adagio from Opus 106 unforgettably, and from time to time R. contributes an explanatory word; our guests, completely unprepared, appear to be utterly overwhelmed.

When they have all gone, R. sinks into profound melancholy; he weeps and sobs for having inflicted punishment on the children, says he had no right to do it, and seems to be suffering terrible pangs of remorse.