Thursday, August 14:
In the morning R. talks again about his Luther—how such a thing might be done without act breaks, since an interruption in the action is unbearable, though in music it is necessary. We also discuss the problem of Mephisto’s costume in the Prologue in Heaven, very difficult, if only for the reason that Hell plays no real part in Goethe’s Faust.
Wrote to Lenbach, about whose health we have been receiving alarming news. R. works in spite of a headache. In the afternoon, in the garden, a visit from friends, Feustel and the dean, who find the site very pretty. Feustel is delighted to hear that R. has asked the King to send Councilor Dufflipp here, above all so that he can see what is going on. He also tells us that Prince Chlodwig Hohenlohe has not paid for his certificate of patronage in spite of three requests from the management committee.
In the evening read The Myth of Thor.