Cosima's Diaries

Diary Entry of August 21, 1873

Overview

The weather was bright, but household duties kept the diarist from taking the children out. A book arrived from Riga, though without the expected manuscript, and R. later read it aloud. Disturbing rumors also circulated about the King, including bizarre court behavior reported secondhand through Malwida. Still, the arrival of the ninth volume meant one major task had finally been completed.

Content

Thursday, August 21:

The heavens are smiling, but I cannot go out with the children on account of domestic activities.

Arrival of Die glückliche Bärenfamilie from Riga, but unfortunately no manuscript. R. reads it to us in the evening.

During the day we had disturbing news of our King. Malwida had heard it from a Court official sympathetic to the King; he is said, among other things, recently to have ordered a dinner for 12 persons in Partenkirchen, to have come alone, greeted the empty places, and sat down. Also that he never goes out through the doors of his palaces, but through the windows. What is impending here, and how soon?

The 9th volume of the collected writings has arrived, so that task is now completed.