Cosima's Diaries

Diary Entry of September 2, 1873

Overview

The day centered on Sedan Day festivities and a veterans’ consecration of colors, though the household lacked a flag. The narrator and R. were moved by the public response outside their window, and R. reflected on Germany as a warrior nation whose virtues are revealed in war. They also resolved to take Malwida into their home when they move. In the evening they read about the Vanir and discussed founding a Wagner Society in Troppau, while R. played Meistersinger passages after a rainy afternoon.

Content

Tuesday, September 2:

Sedan Day and consecration of the colors by the veterans’ organization. Unfortunately we have no flag, but we are very moved as the people march by our window and give us a friendly greeting, looking very well and vigorous.

“We are not a peace-loving nation,” R. finally exclaims, “We are a warrior nation and have a warrior’s culture.” He reads to me the passage with which Holtzmann ends a chapter of his book, and it is very remarkable. “All we have is our army, our general conscription, our discipline, all our virtues are revealed in war; whether anything will emerge in times of peace still remains to be seen!”

Resolve to take Malwida into our home when we move into the new house.

In the evening the chapter on the Vanir in Uhland’s Myth of Odin. A Herr v. Miller wants to form a Wagner Society in Troppau. Since the weather was bad in the afternoon, I played passages from Die Meistersinger with R.; he worked in the morning.