Cosima's Diaries

Diary Entry of January 22, 1874

Overview

R. works, makes a dutiful visit, and returns depressed by the coldness and business-mindedness he encountered, with the building debt still hanging over them. The news of Professor Ott's suicide deepens the gloom, and their evening reading leaves them both impatient with outsiders who treat serious matters as mere curiosities.

Content

Thursday, January 22:

R. works and in the afternoon goes to Herr Feustel to congratulate him, returns home in gloomy spirits, and would prefer not to talk at all. He finds great indifference prevailing there and a purely business attitude. 30,000 florins are still said to be owing on the building.

Shocking news of the suicide of Prof. Ott. In the evening continued reading the missionary's book; R. deplores the fact that only people who are not qualified to do so deal with these matters, treating them like curiosities.