Tuesday, August 11:
A succession of visits keeps me from writing in my diary. Friend Klindworth completed the piano arrangement and left on Friday the 14th; on the following day Prof. N. departed, having caused R. many difficult hours. Among other things, he maintains that the German language gives him no pleasure, and he would rather talk Latin, etc. R. mentions his own rules for treating the German language: one should first look to see whether a foreign term is completely necessary to express the sense; if it is, then use it boldly and untranslated.
During this Klindworth-Nietzsche week, Frl. Lilli Lehmann arrived with her mother and took over the organization of the Rhinemaidens. One evening she sang my father's Mignon, which moved me deeply. “’Tis there” - but not “where silent myrtles, stately laurels rise” that I wish to go, rather, to the place where our home is!
Saturday the 15th. Prof. Overbeck, whose visit we heartily welcome, tells us about a publisher, Schmeitzner, who is just opening business in Chemnitz, and whom he likes very much. R. has the idea that he might move here and use Bayreuth as his firm's address. Heard dismal things about the situation of our friend N., who has to lecture on the entire history of Greek literature to three or four of the least capable students. The university has virtually excommunicated him. Frl. Brandt of the Berlin Court theater arrives and begins to study the part of Waltraute.
Sunday the 16th. Had to receive many visitors; in the afternoon, shaken to my very core by a letter from my father, enclosing one from Hans. Hans complains of the overexcited state of his nerves, he lost both his memory and his strength, his cure in Salzungen was a failure, dismal symptoms of overexertion! ... I struggle against low spirits and stifle my tears as best I can.
In the afternoon visit from a Herr v. Horn, a writer born in Bayreuth, companion of Prince Friedrich Karl and a reporter during the war; he talks about the Emperor and his true piety, says also that he wrote his letter to the Pope himself; he also mentions Bismarck's overwrought nerves and tremendous irritability.
In the evening Frl. Brandt, musically very good and accomplished, but very unattractive, a Viennese child of the people, without any culture.
Monday, the 17th. Tidied up papers, dictated to Lulu a letter to her father. In the morning and in the afternoon R. works with Frl. Brandt and the singer Kneiss. In the evening the former delighted us with her Waltraute, whose narration moves us all deeply. But the good lady does not seem best pleased at having to sing what she calls a “small” role.
Tuesday the 18th. At last able again to work a little with the children. Invited to a coffee party, and having gone there, I am fetched away because Herr Niemann has arrived. His admiration for our house gives R. great pleasure, and the way in which he treats Frl. Brandt is so curious that we are amused by the great ingeniousness of the acting profession, which once struck Goethe.