Cosima's Diaries

Diary Entry of November 14, 1874

Overview

The household settles into work and music, with laughter giving way to the practical rhythm of copying, revising, and reading aloud. A cold walk leaves little pleasure, and the evening leaves them dismissive of a shallow religious pamphlet that seems to have made an outsized noise.

Content

Saturday, November 14:

We laughed heartily yesterday over a little paper entitled Goethe in Domburg, which Prof. Overbeck sent me in connection with a conversation I had with him. Worked with Lusch and Loldi; R. worked on his score. Yesterday Brünnhilde leaped into the flames; today he had some alterations to make and spent so long reflecting on them that he did not finish his page. In the afternoon we went out together; the sun is shining brightly, but the wind is cold and our walk unenjoyable. Worked morning and afternoon with Lusch. In the evening we read The Self-Destruction of Christianity and are amazed that such a meager, indeed stupid thing can cause a stir.