Thursday, January 6:
R. dreamed that he had to conduct the 9th Symphony, in Dresden or Munich, and passed beforehand through a railroad-station restaurant which had frankfurters. Being very hungry, he ordered some; coming back to fetch them, he sees two men eating his portion, the assistant at the buffet maliciously insolent, also the manageress, who refuses him not only the sausages but beer as well. He is angry, then tries friendly words, all to no avail. In the end he leaves the restaurant cursing, arrives at the concert hall, walks through the orchestra, is greeted with applause, but has to climb, relies on his agility, but comes to a place which is too steep; when he cannot jump over it, he wakes up.
He says, “All one needs is bad experiences to stop the brain from carrying out the task it is there to do, for demons of all kinds to take control and produce nothing but horrible images.” Decisions regarding my Daniella; I shall keep Blandine at home. We start Lope de Vega’s El peregrino, but find no enjoyment in it and read a story by Boccaccio instead.
Baron Seydlitz reports that he visited Baroness von Schleinitz and found her, not depressed, but cheerfully hopeful. He says she has probably sent me a telegram; but no telegram arrives. Herr O. Wesendonck informs us that he cannot provide the advance.