Cosima's Diaries

Diary Entry of July 1, 1876

Overview

The whole of Götterdämmerung was worked through, with Unger recovered but fresh trouble from Hagen, Kogel’s collapse, and Scaria’s stubbornness. Money worries were severe, the expenses overwhelming, and a solution to the Paris capital problem could not be found until news of a payment and calmer politics arrived later. The day also brought Malwida Meysenbug, a powerful piece by Nietzsche, and the shock of a sudden orchestra death, alongside outrage over the cruelty caused by the dog tax and a plan to form a rescue society.

Content

Saturday, July 1:

I-II. The whole of Götterdämmerung. Unger well again; instead, trouble with Hagen. Herr Kogel, losing his nerve, departs; negotiations with Scaria, who remains true to his meanness.

Great financial difficulties: every day costs 2,000 marks, little coming in, Herr Feustel reports that in three weeks we shall have nothing left. I try to get my capital sent from Paris, without success! At last, on the 10th, the news that 6,600 marks have been paid into the account, and the political situation calmer.

Arrival of Malwida Meysenbug, and a splendid piece by Nietzsche, R. Wagner in Bayreuth. Götterdämmerung uniquely moving, inspiring. Shattering news of the sudden death of one of our orchestra players, a Herr Richter from Berlin!

Wilhelmj is completely taken up with an instance of human callousness. The absurd law taxing dogs is giving rise to the most horrible scenes; his sympathy, which people have spotted, arouses their greed; the dogcatcher no longer kills the dogs, since he can use them to make deals, and he feeds them on the flesh of other dead dogs, which makes them go blind! Quite well-to-do people are getting rid of these faithful creatures, so as not to have to pay the tax; it is horrifying. We are forming a society to rescue the poor animals.