Wednesday, November 14:
R. works. I do a little translation with Boni's help, but have to take great care of myself, my eyes are terribly weak.
We continued in the evening with C. Frantz; R. says it costs an effort to concern oneself so closely with the world of appearances, when one's thoughts are in fact more concentrated on the thing-in-itself, but we find our reading very absorbing.
A letter from Herr Pollini: R. is dissatisfied with it, since Pollini wishes to engage Seidl, whom R. recommended to him, only as director of the chorus.
Leipzig is also inquiring again about Der Ring des Nibelungen; they say they have heard that Berlin is to do it first, and perhaps R. might now propose different terms, since they no longer have the first rights! ...