Cosima's Diaries

Diary Entry of November 27, 1869

Overview

Catholic political victory in Bavaria and talk of guardianship for the King set a dark public backdrop while Richard works on the Norns' song and Cosima tends the children. An anonymous abusive letter with a Schopenhauer photograph shocks her, then becomes a strangely welcome penance and even a cause for laughter. Richard reads his conducting essay aloud.

Content

Saturday, November 27:

The Catholic party has won in Bavaria; they are talking of arraigning the ministry and appointing a guardian for the King. R. works on his Norns’ Song, I with the children. Boni unfortunately very unwell.

Around noon Jakob brings me an anonymous letter; amid abuse of the vulgarest sort, someone sends me a photograph of Schopenhauer, saying he resembles Richard! When I have got over the first shock, I almost welcome this penance; the whole day long I am in very good spirits, conversing a lot with Pohl and then speaking of this curious letter. In the end it makes us laugh. R. reads us his essay on conducting.