Friday, September 20:
R. is rubbed down with olive oil and alcohol liniment; I tell him they represent the two sides of his nature, gentleness and fire. When I did this for him yesterday evening he said, “Cosa stravagante — but Rossini could never have composed you.” Then we talk about Wilhelm Meisters Wanderjahre, how splendid it was of Goethe to have recognized organized handicrafts, colonization, and religion as the three poles of modern life; R. says in regard to this that it is a pity it does not emerge clearly enough, and is depicted too vaguely.
At 4 o’clock Daniella arrives home; much emotion, but also much gaiety, the dear child has experienced a great deal. In the evening a Herr Lipiner, with whom we immediately have a very far-reaching discussion on religious matters, arising from the articles by Prof. Lagarde; R. thinks I am right in wanting to protest against all constructional arguments in this sphere. The specifically Israelite aspects of the interpretation, of Luther for instance, are very noticeable here. R. tells me in the evening that he would like once more to describe very clearly the special qualities of a saint, in the way he has now come to see them.