Thursday, July 10:
R. had a good night; he retains his good humor, in spite of the terrible weather! He is preparing a continuation of his article and in this connection he looks through the texts of Weber’s operas.
In the afternoon, during a huge storm, to the church concert [program enclosed; see notes]. All kinds of mishaps: a carriage that does not arrive, then does not shut (“I wonder whether the cabs in St. Louis are better,” says R.), then takes us to the wrong door! But the concert we find interesting, some things, such as the “Responsorium,” moving and uplifting. But R. is put off by their not singing the published text. He points out how, in the Mendelssohn aria, he first ignores the Holy Ghost entirely and then pays it a compliment!
In the evening much about Schumann, whom R. calls a mere village musician, devoid of soul, devoid of inspiration. Herr R. has told us that he is planning to write about him.