Cosima's Diaries

Diary Entry of December 11, 1879

Overview

His eyes became inflamed, and impatience set in, but reading and attention gradually calmed him. Amid children falling ill and the sound of piano playing, the day ended with more reading and a disturbing account of cruelty in Zanzibar.

Content

Thursday, December 11:

His eyes have now become inflamed! R. loses patience, but with some effort and prolonged reading I bring him into a better frame of mind. All the children in bed, one after another! When I am with them, I hear piano playing; I rush to R. - he has been playing! Read a great deal about Zanzibar, horror over human cruelty!