Wednesday, December 31:
At 1:10 p.m. departure in the saloon carriage. R. and the children in very high spirits; much to eat. The journey, however, gradually came to seem rather long. At last in Munich.
Remarkable New Year’s Eve with friend Lenbach, Levi, Buerkel; greeted the New Year with punch in the Hotel Marienbad. For me a particular joy that when L., seeking to excuse his friend Gedon, is describing his character and the circumstances of his life, R. interrupts to tell him how splendidly he is speaking. Afterward he tells me that no practiced speaker could have framed and delivered his speech more beautifully than this man for whom words are not a natural medium. He embraced him with warm emotion, and I experienced the happiness of seeing a friend to whom I have for years been devoted being recognized by him in the way I myself see him.