Cosima's Diaries

Diary Entry of July 10, 1880

Overview

R. gathered everyone for a farewell coffee despite a bad night, but he was visibly worn down and skipped the sea bath. A sitting for Herr Fury, a walk among blooming holly, and a comic story briefly lifted him, yet by evening a pamphlet on vivisection and the Reich left him deeply depressed, with chest pain, rash, and a sense of constant torment.

Content

Saturday, July 10:

R. had ordered a farewell coffee, and though he did not have a good night, he had us all assembled around him at 8:30, and cheerfulness prevailed. But we do not know whether sea baths agree with him, for he is worn out; anyway, he does not take one today.

I keep him company during his sitting for Herr Fury, but it wears him out, or rather upsets him. We then take a stroll and delight in the holly trees blooming all over the place; R. tells the story of the bishop in Belgium, which amuses him greatly.

But he is worn out in the evening; he has received a pamphlet about vivisection and the German Reich which utterly depresses him. He is also complaining of pains in his chest and his heat rash, says he is in constant torment.