Cosima's Diaries

Diary Entry of May 27, 1881

Overview

Cosima wakes disoriented and emotionally raw, overwhelmed by the social pressures of city life, and bursts into tears when Richard initially refuses to attend a breakfast gathering at the Countess's home. He ultimately relents and warms to the occasion, and the evening passes quietly, though Richard voices his exasperation that Wagnerian journalists lack the courage to advocate boldly for his cause.

Content

Friday, May 27:

With my head in a whirl, preventing me from adapting myself to R.'s unconstrained mood as completely as I should like. I take the children to the museum, yesterday to the palace; returning home, I find R. unwilling to go to the breakfast arranged with the Countess for all the children together.

The misery of finding myself in the 'outside world' comes over me in full force, and I burst into tears! R. promises to come, and he does so; if to begin with he is much out of humor in the home of the friendliest of our friends, he soon recovers, and in the best of spirits he listens to a tenor's voice. We spend the evening peacefully in the hotel.

To a Dr. Herrig R. explains how helpless the Wagnerite journalists are, because lacking in courage, they did not dare print his letter to Hülsen.