Saturday, March 26:
R. dispatches his pamphlet in all directions. Letter from Prof. Nietzsche. Much joy in Fidi; R. wishes him to wear the cap which his father Geyer had made him wear himself from his earliest youth. R. says he can see whether people love him from whether or not they begrudge him the happiness of having a son.
The children write under my supervision (to their father on his name day; Boni to Aunt Isa, Lulu a timetable for her father). R. cheerful, although he has not been working. We walk to town, splendid weather, on the trees we see the first buds. The children again in the garden. Joy in them; the tower bell rings, R.: “A tower like that always seems to me like a living being who, when it rings, is lazily and phlegmatically telling me something.” Loldi says, “Lulu, for Christmas you must make a tree for your birds.”
R. had the idea of writing an essay in French, in order, perhaps, to set something up there which would not be possible in Germany. Today he suddenly said to me: “I am giving it up; I could not tell the French the whole truth and achieve my aim; I should have to hush certain things up. So I prefer to say all I think to thin air and for my own satisfaction in German.” Letter from Kassel, saying Rienzi has been a big success there. (In the newspaper there was talk of a musical undertaking in which Hans took part; God grant him success and satisfaction!) In the evening until midnight The Merchant of Venice.