Cosima's Diaries

Diary Entry of September 12, 1881

Overview

A tiring dentist visit sets a difficult tone for the day, and a missed rendezvous at the china collection irritates Wagner and casts a shadow over lunch. The afternoon walk to Loschwitz brightens things as they discover Weber's house still standing and Wagner recounts the boyhood scheme of sailing a homemade boat down the river to surprise his family. Returning home they find two young women waiting with flowers—daughters of a late Kreuzschule headmaster, devoted admirers—and the day ends gently with a farewell call on Frau Pusinelli.

Content

Monday, September 12:

R. has another appointment with Dr. Jenkins, which proves a great strain on him. Our missing each other at the china collection, where we had arranged to meet, makes him angry. Dismal meal.

After that a walk to Loschwitz and Blasewitz. He is pleased to see that Weber’s house has been preserved, and he shows us the Ziegenbach, the stream on which he attempted to build himself a boat to sail to Dresden in, imagining the surprise of his family. We are pleased by the countryside, R. praising the way the river curves. How painful to hear that the Queen does not care for Pillnitz and is seldom there - R. observes that none of them cares for the people!

When we arrive home we find two pretty girls waiting with flowers; in reply to R.’s inquiry, they say they are the daughters of the deceased headmaster of the Kreuzschule, and they admire R. so much! In the evening we go to see our friend Frau Pusinelli and say goodbye to her very affectionately.