Cosima's Diaries

Diary Entry of October 12, 1881

Overview

Lusch's birthday gave the day a festive center, marked by Richard's toast at lunch amid travel talk about the Nile and Palermo. He continued modest work, sent another alteration to Marianne Brandt, and grumbled over contemporary German books while balancing reading and another visit to the theater. In the evening Wolzogen's guest at first irritated him by sheer talkativeness, but Richard soon warmed to reminiscences about older intellectual circles and took satisfaction in being the one who remembered them.

Content

Wednesday, October 12:

Lusch’s birthday - R. toasts her at lunch. Otherwise our talk is about the journey up the Nile and Palermo, which Rub. describes to us in blissful terms. Some work is done, another alteration sent to M. Brandt, and Baer’s Der Urmensch read, though with much displeasure at German books nowadays.

We drive to the theater via the Eremitage, see our handsome Faf, and return home to work. In the evening friend Wolz. visits us with his guest, Dr. Hering, whose talkativeness somewhat irritates R. to begin with, but he is then pleased to be able to talk about previous acquaintances such as the philosopher Professor Weisse - “the young people know nothing.” (He wrote to Herr Neumann today.)