Cosima's Diaries

Diary Entry of November 19, 1881

Overview

Storm kept the family indoors, but practical progress with the landlord and the pleasure of shaping their surroundings gave the day a productive calm. A visit from the prefect pleasantly surprised Richard, who found him intelligent and well informed rather than ceremonious or dull. The evening belonged to Henry IV Part III and to one of Richard's comic memories from Magdeburg, where a sour-apple-throwing monkey named Marianne had once amused him and Minna.

Content

Saturday, November 19:

R. had a good night in spite of a huge, raging storm. We finally agree on terms with the landlord and now arrange things as we wish them to be; it costs much effort, but at the same time, because of the result, gives us pleasure. The prefect calls on R. and turns out to be a clever and well-informed man with a clear idea of whom he is talking to.

We do not go out today, on account of the storm and the rearranging. In the evening R. reads to us the 1st act and half of the 2nd of Henry VI, Part III.

R. tells us about a monkey which amused him during his time as music director in Magdeburg; it was called Marianne and was to be seen in the Damenkrug; it once threw an apple back at Minna, finding it too sour.