Friday, November 18:
Arrival of the gold frame for the “elegant visitor”; it is handsome and gives R. much pleasure. In the evening a visit from the Meissner couple; unfortunately a conversation starts about poetry apropos of Heine. Alfred M. declares that some of H.’s poems are “as eternal as the stars,” and speaks of hearing “Ich grolle nicht” with great delight at a concert in Zurich, whereupon R. says: “But just imagine what that means, hearing such bitter inner feelings recited with a bouquet in the hand in front of a concert audience, while people smile at it in enjoyment. Such acts of aesthetic demoralization make our audiences insensitive; they no longer pay attention to what is being said.” The conversation broadens out to cover poetry in general, which R. says he would prefer not to see in print. The conversation produces a discordant note, and once again R. realizes that he can no longer manage with people around him.