Thursday, March 11:
Kos is cured and will soon return home, a great joy. R. works. Then he tells me that Berlioz has died; it brings back to my mind pictures of my childhood. R. and I discussed all the deaths in this year; the harvest has been terrible: Lamartine, Berryer, Genelli, Rossini, Berlioz, to name only the most renowned!
R. goes for a walk and brings “my Richard Wagner letter,” printed in La Liberté. R. thinks it looks well and is glad that he decided as he did with regard to Paris. Pasdeloup writes that everything is going very well; he has completely new costumes after all and has engaged the top Paris ballerinas!!
Also two letters from Mathilde to R. and to me, giving an account of Die Meistersinger in Mannheim!
I am feeling rather despondent today in spite of the lovely spring air. Life is difficult, my children, oh so difficult! One must always remember that our highest good is suffering.
In the newspaper there was an article about the approaching Vatican Council; they wish to make the papal pagoda omnipotent and give the Jesuits the triple crown. Their tomfoolery may be all to the good.
Did nothing in the evening, because Richard is tired.