Cosima's Diaries

Diary Entry of February 11, 1871

Overview

Eva's compassion after Loldi's punishment touches Cosima, while a string of recent deaths gives the day a somber public and private atmosphere. Snow keeps the family indoors, where Cosima and Richard turn confinement into affectionate joking about their need for declarations of love. German history lessons and Gibbon provide the day's intellectual frame.

Content

Saturday, February 11:

Yesterday we were very touched by Eva; after I had punished Loldi, she went to her and said, "Oh, Loldchen, I almost had to cry but wasn't allowed to; here is my handkerchief. For this you will be given a nice birthday."

Besides our friend Serov, five of our acquaintances have died: Prince Puckler, Baron Eotvos, Prof. Eckhardt, Prof. Schwind, Father Hermann Cohen.

Snow again; the winter refuses to end. We do not go out, and I say jokingly to R. that this is not a good thing, for I shall torture him with my love. He laughs and says that if he were to go a single day without hearing me say I loved him, he would feel alarmed; he needed it.

In connection with our German history lessons I read the children the ballad of the Count of Habsburg, which makes a great impression on them. In the evening, Gibbon.