. . . Many thanks for your long letter: but I can't make out why you saw fit to fill it with political hash. The things you expatiate about are for the most part unknown to me. I fully share your enthusiasm for the London Exhibition: I am firmly convinced that mankind will continue to find comfort in the things exhibited there, in manufactured products— The hair which modern science has been fortunate enough to regenerate on your scalp ought to be exhibited there, too, in order to demonstrate to the world ad oculos what happiness industry is able to produce.
You are quite right in saying that you can't stand the Fire: it burns too brightly, and so all the pretty manufactured articles go to the devil. But why were they manufactured if they alone can make men happy? Very well! We should leave all the pretty things undisturbed!
We were surprised and delighted to hear that you are all of a sudden doing well again. Minna and I had a hearty laugh when we read that you have actually earned money. We enjoyed it from the bottom of our hearts and would like you to continue that way!
We are doing well enough—what I need for my bare living I receive from the Ritter family, who will probably soon settle for good in Switzerland. Then you should really visit us some time.
Your
Richard W.
Source: Letters of Richard Wagner: The Burrell Collection, ed. John N. Burk (Macmillan, 1950), No. 108