Dear Minel,
I am stranded at Chur, since the only diligence to St Moritz was already booked up, and I have 2 nights and a day to winter here. Grey it is, and pouring in torrents! — So I'm writing letters, to Liszt etc., and want to send you my greeting also, to tell you, if you don't feel very cheerful now, I'm no better off myself. — Otherwise I have nothing to report, as nothing else has happened to me. En route I met a good many people who also had witnessed the torch-lighting.
Stay, I can also send off from here my letter to the Ollmütz theatre-director. The second letter I obtained from the post, you see, was from the director at Ollmütz (Austria), who wants to have my Tannhäuser, remarkably enough! — Do write me at once to "St. Moritz, Canton Graubünden" how you are getting on, and how the rest is suiting you, what Peps is doing, and everything concerning you. I feel sure you will be all right now, for you badly required a rest; it is also quite time that you followed Rahn's orders precisely; please do, and no subterfuge. But Peps must often have a bath; make good use of the tub yourself, too, and don't go setting about something directly after. Also write me immediately the Wiesbaden money arrives; if it dawdles much longer, I shall have to remind them in earnest. Let me know, in fact, whenever money comes; but send on at once to St Moritz all letters enclosed with the money, that I may answer them prettily. So, so, so, so! —
Now, Mietzel, farewell. Be content for to-day with these trumpery lines, for my humour isn't up to much! We got here yesterday at 9, and had to trot around a whole hour in ghastly rain before we found shelter, the inns were so full; we were lucky to get quarters at last in the "Steinbock"; also, I had a fairly good night's sleep. And you? — Now, write soon, salute our friends, and in particular thank all the torchists! Adieu, with the whole heart's greetings of
Thy frantically faithful Husband and father of Peps, the high-betorched famous Composer, Poet and Star-reader, R.
Source: Richard to Minna Wagner: Letters to His First Wife, trans. William Ashton Ellis, Vol. 1 (H. Grevel & Co., 1909), No. 48