Most excellent Minna,
How cross you get at once, whenever it appears to you I'm lazy! You will be having two letters from me now; so just consider the impression such reproaches make on me, after I've long since told you everything there was to tell! — But, that apart, the postal arrangements here are absurd enough: I wrote you Wednesday that I should write again on Thursday, assuming that the Thursday letter, which unfortunately doesn't leave Geneva till Friday, would reach you at Zurich on Sunday morning. On Friday comes the messenger, and brings me a letter — it was mine to you, which the asses at Geneva had sent me back because it was addressed to "Wagner": they hadn't regarded the "Frau." Consequently you will have received that letter also a day late, presumably at Seelisberg, whither I shall send to-day's direct. —
Naturally I haven't much to tell you from my solitude, except that the weather has at last turned fine again to-day, and I've already had a glorious walk with Fips on Mont Salève, whence I bring you back this gentian to compare with that on the Seelisberg. It was bad weather almost the whole of last week, cold and damp, so that I couldn't well do much with my cure; nevertheless I already feel infinitely better than when I left Zurich: the dread of a relapse of the Roses has already left me; I have gambolled outside in the deadliest rain and storm, got my face cold, and yet had no uneasiness about it. Who ever would have told me that ten days ago, when I always went out with my nose muffled if the tiniest breeze was blowing? No doubt I owe it in the first place to the wholesome, frugal diet, without coffee etc., the repose and removal of all effort and vexation; but chiefly to the baths I'm taking under excellent Dr. Vaillant's guidance with the greatest energy and success: washings and rubbings with a wet clout, first lukewarm — then colder. The cold foot-baths also do me special good; you must try them yourself: only a little walk first, to get the feet warm, then 20 minutes in cold water, gently rubbing the feet one on the other, and after that a good half hour's march. You will hardly believe what an excellent effect these foot-baths have! —
I told Vaillant of the infamous water R. had prescribed me through you; he thought we might just wait for its arrival, when he would analyse it, and if it contained nothing injurious, would gladly consent to its use. So I'm in the hands of no water-cure fanatic, you see. For the rest, R. must leave me at peace with his Aix. I'm getting well, I know it now: my complaint resides in the abdomen, as you are aware from the terrible flatulence; that must be thoroughly remedied, and therewith — by the middle of August — I hope to arrive at my goal. —
I'm living in another part of the house now, quite comfortably, two pretty rooms, one of which I have arranged as a little salon. From my windows I can alight on a big balcony which runs right round the house; it is a piece of luck for Fips in particular, who always lies on the window-sill, and springs out as soon as he sees anything — after which I always have to help him in again. In fine weather I mostly walk or sit in the pretty hilly garden-grounds, which likewise is very agreeable to Fips. The air is quite exquisite; headache vanishes immediately one gets here; I have experienced no particular heat as yet.
So much for myself: I hope you're pleased with it? Strictly, no doubt, I ought to write you on nothing but Fips, as you appear more concerned about him — for which I can't find any fault with you! But it has moved me to tears, that you poor thing should be wanting to break off your soporific reading just for me to get the Eidgenössische here; for your consolation I must tell you, I didn't mean the Eidgenössische at all; by all means keep it, and simply send instead the Illustrirte (which you must renew for me, by the way!!) and perhaps the music-journal, which the Wesendoncks might see to for me. But every time in wrapper.
Now, I am heartily glad to know you're on the lovely Seelisberg; enjoy it to the top of your bent! As my present hope stands, I'm thinking of another little undertaking for late summer, in which you shall play a fine part: would you like to?? So, fare splendidly well, greet the Seelisbergers, and hold very dear
Thy not at all so bad Husband.
Business is looking up; orders have come in from Hanover and Carlsruhe! —
An organ-grinder has just begun playing, at which Fips is furious. He has jumped down.
Do tell me if you duly received my letter on N.
I have written to Fr. Müller, Weimar, as well to-day.
Source: Richard to Minna Wagner: Letters to His First Wife, trans. William Ashton Ellis, Vol. 1 (H. Grevel & Co., 1909), No. 105