Category: May 1875

R. told me of the Fata Morgana in Görres — if true, such a phenomenon, the reproduction of an event in the skies, is indeed most curious! R. says that such a Fata Morgana in the mind of a man is the A major symphony from the “Dionysia”. —  Much…

Errands for Fidi — R. receives a charming letter from his old friend Chandon; since the war we had abstained from champagne, but R. recently wrote to him, and the old friend replied with delight. R. continues reading Görres, I with Lichtenberg. I write to the Minister of Commerce regarding Berckefeld….

Various errands for R. and me. A visit from Count Hohenthal-Buchau. R. begins Görres's “Mysticism”[1] without much enjoyment; he continually returns to the necessity for Germans to be familiar with Schopenhauer. In the afternoon, I drive with the Count to the theatre; in the evening, he joins us for tea,…

R. writes to the King, and I attend to arranging the laundry, which occupies me both before and after lunch, as the former housekeeper left everything in the greatest disorder. In the evening, a few friends. Mr Rubinstein plays us Beethoven's Sonata in C-sharp minor [1]. [1] Op. 27 No….

The morning spent with accounting books and the afternoon with children's lessons… R. receives some confirmations (“Revers”)[1] from musicians (2 harps and 1 viola), and sends his medal with a few verses to friend Feustel. In the evening, Lichtenberg[2] for me, and for R., Moltke; he finds the summary of…

Still no change in the situation; even Mr Unger, whom everyone holds with little regard, shows no excessive zeal and has not yet arrived. The only joy comes from the children, especially Fidi. I give the little ones French lessons. In the evening, great silence, at the end I read…