Cosima's Diaries

Diary Entry of January 18, 1877

Overview

R. is again troubled, even speaking of surrendering everything to someone else to manage. She steadies herself through routine, teaching the children and drawing moral parallels for them, while their shared reading of Thucydides brings renewed exhilaration.

Content

Thursday, January 18:

R. much grieved and worried, says he would like best of all to hand everything over to an entrepreneur. Councilor Düfflipp does not come, and people are pressing!

I find it incomprehensible that the ability to endure still persists, and even the feeling for, and appreciation of, noble things. I am sustained by my regular way of life, my lessons for the children (today I drew for Boni a parallel between Emperor Heinrich II and Marcus Aurelius); R. by the divine gift of genius! ... We read Thucydides again with unending delight.

In the evening a telegram from Herr Niemann, saying he will be there if he must be!