Are you really still in doubt as to our plans for Natalie? I have already begged you to advance the cost of her return journey to Leipzig. The sooner this journey can be made the better pleased we shall be, because you will the sooner be relieved of a great burden and because we cannot see the use of Natalie's remaining in Paris any longer. That we ever let her come to Paris was a mistake, although we believed it would be a help to her parents. That we were obliged to leave her there at our departure in order to facilitate our own return journey was a matter of necessity, but now that we have found the best and most suitable place for Natalie with her sister Charlotte Troger, and that we can easily bear the cost of her return, it would be madness to think of her staying longer in Paris. If Natalie has not learned French in Paris she can comfort herself with Kietz or, for that matter, with me, but the idea that she can ever be of use to herself and the world by acquiring the French tongue is a piece of sentimental folly, as she would see if she would submit her German letters to a cold-blooded examination. Natalie's best chance of happiness lies in a circle which, honourable and satisfactory as it may be, has nothing at all in common with the French language. Pack her things as soon as possible.
It is Easter time and I have to be in church several times a day, so that I have not yet been able to complete this. I do not think there is much to be made of Albert. I would very much like to get him a singing master's post, independent of the theatre, and a good opportunity now offers through Pohlenz's death. Inquiries were made here from Leipzig as to whether we knew of a good teacher of singing for the new Leipzig School of Music and for teaching in Leipzig generally. I immediately saw that Albert's name was put forward and wrote to him, leaving him free to treat for the post as he wished, explaining all its advantages, for his daughter's future too, and zealously urging him to think of it as the turning-point of his career. He sent me a most subdued and despondent answer, saying he feared he was not good enough for the post but, chiefly, that he did not think he could live without the theatre. That is the worst of it: he loves this theatrical life. I do not know now what he will do. But I hope he will bring Johanna on properly. I expect much of her and have an eye on her for Dresden. For the rest, things are not going badly with Albert now.
Richard Wagner
Source: Letters of Richard Wagner, Volume 1, ed. Altmann/Hull (London: Dent, 1927), No. 85