The Rudolf Steiner Archive

170

To Marie Steiner in Berlin
Sunday, 25 November 1923

Dornach, 25 Nov. 1923

My dear Mouse,

Thanks for the letters. The last one [no. 165] was brought by Miss Vreede yesterday. Hopefully you will soon be out of the woods of the processing. By now you will also have received my letters. Yesterday evening the eurythmy players arrived and reported successes similar to those in the telegram I wrote about.

Now there is still some uncertainty about the Christmas play performance in Schaffhausen. I thought that it had all been canceled. But now Käthe [Mitscher] tells me that Gnädinger ³⁸ now wants to have a performance scheduled for December 16 in Schaffhausen. Please write and tell me whether I should prepare some rehearsals for the Christmas play before you come. I will take care of the performance you write about for next Sunday.

Now for something rather unpleasant. Two letters have just arrived from Del Monte, one to you, one to Waller. They say that you are being asked to immediately provide a further 20,000 francs for the Eurythmeum in Stuttgart; Waller is being asked to provide 12,000 francs for her house. Waller is furious, has categorically declared that she will not do so and has telegraphed that she will not continue to run her building under such circumstances. Today she first went to Winterthur to visit her sister. I don't know if she will go to Stuttgart tomorrow. She is afraid because Del Monte and Schmid ³⁹ Incidentally, the people have already exceeded the funds provided, and Stammer ⁴⁰in your and Waller's name.

I find it all outrageous. As I said at the beginning of the construction, Schmid's calculations were not worth a thing. When you come to Stuttgart, the “Stuttgart system” will try to make clear to you ⁴¹ that it must be so because in 1914 a liter of milk cost 18 pfennigs and now it costs 32 gold pfennigs ⁴² But that is all nonsense; and all the planning that is done there is just wishy-washy.

Spiller ⁴³ has asked about the following: Goldacker wants to recite her poems somewhere in Zurich and Spiller – I don't know if anyone else – wants to accompany her with eurythmy. She even says that she has already practised doing this. I told her that I would have to discuss it with you first. But the stuff is supposed to start as early as Sunday. If you don't have anything particular against it, I think you should let Spiller do what she wants. But I won't say anything to her until I hear from you.

I have many concerns here. I have to come to terms with the decision these days regarding the extent to which the Goetheanum should be rebuilt, and that is difficult because it is impossible to say how the funds will be. Everything is quite difficult. I would also like to be there in Berlin. Now we will see what you write about the next few days.

With all my heart, Rudolf Steiner

• 38. Franz Gnädinger (1894-1971), active as a priest of the Christian Community in Switzerland from 1928.
• 39. Dr. Carl Schmid (d. 1931), married to Hilda Curtius, member since October 1907, architect of the first Stuttgart Society House, Landhausstr. 70, and from 1911-1914 the first architect of the Munich-Dornach building project.
• 40. Hans Heinrich Carl Stammer (1886-1956), head of the banking house H. Stammer & Co., Stuttgart, which was associated with the “Kommende Tag AG” from 1922-1924
• 41. Term used by Rudolf Steiner for the leading members in Stuttgart.
• 42. The gold mark was a unit of account during the period of hyperinflation in Germany, equivalent to the pre-war mark, defined as 2790th part of a kilogram of fine gold, i.e. 100 GM = 35.8423 g fine gold.
• 43. Agnes Spiller, eurythmist in Dornach. Goldacker: Dagmar v. Goldacker, member of the Berlin branch since February 1911.

171

To Rudolf Steiner in Dornach
Monday, November 26, 1923, from Berlin

Monday night, November 23rd,

Dear E., It is actually very terrible, all that you say about the customs tariffs; for they can hardly be raised. The transportation costs alone are unbelievably high. We have around 90,000 books and 18,000 cycles and 19,000 individual lectures. How are we to pack all that into boxes? I think the books will almost fill two moving vans; if we had been able to put the shelves in as well, the load would have been less than just the books. The shipping agent probably didn't realize there were so many books. He won't be able to find that many boxes. Wachsmuth was also quite surprised by the quantity. He had imagined there would be 15,000 books. He will now tell you what he thinks about the matter, and thinks he can explain to the shipping agent that the books be put directly into a car that will not be reloaded but transported directly. He also cannot imagine that you pay customs duty for the books, but you will know better than that. Even with such a high duty, we will still be better off than if we continue to pay taxes here. We just have to make sure that we leave as quickly as possible. But if we also have to pay 3,000 francs for the furniture (because that's how much it will cost in tips) and the same or more in customs duties, then it's probably nonsense. That's what you seem to think, since you use the phrase: “If you're supposed to bring any of the furniture here at all.” It's probably better not to.

We could probably sell some of it to members. But it is just as likely that they will want to pay as little as possible. Today we have already negotiated with Sommerfeld ⁴⁴, who is the first person we have approached and probably the only one who would pay in foreign currency. He said that he is just about to set up his office. What he would like to take are your furniture; he has taken a shine to your beautiful big cupboard, of course. He would like the big table with 8 to 10 chairs, the Sönnecken desk from the purple room together with the roll-fronted cupboard. But he found the large beautiful shelf too big and thought that it could perhaps be arranged differently. That's my nut to crack now. I don't like the fact that he doesn't understand that he doesn't have to touch it: something you designed; the proportions are just so beautiful. — Now I'm also thinking about whether we should put them in the adjoining room instead of selling them? ⁴⁵ We have the skylight hall there; it was used for eurythmy courses. The people downstairs often complained; now they want to take legal action. It should no longer be possible to practice there. The podium, on the other hand, should dampen the sound enough so that people below it do not complain. But Berliners can only take evening courses because of their jobs. And there are always lectures in the evening. But since only Meyer's lectures fill the large hall, I suggested holding the other lectures in the Oberlichtsaal, setting it up for the purpose and having the courses on stage. Walther grumbled a bit about having to set up the stove there: it would be so cold that people couldn't be expected to sit there; the stove would be ruined and there would be no money to fix it. So I suggested using the money that the speech course would bring in. There is never any money in the till, because all the money serves Meyer's purposes. But his lectures on the theory of colors are good and very well attended. Posters were put up and flyers distributed. The hall is sold out twice, on Saturday and Thursday. I was there on Saturday. He has been provided with equipment, he has a command of his subject and is also witty when he compares Goethe's teaching with that of Newton. We are just waiting to see when he will come to you in this context.

There is a return of the same. Almost 21 years ago (in March 1903), you presented Goethe's color theory to me in Schlachtensee ⁴⁶ and demonstrated blue and yellow with a candle. Now I see blue and yellow projected onto the screen in the large Steiner Hall and I hear Meyer. ⁴⁷ Twenty-three years ago, I came to Berlin to study elocution and to cure my throat. Now I am ending my Berlin period with a speech course for 35 young people, and every day I have to turn some people away. Among others, the doctor sends me one with a sick throat to cure; and a singer who is not a member wanted to have lessons, etc. It was not even announced, because there were so many participants right away.

Wachsmuth is leaving tomorrow and will report his impressions. I have no choice but to wait here. I still don't know what is going to happen. And I am convinced that it will be cheaper to order the shelves in Dornach than to transport furniture. And apart from shelves, we only need a few beds, which could perhaps be added to the books in folded form. On the other hand, I could use a few things for the house in Stuttgart. There was also a blow from Kolb: an exorbitant price increase that will be difficult to bear. Should I sell the blue furniture or put it in the Oberlichtsaal, which would then also have to be painted blue? (Which would be good, because the walls are terribly stained and worn out there.) What

The following are under consideration: 1. the large, beautiful shelf, 2. the large, beautiful cupboard, 3. the large table, 4. a small table cupboard, 5. a Sönnecken desk, 6. perhaps your blue, solid wardrobe and 7. chairs.

But these last items could possibly go to Stuttgart.

Tuesday

Today I already mentioned to Selling that I am thinking of the branch office for the blue furniture. He seems to have thought of the library in the meantime, because both Sommerfeld and he would have come to the conclusion that the shelf should not be changed. Sommerfeld would also have to take his wife into consideration when making a purchase. Wachsmuth has today enquired about the terms for a transport to Stuttgart. At least it would be much cheaper. I can already see that I will have to be here even longer to get the things in the right order. After Stuttgart, it would also be possible to ship the countless packages of letters and receipts that are in the lower rooms of your large shelf. But it would be terrible to have to pay customs duty on them. I can't look through them anyway. So it will have to go over? Wachsmuth says he might come to pick me up. Perhaps it would be good to have the Austrian actor stand in for him. But the Herodesspiel is much later. Did anything come of Neuhausen [near Schaffhausen] on December 16th with the plays? I would then have to give the eurythmy programs in broad strokes from here to begin with. The worst part is missing so many lectures – Michael is punishing me justly.

Zaiser and Büchenbacher will probably have to do without us. We can hardly take on such obligations now.

Waller is lucky not to have come here. I send her my warmest greetings. Later on we can see whether it would be better for Wachsmuth to come, who could supervise the workers, or for her or I to travel with Walther's, who want to go to Dornach on December 15th, and possibly also go earlier via Stuttgart.

Now you must be very tired from the long letter.

Much love and warm greetings from Marie.

Would the Stinde and Kalkreuth pictures be subject to even higher customs duties and would they go better to Stuttgart?

• 44. Lothar Sommerfeld, in Berlin.
• 45. From 1917, the Berlin branch was located at Potsdamerstrasse 98; previously at Geisbergstrasse 2. - Cf. note on no. 65.
• 46. notes in the hand of Marie Steiner are reproduced in the volume “Farbenerkenntnis”, GA 291a, $. 53ff.
• 47. Dr. Rudolf Meyer (1877-1947), a member of the Berlin branch since 1908, appointed by Rudolf Steiner in 1919 as deputy head of the same. At the first Goetheanum School of Spiritual Science course in the fall of 1920, he gave three lectures on the philosopher Herbart. In 1925, he withdrew completely from his activities in the Society. In 1946, he founded the “Studienhaus Hammerberg” in Uchte and continued to work there actively until his death.

174

To Marie Steiner in Berlin
Saturday, December 1, 1923

Dornach, December 1, 1923 My dear Mouse!

Dr. Wachsmuth has now finally arrived here and brought your letter as well as the news to be conveyed verbally. I can imagine that you were impatiently waiting for this reply. But I was waiting for your news from hour to hour. Only yesterday a letter arrived from Mücke that arrived earlier than the one brought by Wachsmuth in person.

Now, as for what Wachsmuth meant,⁴⁸ that by asserting that we could not have accommodated the removal furniture here before: That won't do. I wrote to you that I went to Bern to see the man who has to issue the permit himself. He told me that he could only judge the matter according to the current law and there is nothing else to be done but to pay the customs duty. The man was exceptionally kind. Waller, who was sitting there, presented her moving method, which is the same as the one Wachsmuth wants to apply. The man said: a few years after the war we were able to do such things; now they are no longer possible. I can only tell you: we have tried everything, and nothing else can come of it than what I have written.

So I now have the following picture in my mind. According to your letter and what Wachsmuth said, the blue furniture that I designed is being sold. If they happen to be placed in anthroposophical rooms, that is quite all right. These pieces of furniture are outwardly beautiful and good; inwardly they are made so badly that it is certainly not worth bringing them to Dornach. Wachsmuth says they will be set up in Berlin. I fully agree with that.

The books have reached the exorbitant number of 127,000. Naturally, they can only be packed in moving vans. However, due to their weight, only half of the moving vans can be packed with them. Of course, customs duties have to be paid for this. If it is now too expensive for you, my dear mouse, to bring furniture here, these costs can be added to the books. The best person to determine how all of this should be packed is the shipping agent. It will also be necessary to bear in mind that some bulky items, namely those going to Stuttgart, that are not heavy, are better sent as piece goods. In this case, the weight is calculated, not the volume. Whatever seems right to you: whether you send one thing to Stuttgart and the other here; I agree with it. The duty on books is not high; as for the rest, one pays it for everything one would like to have here. And I believe, my dear Maus, that you should just take with you what you would like to have here. The shelves could be folded up and perhaps taken with you.

The relocation of the eurythmy exercises from the Oberlichtsaal to the lecture room, as you mention, seems to me to be the best solution.

Yes, that's how it is: as you write in “The Return of the Same”. Except that I only had two candles and Meyer needed a projector, etc.

It is sad that you have so much to do in Berlin for so long. I would love to go and help you if possible.

Now I will tell the shipping agent here to instruct his agent in Berlin to come to you. I hope that everything will happen at the right time.

Now for one thing, to which I would like to have your answer right away. We are expecting a fantastic number of people here for Christmas. And it seems almost impossible to accommodate everyone. I would now ask you whether you would allow female guests to use the new eurythmy room in the Brodbeck House. ⁴⁹ I would not have thought of this if it had not been for an unprecedented exceptional case. And I certainly do not want people who want to come to be turned away. Because I place the last hopes for society, so to speak, on the Christmas gathering. And it should not be just Meyer who has the auditorium.

Now I have to go to the dress rehearsal of the performance you ordered for tomorrow. All the young men will perform the pieces you wrote to me [in no. 165]. The performance will be given in part by the ladies and in part by the young men.

I will now start preparing the Christmas plays. The performance in Schaffhausen will then be on December 16. I have one more request: Bring me my original doctoral diploma in person. It differs from the copies that Wachsmuth brought, in that it bears a real stamp and real signatures. It will be in the red scroll. You can easily distinguish it by this information. In these matters, you always get an original and then copies. Wachsmuth didn't know that, even though he has two doctorates.

I submitted the application for the four employees personally. Now we want to wait and see what happens. Waller is currently in Stuttgart. She wants to get rid of the house there, for which she doesn't want to give any more money under any circumstances. I have already written to you [no. 170] that I find this whole thing outrageous. All the excuses that the gentlemen of the “Stuttgart system” make so abundantly are, of course, the excuses that one always has there. The fact is that it was foolish to make a calculation like the one Schmid made with the knowledge of the others. Added to this is the disgusting arrogance that these gentlemen show when you smile in their faces about their “commercial expertise” in a justified manner. Yesterday Waller called me after her arrival in Stuttgart to ask when you were coming. She might have wanted to wait for you in Stuttgart.” She left for the unknown, because with your letter written at the right time, Wachsmuth was “roaming around” the world.

There is now a lot to do and many concerns. As I hear from Flossy ⁵⁰, on top of everything else, tomorrow I will have to visit the once again unsteady Mrs. Leinhas ⁵¹ wants to visit. That could still be a clean story!

Once again: it is sad that you have to toil in Berlin for so long. If you would like to send me the provisional programs for the Christmas performances, I will prepare everything.

I look forward to seeing you. I think I have written everything necessary and just add the warmest greetings.

Rudolf Steiner

* She won't be able to because of the Christmas play rehearsals. If she is to pick you up, she would have to drive there again.

The Stinde and Kalckreuth pictures would probably be better sent to Stuttgart than here.

• 48. In a letter from Berlin to Rudolf Steiner dated November 25, 1923.
• 49. Brodbeck House was purchased from Heinrich Brodbeck in May 1921 and expanded in 1923 to include the northern extension (Eurythmeum). The old part was intended as a residence for Rudolf Steiner and Marie Steiner, but for the time being it housed eurythmists. Due to delays in the renovation, illness and the death of Rudolf Steiner, the planned move did not take place during his lifetime. Marie Steiner only moved from Haus Hansi to Haus Brodbeck in 1936 – after the east wing was built in 1935 – and has since been called Rudolf Steiner-Halde.
• 50. Flossy von Sonklar (1893-1991), member since May 1909, eurythmist in Dornach, second wife of Emil Leinhas since 1923/24.
• 51. Olga Leinhas, née Svärdström (1883-1980), member in Hamburg since December 1909, one of the four Svärdström sisters from Sweden who were known as singers at the beginning of the 20th century. In December 1922, they also sang at the Goetheanum. She met Rudolf Steiner in 1908 in Hamburg, where her oldest sister was married to Louis Werbeck.

175

To Rudolf Steiner in Dornach
Monday, December 3, 1923

Berlin, Dec. 3, 1923

Dear E., I would not have expected this of Wachsmuth, that he would dawdle around the world with a hasty letter to you. It should have been in your hands by Thursday evening. Well, in the meantime I have thoroughly experienced and borne the heavy concerns of the Berlin branch. There was a very strange meeting of the Berlin regional association here. This was supposed to be a very private Meyer association, which had been summoned by Meyer before the delegates' meeting in Stuttgart, partly in vain, so it arrived a day early, and then met with Meyer towards the end of the delegates' meeting. By some coincidence, they had heard something about it, and shop stewards in Stuttgart and Berlin decided to go there as well, but were turned away by Meyer because it was something that was based on his personal work. However, they forced their way in. Then, about two weeks ago, Walther Wind heard about the story (apparently, I don't know for sure) through some people in Spremberg, a small town that he had also visited: on December 1 and 2, there would be a meeting of the regional association in Berlin, which was supposed to expand to Hamburg, Hannover, Breslau, Dresden, Leipzig. He is annoyed because he also visits the neighboring towns, and asks Münch.⁵² Münch knows nothing about this and demands to be informed, since he is the deputy chairman; he is very annoyed. This is the situation I find here. It is not at all clear what the future will bring. Unger, Werbeck and ⁵³ Keyserlingk. Unger will give a branch lecture on November 30th. He has managed to schedule a business trip to coincide with the conference; all the anti-Meyerians are very relieved. But no one understands why Meyer, who is furious and has been abusing Unger, has officially invited him, while Münch knows nothing about the whole thing. (He seems to have gotten into some kind of trouble once, and apparently couldn't talk his way out of it in Stuttgart). Meanwhile, I experience the misery of Sam [Samweber].⁵⁴ Meyer and Gantenbein ⁵⁵ treated her terribly; she carried the meditation you received to Berlin like a sacred object, without closing an eye at night; ⁵⁶ She wanted to share it with a few words of explanation at a specially prepared, solemn moment. Meyer did not allow it, wanted to do it himself; there was an exchange of words, an argument and a flood of tears. Before that, she had asked Münch and me whether we thought she was allowed to do this, and we had said yes. Now I advised her to let the matter rest for the time being. But it made a deeply sad impression on me. Some other dreadful conditions that had arisen in the branch life had the same effect. And the Waldherr story was that after the night meeting in Stuttgart, Meyer here the Waldherr had the last word by reading a letter from her in which she horribly insulted the board, and forbade others who wanted to speak and bring up “material” from saying anything. So she had the last word and sits in all meetings, sure of victory. From a conversation with Räther, ⁵⁷ who visited me to ask if the gentlemen of the board could come to me, and in which we very gently groped our way towards some sincerity, I gathered how burdened and depressed he was. Mr. Rath ⁵⁸(Youth Council), who in a requested conversation first touched on a few other points, then spoke most insightfully about the concerns that the impossible conditions in the “old” ; spoke very wisely and insightfully, and one could not but agree with his opinion. Then Mr. Münch came. I actually had yet to get to know him. When we were finished after 2½ hours, we had understood and agreed on some points. He is, of course, a close friend of Meyer's, but he confronts him and sees through him three quarters of the time. Then the four of them set to work: Meyer, Gantenbein, Räther, Münch. It began in Meyer's usual way, as if he were only concerned about eurythmy, then he turned to his usual I-I-I ranting and his quirk of presenting himself as persecuted. Only he took up the thread at such a stupid point: Stuttgart had given him a telling-off when he wanted money for his equipment, so I was able to remind him of all the things that had been done for him, what a ready-made, warm nest he had settled into, and that he couldn't possibly demand that everything revolve around him, Berlin and everything else: after all, there was a Waldorf school that was still worth keeping. He then no longer knew which way to turn, and after attempting a touching speech, he retreated. Then he suddenly appeared almost honest, admitting mistakes, and you couldn't get any closer to him. But his position was still shaken. (It lasted three hours). That same evening Unger gave an excellent lecture, warm-hearted, profound and imbued with such loyalty, repeatedly pointing out what Steiner had given to the world, that he had everyone on his side except the angry Meyerians. The conference was at 10 o'clock the next morning, several had canceled, including Keyserlingk. The following were present: four members from Spremberg, one member from Magdeburg – these were the new ones; also Mund ⁵⁹ (Leipzig), Miss Wagner ⁶⁰ (Quedlinburg), Mrs. Petersen (Hannover). That's it for the outsiders. Otherwise: Meyer and his secretary, Miss Werner, Walther, Selling, Mücke, me, Unger. Münch and Räther unfortunately arrived a little late. This large group was now sitting in the front rows of the large, cold hall, facing away from me. Meyer opened the conference; it was clear that he had lost the booklet. The introductory false words, which he referred to Dr. Steiner, immediately turned around; he continued: “So you see, we have to support his work and that is why we have come together. Perhaps, Dr. Unger, you have something to say about this?” Dr. Unger smiled a little: “Well, if it is up to me to determine the course of the negotiations, I would like to suggest a few points: lecturing, Waldorf school, rallies, eurythmy, opponents, etc.” Meyer had lost his lead right away. Eurythmy was very close to the hearts of the good people of Spremberg, and once it became clear that the Waldorf School needed to be supported first and foremost, eurythmy seemed to have become the main reason for this conference. The Sprembergers asked whether the regional association could employ a teacher to travel to the small towns in turn. Suddenly Meyer came out of his stupor: “So there we are, the regional association needs a fund.” With that he jumped up. “So what do we do to set up a fund?” I put my veto on that. The regional association does not need to be established in order to establish a fund for eurythmy. It would continue to work as it has been working. Poor Meyer gave up. His secretary went out and said to Drescher: ⁶¹ “Nothing will come of it.”

The aim, of course, is to raise funds for Meyer and his lecture tours or his research in the scientific field; because the Berliners can hardly afford it anymore: apart from his allowance and the purchase of the Goethe library and the equipment, he needs, or so I am told, 100 gold marks a week to maintain the equipment. That seems so outrageous to me that I assume there must be some kind of accounting error, as often happens.

The poor people of Spremberg; they seemed to have no real idea why they had been summoned from Spremberg to Berlin. The gentleman from Magdeburg and, for a while, Mrs. Petersen, seemed to assume that Meyer had to be protected from some dark forces, but didn't know how. Meyer dismissed the question of opponents by saying that Werbeck would come in the evening to give a private lecture on Leisegang at 10 o'clock on Sunday morning. ⁶² They parted.

That evening was Meyer's public lecture. I stayed in the rooms because I had examined the eurythmists the day before and thought that a student performance could be risked. I quickly announced it for 5 o'clock on Sunday because nothing at all was scheduled for the afternoon, despite the conference, and we also thought that many people from out of town would come.

We had our rehearsal between 3 and 7. Werbeck came soon after. “I don't really understand why I'm not giving a public lecture,” he said. Then Meyer's lecture was very well attended; it was not nearly as skillful as the first time; it repeated itself a lot, turned around; it emphasized the experimentation too much. Since he had already noticed some of the indignation of some members, he mentioned, in passing, Kürschner's edition ⁶³ and Rudolf Steiner.

Sunday morning: Werbeck's lecture. About fifty members. Not even the religious ones with their followers ⁶⁴ could have been there, because it was Sunday morning; many members didn't know about it. I was sitting next to Gantenbein. It lasted a bit long, because Werbeck read some of his book. I had set the dress rehearsal at 12 o'clock. Gantenbein asked: “Should I show Werbeck the clock?” — “No, let him finish.” The lecture was excellent. Gantenbein says obligingly, but wrongly, because he had heard me say a few words to Mücke about the poor announcement of the lecture, something like, “I'll make sure everyone leaves quickly...” “Leave it,” I said, “it's all the same to me. But it is outrageous that so few people were able to hear such a lecture.” Meanwhile, Meyer addressed the front rows: “At 5 o'clock we will have a eurythmy performance, which unfortunately I won't be able to attend. Please excuse me because I will be having a meeting with scientists that has been scheduled for a long time.” I couldn't help but say, “Gladly,” but that was for Gantenbein's special benefit.

The eurythmy performance was quite nice and some of the things that followed. Later I took Werbeck for tea in Sam's [Samwebers] room. He spoke so radically about Meyer that it culminated in the sentences: “If an enemy were to make it his business to blow up a large branch in our society, he would put Meyer in it as chairman.” But he spoke very calmly on the basis of his experience. Münch came along later. Because I had spoken briefly before about my difficult situation, he advised him to make it clear to Meyer that he would come off best as a lecturer, but that he should resign the chair for his own good. That morning I had asked Münch if he would be willing to be the first chairman, with Räther as the second, in case Meyer realized that he should resign. In that case, I would have telegraphed: “On the basis of the circumstances here, may I suggest to Meyer that he cede the chairmanship to Münch?” At first, Münch was still afraid of the consequences that would befall him; then he was in favor of us having another board meeting like the previous three-hour one (Friday from 12:00 to 3:00), in which I would tell him everything and he would second me. He recoiled at Werbeck's suggestion; he wanted me to be there.

At 8 o'clock Unger's second lecture, very good, always tying in with you and the October-November lectures in Dornach.⁶⁵ It got warm in the hall. And when Unger had finished, Rath stood up and gave a very heartfelt and moving speech of thanks, explaining that if the youth could be had like this, it would be by speaking to them in this way. Whereupon the gentleman from Spremberg also thanked everyone for what the guests would take with them; yesterday it hadn't looked quite right; but today the morning lecture had been such that a warm sense of community had spread and passed to the others and now in the evening; Unger had spoken wonderfully. Whereupon Münch closed the meeting emotionally and said how moved he had been by Rath's words. Someone had mentioned the beautiful Advent candle that had been lit. But really, everything was genuine, and nothing was staged, and nothing was exaggerated. But it was as if a burden had been lifted and a hope had been awakened. Some of the older members went out and said to Mücke: “You see, things can get warm again, as long as Meyer isn't there.

Meyer was indeed absent, and everyone realized that only through this fortunate circumstance could the conference, which had begun so miserably, come to a harmonious conclusion.

He made an incredible fool of himself; only a few people experienced it in the morning, and later he stayed away. This matter with the private association has failed him completely.

Büttner ⁶⁶ Then Münch and he came to see me in Sams room. We had discussed with Münch his possible involvement in the board. He said he would only do it if Dr. and Mrs. Dr. wanted him to. I suggested to Münch that I would take an even softer approach: that I would tell Meyer that I would report to Dr. Meyer in detail about my impressions here, and that he could do the same.

At home, Mücke told me that the morning after Werbeck's lecture, she had spoken to Miss Winkler had spoken indignantly about the impossible direction, and Winkler had raged angrily about Unger's lecture from the previous evening; to link to Dr. St. at every moment would be boring, –- one is now accustomed to different things here, and incidentally Meyer would withdraw from the chairmanship at Easter and take up his position again. “Then you can choose someone else!” In response to this, I ask myself: should we talk to Meyer at all, or wait for him to leave on his own? Münch also told me last that Meyer would have to take up his position again, because after Easter the money would no longer be available.

I assume that Räther withdrew at the same time as hopes for the association were so thoroughly dashed.

There was also an episode with Waldherr on Sunday. She caught me off guard when she entered my room and demanded to speak, which I refused.

I am sorry that I wrote such a book to you; it <501> also <502> took me half a day, because my hand is so easily paralyzed. But I really had serious concerns. The matter seemed so dishonest and so dangerous and so sad and hopeless to me. But now you are the chairman and so I could only appeal to Meyer's sense of morality. He is so thick-skinned. Since I will have to stay here for more than a week, perhaps you could write me your opinion by express letter. Or maybe even, if I did the right thing, you could telegraph: right. That way I would know that I can continue to be honest, even at the risk of him resigning. Of course, he hates me now like the devil.

The matter of the Brodbeck house ⁶⁷ is quite difficult. Actually, I wanted to have the ladies moved out by then and the rooms painted, because if the furniture vans with the books are standing in front of the Hansi house ⁶⁸, and we are still inside, what should we do? Do you have a room for it?

The new hall, on the other hand, would be absolutely necessary for rehearsals, and how it will be dirtied by a mass accommodation. Nobody can guarantee that.

But the worst thing is the move, and if the publishing house does not move before Christmas, we will have such enormous tax burdens for further months!

Of course I don't want to put anything in your way. But we are the ones who get the short end of the stick again. And we can't handle the taxes anymore. I see it every day. Today just the health insurance stamps for one month: 42 trillion.

And now there is one more thing on which I need your opinion: Mr. Rath and Mr. Schmidt ⁶⁹ (from Karlsruhe, but has been running the business – a bookshop and antiquarian bookshop – for six months since the death of Mr. Rath) came with a bouquet of flowers and a substantial sum for the now completed speaking course. Both nice young people. They always present their “points” in a beautifully deliberate order. The most important came last. - Whether we could leave them book stocks for sale in Germany.⁷⁰ They asked how we intended to sell books in Germany. It would attract a certain amount of attention, since the father had a very good name, and would perhaps work well. Mücke had chosen a Ms. Hoffmann, who had already worked in publishing, to sell books. She did not respond. Kinkel says she sells a lot. Mannheim and Hamburg are doing well. The rest, she says herself, has slowed down because she can only send cash on delivery. Otherwise she gets devalued money.

Your opinion would be very important to me; if it's a flat no, just say “Books no” in the telegram. If you think we should leave a van-full here, please write and tell me how you would go about such a thing. The bookshop is in Wilmersdorf.

I have resigned myself to being here for a long time. You can't just abandon a branch like Berlin to disintegration. And it's good to have worked with the youth. Especially here, a lot of human contact develops, simply because you're there longer. Drescher is a very sensible, dear girl. An older one would hardly be so reasonable. But now and then you have to help so that they are not suppressed as a quantitative factor.

If you are rehearsing the Christmas plays, they could also be performed for the public in Dornach during Advent. It is the right time for it, and we can no longer do well without regular income. It's a shame that I can't be there for the dress rehearsal, where you will be cheering on the men. When the ladies ask you for eurythmy forms, I will be very grateful if you give them.

All my warmest regards, Marie

• 52. Martin Münch (1883-1960), bank official, writer, member in Berlin since 1910. Appointed by Rudolf Steiner as head of the Berlin branch in 1923.
• 53. Louis Michael Julius Werbeck (1879-1928), member since September 1910, head of the Hamburg Pythagorean branch from 1917, on the board of the German national society in 1923. In 1924, he dealt with his opponents in two books: 'Die christlichen Gegner Rudolf Steiners durch sich selbst widerlegt' and 'Die wissenschaftlichen Gegner Rudolf Steiners durch sich selbst widerlegt'.
• 54. Anna Samweber (1884-1969), from Munich. Worked as a governess in Russia from 1902-1914. 1914/15 encounter with anthroposophy in Munich. Soon after, she worked in the secretariat and as a domestic servant for Rudolf and Marie Steiner in Berlin.
• 55. Bernhard Gantenbein (1874-1962), merchant and painter, joined the Berlin branch in October 1910. He was later invited by Rudolf Steiner to join his board.
• 56. It is the meditation “To Our Friends in Berlin”, printed in “Mantrische Sprüche”, GA 268, which Anna Samweber received at her request from Rudolf Steiner during her stay in Dornach in October/November 1923.
• 57. Hans Raether (d. 1962), member in Berlin since October 1908.
• 58. Wilhelm Rath (1897-1973), member since June 1920, from 1923 on the committee of the Free Anthroposophical Society in Germany. From 1924 to 1927 he took care of the distribution of the Philosophical-Anthroposophical Press in Germany.
• 59. , a member from Leipzig.
• 60. The two sisters Ellida and Martha Wagner from Quedlinburg had become members of the Hannover branch in 1909 and 1910 respectively.
• 61. Ursula Drescher (d. 1973), member since June 1921 in Berlin, later eurythmy therapist.
• 62. Dr. Hans Leisegang (1890-1951), philosopher, opponent of anthroposophy.
• 63. of Goethe's scientific writings by Rudolf Steiner.
• 64. Refers to the movement for religious renewal, the “Christian community”.
• 65. “Man as the harmony of the creating, forming and shaping world word”, GA 230.
• 66. Dr. Carl Büttner, a lawyer in Berlin.
• 67. See note on no. 174.
• 68. House or Villa Hansi, since Easter 1914 home of Rudolf and Marie Steiner.
• 69. Helmuth Schmidt, bookseller.
• 70. The delivery for the Philosophical-Anthroposophical Publishing House was carried out from spring 1924 by the Rath bookshop in Berlin.

177

To Marie Steiner in Berlin
Thursday, December 6, 1923

Dornach, December 6, 1923 My dear Mouse!

With regard to Meyer, I agree with everything you have done and continue to do in this matter. Even if he resigns immediately, I believe that after everything that has happened, we have to accept this and continue to tell him what is necessary. So you are completely free to do as you see fit.

The things you write are all terrible. And I regret that you have to go through all this. Most of all, that you are being held in Berlin for so long. But Meyer didn't have an easy time in Berlin either. Because basically, as big as the branch is, he is faced with nothing but zeros. Or, as for Büttner, people who, because of their rashness, are the same as zeros. Of course, you still have to form a new board with these zeros. There is no other way. But it cannot be assumed that these people, such as Münch, will achieve anything. Meyer is an unconscious schemer, a bottomless babbler, and — whatever his first lecture may have been like — he doesn't really understand the true basis of any of the things under consideration. He has not been scientifically educated in the real sense either. But he prattles with superficial knowledge; and he has acquired airs in speaking that the “scientists” believe are similar to theirs. That is why people listen to him. Basically, he is even more harmful as a lecturer than as a chairman. Of course, that doesn't mean that he is still useful as a chairman. He should leave as soon as possible after the way he has behaved now. But the others are not useful either. But where can we work with useful people at all? I am certainly pleased that you are writing good things about Dr. Unger. He is now making every effort. And I want to be the first to recognize this. But he is not suited to lead the Anthroposophical Society in the sense that it has now become through the anthroposophical movement, even though he, when he does get somewhere, says the things that had to be drummed into him in countless sessions. That is enough for a few lectures, but no more. It would only go further if it were backed by real independent thinking. But that is not the case either. Yet I regard all this as my official secret.

Only things backed by strength have a real effect. This is the case where, as in speech courses, eurythmy and other things, real things are given. That is why I am very happy that you have had such great success with the speech course and that you have been able to put together a eurythmy performance so quickly. Of course, the Anthroposophical Society is necessary for all of this. But it will decay if new blood does not flow into it. It will not flow in as long as those who are in have a deterrent effect. People will not come from outside. Nevertheless, there is nothing else to be done but to work with the people who are there and, when people become as dubious as Meyer, to simply get rid of them.

Regarding the matter of the book warehouse in Berlin. I agree with this; I only ask you to consider whether the Rath'sche Buchhandlung is not a continuation of the Judge-Theosophers Rath ⁷¹. I cannot know that. If that were the case, it would seem to me to be quite questionable. But a book warehouse should be in Germany. And the question would have to be considered, if Rath-Schmidt is not suitable, whether one would not want to give the warehouse to the Kommenden Tag-Verlag in Stuttgart only on commission. But if it were possible, Rath would be better.

We will do the Christmas play rehearsals. The performance in Schaffhausen is scheduled. If it is possible to still perform here during Advent, then it shall be done.

I will refrain from using the eurythmy room as a mass accommodation, according to what you write. I am also thinking that the hall, which is just becoming usable, will be very necessary for eurythmy rehearsals. But I foresee that the Brodbeck House will not be completed in time, no matter what Aisenpreis ⁷² promises. I can only count on what I see myself. But now, because of the books, I have been nurturing a plan, which I am also submitting to you by telegraph. If it should be necessary to have a permanent book storage facility, I could have a shed built right away at the Goetheanum. It could be built next to the greenhouse, facing up towards the path to the carpentry workshop. It could be ready by the time the books arrive here, even if that is not until the beginning of January. You will think the plan is fantastic. Otherwise, it could indeed happen that it would be difficult to find space for the books when they arrive while we have to be in Hansi's house. I am thinking that the shed will be the permanent storage place and that Hansi's house will later be the office and shipping rooms. But of course I will only do so if you agree and if the book storage can be insured. But you can be sure that I will find space for the time when the books cannot yet be in Hansi's house, whatever happens. I just dread the fact that then everything has to be moved from the storage place to Hansi's house.

Once again: I am saddened that you were held up in Berlin for so long and had so many unpleasant experiences; but I am pleased that the speech therapy course went so well.

I only suggested the matter of the eurythmy room to you because, as I said, I am not dealing with it now, because for the time being no one here really knows how to accommodate the fantastically large number of participants. From Germany alone, 200 people are registered, and there is no accommodation for any of them yet, not to mention the fact that we don't have any money to pay for the accommodation of those who do not pay. And yet, everything now depends on the Christmas event on the anniversary of the fire being a worthy one, also in terms of the number of participants. If that is not the case, I think it would be best not to build at all anymore. After the bitter meetings in London and The Hague ⁷³ It can still go well here; but we must do everything we can.

Warmest regards, Rudolf Steiner

• 71. The follower of the Leipzig Society that Rudolf Steiner had in mind was called Paul Raatz.
• 72. Ernst Aisenpreis (1884-1949), member since 1908, from summer 1914 leading architect on the two Goetheanum buildings.
• 73. At the founding of the English and Dutch national societies in September and November 1923. (GA 259).

183a

new page, probably a continuation of the previous one.

Mrs. v. Moltke asked me for the notebooks with her notes; she claims that one is still missing from a series, a black wax cloth notebook that you still wanted to look at, and a folded piece of paper with her husband's handwriting. Of course, I did not find these two items. Instead, I found a number of notebooks with the records of the manifestations of the spirit Emanuel.⁷⁶ El. Moltke's handwriting, and on the title page “Property of Dr. Steiner”. What should I do with it? If I give it to her, future generations will have documents from which it can be proved that Dr. Steiner received his research results through a mediumistic channel from a spirit. So should I bring it with me or destroy it? Is it any different from what is in a printed book?

I have cleared out the blue cupboard and put together all the letters that had an old-time character from Vienna; all the notebooks that exist; even most of the letters from the Berlin period. Now there is a bound pile of old magazine manuscripts; ⁷⁷. Can I destroy that? And lying in a mess between the letters, pages of old manuscripts; I would like to make them disappear too – is that possible?

On the blue shelf, down in the cupboard compartments, there are piles of letters, receipts, etc., tied up neatly. Should I pack the piles in their tied units in boxes, as they are? Should they then go to Dornach or to Stuttgart, where no customs duties would have to be paid?

What should I do with the M.E. memoirs that are lying under a black cloth in a file basket? ⁷⁸ of which nothing should ever be spilled? (S..., A..., Mercury?) Should I hand it over to Selling as it is or bring it with me?

Thanks for the letter. Yesterday, ⁷⁹, bombarded me with her obsession about Meyer from 6:30 until almost 11. Today, Münch is coming; more later.

Kind regards, also to Waller and the 3^{,80 [Fräulein]. Marie}

Couldn't Käthe [Mitscher] manage a letter? I'm wondering.

• 76. See Rudolf Steiner's answer in Letter No. 186.
• 77. Rudolf Steiner published the “Magazine for Literature” from July 1, 1818 to September 29, 1900.
• 78. See note on no. 42 and the preliminary remarks for 1906.
• 79. Margarethe Krause, a member of the Göttingen group from 1914 and in Berlin from 1920
• ,^{80. Helene Lehmann, Helene Dubach, Olga Zibell.}
⁸⁰

186

To Marie Steiner in Berlin
Thursday, December 13, 1923

Dornach, December 13, 1923

My dear Mouse!

Many thanks for the telegrams. We have everything we need for eurythmy; so we want to give the two plays here tomorrow, Friday: Paradeisspiel and Christigeburtspiel. Then on Saturday there will be a rehearsal in Schaffhausen and on Sunday a performance. I am concerned that you have so much to do in Berlin. But now you will be back soon. There will be an almost overwhelming rush here at Christmas. The book shed has been started; and everything possible must be done to get it ready in time. I think it will hold 135,000 books the size of “The Philosophy of Freedom”. That will suffice for the time being.

At the Goetheanum, I have begun to publish my memoirs ⁹⁶ I will arrange for it to be published as a book here by the Philosophisch-Anthroposophischer Verlag as soon as the advance copy has taken effect as an announcement. After the second or third article, I will emphatically put a stop to it and only publish further messages in the 'Goetheanum' as excerpts from the later book; but in such a way that the printed sentence can be used. I feel as if I have left the earth by writing this biography. But I think I can contribute a great deal of spiritual material to the later chapters, where the 1880s and 1890s come into consideration, which will supplement what is in the books and cycles. So far, only the first paragraph has been printed (1st-5th year); the second (3rd-8th year) is being printed today.

Now, I can only make a decision about the payment terms and the number of books for Rath once I have seen the publisher's books. Walther is writing a synopsis about Möcke keeping the apartment and asking whether I agree with it. It's impossible to say anything about this without hearing the little bit of bureaucracy that Walther writes in convoluted sentences. I am worried that this will cause you even more trouble.

The Emanuel books can either only be taken or burned. I don't know what's inside. Because I haven't even opened them, let alone read them.

The M.E. things can be stored under some kind of secure lock at Selling. They should not be taken away. It is scary for me to leave them behind, but it has to be that way.

You do not need to take the future issues with you, because I will probably have no need in this life to read the few valuable essays in the various years; but they should not be discarded, but

sold second hand. Until recently, they were paid for very expensively. And now, until we meet again soon.

Kindest regards, Rudolf

• 96. “My Life's Journey”, which appeared in weekly installments from December 9, 1923, to April 5, 1925, in the weekly journal “Das Goetheanum”. First edition published in 1925 by Marie Steiner.

192

To Rudolf Steiner, in Paris Wednesday, May 21, 1924

Nuremberg, May 21, 1924

L. E. Now we have left Ulm behind us. As we arrived, there was a lot of military music, parades, flags, and arches with “Welcome Grenadiers” written on them. I was a little worried, but everything went off fairly well. The theater was almost full, which is said to be extremely rare. The applause was met with hisses when it started a second or third time. Thanks were given twice. As a result, the only pieces to receive a third round of applause with a repeat performance were the little prelude by Chopin and the “Nixe Binsefuß”! ¹ The program does not completely satisfy me. I am now trying to give it more lightness by putting the “Sträußchen” between the last two allegri, where Ilse [v. Baravalle] changes clothes for a long time. De Jaager even went along with it in a friendly way after she lost her mermaid. She used to make a fuss about the little bouquet too. — The Grave is not very perfectly executed by the heaviness of Schuurman,² who, incidentally, deigned to say in the dressing room that she would now start working again: until now, her stubbornness had prevented her. Savitsch is behaving properly — he is taking part in all the car trips, hopefully they will suit him. They are very long, of course, but very beautiful. Sitting in the front is very good for me — the wind is very warm and seems to clear the windpipe. On Sunday, it blew away my little Dornach throat pain. On Monday, during the performance in Ulm, I froze to death and it came back, but it blew away again on the long journey yesterday. If I hadn't had the long dress rehearsal immediately afterwards at 8:30 in the evening, maybe my neck would have stayed okay too; now it's really nasty today. -— But mares ³ has a fever and a sore throat, Mitscher even thinks he has jaundice. He is with members; if it gets worse, he wants to go to the hospital. Should we send him home when he is able to travel – that is the question. Today a Mr. Schenk will read. The Ulm critics have treated us well so far. I wish I could hope that you are not doing badly. Thank you for the promised forms. Warmest regards and all the best for Paris.

Marie

• 1. Poem by Eduard Mörike. The posy: poem by Goethe.
• 2. Maria Ina Schuurman, née Bayer (1894-1977), member since April 1914 in Koblenz, eurythmist in Dornach, married to Max Schuurman.
• 3. Jan Adriaan mares (1890-1948), from Holland, musician, studied together with Max Schuurman at the conservatory in Cologne, both became members in February 1911 in the branch of Mathilde Scholl. From 1914 until his death, he was a composer and conductor and a brilliant co-worker of Marie Steiner. He performed various stage roles under the direction of Rudolf Steiner. He later also became a stage designer: in 1928 for the 1st and 2nd Mystery Dramas, and in 1937 for “Faust”. Various compositions, especially for 'Faust' and the funeral music for Rudolf Steiner. Member of the Rudolf Steiner estate administration.

196

To Marie Steiner on a eurythmy tour
Saturday, 31 May 1924

Dornach, 31 May 1924 My dear Mouse,

I find the disruption of the Erfurt performance very distressing. Of course, something like this can be caused by a single person, and it can have the worst effects on the audience. When I look at the names of the cities where you are giving performances, I think to myself: how much the last few years have brought to these cities, which, at the time of my life in Thuringia, breathed true peaceableness. I was so pleased to receive your beautiful, inspiring description of the German Mittelland that I was all the more saddened when your letter with the bad news arrived.

Hopefully your health is not suffering too much from the hardships and excitements. It is quite unfortunate that Stuten had to be left behind. I have not heard anything more about him. I hope he will soon be better.

My journey went very well. There was only one disruption, in that one evening Sauerwein was ill and so could not translate. Claretie did it instead; her translation was quite excellent; but no one heard the excellence because she squeaked like the most gentle of little birds.

The public lecture was attended by more than 400 people. The atmosphere was extraordinary. The days were fully occupied. My stomach held out thanks to the care that was developed for it.

But now Dr. Wegman and I were surprised by the worst news from Dornach, even when we were out and about. The Werbeck book, because of the passages about Kully, was confiscated at our book sale and taken to court; Steffen, as editor of the 'Goetheanum', and Dr. Grosheintz, as a member of the Goetheanum authorized to sign, were accused of defamation, because an article by Steffen about the Werbeck book had appeared in the 'Goetheanum'. So we learned from outside that things are getting pretty wild in Dornach. The first court hearing was scheduled for today, May 31. When I came home, I saw the whole mess. The passage in Werbeck's book is such that a conviction is inevitable. I now held an emergency night meeting with the board, at which Grosheintz was also present. It had to be determined who could actually be charged. I have now given instructions to both Steffen and Grosheintz – I myself have not yet been summoned – which they followed well at the hearing today. We will now have time to further develop the case so that I can lead the defense myself. For only in this way can the matter be turned around properly. Werbeck, the assassin, cannot be reached because he cannot be sued in Switzerland, nor can the Stuttgarter Verlag. Grosheintz would be inconvenient. Only Steffen remains, or the entire executive council of the Anthroposophical Society. The latter would be best and must be achieved, because then I will lead the matter. It is also true that in the current situation since the Christmas Conference, the board takes responsibility for such a matter. And this will certainly happen. Under no circumstances can the book delivery service be held responsible. The matter will then be dealt with in such a way that we as the board will be sentenced to pay around 1000 francs and the court costs. Any other approach would create some kind of imbalance. When we read the Werbeck passage at the board meeting, I immediately said that we would of course not be acquitted. So far, things have gone well because Grosheintz and Steffen have strictly adhered to my wording at the board meeting. Now I have time to discuss the matter with you in detail after our meeting.

You understand that I did not want to write to Thuringia from out of town; that too might have been detrimental. Our opponents are at work.

All my love, Rudolf.

201

To Rudolf Steiner in Dornach
Sunday, October 5, 1924

Hanover, October 5.

Dear E.

How kind of you to write me letters. Does it not tire you out? But then again, you probably work in bed all day. I am very happy that you are upstairs and do not have the trouble of traveling back and forth. You can't even turn around in your room, Villa Hansi, it hasn't been a living room for a long time. I'm worried about Berlin. Do you really want to put yourself through that? Or isn't that one of the demands of nursing care, where you have to give in? Not go?

Mr. Räther came over today. They took the upper Philharmonic Hall for your lectures; but since it was not available all the time, they took another one as well. They are counting on a lot of visitors. The theater rental was only finalized the day before yesterday; it was terribly difficult to get a theater. In the end, they got the Lessing Theater for two matinees. Sachs and Wolff took over the matter. So this time we run the risk of being stuck with a bad audience.¹⁷

I have great pain over tomorrow's program. Due to Donath's absence, it is deeply unsatisfactory. Today's went well because we were still able to organize it for the last performance in Dornach, which you did not attend. But the second program, the “public” one, is thoroughly inadequate. What we tried at the so-called dress rehearsal on Monday before leaving does not hold up. You can't risk “Erlkönigs Tochter” ¹⁸ with Resi ¹⁹. This means that our piece de r&sistance has been dropped.

In the first part, the replacement numbers were not so that they seemed like inner necessities, but rather patched up.

Since it must now become our travel program, I will try to improve it by adding Steffen's “Autumn”. I don't yet know whether it can get such a favorable place as in the Michaeli program. Today's performance seems to have been very well received. I did not go to the religious events ^{of the 20} This time I did not go to keep my strength together.

The autumn air has not harmed me so far. On the contrary, it has relieved the tickle in my throat that started on the first day of heating in the carpentry workshop and intensified in the dreadful Stuttgart heating. The car is extremely comfortable for long journeys; the way you can open it up, leaving the glass panes inside, means you are very protected, actually have pleasantly moving air around you, your neck is firmly supported, without dancing pillows, on the high backrest, and you have recovered again. The open-top car journey is actually the perfect cure for me: -— But Meyer ²¹ has caught a cold. He has a great track record and has proven himself on long journeys, not even wanting to eat properly before arriving so as not to become drowsy. But he apparently does not yet have the experience of how to dress for such long trips. He left his woolen clothes in Villa Hansi, and he also lacks a warm vest under his leather coat. Miss Clason ²² will get him such things tomorrow. He was at the performance today and told us afterwards that he had a severe sore throat. We sent him to bed and gave him W.S. Oxyd to gargle with. He has a fever and if he still has a fever tomorrow, we will call a young anthroposophical doctor. Now Clason is bringing him lime blossom tea. He hopes to be well again tomorrow. But we will keep him in bed.

Räther hopes – since it could go through Sachs and Wolff – to still get rid of the official halls for your lectures if you don't come, but he would have to find out now. He was very concerned about how people who want to come should find out. I suggested that it should be included in the next Mitteilungen ²³ and then again.

Surely the Philharmonie concert hall would still be too exhausting

for you? If you can't help but work in bed, wouldn't some forms for poems be a pleasant change? The artistic is, after all, one of your vital elements. But I don't want anything if it's an effort that somehow drains my strength. Only if it comes easily to you. In that case, I would like to have given some poems. In the new edition of “Wegzehrung” ²⁴ For example, the following are available: Page 27 - 32 - 19 - 113 112 - 108 - 91 - 89 - 88. Mackenzie ²⁵ I could send you a copy of the new edition right away. - I would very much like to have some of Morgenstern's strong poems, - perhaps I can look them up in Barmen at Mrs. Wittenstein's. And then I would copy out some Christmas verses by Rudolf Steiner from my booklet and send them if Berlin really is canceled and this work is not too strenuous.

Monday morning,

Clason goes to the post office and I close with the warmest wishes and greetings, and thanks for the letters. Meyer has already skipped out on getting out of bed. Clason couldn't find him.

Much love and hope, Marie

Samyslowa ²⁶ is certainly very talented. But since we couldn't practice a single day off in Stuttgart, I can hardly risk anything with her. Savitch would very much like to do Oberon in ²⁷ Since she would certainly do it best, the tall stature need not be an obstacle, must it? She is so flexible. Then I could probably do without Donath.

Here is a verse:

Isis Sophia ²⁸
The God's wisdom,
She has killed Lucifer
And on the wings of the world's forces
In the expanse of space.
Christ-Will
Working in man,
It will snatch Lucifer
And on the boats of spiritual knowledge
In human souls resurrect
Isis Sophia
The God's Wisdom.

Christmas 1920.

• 17. Refers to the caustic Berlin theater critic Alfred Kerr (actually Kempner, 1867-1948).
• 18. poem by Herder, from Danish.
• 19. Therese Vorbeck, member since 1920, eurythmist.
• of the 20. th conference of the Christian Community in Hannover, during which a eurythmy performance took place.
• 21. Hugo Meyer (1905-1987), 1922-1923 laboratory assistant at the International Laboratories AG Arlesheim, then chauffeur of the Clinical-Therapeutic Institute of Dr. Ita Wegman, and finally chauffeur to the board of the Society.
• 22. Louise Clason (1873-1954), painter, member of the Berlin branch since 1908. Contributor to the Munich Festival 1909-1913. In Dornach, she was involved in painting the small dome of the first Goetheanum. She later managed the eurythmy wardrobe. Marie Steiner's traveling companion.
• 23. Also called Nachrichten: “What is happening in the Anthroposophical Society. News for its members”, since January 1924 a supplement to the weekly “Das Goetheanum”.
• 24. poetry collections by Albert Steffen.
• 25. Miss Isie Mackenzie (died 1946), heard Rudolf Steiner for the first time in Leipzig, where she studied singing, 1909 Member of the Berlin branch. 'Later, she was the head of the bookshop at the Goetheanum for many years.
• 26. Olga Samyslowa (1895-1989), eurythmist, founder and director of the first eurythmy school in Hamburg.
• 27. Shakespeare's “A Midsummer Night's Dream”.
• 28. To draw a eurythmy form for it, (text in GA 40, form in GA K23/I).