Correspondence with Edith Maryon 1912–1924

GA 263 — 10 June 1920

Letter from Edith Maryon

Edith Maryon to Rudolf Steiner

Sculptor's studio, Goetheanum
Dornach, June 10, 1920

Dear and honored teacher,

A letter has just arrived from Baron Rosenkrantz. Among other things, he writes that a good date for the artists' visit would be August 10 or 15, and whether it would not be better to say ten days for the stay here instead of four or five? Four or five would be a bit short after such a long journey. What do you think? Can the lectures, eurythmy, etc. be extended that long? He also asks whether it would be permissible to extend the invitation to non-practising artists, because he thinks there are many people who are not actually artists but who are very interested in a spiritual movement in art and would have a great deal of sympathy for the work in Dornach. I replied that I did not think there was anything to prevent the invitation being extended to such people, but that I would ask directly. He writes: Many will be very interested in eurythmy. In England there are now many movements for the advancement of dramatic art, a revival of all kinds of old customs (can one say that?) and the appearance of old mystery plays; mystical things are popular, more than occult things, because the latter make too great demands on intellectual effort. Do you think it would be possible (if there are enough people, of course) to present a small piece of the Mysteries? Or Faust, if the first seems impossible.

Then Mrs. Drury-Lavin writes enthusiastically about the Walleen idea and says that it will probably be possible for him to come; she has also written to you directly. She feels that not enough is being done in England in the interest of the building. They have a great shortage of people capable of giving lectures, and of the two they have, one, Mrs. P., can perhaps be seen, but the sister is not yet deeply involved in the matter.

People are not satisfied with my essay either, because they would rather write something themselves. She wants to write more about it in a few days.

Yesterday I visited Mr. Hamel, there is little change in his condition, and they are not very hopeful of a full recovery. Otherwise, his room and food are good, and the nurse is nice.

Dr. Boos says there is nothing much new. Yesterday's lecture was quite long, after which an outsider spoke. There was a lively discussion after Mr. Schremp's lecture. Otherwise, there is nothing new to report.

I strive to become wise in solitude here and reproach myself for many things.

I hope the lectures the day before yesterday and today were well attended and that things are going quietly? I am still anxious about the events in Germany.

With warm regards

Edith Maryon