Correspondence with Edith Maryon 1912–1924

GA 263 — 31 July 1921, Hildesheim

Letter from Edith Maryon

Edith Maryon to Rudolf Steiner

Sculptor's studio, Goetheanum
Dornach near Basel [probably late July 1921]

Sunday evening.

Dear teacher,

The studio seems very empty to me; it has taken on a different character since you left. Today Princess Mallandani and I spent the whole afternoon visiting our new clients. It was amusing to see how each had furnished her room quite differently, sometimes in a very characteristic way. All were very friendly. We wanted to check the number of lamps, plug sockets, etc. by name, because Elektra Birseck had made several mistakes in the pink booklets it gave us. For example, it moved the bathroom to the middle house instead of leaving it in our house, where it is actually located. Ms. Kisseleff was the only one who paid her rent right away. Each of them tried to convince us how little electric light they used – so we are bound to experience our first difficulties when the time comes to calculate the electricity used and distribute the costs.

After so many visits, we were tired and went to have tea in Mr. Rauch's dining hall; afterwards we visited the three new houses - they are truly awful, no room is well-proportioned, almost every one has all kinds of nooks and crannies and so many superfluous nooks and crannies everywhere - the house is even worse, even on the outside, like the others. It's a shame.

Otherwise, I did various things, made a second chocolate lady sketch – but it caused me a lot of grief. The designs could be used for a charity work or as decoration for a school, but the content is so meaningless; what can you make out of a lady who gives chocolate?

I do hope that you had no further difficulties or unpleasantries upon your arrival? I do hope that you are using the eucalyptus every day? And that your voice will hold out for Wednesday; I shall be anxious until I know that this evening has passed off happily and that you are not too tired. I shall think about it a great deal.

With best regards,

Edith Maryon