Correspondence with Edith Maryon 1912–1924

GA 263 — 9 August 1923, Hildesheim

Letter from Edith Maryon

Edith Maryon to Rudolf Steiner

Sculptor's Studio, Goetheanum, Thursday
Dornach near Basel [, 9 August 1923]

Dear and esteemed teacher,

There is little to report from yesterday. I achieved the minimum of work and the maximum of laziness! The only event was that a completely unknown gentleman suddenly appeared in the stairwell and claimed to be the brother-in-law of Mrs. v. Wassmer and wanted to see her room in House III! However, she has left and naturally one could not fulfill such a request. Was it not a cheek?

It gets hotter every day, although there is a bit of a fresh wind. Today was the 4th welcome letter, the Harwich letter came Monday, the Ilkley letter Tuesday. I am now writing my 5th. The 4th was especially for “snow” [snuff].

Yesterday was such a beautiful sunset. The background was turquoise or gold, and there were light pink clouds everywhere, ranging from a very pale light pink to a strong red, but they all looked so luminous and shimmering, quite wonderfully beautiful.

I am very sorry that so few men came to Ilkley, but without special efforts men are hard to get in England. They come for a lecture at the British Institution because everyone else goes, or for a football match or other sport. Apart from such events, they are afraid of anything new, they think people might think them strange. Even some well-known men have privately admitted to Mrs. Mackenzie that they are just cowards! They do not want to appear outside the ranks of the ordinary. I find them quite hopeless, the women are a little better; but one must reach the men somehow.

Penmaenmawr always seems to be shrouded in mist, so I am curious to see what surprises await us there! I hope for the best.

I am sending the very best thoughts and greetings.

Edith Maryon