Correspondence with Edith Maryon 1912–1924

GA 263

Letters Regarding the Death Of Edith Maryon

Dr. Ita Wegman to Rudolf Steiner

Arlesheim, May 2, 1924

Dear and esteemed Dr. Steiner,

Miss Maryon died last night at 12:15 a.m. She was fully conscious until the end. The last moments were less painful because I was able to reduce her breathing difficulties to a minimum by administering oxygen. Her last words were “I am so weak, I cannot wait any longer for him to come.” After that she became very calm and 15 minutes later death came gently and sublimely, without struggle or pain.

Please telephone that you are there, so that I can go up with you. I am happy that you are back.

Always yours, Ita.

Daniel von Mutach to Rudolf Steiner

Basel, May 4, 1924

St. Johann Vorstadt 6.

Dear Dr.

Steiner,

Regarding the death of Miss Edith Marion, which you informed us of yesterday evening, I would like to express a few words of condolence, since in my opinion the dear deceased belongs to the inner circle of your co-workers who can be considered part of your family or household, much like Mrs.

Dr. Steiner, Miss Waller, Dr. Wegmann and other members who are now in spiritual worlds, such as Miss Anna Ziegler. I and Frau Eckinger were especially close to Miss Marion during the time we worked together on the group, when we were allowed to measure the reclining Ahriman and the mountain up to the statue of Christ (except for the head), and thus had the opportunity to spend a lot of time in her company. There I could also admire the great loyalty and tremendous perseverance that characterized the dear departed, precisely that absolute reliability of which you spoke to us yesterday. During the hot summer weeks when you were abroad, almost all our members in Dornach left, but Miss Marion always stayed with the group, keeping watch over the studio at night, using water irrigation to prevent large pieces of the model from detaching and falling. And she continued to protect the model for years. — And another image arose in Frau Eckinger's memory. Miss Marion and Mr. Lille, both arriving in Dornach on the same day and asking at our office in 1913-14 for rooms to rent in Dornach or Arlesheim. Now both are already in spiritual worlds and both probably died of the same illness. And a third image is Miss Marion, how she often came to our building hut and conferred with Bay about this or that thing that still had to be done in the English houses. Her appearance was always and everywhere welcome, and so she will also live on in our memory, bathed in the light of great kindness! Sincerely, Your very humble servant

Daniel von Mutach

Jeannette L. Franklin to Rudolf Steiner

The Grange, Goudhurst, Kent,
May 16, 1924

Dear Dr. Steiner,

I was deeply shocked by the sad news you sent by telegram. I was in Palestine and had intended to spend a day in Dornach on my way back, and I am very sad that I will not see my beloved friend again in this world.

Thank you very much for sending the telegram.

I would have liked to have been informed that she was seriously ill. I would have come to her. She always wrote that she was not seriously ill and would certainly be well again by spring.

I know that she has been very happy in recent years and that she had found in the Anthroposophical Society what she had been seeking all her life, and that she did the work she was able to do with heartfelt joy.

When I was last in Dornach, she was ill and I saw how well she was cared for. I wrote to her sister about this and I am sure that she received equally good care during her last illness.

I would be very grateful if I could have a few lines from the lady who was with her during her last illness. I would translate these into English and send them to her sister.

I was friends with Miss Maryon for 18 years. She taught me a great deal about art and we spent many happy hours together. Losing her is a great sorrow to me.

Respectfully,

Jeannette L. Franklin

Albert Steffen to Dr. Ita Wegman

May 2.

Dear Dr. Wegman!

You sent me a message that deeply saddened me. At the time, I assumed that a cremation would take place, although Dr. St. had not explicitly said so. I believe that everything should be prepared for that.

Kind regards,

Yours sincerely

Clara Smits to Dr. Ita Wegman

Stuttgart, May 5, 1924

Dear Dr. Wegman,

As the secretary of the Executive Council of the Anthroposophical Society, I would like to express to you how deeply I grieve with you the passing of our dear Miss Maryon.

Especially at the present moment, when the workload resting on Dr. Steiner is so immense and we are all shocked to see its effects on him, the loss of his long-standing, understanding artistic collaborator is a twist of fate that fills me with the deepest, most sincere sympathy.

At the hour when the mortal remains of our dear member will be committed to the elements, I want to be with you in thought, mourning with you.

With warm regards,

Clara Smits