The Diary

his reelection as conductor seems thereby assured. Wholesale business is still very stagnant. I am called upon by Mrs. Juana Achey. Need of Auditorium Annex (with her son) trying to induce me to interest myself in a Grand Concert and Womans Pavilion at Chicago, which I naturally decline Dictate letters to Europe to Oberlander til 10

P.M. and remained in bed all day. I am again called upon by George C. Allan with whom I am somewhat displeased, as he can give me very little information. I received a registered letter from Freiherr von Mirbach, Berlin, in which the Emperor of + Empress of Germany send me in commemoration of my interest in the Memorial Church, Berlin, a beautiful silver Medal with two splendid portraits of the Empeor &Empress dated March 22^d 1895. My left knee and right lower rib still hurt me and I sit up in my invalid

chair, first time since 1¾ years, in the front room. There called on me Marc A. Blumenberg on his libel suit and Sid Trenkmann, B. Newport, David Brooks, also Signor LaGrande and others. I learn that my land in Lg Is. C. is being busily plowed and cultivated by the poor who applied to the Charity Organization at whose request I let them have the use of this land for the summer. Valesca Franck also called, loan Henry Hubert again $10000. I see more and more that we must touch only one or two first class pianists and these only at moderate prices, as Concert business will not pay. Next Tuesday it seems that Van der Stucken will try to be released from his Contract with the Arion, and Heinrich Zoellner will be voted on at the L.K. Retire 10.30. P.M. L.v.B. +Paula to Theatre

Get up + sit in front room til 8½ P.M. Weather fine and L.v.B. +wife with the little girls to Steinway, I walked on crutches slowly to front room, muscular rheumatism in outer ligament of left knee still quite painful. I also feel a little in right lower ribs, and right back near right hip. Otherwise