The Rudolf Steiner Archive

38

Edith Maryon to Rudolf Steiner

Villa St. George
Arlesheim, 7 March 1920

Dear and esteemed teacher,

A letter has not arrived yet; it takes a long time from Stuttgart – perhaps it will come tomorrow.

Yesterday we had visitors from Dornach: the district court president and seven or eight other bigwigs. They were friendly and showed some understanding for the matter. Afterwards they bought various books. Some even carved something on the great Lucifer, which they found very amusing. They liked the models of the houses, I told them it was an attempt to alleviate the housing shortage, and that the idea was to build the houses very simply, without luxury, but with an architecture somewhat adapted to the construction site. They were very interested. We all tried to make a good impression. The court president seemed particularly benevolent to me, if it was genuine.

Today the weather changed, it is cold and raining, few visits to the construction site.

The plasterer has finally arrived, but we will hardly be finished with the renovation by the time you return.

Mrs. Drury-Lavin wrote that she visited my brother and liked him very much. Next Sunday he and Miss Word (the fiancée) should visit Mrs. D.L., and then she will see if it will be possible to give a lecture at the university. Today she had to give news to the group in London. Unfortunately, old Mrs. G. has given £1000 to found a British Society or (a British) center, she has given it to the Myrdin Group. Collison will be in London soon after Easter. The four Mystery Dramas will be performed in London in May or June; I have a letter from the Putnams because I want to know the titles for the poster.

Mrs. Drury-Lavin writes that she feels as if she has just left the spiritual world and has not yet become accustomed to this incarnation; the time in Dornach was too beautiful, she has drawn fresh courage for life there and is infinitely grateful for it. I wrote to her today.

Monday. Deep snow!

With warm greetings

Edith Maryon

40

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

43

Edith Maryon to Rudolf Steiner

Sculptor's studio, Goetheanum
Dornach near Basel, June 19, 1920

Dear and esteemed teacher,

Thank you very much for your letter. Baron Rosenkrantz writes that he will now take action and make a preliminary announcement, and as soon as he receives a more definitive program, he will issue another. I am sending you his suggestions. He asks for corrections and criticism.

He believes that eurythmy will attract a great deal of interest precisely in the spiritual form as taught in Dornach. The Dalcroze method is only emotional and slightly exciting, but it is now very successful.

Would it perhaps be possible for certain members to invite a few of the best eurythmy children from Stuttgart for these two weeks, in order to strengthen our forces somewhat in this direction?

Should we only think of the British artists, or extend the invitation to other countries?

Mrs. Drury-Lavin writes that £150 has been collected for Walleen and Miss Pethick thinks we should await his arrival in Dornach before writing to him definitively. She wanted to invite him for October and November so that she can make preparations in London at the end of September. But I would like him to be able to come at the beginning of August (if we can find someone to invite as a guest) so that we have a competent interpreter for the lectures in August.

With warmest greetings and the hope that you will come back very soon,

I send you my warmest regards

Edith Maryon

Appendix to letter no. 43

Provisional program 10-20 August 1920

1.) A series of three or more lectures by Dr. Steiner on art (please confirm the number and topic so that we can advertise). 2.) Let us say about three eurythmy performances.

A. A performance to demonstrate the whole scope of eurythmy.

B. A performance of Faust or something else already worked out.

C. A performance of part of the mysteries.

3) Could Miss Vreede give, say, three lectures on spiritual science, the purpose of the building (different branches of work) or some other topic indicated by Dr. Steiner and Miss Vreede?

4) Could I show and explain the building and studio? (Answer: I think you will do this).

5.) If the program is to be longer, could the three slide lectures be given?

45

Edith Maryon to Rudolf Steiner

Sculptor's studio, Goetheanum
Dornach near Basel, July 25, 1920

Dear and esteemed teacher,

There seems to be a direct train via Lille, Calais on Wednesdays that avoids Paris. I got the passport visa without any difficulty; the vice-consul even fetched the second visa from the French consul himself, for which I was really grateful because about 30 people were already waiting on the street under the burning sun. The Arlesheim authorities also issued a return travel permit immediately, so unless something better (or less bad!) happens, you should leave on Wednesday evening 10.50 (Aug. 4).

Two Englishwomen and three Englishmen have arrived; they say that Rosenkrantz has had little success so far for our art course, and that people there simply fall asleep, even though there are many who would like to take what we have to give; but they don't realize it, and no one can make it understandable. Today they are visiting the group.

Dorothy Pethick is in Linthal, Glarus, and sends a copy of a letter from Mrs. Drury-Lavin to Walleen with the request to hand it over if the letter does not arrive in Copenhagen. She promises to pay for the stay here, etc.

I very much hope that Dr. Boos' lecture on Tuesday will go off quietly and that there will be no [disturbance].

The day here went quietly, although one still hears merry-go-round music from early morning until late in the evening. Many visitors were in the building, but they behaved well.

I hope that the work in Stuttgart will soon be finished so that you can arrive in Dornach on Saturday. We have now dismantled part of the group (Lucifer).

With warmest greetings,

Edith Maryon

48

Edith Maryon to Rudolf Steiner
[postcard]

48

Norfolk Road, Seven Kings
Ilford, Essex. England

Monday [August 9, 1920]

Dear and beloved teacher,

I am writing these few lines at a highly uncomfortable post office counter! I arrived quite well, without too much fatigue. Please open the small window in our studio at night, otherwise the air is too bad. I will write a letter tomorrow or the day after. For now, just goodbye. I long for Dornach already and find London awful!

With warmest greetings

Edith Maryon

49

Edith Maryon to Rudolf Steiner

48

Norfolk Road, Seven Kings
Ilford, Essex, England
August 10, 1920

Dear and beloved teacher,

I had to spend a lot of time sitting at the French consulate before I finally got the visa. I then booked my seat on the train for Tuesday and bought the ticket, so the return journey is now in order, if only war and the general strike don't intervene. Both are considered likely here in the near future. This address will be valid for my entire stay in England, not Bassett Road. My mother naturally looks much older. During the night my sister woke me, my mother had had a second attack, but it was milder than the one five weeks ago. We called a doctor and he said that the blood pressure is too high for her age; otherwise she is better now and not in any danger. I just hope that she will not be too agitated tomorrow, because we are expecting a visit from my brother and his new wife.

I long to be back in Dornach; I no longer like London. I hope everything is going well at the studio and [I hear] that the Christ is not yet finished; I would like to see for myself how it is growing.

With warmest regards

Edith Maryon

51

Edith Maryon to Rudolf Steiner
Villa St. George
Arlesheim near Basel, Sept. 17, 1920

Dear and esteemed teacher,

Not much has happened here. Except that a Theosophist has arrived with two friends. I don't think she is very recommendable.

Mrs. Wedgwood apologized and took back what she said; the unsatisfactory thing about it, however, is that she doesn't understand anything about it and doesn't want to hear anything about it, but says it's all a matter between her and Dr. St. It seems to me that she still believes I have denounced her!

I will be very happy when work here resumes at the end of next week. The mood here is somewhat gloomy, and yesterday I had a bad dream.

Otherwise, work here is progressing and I am dealing with the ribs of Lucifer!

I very much hope that the work in Germany went quite smoothly.

With my warmest regards

Edith Maryon

53

Edith Maryon to Rudolf Steiner

Sculptor's studio, Goetheanum
Dornach near Basel, 9 Nov. 1920

Dear and esteemed teacher,

Everything is going well here, but the studio looks very empty and desolate. I have been carving Lucifer and have finished the three eurythmy plaques with great difficulty, although only at the last moment – when Miss Melland had to leave.

A Mr. Gaze arrived today and was sent to me by Mrs. Cull, and it seems that Miss Vreede is to pave the way for him to travel to Stuttgart for a few days. He told me that he is supposed to take over the books from Courtney, and he probably wants to talk about this when he has the opportunity.

Felkin has arrived safely and has now received good news from the mother. She writes that she is trying to preach threefolding to her acquaintances and says that when she explains it to people, they understand much better what it means, like herself, and think they understand through the intellect, because she only understands through intuition. Isn't that a little funny? Otherwise it's not exactly cheerful here. I very much hope that the affairs in Stuttgart can be well organized, more as you would like, than before, and that you don't overwork yourself too much.

With warmest regards

Edith Maryon

55

Edith Maryon to Rudolf Steiner

Sculptor's studio, Goetheanum
Dornach near Basel, 14 Nov. 1920

Dear and esteemed teacher,

I am sending you a review of The Threefold State from a reputable newspaper in Northern England, and because I think it is quite good, I have also ordered some extra copies.

Mr. Gaze was unable to get a passport due to the shortness of time and has already left. He says that a second edition of “The Threefold State” will probably have to be published in the spring and thought it could be combined with all or some of the essays from “In Ausführung der Dreigliederung des sozialen Organismus”. I told him that it would be best to write to the author directly and ask for his wishes. Today I visited Mr. and Mrs. Sharp and congratulated them solemnly; the wedding was on Thursday. Friday I will visit little Schmiedel; proud Papa has already shown around a picture of the first birthday (8 days).

On Saturday we have a lecture by Dr. Boos at the Bernoullianum.

There is no news from Stuttgart, I can only hope that everything is going well and send warm greetings

Edith Maryon

Will Dr. Unger be able to get the stoves for the houses?

58

Edith Maryon to Rudolf Steiner

Grosheintz House, Dornach near Basel
[probably early February 1921]

Monday evening.

Dear and esteemed teacher,

I am sending you two newspaper clippings. My health is really improving. I have found a way to nourish myself without taking medicine. It consists mostly of baby formula, beaten eggs, milk, etc. (without further vomiting). I have to go quite slowly and continue this method for a while. I was vaccinated yesterday and Dr. Wegman is coming again tomorrow. I am still a little short of breath. My heart beats a little when I have to make an effort.

But I always think very carefully, don't I? I hope things go well in Stuttgart, I think about it quite a lot and hope there are no night meetings. Of course I have not heard anything about the scheduled lectures. Mr. Vreede visited me and brought me fresh eggs, Miss v. Blommestein brought me a flower and said that her house would soon be finished and that many people had visited it and found it very beautiful. This really gave me joy that people are satisfied with what one is trying to achieve.

Miss Kučerová looks after me faithfully.

I think a lot about how the work is going in Silesia, etc.

With warmest regards

Edith Maryon