The Rudolf Steiner Archive

60

Rudolf Steiner to Edith Maryon

Stuttgart, February 17, 1921

My dear Edith Maryon!

I am writing this letter to you just before leaving, as a warm farewell greeting. Everything went well, except that there is so much work that not everything could be done. I would love to be in the studio in Dornach; but it can only be after some time. Unfortunately, I was only able to visit the school, which is so close to my heart, in the first, third, fourth, eighth and ninth grades. From this you can see how busy the days were. And because I have a meeting waiting for me at the last minute, I can only add the hope that the recovery there is making good progress and the

warmest greetings

Rudolf Steiner

65

Rudolf Steiner to Edith Maryon

Stuttgart, 21 March 1921

My dear Edith Maryon!

So far, everything has gone well. But time must be very full again. It has been like that from the first hour of my being here. That is why I have not been able to write yet. And even now I can only manage these few lines. On the whole, the students here are taking things in well so far. But you always have the feeling that you can give so little to people in such a short time that it is quite difficult for them to form their own opinion. And that is what it is all about. But the difficulties we face are enormous. And in the face of these difficulties, it remains absolutely true that we can do little, too little. It would take so much to show people the nature of the opposition. And that is not possible without an almost unlimited amount of work.

So far, my voice has held up well. Between jobs, I keep thinking about our sculptors. That must be so, for it strengthens me. I will also be glad when I can be there again.

After the lectures, which end on the 23rd, I will probably have to work here for another two days, then I will travel back.

Warmest regards

Rudolf Steiner

68

Rudolf Steiner to Edith Maryon

Stuttgart, August 30, 1921

My dear Edith Maryon!

I can only write to tell you that so far everything has gone well. The wound in my hand is healing as it should and my voice is more or less okay. Unfortunately I can only add greetings, because I have to go to a lecture right away.

Warmest greetings

Rudolf Steiner

71

Rudolf Steiner to Edith Maryon

Stuttgart, 5 September 1921

My dear Edith Maryon!

I would have liked to write sooner. But time is fully occupied. The many people naturally have all kinds of requests. The events themselves go according to plan. But more co-workers are needed for the cause. Every hour teaches that. I now had to regretfully decline a whole series of lectures that I was asked to give, as well as the one in Berlin. Because I want to be back in Dornach by the time allotted. It will be satisfying for me to be back in the sculpture studio.

I will probably be here for a few days after the congress. Then in Berlin. There will probably be a few days when I can finally catch up on the book corrections that are so necessary.

My hand is fine. My voice is going well. I am taking care of them.

Now I must move on to the lectures of the three speakers this morning. As always, I send my best and most heartfelt thoughts to

Rudolf Steiner Stuttgart,
Landhausstraße 70

110

Rudolf Steiner to Edith Maryon

Stuttgart, 11 October 1922
Landhausstrasse 70

My dear Edith Maryon,

This time there is no way of reducing the amount of work in Stuttgart. The young people who have gathered there to work in anthroposophy want everything, and on top of that comes the old stuff. The school, especially at this moment, demands a great deal. The affair with the various rascals has been handled with incredible foolishness by the teachers. I don't want to write any more about it because the things are actually too silly. But they will do immense harm to the school.

In addition, the Stuttgart gentlemen are also losing all connection with the anthroposophical movement. They sit on their chairs, play board, and people don't want to know anything about them.

One example is this. I should have been in Stuttgart as early as Monday. Since I could not make it, I telephoned Mr. Uehli and asked him to give a lecture to the young people on Monday evening. They said they did not want a lecture from him.

And so there is no connection at all between all the people who are here now and the leadership in Stuttgart. You have to do everything yourself. So there is always more work to be done, but there are no more co-workers. That is why it is not possible to do anything to defend against hostility. Because you can't even get to such things. The fact that I was absent from school for so long has also been bitterly avenged. The teachers have completely lost contact with the students in the higher grades. And I tremble at what kind of report Hartley will give. But perhaps he is too great a fool to notice the damage.

Could you say: the people don't have the skills! Well, yes. But it's not that. It lacks enthusiasm, an active desire to work. They want a rut, a routine; they want to be a heavy mass, not a stimulating element. Basically, they are just lazy.

Thank you for the news. I'm sorry that such confusion reigns. Let's hope that things will work out after all. We will set up the lighting so that it works without a spotlight. I am writing this letter quickly now at half past six in the morning so that I can finally send a few lines to our studio, where I would so like to be again. In the meantime, I am sending my warmest regards

Rudolf Steiner

I want to leave on the 15th or 16th.

111

Rudolf Steiner to Edith Maryon

[telegram]

Edith Maryon
Sculpting studio Goetheanum
Dornachbrugg

[postmark]
Dornach, October 11, 1922
From Stuttgart, no. 764

All well. Regards

Steiner

117

Rudolf Steiner to Edith Maryon

Stuttgart, December 5, 1922

My dear Edith Maryon!

A few lines of greeting before leaving for Berlin. Everything went well. I arrived late last night, just in time for the branch meeting here. But it seems I have not yet mentioned the branch meeting. I really hadn't thought of it. Then today from 9:30 to 12:00 there was a school visit; then conferences until 1:30 in the next day, then I visited little Fritz Kögel, who broke his arm yesterday during gymnastics. Then at 3:00 an interview with Knauer. And I ask that you please tell Dr. Wegman over the phone, without making any effort, that I now think it would be best to have Dr. Knauer come to Arlesheim for a few days. He should see things for himself there. He definitely wants to go there now. But I think his demands should be more modest, because he has to support his mother and sister. I am writing this because I have too little time to write to Dr. Wegman herself – it will be all right to tell her over the telephone.

Then after I had spoken with Knauer, there was a teachers' conference, from which I have just come, and soon I will be picked up to drive to Berlin with Leinhas.

Warmest greetings

Rudolf Steiner

119

Rudolf Steiner to Edith Maryon

Stuttgart, January 30, 1923
Landhausstr. 70

My dear Edith Maryon!

I can only write a few lines quickly to say that I arrived safely here but that I may not be able to appear at the studio until Friday, as things here are not going well at all. Everything is difficult and the people are not helping. I would like to be there. Hopefully I am not missing anything important.

Warmest thoughts and greetings

Rudolf Steiner

120

Rudolf Steiner to Edith Maryon

Stuttgart, 6 February 1923

Dear Edith Maryon!

Just a few lines, because I have so much to do. Hopefully things are not too bad. I am sending you my best thoughts. I hope to be there soon. But it will hardly be before Friday, I can see. Because the order of things is going so slowly. The Men are not making progress. For the time being, warmest greetings

Rudolf Steiner

123

Rudolf Steiner to Edith Maryon

Stuttgart, February 27, 1923

My dear Edith Maryon!

Thank you for your letter, which says that your health has not deteriorated. Mrs. Kaufmann told me the same and sent her regards. Here one cannot yet see where things are leading. First of all, one heard the speeches of the committee members and the delegates from 9 or 10 in the morning until 11 at night. Most of them are actually quite clueless. It will probably be quite difficult. It is not really possible to report anything specific from this chaos. A result should be available by Wednesday evening. I am sending good thoughts, including in particular for a speedy recovery. I hope to be in Dornach on Friday.

Warmest regards

Rudolf Steiner