136 Nietzschegroups, writing, editing, and locating strategic placements for articles,
and perhaps also founding a journal. He abandoned these plans once
and for all in the fall of 1873, after realizing that the Wagner community
was too small-minded and prosaic to endorse his draft of "Exhortation
to the Germans," in which he insisted "that people need cleansing and
consecration by means of the sublime crafts and terrors of genuine
German art now more than ever" (1,897; EG). This "exhortation" was
designed to win over patrons and subscribers for the Bayreuth Festival,
yet it was phrased like a reprimand. The taste of the masses was
denounced. Readers were reminded of their national glory and cultural
prominence, and counseled in strong language to prove themselves wor-
thy of Wagner's great cultural achievement. After the Wagner Society's
convention in Bayreuth, during which Nietzsche's draft was rejected,
Cosima Wagner wrote in her diary: "The societies do not feel justified in
using such bold language, and who besides them would sign their names
to that?" (Ν/ΒΠ,187).
At this time, the Wagners were still firmly committed to Nietzsche
and were more inclined to snicker at the small-mindedness of the "com-
munity" than to direct any barbs at him. Richard Wagner's declaration to
Nietzsche on June 25, 1872, was absolutely sincere: "Stricdy speaking,
you are the only benefit apart from my wife that life has brought my
way" (N/ W 1,190). Especially on Christmas holidays and New Year's
Day, Nietzsche was an eagerly awaited guest, but the Wagners could turn
chilly if he failed to accept their invitations. Cosima Wagner took
painfully exact note of even the slightest hints of reserved demeanor on
his part On August 3,1871, she wrote after Nietzsche had spent several
days vacationing in Tribschen that he was certainly the most talented of
their family friends, "yet in many ways downright unpleasant, owing to
a somewhat unnatural reserve in his manner. It is almost as though he is
guarding himself against the overwhelming impression of Wagner's per-
sonality" (N/W 1,168). Cosima had gauged the situation correcdy.
Nietzsche was indeed keeping a certain distance, which he required to
preserve his own freedom vis-à-vis the maestro. When Richard Wagner