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Vienna IX, Berggasse 19
21. 3. 38
Dear Meister Arnold,
Since seeing your handwriting in this morning's (meagre) post, I have very much wanted to send our news so that you should not believe for a day longer than necessary that I am indifferent to your concern.
I have just come through some particularly unpleasant weeks. Four months ago I had one of my normal operations, followed by unusually violent pain, so that I had to cancel my work for 12 days, and I lay with pain and hot-water bottles on the couch which is meant for others. Scarcely had I resumed work when these events occurred, world history in a teacup, which have changed our lives. On the wireless I was able to listen first to our challenge and then to our surrender, to the rejoicing and the counter-rejoicing. In the course of this ‘eventful week’1 the last of my few patients have left me. I am not yet quite free from pain, so I cannot work and therefore I do absolutely nothing. Our house is certainly very unsettled; friends come to enquire how we are; two very welcome guests, Princess Marie (Bonaparte) and Dr. Jones, have been constant visitors. They both came mainly to represent the international rights in the Verlag and the Institute. Jones left yesterday after he had conferred with Dr. Müller-Braunschweig of the German Psycho-Analytical Society, who had been summoned from Berlin. The princess, of inestimable value to us all, is still here. Unfortunately I am not the only invalid. Tante Minna is still in hospital after two operations for cataract. The operations went off well but her general condition is not satisfactory. My wife and two daughters are well and are coping efficiently, especially Anna. Since our usual move to Grinzing is now very unlikely we are giving much thought as to where we shall spend the spring and summer. We have not come to a decision yet. The time is not yet ripe for any change of habitat. It may take weeks before we decide.
Meanwhile please pass on the important items in this new