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[Göttingen, beginning of September 1923]
Dear Professor,
Just as I was about to finish my letter to Anna, one from Dr. Eitingon arrived with an enclosure of forty dollars and a chit with the ‘unconscious’ omission: ‘The enclosed received on the instructions of…’ To be sure, no name was necessary—but, dear Professor, how you overwhelm me! Must these days, which certainly make enormous claims upon you from all sides, make me so rich? I mean something quite different from mere gratitude, when I thank you; I mean all that wells up within me and makes me feel quite close to you and Anna in Rome. My heart indeed is so full that I almost believe that I could now pour out all the feelings which I can only indicate when we are together. If you were only to receive a fraction of your human deserts, then every hour of your stay in Rome would be brimful of glorious experience. My dear Anna is now enjoying her heart's desire, and I picture her in my mind's eye walking with you through the streets of Rome.
I greet you both from the bottom of my heart—the unseen companion, who always wishes to be near you. Recently I tried to think what things would have been like if I had grown old without ever having met you: I would have been thoroughly disgusted at this old woman, while as things are I am utterly contented with the life that I have, as long as it may last.
Your grateful
Lou
My husband has just brought home some newspapers with the appalling news from Japan.161 Along with one's horror one cannot help reflecting how futile it makes all the talk of politics and prestige: one shrug of the shoulders on the part of Great Mother Nature—and all is over.
In the earthquake that took place on 1 September 1923 almost 100,000 people lost their lives in Tokyo and Yokohama.