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Vienna, December 24, 1915
IX., Berggasse 19
Dear friend,
In consequence of the change in your residence, I am obliged to reply to you promptly. I would also have inquired about your mother's condition by telegram if I had known where you are and whether you still have your apartment in Budapest. We are very happy to hear that she has withstood her illness well. Experience has shown that old people live on for many years after a good pneumonia.
My wife is now jubilating over a shipment of flour that just came in. Rank went to Cracow yesterday, to inspect the probable location of the fate that awaits him next. I can't hold him back, as much as I and the journals will miss him; his existence in Vienna is very uncertain, in military as well as in other respects. He would very much have liked to come to an understanding with you about the International Zeitschrift which now has an absolute dearth of material, and will certainly still be here over New Year's.
Your move to Budapest is the next desirable thing. Since I am now more mobile than you, we are certain of seeing each other again more often. This Christmas we are very much alone, childless. Annerl went to Hamburg; she reported earlier that Max was unexpectedly transferred somewhere far away, though he was hoping to stay in Hamburg for all of his training. There is no news from the others this week. Oli's wedding took place very animatedly. On Monday evening they were still with us, along with Rainer Maria Rilke,1 who is in Vienna for his military service and was charming company. You would also get along with him very easily.
Otherwise the horizon is dark, desire for work slight. Next I have to begin the fair copy of the lectures.
In hopes of seeing or hearing from you very soon,
Cordially,
Freud
P.S. Jones has published an essay in the Internationale Rundschau (Zurich) about “War and Sublimation,” in which there is a note that says: See also the essay “Thoughts for the Times, etc.” by Freud.2 But [Jones's] essay itself is a