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Pápa, December 26, 1915
Dear Professor,
I don't exactly know anymore which of your substantive letters I already answered; I think I owe you at least two replies.
My mother's illness, which has still not been overcome by any means, was a strong shock. And even so, I was—probably a proof of strong ucs. fixation—incapable of any positive tenderness toward her; I felt inhibited. One has to marvel again and again about the true immortality of the child in us.
I am getting more and more hopeful reports about my transfer; it is only a precautionary measure against disappointment when I am still not certain in the matter.
You write about Rank that he is moving to Cracow; now, I don't know: is he staying a soldier—or is he being exempted as a journalist?—Is he only going away for the duration of the war or for a specific period of time?
Jones's tendency to plagiarize is familiar to me; he once appropriated my essay on suggestion in a similar way.1 His originality is (as I know from the analysis) inhibited; for that reason he has to satisfy his ambition in this way. Despite all that, he is a good boy—only one has to correct him in this respect. [See also, by the way, his book on Hamlet2].3 Incidentally, a few days ago I received a letter from him, which I am enclosing.4 It is interesting in some respects. A miracle that the letter was able to pass through English and Austrian-Hungarian censorship.
I hope that Oli will also stand the test as a married man; but I concede that this union is not an everyday one.
The shortage of contributions for the Zeitschrift will certainly stimulate me to write. Here in Pápa I have cured a hysteric, who should almost be classified as a dementia. The seemingly silly person turned out to be a highly intelligent and sensitive personality. She has contributed much to raising the level of my sojourn in Pápa. I took great satisfaction in ascertaining how much better I now master transference and countertrans-ference.
Kind regards,