You do not currently have permission to view the full text for this document. Please sign in to an account with an active subscription or contact support.
6 November 1910
407 Brunswick Avenue
Toronto
Dear Professor Freud,
Three reprints at once from you, only one of which I had previously read. What a rare treat! Thank you very much. I especially enjoyed the one on psychotherapy.1 You know that we younger enthusiasts (unwisely, I admit) sometimes complain that you don't often talk generalities, so it is the more welcome when it comes. You certainly have no illusions as to the future difficulties we must encounter, but it was good to see your sure optimism in spite of them all. I was glad you laid such stress on the importance of self-analysis (not once, but continuous); I don't think the importance of it could be exaggerated. When is your book on Methodik coming out.2 There must be many people eagerly awaiting that, both friends and foes.
The symbolism you mention of climbing stairs3 and steps I have not yet met, but in English we call a roué a “high stepper”. Neither have I yet found the cravat symbol you told me of in Holland, but in England, and I suppose all other countries, the three following facts concern it. Certain men [have]4 attach an excessive Affekt to the buying of cravats, are always changing them, and proudly show drawers full of them. It is commonly thought to be highly significant when a young lady begins to pay attention to the cravats worn by a man friend. A man resents greatly having his cravats chosen for him by his wife or his fiancée; it is essentially a man's affair. Jokes on both the last points are frequent in Punch, etc..
There is no great news from this side. The Association will be formed, but Hoch is delaying it by not sending on promptly the circular, a preliminary copy of which I sent to him as well as to Putnam and Brill, I must write to him. Putnam was extremely proud of the warm letter you sent to him; he sent it to me to read, and it was certainly most generously worded.5 I apologise for sending you the last number of the Journal of Abnormal Psychology, for after all Prince's silly art