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1003 Seestrasse, Küsnach-Zürich,
2 June 19101
Dear Professor Freud,
I was amazed by your news. The adventure with “Schottländer” is marvellous; of course the slimy bastard was lying. I hope you roasted, flayed, and impaled the fellow with such genial ferocity that he got a lasting taste for once of the effectiveness of ΨA. I subscribe to your final judgment with all my heart. Such is the nature of these beasts. Since I could read the filth in him from his face I'd have loved to take him by the scruff of his neck. I hope to God you told him all the truths so plainly that even his hen's brain could absorb them. Now we shall see what his next coup will be. Had I been in your shoes I would have softened up his guttersnipe complex with a sound Swiss thrashing.
Hoche did indeed declare us ripe for the madhouse. Stockmayer was there and has told me about it. The lecture fell into the well-known pattern: charges of mysticism, sectarianism, arcane jargon, epidemic of hysteria, dangerousness, etc. Isolated clapping. Nobody protested. Stockmayer was quite alone and hadn't the gumption. Even Gaupp and Hoche's faithful henchmen Bumke2 and Spielmeyer found the tone not quite to their liking. But not one of the 125 people present raised a murmur. This report turned my stomach. I don't know what to say except Foul! Foul!! Foul!!!3
We have now constituted a branch society here with ca. 15 members. The president hasn't been elected yet for lack of suitable candidates. Only 2 of the younger assistants from Burghölzli have joined. Bleuler and Maier are hanging back. Frank too, mercifully. The Zürich foundation was a difficult birth. One more such victory—
I enclose Honegger's last letter from Territet. With intent to delay his return, I have written him that in my view he could very well work on his dissertation there under his own steam. I would like to make him my assistant publicly only when he has earned his doctor's degree or finished his dissertation. But I have promised to ask fo