Letter from Ludwig Binswanger to Freud, January 7, 1920

7 January 1920

121B

Dear Professor Freud,

It was very good to have a sign of life from you and to hear that the food parcel arrived safely. I am only too happy to give you detailed news of myself. Please forgive the typewriter, but I know that deciphering my hand gives you no pleasure.

First, best wishes on your son's marriage. I am glad that you are able to give so good a report of it, and beg you to convey my best wishes to your son as well.

I paid 400 francs for the 500 lire at the time. I would ask you once again not to worry on my account about when to repay me.

I shall start with my family. My wife is well except for attacks of sciatica. She took a cure in the summer. We then spent a very pleasant time in the mountains. I sent you a postcard while we were there but do not know if it reached you. For the past two years, as I wrote to you earlier, we have been living in a spacious house1 of our own which, together with the five children and her duties in the clinic, keeps my wife fully occupied. Of the children, the eldest, whom you probably remember, is at present receiving Latin lessons from his father;2 in other respects, too, he is a great joy to me. He has the right mixture of fun, independence and boyishness with an integrity and perception in keeping with his age. The youngest, who will soon be two, is very healthy and mentally alert; our daughter and the other two boys too give us much pleasure.