Letter from Sigmund Freud to Karl Abraham, October 18, 1914

252F

Vienna IX, Berggasse 19
18 October 1914

Dear Friend,

At last a sign of life from you! The Antwerp news is fine, at any rate a good sign. It is to be hoped that things are going the same way elsewhere, where we do not suspect it. We too breathe more freely here.

Martin is expected here on sick leave with catarrhal jaundice. Eight days ago Ernst left for Klagenfurt1 as a one-year volunteer for the artillery. He has been deferred four times this year, but was taken at the general examination and then asserted his rights as a volunteer. My third son Oliver is not having his turn; he is surveying ground for building barracks.

The volume of the has appeared with your Korrespondenzblatt, unfortunately showing signs of serious negligence by the printer's proof-reader. An issue of is expected daily. I am working on the big and difficult case history for the Jahrbuch2 and on the third edition of the “Sexual Theory”.3 I do not enjoy the hack work required for this. It is never like something that comes in one stroke.

I am now doing 5¹/₅ hours' analysis daily, of which practically none is of long duration, only a couple of weeks are secured. One's heart is also elsewhere.

Today I also had a card from Jones, through Dr van Emden.4 He is well, and has seven hours' work; he tells me that Eder has dropped out. So we put him in with the others. The circle is moving closer together. Binswanger has announced his joining our group.5

Ferenczi is still here, and is spending his holidays here,6 as he is missing nothing in Budapest.

In these unfriendly times we enjoy making plans for the summer. This year the plan for the house in Berchtesgaden shall be carried out at last. Sophie wants to run it, contribute the child and the servants. It would be an opportunity for once to spend some time peacefully with one's friends. Karlsbad will, alas, be one of the extravagances of the “good old days”.