Letter from Sigmund Freud to Karl Abraham, August 10, 1916

297F

Salzburg, Hotel Bristol
10 August 1916

Dear Friend,

This time my pleasure in your letter was spoilt by the vexatious news in it. I was counting on your being able to cross the border during your leave, because the latest regulations have made that absolutely impossible for me. This year I even have to give up seeing my daughter and grandson. Here I am in Salzburg without being able to go even once to Berchtesgaden, nor shall I be able to do so in September. So of what use to me is your trip to Munich? Rank writes today that he may attend the Congress as a reporter.

Our intentions are still not definite. Perhaps we shall after all go to Gastein from 20 August to 10 September and then probably back to Vienna. So do revise your plans once more, taking into account the fact that you, belonging as you do to the army in some way or other, are more mobile than I.

We have been having some enjoyable family days here. My brother and my daughter were here for a short while, both with their other halves, as well as both my sons from the field, both proud lieutenants.1 Ernst is still with us, as lively as ever. Martin we found tired this time. He went through a great deal during the Russian offensive.

Salzburg is still wonderful. This stay has been blessed with unusually fine weather. Also I am writing in my free time; five lectures, thus roughly one third, are finished. The first issue of the is said at last to be on the way from Teschen!2 Sachs will hasten the second.

Otherwise—well, otherwise one tries to put oneself in a state of peace of mind, which, however, one does not have. Dreadful things are happening in the world. There is no prospect of a nice, peaceful end, and there are all sorts of dark threats to the necessary victory. C. C.! I hope you still remember (Coraggio, Casimiro!).

With cordial greetings to you and to your dear wife and in expectation of your news,

Yours,