PROF. DR. FREUD 
WIENn IX., BERGGASSE 19.

11. 2. 1929

Dear Ruth

Always when I get a letter of 
yours I am tempted to answer it at once, 
the very same day as I do now again. 
It is a consequence of the regret that 
I get the response to a letter written 
three weeks ago, while much has hap-
pened in the meantime and several 
other letters are on their way or have 
arrived since.

Two main reactions to this day’s letter: I 
am so glad that Mark has turned out 
so true, and so sorry that the Athena 
is not true. All I can say is: so much 
better as if had [sic] been the reverse.

My most important bit of news is about 
the Egyptian God.  He must be Messias, 
he has not yet arrived!  But Ruths 
has come back und given some reports 
of him. He is no bronce, but green, 
glazed clay and he represents a frog. 
A very rare representation indeed! Perhaps 
it is simply a frog and no god at all! 
Ruths says he found it in company 
of one D^r Schacht (brother of the director 
of the German Reichsbank), who at 
first was not willing to give it 
away and then tried to fix the 
condition to it. That it should be 
returned to him after my death, 
which R. declined. He gave the precious 
thing to one relative of his, who had 
accompanied him to Egypt and re-
turned to Austria (In̄sbruck) 
before him. So I don’t see where 
and why it lingers, dont know if I will live 
long enough to get it and after 
all, even gods of clay are subject 
to falsification.

Ruths saw me on Saturday (yesterday), I warned 
him aghainst the Grippe, Sunday he telephoned 
he had got it and a fever of 40°. Even 
if all is going right with him, I will 
not see him for a whole week.

The cold is abominable, [minus]16-13° R  
today. I cannot say it does me any 
harm. We suffer by the scarcity of water! 
No bathing permitted at a fine of S 200. 
The threat of throttle the pipes and sup-
press the water supply completely may 
be excented any day. If you rob Vienna 
of its water, what is left of it?
I don’t think the treatment of my catarrh 
was a success. Secretion has diminished 
not necessarily as a therapeutic effect. The 
plate to be sure is now somewhat out of 
joint with the jaw, but I have found a 
clever man D^r Karolyi who understands 
now to manage it and he will see me 
through the weeks till I can go to Berlin.

Wittels wrote a rather submissive letter in 
reply to mine, regretting the misunderstanding 
emphasising his readiness to give satisfaction 
complaining the appearance possibility he 
should appear to act like a crook etc.   
I think I was right by in being guided by 
his confession to you, that he was afraid 
of Stekel’s resentment.

David is continuing hopeful and reasonable.  
His wife works as a complication of his case, 
not as a source and inspirer of resistance, 
It is a pity I cannot introduce you into the 
marvellous structure of his case. It is 
too much writing in English or German.

It is time to end the letter, I am ex-
pecting the guests for this evenings dis-
cussion to be opened by Winterstein. 
It is on Occultism in real relation 
to ΨA.

With kindest regards, best 
wishes for you, Mark and 
* 
Yours 
Freud