S.
«FR»17 November 1912 Pension White 2 Pizza dei Cavalleggiere Firenze
«FL»Dear Professor Freud,
Many, many thanks for the kind thought that prompted yesterday's telegram. You must have guessed how much pleasure it would give me; I felt greatly honoured indeed.
Also let me thank you for your thoughtfulness in sending me the letter that arrived this morning. From your hard work you spare time to soothe my anxiousness. I have seen many such attacks, and they are terrible to live with. From no patient have I received a more vivid impression of the terrific forces pent up in the unconscious than I have from my wife. It is as though a horrible abyss of unalterably black despair and hopelessness suddenly yawned in front of one, and one stands paralysed and helpless before an awful «MDUL»Abgrund«MDNM» [abyss]. Then it closes again, and a smiling surface appears to help one forget what one would willingly forget. I trust that you will get a look inside this volcano of emotion, and teach her how to make a better use of its fires.
I like very much the title of the new «MDUL»Zeitschrift«MDNM», also of course the word «MDUL»Internationale«MDNM», and am delighted that you have chosen Ferenczi and Rank. About Heller I am less enthusiastic, for some recent Korrektur‑Bogen from the next number of «MDUL»Imago«MDNM» produced a distressing impression on me; I hope he will be made to change his printer. Still we have the advantage of a pliable publisher. I am very pleased that my Angst article is to appear in January,«FN1.××Jones (1913b).
» and have sent Ferenczi some corrections in accord with his suggestions. I felt that this difficult subject, which I know I have treated imperfectly, could not be left longer, for there are already false impressions being spread about it. I am happy that so many supporters have come in already for the «MDUL»Zeitschrift«MDNM»; the Zurich men are bound to follow. I need not tell you how completely my services are at your disposal; I only wish I were in Vienna to help a little with the organisation of the work.
I sent Rank an amusing letter that came from Stekel. It illustrates his simplicity of mind; to him no complexities exist in life.«FN1.××Stekel to Jones, 12 October 1912, quoted in Paskauskas (1985, p. 337).» Rank will probably show it to you.
Much of my interest at present is on the subject of Christian mythology (apostles, saints and martyrs). It is almost as rich and complex as the Greek mythology, especially as all the figures are derived from previous personages and invested with their attributes. The distortion in the presentation of the themes is sometimes extraordinarily involved, and there is much work for the future.
Yours affectionately Jones.
