Record of a Friendship

[ 1947 ]

Summerhill School

Leiston, Suffolk

My dear Reich,

194

June 20, 1947

I sent you a badly depressed letter two days ago. I am out of
the depression now, but the mere fact that such a depression can happen
is so tiresome.
I don't know what to say about the articles you sent me. I suppose
that to be in Harper's and New Republic means a wide publicity, and
however stupid or hateful the articles, folks will be led to find out for
themselves what you teach. The longer I live the more I see that you
have touched the base of life. Knowing your work makes it impossible to
read books on psychology. But I see, in my own self, how hard it is to
undo the past, and how useless it is to "cure" by any analysis. So that
the only thing to concentrate on is the new generation-Peter and Zoe,
but Zoe has the better chance, for Peter will get too much that is false
from the damned schools you will have to send him to. The fact that he
has had to be vaccinated, while Zoe wasn't, is as it were symbolic of the
freedoms allowed them. If I live long enough Z. will have an environ­
ment that won't compel her to have silly ideas on behaviour. Yet your
home will counteract any fool work done on Peter by teachers.

Orgonon

Rangeley , Maine

My dear Neill:

• I •

June 2 I, 1947

We are still wondering why you did not arrange your stay in

the States so that you could have spent a longer period with us.

Mr. Hamilton will meet you at the boat and will bring you up to

Orgonon by car. I am sure you will enjoy the beautiful trip through the

New England landscape, and at Orgonon we shall make it as comfort­

able for you as possible (coffee for breakfast and plenty of whiskey and

soda). Furthermore, I promise not to bother you too much with too

many heavy problems.

• I •