a-general-introduction-to-psychoanalysis-sigmund-freud

it: "That a woman of fifty should dream such abominable, stupid stuff—a
woman who has no other thought, day and night, than to care for her child!"
And now follows the dreams of the "services of love." "She goes into Military
Hospital No. 1, and says to the sentry at the gate, that she must speak to the
chief physician ... (she mentions a name which is not familiar to her), as she
wants to offer her service to the hospital. She stresses the word 'service,' so
love services. Since she is an old lady he lets her pass after some hesitation.
But instead of reaching the chief physician, she finds herself in a large somber
room in which there are many officers and army doctors sitting and standing
around a long table. She turns with her proposal to a staff doctor who, after a
few words, soon understands her. The words of her speech in the dream are,
'I and numerous other women and girls of Vienna are ready for the soldiers,
troops, and officers, without distinction....' Here in the dream follows a
murmuring. That the idea is, however, correctly understood by those present
she sees from the semi-embarrassed, somewhat malicious expressions of the
officers. The lady then continues, 'I know that our decision sounds strange,
but we are in bitter earnest. The soldier in the field is not asked either
whether or not he wants to die.' A moment of painful silence follows. The
staff doctor puts his arm around her waist and says, 'Madame, let us assume
that it really came to that ...' (murmurs). She withdraws from his arm with the
thought, 'They are all alike!' and answers, 'My heavens, I am an old woman,
and perhaps will never be confronted with that situation; one consideration,
moreover, must be kept in mind: the consideration of age, which prevents an
older woman from ... with a very young boy ... (murmurs) ... that would be
horrible.' The staff doctor, 'I understand perfectly.' Several officers, among
them one who had paid court to her in her youth, laugh loudly, and the lady
asks to be conducted to the chief physician, whom she knows, so that
everything may be arranged. At this she realizes with great dismay that she
does not know his name. The staff officer, nevertheless, very politely and
respectfully shows her the way to the second story, up a very narrow winding
iron stairway which leads to the upper story directly from the door of the
room. In going up she hears an officer say, 'That is a tremendous decision
irrespective of whether a woman is young or old; all honor to her!'
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