Psychopathology of Everyday Life
name except Caltanisetta, which is surely not correct.”
“No,” said the younger, “the name begins with, or contains, a w.”
“But the Italian language contains no w,” retorted the elder.
“I really meant a v, and I said w because I am accustomed to interchange them in my mother tongue.”
The elder, however, objected to the v. He added: “I believe that I have already forgotten many of the Sicilian names. Suppose we try to find out. For example, what is the name of the place situated on a height which was called Enna in antiquity?”
“Oh, I know that: Castrogiovanni.” In the next moment the younger man discovered the lost name. He cried out ‘Castelvetrano’, and was pleased to be able to demonstrate the supposed v.
For a moment the elder still lacked the feeling of recognition, but after he accepted the name he was able to state why it had escaped him. He thought: “Obviously because the second half, vetrano, suggests veteran. I am aware that I am not quite anxious to think of ageing, and react peculiarly when I am reminded of it. Thus, e.g., I had recently reminded a very esteemed friend in most unmistakable terms that he had ‘long ago passed the years of youth.’ because before this he once remarked in the most flattering manner,
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