Binst«i]i, Albert -
f]R IX
1.-17.
1921-1955
0^ ^0
Betty Nevman
Collection
AR-A.1652
^988
(91
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ojjo /5^^ (Shi /^■3>3
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O p£\^^^Jaci^
Tlr. -f 6d
iofi. btn 20. »pril 1924
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das Somplonfcde egpetimenf .
3ft bic HJllfenfcöaff um l^ret fclbff rolUcn ba ?
25on f9la(i)brucf tjcrboten.]
Albert Kinsteiu.
^ 5ft bic 2öiffcnfrf)aft um i^rcr fclbft tDillcn
ba? Xiefe ^rage muft mit flleid^ct gntfc^icbenf)cit bejaf)t mib
Ucrneint mcrbeu, je nacl)bcm fic ocmeint ift. 3)cr Sincufd)aft
1UUB t)om ^orfdjcr um it)rer fclbft millcn gebicut iuerben, o[)ue
|Rücfficf)t auf praftifd]c ergcbniffc. ©ic tocrfümmert fonft,
tubcm fic bic großen ^ufammcn^ängc au§ bcm ^uge öcriiert.
6!c tüürbc aud) i()rcr großen cr3iel)crifcf)cu Jlufgabe ind)t ge-
ted)t, bic barin bcftel^t, t>a^ ©trcbcn nad) faufalcm ©tfennen
in bcr (^cfamt^eit ju tucdcn unb xvad) ^u crl}alten. 2)icfc
(irofec SlufGadc, Cnitcrin cinc§ ber inerttJonften Sbcalc ber
lDicn|"d)()cit 311 fein, ^eigt aber aud), intDicferu bic Sßiffcnfdjaft
n t d] t um ilircr felbft iuilieu ba fein barf. S)ie ®efamtl)cit
ber i^orfd^cr ift einem Organ beö ^i;br))crö ber 3Jtcufd)I)cit Der:*
glcidjbar, ba^ mit if)rcm Slutc gef^eift mirb unb ein leben?«
n)id)tigc^ ©cfrct abfonbcrt, ba^ allen Ücilen biefe^ Hörpcri
gugefüf)rt iücrbeu muf3, ioenn biefcr nid)t t»crfümmcrn foll.
SDie^^ ift nidit fo ^u t)erftef)en, ba^ jebcr SWenfd) mit @elef)rfam-
fcit unb Jctaiüüiffen tioUgcftopft tucrben foll, iuic c§ leibcr in
Sd)ulen oft bi§ ^um llcberbrufi gefd)ief)t. Slud) fann e§ feine?»
meg§ bic breite Ceffentlidjfeit fein, bic in n)iffenfd)aftlid)en
gragen ßntfd]cibungcn gu treffen I)ätte. Slbcr iebem bcnfcn*
bcn 9J?.enfdicn innh ©e(egenr)eit geboten trerben, bie grofsen
n)iffcnfd)aftlid)cn Probleme feiner ^iCit fcl)enb mitzuerleben,
aud) iuenn feine feciale Stellung if)m nid)t gcftattet, einen
erf)eblid)cu 2cit feiner 'S^'ü unb ilraft bem 9?ad}benfen über
tf)coretifd)e J5^ragen ju iüibnien. Grft inbem fie aud) biefcr
loidjtigen ?{ufgabe gered)t rnirb, ertrirbt fid) bie SBiffenfd^aft,
bom fojialen C:3efid)töpunfte aus betrad)tct, ba^ 9led)t auf
e^iftcuä.
Unter biefcm P/efxd)t§l:)unfte \v\ü id) im folgenben über ein
mid)tigc?, ba6 ^idji bjto. bic e I c f t r 0 m a g n c t i f d) e
6 t r a f) l u n g betreffenbeS Grperiment berid)tcn, ba% oor
eitDa einem 3af)re ber ame rif an ifd) e *!pi)i)fifcr
^ompton auc^gefülirt I)at. Um bic t)olle S3ebeutung bicfe?
ßrpcrinicnteS ju erfennen, muffen mir un§ bie I)üd)ft mcrf=
mürbige Sage t)ergegcntr)ärtigcn, in ber fid) I)eute bic ^el)rc
t)ün ber Strafjlung befinbct.
Si? in bie erftc !däi^\k be§ 19. 3^f)^^unberti I)inein be«
fd)äftigte man fid) in ber Cptif I)auptfäd)lid) mit JRefIejion
nnb 23rcd)ung bc? fid)tc§ («öorjUpiegel, £infenft}fteme). 3Si§
baf)in I)ielt man in ber ^auptfad)c feft an !Rcmton§ ^orpu§«
pnlai^' bjm. (5miffionyt[)eorie be? ßid)tc§. 91ad) biefcr foClte
ba^ ßid)t in .ftorpuffeln beftef)cn, n)eld)c fid) in gleidiförmtgem
SJüIicu gerablinig unb gIeidE)förmig belegen, an Dberfläd)en
aber im allgemeinen eine j)Iöt^Ii(^c 3lid)tung§cinberung er»
leiuen. unter Jöenu^ung blefec vi)runüüüt)ieüung luutbe eine
giemlid) t)onfommcne £i)eorie faft aller big ju jener Seit be«
fannten ®rfd)ctnungen, inSbefonbcre beä 5^rnrot)rS unb
a)lifroffope§ gefd)affen.
311? man aber öor etwa l^unbert 3al)ren genauer mit bcn
^intcrfcren,^» unb 9}eugung?crfd)cinungen (unb mit ber
5^Nülarifation be? Cidjte?) befannt mürbe, fa^ man fid) ge-
nötigt, bic 5(cn''tünfd)c örunbannal)me über bic Sfatur be?
Üidite? burrf) bic bon iF)r übllig Dcridjiebene ber Un bu«
I a t i 0 n ? 1 1) c 0 r i e ju erfefecn, n)eld)e jd)on ^ettva anbert^alb
3al]rl)unbertc früher bon §ul)öen? aufgcftcHt morben mar.
UJMIW
9?adö i^r folltc ba? Sid^t in elöitijdien SQBcIIen bcfte!)cn, ivelc^)^
fid) burd) 'bcn SRaum (bjm. 2let])er) in äf)nlid)cr SÖeif^ nr^
allen ©eiten fortpflanzen mie in zmei Timcnfionen bis i^fe•er•
fläd)enmeUen be? Sßaffer? t>on cmcm fünfte au?, in meli^iem
biefe D6crfläd)e in ©d)mingunoen t)er[efet mirb. Grft biefe
£l)eorie t)ermod)tc 2lufid)lu6 baiübcr au geben, marum cm
ßid)tftraf)l fid) nad) aUen giid)trngen au?breitet, nad)bcm er
eint fef)r enge Deffnung paffief: f)at 9lur fie üermag äuf-
fdyiu^ barüber.ju geben, miefo e? inmitten einer t)on ßid)t
burdjflutcten 3^aumpartic bei ;^nterfercnä* unb SBeugung?*
erfd)cinungen bunflc ©teilen ^ibt, b^w. miefo fid) mel)rcre
Sid)tbünbel in il)rer SBiriung .ofal aufl)eben fönnen. 2)iefe
Unbulation?t^corie t)ermod)te pk fompliaicrten $l)änomenc
ber »eiigung unb 3nterferen3 mit einer gerabcju aftronomi-
fd)en *ßrtizifiion barzuftellen, jo ba^ bie Ueberzeugung bon
i^rer D'iiditigfeit balb eine felfcrfefte murbc.
eine ^Jiobififation unb ^ug^eid) eine nod) feftere Segrün-
bung erhielt bie Unbulation?t^ orie burd) bie gorjdjungen Don
garabai) unb SDlajmelL gemäfe meld)en ba% unbula«
torifdic Selb be? eid)tc? feinea mcd)anifd)en (S^arafter? ent»
fleibet mürbe, aßa^mell? Il)eorie ber Gl^eftri^ität unb be?
3)cagneti?mu? umfpannt gle:»(ßeitig bic Unbulation^tl)corie
be? Sidjte?, ol)ne an bereu formalem (3el)altc ctma? ju dnbern.
S)abei ftellt biefe Ztjtoxxt n)uantitatit>e a9eziel)ungen Ijcr
zmifd)en bem o)?tiid)en un'b deftrifdjen a3erf)alten be? leeren
IRaume? fomie ber ponbcrablea Körper unb rebu^iert bic S^^^
Don cinanber unabf)ängigen ^t)pot^efen, auf melcf)cn bie
Unbulation?optif beruf)t. 2)ümit fdiien an ber 3af)rl)unbert-
menbc bit ^:pi)l)fif ein ^unba.nent für immer m befi^cn, auf
ba'^ man aUc if)re ©ebicte influfiöe ber 2)ted)anif grünbcn 3"
fönnen I)Offte.
5lber e? fam anber?. 9la? ^ l a n cf ? Slrbeitcn über ba^
(^efet{ ber öon I)ei^.en Körpern emittierten ©trar)lung ging
F)ert)or, ba^ bie 2l)eorie niQ)t imftanbe mar, jene? (Sefc^ ju
erflären. ^lud) lief^ fid) ber aUgemeine Sefunb nid)t erflären,
ba\i bie SBirfungen ber ©tval)lung i^rer Oualität nad) nid)t
t)on ber ©tärfe ber letzteren, fonbern nur Don if)rer ^arbe
abf)ängen. 3)ie? ift lööd)ft parabo?: unb fd^eint mit bem Grunb«
gebauien ber Unbulation?tf)eorie unoereinbar. 5Ran benfe
fid) irgenbmo auf bem offenen ackere riefige Üffieüen erjcugt,
bie fid) Dom ®rregung?zcntrum au? nad^ allen ©eiten au?*
breiten. 5Ratürlid) merben bic aBeUenberge, bie fo erjeugt
merben, um fo meniger J^J^c^ fein, je mciter fie fid) Dom (Sr»
regung?acntrum au? bereit? fortgepflanzt f)aben. TOan benfc
fid^ nun ©d)iffe glcicf)er ß^rö^e über jene 3D^eere?gegenb Der»
teilt, beDor bic Dorf)in genannten SBellen erzeugt merben. 2ßa?
mirb geid)cl)en, menn bie SBeHen einfefecn? Sie ber ßr-
jeugung?ftellc naf)en ©d)iffe merben umfallen ober jer-
trümmert merben, aber b'iu genügenb meit baDon entfernten
©d)iffen mirb fein Un{)etl gefd)er}en; fie merben nur in ein
f)armlofc? ©d^aufeln geraten, ^an foöte nun benfen, ba^
e? bei bcn Don Straf)lunn getroffenen 5DloIefülen anolog er«
ginge mie bcn Don OTeei^^?melIen getroffenen ©d)iffen. Ob
iuloictulc 'ct)emi]a) De laueri iUtrbeu ober nid;t, follte nicl)t
nur Don bereu Sßetlenlänge, fonbern aud) Don ber 2|ntenfität
ber mirfenben ©tral^lung abf)ängen; bie? ift e? eben, ma? bie
ßrfa^rung nid^t beftätigt.
Tlan f)alf fidi) bei biefem SSerfagen ber allgemeinen
S:f)eorie mit ber § t) p 0 1 1^ e f e ber 2 i d) t g u a n t e n. lln»
befd)abet allen Mefpeftc? Dor ber Unbulation?t[)corie gemann
bie 2Irbeit?^l)potf)efe an Soben, ba^ bie ©tral)lung in euer*
gctifd)er Sezief)ung fid) fo Derl)alte, mie menn fic au? ßnergie»
t)roieftilen beftäube, bereu ßncrgiegrö&e nur Don ber ^i^equcnz
i^JJarbe) ber ©tral)lung abl^ängt unb tf)r proportional ift.
^mton§ fiorr
obwoljl fic
^iöeufdjaflc
man '-
UuD ~
ftrengur
— ol)n
r)at So.
2atfac^e
mu^. 3:
O" .^ Vertag oon 3^u&otf aioff« m^
'"^'"'1'"' ^^ntbc!)tUcIJ'
.nztgia^rtger K ...^ ^sn*
. '':)il)t)fifer l)eute au. . ,^\\]^
tmmenl)ang. S)ie Ci • 'C
jm? möglit^ gemad)t unO
anen großen )fflal)r^cit?ge^alt ijubcii
.age ift bie ^rage Don f)öd)ltcr SBid)tig-
feitT imuiemeii man ben Ciditforpuffeln bzm. Cuantcn bie
eigenf(^a!t Don ^l^rojeftilen auzufd)reiben l)at.
ein ^rojeftil überträgt md}i nur gnergie auf ba? gc-
iroffcne «V^inbcrni?, fonbern and) einen ©to| in feiner Sc»
megung?rid)tung. 3ft bie? bei ben Üid)tquanten ebenfo'^
Siefe grage mürbe auf (Srunb tl)eoretifcf)er Ueberlegungcn
fcl)on lan,ge mit „ja" bcantmortet, unb ^ompton? öcr»
fud) l)at bie Dtic^tigfeit biefcr Scrau?|id)t bcmiefen. Um
biefe erperimenteüc mttjobe au burd}fd)auen, mu^ man ben
3[)led)anii''mu? eine? al? „Serftreuung" befanntcn $roaeffe?
genauer überlegen, auf meld)cm a- ^- ^i^ ^^^"^ 5^^^^ ^^^
^-^immcl? berul)t.
grifft eine eleftromagnctifd)e SSerTe auf ein freie? ober
ein an ein ?ltom gebunbene? eleftrifd)e? eiementartcildieu
(ßleftron), fo mirb biefe? burd) bie med)felnben cleftrifd)en
Selber ber Söeüe in ofzilUerenDe Semegung Derfe^t. 2aburd)
ftraf)lt e? feinerfeit? (mie eine ?lntenne ber bral^tlofen Selc-
grapl)ie) nad) allen ©eiten SBeüen berfclben Frequenz au^,
bereu ßuergie au? ber urfprünglid)en aBcüe ge-
nommen mirb. Sie? bemirft, ba^ ba^ ^r^idji burd) ba%
fold)e Seildjen entl)altenbe burd)ftrat)ltc 2)iebium nad) aüen
eeiten (menigften? zum Seil) zerftreut mirb, unb jmar befto
ftärfcr, je furzmeüiger ba'<^^ primäre eid)t ift. ©0 interpretiert
man bie 3erftreuung nad) bei Unbulation?tl^corie.
5Inber? interpretiert fic^ ber Vorgang nad) ber Cuanten-
tl)eorie. dlad) biefcr ftöfst ein Öid)tquant mit bem ßleftron
Zufammen, mobei e? feine SRid)tung änbert unb gleichzeitig
bcm ßleftron eine 6efd)minbigfeit Derlcil)t. 'Sie finetifd)e
ßnergie, meld)c bei biefem 3ufammenftoJ3 auf ba% ßleftron
übertragen mirb, mu^ alfo bem fto^enben Duant entzogen
merben, fo ba^ ba^ zctttreute £uant eine geringere ßnergie,
alfo — meücntl)eorctifd) gefprod)en — eine geringere i^xe-
quenz, al? ber einfaücnben ©tra^lung entfprid^t. ©enauere
Ueberlegung zeigt, ba^ biefcr grequenzbefeft ber aerftreuten
©tral)lung eraft bered)enbar ift. Sie prozentifd)e ^requcn^-
änberung ergibt fic^ für fid)tbare? 2id)t fcl)r flein, für l)ärtcre
Ülöntgenftra^lung, bie ja nid^t? anberc? ift alä (ef)r furj«
meüige? 2id)t, aber ganz erf)eblid).
ßompton fanb nun, ba^ ba?burdE)gceignete©toffe
Zer ft reute ätöntgcnlid^t in berSat bic Don
ber Ouantentf)eorie (nid^t aber Don ber Unbu-
Iation?t^eorie) geforberte {Jrequcnzänbe-
rung zeigt. Sie? ift mie folgt zu erflären: ^lai^ ber
9ftutl)erforb-3?o^rfdjen Sl)eorie beft^t jebe? ^Uom eine^lnzal)!
ßleftronen, bie fo lofe an ba?felbc gebunben finb, ba^ fic bem
Duantenfto^ be? SRöntgenftral^le? gegenüber ftd) etma fo Der^
I)alten, mie menn fie frei bemeglid) mären, gfür ba^ Don
biefen zerftreute 2idl)t ift alfo bie obige Ueberlegung zutreffenb.
Sa? pofitiDe ßrgebni? be? fiomptonfd)en ß^perimentc? be-
meift, ba^ nid)t nur bezüglid) ber Gnergieübertragung, fon«
bcm awi) bezüglid^ ber ©tofemirfungcn bie ©trabhmg fidi) fo
Derl)ält, mie menn fie an^ bi?rreten ßnergicprojeftiten be«
ftünbe.
f
m Me sdiiiein.
Cr N för itic^tl anbered 3elt a» fflr feine StuWett
) 3n einem Intereffanten «uffaft Im ^mftcrbamet
,;2ngcmecn ©onbcisölab'' (d^ilbcrt bct ©erllncr ffof
tcfponbent blefet fieitung ©inftetn« ^riöatlcbeti. (Jt
fd;rel6t unter anberem:
ml- .:^"[!fl" Jf* 'l" *"^^^ rfcBen^fitblgcT IKonn unb Befiöl
^i?f! '.^!^'^'^'<^'" ""^^'^'^ ®™"^- ®^ 5^6* ^<^ ^ot)ulorität;
m^ ijt ntcf)t eine tpofe, fonbern öontommene «ufricOtigfeit. 3ßar
,rann fogar (agcn, bafe feine attgemeinc SefanntOett einer
^^tjatten auf fein SeBen tDirft. 3)iefe3 Seöen ift üon einer
rujrenben (Einfachheit. (£r mo^nt In ©erlin^ScfiöneBerg in einer
tttten CtraBe, tm bterlen Stocfmerf. ^^ l^txhz i^n einmal auf.
!nrl;en moHen unb e5 bamal« nic^t toeiter gebrat^t al§ 6i3 ;\ut
mnnnmx. ®er ^rofeffor (djien unerreichbar ju fein. 'S3er
me^r (55Iucr Bei i^m ^at, mcig, bafe er nod) ein ©tocfmerf fiöfier
feine Befcf^cibenc SlrBeitSecfc ^ot, ju ber aKetn fein jüngerer W\U
aröetter unb ein Sefretör Sutrltt 6eft{jen. (Jinftcln arBcitet xoxt
em ©rennt. Seine S)enfüBungen lönnen felBft bie acringftc
ötarung nid;! Der tragen.
rr- n ®'r^J "l^^"^'^ 3freunbe mußte unlöngfl einige !Kinuten bo^
C-inftem« foirSarer 3cit mit Sefc^Iag ju Belegen unb mit i^m
iit>er feinen 23eltrul)m au fprec^en. ®a öertraute ber ^rofefjor
^^rü\m'v^^^ ^^ f^* glüdlic^er füllen mürbe, menn ber SRiifim
0 «jD/obcerfc^einung, a» ttipifc^e« Seifpiel einer 2»af|cn*
Wml^ Don il)m ferngehalten »erben fönnte. ©r fann fic^ feine
nnglaubltd)e Popularität faum erüaren. Seine miffenf(f)aftricf)cn
58eröffcntrici)ungett flnb boc^ gerabe ta^ ©egentcil Dom
lobularen, benn fle ftnb ja nic^t oncin fc^mer ju Begreifen, fte
r. ^^^r^.^'" cf)arafteriftifc^c3 Scifpiel be3 Urmiffenfc^aftlidjrn,
be5 Ox^Ic^rtcn, ba3 BIoö für bte oflertüc^tlgften ^ac^Ieutc Sc
ftimmte in SRetnluItur.
Su S)öufe in Serlin DerBringt ginftein bie SSintetmonate
fn ©d;öneBcrg, tofi^renb er feit jmei 3a^ren im Sommer einen
''. ^^^'« J^? :^'^^^ .1^^ Pl^^^m ®^^^ i« ^cr llmgcDung I)at,
n)0 er ftc^ feiner Setbenfc^aft für bcn ©egelfport i)ingei;en rann!
S(6er Sommer unb SBintcr bleibt er ein finbnd)cr Sonberling.
jSfür Sleufeerlic^feiten ^at er nic^t ba« minbefte Qntereffe. Er
[ gc^t jo^relang in benfelBen ffleibern, h\^ aBfoIut nid}t3 mit ber
S)?obe JU tun ^aBen. Sein lag ift fo genau eingeteilt, baß für
SKa^Iaeiten unb Serftreuungen faum 3eit übrig Bleibt. So ift er
nie baju ju Bctoegen, einen Sd^nclber ju Befuc^en. Seine Jvrau
mu& aufg geratemo^I bie SKafee notieren unb ber Sdjueiber mufj
{xaä)[t\\, banad) ein ©emanb ^eraufteüen. (Jrft tiefer Soge ift
e3 öorgefommen, bafe grau (Sinftein für bie Steife nud) ?tmcrifa
einen neuen «Injug Beftcnte unb auf bie SemcTfung bc§
iSc^neiberS, ba& ber §err ^^rofeffor bod^ meniaftcn rinmal 5ur
^ProBe fommen foCte, anmortete: ,,Sie miffen anfdjeincnb uid}t,
baß e^ mi^ genug TOü^e gcfoftet ^at, meinen Mann ^w be*
megeti, mir juminbeft tmt Kinute 3eit für ba3 KaSneSmcn
JU BemiOigen.'' JTüralid) heiratete ©inftein« Soc^tcr. 3)cr ^ro-
feffor mor aud^ für bie ^od^^eit feinet eigenen ffinbr^ nur eine
^alBe Stunbc ju ojjfcrn Bereit. Unb oIS ba^ llnnlüd mofftc. U^
ber ameite Jrauaeuge im Stanbe^omt be3 Sdiöncb:rr:r 'o\(\U
^aufe« eine SSiertcIftunbe a« fpat fam, mar (Siirflclii tob*
unglüdlic^. Ser 3euge mirb fid^cvlid) nid)t bovan ocbndU f.nnrn,
^^a'i^ bnrd) feine ^Jadjlnffigfcit Dicneldjt eine n-:':e rr-'vilge
2r;eorie ber Seiotüung ber C)inimcl$für})er beinnOc ^lilii.uc ge-
mad;t mürbe, am felbcn Xage nod^ \)a\{t ^\\\\[q\\\ b'e .s>r'^'3U
Dcrgeffen unb ftanb mitten in feinen Berechnungen aw], um feine
©eige au fuc^en, oBmoI;! er gana unb gar nidjt bie ^^b|id;t fjatle,
etma feine ref;)crtable Jed;nif auf biefem Suftrument pl^^^M)
eitler Untcrfuc^ung au untermerfen. Sein £d;tptegcr|r.5n' er^'
mibcvtc, ol^ mm \i)m ein Stapitcl für ein Suci) über Clnjtc'ir oli^
^ribatmann Bot: „^a, menn e3 mir mlrflicö einmal geiutge,
mcitieti Sd&mlegeröatet Iftnget ola fünf Sttinuten ju \pn<iftr **^
Leonard Liebling: revealed this story last week — of Albert Ein-
stein, who came to the home of Leopold Godowsky, and played in a
Quartette with Jascha Heifetz, Felix Salmond and Mischa Elman,
The other three slowed up, at the difficult passages, to perniit
Einstein to keep pace with them . . . After the scientist had left, the
renowned musicians discussed his violin playing. **A g:reat man,
that Einstein/' said Godowsky. *'He can find the answers to Space
and Time. He can find a Fourth Dimension. He can find the für*
therniost star in the skies— but he can't find D-flat on a violin.*'
1
6i8Winnieflte leffcn m\ Der Donau,
Sri! bcm Umfltirs ^1 Ofkrreid^, ba$ Dorbcm
in l/anbeUpx-mifdjtx Micf/timo au^ßtfpaoc^fn noc^
fem Salfan ^iu orientiert toor, ti>t}aitAd) an
)^b\<ip nad) txrm Dfl«n trcr.'o.Yn. «ineibina«, b«
iemcil^ im S-rü^liing «n6 fterbit ab^t^ft^ncn
mtnn SWcffen marken bici'cn 2ru5[all jum Idl
toiebcr mcit, boc^ [Wt bcr (Syp^rt nac^ bein
Sülfan fc^on auiJ i>em ©rutib«, mtit Mf firo§en
SR«if€fp<'jCn Ittttnitutm 8c;n:^ bcr SBimcc ÜTc^fcn
nt4t förbrrlic^ finb. Sni SuFammeii^ng mit bti
thtn erfolgten (JEri^ffnung ber bit^iäifci^tn SBieaer
5rfi^;n^r5mf[ff tcirb iwn ßtiia iL b. Xonaa, bft
otieröikrr^it^ifi^en ^ouptflobt, au« ein tproieft
eifrig bftrieetn, ptr i>e)fen balbi^j« ^xtvixU
lic^ung ftd^ btreitS ble niafip,tbaxbtn iiibuftn^Ikn
ft-dr^erfrfjoitnt Icb^ft einffjen. ^t ^^tt |Jam|nt
iwn fia^itiln Irofl*Bc^[ort wnb gifirfflt bütin,
ein« ,,®i:^irimmcn{vc ^naumff'c'' ju wranfl<i:(€n.
e« folj auf bfr Sinstr SDünaumcrft ein« ^o^i^
Mi ßtboiit »erben, bif aii [d^immcnbt S?i",ff€
l>ie Donau flTomatȊrt3 lj<[o&rcu unb bem Saljan
[Otüit btn itü^kn<TcbltUn b<5 Sc^iuar^n Tltttt^
erstu^niff« bcr dftnrci^ifc^ ^nbufhic nxü> ht§
'^\ttXTt{d)i\d)tn $anbd5 üor[ü^rttt fc^fi. 2>it 9?d^
t)f5 beulfc^ 2)onöurj(a[en3 in ^affou unb bic
fbmmfSbrf^bfrlicfKn »f.iicf)fun{jfn jmifd^n Oflvr-
reic^ nvb "SkutW^anb inffcu uon rlnec fold^cu
fc^njimmenbcn ^onaumcff« out^ ein« angcr-
orbnulicf^ Scr^buno bf« bcutfcg^n C^l^rt^nbfl^
müfliteu.
«uf bfm ©c^tflic foticn Wn5fMluiiö«oBfefte afö
Mnmföuilicf^ TOufkr mitocfü^t tot:b€n. bi« twn
^nofßcMten ber n^tPJti^'u^y^» Jtfirm^ ;». :-Km.
^jn bcr SeFtion ,,6kfd[)i'd)itc uno Vv*-,^kv'C
Ifer Sbijfcnfi^aften", mo eine J?tage twn größter
5lftualität, nämlit^ bic S^foric ber SRelotiöität,
jaMreidje Stonorcffiilcn anocl'acft ^at, bcmerft man
bk orogcn SrtatFKmatifcr, ^^?i^er unb ^flro-
nomen. 9?ur $rof<!)for dinfleiu felöcr, beffcn ^c^
iudj mit mi Zcmiam angefünb[(]t hjorben mar,
fehlte; er ift Überlauf)! n\ä)t iiad^ ^3?ca>>ct' n^'f'^nt*
men. ^rofeffot 9t'orbmann, ein 5ran5ofe, Oc*
^•anbcltc cingef/enb bie ff'outrouerfe 5mifd)cn
'^ergfon unb iSinftetn, C5r bcl^aitt^te^e, bafj bic
tit?n Berofon gcficn bic Sfielr.tityität^ifjfr-rie »orge*
Irar^tcn lyiüin'inbe auf einigen Stellen bcr Sfficrfc
'iinflciu^^ feiler finVn, irb-od) bic Xfjforie ^cVb\t
in if-rem Äom^lcj- nidn angreifen. ^r^Kif-n v^arjan
ü'on ber ^arlfer S'orb'onnc Dcmerfte, bag ber ^Brr*
fud^ (linfteinS, bic (l^ram'tation in btc C^rometric
bfr röumlii^-jcitli6rn Joi^lbcucr eintreten lu
Icffen, ju ber ^^nnafymc girinoc, ban jene Jort*
bauer ni(i^t ^cinnrirn fei. "Profeffor .^abam.ub,
5ranjo[c, cr^,äHifc ton feinen bicCbr^ünlicfjen etu-
bien, Die il}m fclifK S'i/.ricriH'feiten bereiteten,
baS er eben öie S^JcIat'Uität unentbccft o^^^fKti
F^abe. ^frofeffor Qyioxqi üon ber römifd}en Unt*
öerfitat ift oex Vlnfiff|t, b'i^ nngeficlK^ ber manni^-
foc^en ©rfaf.Tanfien, bic cnf bicfcm (v^cbictc gemad)*
morben finb, tcr Srhlufi .^utm'fin foi, bafi bie
(5iriftein)d;e ücf)re citiorfeito biirrf) f::n ;\i)tj^iiof
^aftum njibcvlent iinnb;)! fei, mafn'cub fic inöt'rrr*
icii3 biircf) icincriei r|euii;ienbe inib mit ben SSor*
(tu^faocn im ^i^cr^tiltnijfe fte^cnbc SJciücife befliifgt
^üorbcn fei. §ug^^ebtngct.
r
1
4
r
1^
li.
i
J
«u« 3Sir(]inia fommt bte a^tafc^fttbe !Rfl(^ticl^t, bog «n
bef bortiflfit ^üd^id)ule ber ^(}i)rtf»)riifcflor 3nmf§ S a r t f t öon
bell Unterricl}tä^bel)örben feine« %mM ent^pbf« wurbf , Wfil er bic
Siil}nl)eU t^aüt. über bic lWfIatiüitÄtölel)te eine Slfi^K öon U^in^
tiitqcn §u galten. (JJcflen ^üme« (Porter würbe eine J^tf^ipUnÄr-
uuterfuAunq einQeleitel unb /iUfl(ei(^ Derfügt, ba6 er bi5 ^um
%bfcf)(u6 be« S}frfat)rc!i« feine «orle|unften an ber $)od)id)ule
galten büvfe. 3ame« (harter W bie ©nlcitunß ber ^^if^iplinor-
imtoifucf)una mit ber ^Xnfticngung eine« ^rojeffe« gegen
bie 2)ireftiott ber §Lid)fd)ule beönttoortet. 2(uf biefen
^4.kc§c^, ber an fulturf)iftori((l)er U3ebfutun(^ !num ^ntet bem
bcrüt}wten ^fftnftrcit in ^ennrfjee guriicfb leiben bürfte, btirf
man mit 9?e(f)t öcfpannt lein.
di l)at bcn ^^In((()ein, boft ber Staat SSirgtnia ben traurigen
9lut)m, ben fic^ 5:ennefiee burc^ ba« ißerbot ber SJerbreitung ber
SDomHn-Xt)eorie erworben ^öt, neiben ttjnrbe. Denn jtoifdjen bem
Sali be« V'e()rer« 3cope§, bem, »te noc^ednnerlirf), wegen feinem
^J3cfenutnif^ ^ur naturnMifnif(f)aftlid)en §luffaffiinfl ber ^bftommung M
^^enid)engeid)lcd)ie§ ber ^roi^efe gemocht mürbe, unb ber 'älpre, in
bereit SJlittctpuntt nun ^lofeffor ^ameö Satter ftet)t, lÄpt fid)
(eid)t eine ^^araCiele jie()en. (ScoJm:^ routbe au8 3)at)ti)n ücrtrieben
unb üor bie ^Htd)ter geftelU, weil et burc^ bie Unterweihmg ber
©dniljugenb über ^runbfÄ^e ber S)artüin^t!)eürie eine ©ottcS*
loftetung bedangen unb fid) gegen bie ^cfe^c be« ©taote« üer*
ftof5en l)aben foE. 2)aÄje(bc ^(rgumcnt in einer etwae ob*
gconbcrlen 5orm wirb nun gegen ^amc^ (Sorler, ben ^itfiängcr
|(Sinftein§, inS 3:rcffen geiülirt. ''Mdtj er i)abe, fjcifjt c§, „Si'rl^^t)^^'""
{Oerbreilet. bie in einem tiaffen äöiberfprud) ^ur S^ieligion fte^en.
i SJ^an wirb nun erftaunt fragen, woiJ ba^ pradjltJoCle, ftreng
j matbfmati(d)e gbcengcbäube ber 9lc(atimtätÄ(e()re mit SReltgiou
i unb ^ibe! ^n tun babe. ^ar im SaQe be« i^e^rer« Scopcö ein
Sufammtnb'.iug ^wifd)cn t5?i]feufd)aft unb 9{e(igion burrf) bie ab"
weid}enbe jDarfteÜung ber ^Ibftammung be§ TOenfd)engcfd}led)ll
! im Spiegel ber bibüfdien ©c^öpfung$gefd)t(f)te nur in ber Darwin*
fiet)re gegeben, fo erfd)eint e« nid)t eben (eid^t, eine folc^e
Scriif)rung§ftäd)c i\wifd)en ber 6{b(iid)en 5:rabittDn unb bem neuen
pt)i)fifalifd)en SBcItbilb ©nfteiu3 ,^u finbcn. SSenn man fic^ auf bie
Reibung amerifaniid)er ^Bfotter oerlaffett barf, glauben bic weifen
3)irc!toren unb ^rofeff orcn ber §Drf)f(^n(e in Virginia btcJRelatitjitiütö-
t^eorie be^lialb a(« reltgiott^feinbltd) be§eid)ncn ^u tonnen, weil
ber geniale 33er(tner <l^l)!5fiter ba5 SSltall — Wof)l ol« un*
begrenzt — jebod) al$ enblid) barjicHte, jo fogat auf ®runb
fd)aitfinriiget tbeoretifc^er SrwÄgungfn einen Annäherungswert bei
gaui^en im Uniocrfum tjeitcilten OTaterie ani\ugcbcn t)crmoi)to.
SRa&f ber (iinftein-tMjre foQen (ömtlid)e gt^terne unfercr S^ild)*
ftioßenwelt lOÜ ©ramm (10 ;^ur 54. ^^otcn;^, eine ungcl)eure
3a(}l mit 55 ^nücn) wiegen. ßS fei nun gottlob, meinen bic
lln1eni(f)tebe{}örbcn in Virginia, baS t3pn (Sott uneubli(^ erfdjnffene
910 begren,^cn unb gar auf bie ®agfcf)file legen i^u Wcttc«, ?(ud)
bie (iinncinid)e ^(ujfafjung üpu ©ei)t unb JRaum wibcr)pred)c no.-f)
<ln[idjt ber SEeijen oon Virginia ber gPtttit^fn ©cltcrbnunj.
,#
©ollte eö in ^^^irgmia ^\x etuem ^(5infteiu^'4^riMcf)" fcmmen,
io biirfte bie^ fic^ nidjt weniger ^u einem Stulturüanbal geftaltcn,
JDie fcincr,^eit ber ^ffenpro.^efe in Srai)ton. Tic !D^'l)r,^af)l ber
nmcrifanifd)cn (Meletjitcn mT[)ielt fid) bi^fter able'^neub, jafeinbUc^
öem berliner ^]^l)i)firer gegenüber. ?J?an wirb nun bo5 253unber
trieben, bafe fid) tiit ^euülfciung ber lluimi in ^,wei a^artelctt
spalten werbe, in ein ^elatiüitätö- unb in ein ^ntirelatit)it<5t3-
lager. i)?ur ift ^u befiird)ten, bag, wie im ^arwin-'iPro^^el,
nud) l)ier hk 29iffenfd)aft ,^1 fur;^ tommen Werbe. :;\nbe§ ift b«
wiffenfd)aftlid)p Streit über bie C?infteiU'^'e()rc burrf) bic öftre-
noiniid)eii 18rübad)tungen bei legten 3al)re längft ,^Ui]un!ten bciJ
neninlen 9J?atf)emQtifer§ entfd)ic':en; aber fclbft ba§ ^^ibcfwort
gibt i^m red)t ^©ott ^at atteö Ocftimmt nac^ ^a^l unb ®cwic^t^
I
(
"Continental C:lassroom's" favor-
itc Icttcr camc from a Vermont farni
wilc who expressed pcriectly the h
way its creators fecl about the pro-
gram. Quoting Einstein, the woman
wrote, "Most of us must spend our
hves in humdrum alTairs. A few .
lucky ones can spend it siudying
the beauties of the universe." Her ,'
comment: "Now we can have a lit-/
de taste of that pleasure at six in thp
morning."
i\
tr»
fr
I "mhct 1024
Jlx, 656
i (
Wie fotnmf (Einffein unfer 5ie
©•ie Kfwtts furj bfri(f)tet tuurb«, befindet fit^
bi< etatu« etnftdns unter ben ffigiirfti, tnt <m
Nmii ^uptpottal bcr ntufn SRiwrfibe ^ptiften-
Äircf)« in ^<WT)OTt, btt gröfttcti Äirdjt bkfn Scftc
tn N?r tBclt, Qn<j<bmtf)t finb. ©os ^uroerf, bös
r>t<le 9}üaion<n ^oUör geeoftct f)at, fofl in feinem
^ortolfrfjmurf ein SßamfKon barfttüen, in bcm bi«
gtögtcn ©eifter ber ^Bclt txwinigt fin<), unb bi<f«
^krfommlung foH jugleic^ ein 6innbtlb bfr
^ultiun^ un* ein-igung wtförpern. ©ie genialen
(&ereörk'n. bit großen ^nfer erf<i)einen f)i<!r neben
ben SRcIig-icmsftiftern unb ^«iligen aU gldd^-
bercdjtigte 8id)tbring.er, benen Jeber fromme b<mU
bat fein mu§.
(Sinftein ift, ©ie aucf> bereits ^erportje^oben
tDurbe, ber einzige ßebeni^e in biefer mil^üo, unb
es tmrb mitgeteilt, bci% n üu&erforen murbc, meil
fü^reube ©ele^rte ber Stielten uni> ber 9llten 3öelt
öuf ^fr«gen erüärten, et fei ber ©rögte unter
aßen $?ebenben. mt if)m in einer ^ei^ bcfinben
ftrf) über ber 5iir ipippofrntes, CuÜib, ?lr*imebes,
Snpporrf), (Galilei, Äepler, SHciPton, ^Ifon,
5ar«b<it), ^ftfur unb Sifter. SlatiitliiH) fcfylt öu(^
Darwin nic^it, trot^ ber ^Srotcfte, bic con x)erfcf)ie-
benen SReHgionsgenicinfd)cften bogeqen erhoben
trorben finb, fcien ?^crtreber ber 3:bcDrie «nn b<»r
•^bflommung bes Sölenfdien Dom "äffen ()ier 3U
ücrcroigen. ?lurf) unter ben ^f)ilofopf)en, bie bös
5tircf>enportQl fcf)mücren, finb-en ftcf) fo nwtnd^, bie
als Gottesleugner ongcgnffen toorben Ttnb. ^ie
iHeiF)e ber großen ^Dcnfer umfügt 'ipi)tf)Qgoros,
6ofrates, «^loto, Cpifur, «riftoteles, €eneca,
Cfpiftet, Biotin, Zl)om<is Don 9lquin, 'Dcscor+es,
epiuo3ra, Äant i^cgel unb eis legten Cmerfon, ber
ber einai^e ^merifoner in biefer erlauchten ©e-
meinfd^aft ift unb bei ßebaeiten aucf) mcnen Äct^crei
oerfolgt tourbie. Unter ben SHcrigioneftiftern ^^k^t
aJlofes 6(f)ulter an 6cf)ulter mit itonfn^ius,
tpöl)rcnb «iibbf)a unb 9JlQl)ümet folgen. (rf)riftus
btlbet bie 3«ittelfigur in ber Qan^n <«norbnung.
Unter ben großen Äird)enmännern befinben flrf^
Ori^enes, ^röna oon <?tffifl, 3>ante, 2uft)er, Cotnln,
2ntlton, ^unt>on unb bh betbcn großen Smifrionore
^iniam (Tore^ unb ^oib Cioingftonc, bie fcHe
neue 3eit üertrcttn.
^iefc ^usroo^l ^cnc^t gemiß üon einer anerfen-
nensmcrten ^onirteilslorigfeit. SOlan ©itt f)ier ein
Äirc!>cnibeal oerrörpern, baß man für bie 3ufunft
erhofft un^ bei bem es feine oerfditebencn fformen
bes (r>laul>ens unb feine ©egenfäfee bpr Cef)« mef)r
geben »irb. 5>iefe .^Religion ber Sufunft'' *araf.
tcrifierte ber 9ieu. 5)r. 3o^n $>ot)ne9 ^olmes in
einer Sl^rebi^t. .,3iknn t^ie griffe nfdxift i^r 3öerf
getan l)üben unb bie n^ut ©efeUfc^aft gefcfniffen
fein rr)irb^ fagbc er, ^bonn mirb es feine ioptiften
unb ^resbpterianer, feine ^roteftonten uni) feine
Äotf)oIifen, feine (Tfiriften unb Sitben, feine
93ubbl)iften unb ^ofyimmtbantx mefir geben, fon-
tcrn nur SWenfd^en, bie in einem eini^ioen relifliöfen
C&<ift geeint fini». ^ie Äirc^n merbcn otten offen
ftcl)en als «^eilftätten bn 6eele, ols Sd)ulen ber
5tultur unb Smitfrelpunf^e ber ^fferung. ^ann
mvb es öu* feine ^rufsgeiftlit^n mehr
geben. g^
i
rV,
\
tütet. 3)ic bfibcu tvamx bcm 3.igc 5 qu^-
^cmid^en unb Oicbei in ba^ uobculicoonbc 'Meli
m !?eranualKUOen ^ugcs 9ir. 704, 1. leil,
gctcctcu. ' '
J^^^
Wefnc ßrfennfttfs;
Huö einem ©cfjjrot^ mit iprofcffor (Httftelm
@r enttQufcf)t — unb er .qciüinnt hcn ^ntcr-
biciDcr. :rie bolK Okftalt unb ber n<id)1nn/n
X ^n^f^^'s^^' ^.^^^^^ 3ul)i3ren foitltd ge-
Mfic .^lopf unb ba^. in ben 2a^[>aufcn g eid;.
^ „ )f ">f'".öroften klugen, bas Indien md)
^cm ^äucjbrucf, ba§ Übcrlcöcn, bem ba^ ^lu^
lPml;eu bc^ (^ebanfcn^ tn f);äq..rt.r ^Ar!e
folgt -7- unb hin allem bie ®efrf}ei5€nb€tt, bie
ubermalt.ßenbe ^^cfd^tbenDait, 'bie fic^t ijc
^^rrloßenljett, fi. (äffen ba^ C^efü^l bor ^leil
l)eit, t)on tH!m bucc^brunaen man ficft bem
gvüßcn Cskift genähert, gän^fid) öerpeffcit, ftö
nehmen nad) mimitenlangem Q^efpräd^ fdioit
Jiclatiüitütell^corie fpred)en gef)ürt ^ätte, fic
laffen bcrgeffen, \m^ man ^u Ijöieu cr^offK
^n orofee Ojeift iDPife and) ben, ber biö^er für
ben 3ioni^muö nid)t ba^ aeringftc übrig qc*
Ijabt, menn and; nidjt ^u iibcrscugcn, \o boA
au mtcrcffiercn. j » ^ i ^^^
V, --^^^^^^li^^*^ "^^^ '-^^^^^ n<?fommcn, um
^tlienfcfjafthc^c ^^orträge ju bauen, fonbcni
mein ^^ex^^Jai mid) Ocrge^ogcn, mit ben ??ro.
niinenten bes 5E^icner ^ubeittum^ ^iiiihinq ;u
n^Ijnien. ^d^ toar fd;üu ein reifer 3[r^ünn; üII
id) midö für bie t^rubleme bcö ^ioniömu^ ;u
uiterefiiereu begann, ^u ber e*mei,5, mo ic^
nuljir alö brei ^aör^^eljute meinet l'cbcu!^ ber*
i'rad)t, atmete idj in einer geiftigcri ?Itmü*
nmxc, m ber mir fem £uftd)eu eine ^si'aait
ncid) uKincx ^tonfcffiou jutrug. ^n ben ,^a^ren
mcmcö ^d^iüei^cr ^Uufeutfjaltejg lagen mit nur
ciubmm unb 53iffenfd)oft am Serben.
^^lö meine C^cncration ftubierte, ba l^ielten
•}^ ^tc^vVabcn für bie Iragor bes ^eutfd)luni^
^ et jubi|d)e 2tubent Inar ftnl^ barauf, in eint
j;6crbinbung ju treten, ber mögridjTt hjenigc
J^Tubcu ange^-vtcu, fid^ oon bcu arl]d)cn Mom.'
UTUiiouen mu;i ^u u.;tccfd)eiNn th^rn ne»^ti'l
ebenbürtig ju fein unb al^ glcid)bcrcd;tiqt an^
n|^fc()en 5u lüerben. (Jrft fpöter bämmerte mit
löic (^rfenutni^, bc^ bie ibealen 5?eftrcbiinqen
I öie]er Stubentcn nid)t überall bie ridjtige miu
! tmig erfahren, ba^ ir}re 9?eftrebungen arg bct-
fannt unb tl)re ^\)xM)ldi bej^mcifelt totrb.
n ^\^9<^"" ^* u^t 5HcIigion nadijubcnfcn.
llnb ba^ ^o^t meinet 6tmTcnö U->ar: (£ö ift
talfrf), ftcf) benen augefellen ^u moIlGn, b^e un«
tnne ^(ncrfenuHng jofTen. 2Bir muffen bor
allem uns fclbft oditen; bann erft föimcn
nitr berlangen, ba^ axid) anbete ung ^Idjtung
entgegenbringen. SBir bürfcn ntd)t banatf
ftvebcn, n t d^ t für ,^uben gef)alten ju h^erbcn,
fonbern mir muffen unfer gan^c« Irac^ten unb
unfcren @toIj barun fet?en, uns of^ ^ubon
.:]ertung m berfcbaffen. CS^es^lb f)cit c§ mid&
mit tiefer (Genugtuung erfüllt, in
gan^ Xeutfd)[anb unb ?lmcrifa bie jübifd^cn
C)ung(tnge in iDiffenfdKtftfirtien unb fport*
hc^en Slkretnigungen, butc^ Qcifttge (^^cmein.
fcl^aft unb ibcelle^ Streben geeint ben l&ödiften
V .nfon hpv ^vHiMib ;mftrehcu |u feficn. ^c^ fv-
4
»♦»>»
• ■■• "^ 1
•.)- -
^ö tmrb mite^ctftlt, bog er auöfrforcn »urb«, meil
fni)^!!^* ÖVlc!)!!^? ber ^^tfiicn uab bcr 9lltfn 2ö<It
nitf ^Befragen crflärtcn, fr fei bcr (fjroßti' unter j
alku ßebfiiben. 3JMt ll)m in «in^r ^<\\yc b<'flnb<n I
flff) übfr ber Z)\t $)ippofrotvö, (Jnflib, '^IrrfrimfbcsJ
S>ippor(f), (JvaUlei, ÄepUr, iJlctDton, 'SMÜo-n, i
J^ombot), "^ftfur unb ßiftcr. S^otürlid^ fcfylt aud)\
5)arrDin nicftt, trot^ ber ^rotcftf, bic üon t>crfrf)1e-
Ncncn S^-cligtonefKnicinfcIjoftieii bogct^en er^ob<?n
ujorbcn ftnb, t»cn ^crtr«t*r b*r 3:i>cori« «nn b^r
*3(bftömmun(^ bes 9Jlcn[d)i?n rom ^ffcn Ijicr 5^
ücrctoig-en. ^udf) unter bcn *il5!)tloyopfycn, bic bos
5tird>cnportal |d)mü(f'Cu, finbcn fid) fo moncf>c, bie
als (&ottc6l<ucincr onocoriffcn roorbcn pnb. ^ic
9ieif)c ber großen <5>cnfcr umfogt Spt)lf)a9oro5,
Sofrütcs, ^loio, (fpifur, ^riftotcks, €cncca,
ifptftct, Biotin, 5öom«s üon 9lquin, 1>cöCQr+cö,
Spiuoja, 5lQn-t, '^c^ai unb als letzten (Jmerfon, bcr
bcr cinjicjc ^mcriföncr in bicfcr crlQucf)tcn ©c-
mcinfci)aft ift unb bei ßcbjcitcn auä) mcflcn Äcfecrci
ocrfolgt tDurbe. Unter ben 91cHgionöftiftern ftcf)t
3nofc9 6t!)uttcr on 6cf)ultcr mit 5lonfuiluS;
trcibrcnb ^ubbl)ö unb 9JlQ!)omct folgen. (n)riftuö
btlbct bic 9J]ittelfigur in bcr Qau^n ^norbnung.
Unter ben großen Äirdienmönuern befinbcn fi(f)
Origencs, ffronj oon ^][\[i, 2>antc, Cutter, Caloin.
95ltlton, ^unryan unb bic beibcn großen 9}^ifrion3r<
William (Toret) unb ^oib Sioingftone, bic fc>ic
neue Z^xt tjcrtrcten.
^efc ^u5tDcF)l 5cugt getoiß non einer ancrfcn»
uenstDcrten ^orurteilslorigfeii. iTRon inill l^icr ein
Äirci>cnibcal ücrförpern, bas man für bic 3^^"^f^
orf)offt unb bei bem es teinc t)erf(i)iebenen Jormcn
bes (T^ldubens un-b !cine ©cgcnfafec bcr 2cF)re mef)r
geben toirb. !S>iefe ^iReligion bcr 3wtunft'' cftarof-
tcrifiertc ber 9ie\3. 2)r. 3o^n £HiT)ncs $>ülnieö in
einer SJ^rebigt. ,,3iknn tue 5iMffenfcf>aft i^r 3B<rf
getan l)<iben unb bic neue ©cfcllfcfyaft gefrf)cffen
fein roirb'', fegte er, ^bonn rtnrb es feine 33optiftcn
unb Spresbpteriancr, leine ^rotcftonten un-b feine
itat^olifen, feine (El)riften unb Suben, feine
33ubböiften unb 3JloFKimmeboncr mef)r geben, fon-
bcrn nur 3Henfc^en, bie in einem einzigen rcliöiöfen
(&cift geeint [inb. ^ie Äird)en toerbcn nüen offen
ftci)en olö J^eilftätten ber 6<cle, als Schulen ber
itultur unb 5I^ittclpunf^e ber ^fferung. 3>ann
,tt)irb es cuä) leine Seruf&geiftlid)en mel)r
geben. B. I
'tn ---^ *^ •
i^S ^v^n?n
\
''i^cvloßentjeit, fie loffeu hai^ C^efüfjl bcr SHmu
I)eit, t)on bcm bmcl^bruujjcn man ficf) hem
großen 03cift gcnäljcrt, gän^(id) öerpeffcn, fi^
nehmen wad) niinuttMiIanncnt öefprdd) (ctjou
bi'n cnttäiifd^ten 5?ofuci)er gefangen, bei einen
5?rofrffL)r ffiinftein eben am liebften über bic
SklatiDitätsUjocrie fpr^d)en ge!)ürt Ijättc, fle
laffcn bevgefjen, \va^^ man /;u l)övea erI)DffK
:Der grofte oieift \ve\^ aud) bcn, ber biöl^n* für
ben 3ioniigntU2i nid)t bad jjcringftc übrig gc«
Ijabt, h)cnn aud) nic()t ^u übcrjcugcn, fo bodf
5U intereffiercn.
„3c^ J^i» «irf)* "^f^) SBicn n<^fi>mmcn, um
tüiffeufcf}iiftli(^c ^i^mträge ju galten, fonbcni
mein .öerj Ijai mid) Ijergci^ogcn, mit bcn ^ro-
minentcn bes ©iener 3"^^^'"^^«^^ Jv^Wurtfl jU
nel)nien. Qd^ njar fd)on ein reifer 3J(ann, aÜ
id) mid) für bie ^>rüblcmc bc§ ^ioniömusJ ,^u
intereffiercn begann, ^n bec S^iueij, tüo ic^
nu'ljr al^ brei ,3al)r,j^el)nte meinet l'ebcnsS ber*
bracht; atmete ict) in einer geiftigcn 5Itma*
fpl;äre, in ber mir fein Süftd)cu eine J^rage
nad; meiner .ftonfeffiün ^ntrug. ^n ben ^abren
meinet Sd^mei^cr ^2Iufenl[)altc<g lagen mir nur
Stubium unb ^Öiffenfdjnft om ©erjcn.
)liU meine (Generation ftubicric, t>a l^ielten
fic^ bte (Vaben für bie Irager be5 2)eutfd)tumd-
2)cr jübifd)c 2iubc:it tnar fto^ batauf, in eine
'X^erbmbung )u treten, ber ntöglidflt iDcnigc
;jubcu angel^uttcu, fid> 'oon bcii ari'jdjen SJöKu
miliioiien uiu;l pU a;;teifc!)p«h«»»t, tbn<»n ne»^tiOl
ebenbürtig ju fein unb al§ gleid)bercd)tigt an^
gcfc()en ^u loerben. (frft f^^öter bäntmcrte mit
bte (^rfenntniö, bof; bie ibcalen ^eftrcbungeu
btefer Stubenten nid)t überall bie richtige S5>cr*
tung crfa&ren, bai^ il^re 5?eftrebungen arg bcr»
lannt unb if)te (^i)vlid)feit bcj\n)cifelt totrb.
Ta begann td) über ^Religion nadi^ubenfeit.
Unb ba^^"" Jva^it meinet ©innen« mor: (£§ ift
falfd), ftdi benen jugefeöen ^n toolkn, bie un«
feine ^Incrfennnng ;;ofIen. Sl^ir muffen bor
allem uns fclbft oditcn; bann erft fönnen
mir berlangen, tiai?^ mid) anhexe un« ^?ldbtung
cntfiegcnbrtnqen. 3öit biirfen nid^t banac^
ftvcWn, n i d^ t für ,^nben gef^alten 3U h>€rben,
fonbern h)ir muffen unfer gan^cg Xrad^ten unb
unfcrcn @toI^ baran fc^cn, uni aU ^uben
^löertunn ^u bcrfri)affen. "^e^^fyilb f)at c§ mid^
mit tiefer ©enugtnung ctfüat, in
gan^ :£cutfd)Ianb unb ^^Imerifa bic jübifd^en
';)üng(inge in triffenfdiaftri^en unb fport*
fidlen 5sereiniqungcn, burc^ gciftige (Gemein*
fd)aft unb ibcclle^ Streben geeint ^n ^bdPiften
fielen bcr ."^ngenb ju^trphru i^m feftcn. 0>^ be-
grüf^e c^, in bcr jungen (V>cneration ben Wß^
baufen bc§ ^^s^^cntums^ erftarfcn ^n feigen, b^t
bie Csupcnb nid)t nur befähigt, ju Ijöl^erem \n^
ncrn ^i>erte ju gelangen, fonbern fie ba^^u
treibt, al§ Pioniere nad) T:^ n 1 0 ft i n a ^u
ge^cn, um bort mit Cfnglnnbi^ .öilfe ein ?Perf
p fd^iifen, hai feineegicicöen in ber ^'k\d)id)t^
nid)t [yat
©5 ift übcrmäftigenb: Äolontfation
pl)ne il^lut ter lanb, .Konzentration eine«
in ber Titelt t>crftrenten ^i^olfcv^ Uvbarmad)nng
eine^ juudfränlidKn '^^oben^ mit bcr C^iinbc
OIrbeit, V'litififAe J^etätigung geiftiger ^2lrbeiter,
beren XlMden^fraft fo ftarf ift, ba^ fie bie jartc
'V^hi)W§^ überU^inbet unb 3d)niädUiiige ^n metter*
feftcn, t^om V'cbcn j^u £ta()I geliärtoten, gfütf*
Vid^en lUeuidicn mad)t. Tenn glüdltdi ftnb fie
ille, bie id) boit brüben fab. CNHüdlic^ im öe*
•üufttfein, in il)rcm eigenen $?anbe aU freie
T^cufdicn ;\n lelKn. Hub nb fie aitdi nodi '^so.hxe,
iabr^ebute l}inburc^ fd)mcrer ^Jlrbcit unb
(Ktrtem SKiugen mit bcm mibcrf|.>€nftigen ^-13-ben
en!gcgeufel)en, fie tüiffen, baf\ fie burd) i^rc
.^övperfraft unb geiftige übcrlcgcnbctt. in
folof(alcn i^^cmäffevung^anlngen, bie ilireS«
gleidien nid)t micber in Der ^r^elt finbcn (ha^
(vlcttri^itätemcrf, ba« am See O^ne^aietb im
(Sntftel^en begriffen ift, liefert cincinlialb Wd'
lionen Äiknüatiftunben), t>Q^ ^nb über-
tüinben, ficfi Untertan madf)cn, nnb ba^ 23}crf
^n Gnbc fül)ren toerben, ba^ fie unter fo
mibrigcn Um^änbcn iKgounen. .ftomntenbe
(V;encratt»Mten abi^r mevbrn in 'i^afaftina ienc?^
Sebcn genießen, boe tic ^Uontere erfel)nt.
\
'3 bcr Sibri auf br,,' niUniZ J l f ""'"• ®^"" "^^f^
^-t'rofcffor 9(ibert (£ i „ ft f " ' V^/" '"' »^" if-^em GnKntümcv
«"Magen für cL iCmvltcrm^'^ '''^:^''' '^' ^«""
>lJ«.icrtor6 t,p„ kinmiTL ^ ' ^"" ^''""'' ^" feinen
leUen. bem SJann, be fidf Ä" ^"" !*'^""nf>anber p „er.
IN1§ l<^ri,-.(icf, beftd,iqel\fif L'r . t™."« "^'"'^ ^»anu.
mif immer. oerfAitanb um b,l'„ f f ^"^" '« ^«^ '^^l
GREET^ RUSSJAN
BisheriKcs korrespondierendes MitKÜed
Professor AJber. Kinstein uurde zum
tJirenmitglied ernannt
2 8. JebruQt 1921.
Sottrag üon Ttofeffot Stuft ein. (Jt fief)t ba ime ein
^^inuneen über bkeX'ViäieS!'^"'"'"'':^^^^^^"^^^
rut|«ntiia;cn ofio.;..
Q^aemDärtigen gtonC« b« irüfun7ber JrSS id,?? 1""^
man im «ugenblirf n>ebct mx etmicfcnen S^t' ™' "'!, '"""
erroiffenen üöibcrförüdicn telvn 5^^. ?.„r<. '^. ^' "°*" ""''> """
' fenfun« bei 5en SonZinftJxtSen ^ "eb! tctni^t S T^'T
entfd)etPonben Icil ootacbrunaf 1 ,ft Ähn^A r 1.. I /" '^""
inberen *rüfun8äm£fllid,fo len^ ein Iteaun JahS\,,i ^ ^"
10{5te ma)ti, tonbcrn öerbcuqte mi(
'^ugcn, — bog fuib innere Slui^en.
^on?r^lli'}u;rSi:""Jt^..Jr;""'"L^"^3eiZ7";„=
"««o wn biefer jTco ic m tr!'' fil"? '^"'««"«. öafe fie
"«cmQls bereit erfTddbQbr He f/,?-^»-""^ »fann fi,^
.Wcrn matI,emQtiid)cä 3„tae ,. L^^ilf ^•."''"]:"^"K'<'cn:
ü5irt[j^oft5rec^„,,inen' ,Ä""U ''* ""f bie
3m übrigen ift fie ber SlniiAt i„V'Ä" ^*"f«<^*n-
Dcltberubmten SJ^onnes b,Ä. L^" ^."" *'"*s
^ebcn ül,rl, bcnn icbe "m^^ «.'*'" 'i>c'>Us
ens öffne id, bie S me[n2 '&*'"vlH "<^^ü^ mo '
r logemerf, unb iürH.r^ k '''""*^' " Gilbert fie
ad) ^i^«'"l*icbSn'£;"L„^'^,[y"i'^'"*" »riefe e! rt
e nacö ber Ä^ic^tigteit ihres '?;,h,xJ'* ,^"n ""^ ^-^bne
'«niger ots 20, mondima? mrÄ l ' J^*]""^ "i«mal5
""nter finb oon SierrSnb Ä^'* ?"'ff 55icle
-•IIb oon mei?i«m 9J?o , , ""°. vbctogrobbcn, bie ein
''Tten bitten nmVuTt>ZT%7nn^r^^^^^^^^
'ofle unb Urteile änW.l' ^l''"bcr mun djcn 3?at=
>/.r,b a?iB6eg £rig7n,Xatew^-^''..*^" "•" eine
V Ibeorie. I)jc «rfef „>? -Il*'"«^" "^^ bie (£i„=
M - — . _^
eine »dtrjnfie gegen ttinNm. Sor i»Mi.
^n S?odKn ift e.„e Srfrnft f.i:ie'^eS^
^^«feburg) erf<f>ie«e„, bie ^d^u„fl Snl't
".tb jn. ;i.u.|<,„^e a.uf> bereite ^LSS
?" -^'"^f " ^^^'^'^- 3borif ((igt f J, nL in-
fftU»ioW)„<^ Sü^nbr«„3«i eJ, Sem/ nie
emto» m,u mctt,„,atifc^ ^o^ir^ Z
tboc^ntflcn nu.3nfl,t, fo tut audf er S -
ron„„ aber nidft ^u benfefbci fegebniff« mie
femftetn, f„,u>ern im O^egcnteil i^t^ZTS-
S „ ? lat bfbeuiet. 5?er 2(„tor et.
«l{fr Scftininit^it einfteirt für einen miffo^
0« öcr ^lelt ni(^ nur imfinni«, unloaifrf*
«nb «nmiffenfe^itii,^ Se^ü^ptunfl;n S?
^"bern fog«r mit gefälf<5e„ maT^mS;
J^dUbeutic^r, mit ofrener, fluftt(^riger äriihina
t>on fem k^nt^^n ißolfe, bog et auS rt
öfflen ben JremWing ©„f«i„ auf^utrctr ^
^mvim e^rlic^ ^ximucncui HbnTi
ed,r,rt : eutii^-ber fie on^uerE-nnen obei We ,„^
\?Ä' ^^'•'^^ ^«^ "i<*- boTn Sfe man
Sr l.f"*'L*'"'' Sele^ten »ritiferä fS
^c.1 c^m.fe„,^,fir- fe ift jüöifc^StuÄ
^11. |>oä m6 m ber Ketattt^itötätheorie
"*t>9 i|t, ilt Ott unb ni<ftt w>n GimW f«„
bem ge^ auf öaiiW «nb Cr S- IZ
cber barin i>o« Cfi„ftei„ jft, ifif^if^'" ' "^
I'KOI . ALBEHT KINSTKIN, hc.u-
orary «hairiiian of (|,<. .Niidonal
Ui-coptum ConimiMcc |<, ii„. s.»-
vlet Delejfalioii. ciecls i'n.f
S<>loin(.n Michoels. a i.Kinh.r .if
the (lelejfation, hI l.is l'rin. .I.m
home u'here (ho.v dis, i,ss,.,i p|i,„s
for the welcotne lally »t tli,. i'olo
droiinds -luly «.
1
fein ^irrf)üaen Dor: 2ic ^»inn.h • ^^" '^iinciiuMjic Onünh. f,.,.
^^i^n feinen pl'^^^.l^^Wnp- öoh bcr 9)rtrf..T x ^'
Kl iinb bnfjer fl^'bictcrifdx. HfiiA ; ^ /. 'Wpniidx-ii, fdji„cr b:briM,t
"« bor ^'«fcrln,nb.ja £ * * , :>,^ ^^'"'*-''"">. ö^r b ^irnftn
'Renten örünbca b>e ir; 't f "\ ^' '^'"'f* """^ o, ■ ' v'
fett uoa.ger Objeftidität „„b ? eS hl' ^f»"""^' '" '^""^'<-"b'n=
«*t .tlonintti)u.ii, bereu ^iih^i 1 ' ^'^ -"'f"'>'ii0^üiifjermi(i i., ■
-b;inMt.id/t^S'y?^SSf,e";"S'''''"^^
^ -^^0^:^ geniinntc 53r<itt mcift rZi! ^^v^'"'^^ ""oWjnnaic] feien
(
■'S Ibcorie. I5ie «rrefp"',«>rti.'""^"^ "»^f bie (£tn»
onSeUrte-n'.nf J„?.«i!':_^5°'iWcn
'n mit^ eine
„Q ^.Pfänge »on Velcbnen unrÄ'' ^^•»iWcn
1
i?'^°«n^.L"'^^^"' ^^^ f^* QU.g«ublicfficf) i«
^<^u=^Vterifo anfljält, murbc t>Dm Ztamm^ Nor
^opi = 3nbi ott€r unter großem GVc&ramie
h^m ^äuptlirxq geit>äf)lt.
Äx.^dri 'sl^^-kx; ?«".'^'^ '^^ '^»-«
Verstehen 5;^ die e.gentlLh^' '^^'^''^'ta'stheor.e aufgestellt.
Ä.•Ä;1ch^eTteKrLh^A£'"''r - .^-"" -«- -
tigeres. Ich ventehe Einstein." "*' ^"^'^'^'^ ^'^^^ W.ch-
S. C. L.
n i.
I
i r $ A i m m c v n
Alhcrt Ein.stein hat .mJi sein Stuflier-Zlnimcr in einer Dadistul
>e eiTnjeriditet
i't*^!. A..ur K 1 : :r\>iLiS
X
^ic Gröffnuna bcs berliner ^^Mcrj^tctlubs im ^rübcr'U^crcinsbaus, bcr bic 9^ot bcr iMcrj\tc Unbcrn joü.
2^er öftcrr. ^cfanbtc 5>r. Giebel (1), etnftctn f2), -^rau ^t. 6cnroaii,u)alb (H), (5)et)cimrnt ftrous (4), Cftraf ^rco (5), (lP)cbeimrnt Sf^umm (6), ^rof. etcpfrirb Dc^s '7)
f f 1 ^
Sie MWm Uer »offr loiffiul«
turfe am 18. Ifia 1 ^;i
•U {ß^itbcrfitunö für bcn trom UntD.-?Jtof.
^olloTtti^ unb tron hm öfterxci*if*en ^r-
tillCTk^^ltnanti i. 91. (^uflo» ^aüft wr*
gerafetcn %axx einn Jyodrgcbitß^^Beltuniwrntat
in Xövog hmnvm am 19. Sl^läij bort t>ie öo**
fdtatTtutic. Xi€ (Srö^imnggfcin wirb na* einem
^ctidfctf bcr ,;^'afiiia)«n 3ntunfl" burd) einen
gcftwrtran Gilbert G i n ft e i n 2 über t)ie %un'o^
bcßTiffc bn $öt)iif unb ifer« ©nttDitflung im
ÖVranW&otel Ä*urbau§ Xa»og cinßCliiitcl tücrbex
j»
1
/
/
i
(Jrbolung oon bcr '^olttif:
a)l(,cS.ont.lb in anflci-cfllor Untcrftoltunfl ju)if*fn bon bcrüDmtcn i^Dgfitocn
■^loHcf unb eui(tom. ^ ;. |<< •, >( l
^ ) " ' - •
6in ffieltnarlametit
bet Setnnnft
Sin intetefiüittet ipiüit Hlbcit Sinftetttf.
»eto 9ot!, 20. Qdnnct, (3. 51. e.)
.r Älktt Oinfteiit t^tlt ber Cffcrttlid^lcil
Jnit, ba| er im 53c9riff ift, eine internatio*
itale CroQirfction ju f<9cffen, bie feiner 2ln*
iic!^tnacß berufen fein mirb, feie ftärffte ibeo»
iftifc^ TOac^t bei SJklt au bilben.
6l füD ein Äi>mitec gefc^ffenmerbenr bem
btf 25 bcrtJDTTOoenbftcn ©elfter ber ®eflen»
toart cnae^ören fallen.
3)er Äui^fd^uj^, ber fojufagen bie SBelt*
mtfEigenj tepräfcutieren h)irb, foD in atten
^rogen eingreifen, bie bie gefamte Cffentl:d|*
fett tongieren, namentli<i^ bcnn, tofnn ef
ftd^ um bie €Qd^ \kI SBcItfriebcng l^nbelr.
J.
^
1
(a//U\
nA
4.
1 ' c£^
'tf^
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I
MUNDO
RED. Y ADM.: SUIPACHA 1008
ARo I - NÜM. 44
APARECE LOS SABADOS
UNION TELEF. 41 PLAZA 2157
BUENOS AIRES, 5 DE ABRIL DE 1924
rorxe: RA
El conflicto en el Hospital Israelita
\a\ sociiMlMd isrnt'lit:i »k' iKMioficPiu-in *'Kz-
i:ih" (M-a liMsta liaco jkk-o uiia iiistitiicioii de
Iciito (Icsarrollo y de oritMitacion traiH|uiln. Sus au
toridados, aniparadas iKir uii sahio ostatuto qiu'
wscjjiiraha su reoleccioii iiidcfiiiida, se (U'dicahan
ihodesiamoiito al Hospital Israolita y a las cd. ras
de i-arju-ter l)eiiefii'(» jnojdas de tal soeiedati
(Viiitaba la *'Kzrali" con la siiiipatia tacita de
toda la Colon ia hehrea, (|iie respoiidia ;r«Miei()sa-
nienle a los frecueiites llainainieiit os (iiie acjuella
le dirijjia, es|)e<'ialnieMte en lo tocante al hospital.
Los judios de 'odo el jiais sentiaii im deher en
fojitiibuir a la eoiist rnccion y al niantenimiento
de! Hospital, en el (jue hau puesto, con justa ra-
zoii, im iiolde esfuer/.o y im afaii ))eisistente.
I'ero desde haee al^n'iii tienipo estaii ocurriendo
hetdios <lesaj;radaldes en el Hospital niotivadoB
|)or diversas caiisas. ([ue hau culminailo en la re-
niinria del ])residente.
PLUTOCRACIA Y DEMOCRACIA
Haee cosa de imos seis meses debiaii eele]>riir-
se eleceiones en la ''Kzrali". Con estc niotivo,
Uli grii})o de correlij'ionarios aeomodados se coms-
tituyer(»n de pronto ea eainpeones eelosos de la
<leni()era«-ia. Querian dar intervcneiön en el ma-
nejo del Hos])ital a todos los eontvihuyeiites y
asjdraban, sohre todo. a ((ue el nuevo piosldeute
fuese la expresion del sentimiento populär que
se liabia forniado en torno a la prc^yeVtada
Alianza. Ksos ciudadanos se agrui)arün en^un po-
inite fpie procdamo la candidat ura del sefior Le-
vin y trhajo enii>eriosaniento por su eleeeiön. En
sus preparntivos agitados y pintoreseos, ese co-
mite no se liniil») a en^alzur las virtudos de su
])ropio candidato, sino que hizo una cuinpana fe-
roz contia los (qjositores. El candidato propues-
to poi {'stos era uii plutoerata, deeian. lepreson-
tnba im V(V''i»H^n zarista y su eloeeiou hubiese sig-
inficadc» el triunt'o de la wv'v.^ iiegra reaccioii. Asi
lo |»i(iclanial)an con enfasis los oradores aliaueistas
y hasta no vacilaroii en publioar en los diarios
israelitas oaricaturas socees cn oste seutido. Era
evideiiie, piies, quo la salvaeion de la ^*Ezrah'\
o ypa del H()s})ital, residia en la der.ignai'l.ui del
candidato de la Alian/.a. Eso oreyo tanibion la
tuniultuoja asaniblca que eli^io al .senor Eevin on
niedio del mayor de^'ordeii plebiscitario. Vcrdad
es (pie nadie conocia su j)ro(M'deucia politi.ca y
t(yl(Ks ignor:iban su modo de ser y sus actos de
honibre ])übru'o. Mas evo ik) le Jni]»orlaba ni ir-
tercsal).'! a b' i"^''vio-^a re:»;/n.
er,. Ol ■ <'c«ii v4 1'
Kl
■ i
joiirir :*ovin
V,,, V. ■ .,..v. .. Utt *)Ti«« ^ . 1
y sni tiiunfo evitaba la n^-lautacion de un pe-
li'n-oso re^inien zarista, plutucrata y reacciona-
rio. La inayor parte de Ins que apiaudian con
frenesi al aniigo del puoblo, a quien no eoiiociaii,
conoriaa en canibio al candidato opositc-r y son-
veian interiorniente ante lo>: epitelos eou que lo
denij;ra.l),an sus adversarios. Sablan perfertamen-
te con cuaiita abnegaci-'n ('\ y su niujer traba-
jaban en bleu de la eolecti vidad, los scäalados
beneficios que habian realizado para la inisma
en (d terrcno ile la inmigraeiou y de la benofi-
ccneia con tanta f-;oneillez y es{Lrita tau de-
niocratico. Frento a su obra metodiea y empe-
nosa, <;que babia beeho ol candidato de la Aliau-
zu i' Euipero, el })uoblo li;<l)ia acudido a la a.sani-
ble.a par.i <\)ercer su dorcclio sobcraiio y sus cau-
dil'oH 1(> nianejaron a su j^usto, conio orurre en
tales «-asos. Los judios son democratas por tom-
iieraniento, y en nionienios de plebiscito todos
1
nietidas con el personal, incurrio en un ^ravisinio
error al desconocer insistenteinente la obra rea-
ü/ada \n)v sus antecesores. Olvidaba el senor Le-
vin (jue se habia becho car^'o de una institucion
en niaicha y en estado floreciente, libre de ^\i\-
vanienes y que las ]»e(juenns refonnas de carac-
ter adininistrativo no le autorizaban para eni-
ple.'M ese toiio ent'atico y ineyaloniano (|ue tan-
to le subyu^a.
Esta tactica de desacreditar a los ])redecesores
la ha cnltivado c(»n bastante exito, ^racias, sin
duda, a la irresolucion de los interesados en le-
vautar los cMrj^()s <pu' se insinuaban contra tdlos.
Porque, dicho esa de paso, el celoso i)residente
de la "Kzrah" en vez de t'oiniular car^'os con-
cretos, se ha limitado a hacer vajjas insinuaciones.
Lo que no nos explicauios es conio podian cola-
^ borar con el alj^unas de las personas afectadas
por diehas sosi)echas en lo que atane a su corres-
eiun y bueu dcsenipefio de sus car^os respectivos.
EL 5STIL0 DE LA REPARACION
No saliemos j>or que ocultas ra/ones el presi-
dcnte de l.a **Ezrnh*" ha adoi)tado el estilo üni-
eo (lue solia eniplear ei ex presidente de la repü-
blica, aunoue sospechanios que eso tal vez se de-
ba a eierfa afinidad es])iritual. Cada vez que
r(^ ihianios un eomunicado de la '*Ezrah^', veia-
i-nos con espanto eonio el estilo radical hal>ia he-
cho es^ueiii en la '*Ezrah". No querenios fati-
\T\\v al leetor con la rej»roduccion de esa literatu-
ra tipica. Pero no podenios pasar en silencio este
rasgo extraüo, que, })or provenir de una institu-
cion acreditada, debiera ser eliminado para
siompre. ^C6nio, nos pre^uutamos con sorpresa,
ana soeied'ad como la * * Ezrali " no tiene v^paro
en enviar una nota a la prensa, redactada en es-
to3 t'jriiiinor •.
"kenuncias indeclinables. — Rigue esa racha
burna en la vida interna de la ''Ezrah". Flotan
en el aire otrna renuncias de dijjjnidades ofen-
didat-:. Yu estau preparadas las aceptaciones,
ron sus correspondientes lagrimas de costum-
bre.** O bien esta otra, relacionada con el inci-
dento oue motivo la renuncia del senor Levin:
••Reverso de la medalla, — No todo es un
cantar de loas Kouora;>. . . La lucha de las ten-
()^.„<.ias — Dasado y p.rosente — ha producido
una situacion desagradable y hasta un caso inau-
dito tanto por lo irresponsable de su aut(*)r confV)
por SU modo eondenable de procedor. La victinia
•♦äencr ;jamuel i.cvin. — Dit'icultades y dis- f
^ustos de todo ^^enero, calidad y especie^afect a- |
roji su salud y definieron su diniision irre'voca- ,
ble d(d cargo de i'residente de la Tnstitueion — j
para la inniensa felicidad y ad mayorom gloriani ,
do los aspirantes al alto puesto. La ('oniision ,
Directiva estudia debidamente la situacion y el
xiKJor Camino a se^^uir en esta emerj^encia. "
Kenunciamos a la tentacion de ofrecer otras
muestras del e.-tilo absurdo que empleab.a üPi- ^
iiiamente la *'Ezr:ih'\ Solo hemos citado los ;
|)^T>afos } recedentes paia hacer ver el tono ai- }
rado y rei'cnerador que ])redominabn en sus ■
cornunicaciones. No se vaya a creer que este j
asunto del estilo carec? de iniportancia. En este |
caso se :iplic:i perfectamente aquello de que el
estilo es el honibre, ])ues la literatura del sefior |
Levin no es sino un reflejo de sus procedimien- ■
tos audaces y de su «leseo ferviente <le apar(>-
curreu, en canibio, n los demas hospitales, donde
estall se^uros de obtener la coiisi«leraci6n a ((ue
se luicen acree<lores. V esto se debc üiicamente,
a la t'alta de una conijK'tente y alentadora direc
cion teciiica,
HOSPITAL Y ESCUELA, NO SANATORIO
Este proce<ler inconveniente, juzj»;ado a traves
de sus lasj^os nias n(>torios, ha crcado ima si-
tuacion incornoda j>ara los medicos que prestan
sus servieiüS en (d hospital. Sieinj)re creiainos
que el Hospital Israidita debiera servir de lu-
, ^'AY de atraccion para nuestros j)r()fesionales.
I Una direccion conipetente deberia atraer a los
; iMedicos judios y convertir al hospitiil en un cen-
1 tro de estudio y de trabajo. Otro tanto puede
decirse de los )»racticantes. /Por que no crea el
liosjdtal Isiaelita un cuerpo <Ie {)racticantesf
^I'or que a])lica un ridiculo criterio de econoniia
en un ren^lon tan insi^nificaiite y que sin em-
baigo |»odria traer tantas ventajas? Esos niis-
! mos jjracticantes, forniados al ealor del llospi-
I tal y encarinados con el, serian nias tarde, ya
sea ni^dicos del niisnio o bien entusiastas pro-
j)ajijandistas en el interior del j)ai8. No suele bo-
rrarse tan facihnente el recuerdo de los anos es-
tudantiles de Mos]>ital s(d)re todo cuando hau
transcurrido en el medio de un ambiente intinio.
Por otra parte, ^que estimuloa ofrece nues-
tro H (»Spital a los medicos, euando lejos de ayu-
darseles, se les desacredita con proeedimientos
pationales, viendo en ellos simples subordinados?
Ilay tanibien otro punto que se relaciona con
la actu.'il crisis y que demuestra la falsa orienta-
cion que el seiior Levin ha pretendido imprimir
al Hospital. Nos ref'erimos al sistema niercanti-
lista (jue lia iinplantado y a la severidad con (pie
lo aplica. T(k1o (d (pie no sea socio, debe abonar
las coiisultas y hacer trabajosos tramites buro-
crriticos j»ara cualquier paso. En nin^ün hos])ital
se exij^en tantos recpiisitos ni se eniplea tal ri-
^or. Existe, de hecho, un criterio de ainplia li-
berali(la<I. »Solo en el Hospital Israelita se apliea
tanta ri^idez, y esto desde que ha venido el se-
nor Ijcviii. Semejante proceder es injusto y con-
tradicc las i>r(q)ias finalidades de la **Ezrah".
N(» liay (jue (dvidar (pie el hospital ha sido cons-
truido y ^e sostiene j^racias a la contribucion de
toda la ('(dect ividad, habiendose puesto su adnii-
jiistracioii en nianos de la "Ezrah'*, que es una
institucion de beneficencia. No se puede admi-
tir, por «'onsijjuiente, que se niegue asistencia
medica a los p(d»res, tanto Judios coino no ju-
dios, ni <jue se oblique a todos a sopoitar obs-
tacukjs («Posos. El hospital no es un Sanatorio ni
es una institucion j»articular; todos tienen ac-
ceso a el y es absurdo <pie se le maneje con un
criterio de comerciante.
El senor Levin ha defraiidado a sus entusias
tas electores. Los npsnios (pie antes lo ap(»yaban,
lo eondenan ahora. Ha defraiidado tambien a los
(pie, sin pertenecer a nin^una tendencia, confia-
lon en su ca|>acidad para (d carjifo. V es (|ue en
verdad, los defectos y los errores en (jue lia in-
currido son de tal naturaleza que hacen olvidar
las virtudes evidenciadas.
Es de es])erar, entretanto, (jUe la reunion (pie
debera tratar este asunto no se deje arrastrar
]>or el entusiasnio y resuelva la cuestion teniendo
en cuenta la buena marcha del hospital, que es lo
(pie nos interesa a t(»(los. y no las pequenas sus-
cei>tibil'dades de tal o cual persona.
La venida de Einstein a la Argentina
Carta del sabio a la Äsociasiön Heb rate a
Nuestros lectores estan al corriente de las ^es
tiones realizadas ])or la Asocitci6n Hebraica i>t
ra ( onseguir que Einstein viniera a la Argentina.
Estas gestiones hau tenido el exito que se espe
laba, pero ]tor un cimiulo de circunstancias, al
gunas de las cuales mnnifesta el sabio en su
carta (pie juiblicanios mas abajo, Einsten se ve
CA la iu»v-esidad de diferii su visita p.ira una opor-
tunidad pr(')xinia.
^ iU üt'ido - c .^nt'Vi'nt; .\- fiv tuahucnto cntr.^ado
a algunos trabajos cientificos y tiene, ademas, va-
riijs co:'.<proniisos contraidos con anterioridad, lo
aiiiversario de la lun(laci(')ii de la l^niversidad de
Najxdes
En el progrania de los actos con (|ue se feste.ja-
ra la fecha, figura el Congreso de Filosofia (jue se
reunira en aquella ciiula<l italiaiia y como se »a-
be, varias sesiones de dicho congreso estan de-
dicadas a. Einstein, qui(Mi presentara tambien al-
gunos trabajos cü-ntificos
Lo ünico (pie hemos* de sentir en t(t(io esto, es
1 a; !.; :"nii;..;to d. #! vl.«.;ta rp:.^-.it.' sal.:.' vn/.e-
1 labauJoa parji este nii^
I T*er(» Einst<Mn no se p(Mtciiece. Esta abrunia(fo v
A^.M^ f' üL. z^ j^fz^^^^ua^ r.
M^
u^^
i^TS^^^t^^*^ ■-•L.*, , 73
^
C^^-ÄV.
I
i lU'st' la t'X|M('si<>ii ilv .. I iiiiit.'nt(» )>upulal* quo
sc liJiln'.M foiiiiado (11 toriio n la jiroy«''t'ta«lii
AÜMii/M. Ksos riiidadMiios se ji^rnj)aron t*n un co-
niit(' <|U(' |tr(>('l;mi6 la caiKlitlat ura dol sefior Lc-
viii y trhajo oiHjK'fioHainoiito por su cloccioii. Ku
sus pi('i)arativos aj;ita<l(>s y ])intoroHi'OS, <»se co-
lu'üv HO sc liiiilto n on-^alzar las virtiules de ku
jjropio caiulidato, sino quc Iiizo ima oaiifpaüa fe-
roz <((iitia ioH opositores. El caiididato propuos-
to [)()i cstoH ora un plutocrata, <itM'ian ic[»roscii-
taba uu v^j^hnou zarista y sii cKM-eion hubiese sig-
iiifii-ado t'i triunt'o de la m'is iiogra rcaccioii. A;-i
lo p»<)(danial>aii coli ('iifa.sis los oradoros aliaiic-stas
y iiasla uo vaciJaron on yublicar eii los diarios
israolitay caricaturris Roocoa on oste soutido. Kra
evidoiiio, pucH, quo la salvaciön do la 'M'zrah",
o yoa d(d Hof^pit.Ml, rosidia en la dtv;ignai'"n'in d«d
randidato de la Aliaii/.a. VW) cvoyu taujbion la
tiimultuo^ a asainl)lra quo eii^io al sonoi' Lcvia on
inodio d.el iiiayor de^ordoii plebiscitario. Vordad
OS ((uo iiadie oonocia su ])ro(*edeii('i.a politi.ca y
h^dos igiiorahaii su ir.odo de ser y sus aetos de
hornhre julhlico. Alas ovo iio le jnijiorlal'a ni ir-
e;
it^tt'
A *
y SU tnuüfo ovitaba la lT..j.lantaoi6ii do un ]>o-
li^roso le^inieu zarist;i, plutoorata y roaeciona-
rio. La niayor parte do loa quo aplaudian ccjn
frenosi al uini^o dtl puobU),a quioii uo eoiiocian,
cüiioviaa eil cambio al oandidato ()posit(.r y son-
roiMii interiornionto ante los opIteloH oon que lo
doMi<4rabaii sus advorsarios. Sablan pert'octaaieu-
to coli cuaiita ab]U'J,^•loi''n ('] y su niujer traba-
jabaii on bleu de la ooloct ividad, los seiialados
beuoficios quo liahian realizado par.'i la inisnia
eil v\ terreiio do la luini^raciun y de la bonofi-
concia con ta; 'a mmicIUoz y os|>lritu tau de-
inoeratico. Fronte a su obra inoti')dioa y onij)e-
fiosa, ^ quc habia lioolio ol candldato de la Allan-
zu i' Kihpcj'o, el lUichlo liahja acudido a la a.sani-
hloa para c)er<'or su dorecho sobcraiio y sus oau-
dillos !(» niancjaron a su gusto, oonu) ocurre eii
talos «■a>o.s. Los judios sou deniooratas por toui-
peranioiito, y on iiioniontos de ploldsi-iio todo;-;
los vulantos so sioiiton habigados por la sagradji
])ala!irM d:Miiociacia. Ademixs, uo ora un obstacu-
\(, ;d cni^ ij^noiarau las obrjis y ol modo (.Ic pon-
isar dcl candidato de la Alianza, })ue.sto que i^-
noialiau i^ualmeiitc lo que cra, es dciMr, \o (pio
(jueri:! .^er la Alianza. Igiiorabanlo los eleotorcs
y 1(> i^noral-an asiniismo los t'autoros iio la Aüan-
zü, sc^'un io heillos demo'^trado en aquella opor-
tuiiida*! y eonfonno lo lian corrohoi'ado los he-
olios ])ostcrioros. I'oro osa i«.,'iioraiici;; o > onfu-
sioii biiia todos los atribuios <!»» uu principio;
ora nn ])io^rain:i y habia ([ue lucliar j)oi su
ti iunlo.
EL APOSTOLADO
Ol)toiiid;i la x'lctoria <]•• . do tanto ostrc-
}dto (l mudeo de ein ialai^/s eonfiad.os quc ha
Idaii ('oatrii)uido a ella de - ubrleroii ipio so hn-
hian (-(juivMado ou sus cab'ulos. IJesnlto quo cl
s(»rHH- Levin, candldato ilo la Alianza, ora advor-
«ario de la inisiua, y b\ios de ai)oyaida, lo ncgo
su coiMun-o. X.Mtuia Iinento, conocido conio es
nuesire puiilo de vistn cn esta cuosti«Mi, "o ho-
nios dl' liar(M'!o por ello r^procli-
()ii'' rc-'a!t I . liwrante accptai la oaiHivtalur: de
im '.•'irul(, ( on el quo no se rsta do acuordo. l^a
iiidift reiii'ia dcmostrada ost cnsiblcnioiito ])or el
iiiM'vo pre^idente de !a ''Kzrrili" liacia la santa
«•ausM de la Aliaii/;i, det'raudo biusca iiiciito ;i Jos
•iid ient «'S [.a rtidarios de esta. l'oi ol la parte, ol
scnor l.eviii, trlunt'ante oi\ iiomlirc d<" la donio-
cracia, rcsiilto ser un presidente autoi-itavjo, ox-
chisivjsta, "onipletaniente ant'.deinocratieo. Die
im alc.ii.rc t rascrndoiital a sus funcionos, so pro-
(daino rcdi'iitor y apo'^tol, condeno el * * rc^-inien ' '
anterior y liablaba roiisf a nteinentc <le su j^raii
<d)ra de reparacioii. de su obra rcconst ructiva,
do vu (»l»i-a j)atrietica y de otras oliras uiaijna-
i'inias. .'ust'» es rc/(>iiocei <|ne pu^^o en sus 1a-
icas una de«iicaci6n «•oatiiiua y un cclo ardiiMite.
.*<c ]»asal;a e| dia oo el Hospital. vi«rib.i udo y
reoi «>ani/aiif|o e inlrodnjo ret'oniuis l'uiidaineiita-
]es en la adiiiinistiaeion. La "l']ziali" contaba
«ii el a nii <\ceb'iite v esnupulosf» administra-
d(»r y en esto seilt id(> eo ihciimm' siiio el mas t'ran-
<o :iplans(». Kinpero, en su atan de reali/.ar una
1 bia i-e('entora, su)u/j.ro a los deinäs inieniltros
i|e la erüiiisiön •' inipns<» iiii rej;inien de riyor
'«■Nresix-.i eiitiT i] jicr.'^or.al. Apüro <'n csd un cii-
Jt'iio patronal, »oconnMidable tal \ <•/, on un osta-
bleciiiiii iitn de <'nmorcio o en. nna estaiicia, ]>ero
iio en m: Hospital publiro, donde rbdte pr<>donii-
nai Uli e.spiritu «le afabibMlad >' de «ainaraderia.
Fat SWS desx'elos rcdeu'ores. rl presidente de la
* ' l'!/.i a li ' '. .-parte de ali»inia-; a i bit ra ritMJades co
reciljianiüH uu < Dinuiucado de l;i ''hzrah", vcia
mos oon eMf)aiito conio (d ostilo radical habia he-
cho os"uola cn la **Kziah'*. Ko (luerenios fati-
^:;r al lector con la ro]»roduocion i\o ohu litoratu
ra lipica. ]*ero no podenioH pnsar en sHoncio cste
ra«-"!^!» extrano, ((UO, per pros'enir <le una institu
cion -icreditada, «l(d)iera sor oliniinado jiara
sieinpre. ^'Como, nos projifuntanios con aurpresa,
ana socicdad conio la '*l']zra]i" no tionc iVq)aro
cn onviar una nota a la prcnsa, redactada on os-
to8 t^'iniino.'. ;
"Renuncias indeclinables. — Sijjrue osa raiha
})U»:na cn la vida interna do la 'MOzrab". Flotan
en ol airo otrna ronuin-ias do di^nidados ofon-
tli(bu?. Ya ostan pre])aradas las aceptacioiies,
con sua oorrospondientos b'tgriinas de costuni-
)>ro. ** () bleu esta otra, rolaeionada cou el inei-
(biito (juc niotiv/i la reiiuncia dol scnor Levin:
"Reverco de la medalla, — No todo es un
cantar do loas Konoras. . . La lucha de las ten-
dencias — i)a:-^ado y p-roscnte -- lia i)ro<lucido
una Hituacion dosajjradablo y hasta un caso iiiau-
dito tanto por lo irrei-])onsablo de su aut(*»r confl)
por SU modo (rondenablo do proco<lor. La victinia
"Sefior Samuel Levin. — Dificultadcs y dis-
^ustos do todo gonoro, calidad y especicafeida-
ron SU salud y definieron su diiiiisloii irrovo<'a-
blo del car;ijo de l'rosldonto do la Tnstitucion —
para la inmensa folicidad y ad niayorom gloriani
de los aspirantes al alto puosto. La Coinis.i6n
Diroctiva estudia dobidanionte In situacion y ol
/nrjur camino a so^uir en esta omorgencia. ^' j
Kenuncianios a la tontaoion de ofrocor otras i
niuostras dol estilo absurdo quo enipb^al;a ül^i- -
iiianionto la "Fzrah'-. Solo hemos citado los i
[)a»'afes } rorcdentos p.ara hacor vor (d tono ai- }
rado y roj..i'uerador que ])rodoiniiial)a on sus
('oinnincticioiics. No so vaya a crccr que cste j
asunto dol ostilo oarco do importancia. Kn esto j
caso so a[)!i<'a }*erfectamente aquello do que ol '
estilo OS el liombro, jiuos la Hteratura del seüor •
Levin no es si'M) um reflojo de sus procodimien-
auda losco fcrvionte do apare-
oer conio ünico honibro a quion ho debe bi glo- ,
lia del hoypital y de su tondoncia do iniponerse
on todos los asuntos, inchiso a<juellos en los que ]
es un f iinide piofano. Y aqui llegainos al nudo '
do la cuestion.
EXOESO DE INTROMISION
• LI error fund:;'Keala 1 del sonor Levin es ha-
ber eonl'undido lainoiitableniente su fumion do
adniinistrador con la del car<^o t'»ciiico de diro«'-
tor del hosi)ital. Corrospinidole, en su calidad <lo
})residonto do la **Lzrah" cuidnr los intore:<es
^•eneralos do esta Sociednd y no di'dic,. -so ox-
clusivanionto al ho::;.ital, taroa quo por otra j>ar-
te no Ol' :i su- i! !ll)ucionos.
Kl ])residcn;.' 'a "Kziah" ser;i el
niejor adniini.'-trador dei mundo, pcro careco do
toda autoridad on lo reforente a la niavidia tec-
'lica <lol hospital. Sin enibaroo, el sonor Levin
comotlo !a inipvndoncla de cntroinetcrse en aoUiitos |
'?n quo solo puedo opiiiar un nicdico, iniponiondo
avbi'-arianieiite su antoridad. Valiendosc «le «
' extranjero «lo discutida nutorid^d li;» ^v'.n /
• i , . ,( .no n.i-d^'O dol liospital im cspi \
i\o d.^cordia y de intiif^a «pio ha con(dui<lo
en (I lamentable incidente rnotivo do su renun-
( ia. ConoconioH multitud de '< \ lios (juo donuies
i:a.'t basta qiir .i»iado c\ v\\\\ ciulcdor p'-csidcnte
do la *M']zi'ah" se lia oxtralinnt.'Hlo on sus t'uncio- i
nos invadiendo terrenos a.jen »s p:ira el. Mientras •
iinjionia su voluTitad dictatoiial a sus conipaüe-
ros {\o c(yinisi6n o al personal adiniiiistrati\o, la '
. ,).'a iiiijiortaba toda\ia p.»co: poro desde (d
iiionionto quo pretondi«'» oxiondor su iiit'hieiicia
ab.'orbente sobre los im''<lic«iS, el asunto cainbio '
«le aspecto. Si rl seüor L' oi no ai'ei-taia tanta ^
siifi«deinda y se hnbiesc t<ini. .la il trabajo d'> vis:
tar otros h«>sj)itales siniilaros, hnbria visto lo que ,
^abe «ualduier nioital: qno on los hospitalos el |
ni«''dico OK Ulla persona aa^rada y sus oidenos se ;
f-umjilon al pie do la letia, y Jamas un adininis- i
tr;.dor ha osado o])onor-o a «dlas. Do paso, se ha- 1
biia inforinado asiniisino quo on los hos])italos *•
iiupcra un ospiritu de coin]»ariorisnio entro los
iik'mucos, y no se lia visto (pio uno de «dlos se
burle do sus «'ologas <bdanto d(; los onfornios.
iH<>andolo conipotcMicia. Lsas cosns, sin (»inbar^c».
lian sucedido en el Hospital Israidita, con la evi-
dente coTuplaceucda del senor Levin. ••
Tal vez se deba u esta «drcunstancia (1 apa»'
tanp(Mito «'.'ida vez mas acentuado <lc k)s medico-
jndios d«d ilosoital Isiaelita. Tjos «pi!' pnr niin ii
otro motlvo se han al(*ja<lo, no vuolvoii y tamjtoco
son a'i:jiidos los demas. T-^o misnio ocurn^ con los
pra« i it-anies. Tanto los unos «-omo los otros, rou-
j>atronales, viondo en ollos simples subordina.los?
Ilay tambicn otro punto (pie so rolaciona con
la actnal crisis y (pie d«'niucstra la falsa orit'iita
cion (JUC el sonor Loviii ha prefondido impriniir
al Hospital. Nos rot'oriinos al sistonia morcanti-
i.s «le csjurai, iJitivtanl«», «pa- [u rcuniön (|uo
«lidK-ra tratar cste asunto no se dejc arrastrar
jior ol eiHusiasnio y resuclva la cuestion toiiiendo
en cucnta la buena inarcluj d«d hosjjital, quo es lo
(pie nos interesa a todos. y no las ju-queüas sus-
cc)»tibir'dades de tal o cual persona.
La venIda de Einstein a la Argentina
Carta del sabio a la Asociasiön Hebraica
Nnestros lc«'toros ostAn al corriento do las j»;es-
tiones roalizadas ))or la Asocitcii')!! Hebraica p#
ra «(»nsejrnir (pie Linsl(Mn \iniera a la Arjifentina.
Kstas j^cslioiics hau tcnido «d ('»xito (pie se espe
laba, pcro por un cninulo de (drcnnstancias, ;il
{.^unas de las cuales nuniifesta cl sabio en sn
carta (pie piiblicainos mas abajo. Linsten se ve
( .». la m^es'dad de dit'crii su visita para nna opor
tnnidad pr('>xinia.
' '.' :t*hj*> nf't.ont: .\ ai tua'iiior.t«.« t ntr jt^ado
a al^unos trabajos cientif icos y tiene, adomas, va-
ri;»-* co:vproniisos contraidos con antorioridad, lo
aniversario de la l'uiidaci«')n de la T^niversidad dr
Napoles
Kn «d propfrania do los actos c(ni (pie se t'esteja
ra la feclia, t'iyiira el Conji^reso de Pilosofia (pie so
reunira en a(pi(dla ciiidad italinna y como .se «sa
bc, varias .sesioiies de dicho cony^reso estaii dc-
dicadas a Einstein, (juieii prcseiitara tambien al-
^unos trabajos cieiitificos '
Lo ünico (pie hein(»s*«le seilt ir cn todo esto, es
: .nj.!.r:-Mnit.;to d. S; vlnitu quo- dt i aalAct c3,'c-
labamos para este aÜK4k
T'oro F^instein no se portonoce. Ksta abrunia(fo >
A^U^^ . ^. IIL.'ZH ^^^tl.^*u^utx, f.
yf^
u^\^
/Y^i-c^t.^
-^^^^^it:^
oLe^ir-t^^^^^
n.
-/f^^A.
c^^-^^z-^tj-' ^^,^ cyi^l-*-^^-.^^
1^
i^L^t^
^-^ ^(^-^i^A.^, /5
-Y^e^^dA^
<^^-«.-t-^w.-«4 , ^
^-«.^
'5^
^
^J-
-6/1.
le le inipsibili*a o\ viaje on ol transcurso do es-
' aiio. Pero do todos inodos podenios conj>TaiU-
lariios por(pic la pronic.sa do Liustein, (piieii tie
tte \ ivoH des('()s de conocer la America del Sud.
• '■(•imal y ^n visita no dejaia de ser nn hctdio.
' (t «:< a jcno a !a d(»torniinaci()n «le Liustein
de postoij>ar su visita a la Ar^e.ntina la (irciins-
atiic'a «le teuer (pie «-elebrar iiiny en brcve «d 'JO^'.f.
('•' traliajo y lav soli« itaciones Ic llin'V(»n «le tinlris
jiartes ])idiendolo que \isite p;i ises y que dr» ( on-
it'KUcias. VA sabio >e ni«';»a sistomaln-anicnte a
es'os pedidos.
^fodosto, conio todo sabio ver»lad( ro. Iniye «le.
aonello (pie j»nc<la tein-r as|»ccto do iiMlaiii«' pc-
riodi.-tica y tanipoco lo alucir.a ia iM»|nilarida(l.
Lo üir.co (pie lo pioocnjia y absorlu» sn tiompo
es la investiua«i(')n cientiti<a a la cual se ha en
Paff. 2
MUNDO ISl'AELITA
f) (Ir Abril de 11)24
I
trcf^Jido i'or i'iitiM'o, li.Msfji cI t'xtrt'iiK» de ((Mc rMsi
ii(» rccÜK' a iijidit'.
Ks t'acil <!(' coiiiprcndor «juc nii liomluc, p.'ir.M
(|iiieii los miniitos soii prcciosos y (juc a|»t'iiMs
Ic nlcanza cl ti(Mn|K» jiaia siis trahajos cicntifi-
i'os, 110 so (Iccida a luTdcrlos cn amliciicias y mc
iiOH tMi viajcs. Sin cnibaryo, Kinstcin iiianit'ii'sta
i'ii SU carta siis dosoos de Nisitarnos ,v hasta ex
pivsa (jUC HO conti acra nin^un coniju'oniiso
antos de lialx-r cuniidido con nosotros.
La pronicsa de iMiistidn cxprosada t'ii sciiu'jan-
te forma, ticiu', pucs, paia iKtsotros, uii valor in
aprociahlt' y sc pucdc coiisidcrar conio um vcrda
dcro trlunfo para los judios do la Ar^cntina y
<lc la Asociacion (jUc patrocina las ^cstionos j)a
la la vcnida dcl sal)U).
Hc a(|ui la traduccion {\v la carfa:
Berlin, 8 mar/o de l})i!4.
ilal)(*rlfni(lstrasse, f).
A la Asociacion ficbraica de Buenos Ai-
res.
Von nmeha jrratitud les acuso recibo
de SU carta de 9 de enero.
Esta invitacion nie ha coniplacido tan-
to (jiie tuve el deseo d(» aceptarla en se-
t^uida. F^ero, despnes de pensarlo mejor,
nie eonvenci de (pie en (d afio 1 1)124 uo
podre ir a ia America del Sud. En |)i-imer
termino, porque estoy a(|ui sumamente
ocupado eon varios ti-ahajos cientificos
<\nc HO nie decido a dejar inconclusos. Kn
sej^iindo termino, he estado en estos Ul-
timos anos ausente de Berlin tanto tiem-
po, que no nie atreveria a j;<'stionar de his
autoridades una liceneifl para ausentar-
me de niu vo.
AI a»rradecerles su cordial invitacion,
les rue<ro {\uv la iiiantenjian liasta qiie
ipje sea ] osil)le hacer uso de ella. En cam-
hJd^'de esto, les pronieto no aeeptar nin-
jrftl^^^ otra, antes de liaberlos visitudo a
ustedes.
Los sahido vAm nii consideracion nias
distin.o'uida. — Alberto Einstein.
Asociacion Hebraica
El concierto de esta noche
Esta .ji^Qcho^.ptv .f>sociacion inaug:urara hus
acfivid'adcs con ün concierto a cargo de los
"^'V;Li^- t^'''^''^'i '^'!^-V*'^'."^{H''^' Pedro .Toroselians-
^^;:>'nA'V}1^.K?^^»W'l/i')^^V''^'« ejecutaran el ni-
TV^' «^^r- (^^t'^Vl^H^W)?»- '.Vivace, con inolta
espresH40|u|^.,nioiT:ax7itü,, .alle^v«^ uia non tro|)po.
Larghefto. Mozart; Orujntjii), ^ui; Allegro ap-
passionato, Saint-Saens. ^
'VioUnvc^llor ffr. 'Amei^lo ^^^^fi'iuma.
AI pi.Mub: Sr. Rafaol NnreTTherg:' '
Trio, Op. .10. 'S\ la meifloria de uii gi:i\] ar-
/.tistali^g» 'Tscliaikow'sky.'^— ' Mo^lerato asaai. Te-
ma coli variazioni. — Variazioni finale c coda.
Andante con nioto.
7c i2k^Vw»-»^
'S- . -i-'^ .'^
Asociacion Juventud
iimlfai
, Israelita
Reuniöli farnllfar. — Kn el local de esta Aso-
ciacion, ('orrientes 2()!)7, se llevara a cal»o el
(loinin^ro (5 del corriente, a las 1(1 lioras, una
Keunion Familiär.
Para conc.urrir .y^sYe ac^, y \com inotivo de
la ^QÄittia , reaprrtOra "vte la' Bihliotei^jr,' sefa
requisito indis])ensahle que cada ^oeio traiga
uno () LiuiaL Jlluüiiu V . \v. Vv
■-.». ,.
Federaciön Sionista
Visita al Dr. Ratalovich
Ton v\ ol»J(to <le saludar y cxpresar la hien-
venida al Kaldno Dr. Kafalovich, recienteinen-
te llej^ado a esta capital, dirijiieronse td <lo-
itiiiiL'o ultimo a su resideiicia los mieml»ros del
Comile Central de ia Federaciön Sionista Ar-
^eiit iiia.
Tu\ie!()n asi en el traiiscurso de esta hreve
eiitrev'.sta, la ocasion de reconocer la perso-
iialida<l d(d Dr. Kat'alovlcli, tal coino es con-
ceptua<lo en todos los circulos :• (piienes no es
descoiioiida su actuacion, y a la vez c(»n^ra-
tularse con un lionroso comjtanero de ideal.
Kl Dr. IJafalovich niostrose Humamente re-
eoiiocido i>or la visita expresando en caluro-
sas palahras su gratitud.
CAMPAl^A DKL DUNAM
De acueido con la resolucion ultima del Di
rectorlo dei Fondo Xacional Israelita, la co-
lecta que ha de efectuarse este ano a hene
t'icio del expresado Foiido conienzara el lö de
Ahril proximo, dia en ([ue s«'ra. proclamada ofi-
cialiiiente tanto ])ara la Capital como para el
interior, con la denoiniiiacion de "Cainpana
del Dunam*'.
Tieiie la mencioiiada Campana una imixirtan-
cia eapital para el })uel)lo israelita argentino,
y que trataremos de poner hrevemente de re-
lieve: ])os anos atras los .lalutzim se hau es-
ta hlecido alrededor de la re^ion de ''Nalialal"
trahajando constaiiteniente en el sentido de lo-
grar la dei^ecacion de sus iniiumeraldes })anta
iios. Actualmente ofrece esta regi6n un as-
})e(*to ])intoresco, anunciando perspectivas sa-
tisfactorias j>ara el cHltivo.
Cou el proposito de cultrir sus deudas jxn- la
adquisicion de las mencionadas tierras, el Di-
lectorio Central del Fondo Xacioual, ha erei-
dü coiivenieiite fijar a la colectividad israe-
lita de cada }>ais una determinada extension
de tierra que dehera per costeada con su oho
lo. teiiiendo naturalnieiite en cuenta, para eso,
♦d nümero de israelitas, las condiciones de los
jnismos, como tamldcn asi, las contrihuciones
que estos hayan hecho en diversas otras opor-
tunidades.
A tal efecto se ha desi^nado 2.000 Dunams
para los israelitas de la Argentina; vale de-
eir, una suma de lOO luil pesos, a cuenta de los
ciiales hasta hov dia, se ha recolectado alre
dedor de .* 00.000, da<lo que el valor de un
l)unam asciende a la suma de $ 00.
(^onsiderando ([ue todo israelita teniendo pre-
sente que con su don.'iciii ha adcjuirido cierta
jjorcion de tierra ])alestinense, no vacilara en
ofrecer su trihuto, y en tal forma sera logra
do el alto ohjetivo que con esta obra ha de
llevarse a caho.
El Comite j)ro Campana del Dunam activa
energi'-amente en sus funciones; en una de sus
liltimas sesiones se deterinino el ])lan (^e pro;
j)aj,'anda, y el presupuesto de la Campana.
Kn la eiu<lad partici])aran activamente en la
eolecta todas las sociedades sionistas localis, '
sin distincion de partido iii fraccion, como tarn
l)ien la A^rupacion .Iuvenil i)ro Fonilo rNi!ci(<«
iial, la cual ha entrado de Ueno a su lahor.
De Kosario comunicaii ([ue la eolecta se efec
tuara a ]>artir del 0 del cte. Fl secretario del
Fondo Xaci(mal, Sr. .1. Epstein se trasladara
jnoximamente a la hermana ciudad, cou el ob-
ieto de coadvuvar en sus tareas.
El Directorio d(d Fondo Xacional ha diri
gido una circular a numerosos israelitas desta-
' ea'tro's de la colectividad sefardi, a t'in de so-
licitar su cooi)eracion en Ia ccdecta, en sus res-
])ecti\as localidades.
Ea Sociedad Israelita de Lima (Peru), asi
como de Caracas (Venezuela), hau sido iuvitadas
^r^vyylabpnrr en estas tareas, ofreciendoles la ad-
quisicion de cierta caiitidad de Dunams ])ara
liacerlus adquixjr nor los israelitas de sus vea-
Sociedad de Pmtecciön a
los Inmigrantes
JUirnos Aires, L' de Abril de l!)L'4.
Esta Six-iedad ha recibido una niiexa lisla
de los rcfugiados de Kumania (pie jtoseen pa-
i'ienti's proxirnos en la Argentina, los cuales
]»uo(|iMi dirijirse a las oficinas de la Sociedad
(londc se ies j)roporcioMa ra toda clase de in-
forines paia geslionar td ingrcso al pais de
los refugiacios cuyos noml>res detallamos a con-
t i iiuacion :
Shoi- lientzion, con su esposa Dcila e hija
Kosa ; tien* un cunado Lsaac Doren, (jue vive en
Onibd 702.
lleishnian Tsraid, con su (»sposa Kvu, e hi-
ios Moische, Abraham, (leiiva v Sara. Tieiie
SU m.idre, hermano v hermana en Lavalle 20;^;").
Cli\vroRt\an Peid, de 28 anos, completamen-
te sola. Tiene una hermana, E. (Jlrimberg, Tlia-
mes 72.*^.
Katz Lttel. \iu<la con hijos Chaika v Schloi-
ma, de 12 y 10 afjos. Tiene un ))arieiite, S.
Katsif, Junin 440.
(Jleizerinan Chana, de 23 anos, c(nnpletamen-
te sola. Tiene un tio, Gregorio (ioyman,
J*aez 'MM).
Tzyril Meer, de 10 anos, completamente so-
lo. Tiene un abuelito y un tio, (>. Gerschko-
vich, Malabia J042.
Comite Central
de Socorro
Jira del Sr. Latzky Bertoldi
La Secretaiia de este Comite iios remitjc las
siguientes int'ormaciones:
Dcsjuies de la jira quo v\ Sr. Latzki-Hertol-
di realizo con inmejorables resultados por Ia
Provincia de Buenos Aires y la Pampa, se tras-
larlo a las proviticias de Mendoza y San .Juan,
|»ara dirigirse luego a Chile.
<'on rcspecto a la llegada del senor Latzki
a Mendoza, la secretaria d(d Comite Central ha
recibido el siguiente despacho telegrafico:
* ' La noticia de la proxima llegada del dele-
jjado de la Confereiuia Universal Isratdita de
Socorro, Sr. Latzki-Bertoldi, fue recibida con
gran entusiasmo jjor toda la colectividad israe-
lita de Mend(>za.
Se realizo una reunion que dio j)or resultado
la formacion de un comite especial, para la re-
rejx'ion del distinguido visitante, y para la oi-
^anizacion de la eolecta en |)r6 de los liuer-
faiios israelitas de Rusia v Ukrania.
En la estacion, el Sr. J^atzki sera recibido
|X)r los representantes de las sociedades israe-
litas locales, como tambien por los mieiiibros
inas caracterizados de nuestra colectividad.
Los preparativos de la conferencia hau eo-
I menzado, y esperamos obtener un grau öxito
in»ial V» material ' '.
•
La colectivida«! israelita de Mendoza ya de-
,f ^'i<"^i-'<'' •-''.' otras ocasiones su apoyo :i ntrnsj «u--
'^os de caracter nacional judio, ocupando siem-
prc nno de los priineros puestos eu las colectav.
VA ('(tinite Central de Socorro esta firme
mente con\('ncido de que tambien en esta oca-
sion la colecti\idad isra(dita de Mendo/a, con-
siderara debidamente al importante problema
de la orfandad ocupando en la eolecta v\
puesto a (jue se ha hecho acreedora en otras
(qx)rtunida(l<»s.
Don Simon W^eiil
Su viaje para Europa
En (d \apor Eipari partii'.'i manana para Fran-
cia (d co-dircctor gencM'al de la fE C. A., inge-
iiiero don Simon W'cill, cjuien \a en busca de un
?nereci(lo descanso despues de largos anos de in-
teiisa a<'tividad al fiente de la direccion de
liueslras coloni.as. Ef<'cti v.amente, dt»sde 1J>05,
ano en <]ue vino al j»ais, el senor Weill ha j>res-
tado sus seivicios en la .). C. A., primero eomo
simjde agente en la provincia de Entre Hios, y
luego como administrador, recorriendo rapida-
menle la escala Jerar(iuica hasta llegar al alto
cargo de Director (ieneral, que desempena ac
tualmente junto con el senor lsaac StaikiiK^th.
llijo del grau rabino de Paris, don Emmanuel
AVeill, de cuyos trabajos histoiicos hemos dado
cuenta en estas columnas, el senor Weill reci
bio una esmerada educacion judia y geneial,
curyando sus estudios en el Distituto de Agrono-
mia de Paris, en el cual se recibio de ingeniero
agronomo. Sus coiKKdmieiitos piofesiouales y su
coiitacto constante con las colonias israelitas de
la Argentina, hacen del senor Weill un verda-
dero ]>erito en nuestros problemas agrarios, que
ha expuesto en diversas ocasiones en sus fre-
cuentes conferencias a los colonos v en articulos
l.ublicados en MUXDO ISRAELPrA y en '^El
i)iario Israelita". (\)mo Director de la J. V. A.
lia contribuido a la organizacion de la colonia
San Antonio (Entre Hios) y Montefiore (San-
tiago del Estero).
Xo obstante ser este un viaje <le reposo, el se-
fior Weill piensa inf(»rmar a la Direccion (iene-
ral de Paris sobre el estado de las cidonias en la
Ai'gentina y someterle diversos proyectos rela-
cionados con la colonizacion de los inmigranteft,
(pie es, como se sabe, uno de los ])rojx')sitos mas
fiiines de la .7. C. A. y al cual la Direccion lo-
cal dedica ahora mucha atencion. Ademas, como
miembro de la Socie<lad de J*roteccion a los Di-
migiantes Israelitas, el senor Weill dis<-utira las
inedidas relacionadas con este j)roblema quetan-
ta importancia tiene para nuestra colectividad.
A este respecto nos ha manifesla<lo el senor
Weill que ]>roj)iciara en Europa la creacion de
escuelas de trabajos manuales, a fin de que los
inmigrantes, a su llegada a nuestio j>ais, posean
algün oficio que facilite su rapida ubicaeion.
Como decimos, el senor Weill se hall.a en la
Argentina desde 1005, ano en que comenzo la
densa inmigracion judia. Estallada la guerra eu-
ropea, volvio a su patria para incorpomrse a las
filas en su calidad <Ie oficial del ejercito fran-
ees, donde presto sus servicios de 1014 a 1910.
Terminada la conflagracion, torno a la Argen-
tina para i casum ir sus tareas en la J. C. A.
En las colectividades francesa y judia la per-
sonalidad del senor Weill se perfila con sus ras-
gos j)ropios, gracias a su caracter a fable y a su
culti\a(la inteligencia, que le hacen conquistar
la franca simpatia de todos los (pie lo tratan.
Realiza el senor Weill el viaje en compania df
SU familia, y piensa estar <le regreso en Septiem-
bre proximo.
PERf{>DISMO
Sociedad "Ezrah"
Publicamos, tal como la hemos i-ecibido, b*'
nota (pie nos remite el Hospital Israelita:
Comisiones al interior. — Con resultado satis-
factorio volviernn de Cordoba, Moises Ville y
Bornasconi. Apiobados por la IL (Vunision Di
"El Cocobacilo
> >
Esta revista satirica de medicina, fundada v
dirigida duraute algnnos anos, con singular
acierto, por el Dr. Jacobo Zimmerman, ha en-
trado en su sexto ano de vida y esta por ex-
tender su ladio de influencia con el fin de
interesar no solo a los estudiantes, sino a los
medieos y al püblico culto en general. En efec
to, a partir <lel ])r6ximo nümero, se iniciara
una nueva eta]>a en la y'\i\n de esta revista,
cuva d're<'cion resnmira el (bx'tor Zimnu'rmau.
J'ara elb» se ha asegurado la c<dabo?acin re-
gulär de un griipo de escritores destacados,
(Mitre los cuales figuran los senores M. AItu
na, Pedro H. Aquino, Carlos S. Danud, Jose C.
Pelbey, (Jiegorio Berman, Aleides Ccdandrelli,
/ 1.
: .. „ ,11 * 1.-
iibe scn josiblc liaccr nso de clla. Kii cjjin-
l)iU''(l(» csto, irs pronicto no accptar niii-
'fX^\\i\ otra, aiitcs de lialx'i-los visitado n
ustcdcs.
Ijos saliido con mi considcracion iiias
(listinnuida. -- Alberto Einstein.
Asoaacion hebratca
El concierto de esta noche
.ij^ta ;^>ty^;l)Oj|t'stv ,f\s()('i;u-ioii iii.MU^ur.'in'i hus
.Mffivi(V:i(l('(s («Oll ün concierto .m c.mt^o de los
^^^•^'.'rVV-T^^-*1^<''*.^''lf'-'-Mi^JV''^'^ i'Jecutan'iu cI si-
TU^*' ^y^• , ^^«.^V!'".'^'''*"'i. yiv.Mce, coli iiiolta
osnr(>ssj()'iK;, jiio(r(U';ito, ..MÜexit? iJi;i iioii tropjx».
Lhr^lH'fio. Mo/Mit; but;Mt;;d, C'ui; Alle^ro -a^-
pas-sicHiMto, S;u)it-S.;uMis. ,
-Violbivc^^llo: Kr. 'An>oi4o '^('•liiinn.-i.
Ar]>l:ii)n: Sr. K.'if.iol Nüreiihorg.
Trio, ()p. r>(). '*A l.'i nii'ifiori;! de im \y\'n\\ ;
tirtt.'i ' ui Tschnilcow-sk.x^'iit-ii: ModcrMtc» nss;ii. 'J'c-
iii;i coji \nri:izioMi. — Vjirinzioiii finale e coda.
Andjuit»; con niot(K
in-
J\ tJk^V »w »..».. <\a-^ ■^^•'r'
\ c
_.A .% . .^.^k^.
Asociaciön Juventud
Ns.
V, Israelita
Reunidn famil,:ar. — En el locnl de eata Aso-
ciaciön, (\)irientes 2(;i>7, .st> lievar.'j a cal»o el
doniin^ro <; ,|t.| ,(,iriente, a las Ki horas, una
Kenniun Familiär.
l'ara conr.mrii ;»k ^pste acto. y cou niotivo de
la ^tVxiuia reapcrturn de 1i * Bihiiotec^a,' aefa
requisito indispensaLIe (|ue rada socio traiga
IHK. o nias diI.4-ovX '--w - -^^
Los no^ socios que deseeii concurrii- deheraii
ser j13H^cniadi)a i>oi- uii Kocio, y nhonaran; otj-
halleros, ,>:; .'); y senorltas, s 2.
Cüufereiicia. — >]l dia .jiH'ves It» del vov}ieii-
t(\ a las 21.;{(i horas, se iniciara el „ciclo de
«•ont'erejiciaü. dej ajVo ••!» ci^r.st», <jne patrochtn
esta Aso(;iacion. . .^
.r---<
fereiicia a car^r(') del i'rot^^jBor Dj-. \U\irö Hroür
^1, ffohre el tema: .o
SiThre la naturaleza de las cosas". ,1
Ciirsod^' disciptina Tnental^ -— *-1^l ^t*;" AH<»->-f'
toriaiio Liüo, n^\ -Ateneo de Madrid, anciejt
eleve t+r i'Tlco.lj' 'Tfes -^Inirfs ' Krad^k ' Soc'tah^s'
de Paiis, iniciara en hreye an curso <ie Dis-
ciplina Atrninf; -1)äf)iefYd-Q coiifeirlotianfr eT si'
guieute jjiro^raina: . ,- -
Iniciacion. — Kl Tanteisnio. — Lectura V
glosa de 4ijL..eti<^iLi>.— Xpiiius». - — ^EL-^M^H+^vi.s- .
mo. — La Pilosofia positiva de A. Cointe. ^
Curso de declamaciön''"^-^^*KTr"hrr\r»r^tyrTt'f^?i^t'
a caiiT.» ^It l ,l)i;..^\^(t^Miaa(> Lill<v,^^ djc<ara
u n c u r so dV. (Nvl a ni a c 10 n ' l- üy o^ mJ^ ra \uU ^s^r:'» *
<la<lo >a conoceu oport miajuente.. -^: \ '^
Cursos gratuitos de müsica. — Han <lado c o "
DiitJi^t ^cvi.1 .aiiJ^ljLiKiüa de Jvuiii^.i-(wiUK ttiunjaosf-
las H-lases j^raluilas de piano," violin y s(,lteo.
Las p<*iV4*n+f4- '^ue^»(U>se(tir ins'cH»dP>«^-' Ti loii-^
eiirsos aiUeriorvSj paeden hacerlo (odos los
dias eii>--»lf>*^Se('>iot«fia'- (h^- Itf- iTiMitiiri^n, i^^-
irientes L'o!»7, d«' 14 a LS hoias. ^
Bibiioteca. — Kl ilia doniinjro 1.3 del e^rrien-
-JNl
tu» roii\riinnu' ii)ar a la cuieclividati iwiac
Uta de cada pais uiia determinada extension
de tiena {[iie <lel>era ser costeada con su 6l)o
lo. tenieiido nal uralineiite en cuenta, para eso,
el uüinero de israelitas, las «'ondiciones de los
ini.-nios, coino tanilden asi, las coiit lihuciones
^{U^' estoH liayan lieclio en (li\'ersas otras opor-
tuniilades.
A tal efect;) se ha desi^nado 2.()(M» Dunains
))ara los isracditas de la ArgiMitina; vali» de-
eir, una suina de 1(M) niil pesos, a cuenta de los
cuales. Iiasta Iion' dia, se ha rec(>lectado aire
dedor de .* (50.000, dado que el valor de un
Dunani asciendo a la sunia de $ (50.
('onsiderando ([Ue todo isracdita teniendo |>re-
sente ([Ue con su doiiacin ha adtjuirido cierta
])orcioii de tierra j)alestinense, im» vacilara en
ofrecer su trihuto, y en tal forma sera loj^ia
do (d alto ol»jeti\(» «jue com esta obra ha de
liexars«' a caho.
Kl Comite pro Tampana <1el Dunam actlva
eiier^i«ainei'te en sus funciones; en una de sus
ültinias sesiones se <le1e!inin6 el jdan ((e I""<>;
j>ay;-nida, y v\ presupucsto de la (\'nn))ana.
Kn la ciudad |)art iciparaii activaniente en la
colecla todas las sociedades sionistas hieales,
sin distincioii de partido Jii fraccion, eonio tam-
Lien la A^iup.'n'ioii .Iuvenil j.io Foiido /Nacio
nal, la cual ha entrado de IUmh. a su lahor.
Dl' i^>saiio »•oinuiiicaii fiue la c(decta se efec
tuara a partir did «) de! cte. FA secretario d(d
Fondo Nacional, Sr. .1. Lpsleiii se tr:isladar.a
]»r6\-iniaineiite a la hennana ciudad, con el oL-
ieto <le coadvuvai- en sus tareas.
Kl Directorio de! Fondo Nacional ha diri
^ido una circular a iiumerosos isr.'ielitas desta-
cados de la c(decti\idad sefardi, a fin de so
licitar sU coojx'r.'icion en la colecta, en sus les
])ecti\ as loca lidades.
L:i S(»ciedad Israelit;) de Lima (l*erü), asi
conin de Caracas ( V'ene/iud.'i ), han sido iiivitadas
a colalioj-ar en estas tareas, of iecieiid(des l;i ad-
quisicion de cierta caiitidad de Dunanis jiara
JiacerUis adqiiivir jtor los israelitas de sus ves-
pectirnK loeftlidrides.
Adcui.as, es de es|)er;ir oue con la .'«ynda efi-
caj^ dt?F "f^'. '.F.^Selzrr, d(de^r;id(, d(d Fondo Xa- i
citnqil loc4il, nuestros hernianos los sefardini,
(lediealaTT lOK P'*-fuerKo<! i-e()neridos |>ara liacer
notoria su (-(dahoracioii a esa ohra.
I'roxincia de LutMios Aires y la l'anipa, se tras
lado a las provincias de .Mendo/a ,v S;iii .luaii.
para <liri^irse luej^o a Chile.
Con resjtecto a la Mej^ada del scnor Lat/.ki
a Mendoza, la secretaria d<d Comite Cential ha
recilddo id sij^uiente des|>aclio ttde^rafico:
' VLa mdicia de la praxi nia lle^.ada <lel <l(de-
y^ado de la (!oiifereiu*i.'i Cni versa I Isijudita <le
Socorro, Sr. Latzki Hertoldi, fue recihida con
^ran entusiasmo j)or toda la colectivid.ad israe-
lita de Mendoza.
Se realiz<» una reunion que diu por resultado
la formacion de un comite especial, para la re-
cepcion d(d distin^uido visitante, y para la or-
yanizacion de la c(decta en pro de los huer-
fanos israelitas de Kusia v Ukrania.
lOn la estacion, el Sr. Latzki sera reeilddo
!>or los representantes de las sociedades israe-
litas locales, como tamlden j»or los miemliros
mj'is caracterizados <le nuestra colectividad.
Los preparati\()s de la confercMicia hau co-
menzado, y es])eramoa ohtener un ^r.'iii exito
iiKHal v material ".
La colectividad israelita de .\Ien<loza va de-
.niostro en otras ocaKiones su apn.vn n otm« m-.
tos de car.Mcter nacional judio, ocu|>aiido siem
pre uiio de l(»s primercfs puestos t'U las colecla^.
YA ('(hnite Central <le Socorro esta firme
nicntc^ con\('iicido de (jue tamhien cn esta oca-
sion la ccdeetividad isra(dita de Mendo/a, coii-
sidtM'ara del»idamente al impcntante proldema
de ia (ufandad ocupando en la cole<-ta (d
juu'sto a (jue se ha lie(dio acree(l(»ra eti otr.Ms
oport unidades.
——•-••'
Sociedad 'Ezrah"
t ~ .y-~.
^^ Una velada literano-musical
% "^ V • Ji^* '5^■v-
^'^^n T^TIot^TfV'ffr'-rn 'M^imn- Sionista de la Ca-
pit\|^", ^P;isW»U" •'>3."), se efe(\Jnar>i una velada li
terari(»-TWu^ica1;^"rM^*^^n'Hr^a ' I^m^ *^'oluntarios pa-
,1;' la Campana del hiiiiani, nrj^anizada por la
*Aß'nT^cin(5i'-^uvi»4+il' |»v^> lM>rvtio •■Nacional.
vAxtal -^decto se ha invitaüji) a . 4Mi numeroso
eieniento t'studi:i MTil,oespei'al!(l(r öicau?.rr,r el ma-
j:a>^^Uk,^ .^.-^-^..^. >..>^i^vi:^^^
7;tt'TlVII)An. DFL lXSTRr(TOT^ ,^,
Cördoba . ^^
.. f^v-
l^a^ tj'<jtw;u'ii'>«i.,^!<>'»'-*<Laj^ #Sr. M. Seiidej-e^j, ;i di-
ckia ciudjid,'^e 'li.a iMj'n v(»c;Tn(V Tfln-V *asarfiMe.'i"'^e-
jH'r?%l ukJo.'k dias Ik, v IG de . Marzo, .donde td
Scnor Si'iidere*, inonuiicio un dvijclirso, fi raiz
te, se lle\ara ;i cal)o un avk) H;on mcdivo-^ft« la
reapertura de la HimioTec^»;"-^^^ *' ^-i'^"^* ""
Tertulias familiäres. — Con el fin de» ].ro
]no\('i vincuhis de socialtilidad eiitre los aso-^
eiados, la C. I). h;i resi'ie^f?^; ;msj>icjrir Jy >y^ '
lizacion de teriulias (ji'ie*" se "* i*ealiz;M a 11 los ilV»
min^os de 10 a 120 horas y a las cuales podr.aii •
asistir extdusi vamente los socios.
«l«;!. -pi Unorw- :^ii d'/ichtm "l.ipJnulias •*<» •'.IIOA-'^jhV^«a'--
<-a.Wr'ie4rd<«»ai|^n.^<k •feJl), }!o^i'iiiVii'i<>utt>I<)i.>M«»iI)iq hvli''.»;
primii- loda (dase de cU(da de ih^'rO^o' i\- fjii
d(*»Yanni^a !' -Ifl^^U'l^'ei'fi iW-'f/'ylr <^^'- ;?(»/-VW?i- 'en'^ 'rf ^tÄ"'^-
^riJ^-^o ^<fi«-TfVf ^V^M-^rÜMfinT ^''^''- ^^'''H >'^P Vliviip^
^ ..... - . . ^..,^;,;r,.,H
_^ ha i'oiiytiturtfio una nue\a C. D.,
(pUMlaiKlrTde e'sT't^ uiTMhT re(»r^'a 11 izado (d Cen
tro ^K&ionista \(^7Sih s^ ^v Jn
Ki^ta Comi^ion esta iiite^n-,\da 110 solo por (d
et<'Tn>»"nt(>-Kilu»iKiKV^<4Mta y.tfUKTri»Äjii\,st;^J[\^i^ v-Ua:**-
\\ti'^\iU) ''II (li\(i:^as oportunLÜade^^ «'"<> ()U^\tam
h i>? 1 1 f f rrf^'ani pftVi • »l*» ^ I a >, ul Um: 1 viiJj!W>^.i<j VA.'.iJVt
ii.lelect ii.-j^les y estudiahtes. moii la -C(dal»oi acioii
>NAj. |'vH!i A >ii;a1 c s ^.iüi. ♦di* --4iiif**>t a r, ■ iiü^' . abkhx i « I^lI -JLWt^
tavada \Xy\ ('eii-tro Sioiiifita de Cördcd^'u
" ftio'Cliartd."-— Ifa^^srtad.r Vvf^^iT'S'cMKlert^.^.
^1 la p(d>l;.ci(Hi do l\*fn C^ü;•t^^y "l<»Ji<it* <*" i'ausa
tlT«t-"-Tll^Viff^irr^TtrH^TJl3Tf(r'-f|f^ h^^^snfislna es imposi-
Ide la (»ijuani/acion de un ( ciitro. por lO (|Ue
so ii.a (lesiiriiad(,' a los Sres. M. I>laiik, ( '. I>(Mider
v F. Sdiverskv, (luieiies actixaran en 1 odos
l^os tial>a.jos r(d.-icionados con la Oij^.anizacion
sionista.
Kn IiosüTk», cou m«dl\(» de ia proxima Cam-
'o
Duhlicamos, tal como la henios recihido, I--'
nota (jUc nos remite el llosj)ital Israelita:
Comi.siones al interior. — Con resultado satis-
factorio vnivieron de Cord(d)a, Moises Ville y
BeriiMsconi. Aprohados p<»r la IL Comision Di
re<'tiva los informes se h;ir;'in püldicos, como
tamlden las nominas de los ;reiierosos don.-intes.
I Saldran en hreve los senore"< (iretjorio (Jeiiijo-
vi<di y Sahunon Foverene en su j^r.'in Jira por
C. Su.-'irez, Tres Arroyos, Bahia Hlaiica y Meda
nos. adonde impacienteinente l(>s a^uardan luu-
(dias y huenas alnias Israelit :is.
Moas Jitim. — Acdixan las Comisiones sus re-
corridas y se c()nfia (jue los necesitados, como
en los afios ;i iiteriores, tendran <le la ''Fzrali''
su ezr.ah i^eneiosa para la [)iadosa tradicion del
]>esaj.
Colocaciön de carteles. — La "Fzrah" pide
jtoiniiso a tofdas las inst itucioiu's yi c;isas comer-
ciales israelit.'is de la Capital e Interior, de (folo-
car carttdes (qu<' enviar.a), exhort.-nido a nues-
tros correlij^ioiia rios de adherirse a sus fiiies y
a^radecera nun ho el' aviso verbal, es('lito o tele-
fonico a> efecto.
Doctor V. Dimitri eminente jaofesor de neu
ropat<do^ia, fue ll.amado al Ilospit.d |)ara la
jifclisulta d(^ un caso j^raxc, a h» (|Ue ^eiit ilineiite
^ -t^dio. l*ero, jtor su aniistad con iiuisti»o di^no
/<'f<* d«' ('linica Medica, doctor .luaii A. Siffie<li,
por i'iiü.sideracion a la ''Fzrah" y por sus sen
1 imi(Ui1-(»s a It ruistas, ha resueltc» 110 cidnar nad;i.
La iuderliv.id.id «lel»o salier y recoiiocer eso^ r;is-
Meniorable mes de Marzo de 1924. — .\ pesai
do: lU'iieanCMlad de enfermos ^raves (ii tiulos los
SeTVi<»i»»M, 't»raf ias ;i Diits, ni un s(do caso f.at.al
sei.lprodUjo >n elHospit.al '*Lzrah'', durante el
mes d<* JVL-irzrn (»jxlcr.v con inmeiisa satisfaccioii
doi: pcjiUii^vai :y (U*>dn9ri?nferntos y los suyos.
Si^fiora Attlcilla' B/'de Guibert y senora Rosa
ly; dö' POvereüe, WerriH -'ii'comeiidadas es|>e(dal-
UienK' \U\\' i^^uh'h' <^ol■»•osplhd^e^^•l un \<tto 'le apiau
so *f^i\-tf(M«f<i de iHi U. .Con»'i«iriri Direcfixa, por su
(UM"i<^-J*<'-'?4u; -?#:*li(lua' yjefuih/.: **»Ä''^H'<> <'*' '<»« \\\\v
] '.»H's ■ \ fei ^ I (>o <\i\i ; H . '*' ^' ^5 -I ^j, »t> K a o '^T3q
*'Eeir«rs6^*dö'lä irifed^Hk'.' -^ 'H»o'-^todo es un
i(.'iht^iP-d<'M\Sie^"'^l<(rnf;»i:>*s.«. •.>^1-Mf^>IIlM\^V i^c l:is ten-
*d(*fl(4MML^üb1 ,Vi\^^;(fl^.<? <^\:^y(^\ii^'^f^'.i^ 1Jli'''f.r(rduci(l(.
•ui?^^dr^i^;<^<!^ntLVP*Jry^r;Ufi^<^h^ 'X*> li^l-<n^'l?ft .'.<«to inau-
fiii.(U' .»eiiUJni, el t'\n()^«l,e su pr(q»os.iTo.
5asii.\,jli»;i^,0j. <1j' doiid(' nrosri/uira en su jira irtn'
;i proNiiicia ue Linie ITiOs. '
'" 'j"
ta importamia tieue para nuestra coletdiv i»lad.
A esle :-espe(do nos ha manifeslado el sefior
W'eill (jUe propi«dara en Furopa la crea<i6n <le
escuel.'is de trahajos manuales, a fin de que Iom
inmi^nantes, a su llej;ada a nuestro pais, posean
al^a'iii oficio (jue faidlite su rapida uldcacion.
Como deidmos, el senor Weill se lialla en la
Ar^^'iitiiia desde ]!)();"), ano en que comeiizo la
deiisa iiimi^racion Judia. Fstallada la j^uerra eu-
ropea, \(d\io a su patria jiara incorporarse a las
filas en SU cali<lad de cd'icial del ejercito fran-
c^'H, doiide presto sus servicioa de \\)\A a l!>10.
Terminada la confl.i^racion, torno a Ia Argcn-
tina para leasumir sus tareas en la .1. C. A.
Kn la« eolectividades francesa y judia la per-
Houalidad del senor \VeiIl se perfila con sus ras-
gos projMos, y;racias a su «'aracter ;i fahle y a su
i'ultixada iiiteli}^eii(da, cpie le hacen coiKjuistar
la franca simpatia de todos los que lo tratan.
Keali/a el senor Weill el viaje en cotujiania de
su faniilia, y piensa estar de rej^reso en Septiem-
l»re proxinio.
PERäODISMO
< (
El Cocobacilo"
Ksta revista satirica de medicin;i, fuiidada v
diriyi<la durante aly:nn(»s anos, con sinj»;ular
a( ierto, por el Dr. .lacoho Zimmerman, ha en-
trado en SU sexto ano de vid.a y estj'i por ex-
tender su i.adio de iiifluencia c(»n el fin de
interesar 110 solo a los estudiantes, sino a los
medicos y al puidico culto en j'-eneral. Kn efec-
to, a paitir d(l |noximo nüinero, se iniciara
una nueva etaj)a en la \ida de esta revista,
cuya d'reecion resnmira el doctor Zimmerman.
l'ara ello se ha asej^urado la ccdahoracin re-
gulär de Uli jrrujto de escritores <lestacado8,
ontre los cu.ah-s fiyuran los sefun-es M. Alta-
na, Fedro H. Aquiiio, Carlos S. Daniel, .lose C.
Lelhey, (Jieji[oiio lierman. Aleides ('(dandrelli,
Capcrlino del Campo. .Arturo Caiice';, .luan K.
( '.ii Ulla, Fiirique I)i(d\mann, Samuel Fi<diel-
I»auni, I). Keriij'indez M(»reno, Kdmundo (Jui-
itoui«i[, AIejandro Korn, Mario X. Lando, AL'i-
lio F. Laure^v-', Osvtddo Landet, Clemente One
lli F. Oiti^a Aiickerman, .lulio Savon, .lose
Svihel, Faustino .1. T«-on^c y .luan Tumhurus.
F»ueii;i {»arte del j)roximo nümer(» estara de-
dicada al Dr. l'Muardo Wilde, de cuyas ohras
se ofroceräii svIim tos trozos de diverso carac-
ter. Adeni:'is. cada nunieio tracr.-'i l.'is scccones
siguien les:
Fna •'.ntol(»^ia de los nM''(licos aijifentinos (jUe
se hau dest.-icadö como escritores: Kc^uardo AVil-
de, Ki»a!d<> CiUtieir.»»/, (luillermo Uawson, .Jo-
se Maria Ha mos Me.jia, I'edro X. Arata, M.a-
a.ucl T. I'o.h -t:'), FrancistM» .lavier Muni/, F.aus-
tüM» Tron^i' (][.), Francisco Sicaidi, Claudio.
M.'imerto ( uenc.i.
La fij^ura dd inedico jirofesi(Hi;i I en las j;ran-
des ol»i;'S de ia literatura (dasic.a. Traduccio-
nes _\ fi'a^nientos de Fiasnio, Cervantes, C^ue-
vedo, M«dicre, Le Saife, etc., etc.
La inedicina <lel pasa<l(»... y la del poryenir.
?ipiso(li(rs y ;inecd(das de la vida medit-a.
I*sicoana,lisis, Futjenia, FnMro<'ioii<do^;ia y
otras nu\ oda<les |tor id estilo.
Notas y fi^^'uras de aidualidad.
.]uici(( de lil»ros iiuevos.
Di s parat ai io.
De: <lc td punto de \ist;i d(d enfermo.
(laierias de esf»e(da lidades medicas.
Veinte anos desjuies. Fn wtrato y una anec
d(»ta <Ie I:; \ ida estudiantil de los profesores
<le nuestr.a I'':»cultad de Medicina.
Trihuii;! liltre.
Suplemei to jocoso: ''l']I Fc(» de la Cha<'a-
iita
BANCO BRITAMCO
DE LA AMERICA DEL SUD. Limitado
Establecido
en 1H()8
GAFITAL
Y
RESERVAS
£ 2.
Est.
. ReaWza toda clase de operaciones hancarias
'•''^ en las majores condiciones de plaza
•i:jro.
«hö^^ W. PRITCHARD
•^s.'^iV^s. Junio 1923 cjeukntk
• ♦.-
aj::-^
der 1913 den Nobelpreis erhielt, besucht auf der Durchreise durch Berlin Professor
Albert Einstein in seinem Heim. Die Aufnahme zei^rt von links nach rechts: Pro
fessor Einstein, seine Gattin und Rabindranath Tagore. Stehend: Dr. Löwenth;
die Tochter Margot Einstein, Professor Mahalanobis, Tagores Schwiegertochter up
Frau Professor Mahalanobis. Aufnahme United Newspk e
meine Papiere ordnen und mich friedlich
niederlegen."
Weit mehr Sorgen machte er sich wäh-
rend der Kriegsjahre um den Zusammen-
bruch der geistigen Fronten, „ich wür-
de", so schrieb er 191 5 seinem Freund
Ehrenfest, „so gerne etwas tun, um die
Kollegen aus den verschiedenen Vater-
ländern zusammenzuhalten. Ist nicht das
Häuflein emsiger Denkmenschen das
einzige Vaterland, für das unsereiner
etwas Ernsthaftes übrig hat ? Sollen auch
diese Menschen Gesinnungen haben, die
alleinige Funktion des Wohnortes sind ?"
Nach Abschluß des Friedensvertrages
ergriff er gern die Gelegenheit, um vor-
übergehend wieder in die Schweiz zu
fahren. Belustigt hat ihn damals ein
Vorfall, der sich in Basel abspielte. »^>
wohnte dort einer naturwissenschaiJi-
chen Tagung bei. Als er im Hotel \ or-
sprach, in dem ihm durch das Sekretariat
der Versammlungsleitung ein Zimmer
zugewiesen worden war, machte er auf
den Portier einen derart schäbigen Ein-
druck, daß dieser den ihm unbekannten
Gast bat, die Rechnung doch gleich
vorauszubezahlen.
Glauben Sie an Gott?
Aeußerlich und innerlich hatten die
Berliner Jahre Einstein kaum verändert.
„Ich bin", meldete er 191 7 seinen Freun-
den nach Holland, „viel toleranter
geworden, ohne im Prinzipiellen rneine
Ansichten im eerincsten zu ändern. Ich
sehe, daß oft jene Menschen, die politisch
am machtgierigsten und maßlosesten
sind, als Privatmenschen keine Fliege
töten können. Es liegt eine epidemische
Wahnidee vor, die, nachdem sie unend-
liche Leiden erzeugt hat, wieder ver-
schwinden wird, um dann von der
übernächsten Generation als etwas ganz
Monstr()ses und Unbegreifliches ange-
staunt zu werden."
In Zürich erzählte Professor Einstein
damals, daß er aus New York ein Tele-
gramm erhalten habe mit dem Inhalt:
„Glauben Sie an Gott? - stop - Bezahlte
Antwort fünfzig Worte." Der Absender
war ein besorgter Rabbiner, der gehört
hatte, daß Einstein in Boston von einem
Kardinal als Atheist bezeichnet worden
war. Trotz der sonderbaren Form kabeltei
j Einstein zurück : ,,lch glaube an Spinozas/
Gott, der sich in der Harmonie des!
Seienden offenbart, nicht an einen GottJ
der sich mit Schicksalen und Handlungen
der Menschen abgibt." — -^
I Einstein, dessen Relativitätstheorie
revolutionierend gewirkt hatte, schrieb
1917 seinen Freunden nach Holland:
„ich habe wieder etwas verbrochen in
der Gravitationstheorie, das mich ein
wenig in Gefahr setzt, in einem Tollhaus
interniert zu werden. Hoffentlich habt
Ihr keines in Leiden, damit ich Euch un-
gefährdet besuchen kann! Schade, daß
wir nicht auf dem Mars wohnen und das
üble Menschengetue nur mit dem Fern-
rohr beobachten. Unser Jehovah hat
nicht mehr nötig, Pech und Schwefel
regnen zu lassen. Er hat sich moderni-
siert und diesen Betrieb automatisch
eingerichtet."
Der Aufstieg zum Weltruhm
Kaum nach Berlin zurückgekehrt,
heiratete Einstein 191 9 seine lebensfrohe
Kusine Elsa Einstein, deren Vater ein
Vetter seines Vaters und deren Mutter
eine Schwester seiner Mutter war. Die
harmonische Ehe dauert bis Ende 1956.
In jenem lahr ist Elsa Einstein gestorben:
ein Jahr nach dem Einzug in das zwei-
stöckige, für amerikanische Begriffe alte
Holzhaus, das Albert Einstein in der
etwa hundert Kilometer von New York
befindlichen nordamerikanischen Uni-
versitätsstadt Princeton erworben hat.
Doch kehren wir zum ereignisreichen
Jahr 1919 zurück, in dem Einsteins
Mutter todkrank zu ihrem Sohn nach
Berlin gekommen ist, um anfangs März
1920 bei ihm zu sterben. 19 19 hatte Ein-
stein bereits in Leiden erfahren, daß die
beiden wissenschaftlichen Expeditionen,
die von der ,, Royal Society of London**
zur Beobachtung der totalen Sonnenfin-
sternis nach der brasilianischen Stadt So-
bral und nach der Insel Principe in Portu-
giesisch Afrika entsandt worden waren,
die Richtigkeit seiner Gravitationstheorie
bestätigten. „Heute abend**, teilte er auf
einer Postkarte am 25. Oktober 19 19
Max Planck mit, „zeigte man mir einen
Brief des Leiters dieser Expedition,
Eddington, nach welchem die genaue
Vermessung der Platten exakt den
theoretischen Wert für die Lichtablen-
kung ergeben hat. Es ist doch eine Gnade
des Schicksals, daß ich dies habe erleben
dürfen.**
Die beiden kostspieligen Expeditionen
hatten also seinen 191 1 ausgesprochenen
Wunsch, seine Theorie möge von den
Astronomen auf ihre Richtigkeit erprobt
werden, endlich erfüllt. Ihre während der
Verfinsterung der Sonne durch den Mond
gemachten fotografischen Aufnahmen
der benachbarten Sterne erwiesen
emwandfrei, daß sich die Lichtstrahlen
in einem Schwerefeld tatsächlich biegen.
Dieses durch die Weltpresse ver()fTent-
lichte Ereignis rüttelte auch den Zürcher
Freundeskreis auf. Vom physikalischen
Kolloquium traf auf einer Postkarte der
Vers ein :
„Alle Zweifel sind entschwunden, /
endlich ist es nun gefunden: / das Licht
das läuft natürlich krumm, / zu Einsteins
allergrößtem Ruhm!** (Fortsetzung folgt)
Copyright by Europa-Verlag. Zürich
1
(l «cvlln, 14. iö!ni. (IcL-Somp.) I^ie Irofli-
fniiiRbic be? Chrcnarf^iients bct 6tat)t iVtliu an
frofcftct 0' ein hnt num>i<>t)t ctn fut ben
-■Vrli!i>-r ftilf/.-.llnit f ' h r p t i n l i rf) o •. 0; " f" <•
.ciuiibcn. frcicfiöt tHnflcui l)at uiimlid) nu ben
9bfrt.ür.'.f er -iftct neu 1?crHn ciiu'u ^ütief (icnd)tct,
in bem er mitteilt, bag et « «> M « ' t » 9 »"' ^»'
Crnencinbe b^r etnht ^'crlin ocrjirfjtf. Cr be-
cV\W\<\<: iinnrv.-br c.'f feine ci.v.'ucn Rnftm einen
■■:■'.-!-. ;if, vt enr'vbni. tini' ■^H-mlfn".^rtn^9 f-.'c «er-
.-,n<it(ri;rcUH-no isrnioiior tfinftcins ift norfjt ni({)t er.
folgt, ober es ifl f«^" !'-6t fidjet, b«! ^^rofcffor (Ein-
jtein olten >r«erfnd)cn, feinen gferjidlt pt"'»'
jiinelimcn. 5t.Mbcrftmtb entfieBciifeficu wftbc.
1
Sie Itatnüiiidie 3i«»«non «»D We »«e »«".
0ie ^im^se^utig in Ö««^ S^erUner
ttniDerfiiät.
eine tttfiäcung 51'bett Ginflcms.
• .,acf,bem «I^rofei^ot It t« e u r c t f^' ^^^^^^^^^^
.Ä.,^e„ .^.«ntrejyn ^
«cleuä." (Cebtialtcr »et aü. ■ .---..
n/s
I
%^K
/^
5" ,l)cT
h
v
Professor Albert Einstein
2)te ^Sffnuny trer (üetttfalemet
UnlDerrttüt i >
eine 'S^lcx im ©ro&cn flonjcrt^auSföaL ' '
^nläfilic^ bct erfolgten ßroffnung bct
t)ebräijd)cn Uniücrfität in ^erufalcm faub
öcftcrn abcnb« im förofecn 5lonjctt-
MuSfaal eine ?^eicr ftott, bic cmcn uhqo
mein filön^cnbcn Verlauf nal)m.
S)er überall« mürbeöoUcn 5^cranftaltun9
mol^ntcn aüc bcbcutcnbcn Vertreter be«
5Bicnet :^ubcutiim<: bei. iKcben 5?crtretcra
öffentlicher ^uftitutionen auc^ ^ablreidK öe*
lo()rte unb ^J^änner bet J^inanstuelt. So marcu
5U ber Jvcicr bic ©e f a n b t e n Cnc^lanbS,
3)cutfd)Ianb5, Italien«, graufreirfi^, ?olen«,
SRumanien«, Qunoflomieng unb ':^apan4> ct-
fc^iciicn, faft oHc ^^crtretcr curopaifdKt
Stoatcn t)att€ 53c(irüf^un9Mrf)reibcn ixbeu
miticlt, bio unter (ebfaftcm ©ctfaü bcr Öäfti
toerlcjcn mürben. Unter bcfonbcrcn ^ilfflama-
tioncn mürbe bonn ein Sricf be^ bcrübmtcn
ö^clebrten ^Hbert Cinftein t>ornelcfcn, 't
bem er bic ^Intücfenben auf bic SBidjtiglcit bei
^Vibcftunbc aufmcvlfam machte.
iHad) einem CtfielDortraß TctcS tüüvbintc
'^t. ^^rlid) bic 33<^beutuno bcr Uniücrfitatö«
qrünbunp in ^erufalcm unb betonte, ha^ uutt
bem |übifd)en ^tiibentcn ein ?lftil flcbaut fei,
in bem er bon bcr antifemitifcfKU .?)ci^c bei:
europäijd)cn Uniucrfitätcn t)crfd)ont blcibcit
mürbe.
Unter flrofiem ^eifaÜ \via^ bann .U*ro*
fcffur Tr. *Cil)rmünn über bic bcfonbc^
fulturcdc geubuua bcr y^euprünbunn
J^erufalem. ..Tcur bic freie ^^:^irfcnfd)aft * J^'
freie 9}(cnfd)cn cr5ie!>en", fd)(o6 ^rm. VTl
mann feine mit Icb^ftcm Sclfa^u ^i
genommene Siebe. t
(
. ] r,^' . , (Eine (ödftcöfianfc.
©cftcrn nbiMifc luareu C^)cruditc noii einem ?l 1 1 c n t o t n ii f
$ i- ü f c 1 1 ü r IH l b c V t ß i n ft c t n verbreitet. Ten ;'»\'riid]tcn
liciit faKvcnbcr Üntbcftnnt) vu^runbc. Xk rujfiiciK 3dn'i!M'telIcrin
^Vhiria 2 i cf f o n • (i o c n i c lu f a , öic uor cijüiTen ilüod^eii ein
minvTnirftCo ^JütcntiU auf Don riijfifdjcn iBotfd)after in l^arivS,
Arnffin, verübt battc, Derfudjte am »^-reitiiii in ^lc ^isoljnitno
'lUcfcfjor li'inftctnö cin,^n^rlnGen. <Eic linttc feit einem
li n ( b e n 3 a I) r c a n te i n ft e i n X r o Ii b r i e f c n t f du^ c b c n.
Dind) cint^r iuod]i?nlnniKn %au\c, bic fid) burd) ibvc ii^cr^ajtiina
erfliirt, lam bicfcr 2ac\c n^iebcr ein X- r o l) b r i c f ü u ö A b l n.
Xic (Sattin '^irofcffor (s:inftcinö Derfuditc b e n (i i n tr i 1 1 Ö c r
2: i cf f 0 n 3 n v e r 1) i n b c rn , b i e D q r a n f c n t f l o I). Sic
licfj einen 23rief an Ginftcin mit bcr 25 i 1 1 c um i^ilfc
5 n r ü cf.
grau Xifffon ift in^iuifdien üon bcr ^oli^^el feftgenommcn unb
in ch\c 5lnftalt für (5)ciftc^franlc nbcri^'efülirt morben. ^rofeffor
(finftein unb ibm naliejtclienbc iUeifc liaben fid) il)rrr nnfrenommcn.
Tie ncvfiaftetc i^rau Xidfon, eine 5^^" ^^^" ^^^ ^^^ ^^ ^[^abrcn,
crfdjien nm fvrcitna nnd)nüttini auf unfcrcr tJRebaftion.
Sic fam unmitteUnu mm 'l'rojeffor (iinftein, cr^v'iWtc audi, bafj fic
i()m einen if-rief ^nrüdoclaffcn I)abe unb { i d) c r b a r a u f r c d) n c ,
bafj er tl)v fielfcn lucrbc. Sie mnd)te einen fnrd)tbar
li e r \u a fi r l 0 ft e n d i n b r n rf , trufl t()r iUeib auf bem nacftcn
ilbrper nnb liatte c\(\iv^ .^erriffene Xürtjcr nm Avcpf unb 3d)nltcvn
^lefriilünen. Statt eine« ^i>affcä funntc fic fid) bnrd) ein Sd)r cibcn
b c 8 f i a 11 3 i) f i f dl c n .H o n f u l a t «i in l'l a d) c n anemcifen.
Sie ift bemnad) ans? [vran(reid) auö^t^i^^icf^n. 2:ic S t r a f u c r •
folflunö uie^]rn bc8 Vlttentatö auf Ä^raffin ift ja and) tatfad)lid)
tu e iK n C^ c i ft c ö ( r a u { Ii c i t fl c ß c n f i e c i n n c ft c 1 1 1
utorben. Sic beliauHctc, im ©efftnc^niiJ i i) r e r ö '^ f f^ "^ t c n
^ abe beraubt luorbcn ^u fein, unb hat un§<, bo§ ^u DcriMfent-
lidjcn. Sluö jcbcm ilircr UBorte fprod) eine unfinniflc Vlui^ft Dor
ben Äionunnniftcn. Sic fürd)tctc, von Öcr bcutjdien ^Polt^ci an fJhifj-
lanb ausgeliefert unb crfd)offcn ,^u tr>erben.
'ilüe il^rc *Jkbcn unb >oanMuniicn, aud) bic ÜBorte ctneS 5?riefe?,
tcw fic an iinforcn (>l)cfroböfteur fd)ricb. mnditcn ben Q^nbtuJ
ber CSci fic« f r iin f cn. Zb fic bei direm i8cfud)c bei öinftcin tot.
jacljlidj ein VÜtentat öc^Uant l)at. ober ob fie ^Mlfe bei il)m fucf)tc. iric
fic un»? faotc. irirb molil nie ouf(ieflört ircrben. ipei unö lelintc fie
iebeä yini^ebot, if)r nuitcrieÜ ober fonftiotc ^n f)elfcn, ab unb vertüicv
barauf, bafj fie einige hunbert [yranfen bcfijje, unb ba^ il)c im
übrinen -i^rofcffor öinftein helfen ir^crbe.
iTic fran,',bfi[d>en i^et)örbcn I)al>en bic 2)icffün. t)on ber fic bod)
njnfitcn, baf? fic eine ni d)t ungcfäf)rlidje ©eiftclfranfo
ift, nad) Zeigten gcfcl)nfft. ^ic t>cIoifd)c -J.^oti.^ci f>at fic bann über
bic bcutid)c (Srcn,^c gebrndit nnb in VI a d) c n auf freien
Jy u f3 ö e f c t5 1. Tic beutfcljcn ii^cljbrbcn finb n t dj t b c n a dj •
r idj t i ö t morbcn.
Sin «ttenlüisöerlUi!) üul Kinttein.
Xie l'crjuuiidjfcit her 5tau Xirffun.
Hüln. l. Acbniar. (2>p.) 3« ^<'nt ^JtnutkuK' aw
^Örofcifor iitnitcin teilt hie ,HöIuijd>? ,^eitmin" mit:
;5rQu Ä i if f 0 n ijt nad) i)cm h^^^'v^tcn ^Infdilac^c an]
:sixc\]]\t\ |ür T! i rfi t ü ö U i g j^ u r e d) n u n fl i^ f ö M g
ti-rflärt unb ^u einigen ä?od)2n (Mefdng-aii' \>rrurtcilt
inürbini. 3ie a^anhw i'wl) ftctö x>on 'l^olid^miiicn uer-
folgt un^ bidt Ginjt<*iii für bca Urheber aller
Scrfoltiungcn. b^mn fie t)ün SJ^^i"^^^^^'^'« ^"^ 2o-
Sicibemofrcten au^gefcfet fein tPtll. ^:c>k fübrt ob ^e
arünbunn an, fic habe in jungen Sobrcn su ein-
ftcin Sestcbunaeu unterbctltcn unb biirrf) ^crcn x?ö^
lunp. brficn ibai auf fidi gc^.ogeu. Sic erfd}icn übrigen--
in beltlcrboftcm Vlufjug mxh berid)tctc, ihre .v>ab
feligfcitcn, barnnter eine golbene llbr imb lOdC^Y)
^ronc§, feien ihr im frongöfifcften ©cfongni^i ent-
3ronc§
n:)cnbci iporbcn.
2ie führt eine ^e^cftetnigung nbev
ein febr grofeet^ rj^oiiorar bei »JKcuiic
be^" mit fic^
^ vu Tlow
":) '4-^
\
ni
(ZiA^(\
r
Hy\
(a
i
\
^ et
i
tfH
K
u
/
VIbei t Einstein
Gespräche mit
Aus den Tagebüchern von Harry Graf Kessler
BAD GODESBCRG. (df) „Politik, Kunst und
Ccscilschall der zwanziger Jahre" lautet der Unter-
titel cuies Mcmoircnwcrkes, dessen geistige Spann-
weite gewiß rechtfertigt, daß Verlag und Heraus-
geber es mit emcr so anspruchsvollen Etikette cha-
rakterisieren. Es sind die lagebücher Harrr Graf
Kesslers aus der Zeit von 1918 bis 1937, die
im Herbst im Insel-Verlag, Franklurt/Main er-
scheinen werden. Wer seine früheren, vom Natio-
nalsozialismus verfemten Schriften noch kennt —
seine Rathenau-Biographie und die „Gesichter und
Zeiten" seiner eigenen Umwelt — weiß es nicht
hoch genug zu schätzen, daß uns diese erst nach
seinem Tod (1937 in Südfrankreich) gesammelte
Hinterlassenschaft erhalten blieb. Der Diplomat
und Vorkämpfer der europäischen Verständigung,
der Schriftsteller und Mäzen, der den Akteuren der
großen Politik ebenso nahe stand wie allen reprä-
sentativen Erscheinungen des geistigen und gesell-
schaftlichen Lebens, war wie kaum ein anderer
befähigt, die Chronik seiner Zeit aufzuzeichnen.
Im Dezember 1924 traf Graf Kessler in einer
Gesellschaft „Prominenter" mit Albert Einstein zu-
hdmaicn. Beide, so 'xhrciHf rr, hätten sie sich etwas
fremd in dieser Umgebung gefühlt. Auf seine
} race, an welchen Problemen er jetzt arbeite, ant-
wortete Einstein, „er denke nach, wenn man über
irgendeinen wissenschaftlichen Satz nachdenke,
käme man eigentlich immer vorwärts; denn jeder
wissenschaftliche Salz, ohne Ausnahme, sei falsch:
das läge an der Inadäqualheit des menschlichen
Denkens und BcgritTsvermögens gegenüber der
Natur, infolge deren jede begriffliche Formulierung
der Natur sich immer irgendwo nicht ganz mit ihr
decke. Jedes Nachprüfen eines wissenschaftlichen
Satzes erschüttere ihn daher und führe zu einer
neuen, exakteren Formulierung, die aber wieder
auch irgendwie nicht stimme und daher zu neuen
Formulicrunuen führe; und so weiter in intinitum."
Kessler notiert dazu: „Der ironische (narquois)
Zug in Einsteins Gesichtsausdruck, das ,Pierrol
lunairc'-hafte, der lächelnde und schmerzhafte
Skeptizismus, der ihm um die Augen spielt, tritt
immer stärker hervor. Man muß, wenn er spricht
und man sein Gesicht beobachtet, manchmal an
den Dichter Lichtenstein denken, an einen Lich-
tenslcin, der nicht über die Oberfläche, sondern
über die Wurzeln des menschlichen Hochmutes
lächelt." (Lichtenberg? d. Red.)
Das zweite Gespräch, drei Jahre später, bei dem
unter anderen Gerhart Hauptmann und der
Berliner Thcatcrkrilikcr Alfred Kerr zugegen
waren, berührte Einsteins Verhältnis #u religiösen
Anschauungen, angeregt durch die I rage Haupt-
manns, was er von der Astrologie halte. „Einstein
lehnte sie absolut und so schroff, wie bei scmcr
konzilianten Natur denkbar, ab. Das kopcrnika-
nische System habe endgültig mit der anthropo-
zentrischen Anschauung, wonach sich der ganze
Himmel um die Erde und die Menschheit drehe,
aufgeräumt. Das sei wohl der stärkste Stoß, den
die Weltanschauung des Menschen überhaupt je-
mals erhallen habe. Die Erde sei dadurch sozu-
sagen provinzialisicrl worden, nur noch , Provinz',
statt Haupt- und Millclpunkt zu sein, geworden.
Damit sei auch die Passion Christi, die Kreuzigung,
in ganz neues Eicht gerückt."
Den vagen Einwand Hauptmanns, man müsse in
der Gestaltung unserer Weltanschauung doch auch
der Phantasie noch einen gewissen Spielraum las-
sen, beantwortete Einstein: „Gewiß; er lese ge-
rade Ecvy-Bruhls Buch über primitives Denken,
Dämonen überall. Wahrscheinlich sei der Glaube
an die Einwirkung von Dämonen überhaupt die
Wurzel unseres Kausal-BcgrifTs." Kessler erklärt,
offenbar habe Einstein damit sagen wollen, der
Weg sei vom Dämoncnglaubcn zur Astrologie und
von dieser über das kopcrnikanischc Weltsystem
zur rein kausal-mechanischen Naturanschauung
gegangen.
Hier unterbrach Alfred Kerr das Gespräch, wie
Kessler schreibt, „mit Witzeleien, die geistreich
sein sollten, aber nicht einmal komisch waren ; be-
sonders machte er sich über den lieben Gott lustig.
Ich versuchte, ihn zur Ruhe zu bringen und sagte
dabei, er solle doch Einslein nicht unnötig ver-
letzen, der tief gläubig sei. ,Was', sagte Kerr, ,nicht
möglich! Da muß ich ihn doch gleich mal fragen.
Also, lieber Professor, Sic sollen tief religiös sein?'
Mit großer Würde und Gelassenheit antwortete
Einstein: ,Gewiß. wie man es nehmen will. Wenn
man mit unseren beschränkten Mitteln in ilie Na-
tur einzudringen versucht, so findet man hinter
allen für uns noch erkennbaren /.usammcnhüngen
etwas ganz Feines, Ungreifbares. Uneiklärliches;
die Ehrfurcht vor diesem, jenseits des tür uns
Greifbaren. Waltenden ist meine Religion; inso-
fern bin ich in der Tal religiös.*"
Diesen Eindruck von der Pcrsönüclikeit I^in-
sleins, in einer für das Berlin der zwanziger Jahre
so typischen Situation festgehalten, veriitli Kessler
noch durch die folgende Notiz: „Vorher hatte er
auf meine Äußerung, daß seine Entdeckung ähn-
lich umwälzend wie die des Tycho Brahc und Ko-
pernikus auf unsere Weltanschauung gewirkt hät-
ten, abwehrend und sehr bcstimnii, ja sehr gereizt
geantwortet: , Meine Likcnntnibse siiid gar nicht so
umwälzend!'" o.h.
tmw Kiniiein eiüii DK Mi
Se^cgnung mit hm becü^mlcn V^qfKer.
2Ble ^Jiapolcon unb !U{uffolinl genicfU mb^xi CJiuftcin bic
^^lu*?5Cid)uung, ju Iciiicu \?eOAcilcn eine faft Iciicubärc Wcftalt
flotDüibcii /\u jcin. ^eit iropcntifu?, (^nlilci uub ^JieiDioii I)ot
teilt mn\d) ticfcrgcl^cnbc 5«nubluiiotMi in un|evcn «e^icfjungcn
5nm fficUan tooivft, al<5 ci. ©r ^)at bcn Dhic{)ii)ei^5 cxhxadjt, baB
bnö Wn, obwoi^l unbcqicuöt, bod) cnblicl) jci, er Ijat in bc^
^cvteö cigniitcm 6iun hm Duvdimcfirr blGJcö md) fcincu
betüOmten I^eoric gcfvümmtcn ^Beltraumc^ gemc)(cii unb bcn
yiac^mctä erbracht, bafe i)iaum unb ,8cit faft an§töcd)fclbavc
!>liegnffe feien. 2)ev bcfonntc i>uba3ift unb ed)tiftftcncr
(». <B. Öicrecf b,at mm in einem feffclnbcn «uc^, ba3 bcn Züd
„SdblaQfc^atten'^ fü^rt ((SigenbröblcrDcvlag, Berlin), unter
anbeten (^röfeen nnferer ^eit, and) ba^3 ^^orträt (Jinftein^
ffiiMcrt: '^Im laat, eg gäbe nur äel;a imünncr bic Gin]ten>5
i^eorie üerftcljen. ^c^ fonnte mit btol^ oenni>iud)en, 6u ticfta
ae^n gc5ä0lt 5U merbcn. 3d) i^evftanb jebe mic^lige Gin^cII^eit
foUfümmen, aU einftein pe mir mit ein t^aar einfadjcn 53cr^
anfcfiaulicbungen in feinem SSo^naimmer au^elnanbcrfe^tc.
^Jlber id) nuifj geftel}cn, bafe it^ über «ac^t bie Grflärung faft
Donftanbiii t)ergeffen Ijabc. eolangc ©inftein nld)t einen neuen
aJlann befc^rt, gibt e§ alfo auf bev Seit einftmeilcn nur neun
Kanner, bie il^n öerfteljen. .
Cinftcin§ ©ebulb ift unerfd)opfIid^. ^x fcfct feine ^^covicn
gern au^3cinanber. SlI^ ein geborner £c()rer nimmt er bie
gragen nid)t übel. Er liebt Sinber. 5)er 5el;niafjrigc So[)u
eine§ 5reunbc5 mar überjeugt, bo§ ©e^eimni^S bc3 ^^erpetuum
mobile entbedt ju I)aben. W\t unermüblid)er ©cbulb feilte
einftein bem jungen (Jntbeder bie J)Cf)lerqueae feiner »e^
red)nungen ouSeinanber. Bann immer eine grage, bie eni
fdimierigeS mat^ematifc^eS Problem ftreift, -^ur Sprad^e fommt,
greift (Sinftein fofort au feinem »leiftift unb fünt S3Iatt auf
53latt mit ben fd;tt)ierigften ©Ieid)ungen. Cr greift bann ^u
feinem ^Mlfgbudj, er errechnet ftd) feine gormein glcid) felOft.
Oft ift bie babei gefunbenc ^ormel flarer, nerftönblid^cr nnb
bcfjer M bie «Ieid)ung, bte man in ben ^ilf^!biid)ern finbet.
^üx^Ud) \pxa6) jcmanb ^u \\)m über garI)enpr)OtonrapI)ie.
2)ic J^rage fcbtc fein OJc^irn in 93emcgung. Gr ftubierte bie
ffamera, machte öerfc^iebenc $3ercd)nungen unb e^e ber '^(bcnb
boriiber mar, ^atte er eine neue TOet^obe ber garbcnpfjotograpliic
entmicfelt. tt3 ift für i^n fd^mer, feine 1I)eorie ^u erflcvcn,
tvenn er einen 2luffat> für Caien fd)rcibt. ^Ibcr menn ber mifi^
begierige Saic ben ^Ibgrunb feinet ^Jad)tmi|jen5 (S;inftein 2Iuge
in Wugc befennt, bann gelingt e^ bem groHen ?3latf)cmatifcr faft
immer, burd) einen anfc^aulic^en 5JergIeid) bie 2üde be^ S^cr^-
ftanbniffe5 j^u fdiliefeen. m^ \d) mit i^m fprad), faf) id) bl;^-
artig nid;t nur bie \)iertc Simenfion, fonbern Diele anbere! J^d)
glüfjte t)or Stola übet meine Seiftung, fc^rieb !)ier einen Sa^
auf unb bann einen anbeten, aber aB id) fpater berfud)te, hcn
Sinn meiner ^Jotijen au entmirren, ermied fid) \)a^ al^ ebenjo
fc&mierig, mic bie Sicutung be3 p^antaftifc^cn Jkjjmcrfc^ einc^
SraumeS.
„2öic fann id^ mir menigften« eine fd)mnd)e SorfteKunci
öon ber Dierten 5)imenfion bilbenV" — „Slcllcn Sie fid)",
antroortetc ßinftcin unb neigte Ieid)t feinen ffopf mit ber fironc
ani lodigem meinen ^aar, „einen Vorgang in einem amei^«
bimenfionalen Kaum bor, jum Seifplel ein ©emälbc, bad einen
!DZann barfteflt, ber auf einer S3anf fifet. 9Jcben ber San! ftelit
ein fflaum. I^ann ftellcn Sic fid) üor, ba^ ber 5J^ann ron ber
35anl ju einem JVeIfcn ge^t, ber auf ber anbeten Seite bed
aaume3 ift. Gr fann nid(|t ^n bem pfeifen fommen, of)ne bnft
et entiDeber uor ober r)inter bem S3aumc r)ennnoe()t. 1)a3 ift
tm amelbimenrtonaleu Kaumc unmöglid). Gr !ann bcn J^elfnt
nur burd) einen Ginbrud) in bie britte ^imenftou erreid)i?n.
5lun fteHen Sie Xid) einen anberen3Kanrt imt, ber auf ber S^anf fifet.
2Bie ift ber anbere TOann bort ^ingcrommen? 5)a ,^mci flörper
nic^t betTfcIben ^lafe jur felben S^li einnehmen fönncn, fonu
er nur ^ingefommen fein entmebcr bebor ober nadjbcm ber erfte
aRann gegangen mar. !DHt anbercn ^iortcn; Gr muft fiel) in ber
3^it bemcgt ^aben. 3)ie 8ett ift bie olerte 'Simenfion. ^u
d^nlic^er SBeife ift e§ moglld), fünf, fed)3 unb mcf)t 'Dimenitoneu
au erflären. «iele ^^robleme ber !D?atfjv^matif öeteinfad^en fid)
bei ber Slnna^me be^ Corfjonbenfein^ uon mcl^r Simcnfion?)!."
3cl) berfuc^te, mir bie fünfte ^imenfion örflftren ,vt laffen. ^d)
»uft Iciber betcnnen, bafe id) mid) ber 9lntmort nidjt mcl)r genau
t6e!te 10
6omBta0
^tfinne. (Sinftein (agte tmai mx einem »"" ' J^^^ 9^£
wirb unb bct in einem »on jfflei Söt^ern /«'^JJ« "^ " '^
(£ine3 bicfet Sbd)n wot bie fünfte unb ba« anbere b.c \mi
Simenfion,
A A •
m MtnoHitt
3m «Bett »oit 800 matt
2 0 n b 0 tt, 26. DcaentBcr. (Iclunion.)
m einem aufentl)alt im ®ainarb^1>urc^fti^ im Manama-
fanal murL ^rofeffir Ginftein ein ^n^o^^^ J t^ffw
t)on ber ©anbcl§famntcr üon Manama Üt6tretrf)t. ^r .^ut i^ai
einen ^Sert öon 600 Tlaxt.
ein neues lerf einitclns. U H
g. »erlitt, 11. 3änner. (Xe(.-tomt).) I^cr
WUBifd)cn ^tfat^emic ber Söiffcii ^^arrcn ift geftern
öom 5Jrofcffor Ginftein a(^ Gra^'bjii^S mcftr-
iä&rigpc Stubien eine ncut 2frbiMt cingercidjt
morben, ber mait in tüiffenfcfjajtlidjeit 5!'rcifni
■qro^e« JJntereffc entneoenbringt. %a^ äBerf ent*
^dlt bie matbematifcfre unb pbt)[ifalifc6e '3cßain-
Mm© fibcr eine Grioeiterung ber $Hcla-
tit)itcit§t6cortc. Son biefcr mcrten neue
tüertljollc miffcnfcöaftliijc Anregungen nnb (Sbx*
fi*tnt ermattet, ^ic Sltbeit trirb in bem ^.ericftt
ber ^reuf^if^en ^Tfabemie ber 95?iffcn"dja?Kn in
ethjct 8 f>\^ 14 Tatren ueröf^'cntlirlit nnb bamit
ber njiffenfc^aftlid&fn Äritif ?nöiin3(id& gemadöt
ujerben.
'/
"^Cx, nette S^eotte ßittfteitti \
Sie ittttöftett 3iorfrf>tt«öö<?töc(mi??c i^ee to^dtlicritl^mteii ^dejrteit.
^a8 .l^eue SBlener FJouritat'' !fl Bereit« ^cute in j ber rct»)iben Serntc^rung bct ©onncnflccfen [ff J^^^" .^^J .^J^J
ber Sage, 'ixUx ble gtunbfegenben ©cbanfcn bct noc^ unfcrer irbifrf)en 5Celcgrat)^cn unb Xelep^one ttöreitD emgreiyen.
nirf)t üeröffentildjtcn neuen 5:^eorie ©inftcln« ^u 5e» j^.g gAmeife bct ff ometen, bic immer fonnabmartS öcmcnbet
ticf)ten. f.„5 .^ige^ ^it etner unöerfennbaren Seutlid)!cit bie ^5*
%\t Slnfünbigung be3 Sc^öpfcrB bct SRcIatiöitöt^Ie^rc itogungSfraft bct elc!tttfcf)cn Seilen, bic öon ber Sonne au^
. rti^a.:^ ^^ .^n^x« v.^r^^r^^Ä^\k mU rittr^r nPiiPtt ^hpnrip 1 ^^u^^ g^ g|,| clcftriirf)eä 9^e^, un{id)tbar unb aUgeroaltig, 5tel)t
Sllbert einftcln, er werbe bcmnSdjft mit einer neuen I^eorie
r)erDortreten, %<xi meit über bie gad^freife ^inauS grofeeS %v\*
f£f)en ^cröorgerufen unb eine begreiflid)e 9?eugierbc für bic
neuen gorfd)unglergebniffe bc$ bcrül^mteften $^^p'cr§ ber SBelt
eriDcdft. Sic SBortc, bie einftein, roic bie§ eine lurjc 3)epe(if)e
5u mclben XQv!^it, toor ^ncr Hetncn Su^örerfdiar an ber
^oIIanbifdE)en Unit)cr|itöt iJ^otting^am gefprodjcn ^at, t)erl)ci&en
e^t Diel, aumal bet ©elel^rtc, ber öon einer rül^renben 8c*
d^cibcn^cit ift, ölel weniger ju öerfprec^en pflegt, al^ er ftcti
gehalten l^at.
aucfi rings um anberc ©onnen, um bic Stjfterne be^ 2BcItaI13.
So ift baS ganjc ^W, bQ3 mir früher al§ Sdimcrefelb fennen
lernten, jugleic^ ein gcmoltigeS eleftri(d)c§ Selb. ©J burd)äiel;en
unb burdimü^Ien bie ^bgrünbe be§ 3laume§ ämet Ärafte, fdöein*
bar t)cr|d)icbcn in t^rer 5Ratur, öerfd)ieben in ifirenJIuS-
mirtungen. %\t fflemüf)ungen bet früheren 92aturforf(f)ung,
Amifdien biefen amei Gräften eine Srüdc ^u fdjlagen, ermtejen
[ich als öcrgcblic^. ginfteinS gelbt^eorie bracf)te biefeS SBunber
jumegc; fie ent{)ölt jene 3aubcrformeI in ber nücf)ternen, un-
S)te ncu(J SC^eorle tütrb JebenfallS umfafjenber fein aö trüglic^cn Sprache bet aRat^emati! bic ^^JJ^^f ^f^^^^^J?^;
*;ii: neue *,; oi.J^.i^iU.pr.t.J «;.f* u.l -i**««. (♦,.nf.p«hpn m^x^iP hptcint uub ftc al5 ßiaen djaftcu eines ctn-
feine fc^on fo ummölaenbc KcIatiüitdtSlc^re. ©rft öor einem
3(^rc l^at aiBert ginftcin bcfanntlic^ |clnc gelbt^cortc ber
preufeifd^en 9tfabemie ber SBiffenfd)aftcn öorgelegt. Siefc Selb»
t^corie, ein SQieiftermcrf o^negleidjen, barf alS SBorlauferin ber
nun angefünbigten umfaffenben Se^re gelten. 3[n ber Selb^
t^corie l^at Sinfteln baS p^^fifalifdie Söeltbilb öereinfac^t. 2)lefeS
Scltbilb fannte biS ba^in amei mh^)it, Sic eine ^iefe ^n*
äie^ungS!raft, ©raöitation. 3^r fmb aöe SRaffcn im Uniüerfum
Untertan, benn fle muffen fi^ nac^ ©efcjjcn, bercn ^uSmirfungen
Wir mo^l fennen, o^nc l^re Intimften Urfad^en au burd^bltdcn,
gcgcnfeitig anaic^cn, 35aS ganjc Uniöerfum ift ein ungeheuer*
lic^cS Sd)merefelb bet p^ barin bemegcnben S5rpermaffcn: baS
analc^ungSfelb ber ^\,txm, 92eBcn biejer aai)e^err[d^enben ^^^i
gibt cS nun eine atoeite, nid^t meniger getoaltig unb uniöerfea
als bic anaiel^ungSfraft. Sic ift bct eicfttomagnctiSmuS, bcffcn
auSmirfungcn mir In ben MSraumen ebenfo mirlen unb weben
feigen, wie et fic^ auf unferer Keinen Grbc alS eine allbel^err-
fc^enbc ^acf)t ermeift. 3)iefeI6e ffraft, bie unfere 9iöd)tc a«
Sagen erbeut, bie bic JHdbcr unferer ^rbeitSmafc^inen treibt,
fic tft Qud^ in bem SSeltaü lebenbig. 3)ie ungc^euerlidjen Um-
m&Iaungen in bcm %\\x\h(& ber Sonne, beren Spuren mir als
frieden am ftra^Icnben ^ntlife beS ÜageSfterneS ma^me^men,
finb eleltromagnctifd^e (5rfd)einungcn, beren ffräftemetten bei
ftrebenben ÜRäc^te öereint unb ftc als ßigenfdiaften eineS ein-
zigen, einheitlichen ftraftfelbcS erfd)einen löfet. 3)ie jüngfte
einftein^Sc^rc, für bic cS borber^anb an einem tarnen nod)
feMt ba bic S^coric jelbft nod^ nid)t üeröffentlid)t ift, ntac^t nun
auf ' bem SBcgc biefer Vereinheitlichung einen bebeutfamcn
Schritt öormartS. 5«oc^ pnb SRaum unb 3eit a^üct öerfc^iebenc
2)imenflonen, amei t)Ct|d)iebenc "^m^^^, bic mir an bic
^Mnomene biefer SSelt anlegen, um \\t a" begreifen unb ju
erfaffen SSo^I ^at bic SRelatiöitdtSt^eoric bic bciben einanber
ndbet gebradbt, bod^ fie blieben nac^ wie t)or als getrennte
Simenfloncn beftc^cn. 2)ie jüngfte einftein-X^eorie h^yxi ^lec
eine neue iBtüdtc öon fü^n gefc^mungenem Sogen. GS wirb
burdb pß offenbar, bafe bic 3eit nur eine gorm beS SlaumcS ift
unb fid^ aus bcffcn Struftut unb Gigenfc^aften mit ©ilfe mat^e-
matifd^cr fjormeln attJcmgloS ableiten laffe. S)er Kaum wirb
baburd^ a"t einaigen, allbe^crr|d^enben Gin^eit ber 2BeIt. So
fcöreitct Ginftein öon ber ©ö^c feinet J^elbt^coric a" einer
anberen §ö^e. 3)ort l^at er bic enge Serbunben^ett ber bciben
allbe^crrlc^cnben SKöd^te beS ünberfumS erwiefcn, ^ier jcigt
et bic «erflod^tcn^eit bct a^^ei (Srunbbimcnrionen beS SIQS.
Unb eS erflingt wie eine ©Qmp^onic bcS (^cifteS, glcic^ jener,
beten Stfforben einft ffe^^Ier ergriffen gelauf^t I)at, ein §o^cSlieb
ton bet ©atmonlc bct SScIt. SefiberiuS ^ a p p.
*-*«»i
/ j
"j^
u'
• i
*• * 0-..kfj(, ,f»
*»-•♦ hör h'^T
»m;;^^
Nr. 23120
fliHHiiiiuiiiiiiMitiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiniiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiHii:iiiiii»iiiiiii"niiiHiiiHiiiini|i|!j>ia««[|j|^^
gfttDülliteilase Her ^eiien gteien grelle
ijzssii— ^ *
iiililliaaisalliliinüiiiiiiiwiiiiittuiiuiiiiiiiiiiiiiiujiuiiiin
Unterredttttd «itt Professor
IQon einem ßelesentlK^en norrcf|«>nbe»tcn.
3)UTC^ atle ^eitunS«" ^^' i»'« 9?ad)tirf)t, bafe ^rofeffot
TOett Ginftetn nad) jatjrclanact $aui< roictwrt ein«
fuufcatnentate öntbcdmufl gcmad)! M)c. 3ii ,t>ct.^rcuüiic^€n
kkabimk bet 2lMt(enid)üttcn t>at et eine wirbelt ooiGclegt,
bie für unicK SiatuiQufdjiauung »on gtöfetct SJcbcutung
fein ioQ. Ilicjc 9?a(^rid)t imb bcr SBunidi lang« Sa()re, mit
bcm groücn «ß^Dpet über bie Probleme bi#hutietcn au
feönncn. beten i?ö[ung bie 3?atutTOincnid)aft i^m octbanlit,
wranlafeten mic^, nac$ ©ctlin ju fal)tcn nnb um eine Unter»
lebunn mit ISinftcm anintud)cn. G« gelang mit nod) am
oleidicn Xage, eine Stun-be bcr ^uiammen&unit ju rxx-
abrcbcn. Äut^ bauad) ftetje id) in einet bcr ftilli'ten atta^jen
iBctlin« Dor bem Jpaufe, m bcm ber gtufce ©elcljttc rool)nt.
Srf) nebe meine 5larte ab unb iwtbe äunadjft m einen ^oljen,
tulinen 5Raum gq"')«- ^"^ «'" 9"{5C«. I^;etntol)r mit
blankm aicifinqtubuä jeigt, bafe b»« einJRatuttotidjet
wohnt ; auf einem etu[)( ftebt eine ^otttätffeijje, bte bcn
mathantcn Äopf ©inftein« batitcllt, mit gc}d)loiicnen Stugen.
ein atoiier 7i[ü(\d etinnett batan, bo^ bet betüt)mte ©e«
lehtte and) ein eiftiget aRiifi&freunb ift. grau einftem, eine
roütbeoone, etnfte tvime, begtüßt mirf), unb teilt mit mit,
bafe ii^ Don it)tcm 2Jlaniie etroattet roetbe.
5* trete in einen üleinen, cjani einfach auögeftattcten
«Raum. G-in lifi^ ift mit Sd)rirtcn unb Sudlern bcbccht,
ein ?ltniftul)l, ein kkmi i8üd)ctg<ften, ein Z\\d]d}cn unb
jmei gtül)k fiiib bie ganje Ginrid)tu«g ; t)tcr benht unb
fc^fft ein€t bcr facbcutcnbftcn lebenbcn ©elfter.
ginftein fecmtmt mit fofort lebf)aft entgegen, unb febt
nrit einen etul)l, bem feinen bid)t gegenüber, cor bie
elcitrifdie fieiäfoiine — e§ ift Öaniwr unb in Sktlin fy:ttid)t
©dineeftnrm. ^i) l)atte Ginftein nodi nie gcicf)en, unb
»le id) ihn anfd)Que, fällt mit finott auf, was aUe tul)men,
bie ihn kennen : xrcei Singen oon rounbctbat butdjbnngen»
bet j^latljeit unb 9iul)e. Gt fängt gleid), ol)nc Uebetgang,
öon feinet neuen Arbeit on p fptcdjen. Gä ift eine öamm»
lung oon mattKitatiidjcn gormein, jufammengebtangt ouf
]<d)i Sc^reibmafc^inenfeiten.
fite (»Brßcbttl» jdjntHljrtöcn Uadibcttlu««»
35ie 3Seranlaffung Bon Ginftein« SUbcit mar bie 3:at»
faebe, baft bii>\)ti in kr <15t)i)fia jroei ©runbhräft«
nebeneinanbet oU Utfad)en allet 91 a tut-
erfc^einun gen »" ö-V^'' VelbVnb td^m u 6 1 e n :
*»!« e l e 6 t r 0 m a g n « 1 1 f «;S) < ü e -^^ c^ ro e r e-
fctb, Sleittomaaneliämu« urtb (Siaötta-
G-in mibcftiebigenter SJlef'im ©cbaube ber allgemeinen
SRetat'iüitätSt^otie" >gt Gi-itein, „roat bie Satfac^', pa)i
lut Grblärnng beä i»J4v0cfc^l)enä unö ^um Stufbau einc-S
emhcitlid)eu SBeltgcbMeä notroenbig iroei ut|ptungli^e
Gigenidj.iften bet iülalle angenommen roetben mußten : bie
©rooitation, roeldic i Urfac^ bet iöeiwgungggefebe bie
®tut*tlane bet ä)icd)aiif bilbet, unb bet Glcfettcmagneti2mu§,
auf roeldiem bie 2e[)r*om 2id>t, omi bcn elchttiid)en Gr-
fdieinunnen unb Don et 55}ätme aufgebaut ift. 3al)telang i]t
UmeingtöfetevBunfdigeroeien buj«. proei'
heit bet 5«aturiäfte in eine <Sint)eit um-
»uroanbeln. 3cRt jabe icf) bie potm oejun^en. Set) bjtbe
eine SR a u m a o n it ,u & t i o n etbad}t, bie fic^ oon bet-
ieninen tet 5Relatiüitält^eme unb oon anbeten cietbimen»
ionalen SRäumcn butAbeicnbete SBcbingungen unteric^eiDet
unb bie e§ geftattet, k ÜJetSnbetunoen unb ©eic^e beä
elelUtcmagnctifd)cn gel« unb Ce3 ®tamtation§iclbeä mit
benfclben mattfematitdjJ &lcid)ungen bat^uftcHen.
„mio auf fpe&ulaleH 5Scge al« mathematif(|e gotm
haben cic biefe Gin^iAei 9?atutferüfte gefunben. Sllä eine
Ginheit in ber mat()eittliid)en 5)arftelIung.JJitJicr nK^t
etroaä Slehnlidic« gefdjcf t rote bamall, olä Äie in bet |he=
latit)itätätl)eorie bcroiefcn| a& Jrdg^t unD sc^roete ibentifc^
fein muffen ?"
4V«ucr%4
vl?.1k?'tlh > n'«
„5iaroi>l)l," OTitroottea/tiijtein, „bie fpehulattoe P)i)fi6
ifl heute roiebet ju ncivw Sebe.i ernwdjt, fie mitb iet)t ju
Untectit oon einigen ©egnetn beliämpft. 3n il)ren feUmidjen,
qrofjcn Reiten nxir bie H^htlfili in^mer fpc6ulatio. Sil« 9Jcroton
ben abfohlten reinen, aiJtvievftcien iRoum poftuliette unb ^ut
©rnnblnge feinet Söcn»egiiugÄgefet3e mad)te, mußte er, bni?
biefer 5Raum ein fpcliul<itioc8 "Gliinent feiner ipljtifia rccr. Gt
kannte bie ed)n)äd)cn tiefe« 9{:imibcgtifie«, obet et biaudjte
il)n ; unO baß et il)n berouüt mit feinen 2d);oäcf)en oe^
menbete, batin beftanb feine föcö&e. 8ange 3eit ^mbutd)
haben bie <ßhnfibet ben fpefenkiaen fBillci' pt 9Sftcinl)cit=
lidiung bc8 Ölaturgcbäube« orti?\ffen laffen. In berühmte
beutfd^ «Jil)i)fikr Gtnft 9JJ a d) rxit bei etfte, bet ein pl)ilo»
fopl)ifd)eä 'iprinäip an ben «nfcng bet tbeotetifd)en P)t}ti&
hellte, nämlid) bie gotücrung: ba« ©ebäube bet
<pi)Qfi6 müffc mit bettlet in gften 3tt^,^/'0."
'Sotau8fe(}ungen etrij|»et »erben. Siuc^ Die
®;eid)t'cö«ng oon gd)tt)aectfd5 '"""?l'" unb ^Itägwitf»
erfdieinungen in bet 5RcIatioitötätl)eotie mar ein schritt mif
biefem SBcge jut il^ctmillr)evuna bet pt)Qiiliali|d)en (Stunb*
beotiffe. aecrotcn btaudjtc, um bie Itägl)eit ju' ettilaten, ben
abiolutcn Siaum. 'Jlady bcr allgemeinen 9{clatimtät«tl)eotie
aber finb eä biefclben Äräfte, meldje ben «tein jur Gtbe
fallen laffen unb roelcbe bcroithen, Daß «m vW^^ aiit)alten»
bcn Gifcnbat)n^ng bie ytci|enr>en nad) com gefd)leubctt roctbcn.
Gbenfo foUte bie iiktfdjmclsuna oon 9iium nnb ,^it mit bcm
©raoitation«felb ju einem SSkltgcbilOe oon mer Simennonen
unb üiele antere fieiftungen ber i){elatioität-3tt)cotie bet
ibcalen gcrDetung iDlad)* nad) ^i5crcinfad)iing bet pt)t)H'
aalifdien ajcgtiffe genügen. Unb fo ift bie iscteuil)eitlict)un3
bet Jltärte, mcld)e bie GThlänmg aflen 3?atutgc|a)el)enä cu«
einet einjiqen gotm be« itraftfelbe« ftatt bet btc-^eiigen jroei
ableitet, ba« 4icl meinet neuen Sltbeit. ©le Reifet be«l)Oib :
3ut «inl)eitlid)en ge Ib t Ije ot i e."
Girte Gntbeiimig oon funbamentaler SBic^tiglie^t be-
metüte ich, „bie oon bcx gleid)en 'Itajrocite, ja oieUcidit nodj
oon gtöfjetet füt unferen 5Raturbegritf fem mufe roie bie be«
lühmte Gntbe&ung oon 3)!anoeU unb ^^«tö üuet bieJKcituT»
bei elehtrifdwn iBetten, ol* tic etbannten, ba& aud) bie um^
TätfelDollfte aJaturerfc^inung, bet Glehtromagnetiämit-3, ^er
cileidien Sltt ift roie bie un« bchanntefte unb geiauTigite, ^ai
iidit ÜBa« man ooit)et nur oon ben 2id)titial}len roußtc,
ban fie oon Spiegeln tcfleUtiett, m gluffigheiten unb anbeten
SJebien gebrod)<n unb oon geeigneten ^otjlipiegeln geiommelt
werben hßnnen, ba« bcroie« .tcvtj audJ üoii Jemen „«troljleit
elelürifdet Ätcft" ; unb ift bann bie GntipidUung nid)t
immer weiter gegangen im 6inne einer ^jammeniaHunj
fcbeinbat iüefen«Devfci)icöener fl-rfdieiniingen ?
Ginftein nidit. „£ic b. i an ba^S gtofeartige ci)ftem
be« Spektrum«, welctje« ^-^ ifle gotmen oon Gnctgie»
Itrahlunq umfafit unb r .... udr^wioletten, nur d)cmii*
witliiamen, unfid)lbarcn SBcllcii, bie nur wenige 3ebn.
taufcnbftel 9]JitIimetcr lang finb über t-l^ j'djtlwtcn 2ici) =
ftt«hlen utrb bie roiebetum uniid)tbaren 3iHumeuval)lcn bi«
lu bcn elchtnfd}cn etrotjlen reid)t, bercn SSkllciiRinge giim
33cifpicl bei bcr gunhentclcgrapl)ie bi« ju oielcn 5lilometern
^"^ Sir fpredien bann no.Ji über pt)itof_op^i[di« Slui
beutungen unb golgcvungen bieferneuen pt)DiiU<iliid)en/'
knntiiiffe. Ginftein jcigte fid) beiricbigt bavnber, bo«'
l^hilofophie fidi feit einigen ?al)Tcn ernit unb eirvig bem
oa« ©cltbilb bet neuen ^;n)t)iili ethciintniätf)eorctiic^ ju i
"'"'aS wie« bavauf f)in, wie frf)roet e? bod) [ei f)cutc ei
Lhilofopl)ifd)C« Uvtcil übet p()i;ii&alifd)e Slnidjuuiingcn
iinet enbgiUtigen gotm ju bilbcn. 3>nn bie Giitwidi'..
geht fo rafd) oor fid), bafj m weiiigni 3«t)rcn Uton
neue« ©iffcn unb ganj iieue ?lr,;iüitungcn f« Jeutia^" /
brängt t)abcn Mniien. ißci Dielen plwH'^^lMdien m
oor allem in bet fctire oom gtiombnii unh rom 5seif)aJ
mfltcricnen Glemejitartcild)cn, roifle man nicf)t, wie Ic
noc^ ©cltung l)üb^''
■Bü
I
f
Nr. ili
Ponnerttag, 14- H&rz 1929
3ert{ner %aq(Uüii
1. Beiblatt
Diuct und Verlag von Rudolf Mos»« üi Btilln
■I !i ' ■ j, ' I - ■ — m " p ^ ' - u . ~ "*■ — 1-» uw« r '
• i« 1 • n
^» ■ H, • ijl ..« ■ ■ jn .1.1 ' -a».!'-». 1.1HJ.I. . i^Ji 1J ■■ I ■■ ITi^^tB
■ 1 »» ..| X.l"
Zum 50* Gehurisia
EINSTEIN.
Emil Ludwig.
.».Vü/i /^dn/] >on Jc/n Phy)ük^r nicht jofdcnu
Ja« tv Pliilo&üph ü^^f"; afc^T /;ia/< ^a/i/i von i7mi cr-
li;flr/e/i, Ja«$ er so v/ei philu^ophUchi^ Bildung habe^
ijn\ üch gi'ündlkh von d:^r Wdi zu unUrscImdcn
und fnil Ulf Vi}kdc( im höheren Sinne zusammen'
;;yfreK'/f/* Cociha^ t\irb{'nlchf§,
per Kqpl eiuesj Mualkeri dock kaiiiea\veg.s vow Jt^r Klaööe
Mablerö gcler 'luticauiiiici, ia derttJi Zügeit bich did Vörvvaiiilschtüt
pfieiibarl zwiacheii jViubik und Mathematik; kein bcharlt^r Sehuitt,
bouderia die eher träuaiüiiöiüeu Uairihbe eiuet Jt^ner üt^faichter,
wjö 6ie Schuiuaiin, Uui>ouJ oder Chopin dail)ieteu. Au» diesen^
weichen Uebiiht blivkeu zwei grotb auigeriäieue Augen dt^n
lieechauer belteu au, auth nicht die Dinge riui/£»um ^fheineij bie
5tu fasisen; dig lirauen Uuchgezogen, btaiint'» Über die Weit. Liii
f^rauer Strahlenkranz von langem Haar umsehwebl ihn, und zwei
volle, sinnliche Li|Hjen ei'waiien ruhig d«n rauchten Auüjeuhlick,
sich redend zu beweisen. Die.s alles, behonders der schwimmende
Filick, der auf kindliche Alt zu fragen »cheini, liehört einem
Künstler an; aber da erhebt äich wit? aub Elfenbein die makel-
los hohe Kuppel der Stirn und scheint dje sinnliche Fülle def
unteren Züge zu widt-rlegeu.
Steht er, zienilicli klein wie viele ij^rosi^o Mäimer, in dem
Schmalen, kargen Arbeit^^■auul auf seine Art zuhörend au der
Wand, den OberkCu'pL^r in eineiji Sweater oder ejner Haubjackt*,
bq ' Jicht ibsi zur Seite u'.'s dein Hahlneu ein Hiltt^rkopr aui, in
d'' i?ähnd«Mi l^lul dt^r AllongeperUcke, selbttsicher, im Schmuck
^ .. ^*i' nrüstuufi, Ketten und Orden; sq a'\w\ zwei ^eilallfc,
UbVf oubti zwei Teu)|>eramente hier zu ver«;ileichen, die einander
ergänzen oder bekämpfen uiUasen. l)ir?imal lim bie beidee», denn
es ibt Isaak Newton, dee»en Bild pich .-^ein j^roaüer Uegenpieler
Albert liin^itein hier neben den ;Schreiblisch gehängt bat, v/ic
ciueu tteleij Mahner zur allen und n«;ueu, immer verschiedenen
lind immer ^deicheu Wahrheit, Uajnal» freilich war nuin Münz-
Vueieti^r eineö Könit?i?^ wenn \m\i die Welt rua dcp Angeln hob,
öder Dainherr wie Kupernikus, uder man piusstc doch anfini^^
lernen» waji mehr Krfolj;^ vers^pruch alö dio iCwiesprache mit den
t>t<3rn<?u, wi«;) CiaUlci» d^'r MedUiacr, oder Tythg ßrabe; dei Jura
btudierte,
If^ Ui im 15. MW'k üiueb Mietshaujieb, wo btill vor sich d^i
(Maun itohiidebt, m derben bludio gewiss das cJazige Bild New-r
(eui biUigt oder doch das »ctiicköalsvollste, das im Trubel Berlins
die grossen Jiüge des uaikäuipfteu Meisters '^eigt. Nichts, weder
liuhin «octl OehJ, wedeir Selbstgerühl uoch Kunstfinn hat deij
erstaunlichen Mnö^ auö dieser Wv>bnunj^ vertrieben, und di^
Mitbowühoer wij'&en niclitö von ihrn als de» Namen.
Wie wenige wiese» niehrl Wi^ wunderUrb ist es um den
Ivuhni due5> Mathernalikerüi bestellt! W^t Staatsmänner und
Kunstler, Erfinder oder Troph^ten leii?ten, fe*seU die Welt, und
\Q\\ jedem wtjis* der Journalist, der Lfbr<^r, der Hi:*töriker
grejifbare Pinge 2U berichten: ab^r Galilei oder Nowtoii k-«mn»i»n
glichen und darau?> diö doi^ l'eadeluhr konfeüuiort; Newton hatt«
mit 'J3 seine erst^ Arbeit über Strahlungen geschrieben und soll
ifl] jielben Jahre durch den Tall des berühmten Apfels im Garten
der Erkenntnis die erste lae^ für sein Gesetz gefasst haben,
tinfeteitt ;»«hrieLj als Öludeut a» de» Hand eines Buches \vu Min-
kt)wsl(y, seinem Vgrgäng^r, mit Blejatift die Worte: „lljer wäre
einzusetzen*', und verfasste im 1*7. tebeusjahre fiUil Abhand'
lungen, die sein System im Kern enthalten, mit Linschlusü der
speziellen Ueiativitätslehre. /oer obwobl er jiie in einer Facbr
z{ itscbrift publizierte, blieb alles ring?*um ^till; nur VlanU Kbrieli
dem Unbekannten. .Mit iJO f -reichte er, grossartig empfohlen
vy» ?wei Frauzose», Pojucarc dem Mathematiker uncjl Madame
Curie, eine Professur in Züri' !j, und im Jalil^; lüU kam er ah
Profeseor uucb Berlin. Hier bat ^r die erste Keihe seiner Ar'
beiteij vgllendet, per Merkur, diepe^. hijimjli.schti Ki «ant terribk,
war achon dem propheti.<chei; Geuiiit ijeb Autinialhemalikers
Goethe aufgefallen, der 180Ü sagte: „Mir i'^t ^ogur höchst wahr»
bcheinlich, dass hinter Merkur der an »ich ?chun klein genug
ausi^efallen ^^t, eintt noch ein kleinerer Stern i^um Vor»cheiu
kommen wird.'* Hundert Jahre später erklärte tinstein die öuj|.
.Merkur-Anomidie, deren Dunkel die Klügsten in Unruhe ver-
setzt hatte, durch einen Bericht an die Akademie, der et»en dk
„Allgemeine He.lativit4t^theorie" enthielt. Diese Arbeit war nur
wenige Seilen lang, und auch das neueste, was er roeben, aur
fiuiöH 1921) publiziert hat, wiederum dus KesiiUal isiiwi achl-
jahrigeu Arbeit, soll keiue '20 Seiten betrageq.
Ks war am '29. Mai 1919. In Versailles Sassen die Toten-
rii'hter der Alten Wejl zusammen, um Über Deutschlands, Schicke
sal zu entscheiden. Der deutsche Name war in der Welt ver»
dunkelt. Da ballte durch die Welt der Huf: Heute wird ein ein-
zelner Deutscher, der mit Bel{.;i<^u und Unterseeboot lüchts zu
tun bat, vor das höchste Gericht ^'ejtelli; d<-mi er erkühnte sich,
die hehren Newtons zy erschüttern. Die Sunn*^ selbst wird sieb
verdunkeln, um über diese Fr-ij^e Licht zu gie^sen. Kngland
ging niit der PriUung voran, dit- HoNal Society bändle zwei
Exiieditionen aus, nach Bra.-iijitu und Portuginbiscn-Obtairiku, um
die Behauptun.i:en det» Berbner G«debrtt'ii zu prüfen. Der halb.'
vor vier Jahren bewiesen, dass i^fdi^r Strahl unter dem tinflu»s
einr.s (Jravitationsfelde.s, ^un) Bdspiel in der Nähe der Sonne,
eine Krünnnung erleiden Uiüstie Wenn man also bei einer
Senufnfiubteruis die Lage derl närbsteu lixstiM'ue piiotogrur
phierte, die dann sicl^tl>ar wurden, tu konnte nwiu aus dem
At^tilaud der Lichtpünktchen ab esen, ob die am Schwerkörper
dt r Sonne vorbeistreichendeu S eiaslrahlen die Beugung wirk,
lieh durchgemacht hätten; auf der Platte mubsteu die Sterne
VNeiter «usoinander stehen, als ih^-e %\ irkliche Lage erwarten
lie;*^. Aber pqn wai; jene Ab le'A^ini; viiniuiai: Vi'- Bvgeu-
sekunden, lu ueht Minuten Fins ternis solUen bei gutem Wetter
diese Photogramnie aufgenoninie j werden, an deren Kesultat das
neue Weltbild hing. Die Welt, 1 ^ider auch die w issenschaftbcbe,
var damals antideutsch, die Prüfung war ol)ieklJv, um Picht zu
«sagen, kalt; Kineteins Freunde, soweit m seine lä\i\e^ picht
verstanden, mochte» gittern. -"l i« tjeptember kamen die
schwierige» Resultate bereius: b sj auf die DejiniÄlzahl ^^ar Eiu-
äieifts Behauptung be<\decieo- 1
br ^'»Iber ^'ar ruhi^ gebUebe». Komate der Uimmel die
MftJtüUit seiuer i^lahle» widerlegte»? le^ , b<?|rÄßle ihn ;.i>ätör.
oeutlurv<?u". Sternbahueu, die eine Beugung machen, anstatt
grade ausgerichtet zu parieren, paiseu nicht ins Weltbild eiae^
strammen Preussta, und dass ein Jude Deutschlands Namen
weiter tragen sollte, als ihre Könige und Generale, macUle eie
wlileu'J. In einer Versannnlung in Berlin, v.p 1920 Professoren
auftiaten, um Einstein ^u widerlegen, und er selber in einer
Loge zuhörte, drangen anlisemitische Studente» z\i ihm vor u»d
drohten ihm mit den lausten. So schändeten freche Jungen den
deuttchea Namen, während zu gleicher Zeit der Erdball von
Einsteins Uuhni widerhallte, uud er die alte Glorie d^»*
deutschen Geist'.^s gleich nach der Niederlage de« deut.-.chcii
Militarismus so bewie==, wie Pasteur die des inin^tösiscUeii
Geistö^i im Jühr^j 16"'3.
Wie Geist und Oüte ^.ich in ihm verejueu, das zeigen heiter»'
Briefe, j» deneu er arme Loidc^ndg tröstet odfr grossen Geistern
zuwinkt. Sh^w erzählte ueuiich, du^ beMe, wa^ er über ?eine
„Juhauna" gehört, war ein Brief EiniteinB«'.
Liu.'jteins Wesen, wie e.^ sich in dem .Mueikerkupfe spiegell,
treibt zur Mubik. Ein uui^-wöhiilicht-r Geiger und, wenn ihn
niemand belauscht, auch rin Piani^t, der Phantasien auf dem
Klavier zur Entspannung brandit. inuss vn* sich niehr an Bacli
und Mozart hallen ids an die Dramatiker. Ge^Mier Wagners
sucht er selbst BeethüVfu nicht in den tragiacht-n Sinfonien, will
überall drn leichteren, In-ller».^» Ausdruck und beweist, wie
richtig Poincare >ah, als c*r kchoü Über den Einunddrtissig-
jährigeu si'hrieb: „Was wir voniehndiv'h an ihn» bewundern, ie'
dit' Leichtigkeit, mit der er *icb in neue Konzeptionen hinein-
denkt, um lorderung aus ihnen zu gewinne»/*
Die^e Sinnlichkeit und Leb.^nsfjeudt zeigt sich in ^eineni Ver-
giiügt.'n an mathenuitif>cben Kätsidn und Spielereien, aber auci;
in den Beispielen, die er gern biaucht, um die schwersileu Ding •
\eratäiidlich zu ntachen. ..Das höchste Cilück**, kagte er einmal,
..empfinde ich vor gror^seii Kunst \verk«Mi, nicht in der Mathe-
matik." Mit unbefangener Freude empfing er die bedeutung?^
vullen lÜnnuei'ibilder auj5 London, die .seine Leiire von aussen
her bealUtigten: nicht, weil j^ie stinünten, »ondern weil diese
Karlen ihm ä»thetisch gefielen, .jhi^ Schönste, was ^'t> iu der
Welt gibt, isl ein leuchtendes Gesicht". iiȟgte er einmal.
So ist er auch kein regelmässiger Arbeiter, hat vielmehr, wi*
j»*der Künstler, l*eriuden und betont, das« er nicht durch Er-
lemldung, sondern ;5clirittwei5.e zu seine» KrUenntni>*en kum.
aber es scheint ein Widerspruch, weim er gegenüber Mo&zkowbkv
formuliert: „Die Haui>lsache i?t die Schaffung einer gedank-
lichen Methode, um zu einem logisch «iebchlosseneu System zn
gelangen. Daj» eigentlich Wertvolle dabei ist die Intuition/' l^«
scheint damit etwas Ael^nliches zu meinen wie Newtu-i. der den
scböpferibchen Akt leugnete und doch von momentanen Kiii-
fällen ausging. Auch spricht er gern von Finden und Erfinden
und lehnt sich auf gegen den Begriff des Entdeckens im Feld«'
der physikalischen Matheniatik- Darum lehnt er für seine Arbeit
jede defübbbasis ^ib und sagte nnr aul einem Spaziergang:
.,eie frage» nach den philosophische» Folge» dieser Lehre *
Pa6 sind Nebenprodukte, und o)an irrt, wcmi mau etwa pUilo
soiihieche Stimmungen dahinter vtittert^ Es ist durchaus uich'
so, als hätte etwa ein relativibtrschefc Gefühl von den Diüsev
der Welt mich geleitet; vielmeijr war alles reine Matüeniatik.
r»»^; 1^ .--1.
■r-> u. . "1
- .»
KÜ!i8tiof an; iiber da t*riii''>t bit'l) wi»? inib lil!enht:*in die iuuk»-I-
Uh huhe Kn|»|)fl der Slini nud scUeJul die ^iaulk'bf iüUe d«-4'
luitereu Züge zu widt-rlegeu.
Steld er, ziendirh Kleju wie vielo '„^roeso Männer, in dem
j!chnialtMi, kargen Arbiilt^^auul auf fetdne Sri zuliörencl an dvy
Wand, den Oberkiir|H?r iu i'ineui i^weater od»T ejnv'r lluuriJa»*kt^
b^ ' iii'^t ib»i 5sur Seite u'rs deiu Haliliieii eiij Kiltt^rlinpr aul, in
U'' ;läliinl»ii Vlul der AHongepeiÜcke, Äelb^ti»il•ber, im Scbmuck
*' . )-*. arüjituui.', Ketten und Oidea; jui ^ind zwei i^i.'ilallrf,
Uüfcf aut^li zwei Teuipcrainente bier zu ver^leirhfn, die einamJei'
erjjiäuzen uder Ukamiiteii uniäften. Üifpimal tun bie bejdeb, deui^
es i^t Isaak Newton, deöufu lÜld oicli ^ein j^roa^er üegeupieler
Albert tin^leju hier utben deu ;!5ciuejl>liaeb y^^biiniil bat, wie
ciucq 5<teten ^tabncr '^ur altea und n«;ueu, immer ver^sobiedoueu
und uumer ^deiebeu Wabjbe|t. panials freili-ij ^^ar uain Münz-
Uieieler eineö Küui^t?, wenn mau die V/elt buö dou AniL;eLti buli,
öder Dcuuherr wie Kuj>er"ii^u?, uder man imis^te doch anfaji)2>
lertieu, wyjj mehr Krfol)^ ver?|jrat'h al© div iC^vie&prache mit den
t^tern<?u, wie Ualilcii der Medi^iucr, oder T,ubg Drahe. der Jura
fetudierte.
t» i>>t im li. MtH:k eiuea Mietsbauseh, wu btill vor sieb d^r
TMattn uahiulebl, \\\ defetea ötudio gewiss das einzige Bild New-»
timö häjigt oder dcM*h das scbicköabvolUle, das im Trubel Bcrlioa
ilie grobßeu Jitige des umkämpfteu Meisters zeigt. Nichts, weder
Jiuhm wocb lieldj weder Selbbtgefühl uoeh Kunstainü bat deu
erstaunljcheu M^im auö dieser Wv»hnung vertriebeu. und diq
IV|jtb<^wühner wi^^n nicüte von ihm ala den Namen.
Wie wenige witcei) mehr.' Wi^ wunderUi^b i^^t es um den
Kuhn) eine& Mathematiker?? bestellt I Wat tJtaatjmöuner und
Kunfetler, Erfinder oder Troph^teu leisten, fe*seit die Welt, und
>Dii jt^dem ^«.^i»» der Jourualist, dej Lehrer, d-^r Hi5törik»^r
^rei/l>art Piuge zu berichten; ab6»r (ialilei oder Nervten konuteu
den Laien ihrer Epoche kaum gel<rhrt werden. Au<*h tinstein$
l-ebre wild beute ii| der Welt vielleicht voii dridhundert Leuten
begriffen, mid doch ist, jeiy Naiiie tiben^gvieleu Millioaen \i^^
Ivannt; wir mu^jsen ale Wahrheit den Bericht der Fachleute
UinpeUmfn, und die W<?lt von Nichtverblehejuden hat \?iii volle?^
i(echl die» i\x tun: 510 hört die geheiuiUJ^voUen i^ahlen, 4i«i
i-Ue^ui litra ent^prangeu und grüfej»e Ciec>etze in?» Wanken
brachten, aul denen bi^jher di(5 Thysik ruhta, t>o, während der
viiubarne t)enker der WijjU ui<-'htifi gibt, wae» bie verw(?nden, ge»
uiesaen oder wt^nigsteiia verstehen koiinle, ^v-hliectt sich dennoch
uin King von Veiehruni>' mu ihn, weil er nach dem Zeugnis der
böchsteu Ki^-p^jrteu tdue neue GlMichuug fand, t>lark t>'euuj^, um
^t\^ C»laub<:*.u au diu alten ^u ^rpchiiliern. tr gleicht einem
^aub^rer, und v,ai um ibu webt, ^cheint Magie. Vielleic^ht wifd
einmal tvc^ Erlinder idcb dieser the.üieti^cheo trkenntnisbe t)e-
dieneu, wie j» auch niemand zurieit von Heri; vorau??^ah, daö>
ttiine Arbeiten je praktische Fol^^u' haben konnten; ich darf am
wen»^bten darüber ^''.virn-
Abvr uivj Welt will vom We^^n und leben i^rotber Männer
auch dann und erbt recht dann erfahren, \Nenu sie sein Werk
uicht fasbl, und da ich liinsteiu ^ur ein ^v<*ni? Keane, doch maU'
ihe^ über ihn hört«?, spricht hier d^r uumatheniatii^cheöte Geist
von einem, der allerdings uiehr i^t alifs nur Mathemetikei.
beineni Freunde Moszkowsky, der tio viel Interessantes über
ihn geschriebeu, hui er von eiuenj Konipa©^ erzählt, deu ^^^t
Vater dem Fünfjährigen ^um Spiele» ins Bett gab und der ihn
lan^e, wie traumhaft, beschäftigte. Aub Ului, wo er, nicht weit
voii Keplers Geburtsort, als Sohn eines jüdische^ Kaufmanns
i:?eboreu ist, kam er früh nach München, wo ihn die „Schul-
Kaserne'* abstiese und er üchon unter antisemitiachen Ke^mngen
iTU leiden hatte; „Meine Lehrer waren wie die Unteroffiziere'*, er-
'zählte er, und so »tmete er auf, als er mit lu Jahren in die
freiere Luft der Schweiz kam. Line i^ewifche Furcht vor dem
Leben trieb ihu früh zur Bescheidung; er wäre froh gewesen,
als Schullehrer enzukonuneu, Schluß sich als Frivatlehrer in Bern
kümmerlich durch, bald auch verheiratet mit einer Studentin,
und war zufrieden, mit li^ .lahreu als technischer Experte im
Schweizer Fatentamt sein Hrot zu vertlienen.
Doch nicht allein sr^in Brot. Al.^ Schuljun^'e Utier dt-m i'ytha-
yoras b^üt^'ud, hatte er bereits n)it sechzehn über das Problem
der Optik bewej^ter Kör|>er nachj^edachl, genam-r: über die Licht-
aussendun«.' von Körpern, die bich iui Aether bewegen; nun,
wenn die Tagesarbeil ferlit< war, setzte or ;^ich an dieic Studien
imd bekeuul sich aubdiücklich neibsl zu einem ..sicheren Zusam
iiienUang" zwischen technischir i:nd theoretischer Arbeit. Denn
Ller, aU ein Manu, dem täglich neue Erfindungen in '^^ahlen und
Xeicbnungen zum üulachteu auf deu Anitatisch gelej/t wuiden.
jetzt, \om 24. bib zum 'JE Jahre fand tejn Genie di«: entu'heideu-
den ZusaniHT^nhänge aus.
Galilei hdte mit achtzehn daa Schwnken einer KirchenlamiK'
beobachtet, ihre H'^g'='inr\ss''gkeit mit teinem Pulsschl?^ vcr-
Arbeit, .ujii iittine 'i^ Reiten betragen.
Fs war am '-'D. Mai 1919. In Verftallles sasseu die ToleU'
lichter der Alten Welt zusanunt^n, UIU Über Deutschlands .Schick-
sal zu eutsclieldeii. Der deutsche Najne vaj in der Well >»*'*
dunkelt. Da hallte dur^'h die Welt der Huf; Heule wird eiu ein-
zelner Deutscher, der mit Uel{.:io«u uml Entt-rseeboot lüchts zu
tun hat, vor das höchste fJerictjt jj^\*telli; iW)x\\ er erkühnte sich,
die Ee!]retj Nevvtons zu er^chültenl. Die Suune selbst wird sich
verdunkoiii, um über diese Fraj/e Eicht zu giessen. Eni^land
^iiiL^ nut dt-r Fl (dang voran, die Ho>al t^ocjely sandle zwei
E.\i»editiontin au^, nuch Brasiiittu uml Porlugi»^siscn-0^lalrika, um
dj».' Behauptuu'Jien des Uerlinrr G»debrte}i zu prüfeu. Der tialte
vor vier Jahren bewiesen, dasß jeder Strahl unter dem Eiii]lu.>a
eines GravitatioiisfeJde.^, zum B 'J^l>i»'l i)i der Nähe der Soune,
eine Krümmung' erleiden niüsrje Weim man also bei einer
Sonuenlinst»'rnib die Lage der, nächsten Fixstern«^ phutograT
phierte, djo dam» sicl^tlmr wnijden, so koiude man aus dem
At^sland den Eichtpünktchen ab esen, ob die am Schwerkörper
der Sonne vorbeistreichendeu S Biiislrahleu die Beuguug wirk,
lieh durchgemacht hätten; auf jder platte musßteu dig Sterne
weiter auseiuauder sl»*hfn^ als i ihre wirkliche Lage erwarten
liess. Aber |»qa wau jetje Al|e'.«»ing viinimal« r/'" lii>gen.
Sekunden, In acht Minuten Finsfternis solUeu bei gutem Wetter
diese Phologramme aufgenommei werden, au de.ren Uesultat das
ueue Weltbild hing. Die Welt, It ider auch die wissensi'haftUche,
war damale antideutsch, die Fru^mig war objektiv, um Pifht zu
j;agen, kalt; Einsteins Freunde,! aoweil eie seine fahlen nicht
verstanden, mochteö gittern. pst im September kamen dit;
schwierigen Resultate heraus; bfsj auf die Deifimalz^hl war Eiu»
sieitts Behauptung be^ietjen. 1
br j>elber war ruhig geblieben. Konnte der Uimmel di'^
Majestül teiner fahlen widerlegen? Ich befragte ihn später.
„Alles hängt au der vollen, ausnahmslosen Gesetjhchk^it einer
neuen Methode"', erwidert^ er ,.Hätt^ dn? l;xpedition die Ab*
weichung jener Sterababo nicht erwiesen, so war die Lehre
falsch. Lassen Sie jemand einen «eueij Ffoseiiknopf erfinden,
der durch gewisse Eigenheiten fester s^ü^ als andere: unab-
reisst>ar. Der Staat würde ibu pur mufUhreu, wemi er auf ^Ue
Stoffe passt. Erfindet dann aber einer einen Stoff, von deni tr
abreisst, dann ist er wertlos und wird weggeworfen.*'
Diese Kühe kennzeichnet seinen Charakter; nur ala ihm die
ersten Ideen kamen, als Mami von Anfang Zwanzig, damals, ge-
steht er, brachten ihn die neuen Erkeuntnisse oft um den Schlat.
Zur Hube tritt voilkomniene Einfachheit. Als ein berühmter
Mathematiker mir s^gte, Einstein wäre eiteE erkannt^ ich
wieder, wie lejcht ein Mensch seiue eigene Schwäche auf andere
projiziert. Er i^t so bescheiden, dass er lange begeistfri über
die sogenannten Brownschen Bewegungen sprechen kann, ohne
zu erwähnen, dass er hierfür entscheidende Arbeiten t-elber ge»
liefert hat.' Volle Natürlichkeit, die jedem berühmleu Mann«
schwer gemacht wjrd, lebt in seinen Bewegungen, nie hat er die
sinipleo formeu seiner I;rziehung verlassen. Als ihm Eord
Haidane, der ihn verehrte und in desseu Arbeitszimmer ich nur
d^s Bild seiner Mutter und da? I5ild Einsteins sah, bei seinfm
Londoper Besuch einen Diener zur Verfügung stellte, lehnte er
ab, und wenn er %\x den Sitzuni^en der luternatioualep Vereini-
Gung nach Paris auf Kosleu deb Reicbeö fuhr, so nahn^ er JP der
Zeit der deutschen Not Billelt 3. Klasse. Von ^iner Ueise nach
Amerika brachte er den wohl vorbereiteten Koffer uneroffnet
zurück, er hatte nur den Handkoffer benutzt.
Mit diesen Zügen korrespondieren Toleranz und Güte, {^i^xw
verteidigt er seine Gegner, und er^t neulieh schrieb nur ein
englischer ,Malhemaliker, der Einsteins Lehre bekämpft, und sich
vor der ersteu Unterredung etwas gefürchtet hatte, wie ihn der
Freimut entzückte, mit dem Einstein sofort dey Standpunkt ein*
nahm, als hätte er Turecbt, uud dan» mit dem jungen Manne
zu diskutieren anfing.
Von jungen Leuten lässt er sieb, da er selber so lange ver-
kannt blieb! am liebsten stören; natürlich müssen «ie Einfälle
haben, l'nd so konnte ma» dm im letzten Sommer, alb er
kiank lag. v6n drei armen Studenten umgeben finden, die im
gebrochenen Deutsch der poluischeu Juden mit ihm in Zahlen
und Formeln sprachen, die er auf ein Blatt der Bettdecke auf-
zuicbuete.
Vel^^rhaupl gilt seine Toleranz den unterdrückten. Uatheuau
erzählte, wie Einstein, erniüdet vou endlosen Gesprächen ül)er
Entente- und Friedentproblenic. tbui auf die Frage, ^\ap ihn
denn in der Welt draußen besonders interesiiertf. mit einem
Lächelii eri^tdert habe: „Die Juden-" Die hat er i« Pulästina
besucht. Seiu'j pazjfistiH'he Cesiunuug, ganz auf Vcreiul^img
der Völker und gar nicht auf die altertümliche „Vormacht" eme^
einzelnen Volkes gerichtet, befremdete un.sere Nationalisten so
fcehi\ dai.-i sie einen eigenen Verein gründeten, um Einstein zu
-k-i*, »-»«r-
*
jährigen si'hrieb: „Was \<\\ voniehndich üU jhin bewundern, iet
dit lA-ichtigkeit, mit der er *icb in neue Konzeptionen hiueiu-
denkt, Ulli F()rdermig aus jhneu zu gewinnt^n."
iJieüe SinulicliKeit und Leb. uisfi ende zeigt ;>ich iji »eiiieni Vei-
^^nügen au m:itheniati»clit'U Ivatseln mid ^Spielereien, aber auc«.
iii den Beib|)ieleii, die» er gern biaucht, um die schwersten Diii|/ •
verstandlii'h 'iw machen, „Das höeh."-te tilück", fcagte er einmal,
,enu>)*inde iej) vor gror^sen Kunst \verk«Mi, nicht in der .Mathe-
ijialüi." Mit imbelanpener Fiende empfing er die bedeutungs
vollen Uimmel'bilder aus London, A\\i seine Lehre von aussen
her beatätigten: nicht, weil {»ic atimmlen, sondern weil dies:*
Karten jhm ä&th»'tiöch gciiolen. ,,Da!> iJchontjte, wai e^ iu der
Well gibt, ist ein leuchtendes Gesicht", wgte er einuiuE
So isl er auch kein regelmässiger Arbeiter, hat vielmehr, wie
j**der Künstler, l'erioden \\\\\i betont, dass er nicht durch Er-
ieuchlnng, sondern ^sciiritlwei^e zu seinen l^rkenntni^»eu kam.
aber es scheint ein Widerspruch, wenu er gegenüber Moözkpw'sky
formuliert: .,Die lfaui>l&ache itt die Schaffung riner gedanl\-
lichen Methode, um zu einem logisch geMhlossenett System zu
gelungen. Das eigentlich Wertvolle dabei ist die Intuition/* E'
scheint damit etwas Ael^nliches zu meinen wie Newlo'i. (jer den
schöpf erischeu Akt leugnete und doch von momentanen Ein-
fällen ausginp. Auch spricht er gern vou Finden und Erijnden
und lehnt sich auf gegen den Begriff des Entdeckens im Feld«*
der physikalischen Mathematik- Darum lehnt er für seine Arbeit
jede Uefühbbasid ab und sagte mir aul einem Spaziergang:
.,Sie fragen nach den philosophischen Folgen dieser Lehre*
Das sind Nebenprodukte, und maxi irrt, wemi nian etwa pUih'
sophische Stimmungen dahinter v.itterb Es ist durchaus uicb'
so, als hätte etwa ein relativistisches Gefühl vou deu Dingen
der Welt mich geleitet; \ielmehr war alles reine Mathenialik •
Philosoph und Phy^siker sind in t^olchen Fragen überbaupt
Gegner, vielmehr, sie verstehen sich nicht. Es beißet, dJ'"'
Kleider sind für ^iki. Leute da: ohne deü Anl>lJek zweier
.Menscbenbeinc hätte niemand dig l-nterhose erfunden. Neip,
sageu die Melaphysiker, wer kann die Näherin bindern, phan-
tastisch unbrauchbaie Fetzen zu komponieren? Als der erst»-
Geometriker sich einen Würfel erfand, damit spielte und au><
acht Würfeln einen grossen machte, spottete er der N'atuf: di»'
solche Formen nie erfunden hätte."
Darum nannte er auch die Naturwissenschaften „hall»
empirisch" und sprach den Preis nicht einem zufällig landeuden
Kolumbus zu, sondern dem, der seine Denkertat au der Härte
der Wirklichkeit beweise. Auf meinen Einwand liess er zwar
Leverriers Ueberlegenheit über Galle — den Errecbner und
den Auffinder des Uranus — gelten, nannte aber auch jenen uu?
einen grossen Virtuosen und stellte deshalb über Tycho Brah»*
sowohl Kepler vsie vor allem Newton. Uebrigeus stellt er
Faraday und .MaxweU, deren Bilder auch in seinem Zimmer
hängeu; über Helmboltz, und Goethe über Leonardo da Vinci.
Deun weim er disputiert, ist er streng, und wenn er dann
einmal lächelt, 5>y kann das recht ironisch aussehen. Dann er-
öffnet sich der Skeptiker m Einstein- Dann zitiert er den Ruhm
eines Byzantiner Gelehrten des 12. Jahrhunderts, der lauter ün
sinn j^elehrt habe, und sagt: „Möglich, dass wir die sogenannten
Grössen ebenso schief beurteilen wie die Byzantiner vor
«00 Jahren ihren PseHus." Mau hört heraus, er scbliesst sieb
dabei ein, und nun folgt ein merkNvürdiges Lachen, kurz, schalk
haft, sogar mephistophelisch- Vielleicht ist Eiusteiu viel
skeptischer, als seiue Freunde glauben.
Denn seine Urteile sind oft relativ und zweilelud; er sagte:
..Endgültig kann ein Gesetz schon deshalb nicht sein, weil die
Begriffe, mil denen wir es forniulierea, sich fortentwickehi
umi später als unj/enügeud erweisen. Auf dein Grunde jedes
Salzes und iedets Beweises sitzt ein liest \on Dogma, und in
allen zu«fnnmen das nie zu erweisende Dogusa der Unlehlbar-
keit.** Und ferner: „Iu uehr fernen Zeiten könnte vielleicht
der Durch-r^chnittskopi einen Galilei ko weil überragen, wie
Galilei einen J^tpuaneger." Und doch glaul)t er, jedem Natur-
forscher müs.ie eine Art rclitriösen Gefühls naheliegen; denn er
könne «ich nicht denken, dass die feinen Zu"<aminen!iänge, die er
erschaut, von ihm zuerst gedacht werden, \ielnjehr fühlt er
sich wie ein Kind, über dem ein ErMarhsenrr waltet. Solu
schön hat Einstein diese Triebe und Gefühle, trotz allem, als
Grundlagen der Forschung be-icichnet und in einer Rede für
d<»u Fhygiker Flank »0 ausgesprochen:
,,Zuwä''hst glaub'* i^b mit Schoj-enhau*:! da.-iS eines dec
bturksten Vlulive, di«; ^m Kunst und Wissenschaft hinleitvn, als
der Drang auftritt, zur Flucht aus dem Alltagsleben mit seiner
bchnierzUchen Rauheil und trostiusen Oede, aus Fesseln der
ewig wechselnden eigenen Wünsche. Er treibt den feine ;
Besaiteten auü dem persÖnUcheu Dasein hinaus in die Well
fies objektivtüi SihauC'üS und ^■er^teben?. Dies MUiv :rt luit .
der Sehücuclil vergleichbar, die deu Städter au5 teiuer goräusrh-
voHou, uüübcrsicbilicheii UiDgebuug nach der siillea Hoch-
siehirgffvlandc-chait unwiderstehlich hinzieht, wo der weite Bhck
durch die stillo Luft gleitet üud sich ruhigen Linien anschmiegt,
die m djo Plvngkeit V<^-'J^*iiii^^<?ii fr'jheiuea. Zu diesem negativen
Motiv aber gebellt ^ich ein posilivet: der Mensch biichl in ihm
irgendwie a^diiquuter \Vei:^e ein vereiniachtes und übersiebt-
livbes Bild der Welt zu goji-ilten, und so die Welt des trieben?
71) überwinden, indeu er tie bis rj einem gev>Is5en Grade durch
die? Bild zu ersetzen strebt. Dies inl der Maler, d<='r Dichter,
i\'>r spekulative ^hilu^oph und der Nat-irlorscher, jeder in seiner
^V^ise. In di^s Bild verlegt er den Sch^ve^punkl seines Gefühls-
)pbens. uij] die Kube UDd die. Festis^eit ru i^evrinneu, die er
im engen Kreise der vsirbehaden persönlichen triebnisse nicht
tinclen kann.** Wieder oul\k ortet aub der Ferne Goethes Kcho:
.Juj Grunde i^t ohne Einbildungskraft ein wirklich grosser
Naturforscher gar nicht zu denlicn. L'nd rwar ineine ich nicht
eine Lmblldungskrait, die ins Vage geht und sich Dinge
ünaizinier*, die uieht cr.istieren; sondern ich meine eine solche,
die^den wirkhchen Boden der Erde nicht verlhsst und mit dem
Mas.>stabe de? Wirklichen und Erkannten zu geahndeten, ver-
muteten Dingen schreitet. Da mag sie denn prüfen, ob denn
dieses Geahndete auch möglich sei und ob es nicht in Wider-
spruch mit anderen bevrussten G ersetzen komme. Eine solche
Einbildungskraft setzt aber freihch einen weiten, ruhieen Kopf
voraus, dem eine grosse Uebersicht der lebendigen Welt und
ihre;- Gesetze zu Gebote steht."
erfak rlässigeFalsc
Beschlüsse des Strafrechtsausschusses zur Eidesgeselzgebung.
Im Str:iirochtv'»ijssehuss des R*jichslaiis stand ar^Mtrn die
ISidf»sreforni zui ßrsprerhun^:. Der Berichterstatter. Abg. Em-
iiilnge: i'i>2vei. Vj)). legt.« die AVünwh- des Unt^rausschussei
dan'^dic et^:Ha dahin ^(^heu: Der Eid wird zwar ui'hl abgeschafft,
.r ict aber nircifDdwo mehr rÄ-injL'-end vorc;?'Schriebfn. Im Stral-
prezpfs kann dV*.^; GeTicbt die Beeidigung' ^^inf^s Zeu2*>-n nur dann
b^schlieesen. v.^nji f»s der Aussase av'schlaQ;ge'L>*nide Bc-deutQ:.\ri
U'lmisst. In den übrij^en Fä]]en. jn denen bisher b^eidn^l
rv-urde, iOiJ nunmehr die uneiaiitbo Versicherung den Eid er-
setzen. Auch sie aber soli ^re^cnül.er der bisherigen Praxis
r-iuc'^schrünit 'A->rde.n. Div* Vereiaicfuni: soll numiietr auch
i).it"rbltiben l:^^un''n, w(^nji Geriebt und Bet*-iligtf auf sie ver-
•/ichteu, die V'-T^^icberoug sotJ unterbieibf-n kouneii, wenn dio
Au5ft«!?.' nai-b M«'iDung des Gericht.^ u.ieilieblich ist oder ^^f^'un
di*j Aussage offenbar unsrljutjv/ürii? isi.
!;iliri;t>:öekeif iiiid Doiu? evvntuuli* -üll^^n al»ire-chafft
T» erden.
Die Mindestslrafe für vorsätzlich feilsche Versichei-ung soll drei
Munc^te, die Höchststrafe fünf -lahr^- Zuchthau«: ö<=>iTi. Das Gericht
roll \oo einer Strete cb.<<=*h*>n kömK-n. wenn die falsch^ oder un-
^ olU>t5nd.e*=' An;.';abe in einem bedPUtungslo>en Tunki erTolgt
i?L Die "Höchsljtraff für wii-sfntlicheu M^-ine^d soll tun/ Jahre,
ii) beicnd« r.- schweren Fallen rehn Jaiire Zuchthaus betrag'^ii.
Der AUüschufs 1r«l sO'Orl in die Beratung d^^r einzeJn^^a
rar2g^aph<-u ein. Nijch ein^r lan^if Ten D^-'batU^ au (\crr si'^b unt»^i
i-r;dfrv*n' Kr'i.-h<in.-.Uiini-" ' Ko>'b-Wv>t-:f'r. Abg. Ds. Be]] uud
Mir.is-tfTiiild.'r^-k^or l)\\ l.L.fc? bnteiiirtm, nvuric fcJ lS-:<a tu der
Ko?»sung d"r- Un!prau-»chu^s*»s niit IT htimirren bei si^-'ben Eul-
!'aii.u^3C«*n und drei Gegenstiniinen gfuehmii^t. Er hat lolcnl' n
Worltaal:
..Fal.'-ibe ^ erMrb'raTD^^u.
Wo: \xj^^cJlltli^ll vor cinf^f Behörd«- mündl'ch 'ün*:' tiurjrhjg':- odei
Cijvollc^'öndig*^ Ancab» ma-bt und der'^-n Bu*htip.k^ii oder VMl-
siändigli'^^J ujß^^i "B^^^ruiung aui di-;* nUcbt ^r V ahrh^it vr^r.
s^'h-r^ vird mir G'«fäng;n.ii Jiicbt unU-r dr.^i Monaden be-lraJ\
]\ Piicond^rs s''h*.verfji Fäl.t<'U ist die i-traie Zuchthaus bis zn fünf
.>ahr^a. V>r o.iufT Brhörde i>;-bijitljrh ''dnc unrichHge oder uu-
Und doch erkemit er mit der ganzen Keife des immer
melanchoh.Hhen Genius die Grenzen, denn er sagto zu mir:
...Vder sitzt eben im Gefängnis seiner Ideen fest; das uiUiS er,
uud zwar schon in der Jugend, sprengen, und nun sucht er aol
alle Weise seinen Gedanken auf dem Kücken der Wirkhchkei!
zu erproben. Aber nach ein paar Jahrhunderten kommt cm
anderer und widerlegt ihm vielleicht. Dem Künstler in
seiner Einmaligkeit kann das freihch nicht pa.sslereu. Ls
liegt in der Natur der Forschung bet/ründel und ist gar nicht
traurig."
Er sagte das mit einer >M*eder heiter gewordenen w:tunm^
aber mit dem Blick eines tSeefahrers. der nicht mehr jung ist.
übers Meer schaut und ungewiss bleibt, ob er sich v^ieder darauf
^^acen soll.
Zuchthaus biz zu /sean Jahren/' .Mit 23 g-^geu drti ^jlimmen wurde
ij 184 angenommen. Mit 19 eojen drei Stimmen bei Stimment-
banune der übrigen Ausschussmitglieder \^"urde § 185 ange-
Domm^n. Er lautet: „Wer einen anderen zu einer falschen \ tT-
F'ch^^rune zu verleiten sucht, wird mit Gefängnis bestraft, lu
besonders Kbwpren Fäü'^n ist die e^raf-^ Zü^hthau^ bis zu lunf
Jahr-n. Wer (-luen anderen zu ein^n Mf^ineid ru verleiten
t?ucht, wird mit Zuchthaus bis zu iünl" Jah.^eu bestraft. \ erhindert
d^r Täter auf^ üeieu Slücken die iaL-ohe Ver&icherung oder den
Meineid, so wird r-r i^traffrei."
Mit der>elben Mehrheit wurden die §>5 1^0 ..Herbeifiihrumi
einer falschen Ven^icheruno oder eines falschen Eides" und IBJ^a
, Verletzung der ErkunQunssDfUcbt" penehmigt. i^ 18ö l^>estraft
mit Zuchthaus bis zu iüni Jahren (". ligfn. der vissentlKn
veranlasst, dpsv^; ein anderer r n wisse iiiiicn eine falsche Ansähe
betidi'^'l. § 18(ia bestraft d- ijzfn mit Gefäuffms biS zu zwf^i
Jahren, der in einem behoiAiüiheu \ erfahren gegen eine ihm
auferlegtL*
Pflicht zur Nachforjchunp oder PrüfuDg
verMösst wenn er mi'olge des Ver3i..5se.=^ unrichtiRO Angaben
un**'7 Ber-ufum: aul die Pflicht zur Wahrheit versichert uüer be-
eidiit Sudann wiu'de ^' ISO einstimmig angenommen, drr d!<.^
Zu ' kf^it di-r Versiicherun^' und d^^-s Eides uud die Zustlindr.-
keit cer Behörde behandelt. Ebenso) di^ S^ IW und VA, dvj si< b
mit d^f ..täti^T'^'a Reue" und mit d<-n .Bf^hörden gl^Jch:^t^h^nd♦ n
SiMIpo' b^^schäitigen. ^ 190 Tis^t denj^-i^iceu strailr-^i. d^r.enr^
unnrhtifje Amratir- widerruft b^-vcr «^inc EutH:heidmig getioffen
tde: ein Na'/hteil für einen ai^dereu entstanden i*t.
^M^^hW^i— w^ ■■■"
Die Beratung des Haushaitsgesetzes.
Der Hauvbaitsatisrchuss dfs Rekhstsirir r^enehnugt^i geilem
r'.Dt^r*>r^ipnd dem Autrag des |Üiiten.^- . (jeo Hi^Uihalt der
B*^ ild in zwxnt-er L«'5uir mit foljiendf-m Antrag: in Ka
piH o Titel y2 der fortdauernden Ausgäb*>n — \erzinsuü:ir der
zur vorübcrgehendf^n Verstärkung der ord^-nthch'^D Betrieb?-
mitlolde.' Reit-hshaup' ' notjim' f u >iitlel — i' viel
,. (isf^s dfT Na jiuäLisbait 10:^8 iiacb DurrLi urung
Pommerscher Provinziallandtagt
(Telegramm unseres K or r e spond cnt eu.)
U bTEIFiy, 13. :>liirz.
In Stettin wurde heute der Proniiziallandtag dunh Ober-
Präsident Dr. Lippmann mit einer Ansprache eröffnet, in der er
auf die schwieri-c Lage hinwies in der sich die Provinz m allen
ihren Wirtschaftszx^ eigen befindet. Der Hafeu Stettm hat kaum
zwei Drittel seine. Umsehlaties vor dem Kriege wieder erreicbl.
Stettin steht mil Breslau in der Arbeitslosigkeit an der Spitze aller
deutsrben Städte. Handel und Industrie der Provinz und ebenso
der Verkphr iin Haf^n sind durch die Schaifuug des pohiischeu
Korridors und durch die Wirt.chafts- und Tarifpoiitik Polens
b^einflusst. Das hrgobnis ist, da.^s Danzig und Gdingen jetzt zu-
sammen das Dreifache von dem umschlagen, \^a^ der ^^tetUner
Hafen urnnhiägt, während vor dem Kriege der Umschlag ri
Danzic uur/^fäbr ein Drittel des Stettiner Umschlages betrug.
WL. WOYTINSK^
y T S € IMl IL A K! P
GESAMTÜBERBLICK IN Z.^HLEN
Mit 56 aufcchlussreichen graphischen Darstollungen
U bis 5. Auflage 1929. Kostbarste Auscfaftung, Feinstes popivr
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DIE ERSTEN URTEILE DER PRESSE
Die öchrecken und Nöte dtr gerade hinler unr>
liegenden Vergangenheit, die Schwierigkeiten
tinserer V/eJtstellung und RChlieaiich doch cUf*.
Freude am sic^-tbaren Wiederaufbau werder. uns
durch das Studium diescss klar, gründ'lch und
dazu noch populär gehaltenen Buches vor Augen
getührt. Stuttgarter Nö.oofiT3gbia!t
Ein solcheöWerk furdonGebrauchdebgebifdeteni. ^
AL5ERT EINSTEIN.
/ Zu seinem 5 0. üeburUta^ am 11. März.
V..3 [Xuchdiuck verboten.]
Pro) er 5 Ol Dr. Paul Kirch berger.
Albert Einstein uuide im Jabr^.- 1879 al> Sohn elneb Kauf-
Tnanns in Ulm an der Donau gebortih Die eindrucksvollsteu
.lahre reiner »^u^end verlebte er in der Schweiz, die Sobuljahre
in AaraU, die Studienjahre in Zürich, und der starke Einschlag
V eltbürc;'?rlirbrü Denken*, den er nie verleugnet hat, cnt-
stEmmt wohl den Eindrücken seiner Jugendzeit. Von seinen
akadt.'n]icchen Lehrern scheint, seiner früh selbstündiceu Natur
eDt.'^r)recbeDd, keiner einen überragenden Einilus> auf ihn ge-
wonnen ::u haben, ähnlich wie t-r denn auch selbst, im Gegen-
bdih zu anderen grossen Xaturiorschein, keine eigeuUiche
Schule begründet hat. Doch hat er gelegentlich df r Vurlesungen
des geistreichen Züricher Mdthtniatikers Hurrwitz dankbar ge-
dacht, und auch der Physiker II. Y. Weber scheint ihn nach-
haltig angerec't zu haben. Nach dem Studium nimmt er zu-
nächst eine Hauslehrerstelle iu Schaflhauseu an und soll sich
dort bald die UDgewöhnlichf Zufriedenheit seines Brotherrn er-
^vorb« D haben Bald darauf sehen wir ihn am schwrMzeriscbeu
Patentamt in Beri2. mit der Bearbeitmig in das Patentfach schla-
;s;euder physikalischer Fragen beschäftigt. In dieser Stellung
lässt er im Jahre 1905 seine erste Arbeil zur Relativitätstheorie
unter dem Titel „Zur Elektrodynamik bewegter Körper** er-
scheinen; sie bringt ihm eine Berufung au die Universität
Zürich: seine wissenschaftbche Laufbahn ist eröffnet.
Selbstverständlich tritt eine .so umstürzende Lehre wie die
Relativitätstheorie nicht ohne alle Vorläufer ins Leben. So
knüpfte denn Einstein vor allem au das Vv'erk des kürzlich ver-
storbeuf^D grossen niederländischen Physikers H. A. Lorentz an.
Dicf- r hatte als Erster di*j merkwürdigen Erscheinungen der
Lichlfortpflanzxmg in bewegten Mitteln erklärt Wählend aber
Lorentz einen unveränderhchen, im Weltenraum ruhenden Aether
rinnabm, und behauptete, dass alle Körper sich bei ?chneller
BeweffUDG verkürzen, ersetzte Einslein diesü sonderbaren An-
nahmen durch einen philosophischen Gedanken. Dieser war aber
nichtF. anderer, als die Relativität, d. h. der Grundsalz, dass eine
ixeradlinie und gleich schnell bleibende Bewegung, wie etwa in
<»inem gleichmässig auf gerader Strecke fahrenden Eisenbahnzujr,
als polche, d. h. ohne Vergleich mit ruhonden Kbrpern, keine
Wirkung ausüben, also nicht bemerkt werdtii könne. Dann kam
die berühnileste alier Lehren Einsteins, nämlich die Behauptunjj,
dass alle Raum- und Zeitmes^uI♦g keine unbe^Jmirte, schlechthin
i^^ltende Bedeutung: be^-itzc», >0D()*^r:; vom Bewepungszustand de?;
Bei'by*:'hleiiden abhänüic v-:-!, jro^z dr^ses
iTund-^ü^ziich
ver-
schiedeneu Gedankenunterbcues war der Oberbau, d. h. die
eigenthch physikalische Ausführung, und iusbe.^^ondere das niatlie-
matisrhe Formelwerk, bei Einslein ganz ähnlich wie bei Lorentz.
Nun wöT Einstein im rein wissenschaalichen Leben; seine
Leistung hatte ihn an den Platz und in die Umgebung ge&l«^Ut. in
die er gehörte. Seine Lehre drang zuar zunächst über engere
Fachkreise noch nicht hinaus. Erst im Jahre 19()fcs brachte auf
der Versammlung Deutscher Naturforscher und Aerzte in Köln
der verstorbene Göttinger Mathematiker Minkowski in einem
berühmt gewordenen Vortrag die Einsteinschen Gedanken in eine
glänzende mathematische Form. Dieser Vortrag entschied den
völligen Sieg der Relativitätstheorie bei den Mathematikern, und
namentlich die hochbedeutendeu Göttinger Vertreter dieses
Faches sind Einstein seitdem treue Freunde und Mitarbeiter ge-
worden.
Einstein folgte lf«ll einem Rui an die Universität Prag und
kehrte dann nacn Zürich zurück, diesmal au die Tethnische Hoch-
schule. Inrwischen ist aein cröa&tes Werk beraugereiit, die soge-
narmte „allgemeine** Relativilätstherorie. Sie überträgt den Ge-
danken, dass Bewegung an sich — ohne Vergleich mit ruhenden
Körperu — keine Wirkung haben könne, auf jede Art von Be-
legung, also selbst auf nicht geradlinige und nicht gleichförmige
Bewegungen. Einsteins Gf*danlien sind sehr kühn, und man kann
es jemandem, der beim Kurvenfahren in der Elektrischen fast
aus dem Wegen geschleudert wird, nicht übelnehmen, wenn er
nicht ohne weiteres au die Unwirksamkeit aller Bewegung
glauben will. Die Durchführung des Gedankens gelang Einstein,
indem er das Wesen der Scbwerkrait, über die seit Newton,
also .seit 200 Jahren, nichts wesentlich Neues geschaffen worden
war, völlig neu aufklärte. Aus seinen Anschauungen leitete er
auch Folgerungen ab, die durch Nachmessung geprüft werden
konnten, insbesondere die t>erühmte Ablenkung des Sternen-
iichts durch die Sonne, die nur bei vollständigen Sonnenfinster-
nissen beobachtet w^rd'^u kaun.
Seine Vorausberechnung wurde, als bei der totalen
SoimenfinstemiR 1919 die Ablenkun? des Sternenlichtes be-
obachtet vran fast genau bestätigt Nicht nur die Physiker, auch
das grosse Publikum interessierte sich nun mit Leidenschaft für
die Relativitätstheorie. Game Literaturen erschienen über die
Lehre, und es gab keine illustrierte Zeilschrift, die nicht Ein-
steins Bild, kein Blatt, dafi nicht Artikel über die neue Lehre
gebracht hätte. Nicht einmal die grosse Sch^erverständlichkeit
war ein Hindernis des allgemeinen Interesses. Eine Welt-
theorie war hier aufgestellt, eine ganz neue Auffassung unserer
urspränglichsteo und alltäglichsten Be^rriffe über Raum und
Zeit, eine neue Art des Deikens war in die Wissenschall ein-
bezogen.
Auch die wissenschaftlichen Ehrungen Einsteins häuiten sich.
Von der Berliner Universität erhielt^ er 1914 eine Berufung.
Er eni.^fiEg d^-c Xobelprei*«. übri^enii nicht fu^g'.'hiiej^^lich für ik
RelMtivitätstheorie, er wurde Mitglied zjihUeicher \k;idenii.'!n,
Ehrendoktor von Genf. Kostock, Bueuos-Aires, Madrid. Manrbe^^ter,
l)\lord, (.'amhridge usw. Neuerdings liat Eiusteiii dii.« Kelativi-
tälstheorie noch weiter gesponnen und in einer kürzlich von der
preussischen .Vkadeniie verotfent lichten Arbeit auch den LI» ktro-
magnetismus dem Gedankenbau der Ibdativilatstheorie einge-
ordnet. Die Arl)eit stellt sich als ein Versuch dar, die gan/t^
physikalische Well in einige mathematisebe Formeln zu Ininuen.
Auch die anderen Arbeiten Einsteins sind bedeutungsvoll für
die Phy^ik. besonders gefördert wurde die Plancksche Quanten-
theorie durch ihn. Als erster wandte er diese Lehre auf audeiv.
Gebit-te an als die Strahlun-islphre, für die sie ersonnen war, und
offenbarte so ihre allgemeine Bedeutung. Berühmt wurden seim-.
Arbeiten über die spezitische Wärme, durch die nicht nur ein
lOü Jahre früher von den Franzosen Dulon«j und Petit auf-
gestellter Satz, sondern auch de^*«ii Ausnahmen restlos erklärt
wurden. Eine ähnliche Bedeutung für die Quanten kommt auch
seinen Untersuchungen des sogenannten photo-elektri.scbeii
Effektes zu. Von weiteren Arbeiten sei die mathematische Er-
for.^chung der Browuschen Molekularbewegung, der t^ekannteu,
oft beim Mikroskopieren beobachteten zuckv-nd^^n Bewegun«,';
kleiner Teilchen erwähnt.
Einstein ist reiner Theoretiker. Neue Experimente hat er
weder ausgeführt noch ersonnen. Aber er hat uiezeiöt dass ein
.Mann mit einem Kechenstift in der Hrmd die Welt in Bewfgun^
setzen kann. Einstein ist aber nicht nur Physiker. Seine Inter-
essen umJatsen künstlerische, philosophische, pädagogische,
pohtsche Fragen. Der Mussik ist Einstein mit 'grossem Eifer er
geben. Seiner Beschäftigung mit der Philosophie, besonders mit
der kritischen Richtung Ernst Ma'^hs, verdankt auch die Reialivj-
taUtheori^', die ihrem Wesen nach ein [philosophischer Gedank-"'
ist, wesentliche Förderung.
Besonders hoch ist die politische Bedeutung Einstfuns t-inzu
schätzen, obwohl er nie aktiv iu die P-olitik eingegriffen hat.
Natürlich ist es ihm verdacht vvorden, dass er während des
Weltkrieges eine ähnliche Stellung einnahm, wie etwa Goeth»!
während der Befreiungskriege. Aber bald zeigte es fJch. da^^
er Deutschland damit den grossten Dienst erwies. Ihm gplnnw
es mehr als irgendeinem anderen Vertreter deutschen Geiste^
letjens, die zerrissenen Fäden wieder anzuknöpfen: als Vertri^ler
eines freiheitlichen Deutschlands wurde er überall iu der Welt
mit offenen Armen empfangen. In Japan, in .\merika, in Eul^-
land und in Frankreich, überall zählte er die ersten (ielehrtr^n zu
seinen H«Tern. und besonders denkv/ürdig ist seine I)i?kuss'on mit
dem früheren französischen Ministernräsidenten, jetzigen Krieof«.
nn'nister Painlevt», in der französischen Akad»*mie bek.nnn!-
geworden. Einstein ist auch Vertreter Deuis.-hlunds in der Kon;-
niission des Völkerbundes für wissenschaitlicho Zusammenarbeit.
Er ist auch, wie kein anderer, berufen, D»n!t5chland vor d^n
I'oniui der W?It zu vertrcteu,
m
Jubcn (eben Mch an
♦ ♦ ♦
X)cr 3u«>t iSiiiflctii,
5)<rf€d>t<t btr „£H<Iatit>ität6t<Korie^ MrfudjU mit (eint« i^mgcfpinften fcie ®eU |u \>«n»irr«n. J)eut<
be^t er gegen X^eutfd^lanb al« ,,t«Mtfd)cr 3ub<", obwobt er feltfl ManiK ^f: ,3««« «* ^<f ^l^rafe be-
gegne ,beuffd>er ©foofeburger |ubif<^«n ©lauSen«*, tonn id> mid^ einee melond^olifdjen £äd)cln« nidji er.
»ebren. 9Ba« bebeufet in Qöirf Jidjfeit biefe bed^frabentc QJejeid^nung? ®a$ ^iür benn iüNfdjer <^lairbe?
©ibt e0 benn üUrl^aupt eine 7(rt be« (nid)tglauben«r btird) bie man auf^^örf, ein 3ube nu fein? ^6 gibt
feine. - ;5* ">»" '<»" beutfi^er ©toafebüriier, ned> au4? gibt c0 etwa« a« mir, bo6 aU ifibifc^er ©Uube
/- bei^eid^net »erben tonnte"
IfTl'rNi'lOIMAl. SI'XJÜND' l'IXiXJSUKH
:■ •; 'b M
JuDen fehen
an
♦ ♦ ♦
^<rfc*t«r btt „^tiatmtämUorit*', r>er(ud)U mit itintn T:»irnöefpinflen tie ®<U ju verwirren, ^eufe
beut er fleftew X^eutfd^lanb nh „Uitt\d)tr 3ube", obwohl er felba befannt ^at: ,3enn i* ttr <Pbrafe be-
.qe<^ne ,b<utfd)er etaatsbiirger |übifd)en ©lauben«*, tonn id) midj einee me(an<t)olifd)en £ad>cln6 nidji er.
»rebren. 5J?o« bebeutet in 5öirf(td)feit Mt bod)tr«benbc Q^e^eidjnung? 5Ba6 bei^t benn jiibtfdjer <*llaiibe?
^ibt e» benn iiberbaupt eine ^rt be(J 07id)tfila4iben6, btird) bie mau aufbort, ein 3ube ^u fein? (?6 gibt
feine. - 3* ^*n 'ein b<utfd)er (gtaatdbüri^cr, nod) au<b gibt ce etn>06 an mir, ha« aU jübifd^er (Bloiibe
/- bezeichnet werben fönnte"
■(1i
I
r de
w^
t
'4
\
Vö
i
♦ d'ttt «ttctttot auf eiitf^cin. (^irftdn 5e*
ftubet fic6 gcnenmatttg bei bcn aSer^anblungcn
bc3 5lomltee§ für' gHftigc 3ufammenarbcit in
©cnf unb I)at ^tet mteber einmal bie Sc^at-
tciifciten ciuc5 ^ßeltru^m^? rcd^t etnbrinciltd)
tjerf^fircn muffen. 5öie an? Wenf gemelbet
tiHrb, tDurbe et, al« er bim^ bie ^llc be«
©anntofl, 10. «unuft 1930
SSßlferbunb^alQfte« ging, p\&^li^ mx einer
©c^ar DDT amenfanifcft^n ^ouriftcn umdngt,
bie i^m iljre „U3emunberung" burdft einen
fräfngen 4>änbcbrudP auÄjubrüden maniiicn.
Unter bcn ftürmif^cn 35erc^Tcrn befanden
jiifi einige Qmerlfanif(ftc ©tubcntinnen, bie
foforl ifin umftcllten uttb i^rc ^öotogtopöi*
fd)cn 9rr>paratc auf i^n rirf)icten. 53äf)renb
ex ncö Dergebltcö bicfcn Eingriff cn in cnt-
uel)en ^« (t-i. crfdt)icn tj'intex iftm eine junge
li'ime. bie eine Scfiere jücfte, um l^m eine
i'odf ct.i^ip*d,ueiben. S)cr gro^c OSele^rr.' mccbte
in Diefcr oerameifclten ßage ein ungluTicfK»
xmb [)iltlcfev Wefii^t, fo r>a% fid) ^me iS.trie
feiner e)bormtr unb l^m su $itfe nlt^ 3ie
griff energifd) ein unb ^o-g (Sinftein rafc^
in tan ^og', in bem bie 5^erfammlun>i hd
Wkh *1(C' ftctifanb.
..ji,...-.
\
5
18
'r I M E
Deccniher 22, 1930
-^
SCIENCE
Jobs & Energy
Whilc Dr. Albert Einstein declared
from the S. S. Beli^cnland last weck that a
hctler balance belween producer and con-
sumer was the world's most pressing
Problem in 1930 (see below), the man
whom he was Coming to visit, Dr. Robert
Andrews Millikan, chairman of CaU-
fornia Institute of Technology, said the
same thing in a spcech to the 24th
annual mecting of the Association of Life
Insurance President?, meeting in Man-
hattan. Cause of Unemploymcnt, he re-
cited, is overproduction, inevitable result
of the War. Although Science, the builder
of machincry, has often been held re-
sponsible for taking men's Jobs from them,
Dr. Millikan refused to let Science take
the blamc. He argued that Science has
created more new work. more new de-
mands than it has destroyed. Let in-
dustrialists study Unemploymcnt as
scientifically as they do their factory
equipment, urged Scientist Millikan. He
warned the insurance presidcnts to in-
augurate a plan of industrial insurance
before the Gcvcrnment does.
Said he: "The task of science is to
supplv as many legitimate human wants
as possible with one foot-pound of encrgy*
. . . to extract the ma.ximum of satisfac-
tion to the race of our present reserves
of encrgy." When coal and oil are gone,
Science will turn to sunlight as man's
source of encrgy. Reassuring to the insur-
ance presidcnts was it to hcar Caltcch's
Millikan, Nobel Prizeman of 1923,
Student of the Cosmic Ray and of sub-
atomic encrgy (both of which he rules out
as practical energy sources for mankind)
declare: "Only the economic reason that
coal and oil and gas are abundant and
accessible prevents us from utilizing sun-
shine directly now."
^^He Is Worth It"
{See front cover)
A plump, broadfaccd hausfrau sat
quietlv in the drawing room of the 5. 5.
Belge'nland as it lay in New York harbor
last weck. Although her eyes were laugh-
ing, she seldom glanccd away from the
frail-looking man with the touslcd white
hair and big, gentle brown eyes who sat
beside her. The room was füll of cameras,
ncwsgatherers with vast questions on their
tongues.
'"Do you think religion can promote
World peace?"
An intcrpreter turned to the fraü-look-
ing man, rcpeatcd the question in German.
'Tt never has in the past, and I am no
prophet," he answercd.
''What do you think of Adolf Hitler
fGerman Fascist Icader]?"
He answercd quickly: "Hitler is living
on the empty stomach of Germany. ..."
Ncwsgatherers read in his printed State-
ment: "American gcnius may be able to
establish a . . . satisfactory balance be-
tKveen manufacturer and consumer. . .
the most important practical issue . . .
of 1930."
*The energy required to raise one pound one
foot.
Most of the time the tousle-headed
man laughcd also. Hut occasionally his eyes
looked frightened, his left band opcned
and shut nervously. Thcn the quict woman
would lean toward him, pat his band.
She, Frau Elsa Einstein Einstein, knew
that the world must continue making its
legend about this small man, her double
cousin to whom she has been married for
14 years.* She knows that populär imag-
ination makes of him a hero who works
in a solitary study mixing mathematical
equations to get Truth as old-time alche-
mists mixed base metals to obtain Gold.
She also knows that der Professor is
P.&A.
Caltech's Millikans
They have a boat to meet.
afraid of and troubled by the world which
makes a hero of him.
Fortnight ago the two started for U. S.
from their small apartment home in
Haberlandstrasse, Berlin. Frau Einstein
had a busy time preparing for their long
journcy. So soon as Dr. Einstein an-
nounccd last month that he would make
his second trip to the U. S. to visit his
scientific fricnds Dr. Albert Abraham
Michelson. University of Chicago physi-
cist, and Dr. Robert Andrews Millikan,
chairman of California Institute of Tech-
nology, Pasadena, Calif. (Time, Nov. 24),
scores of U. S. private Citizens, public
officials, clubs, and universities sent invita-
tions for teas, dinners, receptions. Frau
Einstein, who is her husband's keeper,
had to reply with a refusal to every
invitation. Her husband's weak heart
cannot stand the excitement of many pub-
lic functions.
Because Mathematician Einstein cannot
keep his bank account corrcctly, she had
to make most of the arrangements for the
trip. She purchased new traveling clothes
for both of them, discovered at the last
minute that her husband's raincoat was
too worn for visiting. A Berlin shop-
kecpcr, impatient with her explanations,
told her he must see her husband to fit
the raincoat perfectly She replied:
*'If you knew how hard it was evcn to
persuade my husband he needcd a new
coat, you wouldn't expect me to fetch him
here. I wish you had my worries."
Frau Einstein is immensely proud of her
husband. Says she: "He works like an
artist. He sees a vision ... he works
feverishly ... his temperature rises, his
face becomes flushed and in his eyes
there appears a far-away-look." When
he is working hard on his theories she
makes a rite of leaving him alone. "AU
these things I must do so that he will
think he is free. ... He is all my life.
. . . He is worth it. . . . I like being Mrs.
Einstein very much. It is very im-
portant."
Dr. Einstein especially dreaded his re-
ception in New York. He remcmbercd his
Visit nine years ago when, to tind peace
from questioning, he iled to the roof of
Manhattans Commodore Hotel, playcd
his violin alone among the chimneys. "1
suffer more than anybody can imagine,"
he said then.
Frau Einstein had with difHiculty per-
suaded him on this second trip to grant
U. S. ncwsgatherers the short interview
on the Belgenland^ After it she saw him
receive the wärmest reception ever given
by Manhattan to a scientist. Crowds and
applause followcd him when he wcnt
ashore to dinner with Dr. Paul Schwarz.
the German consul; when he had luncheon
with Adolph Simon Ochs, publisher of the
New York Times; when he spoke on Zion-
sm over the radio, when he wcnt to the
Metropolitan Opera House to hcar Maria
Jeritza sing Carmen; when he was escorted
to City Hall by Columbia University's
President Nicholas Murray Butler to
shake hands with wisecracking little
Mayor Walker.
After his press ordeal, Dr. Einstein had
a good time in Manhattan. He looked up
two old fricnds, Poet Rabindranath Ta-
gore and Violinist Fritz Kreisler, called
upon John Davison Rockefeiler Jr., met
Helen Keller. Arturo Toscanini, conduc-
tor of the New York Philharmonic-Sym-
phony Orchestra, invited the Einsteins to
a concert, sat them in a box belonging to
Mrs. Cornelius Vanderbilt.
So imprcssed were U. S. Citizens with
the fame of their guest that few attended
the significance of his remarks. At a
meeting of the New History Society,
Bahai (universal worship) Organization,
he urged all pacifists to organize, suggested
the League of Nations as Organizer. His
point: If only as much as 2% of men
eligible for military service would refuse
to fight, thcre would not be jails enough to
hold them, there could be no war. Mme
Rosika Schwimmer, pacifist-author, acted
as intcrpreter when the regulär translator
was Struck dumb with excitement.
After four busy days in port, Dr. &
Frau Einstein steamcd away aboard^ the
Belj^enland via Panama for San Diego,
Calif. whcre Dr. Robert Andrews Millikan
will meet them.
*It was by a previous marriaiie that she had
her daimhter Marizot who was married last fort-
night.
♦After the interview an irate newsreel man
approached a camera man. Said he: "What's the
idea of his ßiving photoeraphers 15 minutes and
newsreel men only five minutes?"
"That's his new theory." answered the camera
man.
1
IVeue Freie JPresse
22. November 1930
%mmhttvt\ft Mbn-t Winftüm.
XtUgtamm unfered Aorvcf^ottbettten.
5^crlin, 21. 9JaDcmber.
Gilbert Ginftcin loirb um 2. Dejcmber eine 9i e i j c
mi) 51 m c r i fe a ontreten. 5Inla§ ju ©inftcin^ ^mcri&afa^rt ift
eine (Sinlabung bcr Uniocrjität bcr koli*
f 0 t n i f d) e n 8 1 a b t ^p a f «a b c n a. Diefe Unioerfität bcfintyet
fic^ in unmittelbarer ?^äl}e ^eö berühmten ObfcroatoriumS
ouf bem 9)1 0 u n t 5ß i I j o n, bcr größten Stenmartc b«t 25klt.
W\t ben 'ipi)t)fihern ber Unioerfttitt ^^afobeno ftc^t (S;nftcin feit
öal)rcn ui cngftcm miffeufc^aftlid)€u Slontakt. ^ie (Sinlobung
^r Uniücrfitöt ^ipaJQbena on 6 nftcin erfolgte bereite öor brei
öo^ren. 3n biefem Sa^re mürbe ^e in jo bring<nber uitb ^erj==
lid^cr 5orm erneuert, bog eine 9lb(c^nun^ nic^t me^r möglich
(d^ien.
©^ ift fojufagen eine ^rioatcinlobung unter
®c lehrten, unb bie 9leife ©inftcinö fotl boI)et einen gänjUc^
unoffi^icllen (^^arohter ^oben. (ätnftem mit^ in 2lmeriha keine
55ortrQge polten, aud^ nid)t in "»Paiabcna, ober er roirb n)äl)renb
feine« ctroo fe^ön)öd)igen ^ufentl)alte« in ber ko(ifornifd)en
UniDcrfitot^ftabt mit ben amerikanijc^en gac^genoffen feine
üt^eorien burc^|prcd)en unb er mirb bie Sternroarte auf bem
SDlount Siljon ju eigenen miffenjc^aftlic^en 53eobac^tungen
benutzen.
®itiftttn uuii hit ttmerikrtttirdie PcntuHtät
Irofebcm bchonntqeroorbcn ift, bog (äinftein rodl)rcnb fcineö
5lufent^alte« in ^meriba auf keine SQßeife in bie Ocffcntlid)kcit
ju treten gebenkt, laufen jnl)lreid)e 'Iclegramme in ber berliner
2i}o^nung beö berü[)mtcu ©ele^rten ein, bie (rinlabungen ju
gcftlid]kcitcn aller 5lrt enthalten. (S« merben bie m e r li^
ro ü r b i g ft e n 55 c r f u d) e g e m a d) t, i ^ n j u 9? e k l a m e^^
jmedken ju üern3enbcn. Unter anberm fmb il)m 5 0.0 0 0
!5) 0 1 1 a r geboten luorben, roenn er in Gegenwart eineö
5^otare eine ^ipille nimmt, bie ein 5Ibfü^r*
mittel ift, unb erklart, baß fie i^m gut gefd)meckt ^obe.
10 0.000 9)1 ark fmb il}m geboten morbcn, wenn er für eine
^ i g a r e 1 1 e n m 0 r k e Reklame j u m a d) e n fid) bereit
erklärt. (Smftein kijnnte fid), rcenn er auf alle biefe ^2lngcbc^tc
einginge, em 5^crmögen mad)en. Gr ^at \xc aber fämtlic^ ab*
gelernt. (Sin merkroürbigeö Telegramm eine« a m c r i*
kanifd)cn 0eiftltd)en ift bei (ginftein eingetroffen, in
meldjem ©inftcm gebeten mirb, burd) ein ^abeltelcgramm ju
antiuorten, ob er roirklid), rote man berichtet Ijabt,
alle« Don ber SBiffenfc^aft unb gar nic^tö oom
ölouben^otte.
einftcin tritt feine 5Reife, roie bemerkt, om 2. DejemSe^mit
bem Dampfer „Belgenlanb" oon 5lntraerpen ouö an. Seine
©attin unb jeine (Sekretärin merben i^n begleiten, augerbem
3)r. 2Balter SJlatjer, (ginftein^ roiffenjc^-aftlic^er 3Iffiftent,
frü[)er ^^Prioatbojent an ber 2Biener Unioerfitöt, ber kürjlic^ in
2Bien einen oielbemerkten Vortrag gef)'alten ^at.
3>ie „33elgenlianb'' unternimmt eine 2öelt reife, an ber
eine ^njaljl amerikanifd)er TOUionäre teilnehmen roirb, bie [xd)
in ^erot)ork einfd)iffen merben. ^inftein erinnert [\i) nod) mit
8d)rechen, mie il)n rool)renb feineö erften 5lufentl)altc9 in ^D^erapora
nur ^^ eingreifen ber ipolijei oor bem ilnftutm ber 3citungÖ==
berid)terftatter unb öor ben ^:öegeifterun^öau«brüd)cn beö ameri^
kanifd)en ^^ublikumö retten konnte. (2r mödjU bal)er am^ li^ebften
möl)renb ber oier läge, n)äl)renb bcren bie „33clgenlanb" fid) in
9^erot)ork au[[)ält, bn^ Sd)iff überl)aupt nid)t Derkffen, obmol)l
baö ^Iftor^öotel in ^3i e ro i) o r k i l) n e in gel ab cn
^ a t, in feinen 9^ ä u m e n 2Ö o ^ n u n g j u n e l) m ^ ^- ^^
roill (Sinftein garantieren, baß niemanb [\dj ben oon il)m be*
mol)ntcn 3immern näl)an mcrbe, ben er nid)t ju fid) gelaben l>abe.
mt 1 iM.
X)r. Slubolf $05bena.
I)ie t'luiüefen()eit ^lofejfor %lbcxt CinfteiuS in STmerifa
nxib Dcjoiiber^ am lUiount^'ii^iljon^DblcrDatoriiim in imllfürnicn
^n ^^liifamj bce; l)cunnen ^aljrcö f>at ber ^i^reffe bcr gan.^cn
(£rbc (^clcneiil)eit gccj^'^«"»!, jicf) mieber einmal (mie ja jd)on
cftei-'^ tiovijcr) mit' bür gibeemuclt bieje^ SO^anuc!^ ju befafj^n.
^2(n feine '|3crjon ijt Dor aflcm bie ä3etirünibintQ ber iltelatiüitätä*
tf)corie öefnüpft. (Jinjtcin lyat aufjer bic(cr Ji:i)eorie nocf)
niancl)erlei nnbcre, neue, ungentein faf)ne unb für bie gaii^e
'i)^aturiüifjcn[d)aft un)b *erfcnntni§ fcucl)tbare 5?eiftiin()en uoll*
bracf)t. ^^ün Icljtcrcn ift ber "Jldgemeinfjeit ober nid^t-^ ober
fa[t gar nid)tö befannt. SBirüid) oIIfeiHge^ imb ungel)curc5
*:?(iificf;en unter allen ^^Iturmenfc^en ^at nur bie 3ieIatiDttdt§*
tljcorie ennecft. Sie ift mit bem ^J^lmbu3 ber gröf^ten gebanf^
licijcn Sd^mierigfeit umgeben uitb gerabe ha^ reijt an, i^r
5i5efen begreifen ju moHen. %n^ führen bie ^Folgerungen, bie
au^ if)r gebogen mürben unb norf) merben, ^u fo eigenartigen,
bem ganzen [jergebr<id)tcn (Srfa^rung^toiffen unf<?rcr 3t*tt
gerabejH miberfprec^eniben JRefuItaten, ba^ fie al§ förmlid)e
Senfationen he^e\d)\xei toerbert muffen "T*^ ^^^^ «'»^ hUfc^t
(AiruTibc vdcugtcr unb Staunen ctnflöftcn Uitb an^Iöien.
Äoljl eine ber fcitfamftcn, fremb anmutenibcn Jolgerungen
nu^ biefer l^e^re ift bie öon ber fogciDanntcn STrümmung be5
^eltraumc^. Unter biefem Segriff ift foIgenbeS au Dcrfte^en:
^^ürbcn für aHe 5ßorfmnmniffe uttb für beliebig grofee geo*
nietrifc^e öebilbe im Weltraum bie ®efeije ber gemo^nlidien
öeomctrie, bie mir in ber £d)ule lernten unb lernen, mit
Dotier (^enaulgfeit gelten, fo fönnte man fagen, tafe ber SRaum
!eine iirümmung Ijabe. 2)iefe ©eometrie mirb gemö^nüd) al5
Guftib[d)e Wconietrie be^eic^net unb ben enud^nten Dtaum
benennt man mit bem 5^amen Cuflibfd)er SRaum. treten aber
bei ber ^lu^meffung be§ 5öeltraume§ gctüiffe ^Ibmcic^nngen öon
t)cr eu!Iibtd)cn ©cometric auf, fo nennt man ben $Raiitn, in
mcldiem ba§ jutrifft, einen gefrümmten 3Raum uitb fpric^l öon
^Kauinfrümmung. "^lad) Cinftein unb ÜQ^inrom^ft) ift nun bie
ganje ®olt, in ber mir hm 5lOIauf bcr ^aturereigniffe bc-
jc^rciben, nid)t fo, ba^ mir jur einfad)ften Se|d)reibung ber*
fcrbcn mit ber Guüiibfcfien ©eometrie au§!omincn fönnen. ^n
^er 'Mlye unb Umgebung öon frf)merer 3}taterie fagen fte be^^
r^alb, ba|5 bie 2SeIt nic^t eufliibifdö, mit anberen ^Sorten ge^«
frümmt ift unb bal)er befonbere Sigenfc^aften ^ai.
3mei anbcre (^ele^rte, cinerfeit^ ber ^Öelgier 3Ibbö
ücmaiUT, anberfcit^ ^rofcffor be Sitter in Üeibcn OJacberlanbc»,
finb auf örunb i^rcr tljeoretifc^en Untcrfud^ungcn in biefer
Öinfid;t auf ganj öerfc^iebencn Segen baju gelangt, ha\\ ein
Weltraum öon bcr oben angebeutctcn ^rt öon uufiabilcr
Struftur fein muffe. 3nner^)ar6 aflerbingS ungeheurer Zeit-
räume ■— alfo mar)renb feines ^^llterungäpro^effcä — muft fid)
ein foId)er ^Beltraum entmeber 5ufammenäiel)en ober au3bef)ncn.
®ie in i^m enlfjaltenen ma\\cn (ha^ finb bie ©cftirne müfetcn
fid) alfo, menn bai ftimmt, entmeber cinanber nähern ober
in großer Gile auaeinanberftieben. Sa biefc Setrad^tungcn oon
ouBcrorbentricf)em Sntereffe finb, miib mit i^nen eine ^^eob*
fid)tung äufammcngebrad)t, bie auf bem Spe^ialftubium ^meier
^(ftronomen, nämlidi 2)r. Ipubble§ urb 3)r. §"niaron§ bcrul;'
nnb an ber größten Sternmartc ber Erbe, ber am ä)(ount
^ilfon in Kalifornien, in ^^orbamcrila, gemacf)t mürbe. Siefo
a3eobac^tung ergab baS übcrrafd)enbc Mefullot, bafe aüe jene
uugc[)cuer meit öon un3 mcg im ©cltraum befinbli^en Dbjefte,
bie Spiralnebel genannt merben, fd;einbar öon unä fort (nnb
auc^ öoncinanber) mit einer enormen (^cfc^minbigfeit megrafcn.
®icfe (^efd)minbiglcit crrcid)t eine Oröfeenorbnung bi§ ju etma
12.000 Kilometer in ber SeFunbe. Unb babei jeigt fid) nod^,
baft bie öefd)minbigfciten, mit n)eld)cn bie in J^rage fte^enbeit
S^cbel fid) öon n\\^ entfernen, proportional beren gntfernung
öon un5 finb. DaS ^cif^t mit anbcren Sorten: 3e meitec ein
foId)er "iJJebel öom Sonnenft)ftem entfernt ift, um fo rafc^er
entfernt er fid) öon biefem mcg. C£^ ermcift bicfe Scobad)tung
fid) alfo fo, al§ ob ber SBcltaufbau iatfad)lic^ md) ben ^yolgc*
rungcn, bie mir aug ber Kelatiöitftl«f^eorie 5icl)cn fönnen, öor
fid) gegangen märe. 5Jiur bie gart., ungeheuren felunMid)en
(^ef^m'inbigfciten, mit bcnen fid) bicje fernen Ooieftc öor nn^
fortbcmcgen, erregen ft.nleä Sebenfcn OTe bi'^'e OJofdm tnb;g'.
feiten merben üeitinnn: burd) gemilje gcioiprafree ^lenbcrungcn.
^^c baä burc^ dn öla^pri^ma jerlcfltc Üld^t einer l^id^tquelle
erleibet, menn fie in a>c oeqnng ift, ollo jUb jum SH-ifpiel nnS
nähert ober fid) oon un^ cutf.»:tt. lijan nennt bicie gciru*
mäBigen ^lenberungcn, bie in 5?eiiif)icbimöcn öon £inten in
bem in ein ^arbcnbaiih .^erlegten !iiii)i ber l'iditqucfle ftd)
äufeern, hen Sopplereffeft. ^mc 2tt\\tn, aU ?Sfrauen5oferfd)c
Linien QUiö »m iaiic:4tcn ificl)t Der ^onne oecaum, oauvfttrgeu
in großer Saijl üsrt^fr.l ftrl;enb, iene5 crmftfjntc iirl;tfaTOenbaub
ober Spettrum
3)r. 3mict9 öom (Salifornia 3nftitut ^t barauf ^in^
gemiefen, bafe ber t>on ber Melatiöitötlt^corie öorau§gefagte unb
geforberte ©influfe ber Sd)meremirfung grofjer ^o^iaffen im
Seitraum in feiner Sinmirfung auf na^e, bei folc^en öorbei^
gcl)enbfm £i^t ebenfaßi einen 5)o]pplereffe!t erjcugen muffe.
Sarauf^in Fiat ein beutfd)er ^ftronom, ^rofeffor SBruggencatc,
ba§ £i^t öieler, na^ei^u gleid)meit öon un3 befinblid)er Stern--
[)aufen unterfud)t, melc^e^ aber, e^e cä in unfcre Jernrol)re
gelangt, neben öerfd)iebcn großen SOiaffen — alfo jum aeifpiel
(55eftirnen — im SRaum öorbeige^en muft. latfdc^lic^ fanb er,
je nac^ bem Zutreffen ober J^ß^^en foldjer Sorübcrgdnge, balb
einen ftörfcren, balb einen geringeren Sopplcreffeft. 2)a5 fpric^t
bafür, ha\^ bie eingangs ermahnte öcobad^tung ber 3lu^t atter
meit öon un§ befinblic^en 5Re5elfledc öon un^ meg, mcnigftenö
jum £eil eine üorgetöufc^te Sac^e ift, benn natürlid) mufe ha^
£ic^t oaer jener fo ungeheuer meit entfernter Dbjefte, e^c e§
ju uns gelangt, nöd)ft üielen SD^affen im Dlaum öorbeipaffieren.
®ic gragc, ob fid) ber mit iDiaterie erfüate 9^aum alfo
gemiffcrmafeen auSbe^nt, unb falls ja, mit meld)er ©efc^minbig-
feit, ift fomit nod) feineSfattS enbgültig gelöft. ^ber felbft
angenommen, bafe ber gröfet« Seil ber beobad)teten 5lud)t.
gefd)minbigfeiten fid) als öorgetäufd)t crmeifen fotttc, ein SHeft
öon 2atfäd)lic^feit mirb in ben S3eobad)tungen auf jeben ^aH
bleiben, öcute mcife mon blofe, bofe e3 gcgenm&rtig nod) nid)t
möglirf) ift, bie mirflic^e »efc^roinbigfeit bcr J^ortbcmegung au
beftimmen, meil ber jebenfaas fleinerc ffiopplereffeft, ber fie
uns funbtun fönnte, noc^ öon einem gtöfeercn, ber öon anberen
Urfad)en betftammt, maSflert ift. 5)ie meitere ©erfolgung unb
enbli^ ffiärung unb Ircnnung biefer erfd)einungcn, mirb
fieser 5ur fi^cnntniS bcS mcrfroürbigen 9laumproblemS öiel,
menn nic^t aUeS beitragen.
n'r
•»>i
9
s
«0 '
i
CD
3 ;
I'.
& i
w
i^
ini
m
aj^
IV\
L
\
s cu
-c
fiA/Vi?y?
r
^yi I b e r t O i n s t e i n
Dieser (jroßc CicUInfp ist von ci/icr
/}(,s(i//()S(u Schlieft/ //cit. Kiinllielie
(Ulfe und Lielfeinitri'tnliijh'eit paart
sieh in (/iesem auljenjen'ulmlieln'n Denker mit
7ah/ef'r()/l/er Vberletjeuheit. iMe werde ich
dieses irnnderroHe Lai hen Einsteins rer-
(jessi n, mit dem (r durch timn ht(inen der-
ben l('/7.r die ihm ans siiuent linhm durch
die Oileiittichh'cit erwachsenden L iiljet/uenh
lichh'citen streifte. I's fdantj so trarin, so
ju/f(j, (ds ot) ein (jrfjfJcr Knal)C lachte, der
sich daln'i in (jut/niiiigcr UvniKjtnumj lUjcr
die Verleyenfteit moftiert, in die er seine Um-
ijcbuntj zu setzen vcrnioefd liattc. Der
llfujel stand f/cöffnet, das N(denpnlf irar
bereit, als der l^rofessor mir eine Unter-
retfuiui (jewälirte. Wie ttefcanid, ist er ein
Meister auf der (ici(jr. Auf den f.Tnnjendcn
Tiimn seines Inst nnnents entscftirctßt (fer
MtdfienndifiCr und f'hi/sif.'er zeitweise seiner
Articit und ist nur l\i'instler,
Seine tliiinle trafen das Zcic/ien dieser
Miscf/uiu/ an sich. I'^s sind lldmfe mit aus-
<fc/nd(/ten l^liilosoidnnfnniefieln und dem
tjiinscften </escfiwnn(jenen iloldfin<ier {„oritji-
netle Ideen, fdinstlerisc/ter Einsefdiuf"), so-
genannte „(jcmisehtc" Hände, — uionferrotl
starfce, scfdicfde und verläßlicfic llümlc.
Phot. Ali'iuT Calln, licilin
Albert Kinsteins HäiHle niil Juisffepr.'Jjjten Pliilnsoi)lu'nknöclielii und dem typisch
gesell wungciieii (juidfinger (originelle Iiteeii, küiistleriücher Einschlag), sogciianiilo
«gemischte Hände'*
»♦
359
Das interessante Blatt
Nr. 50
Sttgget, uttb u)el)e bem
6€^tDar^cn, htx, aud) loenti
er felbft bctül)mtpr Gänger
ift, ficft im ^Qcfett bet Oper
fe^en liege. 9{un (ann man
fid^ oorfteüen, tote grog bie
9Kggerfreimblid)fett bes reicf)«
ften Snonnes ber ^elt ge^t,
wenn er — bitte, es rourbe
pl)otograpl^iert unb i[t alfo
Von links nacknidiU, titzeiidt
Karl Doktor» Mitrlied doi
B«sdb-Qu«rfeHi, PUlkanno-
nikor Grisor, ProfoMor Ein-
«teiB, Dr. Straflbcrg ; ttehood
die ProfoMoreii Wencheider
vnd Ehrealiafl, Jnliiu Gold-
berf (Cello)«
Wibrend seines letziea
BesBchcf in Wien
wlrlftte Prof. Ein-
stein bei einen Kam*
mermnsilcabendini
Mans e des UniversilKts-
Professors Ehren-
kaftmit.
i\cii^^(^\ n'u
ctnfd)Iac\cS
".A
irt baS
tcn neu
(jittVltc Stöte «w^^^l«: TT
i^bp 5J?nt
A MUSICAL INTERLUDK IN THB: LIF^E OF A SCIF NTIST: f'HOFESSOK ALBERT EINSTKIN
Playing His Violin in tht» Music Room of the Bel^enland a> thc Ship Approached California.
(Times Wide World Fhot-.^.i
THE GREAT
SCIENTIS'J FKOM
GERMAXY
ARRIVES IN
CALIFORNIA;
PROFESSOR
EINSTEIN
Standinjr Beside
Mayor Harry C.
Clark of San Dieifo
at. the Official Wel-
come of the City
Authorities.
(Times Wide World
Photos, Loa
Anj;eles Bureau.) ,
I
Mi
/U - ^
.-(
3-f ci
\U/lt
^
(o
* An-
'Air '^
icl]
AI c rk w ü ru Ige Para 1 Icle rs J i o i iiii ngc ii unserer
Zeit sinn Mittelalter:
Almlu-Ii wif im Alittrlaltti Joliaiiiiivs Kcplor sclncii Z(itv!;(MM»ssrii
cm vtWIig IKMKVS Wrltl)iI(I sduMikto, liat I', iiist<Iii uii.sni-r Zrit
mit tIcM- Ii.ilativitätütlic()ric' i-in muo.s Wiltl)llil giv^i'ljcii.
/ i/(/i/ kflnlhltä!
I
aestti JöiBi ateratiit.
^]&^fir«r Gilbert (JinfUln ^at ftd^ bei bcu
^oC^ft^unurfen In 5)aoo« nid^t mit alÄ %t>
tcl^rter, fonbcm autö al« OVelgcuülrtuofe ß«*
f.^lgt unb tu bieder ^HoOe nid^t Geringere
3:riump!)-c ^ttxxiiti, 5lm Sd^Iuß feine» S3or^
tragdS über bU ©runbibeen bcr ^^i)[lf alifcl)en j
JlÖiU^nf<i)<ifi "^^ ^Ö^^ enttt)i(flung überrQfd)te
er bie 3u^örer mit ber Slnfünbigung, baß ev
am 5Ibenb bei einem Söo^Uäti^feltsfoni^ert
im 5lurr)au5 ©eige fpiclen merbe. 3)aS ©in*
ftcin ein öorjügll^er «loUnift ift, miffen ble
«ingcnKil)ten Ätcife fd)on längft, \xx(^ er ip
aud) bereite in 5»crlin aufgetreten; für bo^
^Deltftäbtifdjc, toenpö^nte ^nblifum aber bc-
beutcle ba5 eine große Senfation, unb ber
tt>eite ®aal bed Äur^aufeÄ toar ba^er über*
füllt. S>cr 8(l)öpfer ber tftelatlDitätSt^eorie
fpieltc mit feinftem ©erftdnbni« unb bciounbe«'
rungsmürbigcr Secf)nir ©tücfe öon 58*4 unb
SDlojatt unb b.ii IBlotinport in einem !k»eet*
5ot>enfcf)en Xrio. 5&ie SJaDofer Seitungen feiern
(Sinftein al« üortrefflltdien SlJluflfer. Ginftein
bantte für bcu lcbr)aften ^Beifall, mar aber
tro^ ber bielcn §crt)orrufe ni(f)t 8« «^'"«
„gugabe" ju belegen. ®*
Xcr Ulmer ^^atticti^mu-i läßt an« aucö n}ificit^
ba'S ffiepter 1627 bie JRubüljiniiirjeu Safcln r>l:t
fteraii^gab unb bie „ÖJcunbtagc ju einem georb*
ncten rctc53[labtifc[;cn SOtaR- iinb C^jcmidjt^njeftM''
fti^iif. Ginc iugleic^ maBt^oKc unb öttpid;t:iic 3n*
ft^rift am JRatftaul üerfünbct nn3 bfc^. "B'xt lanöd
— mü) eine neue 2^afcl n)irb fammenbcit (l'c*
fdilecfetem mitieileu, baft in biefcr Stabt ^(l&crt
dinflcin gur 2SeIt bcr JKelatiöitätcn fnm.
Wein Drtifeffot in Spanien*
Ä..SB. ^dbrib, 10. ^pxil. ^ic bas Unt <w
rid)t&mimftfriitim mitteilt, f)at *5profeff ot C^ii w
fl e i n einen Antrag bpt Ipttnifd>e!n "iHe^tenniii
aiig<^ommpn, eine Scl)rfan^el an einet
fpont[c^en Uniocrfität jn üb^rneb-wen.
t
9euff(iie Viffenf(i|af(
in ^(tgenlittien.
©ie rüfirtge ©eutfc^^^rgcntintfr^e "^Scrcinl*
gung oeranftoltcte unter ^orfiö bcb ©cbetm*
rat3 (Sontob n. B o r f i g in it)ren fd)öncn 5tlub-
räumen dm Äurfürftcnbomm einen Vortrags*
abenb, an bem ein füöamcritQni|d)er ©elebrtcr
einen n)tffcnfd)0ftlid)cn Ucbcrblirf über bie ©c^
fd)id)tc "Slrgcntinicns anläSIirf) bcr ^un^crtfif^r*
fßicr gab. ^ct argcntinifcbc ©efdjditsttäjet teilte
f)ieraut mit, ^^^ ^rofcjfor albert (E i n ft e i n
ixt (Sinlaöung ber argcntintfd)cn Siegterung üu»
genommen \\ixht unb im J^rü^jabr gemelnfam mit
feinet (£>attin eine Steife nach "ülrgcntinten on^
treten roerbc, um bort öbnlicöc (öoftoorlcjunoen
in i^m'uof^ 9lircc au %*iXi«n, lotc cr f!c bcrcitß
In ^llmerüa \x\\\i in Japan über feine 9iclatipi*
tütölilire gegeben b^-
^^ag ^Argentinien eifrig bonat^ ftrebt, Scr»
tretern beutfrf)er ili3ifFcnfd)oft an feinen Unioer-
fitäten eine gaftlt<f)c Unterfunft ^u gcroäbren, be-
iDetfen aud) bie ^cricf)te bcö Tübinger iJriüat*
bo^cntcn für Anatomie, ^r. pl)il. unb mcb, S^ans
Ärieg, bcr gu iDiffcnfd)nftIi(f)en jyDrfd)ungen
feit äoci 3abren in^^ilrgcutimcn ujcilt. 1)r. 5trieg,
loirb Anfang Sanuor für einige :Dbnatc nad)
^cutfcf)lQut) ^urücffcl)rcn, um bier iBerbaubluni^
gen ujcgcn einer großangelegten Jvorfd)ungö-
cjpebitton \v\. boö Urtoalbgebict (ib^co *$a-
raguaq unb '33oliüiQ ^u fül}rcn. (Einige
mutige Operateure einer berliner JytlmgefcII-
frf)aft foüen bicfc (S^pcbitiou begleiten, ^r. Äricg
mirb in "Berlin eine "ißortrcgstci^c über feine
5orf(^ungen unb über bie " 3icle bcr geplanten
(Sspcbition baltcn.
. (£ö rnirö in biefcm 3wfammcnI)ong nid)t un«
Intcreffant fein, ho!^ fid) aud) ^ilbmiral 'B e b n f c
bcmnöc^ft nad) 9Irgcntinicn bjgibt.
2)cr ncuernonntc argcntinifcbc (5 c f a n b t c,
bcffen "Jlgrement, roi; bereits nüigeteilt, cingc*
troffen ift, mirb im Jjrübjabr feinen "?3üfteu
antreten, roäbrcnb Der bisbvdgj CL'>cfd)äftö«
träger nacb iJIrgcntinicn jurüdt'ebrt, um i)ort
i^eriDcnbung ^v.i ftnbcn.
Diplomat ieus.
r
*''«'«' 'WaYmnatott, 24. Gönner, (acuter.)
i^rofciTor e i n t c i u unb bcffen ©attin meilcn un
leifiKus als ©äfte beö ^räpentcn iRoofe^
oeU
ein bctttfdjlnninnttbe?
\ T ^iiegramm .nfeted Jiorrcfponbcntcn.
J5erIttt/2. Stprit. Mic ber i&erlincr .£>eToIb" bcridjtct
g^inftem bie Slbfid)t t)aben, 3^eut|d)lanb
t) c t l a f f e n. Sebenfatt^ ift bem ^c^öpfcr bcr
iioitdlMheoric t)on einer an g c f el)c n c n au 2^-
Jbifc^en Unioerfiitdt ein £el)r[tuf)l am
otcn n>6ct^|n. ■ j
^^avy öbtains Aid of Einstein
WASHINGTON. June 24 (.^)—
Professor Albert Einstein has
agreed to work for the Navy on
several mathematical physical
Problems in ordnancc resoarch, the
Navy Said tonight. "His naval as-
signment will be on a part-time
contractual basis and he will con-
tinue his association with the In-
stitute for Advanced Study. Prin-
ceton. N. J., where most of his
studies in behalf of the Bureau of
Ordnance will be undertaken," the
announcement said.
--- ...-w*. »**... .«..v.w v*li4V*u »♦tun JWbU.,, «v'...
Ulli SSalberbBecren. - gSrof. G t n f» < i n," Vet
mmi btr KelatiotlStstSeom, ^at 6et fdnct
är&reiff i>on SJari? na« öerlin auf bem S3af,n-
m fnti DJeifegepäcf im 2Bart<fao[ »frgrff.-n <&ic
Sonbtafcfee, in ber fi« ein <Ba§ btä ijhrofcfiot^ bf.
jttnb tourbe ton einem Stattonäbromtfn j,cri5n.
h« bem beutWcn »otftöafttr 58aton o fiäftfi übtt.
btQt^f, ber beren fofortigt «««fensung wrtfürtc
IUI
Uc V
I
5^.'^. ©rüffct, 1. ^prtl. !Dic g3Iätter bcftäH-
gen bie inodindjt, ho!^ ^rofeffar (Einftcin einen
^ricf an bie beutfd&e ©cfanbtfcbaft m Trüffel ge»
ricbtet Ijoilxe, marin cr crflärt, bie \ityxi\^t
6taatsbürgerfd)aft nieberaulegcn.
«ne ftflmöfiFtöetFWnrajel fiir ffinfi
Ä.'^B. ^artd, 12. «pril. (|»i>a«.) Untm
miniftet De arjonate hoX in -ber Äümm«r
ggfeSe-ntmurf betref^nb bie S*affung ^in<6
ftubics für %\)Xi\M ;„,,b :Vf^fKmatff nm Mt
be Trance cini^ebrad)t. ^n l'ebrftubl
^rrvf^ffor (Slnft^itr bcftimmt.
K
Tax form Baffles
Even Prof. Einstein
By The Associated Prpsi.
PRINCETON, N. J., March 10
—Prof. Albert Einstein, world
famoiis mathematician and Wiz-
ard of the fourth dimension, said
tonight that he, like millions of
oidinary American^ who arc
mulling through ccmplcx income
tax forms, had to call in a tax
expert to help him prcpare for
the March 15 dcadline.
Asked what his reaction was
to the maze of income tax ques-
tions, Professor Einstein, whose
theory of relativity is supposcdly
understood by only seven persons
in the world, replicd:
"This is a question too difficult
for a mathematician. It should
be asked of a philosopher."
I
' L«»onaiu Lyons erzählt iolKeiHlt'
G»'-;('hii'hte ' von Albert Kinstein:
tMiitT der Pi'iiicptoner Nachbarn von
Kiiistcin hat oiiie aclitjähri^^e Toch-
ter, die es sich zur (lewohnhoit ^e-
maclit hat, den heriihinton Wissen-
schaftler jeden Nachmittag zu be-
siH'heii. Naeh vielen Wochen die.sor
täi>iichen Besuche kam .seh]ie.<.slich
einmal die Mutter des Mädels zu
Kinstein und entschuldigte sich für
die stän(li*»en IJnte^brocliungen sei-
ner wissenschaftlichen Arl>eit durch
ihre Tochter. "Abei" das ist keines-
wes»s der Kall", versicherte ihr der
(lelelirte, "ich freue mich stets mit
ihren Besuchen und wir kommen
sehr ttut miteinander aus," —
-Wirklicli?" fragte die Dame.
"Aber was können Sie mit einem
achtjähri^en Kind f>en^in haben?"
— "Sehr viel", erklärte Kinstein,
"ich liebe die Zuckeibohnen, die sie
mir- brinjjt — und sie liebt die Art
uml Weise, in der ich ihie arithme-
tischen Aufgaben mache". . . .
. »• » « v'ilft* •
Clear a» Mud.
Hl— I'm making progress on that September tax
thing. I saw my accountant. He took it up with
«nother accountant, who 'phoned a lawyer. The
lawyer has arranged to see a counselor who knows
a judge who is a legal wonder. Then all we have
to do is to get a good mathematician who knows
Einstein. Hilary.
In Kürze
Heinrich Muin(, iAon Fcuht-
wüngtr und eine Anzahl weiterer
nach U.S.A. zugelassener europäi-
scher Autoren kommen in der er-
sten Oktobei-Hälfte nach New
York.
Albert FJinsfciu wurde am Diens-
tair, nachdem er im Juni seine
Citizen-Prüfunii* bestanden hatte,
Bürger der Vereinigten Staaten.
Aus Wien kommt die Nachricht,
class Pr(»f. Jiilifts \\'<(ffifci -Jmtrcffgt
im AUei- von Slj Jahren f/csforben
ist. Der Forsche »• war Nobelpreis-
trÜKci' und hatte Weltiuf, insbe-
sondere durch seine Eritdeckiing-en
auf dem (lebiete der Fieborbi'hand«
lunir der Paralyse.
Ginffsins JJfljifi?™«?. !
r. CCf){cö«^o, 4. Wdt^. Über 40 ^l^a^iftftcit [
hatten fid) auf bem ^Bo^nbof eingcfimbcn. um ^ro»
fcffür (£ i n ft e i n , bcr fid) nnf ber ^urd)rciK' nod)
9icu)i)0c! in C^ßlcago oufhlelt ,^u bc(jriiftcn. ?n
feiner 9lnfprnrfic \ac\\c (Sinftctn, frihft Me ßitt.tfhnig
einer iHtefcnorganifation ber ^if^n^ififten tnj'ln'^e nur
incnig nüijen. 3cr cin^^icic ÜÖ o g, um luirfütt)
*??n3tfi9mu9 huiita^icfcon, fei bcr ber 3Jl i l i t ö c •
bicnftocrtticigerunn.
U^
(Einjfeiti ftommf nW müi Sentftfitaiift. |
Ä..^B. iUntnict^jctt, 28. anöra. (IpcKOQfl.) ?to-,
f<ffor (Sinftein ift l)eute mdyttixtic^ >u 6(^iff
f)iet ^ncfsJ^^^^'^dz crflärte 3oiu?n<iHilcit ^c^n-
itbet, bog er nic^t no* Dctitfd)Un6 jit-
t ü cf l e f) t c n tDcrbe, folon-gc 5k ©ebonlcnf reil)ett |
\vnb bet 6d)uö aller Bürger itici^t garantjittt feien. I
(Et t)enixil)rte R* i«^* bogegein, jemaU eiwoB
tlngÜTTflige« üh^t ööb D^utfrf>e SH«i(^ gefttgt ju
Fxrben. (5r fei über^ugt, bog Me S>i 1 1< t - 91 c g tc
rung feine '2l!tioiieii beobfldjtige, bit pa
eiwem Äonflift fügten I5iwil«i. I 'f "^ "^^
STATEMENT
I ain a national Jew in the
sense that I demand the preser-
votion of the Jeivish natioixxility
as of every other. I look upon
Jeivish nationality as a fact, and
I think that every Jew ought to
come to definite conclusions on
Jewish Questiovs on the ba^is of
this fact. 1 reyard the growth
of Jewish self-assertion as being
in the interests of non-Jeus as
well as of Jeivs. That was the
main motive of viy joining the
Zionist movement.
Albert Einstein.
r^'Durch Kleider, Haltung:, Sitten
sollen wir vergessen machen, dass
wir Juden bind. So soll unser Pro-
blem gelöst werden: durch die
Angst vor dem Judesein. Wie ein
Licht m der Finsternis erscheint
mir dagegen das schlichte State-
ment Einsteins, eines der grösstcn
Juden, eines Menschen, der weiss,
was er will, der seinen Platz kennt
und keine Angst vor der Wahrheit
hat." {Otto Zuirn.)
[(Siiiftein iinb ber öd)affncr.j ^iic „1% -mifn
Uu^" bcviu>tet : Cvt : i")intcic ^Uattfurm ciricd " ii\j y»
Vinie 7. 'Huf t>cm 'i^-avcrifd):!! i'faü fteiiit '|^rofc))or Vllbcrr (^\:u
ftcin, ber Cintbcchcr ber 'Jie(iitit>iiät^^t[]coric, mit J^-tou unb 'X')il)!cr
oiif. T^er "l^rofcffor initovlnilt fid) ntit feiner O^attiu üher be« r.\t^
ftanb feiner <S')eu]c, bor bn^ manne 'il>cttcr nid)t c\ut tue. 5.>r
C^diaffner tritt \)\v\n, hafficrt unb miif; auf eine ^Kent^nmar^
lioraiioiiebf«. T>nbei pnffiert eö ^i^rofcffLvr (Jinflrin, baf? n einen
r)0':Vliiliarben-lKavIijd)oin für etneu I()0^!ll|iül.uben*'il?avkfct)ciii
l)ält. C5r iiiadn bcn 2cf)a[fner auf bcu rtermeintlicf^en 3ri1nin
niiinicrhfnin. Ter 3d)aifncr rocfmcte ihm itinftäiiMid> i)or, b:i§
er ricbtii'j Iicraiiciiicnebcn hab(\ ^'rofcffDr (5:inftcin eniid)iiübiATr Hd)-
T/cr Schaffner täJ)e[t mitleibia imb fa^it, ehe er }lu) bcm näd)fleit
Die Haftiottöerfragting des Crinffem-
Bottroges.
5r.*55. *lC^fctt, 30. Oftober. ^:e SRaiKtg M
btlanniiid) borgfricrn nad)tS hit ^^cn SJa»i
uxü> (JinfietÄS t>on tintm Cmibonet öanfett
übertragfn. ^iatt bk ton bcr dlatxiQ an^fftn-
bfetfiT Öttrifgff^jtadfrf über Dftcuropo bcic^rdnftc
\iä) aber 2haiD auf cinrn Xoaft auf (Finftetit,
»ajrcnb (^inftci» ühtx ben Sionximu^ fijracj.
Xer Obmann bc^ Cftctrcic^ifc^n Slabiobunbc«
3"9. SBfHjl l)at H-un, toit hk ^??cic&§^ft" tw
fä^rt, wn «itfflarung erfaßt, meti bun^ btcfc
Übetrosnnö bk Überparteilich 'fit b?r Sflat^ag oer^
im tDurb«. (Er erftklt öon brr ^ayyctq bie «uf^
nanina, b«6 ficnl^tbaöon untcrrt^tft
9fmcf«n fd, baß f« fi* «m tint jiomftifc^
^eranflartung bon-ble. Xie 9?at>ag 6atte m ^tnnU'
m« ber maf;ren Sacftlog« bie übertraniiii>g nid)t
burc6g<ful)rt unb bdhUKre ben Vorfall.
yaviö btttiij (fitiftcitt.
«oriö, 16. 9tpri(. ^^rofcijor Gin ftcin f)at bcu il^nt
anc^ctrai^cncn £ c l) t ]t u l) l für ^JJJat()cmati6 unb $l)i)iiU am
3 n ft i t u t b c ;^ r a n c c a n (\ c n 0 ni m c n.
lIHnfteitt ttbetfieöelt tioc^ ^metifefl.
t. 9Utol|orf, 11. Oftober. Vas 3nftitut für
fortg«fd)ntt«niC otubicn, bos oon Suifc •Bambtrgcr
unb Jrüu ©oulb im 3al)re 1930 mit 5 imillionen
2)oIIar gc^rünbct iDurbc, gibt befannt, ba^ ^rof.
(Ein ftcin bi< S-citung bcr Sd^ulc für 9)lQtlK'
matif unb tf)€oretifd)c %Wn^ übcrnom^mcn hc^iK.
®ie Stellung ift I c b< n s l ä ng l i d). (Sinftcin^
mirb feinen 2Bof)nfi6 bauemb nod) ^:UmerifQ i>er-
legen unb bcm Snftitut feine oolle ^rbeitöfrüft
TDlbmen, bod) iQ{)rlid) nöc^ Conbon Urlcitb§reifen
interncbmen. iUlan 'nimmt ^ier an, baS 5^"^<>^
feine ^Ikrbmbuiig jur ^^rlincr Unitvcrf,tät löfen
u)irb. ♦
Theorelician, violinist Alhert Ein-
stein was slow (o speak as a hahy, once
used $1500 check as a bookinark. lost
Ihebook. Born Ulm, Germany, March
fourteenth, is American Citizen. His
age
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.■ik..««>-JU »> <» <lil»iftiiM mmiä .«*>..«Jik ..
.4^ A^v^<JMV«.\.^ *,. ««.4l»^,«*«yy»\4M»r. !t'.->--.W ^^' 4*\. .«,
V
In unserer Zeit gibt es viele erfindungsreiche Köpfe,
deren :-:rf indun,-en unser Le^en in hohem Hasse erleich-
r
tern könnten. Wir durchqueren die Teere mit Maschinen-
kraf t und benutzen die letztere auch, um die ?^!enschen
von aller anstrengenden J^uskeiarheit zu befreien. V/ir
haben fliefren pe?.ernt und senden uns bequem alle ITach-
richten über die ganze Srde durch elektrische Teilen.
Aber die Produktion und Verteilung der Güter ist
völliG unorganisiert, so däss jeder in der ivngst leben
muss, aus dem Kreislauf der Wirtschaft ausgeschaltet zu
v;erden und an allem ilange], zu leiden. Ausserdem töten
elnandoi; di^? I-*enr>chen, '"lie in verschi -'Mienen Ländern woh-
nen, in unregelmässigen Zeitabschnitten, so dass auch
aus diesen Grunde alle in Turcht und Scnrecken leben,
welche sich irgendvrie über die Zuk)inft Gedanken machen.
Alles hängt damit zusammen, dass die Intelligenz und .
«
Charakterbildung der Tassen unvergleichlich tiefer steht
als die entsprechenden iiiiajCÄJcxrcs: /Eigenschaften der wenigen,
die für die Gesamtheit V/ertvolles hervcrbringen.
#
Hoffentlich liest das spätere Gerchlecht diese Kon-
statierungen mit dem Gefühl stolzer unr^ berechtigter lieber*
ler:enheit.
den 10. August 1938 •
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Un^
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T.-.S Day
n
Seien
E1]\STEI!V THEORY KEY
TO ORIGII^^ DE THE
COSMIC RAYS
.Bv Gobind Bohari La!
International News Service Science Editor
ce
rkR. ROBERT A. MILLIKAN,
*^ Nobel prize winner, picturcs
the birth-place of the cosmic
rays in space between stars in
his treatise "Cosmic Rays,"
published today.
World famous for his dra-
matic investigations of the cos-
mic rays, the most powerful and
mysterious of all radiations in
the universe, Dr. Millikan now
believes that Prof. Albert Ein-
stein's theory is the key to tne
onpin of these rays.
The Einstein law concerns the
possibility of matter beinp
changed into energy, whether
as some kind of light or li?:ht
and some olher form of energy.
While man's dream of chang-
ing ordinary material into pure
vast power has not yet been re-
alized in any practica! form, the
celestial cradle of cosmic rays
might hold the secret of the
process.
Prof. Millikan implies that the
understanding of how the total
disappearance of matter, and
Its conversion Into cosmic rays.
occurs in the almost completely
empty celestial space might
teach man how to do some thing
similar on the earth.
6ays the eminent physicist:
"Cosmic rays cannot have
originated within the stars. or in
any portion of the universe in
which matter is present in ap-
preciable abundance.
"Cosmic rays might be due to
the partial or complete trans-
formation of the atom into cos-
mic radiation.
"The annihilation of atoms
seems to be the most plausible
process now in sight.'*
The kinds of atoms which by
tbeir "death" result in cosmic
tays of various energy types. ara
tnainly these: carbon, boron»
nitrogen, oxygen, aluminum.
Silicon.
Energetic rays of five to four-
teen billion volts power could be
produced by such a process, fol-
lowing the Einstein law, Dr. Mil-
likan Points out.
But no scientist yet know\s how
these atoms wandenng about in
almost perfectly empty space,
where the intensest cold pre-
vails, could suffer death and
turn into tremendously ener-
getic darts that bombard the
earth.
«i
The hose ainU long enough. Vm stalled about a
mile and a half up the roadl^*
^y
(.
f i
Friday. September 13. 1940
I
AUFBAU
Gottesreligion oder Religion des Guten?
Aus der Botschaft AHyert Einsteins an die jüdisch-katholisch'
protestantische Konferenz im Jewish Theological Seminary
in New York am 10. September 1940
Die lol^endt* Botschaft All>ert Einsteins an die Relijrionswissen-
schattler der Welt ^^ ird vermutlich der AusKun^spunkt einer welt-
weiten Diskussi«»n auf Jahre hinaus werden. Wir bringen den Text,
der die Abkehr Einsteins von jeder Art des (ilaubens an einen persön-
Jlciien (.Ott bedeutet, so ausfuhrlich, wie wir ihn kurz vor l>rucklei»unji
des "Aufbau" noch erhalten konnten. Eine Stellungnahme zu dieser
Botschaft des Nobelpreisträjjers behalten wir uns für die nächste
Ausjiabi' des *'Aufbau" vom 20. September vor.
*'Ich bin zu der Erkenntnis ge- nicht durch Lehens- und Todes-
komnien, dass die Hauptrolle für
alle «iejienwiii'ti^cn Kontiikte zwi-
sclien 'ien Spliären der Kelijiion
und der Wissenschaft in iW'V Kon-
zeption der Existenz eines persön-
lichen Gottes lieKt.
Je mehr ein Mensch von der vor-
handenen natürlichen Onlnun.u- al-
ler Kieijinisse überzeujit ist, desto
mehr kommt er zu der Ueberzeu-
^un^-, dass es neben dieser Ord-
iiunu* keinen Raum gibt für Ur-
sachen einer anderen Art. Für ihn
kann weder das Gesetz des mensch-
Jichen noch des prottlichen Willens
als von Naturereignissen unabhän-
gig' existieren.
Sicherlich, die Doktrin von einem
persönlichen Gott, der in natür-
liche Geschehnisse einirreift, kann
niemals in wahrstem Sinn von der
•Vissenschaft widerlegt werden,
denn diese Doktrin kann sich im-
mer in jene Domänen tlüchten. die
bisher die Wissenschaft noch nicht
betreten konnte. Aber ich bin
überzeugt, dass ein solches Verhal-
ten von Seiten der Vertreter der
Eeligion nicht nur unwürdig, son-
dern auch verhängnisvoll sein
'Würde.
Denn eine Lelire, die sich nicht
im klaren Licht behaupten kann,
sondern nur im Dunkeln, wird
zweifellos ihre Wirkung auf die
♦Menschheit verlieren, und zwar
7um unausrechenT>aren Schaden des
Fortschritts.
In ihrem Kampf für das ethische
Gute müssen die Lehrer der fleli-
.•g'ion die Kraft aufl)ringen, die
Lehre von einem persönlichen Gott
aufzugeben, das heisst jene Quelle
von Furcht und Hotfnung, duich
die in der Vergangenheit soviel
JMacht in den Händen der Priester
lag. Sie müssen sich stattdessen
jenen Kräften widmen. <lie fähig
sind, das Gute, Wahre und Schöne
in der Menschheit selbst zu kulti-
vieren. Das ist zwar eine schwie-
rigere, aber unvergleichlicli wert-
vollere Aufgabe.
Wer immer dii« intensive Erfah-
rung eines erfolgreichen Fort-
schritts in der Domäne des wissen-
schaftlichen Denkens gemacht hat,',
ist erfüllt von der tiefen Ehrfurcht'
vor der Rationalität, die sich über-
all als existent offenbart. Im Wege
des Begreif ens gelingt es ihm, sich
weitgehend von den Bindun-r,
Ren persönlicher Hoffnungen urul
Wünsche freizumachen, und er er-
d^nuitiire gei-
furcht und blinden Glaul>on führt,
sondern über das harte Suchen
nach rationeller Ei'kenntnis. Ich
glaube, dass aus dem Priester ein
Lehrer in diesem Sinne werden
muss, wenn er seiner erzieheri-
schen Mission gerecht werden will.
Während der jugendlichen Pe-
riode der geistigen Fhitwicklung
der Menschheit schuf die mensch-
liche Phantasie sich Götter nach
ihrem Ebenbild und unterstellte ih-
nen, dass sie imstande waren,
durch ihren Willen die Welt der
Erscheinungen zu bestimmen oder
wenigstens zu beeinflussen. Durch
Magie oder Gebet versuchte man
diese Götter für sich selbst günstig
zu stimmen.
Die Gottes idee in den lieute ge-
lehrten Religionen ist eine Subli-
mierung der alten Götterkonzep-
^iafakter erweist sich zum Bei-
spiel durch die Tatsache, dass
Menschen das göttliche Wesen in
ihren Gebeten anrufen und es um
die Ei'fülhing ilirer Wünsche bit-
ten.
Niemand wird leugnen, dass die
Idee eines allmächtiuen, gerechten
und allgütigen persönlichen Gottes
geeignet ist, den Menschen Trost,
Hilfe und Fülirung zu geben. Aus-
serdem ist diese Kon'.eption durch
ihre Einfachheit auch dem unent-
wickeltsten Geist zugänglicli.
Andererseits hat sie entschei-
dende Schwächen, die in der Idee
selbst liegen und die seit Beginn
der Geschichte stets qualvoll emp-
funden wurden. Wenn dieses We-
sen allmächtig ist, muss jedes Be-
gebnis, also alles menschliche Han-
deln, Denken, Fühlen und Streben
ebenfalls sein Werk sein. Wie kann
man dann also bei Existenz eines
solchen allmächtigen Wesens Men-
schen für ihr Tun und Denken ver-
antwortlich machen? Wenn wir
dann strafen oder belohnen, urtei-
len wir ja in einem gewissen Aus-
mass über dieses Wesen! Lässt
sich das aber mit seiner Göttlich-
tionen.
Ihr anthropomorphischer i keit und Allgerechtigkeit vereinen?'*
Mi'
'•••■»«r»l>
' '^ *•> f,
lern Sein inkarniert ist. das in sei-
nen tiefsten Tiefen dem Menschen
unzugänglich ist. Diese Haltung
scheint mii- Religion im höchsten
Sinne des Wortes zu sein.
Und so .scheint es mir auch, dass
"Wissenschaft nicht nur den religiö-
sen Impuls von den Schlacken sei-
nes Anthropomorphismus reinigt
(Gott nach menschlichem Eben-
bild), sondern auch zur Spirituali-
sierung unseren Begreifens des Le-
bens beiträgt.
Je mehr die geistige Entwick-
lung der Menscliheit fortschreitet,
desto ge\^ isser scheint es mir, dass
der Weg zur wahren Religiosität jj
Einsfeln Urq%% Morc Aid f«
Brifoin <
NEW YOR— (yr/l).— More ai4
to Britain as "protection of Amer-
ica" waa urged today by Prof. AI*
bert Einstein, guest of honor >a -*
"Friendship Bridge," the iaily
trans-Atlantic short-wave prograru
.sponsored by the British- American,
Ambtilavce Corps, aa part of %
series of good-will broadcasta to
P^ngland.
Prof. Einstein .said : "Aid t<>
Britain means protection of Amer-
ica. Due to the heroic British
stand, America is given a breath-
injj spell in which to prepare her
defense. From puiely seltish mo-
tives, therefore — if it were permit-
ted so to deal with the great Prob-
lems of today — all possible aid to
Bi itain is essential. Apart froni
this, Britain is the only power at
))resent which in defendink? thi»
humanitarian Ideals of nation.«? arui
individuals from brüte oppressi«m.
So help to Britain means also sup-
port of those ideals, without which
a future worth living is unthink-
able."
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DIE GÖTTER
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Von
RODA RODA
. . . .h^n Hino neu.- AWiaiidluiiB verfasst
Albert Einstein hat .'b*;u ein., ne»
„Uebcr Seniivektoren und ,''1"""^';" ;„,,h,. -,„ wissen - ich habe
Was Vektoren sind, glaube ''h T"' _ was aber sind Senu-
einmal analytische üeomelne betrieben.
^■^'•ünd1p.nore„ erstV In. texikoa k..nnn. hin.«r denvSpn.n-
^^"■^l^'tiuS-u,ei„ Freund Min,zel guU der Ma.he.MiUer,
^■-l ^elittSer'SSr^ir Su ™ir aber einen En.pleh-
Ulopll mir auf die Sfl.ulter ""^ safj: ^^^ ^.^^ ^,^,^.^5,
„Sehr löblich von 1""«' • J^'''^'';,, , .!,„ Fie,k antworten - ich
interessieren. Ich konnte lhn^.'> 'i" ,J ^' J^'^ii^d und Spinoren.
weiss natürlicl, sehr -^^''^Y^^^^, ^::,V'pS i^t 74, ich erst 60)
^'"'iS E, wo'zu alles Reden. Sic ."iarden es ja do,-h
"""„Sf um Protessor - -0 i.b innnerbin vorgebildet bin in
höherer Mathematik • • ••' ^ -^^ betrilft,,,keinen
„Herr, die nutzt Ihnen, '^a* *^'" " „escblagen: S<5breihen
üeüt. loh habe EJf"', ^ :i;Ä;.°samn3 lieber
SiruÄ^Jn." Ausser uns beiden versteht uns ,a
doch niemand/*
SS i < 11, 10. äuflttjt,
[(V i it c u c u e 21 i 0 c i t D 0 ins i u ft e i n.] On btr neueften
gjiimmet bcr „3>cut)d)en SDIebisinifd^ni a!Bod)cn)d)nft »«ofKui^
licht il5rofcJiot «tbett Cii n ft c i n (aemtmfoin mit S)t. JCwns
mhiam eine iniereffmite ÜRet^e ^ur ftufuna oon gtU
UxVL in bot aioAem.e u:ü) pf)t,f.Rat. Icn G^"nte meU
hcnüijten 2Kembtan. unb .^attfiUer konnten b.öl)Ct "'^^n obJot^J
«itau auf ihre 'Durc^löifigfeeit untcviud)t metben ; man mt
0 mSt ober luontqcv mmä;,en:be ACÜftcüjingen nnflmic eu.
ilt zu 4>crfahte« beftcl)! bavi.i, baß r.n jüt batucr.obg.idK
Amc&e bcuütJteä lonjittcr in aictiier gctaurfit unb nadibcm liaj
Sie f cren t,o!lqciaugt Vbcn. mit ^^ »o" 5>rumlu bie 1>Dven
m mtn& loieber »on bcm autgciioinmcnen ^et!)Ct bcirtit
mrim. Der S^udj, bei bcm ba« gc d).e^t, g'bt »"^'ag^f .'^"'''.''^
Trakt bie ?;ittcnD«ite unb bomit em btoud)bate8 tWoß für bie
StfilftgcS r glimmt man ftatt «letzet flüffige ÄotjUn»
jäute, io'knnn mon bamit bie «nericinlten gilt« pru|cn.
>
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A^iOi
I
Einstein Is Host
To Latin Americans ^
Princcton, March 26 (A. P.).
Albert Einstein foresook briefly
his role of mathematical genius
^o Play host to eighteen Latin
lAmerican engineers yesterday.
I The guests, who are studylng
rnral electrification. were greeted
by tie Princeton University facu^
tv member on the porch of his
hon^ where he shook hands and
posed forphotographs.
-1 y h
^, Professor Albert Ehtsttiu win
in dem Kurzfrm ^'Universitu Ton n'
zu sehen >'ein, (Wn das Princeion
Film Center nach einem Manu-
skript von Ca)l Cannei dreht.
SoME YEARS ACQ Albcrt Einstcin was sitting for his portrait in
Berlin. His companion during one of the scssions was a solcmn,
tortoisc-like man who Ustcned in silence as the great physicist ani-
matedly put forth tcntative thcories and expounded ncw ideas. From
time to time the visitor would shakc his heavy head and Einstem,
watching him, would pause, rcflcct and thcn Start another train of
thought. VVhcn the sitting was over, Einstein cxplaincd to the artist
the presence of his silent gucst.
-He is my mathcmatician," revcaled the physieist. "He exammes
the Problems I put before him and ehecks thcir validity. You sce, I
myself am not a very good mathematician!"
-riday. July 25, H41
I
UNFAIR ENOUGH
A U F I A tf
History :
out. Columbus; me
ort an unwanfed
•'Mr. Pllgrlm, why don'f
you loil back vi ««-• you
camc from?" I
••Why qiva fham ♦!•• prul- "These kickouH and mal.
leqe to lead the Am«ri<;«ii contentf make «o qood citl
people?"
I
zens.
V "Let's Protect ourselvei
' ^^nst their kind of future
\fhip."
r-..-»
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MäcK
bot fta
mit all
fuiiVftc
mclten
tzw DD
3aur
Sinne
für ily
fclbft I
tfl m
icf) üo
nid)t
in ber
Me ^
jcl)üm
i)cuti(
bietet.
batj
la?|cn
an^:
nod)
SU el
bk u
t in
an t
I
i
(h) ÜL/ .*U<At4 . P^
tA.^i
\
Srte5etieif!imnten au0 ^em ^U0lan5.
Gilbert (Elnffcin {ür Deut{(^:anbö Beltillt jum Bölferbunb.
©inen iyi'orü6unö§abcnb im (Sben()o(3faaI be^ „Ütficingolb" bc-
tcttcten bcn a u § t ä n b i i d) e n 5 r i e b e n § f r e u n b c n Die beut-
jd)cn ^^n^^ififtcn. ^cixl 53ettcr. bcr ^orfi^cnbc beS 9lftiongau«fd)ii]|eö
„Tde micbcr ftrict^" fonnte neben bcn au5länbi|d)en (Saften aud) '^ro»
fcjlor wabert Ginftcin beprünen. — 5Dli6 S{)ccp§fl)Qn( (Xionbon)
l>crid)tetc, in ber cnoliid)cn iBcbölfcrung (ei bic H r i c q 3 p f l) c^ o f e ,
bie nod) in t^cn crftcn D(üd)frieG^inl)ren Qnl)iclt, jcjjt öollftön-
big ü e r 1 d) m u n b e n. 2nö bicfer ßrieg bcn 3}ltlitari§mn§ unb
;)mperiali§mu5 fieflcirft l)nbe, cmpfinbc ßnglanb am bitterftcn bei
bem QBettrüften mit bem nüiicrtcn n^-tonfrcic^. 3elbft in ben Steifen
bcv (5 c f d) ä f t S m c 1 1 I)abc man fid) jcfet babon übencuoX bafe ber
.^tiefl ein 1d)led)tc^3 öefri)äft fei. iTarouf fei elJ 3urücf3ufü{)rcn, baft
bie mäd)tin erftarftc enölifd>c 3Irbciterpartei mit il)rcn gorbernnacn
auf ^ e f e i 1 1 0 u n 0 ber (S e n? a 1 1 p o l i t i f im bcfefeten SDcutfd)-
lanb unb auf djrlidjc 23erftänbinunfl übet bie Ü^cparationgfroaen in
einer ai}cltfonfeven,^ unter g(eiriibered)tiGter ^etciüQunQ X'Cutfd)lanb§
bie Sl;mpall)ic ber mciteftcn 53etölfcruna^fteifc in (Snntanb finbet.
^IbQCorbnctei: 3 m i 1 1) (Sonbon) bon ber ßabour=^Qrtt) cnt-
h)irfelle em orcfiaügiacä ^lU'ogramm für bie £ d) a f f u n q inter-
nationaler ^Dlfsl)Ddifd)ulen, in bcncn bie jungen
9J]cnfd)cn aller ßänbcr ol)ne Jöinbung auf ein beftimmte^ Programm
fid) unb t)\z Kultur ber t>erfd)icbeuen Stationen r>crftcl)en lernen
fünnten.
531it ftürmifrf)cm iBcifatt begrüßt nal)m bonn IJrofcffor ß a n g c •
bain Cliaris) ba^j> 'Bort m ber JRcbc, bie if)m ^oliacipröfibcnt
8tid)ter in ben üfrentlicl^en i^crjammlungen unmOglid) $cmad)t l)atte.
er beitritt, bnn tüi fran,',ij|ifd]c ^i^oU in femer ^}}iel)rl)eit eine friege-
rifd^c ober mirtfd]aftlid)e 5}crnid)tnn^i§politif gegen S)euttd>lanb
tt»olle. 2)ie ^JUffe be^ f r o n^öf i f d)en 23Dlfc8 moUc bor
aücm eine £ i d) c r l) e i t bor neuen Kriegen unb eine elirlid)c 2ßieber-
gutnwd)ung l>cr Aricgc^\crftütungen auf 5loften berjenigen, bie fid)
om ,^riei''e'bcreid^'?rt l>abcn. l'^maebam be,^eid}nete eS al§ ben größten
0>e\uinn "feiner ieilnnbmc an ben Jvrieben«funbgebungcn, bci^ er
feinen j[^anb?(euten l>cvid)icn fönnc, bafj ber mertboüftc %t\i beä
bcutfchcn il^olfeä, bie nrbcitenbc l'laffe, feinen IReuandjcfricg unb
feine iöctrugSpoIitif, fonbern 'iW r ft an b i gu n g unb et) rli d)C
S[öicbcrgu tmad}ung crftrebe. Gr fprad) bcn brtngenbcn
SSnnfd) au'^, bafj 2'cntfdj.(anb nocl) in biefem 3at)re bem 93 öl f er-
bnnb trot? aller feiner 9}längcl beitreten
möge, um auf bcffen ^oben eine 2}erftönb;gunG über
^ai 9?eparntion§problem lierl>ei3.ufül)ren. ^lußcrbem foUte bie
ili}icbcrl)erftclhnig normaler ^,^iel)ungcn burd) bie fd)leunice aOicber-
befelnma m beutfd)en 33otfd)aftcrpoftMi& in '^JariS erleid)tert merben.
f<ii)ricn an Stelle tix 5liet; mg ,m«>
f-.f or eiuffcein ift in (Selon (%nam.
<£r erfldrte <jog<;uiiber 6cr jjor^enii..
nolen Jranenorganiiffltion ter bereinig
\i)m Mc (^mreijecTlaubnis nuc^ ^merlifa.,
be'Jannfrlit^ öl» gtocit« J>eim(it erTopen i^i
iwigern: ,,3d) I;abc nod) nie t>an feiten öci
<5c!rf)Icrf)t3 eine fo cnergifd^ <Jfi)lc.^uunfl gr i
^fnuliöcrung 90fun•^en. eoat<' «« ted) «xr ^
5<iII getoeleai fein, bam [id)c: m^ twm f(
auf einmal. 5lbcc l^ahm |k lUd^t tcd^t, Mpjt
famen Bürgerinnen? ^s^aJb ifoH man cvdi
ÜJleufd)eii einloten, iber mit 6c.m'feK)en ^p^'tit un*
^^^n ^artgefottenc ÄapitalJften fri§t mit einjt
6aß llivge^^eucT iülinot^uni» li-n Äreta ledere
öried)ifd>c 3nngfrauen, un^ tct ixii>cm \o qmcin
i'fl, jcibcn 5^rie^ abjiile^nen, auj^g,e»nommen ttn un- '
üermei5I)ic!)cn mit ^e^ eigenen <&atttn? ^ört oPfo
auf eure üugen p, trio4ifcf)en Jrauen uni) t^nlt
öaran, i)ag axiii) 6^8 Änpitol b< q mädf^ti-geji ^vmß i
einft i^urc^ ibaa Cy:(d)nattfr ifci-n-ct getreuen (S>ml^
gerettet lonröe. albert ©inftrin/
/ 1\ ■
i
Cbotioncn für Ginftcln in «rflentintem
^ $Iuö 33 u p n 0 ö ?I i r c g mirb tclcgrLip!;icrt:
-lern i<rofe|foi C£ i n ft e i n, bcr gegeumarttq lu
.aiuicrcm Slujombalt in Sligcntinien incüt, iuut-
bcn bei ber (xvi% ^Inlaü bcr Crröffnung bcv U u i-
t'eifität ^crufalcm im ^iefiaen (Police
^l;catcr abgcljaltcncn J^eier qrojjc Cunito-
uen barqcbrQd^t, oli. er aU ^^auptrcbnov bie
^vcici ctulcitcte. Xcm i^lbcnb mo^ntcn bie '}i\'\U
nucöcr ber iHc^icvung, bie 2pit3cn bcr i^iLiotn.
)ial> unb ^Diuniijipal--. joinic ber Unibcriiiäld«
w>cl)ürben bei.
^(ttentat auf Die MatikiitStst^eorl
^ td) mid} aber crfc^vodcn, mtc i^ bie
^^ia^rid^t gelcfcn l^abc. eine iTluffin ^at bie
5Rclatit^ität§t^cortc attcnttcrcn tüollen. ©d^retf-
lid^ ! Sic ^at tcoHcn einbringen, aber ntd}t in
fcic Zl^coric, (onbein in baS 3iiTtmer eiu-
(t c i n S, unb einen fd^arfgc[d)Itffenen JRctJoIbcr
l^at \vt bei ft^ i^^\)<x\ii, Sic ganjc SS^elt ift
eutfc^t. 2üid| bcn älteften Scutcn fielen bie
§aarc 5U SSerflc. ^^rofeffor Ginftcin tüar f(]^on
lüicber^olt bon 5(ttcntätlic^fcitcrt bebrol^t ^tm
tüotum? S^on bcr grofee Sid)tcr fagt: Ji^
Mt bie ^i^clt, ba5 Stral^lcnbc an^ufc^tüar^ien I"
gogcn <Sic bie aßal)r]^cit, Hebet Sefcr:
?8ctftc]&cn Sie cttüa« bon bcr SRctatibttätS-
tlftcoric? 3=d) (i)xi) md^t. 5(6ct ira§ ift t-
bicl ju bcrftci}cn? äJir jinb alle J5cinbc bc
bem SCbfoIutiSmu^, bct ©Ott fei S)anf ^
ftorbcn ift Safür foll bcr SRelatioiSnui» fcl^it
bis l^unbcrt Qa^r. Sie etnfleinjd)c J^coric
ift tief, fc^t tief, fogar rclatief. \h^ fo l^oc^
fönncn gclr>öl)nlirf)c SJlcnfc^en nic^t l^inauf
fteigen. darüber giften fic fid^. Sic ^^m-
freu^Icr l^aben fd^on fange einen ^Mcf auf '^^
gehabt. SSie \<A bcr große Sid^tcr
ffiapu^incr in ^ffioIIenftcinS £agcr" '
foffcn? ,,3a freilid^ ift et un5 aUcu ^\\\\.'
be^ ^tnftofec^ unb ^Irgerniifc^ !"
(
i
If^rEf^riüNAL SEOO^D• EXPOSURE
V4I.
* «••
föu.
r«i)wn «n Stelle 6<t m,t: „^^ „„^
Hör Crnftein ifl in €cU,n C}Jai,am.
I >M!«n JrauenotHianiicfion t« 93cwhud
l>«fenntl„f, cl« awit« CviTO^t „j„^ /,
annafxtunfl oef.mi.«,. ©oIlU; «, 6oe^ «r l
Jf gcwlcn fdn, tarn Hd»; ni<^ wm '(
^ mc.öl,d>cn «t.t t^r eigenen <S^nM ^5,^ ^J
^ernft frut.^ 609 ffi/W)natt« fcmct j^teu«, <82n'o
3<«ftct wntü.«. 3li;-crt CinftHn.'
Jtttlnicn.
i*ö tdcniMp!?icrl:
öegeinüiutin 5«
iiien luciit, iuut-
fnimfl bcv n n i*
^icfigen (^'oijfcc*
oßc C u n 1 1 0-
oauptrcbii-r bie
i)ntcn bir mit»
cn bcr inoütn.
/
aovt ^w
,^"&av\viiv\^Ä^^*^ 5
H^ -u^^ü-^^M
..«.i»iiss..r*»««^
cv « « •% -^ ♦*'
I „ U 'nllcu kWen m. cinci- »c r ft Änb, flu na ''^^^ ^c.bcn
'(ten toun ben hinten c?!)obcJt, ilöott« tüljmcnben ©cbcnfcnä an
b boi neun 3al)vcu crmorbctcn gtofjcn ?^t.cbcn8!rc>mb 3 c a n
Taut;-§ £ic bcutiAcn ^^vtebfnäftcunbc njurbcn fid) (icSobcn. tm
' einnc «mi ,^ni!05 an bcv a3ct!ü{)nunfl bc« franjöiüdjen iinb bcutf(fym
*"'£fcfiorvi'rb e r t e i n ft c i n banfic bcn nuMftnbifdK« ^5ften
füt Uitegfiiecengiurttc, bclonbcri feiiicni pcrfönlidjcn _,)tcii"ö imb
«DacöVn !> a neu U a -. n Sie .uiflcn fo u(,t tttnftc.n Ijnt M 'd)
fclbft e i n c n ä t r n u fi ni i t b c m 33 0 1 £ c r b u n b fl c I) fl b t u n b
fim bcn 3lücfcn pefel)tt f)nbc im «n-sct übet ^aä »os
nUt t d tr« war. benn btt «öltctbunb mag "ocf) fo f4tcd>t fexn
n bem wU et detan l)at, et ifl ungcl)6iiet mcttüoU in bejug au
beJ^ögltd) feiten, bie et bitgt. Selb t »«.n er nod, öic
fdilinuuct geOauft l)ätte. «üifjcn .mit bod, '^"S^.^Jjn t^6 et unt t bc
Uitigcn Uhiftnnb;n b a 8 c i n ^ t g e C t g a n i|t, baS bic ^ögtid)Eeit
hirt,'t «^c^iehunaen hctAufteUcn ^lo d;en bcn Stationen. 2eutfd)lonb
^b^" WlS n«dra«i"« ffllcinun( biefel 3nf)t '"^it f .f „ö«8f)'="
Men Dhuc biefcS «tittel bei « oni mu n 1 1 o t lo n f t d)
a AeU en Sie fflajotitiit biejcä <PölfetInmbeä ift ;i»flr I^ute
^öd Um öo" 5^cn|d,en. bte nidjt alle Ounhtätcn .^^^en um d,n
Au inet iBcrtODÜen anftitution au inQd)cn; aber lA ()obc mtc^ übet-
ieuat bnft es in biefcm Sbltcibunb and) wtttMttc (licinente gibt,
bi" mttlid) mit nT.ftcni SöiUcn eine aSctbefletung bct mtctnationalen
^"^f "bllfe^mU^gtoßem SeifnH aufgenommenen «»fDrungen
fdiloffcn fid) «cgtüfjitngämoitc, bie bet ametifnmf^e %»afoi fpat.
t i n" " im 3!amen bet a m e t i £ a n i f d) e n 5 1 1 c Ö t n 8 f t e " " ^ c
t an bic bcul{cf)cu ^pn^ififtcu iidjlete.
',1
%tttnm auf Die MatidUMeori
§a6 id) mid; aba erfc^iodcn, löte td^ bic
Siad^rld^t gcfefcn f)ahc. &m JHuffin f)at bic
SRcIaltottätßt^cürie attenlicrcn njollen. ©d^rcdf-
lid^ ! Sie f)at ttJoHctt einbringen, ober ntd)t in
bic Ti)mk, fonbcu! in ba^ .ßimmer Giu==
ft c i n ig, unb einen [d^arfgcfd^Iiffenen SRcüoIbcr
f)at fle bei ftd^ 0c()o6t. S)tc ganje SBelt ift
cntfc^t. 5(n(^ ben niteftcn fieutcn f teilen bic
.§aare au 33erge. ^>rofe|for Ginftcin lüor fd^on
lüteber^ort bon STttcntätltd^fcitcn bebrol^t ®enn
Wamm? 2d)on bcr grofee 2id;tcr fagt: ^Cs
liebt bie ?l^dt, bo^ ^tra^Icnbe an3ufd^h)ar^cn I''
©ogen &c bie SBaljr^cit, lieber Sefcr:
??crftc^at ^k ctmo« bon bcr SHcIattöitätö-
t-
töcoric? ^(I) anä) ntd^t. 3iber iDa§ ift
bicl SU bcrf teilen? 23ir jinb dk gcinbc De
bem SttfoIutiSmu«, ber ©oft fei Xanf qj
[tovbcn ift. Jafür foü bcr iReratiüi5nm^ idn
big ^unbcrt ^a^r. Sie etn|lcinjd^e Jl^eoric
ift tief, fe^r tief, fogar rclattef. Unb fo f)oä)
fömten gctrö^nliche TOenfc^en nic^t ^inauf^
fteigen. 2)aruber giften fic ftc^. Sic .?>afcj<
freu^Ier l^aben fd^on fange einen "fid ouf
gcr^obt. XBie l^at ber große Sid^fcv
flapuainer in ^SSaIIenftein5 Säger"
Söffen? ,,Q'a frcilid^ ift er un^ nffcn ^inf;
be« ^fnffofec« unb ^trgemiffc^!
f
:(^
f//
i
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y
^HiiuoHtHtiiiHiiiiiiiimiiUHiHiHtiHKtntiflitinttitntt iiiin... ^ ,
NATlOiMl
/i
k
i 21 T H E
iL \j/ .^iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiuiiii>
Albert Einstein: Hitler's Gift to Ameriea
VM. VVKDNKSnAV, OCTOBKR 2, 1
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rhe significant item in thisWure of Professor Einstein is th(? American tiag
on Ins lapel. Yesterday Mfederal court at Trenton, the world-famous
physicist, a refugee fro«a/i anti-Semitism, renounced Swiss citizen-
slüj^i, swore allogiance to tlu. S. government, and thus became an An^er-
icap. This picture wai awJ a few bours later in bis study at Princetoa,
^^^ _ the Institute Ä Advanced Stiicl)"
gcstion.s 111» He pose playing violin, or f^utting the cake a neighbor sei
^r the occasion. This, he thought, wouiy he more appropriate. Pipe sf
curled Üirough his white mane as he squared^^is Shoulders. "Todj"
Said, "I am a Yankee." VhoXo by Dav^id B. Eüendrath, Jr,,
THK NKVV YORK TIMKS. DKCKMRKR 15, 1940
E4NSTEIN AT WORK
\
MorninRs are spent at the Institute, where the two young colleagues are valued more for disagreeing than agreeing
with the master. Thjs each new detail of theory is picked and combed iintil it is ready for discard or acceptance.
Writing occupies Professor Einstein's afternoons, spent
in his cluttered study at home amid piles of maruscript
which his secretary, Miss Helene Dukas, keeps in order.
,\.
i_.
I
NEW YORK POST. SATURDAY. JANUARY 25, 1941
EINSTEIN, MENUHIN FIDDLE FOR BENEFIT:
Associated Press Photo
r; A KARE PUBLIC APPEARANCE as a niusu ian. Prof. Alboit
E'ustein played ihe violin last night at Prinroton, N. J., in a rerital
fjr the i)enefit of the American Friends Service Conimitfee for
Kefuffee Children in England. Galiy Casadesiis, concert pianist.
acconipanied hini. At right, Yehudi Meniihin Visits the East Side
Settlement House, 540 E. 76th St.. and shows Ernest Hayden, «,
how to hold a violin. Menuhin will ßive a recital at Carnegie Hall
Monday for the benefit of the settlement house.
W.arinK a wrinkled sweater and loosely attachcd, baggy pants
,-n his ofvcc at the Institute of Advanced Study at Pnnceton
Professor Albert Einstein, one of the world's le.dmg scientis^s
presents a sn..^e picture of fame in undrc .s. Here he is shown
' he expounds the abstruse principles of the Phy^^-^!^.^"--^^
. ?h. benefit of the young scientists , -^ work w,th hinl.
t ' >»>
Serving the Interests and the Americanization oj the Immigrants
Published Weekly by the German-Jewish Club, Inc., 15 Hast 40th Street, New YoȊ City
Vol VI No 26^ Copyright 1910 by Npw YnrW Pitv Prirla^r Tiino9ft 1 Qyin Entered ns second-clasi matter January 30, 1940, «t Cj,
VOI. VI i^O. ^U Cerman-Jewish Club, Inc. i^^W I OrK ^^Ity, T Tlday, JUIlC ZO, I Vjjy.Ji*iv York Post Office under Act of March 3, 1879. •>^
Neuer Bund der Nationen
Von ALBERT EINSTEIN.
Vor einer Reihe von Jahren, als
ich gefragt wurde, warum ich
meine Stellung in Deutschland auf-
gegeben hätte, antwortete ich dem
Keporter: ''Solange ich die Wahl
habe, möchte ich nur in einem
Lande leben, in dem politische Frei-
heit, Toleranz und 'Gleichheit aller
Bürger vor dem Gesetz die Regel
ist. Soweit ich Amerika kennen-
gelernt habe, weiss ich, dass die
Amerikaner durch Temperament
und Tradition nicht fähig sind, un-
ter einem totalitären Regime zu
leben. Die meisten von ihnen wür-
den dann ihr Leben nicht mehr le-
benswert finden. Mich überrascht
es also nicht, dass sie jetzt eifrig
überlegen, wie sie diese ihnen so
teuren Freiheiten verteidigen kön-
nen.
Die AVissenscliaft hat die Mög-
lichkeiten, den Menschen von har-
ter Arbeit zu befreien, aber die
Wissenschaft ist nicht selbst ein
Befreier. Sie schafft Wege, aber
kann keine Ziele setzen. Wissen-
schaftler und Künstler haben durch
ihre Werke oft Einfluss auf dem
Gebiet der Politik gehabt, aber um
den Lauf politischer Geschehnisse
direkt zu beeinflussen, muss man
aus Holland
igrammverkehr mit Holland unter
eutschland aufgenommen woi'den.
Ischaft mitgeteilt, dass der Radio-
iland funktioniert.
eine grössere Anzahl von Briefen
üg*keit haben wie alle Briefe, die
en, die aber wenigstens .beweisen,
ir unbelästigt geblieben sind und
•treiben können.
Schlimmeres, wie die Erschiessung
sich im wesentlichen bisher auf
?e, denen die unbefuu'te Heraus-
rde. Die unpolitischen Flüchtlinge
bisher offensichtlich von Mass-
rkehr nach Deutschland ist normal.
auch die Gabe haben, Menschen und
ihre Handlungen unmittelbar len-
ken zu können. Aus diesem Grunde
haben rein Intellektuelle weni^
Chance, ihre Hörerschaft zu heein«
drucken.
Unter den hei'vorragenden ame-
likanischen Staatsmännern ist
Woodrow Wilson wohl das beste
Beispiel für den reinen Intellektu-
ellen-Typ. Aber auch er scheint
mir nicht die Kunst des Umgangs
mit Menschen gemeistert zu haben.
Sein grösstes Werk, der Völker-
bund, erscheint heute bei oberfläch-
licher Betrachtung als ein Ver-
sager. Aber trotz der Verfälschung
durch seine Zeitgenossen und des
Comment of the Week
Today the news is heartbreak-
ing. Bui let us not think of to-
day. Let ua think and plan for
tomorrow. Let us find each other
— those of US who are not dis-
cüuraged, and do not intend to
be discouraged, either for this
country or for the world.
The Chinese >\rite with Sym-
bols, with whal they call "idea-
grams." And the Chinese word
for *'i*risis" Is "danger plus op-
portunit>."
VVc? live in the greatest epoch
of human history. \i holds the
greatest possibilities for evil
and the e:reatest possibilities for
good. It can plung^e mankind
into chaos or liherate him into
li^ht. And everything in this
World and this epoch is either
given to us in and by nature,
or has been created by the mind,
and imagination, intellect and
soul of human beings.
And what is sown in tear.s can
yet be reaped in joy.
— Dorothy Thompson.
><
s
f
I
f
>
f
t
r i>— ==
Boykotts durch manche seiner
iLandsleute dürfte meiner Meinung
]iach Wilsons Werk in einer viel
mächtigeren Form wieder aufer-
stehen. Dann erst wird die Be^
döutung dieses grossen Reformers
voll erkannt werden.
Ich bin überzeugt, dass eine bun-
<lesmässige Organisation der Na-
tionen dieser Welt nicht nur mög-
lich ist, sondern eine absolute Not-
wendigkeit, wenn die Bedinguniren
auf unserem Planeten nicht uner-
träglich werden sollen. Den- Völ-
kerbund hat versagt, weil seine
-Vlitirliedei' nicht willens waren, ein
Teil der Rechte ihrer Souveränität
aufzugeben, und weil ei* ohne Exe-
kutivgewalt wai". P]ine weltweite
Organisation kann den Frietlen
nicht wirksam sichern, wenn sie
Glicht Kontrolle über (fie gesamte
militärisclie Macht ihrer Mitglieder
hat.
"Eine der wichtigsten Funktionen
einer solchen internationalen Or-
ganisation würde es sein, die un.ue-
hin<lerte Verteilung der Rolistoffe
\.uu\ des freien Zugangs zu allen
Märkten zu sichern. Die Lösung
<ler inneren ökonomischen und so-
zialen Probleme könnte dabei in
weitem Masse dem individuellen
Staat überlassen bleiben.
Diese Sätze stammen aus einem
Interview, das Professor Einstein
anlässlich sein<»r Einbürgerung gab.
Zu dieser Einbürirerung schreiben
<lie "New York Times" in einem
Editorial ^'Citizen Einstein":
"... In 1Ü3;] Einstein and Hitlei-,
who had just risen to power, sym-
3)ohzed the two sides of Germany
which have always struggled in tlie
Teutonic temperament. Einstein
stood for the untrammeled effort of
the mind and soul to solvc, the
me?ning of its environment. . . .
Hitler won, and Einstein and all he
stood for were driven out of Ger-
many, That with Thomas Mann ,
and bis fellow-refugees he should
^iiük shelter here is an endorsemiM.I
of a demorracy where libe>tv.
equality and toleration still remain
the Standards of the state. ... In
the vast stretch of space aml time
which philosophers contemplale it
will not be the Hitlers of this world
who will conquer, but the Ein-
steins.*'
l
The Einstein Theory ol Living
'^ff
(Continuvd from Paftc 16)
a miniito for a radio talk), in-
ventors are after hini, banqiiet
Rivers want him to say jiist a few
words.
He speaks in public only when
he has to, i. e., when he feels that
the speech will pronnote a cause
he knows is good and when he is
convinced that his participation
is necessary. On that principle,
he once refused to speak at a so-
ciable dinner of fellow-scholars,
but persuaded a friend to talk in
his place. Later he thanked the
friend and aaid, "You know I
can't make speeches. I can't lie."
"You nnean I can lie?"
"Oh, no," Dr. Einstein replied
with a ^rin, "you know how to be
gracious."
On the other band, when Sec-
retary Morgenthau asked him
to make a one-minute movie tell-
ing why he thought refugees
should buy war bonds, he made it,
and it was considered the most
successful of all the movies of its
kind. He finds it difficult to un-
derstand why his public appear-
ances always are successful.
"Why is it," he asked jokingly
on one occasion, "nobody under-
stands me and everybody likes
me?"
Perhaps because of his com-
plete simplicity and modesty, un-
expected in a person so intellec-
tually complex. Or perhaps be-
cause of the boyish enthusiasm
and frankness that light up his
face when he talks to you. Or
maybe it's just that people are
perpetually surprised to discover
that the great and mysterious
Einstein, who understands the
fourth dimension, is unpreten-
tious and understandable after
all.
ton, except for summer vacation
trips to the seashore or some
mountain lake where he can enjoy
his favorite sport, boating.
H
,E hates to disappoint anyone
or refuse a request. His late wife
once Said of him, "The trouble
with Albert is, he has no sales
resistance. Why, if a salesman
came to the door of this house
[they were living in a one-story
bungalow at the time] and of-
fered to seil him an elevator. he
couldn't refuse." While his wife
was alive she shielded him from
most of the time consumers and
money grabbers who tried to
reach him. Since her death his
secretary and his sister. who live
with him in Princeton. do that.
Dr. Einstein, himself, perhaps
in self-defense, has become quite
skillful at turning aside requests,
usually withajoke. Forinstance:
To interviewers who asked too
may\y que.stions: "Even a cow
can give only so muoh milk,
gentlemen."
Asked if he hnd ever Seen Hit-
ler: "No, but I havo seen his
photographs and they are suffi-
cient."
To another interviewer: "Fall-
ing in love is by no means the
most foolish thing mankind
does but gravitation cannot be
held responsible for that."
V Talking about how his theo-
ries would he rated fifty years
later: "Well, if I am right the
Germans will say I was a Ger-
i ^ EING a theoretical physicist
is, of necessity, a lonesome job.
Usually it is an anonymous one,
too. Not the least amazing thing
about Dr. Einstein's career is that
he hasn't remained obscure or at
least known only among physi-'
cists and mathematicians. By
every precedent of scientific his-
tory, the importance of his theo-
ries should not have been appre-
ciated by the public until kmg
after his death. Instead, rcla-
tivity quickly became a house-
hold word; he and his ideas were
political as well as scientific
issues; he was lionized like a
movie star, and his uncut hair, his
smile, his pipe and his violin be-
came the trade-marks of science
personified.
Events and what he calls "my
passioirate sense of social justice
and social responsibility" com-
bined to force him to take Stands
on issues far removed from theo-
retical physics. In the unstable
Germany ,of the Twenties, when
the Nazi tentacles were spread-
ing wider each year, anti-Semitic
groups on the Right attacked the
theory of relativity simply be-
cause its author was Jewish. He
feit obliged to reply to them and
his answers were promptly inter-
preted politically. So he becamt
identified with the Left. When
the iNazis came to power he, of
course, denounced them and their
program and resigned the profes
sorship he then held in Berlin.
He has spoken out strongly,
too, on many other social issues,
the three most important to him
being pacifism, religion and Zion-
ism. Until the Nazis began to
goosestep through Europe he was
one, r^? fyyc. world's leading paci-
fists. -»'ihen he feit compelled to
change his views and to urge the
wprld to meet force with force.
Religion, he feels, is necessary if
we are to understand the mean-
ing of life. And he has been a
strong devotee of the Zionist idea
because he thinks that "the trag-
edy of the Jews is that they are
people of a definite historical
type, who lack the support of a
Community to keep them to-
gether." To those who criticize
Zionism on the ground that it is
nationalistic, he answers, "It is a
nationalism whose aim is not
power but dignity and health."
didn't attend school. Then he
applied for admission to the Poly-
technic Academy at Zürich and
failed the entrance exam. He did
exceptionally well in mathematics
and physics, but his knowledge of
languages was "unusually poor."
He had to go back to school for a
year before he could matriculate.
H
D
R. EINSTEIN was born at
Ulm on March 14, 1879. His
father owned an electrical busi-
ness and earned enough, at least
during his son's early years, to
raise his family comfortably.
When Albert was a year old his
parents moved to Munich, where
he was educated in a Catholic
school. He was so slow at learn-
ing to talk that even his parenta
thought he was subnormal and
his teachers considered him stu-
pid. He was timid but not docile,
IS record at the academy
was not especiaiiy brilliant. He
was a serious student but not a
conscientious lecture goer and
notebook filier, preferring to
Chart his own course in science
and philosophy. His chief interest
at the Academy was not mathe-
matics but physics. Though he
was an outstanding student in
both these fields, on his gradua-
tion in 1900 he didn't succeed in
landing a small job at the acad-
emy, as he had noped. Instead for
two years he alternated between
unempioyment and temporary,
ill-paying teaching Jobs. Then, in \
1902, through the influence of a I
friend, he became a patent ex- \
aminer in the Swiss patent office
at Berne. Not an important Posi-
tion, certainly. but it was what
he had long hoped for a steady
job with a f ixed income. ( He still
retains an interest in and a flair
for gadgets. He has several Pat-
ents to his credit. ) The following
year he married Mileva Marie,
who had been a student with him
at the academy. They had two |
sons, but the marriage was not |
successful and ended in divorce. |
In 1911 he married a first cousin,
Elsa Einstein.
While still a student Einstein
had begun his r^-examination of
the fundamental problems of
light, the ether and gravitation.
His Job as a patent examiner was
painstaking but easy, and he
I managea lo wor^-*«' »cp^»^'*'*^"*^
on his theories between patents.
These studies came to a climax in
1905, when he published five im-
portant scientific papers, includ-
ing his "Special Theory of Rela-
tivity." He was 26. Ten years
later he published his "General
Relativity Theory."
By that time his fame in scien-
tific circles had spread and he
had been called successively to
professorships at the Universities
of Zürich, Prague and Berlin, the
Kaiser Wilhelm Institute and the
Prussian Academy of Sciences.
The public became aware of him
after his theory that light rays
are bent by gravitation ( set f orth
in the General Theory» had been
proved dramatically during the
eclipse of the sun in 1919. In
1921 he received the Nobel Pnze
and gave the money to charity.
By good fortune he was on a visit
to this country in 1933. when Hit-
ler came to power, and he has
never since returned to Germany.
jS[o one who meets Einstein
for the first time would think of
him as a revolutiu--;^";J«^^^!
•»-i^Qt />f TY>*»n. I^nception of the
/
^
//
/
TH)
EINSTEIN IS FEARFUL
OF LOSINC THE PEACE
Sends Message to England on
Eve of His 65th Birthday
Special to The New York Times.
PRINCETON. N. J.. March 13— i
Dr. Albert Einstein sent grcetings |
to the people of England today on |
the eve of his sixty-fifth birthday, |
expressing the hope for active in- !
ternational coilaboration to pre- i
serve the peace after the war ends. |
In a message cabled to The Lon-
don News Chronicle the famous
scientist. who has made Prince-
ton his home for the last decade,
paid tribute to the British for thcir
icourage in enduring nearly five
years of war. At the same time he
warned of the many problems to
be .solved in the post-war era and
questioncd whcther "the German
peril" might not arise again if an
unyielding front were not arrayed
against it.
' **I greatly admired the fortitude
of the English in the hour of ter-
ror and feel every confidence in the
victorious issue of the war," his
message said. "but I look forward
with mingled hopc and fear to the
post-war period.
"Will the German peril. after be-
ing momentaril}' averted. spring
up again on a soil of jealousy and
strife between the ÄUies?* Will
the losses of this war save us from
repeating the errors and fatal ex-
perienccs which wo endured be-
tween 1918 and 1939? Merely to
hope for this is not enough. VV^e
must also be firmly resolved to act;
consistently with this end in view." j
No Pf ans for observing Dr. Ein-'
stein's oirthday are being made. i
"He Vould be just as happy if
he nev^r had them." a colleague i
said t(^lay. |
I
\
/
*'You mean I can lie?"
"Oh, no," Dr. F^instein replied
with a grin, "you know how to be
gracious."
On the other hand. when Sec-
rotary Morgonthau asked him
to make a une-minute movie tell-
ing why he thought refugees
should buy war bonds, he made it,
and it was considered the most
successful of all the niovies of its
kind. He finds it difficult to un-
derstand why his public appear-
ances always are successful.
"Why is it," he asked jokingly
on one occasion, "nobody under-
stands me and everybody likes
me?"
Perhaps because of his com-
plete simplicity and modesty, un-
expected in a person so intellec-
tually complex. Or perhaps be-
cause of the boyish enthusiasm
and frankness that light up his
face when he talks to you. Or
maybe it's just that people are
perpetually surprised to discover
that the great and mysterious
Einstein, who understands the
fourth dimension, is unpreten-
tious and understandable after
all.
• -/ f i 1 1 ^
H
E hates to disappoint anyone
or refuse a request. His late wife
once said of him, "The trouble
with Albert is, he has no sales
resistance. Why, if a salesman
came to the door of this house
[they were living in a one-story
bungalow at the time] and of-
fered to seil him an elevator, he
couldn't refuse." While his wife
was alive she shielded him from
most of the time consumers and
money grabbers who tried to
reach him. Since her death his
secretary and his sister, who live
with him in Princeton, do that.
Dr. Einstein, himself, perhaps
in self-defense, has become quite
skillful at turning aside requests,
usually with a joke. For instance :
To Interviewers who asked too
ynany questions: "Even a cow
can give only so much milk,
gentlemen."
Asked if he hnd ever seen Hit-
ler: "No, but I have seen his
photographs and they are suffi-
^ cient."
, To another ifiterviewer: "Fall-
r ing in love is by no means the
most foolish thing mankind
does— but gravitation cannot be
held responsible for that."
Talking nhont how his theo-
ries would he rated fifty years
later: "Well, if I am right the
Germans will say I was a Ger-
niä'fi~5"nä' the FfFTicfr '^iü-ässri—
was a Jew. If I am wrong, the
Germans will say I was a Jew
and the French will say I was a
German."
Asked if he helieved in Santa
Claus and the Christmns spirit:
"You will have to define your
terms."
Meetiytq a regnest for a prin-
ciple for success in life: "If A
is success in life, I should say
the rule for success may be ex-
pressed in the formula A— X4
Y ^ Z, X being work and Y
play." And what is Z? "That
is keeping your mouth shut."
Dr. Einsteins public appear-
ances may not be so rare as he'd
like them to be, but they are
more infrequent than the public
would like. He can't travel with-
out being recognized and besieged.
The result is, he stays in Prince-
^
publK unlii long
after his death. Instead, rela-
tivity quickly became a house-
hold Word; he and his ideas were
political as well as scientific
issues; he was lionized like a
movie star, and his uncut hair, his
smile, his pipe and his violin be-
came the trade-marks of science
personified.
Events and what he calls "my
passioiTate sense of social justice
and social responsibility" com-
bined to force him to take Stands
on issues far removed from theo-
retical physics. In the unstable
Germany pf the Twenties, when
the Nazi tentacles were spread-
ing wider each year, anti-Semitic
groups on the Right attacked the
theory of relativity simply be-
cause its author was Jewish. He
feit obliged to reply to them and
his answers were promptly inter-
preted politically. So he becamt
identified with the Left. When
the iNazis came to power he, of
course, denounoed them and their
program and resigned the profes-
sorship he then held in Berlin.
He has spoken out strongly,
too, on many other social issues,
the three most important to him
being pacifism, religion and Zion-
ism. Until the Nazis began to|
goosestep through Europe he was
one^ f^^ ^^^ world's leading paci-
fists! "'ihen he feit compelled to
change his views and to urge the
wprld to meet force with force.
Religion, he feels. is necessary if
we are to understand the mean-
ing of life. And he has been a
strong devotee of the Zionist idea
because he thinks that "the trag-
edy of the Jews is that they are
people of a definite historical
type, who lack the support of a
Community to keep them to-
gether." To those who criticize
Zionism on the ground that it is
nationalistic, he answers, "It is a
nationalism whose aim is not
power but dignity and health."
D,
R. EINSTEIN was born at
Ulm on March 14, 1879. His
father owned an electrical busi-
ness and earned enough, at least
during his son's early years, to
raise his family comfortably.
When Albert was a year old his
parents moved to Munich, where
he was educated in a Catholic
school. He was so slow at learn-
ing to talk that even his parents
thought he was subnormal and
his teachers considered him stu-
pid. He was timid but not docile,
he resented the dfscipTihe of th^
German educational System and
he could not be "gleichgeschal-
tet."
The first flash of sonnething
unusual in the boy came when he
was 12. An older friend gave him
a geometry textbook and it
quickly became his favorite read-
ing. He learned Euclid by him-
self and later taught himself cal-
culus and other mathematics, but
in the German secondary schools
of the time the emphasis was on
Latin, Greek and the ancient
World, subjects in which the
young Einstein certainly did not
shine.
Meanwhile his father's business
took a turn for the worse and the
family moved to Milan when Al-
bert was 15. For six months he
Nc
ciia.lL nih uwn courtii* m i>ci*^A(i
and philosophy. His chief interest I
at the Academy was not mathe-
matics but physics. Though he
was an outstanding Student in
both these fields, on his gradua-
tion in 1900 he didn't succeed in
landing a small Job at the acad-
emy, as he had noped. Instead for
two years he alternated between
unemployment and temporary,
ill-paying teaching Jobs. Then, in
1902, through the influence of a
friend, he became a patent ex-
aminer in the Swiss patent Office
at Berne. Not an important Posi-
tion, certainly, but it was what
he had long hoped for -a steady
Job with a fixed income. (He still
retains an interest in and a flair
for gadgets. He has several Pat-
ents to his credit. ) The following
year he married Mileva Marie,
who had been a Student with him
at the academy. They had two
sons, but the marriage was not
successful and ended in divorce.
In 1911 he married a first cousin,
Elsa Einstein.
While still a Student Einstein
had begun his re-examination of
the fundamental problems of
light, the ether and gravitation.
His Job as a patent examiner was
painstaking but easy, and he
managea lo wuri:-»«iticpViV«oc.o4;y
on his theories between patents.
These studies came to a climax in
1905, when he published five im-
portant scientific papers, includ-
ing his "Special Theory of Rela-
tivity." He was 26. Ten years
later he published his "General
Relativity Theory."
By that time his fame in scien-
tific circles had spread and he
had been called successively to
professorships at the Universities
of Zürich, Prague and Berlin, the
Kaiser Wilhelm Institute and the
Prussian Academy of Sciences.
The public became aware of him
after his theory that light rays
are bent by gravitation (set forth
in the General Theory I had been
proved dramatically during the
eclipse of the sun in 1919. In
1921 he reoeived the Nobel Prize
and gave the money to charity.
By good fortune he was on a visit
to this country in 1933, when Hit-
ler came to power, and he has
never since returned to Gemiany.
i^
^ ^O one who meets Einstein
for the first time would think of
him as a revolutiopp.r^ . ...»is the
rtiidest of men.j^Yet he has rev-
lutionized our < nception of the
^iv<>re* Wie fl P / of gravit»-
inon has been called "the great-
est synthetic achievenient of the
human intellect up to the present
llime " The change he produced
in our thinking is as great and
radical as that made when Coper-
nicus demonstrated that the earth
revolves around the sun.
Ol what practical use are his
thei)rie.s'> It is too early to say.
Already astrophysics and astron-
omy have been affected by the
theory of relativity. The evolu-
tion ot the photo-electric cell can
be traced back to Einstein's work
on the quantum theory, and Prob-
lems in atomic physics are being
attacked along Einsteiman lines
of thought. And it seems certain
that the practical influence of
Einstein's ideas will grow with
the years rather than diminish.
TllJ
EINSTEIN IS FEARFUL
OF LOSING THE PEACE
Sends Message to England on
Eve of His 65th Birthday
Special fo The New York Timi-js.
PRINCETON. N. J.. March 13—
Dr. Albert Einstein scnt grcetings
to the people of England today on
the eve of his sixty-fifth birthday,
iexpressing the hope for active in-
Iternational collaboration to pre-
jserve the peace after the war ends.
I In a message cabled to The Lon-
don News Chronicle the famous
scientist, who has made Prince-
ton his home for the last decade.
Ipaid tribute to the British for their
courage in enduring nearly five
years of war. At the same time ho
warned of the many problems to
be solved in the post-war era and
questioned whethcr "the German
peril" might not ari.se again if an
unyieldmg front were not arraved
against it.
"I greatly admired the fortitude
of the English in the hour of ter-
ror and feel every confidence in the
victonous issue of the war " his
message said. "but I lock forward
with mmgled hope and fear to the
post-war period.
I "Will the German peril. after be-
ling momentarily avertcd. spring
up again on a soil of iealousy and
strife between the Ällies''' Will
;the losses of this war save us from
;repeating the errors and fatal ex-
penences which we endured be-
tween 1918 and 1939? Merely to
hope for this is not enough/ We
must also be firmlv resolved to act
consistently with this end in view."
I No ^^ans for observing Dr Ein-
stein's birthday are being made. ;
He Vould be just as happv if'
he nev?r had them." a colleaguel
said tdyjay. * i
I
i
•^
f
.n 1 v
von Pnnct'Uy.. ..
^, grölstc Physiker uns
..I Jahre stiller Zurück^c/o^;c•nl
.< kau/i^ sein „J»pil/wc^-l)ascil^ führte,
dchi die Nachrieht vom Tode Linsteins v le ein Bln/-
Jiiag durch die NX'elt «e^angen und hätte die Lj^ende um den
..j;reat cid man* neu erhellt, Ust wäre man versucht /u sa^cn,
linstcin lebte sdion lange nicht mehr unter uns. hmstem:
das war dem Laien wie dem Wissenschaftler mehr als der Name
eines Gelehrten. Einstein: das war das Symbol, die Formel tur
unser neues Zeitalter, dem die hrkenntnis um das Atom die
Prägun}; j;ibt. Kntrückt in eine >X issenssphäre, in die ein ge-
wöhnlich Sterblicher nicht mehr vorzudringen vermag, hatte
sich der einsame Denker längst über alles Irdische erhoben.
Sein Geist siedelte dort, wo der Dichter letzte Zuflucht ver-
heilk: „Das l.wige ist stille laut die Vergänglichkeil ' sc+iwei-
gend geht Gottes ^'ille über den hrdenstreit." —
Aber auch Einstein ist vom Erdenstreit nicht versc^iont wor-
den. Bis zulet/t quälte sich der 76jährige, ein Mitsc+iuldiger
.^.n den '"^reueln von Hiroshima gewesen zu sein. Wenige Mo-
nate vor seinem Tod bekannte Albert Einstein auf einem inter-
national« n kongrei.s: „>Xir Wissenschaftler, deren tragische Be-
stininiur\g es gewesen ist, dabei mitzuhelfen, da(^ die Metho-
den der Vernichtung immer grausamer und wirkungsvoller %
wurden, müssen es als unsere feierliche und allem anderen über- »
legene Pflicht betrachten, alles zu tun, um zu verhindern, dals
diese WaHen zu dem Zweck gebraucht werden, für den sie
erfunden wurden."
Wie war Einstein, dessen humanistische Gesinnung stets aulSer
Zweifel stand, zum Mitsdiöpfer der Atombombe geworden? Wo
liegt die tragische Verkettung, man möchte fast sagen, die
Kettenreaktion, in die Einstein geraten war?
Als Einstein am 14. März 1K79 in Ulm geboren wurde, stand
die Welt im Zeichen des Aufbruchs der Naturwissenschalten.
Der Darwinismus erregte die Gedanken und Gemüter. Ein Jahr
vor Einsteins Geburt erscfiien Ernst Haeckels aufrüttelndes
Werk „Freie \«;'issenschaft und freie Lehre". Der neue geistige
Aufschwung beeinflußte die Weltanschauung. Erfindungen und
Fntdeckungen auf allen >\ issensgebieten öffneten immer weitere
Horizonte. Albe-rt Einstem hatte damals freilich noch keinen
Anteil daran. Im Gegenteil. In der Schule erwies er sich als
„schwieriger Eall". Sdion die Autnahmsprüfung ins Gymnasium
•var für ihn eine kaum zu überwindende Hürde. Und die Ma-
thematik blieb während seiner gesamten Mitlelschulzeit sein
wundester Punkt. Erst über dem Umweg Italien — der junge
Albert war daheim ausgerissen — gelangte er in die ScEiwer/
und dort erst nach heil-^em Bemühen zum Abschluß der Ma-
turitätsprüfung. Aber auch auf der Züricher technischen Hoch-
schule fiel der junge Mann kaum auf. Er war guter Durch-
sdinitt, bloß die Liebe zur Geometrie und zum Aufstellen von
unendlichen Zahlenreihen hatte ihn plötzlich erfaßt. Aber das
war mehr ein Privatvergnügen. Nach Abschluß des Studiums
s erkroch er sich ins Patentamt, wo er eine halbwegs gesicherte
Existenz gefunden hatte Die verschiedenen Aufsätze, die er von
Zeit zu Zeit an Fachzeitschriften sandte, dierevolutidnären Thesen,
die er darin verkündete, ließen die Züricher Professoren bald auf-
'lorcl.en. Kein geringerer als Max Planck wurde auf den originel-
len wissenschaftlichen Outsider aufmerksam. Man holte Ein-
stein als Dozent an die Züricher Universität. Sechsundzwanzig-
j?hrig schrieb er dort jene Formel an die Tafel, die zum Schlüs-
sel eines neuen Zeitalters wurde. Die Formel E mc*. Sie
besagt: Energie ist gleich dem Produkt aus Masse und dem
Quadrat der Lichtgeschwindigkeit. Mit anderen Worten: Masse
wird hei zunehmender Geschwindigkeit zu Energie. Und Ein-
stein fand: Es gibt keinen Unterschied zwischen djm Zustand
der Ruhe und dem der Bev.egung mit konstanter Geschwin-
digkeit durch den Weltraum. Der Begriff der „absoluten Zeit"
war haltlos geworden. Im Zuge seiner Untersuchungen über
die Lichtgeschwindigkeit hatte Einstein erkannt, auch die Zeit
ist etwas „Relatives". Mit dieser These von der Relativität der
Zeit — sie ist als „Relativitätstheorie" in die Geschichte der
Entwicklung unserer Welt eingegangen — beschwor Einstein
einen Gclelartenstreit herauf, der seinen Namen erst recht /u
einem Beguff machte. Unbeirrt von allen fremden Zweifeln
reihte der Gelehrte Schluß an Sdiluß, Lehrsatz an Lehrsatz. Er
behauptete nicht nur die Quantennatur des Lichtes, die Äqui-
valenz von^ Masse und Energie, er fügte auch den bekannten
drei Dimensionen Länge, Breite und Höhe noch eine vierte
Dimension hinzu, die der Zeit. Alle seine Theorien, die an-
fangs wie Hirngespinste klangen, haben längst allgemeine Gül-
tigkeit erlangt. Mehr noch, sie wurden zu Säulen der Weisheit,
7U den Pfeilern einer neuen Epoche. Das Atomzeitalter darf
Einstein seinen Vater nennen. Das Weltbild, fast schon er-
starrt in klassisch gewordenen physikalisdicn Begriffen, kam
durch ihn zu neuem Leben.
1905 •— dieses Jahr wurde zum Beginn eines neuen Zeit-
alters. Ein zweiter Columbus, das ist damals Einstein gewor-
den. Bald war ihm die Züricher Lehranstalt zu eng. Über Prag
m er an die Berliner Universität und an die bedeutendste
..•r Tur ;,tragbar" ers^..
iciien Eorsdieriäiigkeit. ~ Zwöll
«vungen, Deutschland zu verlassen
zur Emigration. Rassische Gründe.
Se Überzeugung ließen ihn nicht
Der überragendste Kopf in der
einer Parteidoktrin geopfert.
-- r ', 1 c 1 '^'* '" IVincetown (USA) fand
Am Institut lor Advanced Studj. Hier fixierte er auch IV49
Finstein ein neues Tatigkeitsfel j,, ^., j-^. ungeheuerliche Be-
seine neue „Feldtheorie , mit • ..„ besetze lassen sich an
das heißt, die tcld-
Mikro- bi
.IViri
internationalen Physik wurtU
A
F
se - - -
Jiauptung aufstellte, alle physikalisuu
den Begriffen der Schwerkraft erläutern,
theorie setzt allen Naturvorgängen, vom
Makrokosmos ein einziges Gesetz zugrunde.
Es gehört zur Tragik der jungen Atomwissenschaft, daß sie
weit weniger zum Instrument der Menschheitsbeglückung
wurde, als vielmehr zum Werkzeug, und zwar zum furchbar-
sien der Menschheitsvernichtung. Leider hat auch Einstein an
dieser Entwicklung Anteil gehabt. 1939 richtete er an Präsi-
dent Roosevelt jenen historisch gewordenen Brief, m dem er
darauf hinwies, daß auch Amerika mit dem Bau von Aj^^"^-
bomben beginnen solle. Einstein schrieb damals, und er beriet
sich dabei auf die letzten Folgerungen aus seiner Relativitäts-
theorie: „Es ist vorstellbar, wenn auch keineswegs sicher, dal>
auf diese Weise außerordentlich wirksame Bomben einer neuen
Art erzeugt werden könnten." — Einstein wußte, — nodi aus
der Zeit seiner Tätigkeit in Dahlem her - daß man in Deutscli-
land schon sehr weit mit der Erforsdiung der Atomspaltung,
der Energiegewinnung aus Uranmasse gekommen ^J«;^ y^'?/^'^
versprach sidi von dem Umstand, daß auch die USA ubei
Atombomben verfügten, eine Verminderung der Kriegsgefahr
Denn, so glaubte er, keiner der beiden Gegner w-urde die
Wunderwaffe zum Einsatz bringen. Der amerikanische Atom
Bombenwurf über Hiroshima strafte Einsteins Theorie Lugen.
Das einzige Mal, daß eine von ihm aufgestellte Theorie von
der Praxis widerlegt worden ist
Seit einigen jähren war es nun um den großen Gelehrten
still geworden. In seiner Klause in Princetown sdiien er selbst
den relativen Begriff der Zeit überwunden zu haben- Sem
phvsisdier Tod bedeutet kein Ende. Denn: AlbcTt Einsti-n be-
Uß sie sdion länu-. du Tr vrbli.hkeii in der Phvs.k. , Nv
DER ALTE VON PRINCETOWN, wie tilsiein wohrena der ItUit-n
Jahre genonnt wjrde, wo- langf;r in di- Geschi.jhte einge-
gongen. Seine Aussprüche wurd^,,- gf samrrcjll. Ep.socien un'J
Anekdoten aus seinem Lebon wanden >u: Lrgende „Gott is'
raffiniert, doch bosfioft isl er j^.jcht" — Und „Oott w-
nicht', sind zwei reiner boiühm( c^ewordt^^nen iotze. F
letzte' Erkenntnis war Oi^se: „/Es* is: iei< htor, die
Plutoniums 7v ändern, als öf n y,ösen Gei>t iir M
er schloß. „Das wahrj Prohlerfn ist im He ze"»
./
YORK TIMES. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 1940.
DR. EINSTEIN'S THEORY
HELD CORROBORATED
Lift SpüH of Misotfon Shown
in Ran Photographi
Evidenc« corroborating: Dr. Albert
Elnttein'i theory that time it slowed
for a fast-moving: object ia reported
at the Univariity of Chicago by
scientisti who returned racantly
from r«s«arch on Mt. Evani in
Colorado. wh«re they att«mpl«d to
aic«rtaifi th« lifc span of the
mMotron» "hard" eomponant of
coimie raya.
Tha rtporta wara praaantad at th«
maating of the Amerioan Phyiical
Society, held at the Univerilty of
Chioaro aa part of Its fiftieth an-
niversary year.
A ditcusaion of "cloud Chamber
picture« of coemic rayi at 39,000
feet altitudc" wai preeented by two
Unlveraity of Chicago physlcisti,
Wlnston H. Bostick, a member of
the Mt. Evans expedition, and
Gerhard Heraog, who reported pho-
tographa taken In high-iltitude air-
plane flightf. By both methodt, the
■upply of picturee of meeotroni haa
been vaatly increaaed, multiplying
opportunitiea for atudy by acientiata
in aeareh of an explanatlon of the
riddle of energy creation and de-
atruotion. Of 3,194 picturea taken
by the reaearch phyalciata, 160 show
alow meaotrona; the world's total
aupply of alow mesotron photo-
gräpha made at saa lev«l atood at
ten, repreaenting the effort« of ob-
servera over a six-year period.
The expedition's photographa of
the death of a mesotron are the only
onea in exiatence in Addition to a
alngle picture taken laat Spring by
a Welsh obaerver. The new photo-
grapha aupport the theory that a
meaotron'a "llfe cycle" enda in
death."
Albert Flnstem wurde /um
Chairniaii des "National Council i
of (he AiDerican Fiiends of the I
Hebrew IJjiiversity" ^f^üJiH. i
m
AUFBAU
v:
Xk ^Uüfimn bct @tnjtcin|(f)cn ^id^tt^corie. '^i^ Unit>er)itQt Dun iit^ fago \)Qt \m cic
jpcöielle '^iacl;|)riifung bcx ßinitcinicöcn 2id)ttI)coiie eine 2340 dJieter lan^t Oiöl^icn-
onlaae errichten lofleiu
(£tnitei« aU Äopfretö^ifr.
P^^t ^«r öanbluni]: bitiitre ^Clattform elne^ SBaaens
per 33erlmer 6trabcnbal>iilh!ie 7. %m ^aorifdKit ^lofe
[teilet ^CrofeFfor 51 1 b e r t (5 i n (t c i n, ber (Tntbedcr
ber 9?cIütiüitQt5tl)corte mit (Viottin nnb a:od>ter auf.
:JDer ^rofeffor unterWlt ii* mit feiner (F>attin über ben
,3u|tanb feiner 0>ige, ber ha^ warme 3lJetter nld)t
lut tut. per Schaffner tritt lyiiuu, foffiert unb mufj
auf eine v^entenmarf herausgeben. T^abei paffiert es
(T-inftcin, baö er einen SüniuaminiarbenmarfldKin für
tmn >3unbertmilliarbenmarlii1)ein Iwlt. (£r mad>t ben
gd)affner auf ben oermeintl dien 3rrtum aufmerlfiim.
X)er Sd)affner red)nct il)in aber umitanblid) por, ha\i er
rid)tici berausqcqeben habe, ^.ßrofeffor (^inftein entv
|d>u[bi(}t fid). X)er 6d)affiier läd)elt mitleibig unb faqt,
che er fid> bem nädiften iyahri^ait •^uroenbel: ,,5^üpf«
red)nen fdiroad)!"
[
fernem S>eim. (£t liebt gute mn[it unb (pielt f^
hnufl^\ " r^ v®^*öe. Dböleiff) lüit örofte IWeiicn ßem
höben, |o fmb uns boch ^Uambcrungcn au ?fuS am lU
}ien unb gern unternehmen Lmir aud) ScßrUahrten, ent
mcber mit unfcrcm Seßelbaa,^ ^bcr 5J?-' H .n ^Berlin,
•^^•^^ mi fahren mit. ben Äi r- um bo-'
i
Zum Aufbau -- Almanach
\\Vi/irt'juI der letzten sieben sehweren Jahre habe
ieh mit Interesse und Sympathjjt die überaus nützliche
und se<^ensreiehe Arbeit verfolgen können, die der
German-Jewish Club und sein Organ 'Wufbair' für
die neue Einwanderung geleistet haben. So bin ieh
davon überzeugt, dass der von derselben sachkundigen
Hand zusammengestellte Almanach vielen unserer
Schicksalsgenossen ivertvidlen Rat und nützliche In-
formation bringen wird.
Princeton, N. J.,
ALBERT EINSTEIx\; Philoso-
pher-Scientist. Paul Arthur
Schilpp, Ed. (Harper Torch-
book. 2 vols. $1.95 each. ) For
the serious and informed (but
hardly for "the intelligent
layman"!) Professor Schilpp
offers a rieh banquet: (1)
notes on his life by Einstein
hiniself; (2) essays on such
topics as The Philo.sophical
Significance of Xhe Theory of
Relativity" and "Einstein's
Social Philosophy" by Max
Born. Neils Bohr. Hans Reich-
enbach. P. W. Bridgman, F. S.
C. Northrop, and twenty other
scientists and philosophers;
(3) Einstein's comments on
the essays; and (4) a bibli-
ography of Einstein's writ-
lllllllllllllllllHillllillllllilllllltllllllllllllllllllllllllJllllllliliF'
THE Nl
'C.B.S.TV TO OFFER
SHOWON EINSTEIN
Brandeis Listed as Subject
of 2d Program in Series
By VAL ADAMS
Personal philo.sophie.s of the
late Albert Einstein, the physi-
cist. and Louis D. Brandei.«?. 'the
Jurist, a.s revealed by their writ-
ings and speeches, will be pre-
.sented on two half-hour pro-
grams on '^Look Up and Live."
They will be lelevised Sunday
at 10:30 and the next Sunday
at the same hour over the
Columbia Broadcasting System.
"Einstein: Poet of Harmony,"
the initial presentation. will ex-
plore Einstein's beliefs that led
him to seek unlty in mathemati-
jcal principles governing the
universe, Theo Goetz, an actor.
will read excerpts from works
of the physicist. Bramwell
Fletcher will be the narrator of
the program.
"Brandeis: Prophet of Jujjtice"
will trace the evolution (^ law
from ancient times to the jnod-
ern concept. The actor whh will
read from the works of Braideis
has not been selected.
-^«•t ^
aar
* »T—
V
\
NEW YORK TIMES MAGAZINE. MARCH
^
"Ninety-nine times my conclusions are ialse; the hundredth time I am right."
The Einstein Theory of Living
At 65 he leads the simples! of lives — and
grapples with the most complex thoughts.
^ By Daniel Schwarz
PRINCETON, N. J.
might have been expected, Prof.
ibert Einstein has his own theory
* birthdays. He prop*^ anded
1« , "« .-«•^ r\^ ßi
»•«».
automobile. He never wears a hat or
rubbers, or carries an umbrelia, whatever
the weather.
Dr. Einstein's neighbors on Mercer
Street and the occ«sional othor passers-by
are not yet altoj^ * '
around him. Yet he never pleases the
theorists who think he is absent-mincded
by making a wrong turn, and in about hVMf
aj^ hour he arrives at his office on t
,jCond floor of the lavish Institute of A
^anced Study. «■
for them are perfect. all speeds uniform,
all surfaces frictionless. He spends tho
mornings filling sheet after sheet with
mathematical equations. His own descrip-
tion of his niethod of work is. "I think
and think for months, for years Ninety-
nine times the conclusion is false. The
hundreth time I am right." And he ex-
presses his faith in his methods in the
aphorism, 'The Lord God is subtle, but he
is never mischievous.
X HE task he has sei himseU he has
been working on it for some twenty
years is to develop a Single theory that
will explain both gravitation and electro-
magnetisni. According to current theory.
these forces are distinct. However. phy.s-
icists prefer to believe that they aren't
really different but rather two evidences
of a Single force, one that shows itself
sometimes as gravitation and sometimes
as electro-magnetism.
Professor Einstein has put forward a
number of hypotheses thus far, but they
have failed to fit all the facts. Tho diffi-
culty is that it takes years of painslaking
mathematical research to test each hy-
pothesis and to determine whether it is
another of the ninety-nine false Starts
Einstein allows himself. And the question
is, will he be lucky enough or live long
enough to' hit on the correct hypothesis
and see that it is right?
"The odds are heaviiy against any man
working in the field of abstract theory like
Einstein," one of his colleagues explamed
"But he's overcome those odds two or
three times in his lifetime already and
perhaps he can do it again. Certainly he
is in the great tradition of Galileo, Coper-
nicus and Newton, and if anyone has the
right to hope he can solve what to most
physicists would seem unsolvable, he has.
•*And remember, he is a strong man. 1
don't mean physically but inside him. And
he is truly imaginative and original. He
is obstinate and radical enough to hold on
to any idea if he thinks it is right, no mat-
ter how Strange it may seem to the rest
of US. If he didn't have all these qualities
v-^v.»<A «iev«r littve ULiit; wKort i4<a I -^ono
have the chanoe of succeeding now in
*' he is trying to do."
''oides his theoretical work, Professor
stein took on last June a job for the
/ureau of Ordnance of the Navy. Accord-
mg to Star Shell, a publication of the
bureau, he is working on "the theory of
explosion, seeking to determine what laws
govern the more obscure waves of detona-
tion, why certain explosives have marked
directional effect and other highly tech-
nical theories." The account added that
he would not have to get a Navy haircut
or wear a uniform ("he thinks better in
his old windbreaker with his trousers
rolled up") and that he would do his work
at Princeton.
A,
iBOUT 1 o'clock Dr. Einstein leaves
his Office and walks home. The rest of his
day is spent in his comfortable, well-fur-
nished home handling his large corre-
spondence, doing such work as he can to
help refugees, in whom he has never lost
his interest, reading, playing the violin or
entertaining close friends. He likes to im-
provise on the violin or play Chamber mu»
' Ic — Bach, Mozart and Beethoven are h
' ^ vorit.es — f* ^^ ü? " c, ^ » /' ^ • ^
nfi .;, (juiii ouBCtf
I
16
\
\
i^n
^H<(
11
/
I
G dl
f^T
/
^^H
UV VA,/"
/<f V
/ '
A Union of THinker».
ÜRGED BY EINSTEIN
He Calls on Intellectuals to
Organize to Guide Masses
and Protect Own Status
THEIR DIVISIONS DEPLORED
Creation of a Supra-National
Political Force to Prevent
Aggression Is Stressed
A call to the intellectual work-
ers of the Unitpd States and'othsr
free countries to organize and "to
fight for the establishment of a
supra-national political force as a
protection against fresh wars of
agRression" was issued yesterday
by Prof. Albert Einstein in a State-
ment to the National Wartime
Conference, in which seventy-five
scientific, professional and ;vhite-
collar organizations will #artici-
pate. The confprence will be held
Friday and Saturday at the Hotel
Commodore.
One of the principal aims of
such a Union of intellectuals, Dr.
Einstein said, would be to supplv
the clear thinking and understand-
ing among the majority of the peo-
ple on the fundamental need for
international Cooperation as t)ie
only means for "permanently
avoiding catastrophes like the
present one."
•*In the Organization and pro-
motion of enlightenment on this
subject," Dr. Einstein added, "I see
the most important service which
an Organization of intellectual
workers can perform in this his-
toric momcnt. Only by means of
setting energetically about such a
task can an Organization like thf
one here planned to achieve inward
strength and outward influence.
"If there existed, among the
majority of Citizens, the firm in-
tention of establishing internation-
al security, the technique of giving
shape to such an Instrument would
not present an all-too-difficult
problem."
Education Held Major Task
Hence, Dr. Einstein said, enlight-
enment of the majority on the
need for international security is
at present even more important
than the working out of any par-
ticular plan for an international
government.
While the primary aim of a un-
on of intellectual workers for the
•)resent should be to fight for the
stablishment of a "supra-national
olitical force," primarily by help-
Z the majority of the people ta
nk clearly on the vital problems
erning the establishment of
-nent peace, suc^ a union, Dr.
■ «did. is *il' Tently nec-
Prof. Albert Einstein has called for a union
Of thinkers. Brains should be organized as weil
muscle, he says. The idea is meeting with ^p
and we look for intellectuals to bcgin showi*ng ti
Union cards any time. \
« « «
*'The intellectual workor, due to his lack of orj
ganization is not well protected against exploita-
tion," says the professor. Thinkers of the >/orld,
arisel
* « *
Let's have the International Association of Deep
Thinkers! On with the launching of the American
Federation of Brains!
« « •
If you see a particularly thoughtful looking gen-
tleman, his brow clearly estabUshing him as a man
cf mental powers, Walking around the works these
days beware. He may be the Walking delegate for
the Brain Operatives Union, Local 346.
*
As Prof. Einstein says, the thinkers (the pros
we mean) lack power and protection in the present
»et-up. They think individually or in small groups.
They give their opinions, and if nothing is done
about tliem, what can they do ? Nothing. But if or-
ganized, ah! They can call out all the best thinkers
in the Office and order them to stop thinking.
« « )«<
We can see them now obeying Orders to lay
dowTi their thinking caps, leaving the country to
depend on the non-thinking groups — the hunch, Im-
pulse and take-a-stab-at-it boys.
« « *
AND THEN WHAT? WASHINGTON STEPS
IN!
* t *
But the big problem is how the Federal Govern-
ment can seizc a thinker and take over his thinking.
* » 4>
Is it constitutional to seize a mind ? Can the Gov-
tmment operate a professor or a philosopher?
essary to protecf the intellectua!
workers' economic status and to
"securc their influence in the po-
litical field."
"On the economic side." Pro-
fessor Einstein said, "the working
class serve as a model. They have
succeeded. at least to some extenjt.
in protecting their ecopomic inter-
ests. We can learn from them.
too, how this problem can be
solved by the method of Organiza-
tion.
"And we also can learn from
them what is our gravest danger,
which we ourselves must seek to
avoid — the weakening through in-
ner dissensions, which make Co-
operation difficult and result m
quarreis between the constituent
groups.
Sees Intellectual E.vploited
"It is inevitable, considering the
progressive centralization of pro-
duction, that the economic and po-
' litical struggle should become more
and more closely interwoven, the
political factor continually growing
i in significance in the process. In
Hhe meantime the intellectual work-
er, due to his lack of Organization,
is less well protected against
arbitrariness and exploitation than
a membcr of any other calling.
"An Organization of intellectual
workers can have the greatest sig-
nificance for Society as a whole by
iinfluencing public opinion through
Publicity and education. Indeed, it
is its proper task to defend aca-
demic freedom, without which a
healthy development of democracy
,.is impossible."
I Dr. Einstein was one of the first
members of the Commission f^"
\ellec,tual Cooperation o^
• .'(•» ^.v Berinii« t
I
Relatively Well
Bundled up in stocking cap and muffler,
Dr. Albert (theory of relativity) Ein-
stein leaves Jewish Hospital. Brooklyn.
Scientist underwent abdominal opera-
"^n froni which he is reouperating.
RECOVERS FROM OPERATION
.«'Ml fät«ff rjv'to.
Dr. Alben Einstein in his car on being releascd from Jewish Hospital,
Brooklyn, today. (
I
i Einstein Leaves Hospital
Gels BifT C?I:c From Nurses Before Startlnfr in Car for
I Princeton After Abdominal Operation.
Dr. Alhnt Eln^trin. world-fa-
nious phvfiici^t and mathoniat'-
cian. lodi' in an auioniohilo this
,aftor!iooii to his honir in Princr-
ton. X. J. from Jowj.sh Ho.spital.
Biodklyn. whoie he undnwont an
abdominal oporalion locontly.
Brioro ho lol't tho hospital at
1 P. M . nui\«jcs and rmploypos
prcsontcd hini vith a .^rvenand-
OH'^-hallpound rako. t h i i t e f • n
inchrs in diamotor. It boio tho in-
Script ion: "Good hrahh loi jiian;
ycars to comr." Ein.stPin sWccrl
thr cak« and pa.-:.srd out gonr lous
holping.-- tor tho nui\so.<? whilo ho
was oatiiip his own lunchcon.
Tho biishy whito hair of ihr-
cclobratod sciontist v\as ctounod
by a knitlfd bliio stockinp cap
wbcn ho anc. hi.s paity look a
sorvico olovator fiom tho so\'onth
f'loor to tho ba.somont. from which
he loft by a loar dooi . Ho woio
a knittod scarf of matching: bhio,
and tho collai* of his knittod scai f
was tu in od up.
A dovot^o of si-nokingr in tho
past, Einstein wsi^ caiiying a
pipo which was unlightod. To
bystandors w ho plimpsod tho in-
sido of tho pipo bowl, it app>oarod
cmpty.
Two policf mon. ospocialjy d«--
tailod foi tho occasion, oscortod
Einstoin to iljc waitinp automo-
bilr. Ho was aoconipaniod on tho
lido by his .sociotary. Mi«s Holon
Dukos, and S. Ralph Lazarus,
chaiinian of tho hospital's boaid.
whoso automobijo was usod fori
tho trip to Piincoton. whoio Ein-
stein has a lifo profossoiship in
tho Instituto fnr Ad\-;incod Studv.
.ac
^/\«1f»«r.OT
V
l
m
l xNEW YORK TIMES. W EDNESDAV. FEBRIAR^ 2.
EINSTEIN MSS GIVEN
TO WAR LOAN DRIVE
Relativity Theory and a New
Paper in Scientist's Writing
to Be Auctioned Tomorrow
precedcnt. both in his own work
and the work of olhers. Many of
the most important discoveries of
scionce were the direct rcsults
of pure mathcmatical reasoning:.
Among the outstanding: modern
examples are the mathematical de-
ductions of Clerk Maxwell, which
revealed that light and electromag-
. netisni were both manifestations of
Ithe same type of radiant energry.
I which jioon led to the disrovery of
the propagation of electromagnetic
waves. l'^pon this discovery ia
based all our present science of,
radio broadcasting:, wireless com-;
By WILLIAM L. I^AIRENCE
The nian\iscript of Dr. Albert
Einsteins epoch-makin^.UaÄüJXP^I"^""^^«^^^" ^"^ television
universally^regarded a
'relativity, universau.v rt-^aiurru nr«,
^nF^'man's g:reatest intellectual
achievements. together with a sec-
ond manuscript. still unpublished.
in which he reports on bis latest
lexplorations into the uncharted
Irealms of the cosmos. have been
jgiven by Dr. Einstein tQ the_Fourth
jwar Loan drive to be converfeai)y
the akhemy of war bonds into
weapons against our enemie», it
was revt-aled yesterday.
! The donalion was announced by
Significanoe of Einstein Work
Dr. Einstein's relativity theory
provides some of the most striking
examples along this line. The lay
World thinki of the theory a« an
abstruse mathematical concept
dealing v^ith the incomprehensible
fourth dimension. Very few per-
sona realize that out of the theory
of relativity. and particularly outj
of the paper to be auctioned off{
tomorrow night, have come two ofi
ithe Book and Author Committee ! the greatest practical discoveries!
I Ol the Fourth War Loan drive. i of all time. |
iwhith obtained the manuscnptsi One of the.se is the photo-electrici
'through the National Refugee cell, the all-.«?eeing * electric eye* of]
'Service. -- * -4-a thousand-and-one u.«5es. without|
k The relativity manuscript was which television. sound motion pic-l
especially re-copied by Dr. Ein-|tures and countless other modern
stein fcr this occasion to replace , miracles would be impossible. Dr.
the original manuscript which he 'Einstein's discovery, through math
threw away after lif* p«bliration in
190r). Its intrinsic value is said by
experts to be at Jeast $100 öOOJn
the open book marltet. Hotn man-
uscripts are in Dr. Einstein's fine
handwriting.
Auction in Kansa» City
The documents will be auctioned
off tomorrow night at a
war boad ralljv in.Kansa,
where
ematical reasoning. of the lawsi
governmg the Interaction of light'
and matter, made the "electric;
eye" possible. |
The second discovery. the im-t
portance of which is only now be-
ginning to be realized. revealed the
existence of atomic energy. a
treasure house of power so great
special that only a few pounds of matter
Mo.,|could supply enough energy to
bids of $r. 000.000 and $6.- 'bring abundance to all the inhabi-
iOOOOO already have been made.' tants of the earth. This discovery
The auction will not be for pos- was made by Dr. Einstein «in hisi
Hession of the manuscripts but for 1905 paper» by his famous equa-»
the privilege of presenting them of. tion reveahng the equivalence of
ficially to the nation for deposit^iTiasajnd^ energy. l
in the Library of Congress.
-"TW^^ew unpublished mamiscript, , , , ^ . .,.
eSd The Bi-Vector F.eld '• f^«^ ^'^'^'^'^ that the cosmic
scheduled to appear soon in The.^''^^^^^^-^'^^;;'^^^ ^^ ^k" """"VF
stneuujru lu at'i^^a |ever Cüuld be tapped bv man. Dks-
Annais of Mathematics. is a i^on-,^^^,^^..^^ ^^^^^^ ^^.^^^^ ^^^^ however.
tinuation of the work that Dr Em- 1^^^.^ opened up the possibilitv that
approachmg 6o. begam^^^ ^^^^^^ ^^. ^^^^^^^^^ ^^^^^-^, ^,.j,
.some day become a reality.
A.«^ to the paper on "The Bi-Vec-
tor Field. " seienti.^ts who have ex-
When Dr. Emstein first made his j
discovery. neither he nor anyone;|
eise dreamed that the
stein, now
when he was still in his twenlies
This work was described by Ber
trand Russell as "the greatest syn
thesis of the human intellect so
thesis of the human intellect »o^j^jj^^^ j^ ^^jj^ve that, like the pre-
far" and caused George Bernard . beding work of Dr. Einstein, it
Shaw to place Dr. Einstein among ^^^v ' -^- -^-- . -.^
the "eight universe builders in his-
reveal other still hidden
secrets of the universe which, in
tory." their turn, may lead to new discov-
Like Omar Khayyäm, Dr. Ein-jeries as significant as those of the
stein beiieves that a "Single Alif'j -'electric eye" and atomic energy.
may provide the all-important clue
"to the treasure-house" of nature.
By reduclng the laws that govern
the physical universe to a unified
mathematical concept. or ai he
calls it, a "unified field theory." he
beiieves we could find the funda-
mental forces of nature, and
through them, attain greater mas-
tery of the universe we live in.
For this belief he has ample
y PIIYSICS: EINSTEIN
// . OB. A fuU face, lookina sli^^ht-
/iy to the righl. ALIiKRT EIN-
*' STEIN.
Reverse— A spiral nebula ex-
panding at the edges. Inscription
above: MCMV. CINQUANTEN-
AIRE DE LA THEORIEDE LA
RELATIVITE. Inscription in cen-
tre: E— M.C2 Below: MCMLV and
the sculptor's namc REVOL SC.
Bronze. 68 mm dia.
II. Obverse— A more convention-
al füll face looking to the right
with füll flowing hair. ALBERT
EINSTEIN 1879-1955, and the
sculptor's name: R HUGUENIN.
Reverse— Blank.
Bronze. 60 mm dia.
III. Obverse— A profile of the
head only. amost smiling. looking
A^. '■
An attractive modern niedal, hut one which will give fiiture
archaeoiügists a great deal of trouble if they do not know who
Einstein was. It is fully discussed in (he text. (Si/e 43, Michaelis
coliection).
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Bnstein Theory Steals Science Spotlight
. Main Infonnal Topic as £ o..a. --J-:-
10,000 Scientists Meet '— -''"^ ^ .eorosomat.ve
to Hear 2000 Papers.
The tluindor of today's
Isessions of Iho annual meet-
ing of tho Amoritan Associa-
tion for tho Advaiuomont of
Science was lost in the rever-
berations of an unscheduled
event- a press announce- .^^ ....p.«. -
/ iJ-Auv that I)r Al-'oenth floor. Tho harmloss rep
ment yesleida.N Ihai Jn. .^i _^^ ,^^8 than six inchcs long, was
bert Einslein has advanced al^^^^^^^ ^„^^j^,,. ^ table by a Pmk-
nPW hvnothcsis which heirrton detectivp and roluinod to
r r.A U..^nl•v nf iits cage by a biologist.
calls a irenerahzed theoi.N oi
eciiiK^ CK ^^^ rv:..*. Heiner Inini
,ontrronce w'th a leprosontativel
of tho Princoton University Pio^^s
and was givon permission to an-
noutur that tho thoory wdl bo
srt torth as a now rhaptor in lh(
third odition of Einstoin's book,
"Tho Moaning of Rolativity,' to bo
publishod in P^biuary.
Additional oxcitomont and
somo roliof w'oro occasioned
oarly today by anothor iinsched-
iilod ovent: the recapture ot a
small gioon grass snake which
esoapod last night from a biologi-
cal displav on the hotel's oight
what thoy oat thon at tho bogin-!
riing of tho war. Last yoar thoy'
;^ddod moro nioat. poiiltiy. fish
and oggs. by about 30 per rrnt.
Thoy addod 20 per cont nmi o
milk and its piodiicts. oxcopl
l)Uttor. she said. and also ato
inore frosh vogotablos and fruit.
t
gvavitatioü.
Some 10.000 scientists aie at-
tending tho si.x-day niooting atj
niets BeinjT Impioved.
At today's meeting. Dr. Hazel
K. Stieboüng. chief of the Bureau
r HO. st;;.:, at ..^^U ^..e oe H.n,a„ Nutntion and Homo
Einstein's New Theory.
Kinstoin's now theory was an-
nouncod by the Princoton Press i
as a niathomatical dosciiptioni
of gravity -tho forco that keops|
our fect* on the ground and!
tulos the movonionts of the stars.
If it can bo proved, it will bocome
i universal law and. in the opin-
ion of othor .scientists, will stand
niont of all timo. It would ex-
plain oveiy physical motion in
Ihe univorse. from tho inside of
an atom to the enormous galax-
ies of outer spaoe.
The now thoory reprt^sents an
attompt by Einstein to crystal-
lize the unifiod fiold thoory,
which ho advancod in 1929. The
unifiod field thoory. as yot un-
vorified, would oxplain with one
set of laws the actions of the
univorse and tho atom. magno-
tism and gravitation.
Th<' n(^w thoory nuist havo ox-
I porimontal coirobojation. and Ein-
stein writos in tho introduction
jto his now paper:
"I shall present an attompt at
the Solution of this Problem (tho
unification of gravitation with
oloctromagnotism ). which appoars
to nie highly convincing. although,
due to mathematical difficulties,
I havo not yet found a way to
ronfront theresults of tho thoory
with exporimontal ovidonce."
It was pointed out that it may
take yoars to prove or disprove
the theory.
scbodulod to bo hoard-the larg-
,esl numbor evoi- made at such
;a gathering.
Agriculture, leported that low
income Americans are improvmg
their diets, bat still eat less good
food than their follow Citizens.
gainerin^. iv^«^u ..i.o.. ..... ---
Th;,t the forthcoming Einstein Miss Stiebeimg sa.d familio-
That the ^^^'^^^" ^ ox- with incomos of $7.500 or moro a
tboory has genoratod ^^^^^^ J^^ [ g^. eat about two-thirds mon
citemont in .scientitic circlos than,^^^.^^ ^^^ ^^^^^ ^j^^^ $2.000-incomo
anv othcr dovelopment so far ve- jj^p-iüies. Those with the higher
vealed at the Conference was incomes. she continued eat moro
veaioa ai « than twice as much fruit as thoso
evident ovorvwhei-. Al^»^f^^^\^« ^^^"^ \orinc^ and ton timos
sciontist would commont to the ^^^' ^ ^^^^ ^,.,,;^^ ^nd vogc-
pross on tho now thoory, '^<:«»-^>;if^"^'^
all tho convrrsation in the hotel TsWertheless. Miss Stieboling
conidors concerncd the "^^^^^^^j^^ t^o low income brackets
theory.
News 0»mes Quietly.
have be^n making sigmficant
i^r>.^ ."...^.^ ^. .'• igains in diet quality. To do this.
Tho nows camo quiotlv at a shp explained, they are sponding
pJIir conVoronce L^M^^^ej^^c^^^^.lf times moro now on
One of the thin^s that iUnri llin-
stvins son docsn't toll ab)ut bis father
in the Journal this month is the way
the great man goes Shopping for gro-
ceries at the Princoton F(K)d Mart.
where hc is by far tho most famous and
favored cuslomer. He's whal Steve, the
propnetor. calls an "impulse buyor":
seldom has a Shopping list, buys just a
few itenisat a time. seems holpless al:K)Ut
adding up the total which is almost
always a tiny amount >. and offen tind<
he häsn'l quite enough i>)cket cash in
which case he writes out a check, worth
much more asa memento than a^ money.
As Steve told ils one time. " 1 guess the
Professor just knows abnit hitiher math-
ematics— nothinu ordinary like as if
oranges are thirty-nine Cents a dozen
and from a dollnr you get sixty-one
Cents changc."
WORLD ATOM RULE
URGED BY ElNSTEl«
ScientistAsksBombsBePlaced
Under Supranational Croup
as Only Way to Peace
[
XP^>1 to Thi Niw York Timm
LAKE SUCCESS, June 18—
Prof. Albert Ein.stein went on rec-
ord today in favor of placing all
atomir bombji under the lock and
key of a «upranational Organiza-
tion.
Speaking" under the auspfoea of
the United Nations, Professor Ein-
atein aaid that handing^ over atomic
stockpiles tb international control
was the only way to achieve "real
peace."
The world-famoui physicist said
that continuatlon of armament«
race« would lead "inevitably" to-
ward war.
**Strivin^ for peace and prepar-
ing: for war are incompatjbl« wi^h
each other, and in our time more
so than ever," he declared.
ProfesBor Elnsteln'a oonirneiiLs
were prepared at his Princeton,
N. J., home in connection with a
program on atomic control pre-
sented by the United Nation.s Radio
Division. The program, "Year of
Decision." was carried last night
on the Mutual Broadcasting Sys-
tem network.
Sugj^estion Made by Quaker«
A Suggestion for international
control of atomir stockpiles- Unit-
ed States and Soviel — was made
last year by a study group of the
American Friends Service Com-
mittee, a Quaker group that won
the Nobel Peace Prize in 1947. The
committee recommended that the
United Nations be put in Charge of
the stockpiles.
Last week a group of Citizens in-
cluding Professor Einstein recom-
mended a disarmament program
that a^ked for an end to atomic
bomb production and th« super-
vision by the United Nations of
existing stockpiles.
Professor Einstein, in his com-
ments today, did not put forward
the United Nations as the Control-
ling body. Several times he indi-
cated that the Organization he hnd
in mind would go beyond thp
United Nations and be a "kind of
World government."
"One must not look too techni-
cally on the problem of security,"
he said. "The will to peace and
the readiness to accept every atcp
needed for this goal is most impor-
tant."
As for the future of atomic en-
ergy, Professor Einstein said it
would not bring on "profound
changes," adding:
"It is not so important if we
work five hours or two. Our Prob-
lem is social and economic, nt the
international level."
\
(
Einstein Makes
Plea for A-Spies
Prof. Albert Einstein, whose
theories were a sprinpboard to the
atomic bomb, has added his name
to the growing list of PlP^f^e^^^f^^^
the lives of Julius and Ethel
JRosenbcrg. convicted atom spies.
I This Information was disclosed
last night when Prof. "feinstem,
vvho lives in Princeton. N. J.. cle-
iared he scnt a special delivery
etter last Sunday to President
rruman. in whose hands the
:iosenberg decision rests.
Follows Dr. l rey.
Prof. Einstein said in his letter,
'My conscience compels me. to
arge you to commute the death
^entenccs of Julius and Ethell
^losenberg." In this way he .loined
not her world-famous nuclear
cientist. Dr. Harold C. Urey of
.he University of Chicago, in
oleading for the pair.
The Rosenbergs, who were con-
vricted of giving atomic secrets to
Russia. were to have been ex-
ecuted this week. but won a stay
m Federal Court to take their
case to the President.
Meanwhile, more than 1500 of
the nation's leading clergymcn
have sent a similar letter to Presi-
(^ent Truman.
1.500 Clerks Join Movc.
t The Rev. Dr. Jesse W. Stitt. 0.
139 W. 13th St.. pastor of the Vil-^
läge Presbyterian Church, dis-^
closed last night that a letter
bearing^more than 1000 names has
been siht to the \^hite House.
The letter, Dr. Stitt declared.
urges President Truman. "in the
spirit of love which ca.sts out fear,"
to mitigate a punishment of "such
terrible finality." He added that
the group is not "partisan." ,
. Co-sponsors of the letter. withi
Dr Stitt.. are the Rev. Dr. James'
Luther Adams, Meadeville Theo-
logical Seminary; Roland H. Bam-
ton of Yale Divinity School; the
'ut. Rev. Charles K. Gilbert, re-
• -Protestant Episcopal bishop
People Must Elect
U.N, Einstein Says
! Thp United Nations *'can only
become a world government if the
Assembly consists no longcr of
representatives of governments but
of representatives directly elecied
by the people." Dr. Albert E. Ein-
stein said in a statement released
last night.
"The mounting dangei' of a
totally devastating conflict is rap-
lidly convincing the whole world
•that World federation government
müst be created," read the State-
ment, made public by three Ten-
jnessoeans who will attend a world
constituent a.ssombly Satiirday in
j Geneva. Switzerland, to plan a
'world government.
i The trio are Sen. J, B. Avery Jr.
of Alamo. Sen. W. A. Harwell of
Lawrenceburg, and Fyke Farmer.
Nashville attorney. They were
jchosen by Tennessee voters last
! August in a statewide primary to
attnnd the sessions in Geneva.
The Ppopjp's World Convention
was originated by Mr. Farmer, who
said "its eventual aim is the abol-
Ishmont of war by law."
>»-
Opinion of Einsfein.
-•«9'
-♦
One meeting I remember cspe-
cially well was between G.B.S. and
Albert Einstein. That was in 1930.
The Shaws entertained the great
scientist for lunch, then a ban-
quet was glven at the Savoy in
Einstein's honor at which G.B.S.
spoke.
Shaw told Einstein that he had
made a mess of science. "What
does It matter?" Einstein retorted.
"That is not your business."
In his speech proposing Ein-
stein's health. Shaw named the
eight men of history whom he
considered great scientists. They
were Pythagoras, Aristotle, Ptol-
emy, Copernicus, Galileo, Kepler,
Newton and Einstein himself.
"Einstein has not challenged
the f acts of science but the axioms
of science," he said, "and science
has surrendered to the challenge."
Einstein then expressed this
opinion of Shaw:
"Mr. Shaw has succeeded In
gaining the love and joyful aa-
miration of mankind by a path
which to others led to martyrdom.
He even dares to mock at what,
to others, appears unapproach-
able. By holding the mirror be-
fore US, Mr. Shaw has been able,
as no other contemporary, to lib-
erate us and to take from us
something of the heaviness of
living."
Einstein Defines
Our Role in Society
BV Science Service.
WASHINGTON. Dec. 22.— Dr.
Albert Einstein believe.s that com-
IpuLsion can to a certain extent re-
duce but never cancel the respon-
sibility of the individual.
Discussing how a person .should
1 act if his government pi-escribes
I actions that his own con.science
coasiders wrong. Dr. Einstein made
a Statement to the Society for
Social Responsibility in Science.
"It is easy to say that the in-
dividual cannot be held responsi-
ble lor a<ts carried out under ir-:
resistible compulsion," Dr. Ein-^
; stein said, "because the individuall
,is fully dependent upon the socieiy
jin which he is living and therefore
imust accept its rules. .
I "Inslitutions are in a moral
sense impotent unless they are|
supported by the sense of respon-l
sibility of living individuals." j
In our times scientists and en-^
gineers carry particular moral re-
sponsibility. Dr. Einstein said, be-
hause the development of military
means of mass destruction is with-
in their sphere of activity.
Letters
EINSTEINIAN PRIVACY
To THE Editor:
Gertrude Samuels' "Where
Einstein Surveys the Cosmos'*
(Nov. 19), a report on the In-
stitute for Advanced Study at
Princeton, presented a most
revealing portrayal of Pro-
fessor Einstein himself. What
did he think of it?
J. B. Danning.
New York.
["Dr. Einstein doesn't like
to read anything about him-
self," Miss Helen Dukas, his
secretary. answers. "He has
been written about so much
that he feels he never wants
to read more. He dislikes hav-
ing his private life talked
about for the same reason that
most people dislike this and
because he doesn't want a cult
to be made from his name. He
has nothing against it — that
is, against people who want
to write about him — but he
just isn't interested in what
they say about his personal
life. When they write about
his scientific werk, that is dif-
ferent. Then he reads it."
When Miss Samuels' interview
was read to him, Miss Du-
kas added, "Dr. Einstein found
it "accurate and conscien-
tious."]
l
Rarely has any generation had
the chance to understand the most
advanced thinking of its own time.
THE
UNI VERSE and DR. EINSTEIN
5
hy LINCOLN BARNETT
IntroductHm by ALBERT EINSTEIN
THIS IS a report — and the most brilliant onc in
rccent ycars — on what men at the f orcf ront of
science know about the nature of the universe. It can be
read with enjoyment by the high school Student of physics,
or with admiration — as it has been — by E>r. Einstein
himself. In fairly brief Space the reader who is curious
about the universe of which he is, in the most hteral sense,
a part, will find such answers as science can otfer to the
puzzle of what exists and how. When parts of tfie book
appeared in Harpe/s, the author was deluged with letters
from gratef ul and excited peoplc who said» in efFect, **At
last I understand."
N. Y. HERALD TRIBÜNE BOOK REVIEW: **THE UNIVERSK AND
DR. EINSTEIN sets a new Standard in science writing and is,
I think, the ürst American book that can be compared in
maturity, darity and grace with the distinguished and in-
fluential works of Sir James Jeans and Sir Arthur Edding-
ton. It deserves equal acceptance, if oniy for its literary
quality." — Gerald Wendt,
KARL T. COMPTON: **I do not see how Lincoln Barnett
could have done a more skillful job/'
LOUIS UNTERMEYER: '*Exactty che sort of book needed by
the non-mathrmatical, non-technical but inquiring mind/'
ALBERT EINSTEIN: "Lincoln Barnett's book represents a
valuable contribution to populär scientific writing."
127 päges, with plwtographs and diagrams, (2.^0
■M
The Grißin congratulate§ the peopU »ho, hy the way of
reading the universe and dr. Einstein, are about to em-
hark on one of the most stimulating inteUectuJ adventuies
of our time.
At all bookstores
WILLIAM SLOANE ASSOCIATES, //p West ^ Street, KY. 19
*closing rr......
/• . /
* t »' *
As
JANl'^Ry 30, 1949.
Jith
'-^ only $4.50-total value uj
' vour Coupon without
1
aoert Einstein >peaK$ His /viina
UT OF MV LATER VEARS. By
Albert Einstein. 282 pp. New York:
The Philosophical Library. $4.75.
By LEOPOLD INFELD
iV/HAT Albert Einstein has
Vir ^o say about the relativ-
ity theory will now be accepted
by every physicist. for many
years have passed since he was
regarded as a rebel in science.
Today the greateat part of his
work is respectable, important
and recognized. However. what
he says on other subjects, such
as the atomic bomb or religion,
does not always meet generai
acceptance. Even when he
writes for a definite group of
People. there will be some
among them who will not be
pleased, because there is always
an original twist to Einstein's
ideas.
This originality is fuUy evi-
dent in these sixty chapt'ers of
Einstein's collected essays on
moral i.ssues. Judaism. the rela-
tivity theory, the atomic bomb,
education, socialism. world gov-
ernment, science and religion,
and many other subjects. All of
these essays were written dur-
ing the last fifteen years, and
all — since Einstein belongs to
history -are important.
The pieces are not arranged
in chronological order. but ac-
cording to subject-matter, even
though this arrangement is not
Now at Uie University of To-
ronto. Mr. Infeld has worked
with Einstein and is author of
. '* Albert Einstein: His Work and
' Its Influenae on Our World/'
always consistent. Per example,
"Paul Ehrenfest in Memoriam"
is among "Personalities," and
"Moses Maimonides" among
"My People." Also. "The Laws
of Science and the Laws of
Ethics," and "Science and Civi-
lization" clearly belong to the
same chapter, but are placed
under the heading "Science"
and "Public Affairs" respective-
ly. A graver editorial fault is
Dr. Einstein at 70.
the Omission of a short State-
ment before each essay telling
where, when and under what
conditions it was written.
Proceeding with the read-
ing. however, one becomes less
aware of the faults in editing.
This is because one finds a
quality which unifies the di-
versity of subjects and chap-
ters. This quality is Einstein's
independence of mind, which
emerges more distinctly with
every page. Whether in articles
on socialism or on physics, this
independence is unmistakably
clear. Here speaks someone who
thinks always and about every- ^
thing for himself, who is unin-
fluenced by prejudices and has
a fresh and human approach to
every topic he touches. |
3UCH independent expression,
of course, leads to controversy.
Einstein will not please all j
Zionists when he writes in "Our
Bebt to Zionism" (1938): "I
should much rather see reason-
able agreement with the Arabs '
on the basis of living together
in peace than the creation of a
Jewish State;" He will not
please the makers of American
atomic energy policy with what
he says about the secret of the
atomic bomb, but equally much
he has failed to please the So-
viet scientists. (Their attack on
Einstein is the only part of this
book not written by Einstein
himself.) He will not please
many educators when he agrees
with the witty remark: "Edu-
cation is that which remains,
if one has forgotten everything
he learned in school."
Those who appreciate whimsey
and originality, however, will
find delight in reading what
this great man has to say on
the Problems of our day; they
will find great pleasure in the
beauty and impersonal wisdom
of Einsteins writings. Indeed,
some of the essays, such as the
one on Ehrenfest, are master-
pieces of writing and character-
ization.
f
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JUST
OUT!
- y
ALBERT
EINSTEIN
OUT OF
MY LATER YEARS
THE pubfishers of this volumc fcel privilcged in
o. . P^««"t»"S t*»«$e ncw essays by the distinguished
Physicist, whose deep human feelings and wisdom have
endeared htm not less to the average man than to the
scientist and scholar. The book indicates that Albert
Einstein's life and work öre not confined to the Prob-
lems of science alone.
Always an independent and uncompromising thinker,
Dr. Einstein attempts to clarify in these papers the
Position of man unencumbered by traditional preju-
dices, mhibitions and limitations in the world of today.
This book will show Einstein the philosopher, Einstein
the scientist and Einstein the man. It is a treasure of
livmg thought and a striking record of the titanic
achievements of one of our most eminent contem-
poraries. No intelligent mans library should be with-
out this new remarkable book.
OUT OF MV LATER VEARS is a veritable treasury
ot scientific as well ai generai information, interpreted
m the most candid manner by the foremost scholar of
our time. Even the famous Theory of Relativity is
explamed by the author himself in such simple terms
as to be understood by every thinking person.
This /s Dr. Einstein's only new generai book
since 1936. Edition is limited and your imme-
diäte reservation with the local bookstore or
directly with the publisher is strongly urged. $4.75
PHILOSOPHICAL LIBRARV
Publishers
15 East 40th St., Dcpt. T New York 16, N. y.
(Expedite shipment by tndosing remittance with order.)
r
i
'1
DR. EINSTEIN scts a Hcw Standard in science writing and is,
I think, the first American book that can be compared in V
Ky jfi
Ai all bookstoTcs
WILLIAM SLOANE ASSOi
^^ vy
fe, N.y. /p
A&
JANV^Ry 30, 1949.
jSth
^-^ only $4.50-tot«t viXrt ui
' vour Coupon without
\» • • »5
'•%m%
•••i»»-
111.
Explaining
THE UNIVERSE AND DR. EINSTEIN.
By Lincoln BarneH. Introduction by
Albert Einstein. 121 pp. New York:
William Sloan Associates. $2.50.
By JOHN E. PFEIFFER
THE New York Times man-
aging editor, Carl Van
Anda, was looking through late
bulletins f rom the London bureau.
Buried among the rest of the
news were a few "filier" para-
graphs which told how British as-
tronomers had checked the pre-
diction of a certain Dr. Einstein
that starlight would be bent in
its path by the sun's gravitational
field. Van Anda, who was trained
in mathematics, promptly cabled
the Startled London office for a
5,000-word story, and next morn-
ing — Nov. 8, 1919— The Times
had its copyrighted scoop:
Eclipse Showed Gravity Variation
— Hailed as Epoch-Making.
This story — and the thousands
that followed it — introduced
words like "relativity," '*the
fourth dimension," and "space-
time" to an impressed but un-
comprehending public. Ever since
then, persons interested in writ-
ing about physics
have recogrized
the implicit chal-
le n g e . There
seems to be an
unwritten rule
that, just as ac-
tors have to play
Hamlet to prove
their worth, so
science writers
must try explain-
ing relativity;
.Teans, Eddington,
Russell and many
others (including
Einstein himself)
have written their
books on the sub-
ject. As a de-
scription of scien-
tific tests and the-
ories in simple
language, journalisi Lincoln Bar-
netfs bock ranks among the best.
Here is an admirable account
of the crucial Michelson-Morley
experiment of 1881. which in
ng to prove the existence of
ether" (the universal sub-
» that was supposed to
nsmits sound waves), led
-wistein to build bis revolutionary
theory. Relativity, then, is a di-
rect consequence of light's uni-
que Position in the universe.
lYl R. BARNETT selects a well-
known hyi)othetical case to illus-
trate that time measurements de-
pend on the location of the per-
son doing the measuring. Suppos-
ing a 30-year-old traveler made
a round-trip rocket flight into
Space at 167,000 miles a second
(about nine-tenths the speed of
light), and returned ten years
later as timed by terrestial
clocks.
How old would this traveler
Ne ? His earthbound f riends would
aturally celebrate his fortieth
*iday, but Einstein 's equations
that the faster a person
^^w«»- his watch runs
wn observa-
Dr Einstein
metabolic processes would have
slowed correspondingly, so he
would be only five years older
physiologically speaking. But the
argument as to whether the
rocket passenger is actually 35
or 40 is a fruitless one. The point
is that the answer depends en-
tirely on whose clock is referred
to, and where it is located.
The author also explains the
relativity of . distance and mass
and the reasoning that led to the
now-famous *'atom bomb" equa-
tion, E=rmc2. That he can popu-
larize such ideas, as well as some
important concepts of quantum
theory and astronomy in so short
a book is a tribute to his compact
style. But his attempts to under-
stand and explain the philosophi-
cal consequences of modern phys-
ics are far less successful.
I O take only one example, Bar-
nett is bothered by the trend
toward increasing abstractness.
Matter was once thought to be
composed of solid spherical atoms
which could readily be visualized
and compared roughly to billiard
balls or equally familiär objects.
There is nothing
in connmon expe-
rience, however,
with which to
compare the mod-
ern concept of
matter as "waves
of probability."
One is certainly
free to deplore or
applaud this dif-
ference, but it
is quite another
thing toconclude,
as the author
does, that physi-
cists have aban-
doned the "world
of sense percep-
tions.'* ,
The pictures
used in thinking
about the uni-
verse need not involve familiär
Images. They may be completely
surrealistic as long as they help
account for and predict physical
cvents. And the only way to
find out whether they do is to ob-
serve those events — the motions
of a Star, the fuzzy lines on a
Photographic plate. or the J)e-
havior of an ameba. Physical
theories have become abstruse
because of the evidence of the
senses.
In missing this point. Barnett
reveals a failure to grasp the
very nature of the scientific proc-
cess. What he calls "the mathe-
matical orthodoxy of the uni-
verse" is simply the ingenuity of
mathematical physicists. Natural
laws are not discovered; they are
invented. And they are contin-
ually modified to take account of
the new pattems seen through
more powerful microscopes and
telescopes :
Patches of mist and light
Are quilted into stars.
The shaping of the infinite,
Not nature^s plan, but ours.
"The Universe and Dr. Ein-
stein" is excellent science popu-
larizing. But the philosophy must
be taken with a gra<n of salt.
5o
V\
OK
j>
Dr. Einstein.
K
» w
I
I
/ l
i
A fTt>t>.lnvu*.c UYrit(>.v~U
■ v r '*# ii^-i'>i"i
Einstein
In Profile
THE DRAMA OF ALBERT EINSTEIN.
By Antonina Valientin. Translated
from the French by Moura Bud-
berg. 312 pp. Illustrated. New
York: Doubleday A Co. $3.9S.
By I. BERNARD COHEN
THE biography of Einstein by
Antonina Valientin deals al-
most exclusively with the man,
his family life, his friends, his
personal habits, his personality
and his activities outside the
realm of science. Drawing heavi-
ly on her intimacy with the
Einstein family, her presenta-
tion has the ring of authenticity.
Many anecdotes — some new,
some old — make the book en-
tertaining and it succeeda, where
many previous biographres fall,
in conveying that gentle humor
that is such an essential and
charming aspect of Einstein's
Personality.
Mrs. Valientin believes that
"the struggle against war is
the main principle of Einstein's
life. The struggle for peace has
the same importance for him as
his scientific achievements." Yet
like many others devoted to the
cause of pacifism, Einstein
could not remain passive or sub-
missive in the face of Nazi
power. It was Einstein who be-
came the Instrument for trans-
mitting to President Roosevelt
the information about the possi-
bility of oonstructing an atomic
bomb, rving — as he put it —
'*as a mailbox" for the other
physicists.
Although Mrs. Valientin men-
tions "the terrible inner conflict
that he underwent at the time,"
she does not succeed in convey-
ing to the reader the stages of
development of Einstein's con-
victions that permitted him to
"press the button," and there is
a complete hiatus in the book
between Einstein's letter to
Roosevelt of 1939 and the end
of the war in Europe in 1945.
iVI RS. VALLENTIN says
many times that for her all sci-
ence is mysterious and incom-
prehensible; therefore she has
conceived the "drama of Albert
Einstein" wholly in terms of his
Views about society and politics
and his activities in Implementa-
tion of his beliefs. Science is
left out of the book save for an
occasional quotation to remind
the reader of the source of
World fame that made Einstein
a commanding figure. Thus she
presents Einstein in the con-
ventional portrait known to the
average man: the scientist
whose esoteric theories are un-
derstood by perhaps a handful
of other scientists but whose
Statements on great issues of
the World are common intellec-
tual property. This Einstein is
a man of great compassion and
goodwill who elicits our love as
he strives to make men happier
and more secure, whose words
Mr. Cohen %s Assooiate Pro-
fessor of the History of Science
at Harvard University. His
most recent book is "B*-
4
Franklin and the
Bronze by Jo üax)\dHon.
Albert Einstein.
bespeak the conscience of our
age.
The historian of the future
may contrast our Century with
the preceding one by observing
that the greatest scientist of
the nineteenth Century, Darwin,
could hve for forty years in
Down House working on his
theories in Isolation from the
Problems of the world; but the
greatest creative genius of the
twentteth Century did not live in
ignorance of the social and po-
litical crises of his age and with-
out lifting a band to help his
fellow-men.
31 HE over-all significance of
instein's analyses of political
and social questions is that they
come from Einstein. Thus,
while we are grateful to Mrs.
Valientin for the new informa-
tion about Einstein's private life
that she has entered into the
record. we regret the limitations
of a book that attempts to show
what kind of man Einstein is
without any comprehension of
the majestic quality of his ap-
proach to nature and the uni-
verse. Anything that helps per-
petuate the myth that science
is beyond the understanding of
ordinary men is a tragic mis-
take. For what we do not un-
derstand we fear and hate; and
one of the major problems of
the present age is to live with
science, to use its fruits intel-
ligently, and to further it for its
own benefit and ours.
Einstein's major biographer,
Philipp Frank, succeeded in con-
veying some of the es.sential
features of Einstein's scientific
ideas to the general public and
so have many others. notably
Lincoln Barnett. Nor should we
forget that Einstein himself has
made a magnificent essay into
public Instruction in science and
that most of the examples used
to iliustrate Relativity for the
general reader come from Ein-
stein's own populär accounts of
his work.
Firm in the conviction that
the universe is intelligible, could
Einstein ever possibly subscribe
to the View that his own ex-
planations are generally unin-
telligible ? Einstein has devoted
himself to uncovering a unity
of theories of natural phenom-
ena. Surely the biography of
such a man should not destroy
the unity of his own life and
present it without its major
A>
fu
ED U CAT lO N
■i^i
Holy Curiosity
One day three years aRO, white-maned
Ali)ert Einstein sat down at his desk in
Princeton, N.J., thought a moment and
then wrote in careful lon^hand: "Herc I
si^ in Order f" ^^'^'t^- ^^ ^^^'' '^^'^^ ^^^ ^"'
^^^jjj^ihirjjkg piv own obituarv.'/ ^ ^
Acluallv, it was the start of Einsteins
autobiography, scheduled for publication
next fall. This week, as he turned 70, he
allüwed a few excerpts— on his own edu-
cation — to be published.
He had had good teachers at the Poly-
technic Academy in Zürich, Switzerland,
but somehow, looking back, he was not
satisfied. For one thing, he had not grasped
the importance of mathematics soon
*'In justice," Einstein recalls, he might
not have suffered so much as others from
exams. He had to take only two in his
whüle time at the Polytechnic, and there
^vere friends who could be counted on to
attend all the lectures and keep conscicn-
tious rccord of the lecture points that
freer spirits might otherwise have missed.
Even so, it was bad enough:
"This coercion had such a deterring
effect I upon me | that after I had passed
the final examination, I found the con-
sideration of any scientific problems dis-
tasteful to me for an entire year."
Unfortunately, says Einstein, the coer-
cion has not lessened since he was a
Student. "It is, in fact, nothing short of
a miracle that the modern methods of
instruction have not yet entirely strangled
the holy curiosity of inquir>'; for this
delicate little plant, aside from Stimula-
tion, Stands mainly in need of freedonri.
Without this it goes to wrack and ruin
without fail."
1
Alan W. Richards
AUTOBIOGRAPHER EiN STEIN
A fiypothetical dilemma.
enough: "I saw that mathematics was
split into numerous specialties, each one
of which could easily absorb the short
lifetime granted us. Consequently, I saw
myself in the position of Buridan's ass"*
. . . unable to decide ..."
Physics was different. "I soon learned
to scent out that which was able to lead
to fundamentals and to turn aside from
everything eise." It was only much later,
after years of indcpendent scientific work,
that he realized "that the approach to a \
niore profound knowledge of the basic
principles of physics is tied up with^ the
most precise mathematical methods."
What bothered bim even more was the *
prevailing idea that the important thing
in education was preparing to pass exams. ,
^ • *'t '\ ' f
:,..> >*■:■
■v\ •v.'.^, .••
■Tj.
^leincd <0cUi>nl0*
i
2^5,1 I3{c^bru(l oetbottu.J
Diego.
löuiibeilc td) inid) öciuiffcrmaßcn. unb nlö td) oben auf
km ^i^Uimcnorcti" meinen *P(afe c^c^xmhm f)atU\ \a[) id)
,„{r br.i ^??ann bi^fret mi. .^CvH, ^'»^ ^ J>^^. J<^^ ^"^ .T;
itTib ^ na tüxx unb 0«^ ^ic I',ätten M) ri*erlui) nnd) nid}t
n.hori;f boy' et« («> bcvül)mtfr :Ul<inn bn* SüStljcnfdjaft fo ßut flcttcvit
fann. ?(uf5crbcm fnnnten U»ir uw^, w'xx irarcn einmal auf irgenb'
lincr ctfi.sicUcn 2ad}^, bei einem lüUnifter obci* fo, über einen Qi-
metnfamcn iöefannten inö öefpvdd) i^;:fommen, mcbet id) mannljaft,
Liber Ici(^t bir i^crfnrf^uno mibcrftanbtn l)atte, bic ^ieho auf feine
C^ntbfdunn 5U brin<5cn. 2enn erftcnö mar idi auf bcr cdjnlc in
t*lit)fif immer Jaum (jimügcnb", unb ameitcn^ mar f^^ine Gntbedun,i
fo fci)mcr, bnfe bic flügficu Sentc in bcr ganscn ^Bclt \id) barubei
t>oU ^f^efpcft bie Aöpfe .^erbrac^en. •
??ur bie tJorfifd^e 'jircffe M un^ mufitc fofort 2?c|d)eib. 3ie ]cf)ob
bic i^nc^e ü2i)tc^öeöcnmärttt3 auf t^a'i fünfeffioneüe ö-cbiet.
%bn anbererjeitS. bcr l%mi, bcr ba mit fnfltlidKnt ®enun feine
^ftaöpicife )d]niaud}te, bie mir übrigens M Ä^eimcr letdjlid) üer=
iäd^tin erid)icn. btefcr mann featte t^ Dermod)t, ta^ bic 2ßelt
i)rauövn jum crften 5.UaIe nad) bem Slriegc roiebcr mit a^lefpcft tion
lins fvrndj. llnb aU id) beobücf)tctc, mie bcr §crr, bcr 3mifd>en m\i
^ci^tn fafj, aud) bie .cljügpfcife ini ^lugc fayle, bann bcn SBefiijcr mit
Import blifcenbom t)3iünoie[ gan,5 lanafam t»on oben bi-ä unten hdxad}^
lete unb iöm jd)liefelic[i mit einem uH\id feine Acljrfcite 3ubrel)tc, ba
bQd)te id}: bcr mpi§ nidjt, u>cr ncbnt iljm f ^t, bu mirft c-ö thm
jaoen.
'2(bcr bann büd}te td) mieber: eben meil er es; uid)t meife, lldlt
n ücrmutlidi 6errn öiticr für einen mcit gröBcrcn 5Jl*inn. llnb
icf)on fticg bcf IDbnDfcImann auc^ ab unb trat richtig meinen
tOt^ann auf bte Seljen, bie I)i.MIid}, aber nicf)t fd)ne{I genug aurücf.
i^e^ogen mürben.
Unb id) ftcUtc, au^gcf)cnb bon -»•^ervn öiKor, ^cttüdjtungen nbcx
böÄ non ^I^iomc-j (iüiii)ie bcfanntüd) fo cr|d)öpfenb unb torbilbltd)
be^anbclte Zi)cim „Selben unb ^elbcnüerctjrung" an.
%U id) micber aufblidtc, fafs ein nnberer 3af)rga|t neben mir,
luib aud) ilin bcfd)aftigte btc (tn bcr 2at Dbllig infommentmäBigc)
v2t)agbfetfc> Xic§mal mar es; ein befifjcibcn gcf:etbetcr. iüngercr
:^3lcn^dj. ©änsltd) unauffällig, anid;cincnb nid;>§ c.H ^citgeno^k».
llnb a!ö gicid) barauf bie cFjag^^felfe in bcni bctanmcu ui}neli.:n
aempo bic 2rcp|>e l)<?robfd)n:)cbte, fal) er ifjr giibünfcnooil mdj.
Weniger ber bctülimte tOiann, ber barauf ücr^ld^len fonnte, fonbcrn
biefcr junge l>ien|d) tntcref|i<rte mid) ploj^lid] ungemein, unh fo
fragte id) if)n: „'Äiffcn 3ic and), mer bciis rvaii" Ünö ber befd):i-
bnie junge 'JJknfd) fal) mid) frennblid) an unb fagte bcn Diamen.
^0, u(ö menn e'i gar nid)t anber» fein fünntr. 'Jlcd) mrf)r. ,;^d)
I)übe tamaU 23orlnige Pon if)m gcbijrt," fügte er flnncnb I)in3u,
,/.üenn man, mic idi, nur '^Dlfi5td)utbilbung liat, bann fann man
mol)! füum fo richtig bar)intert'cmmeit. :Ä>cr id) l'jatte brd) uad)f)er
einen 5'egriff i^on ber ^adjc, i:nb barübcr fteut jnan fid) boci) . . /
^3l^ freute mid) üi:d).
3m übrigen muffen ^ic jejjt moI)I cnblidj crinl)ren. t>a\^ ber
Vompatr)ifd)c, junge liknfti) ton (5inflein unb ber ytcIatioitat3tl}ccrie
jprad) wk'i
iöum über nun etwa jemanb fommt unb fagt: ,M), bcn
meinen eie? 2a^s ift ja fo lange fjei! ^d) taäjk, ^k meinen
bcn — mie f)cifjt er bcdj gleich?" . . . Wß menn mir t)ai> cintr
fogt, obfd)on er a[Imät)Iid) mirtitdj begriffen F)aben fi)nntc, marum
ic^ f)icc fdt einer \)aibci\ Stunbe rcbe, bann pafpeit ifjm mai
I met Prof. Einstoin onco in tho Com-
pany of a famous archaoolo^ist 1 shall call
Dr. Gordon. The convorsation vvenl like
this: Mr. Einstoi?! said, "Hello, Dr. Gordon,
hovv is your littlo boy?" and Dr. Gordon
Said, "Hc's finc, Professor, exccpt my vvife
and I werr worricd about him, lies almost
3 and he doesnl talk." "Oh. don't worry,"
Said Prof. Einstein, "I didn't talk until I
was 5."
While Dr. Gordon and I vvaited for the
Station wagon to take us hack from the In-
stitnte for Advanced Studies to Princcton,
vve spent a half hour talkinp: to Mr. Einstein.
It was not a dull convorsation at all. We
did not discwss the theory of relativity, but
we did talk about palterns of normafity in
children— our children. I was able to teil
the Professor my children be^an talking
about the tinie all kids be^in talking.
Von solchor BcwuncirruiiM hatte V. i ;'^
Mcnuhin .seit seinem fünften Leb(Mi<); • ;
n-iehr zu spüren bekommen al.s ir
anderes Wunderkind seiner Gen. :.... >;,
„Lieber Yehudi. heute hast Du wieder b-,
wiesen, daß es einen Gott im Hunm.-
ßibf, sagte der Relativitats-Theonlikc
und Geigenspieler Albert Kinstein. ii;i<;.-
dem er den 13.iiihrißen Yehudi imKon/ci*
saal gehört hatte. Ähnlich übeisdvA < n.-
lich äußerte sich auch der gewiß nie ;
A fcwNcarsaiiol had .kI lo ha\c Ica u iih Alhcrl l.insicin.
and iiraduall\ bis scrioiis coincrsalion hrokc iiiio ihal ui^ndcrfu!
lauiihicr which uscd lo siiakc his wholc h()d\. SuddcnU hc
sloppcd and said. "1 hat i^ a ihinii \\c Huropcans do; wc laiiizh:
WC do not lakc ihiiiL's iv>o carncslls.**
Ihc lurorcan is f insicin \\!u> lauühs. Hc is Picasso \\h.
n
\7^
Responsibflifries
SOON aftcr Hiroshima I
went to see Einstein.
As I walked into his study.
Einstein looked at me sadly
and said, "You see. The
ancient Chinese were righf.
One must not do anything."
Einstein meant by this State-
ment that if you take action
that has important conse-
quences you assume respon-
sibilities that you cannot
forsee. For you can never
really know the more re-
mote consequences of your
action. — Reinhold Niebuhr,
in "Courage to C hange/'
i.
Scattcrcd across the face of ihe Moon arc
the namcs of somc of hisiory's suprcinc inlcl-
Iccts: Archinicdcs, Aristotlo. Darwin, Dcs-
cartcs. Da Vinci. F-.inslcin. luichd. Kant.
Kepler. Lcibnit/, Newton. Pkito. Pythagoras.
to mcnlion a fcw. Inc\itably. the latcr scicn-
lists and philosophers ha\c had a raw dcai.
bcing fobbcd olVwith vcry sccond-ratc forma-
tions. The sad casc o\' Einstein is a good cx-
amplc; hc has bccn givcn a sorry littlc cratcr
less than tliirly milcs across. so ncar ihc cdgc
of the Moon that it might just asv\cll bc on the
othcr sidc.
In a sense, the most his-
torie moment came 29 days
before the war began, when
a white-haired g e n i u s in
Princeton. N. J., who hated
violencp but novv knevv only
strength would halt Ilitlei-,
wrote a letter to President
Roosevelr. "It may become
possible to set up a nuclear
chain reaction in a large
mass of nranium," wrote AI-
•t Einstein. "Extremely
'1 bombs of a new
^ '"»^ corstructed" .
}
RS niciisr
said. "I couldn'l rcnitinlur who ihc
dcvil shc was and I couldn'l lakc a
ch.UK'C." — Kidi-irii U. UulUt in A/ff.iv// •
Till Princctnn campus was quid and
bcaulitul in the lallin.L; snow, and ihc
carol sin^crs in the distancc wcrc an
addcd touch u> ihc Cluistmas K\c
sccnc. 1 was walkin^^ niv do^ whcn 1
nici tlic carolcrs ^oing inio ihc gardcn
cntrancc ot Dr. .Mhcri Fanstcin's homc.
One ot ihc hoys siartcd lo sing, "O
littlc lown ot Üclhlchcni, how still wc
scc ihcc lic," atul the olhcrs look il u\y
The front door opcncd siuldcnly aiul
Dr. l-'inslcin siood ihcrc a tnoincni.
Then hc tiirncd hack into ihc housc
and rcappcarcd wnh his violin. Wilh-
out a Word hc siartcd lo play with ihc
^ija+fcicrs— caeh versc through the hynin.
\\ iihoui a Wort! to hrcak ihc spclL
the youni; pcoplc lurncd away silcntly,
and I )r. Kinsicin closcd ihc door slowly
on ihc snowy sccnc.
It was a Chrislnias l-'vc lo rcmcniher.
— Cuiitriluitccl by Evelyn Woods tlyai
TRY. TRY AGAIN
c;^.K\^.\.\^ *s \.\tv. ( aroinai, non lAri.HAiuR ol Muni
once had a coiucrsation with the rcnouned inathen.
tician, Albrrt lanstein.
"C'ardinal \'on l'aulhaber," Einstein rcniarked, 'T r
spcci reliiiion, bui I IxTkac in maihcniatics. Frobably i
is the othcr way aroiind wiih nou." '
"You arc niistaken, " the Clardiniil retorttxl. " Fo in«
boih are nurcly dilTercni cxprcssions of ihe sanic divin
cxactness."
"But, ^'our Fanincnce, uhat woultl you say if niath«
niatical scieiue should sonic dav toine to eoncliisioi
direcih ( onlradii toiA to n'liuious belicfs?"
''Oh,'' answt'red thr Oardinak 'I ha\«' thf liiiihfst ii
gard for the (onipetenee of nuitheniati( iiUis. I am sr
they woulcl never fest uiuil ihey discovered th
niisiake." —The !■
\
in teui bcfoiinteit fcijneffen
t'i' iljr öebünfenöoU uadj.
: bavQuf ücr,^tcf):en fonntp, fonbcrit
.te mid) plö^lirf) ungemein, uirb fo
itd), n?er Daä roorr' Uiib fcer bcfcf)ci»
^ frcuuMtcl^ üH inib [ößtc bcn lljamcii.
rf nnberö fein föiiutr. liiud) nii'^v. ,:l\^
om \fy\\ rtcfiört" fügte er finiicnb 1)111311,
nut 33Da'i^fd)uIIiiibuni] \)c\i, bann fann man
bn^interfcmmen. 'KUtx \d) fjattc brd) imd;rjer
/Cr ^ac^c, inib barübcr freut man fidj bodj . . /
muffen Sic jefet iüoftl cnblicft crynljren, baö ber
unoc Njknftij Don öinftein unb bec ^cReratiöitätst^ecric
.i6cr nun etmü imunb fommt unb fo.jt: ,;?[d}, bcn
->w^ 'Xaä ijt ja fo lün^c r^ei! ^d) badjte, v&ic meinen
ime [)cif]t er bcd) G^eicö?" . . . 3rifo wenn mii ta^ einer
Jt)]d]on er a[rmäl)lidi loirfltd) begriffen f>abcn fi)nnte, irarum
/er fett einer fiafben Stunbe rebe, bann einfriert il)m \m%.
\
irsri-Kr/noNAL SEoo^D*E)CPosuRE
fe^
Responsibilities
SOON affer Hiroshima I
went to see Einstein.
As I walked into his study.
Einstein looked at me sadly
and Said, "You see. The
ancient Chinese werc right.
One must nat do anything."
Einstein meant by this State-
ment that if you take action
that has important conse-
quences you assume respon-
sibilities that you cannot
forsee. For you can neyet
really know the more re-
mote consequences of your
action. — Reinhold Niebuhr,
in "Courage to Change."
1
i
JtX^
äBelt
.^t öon
^n un^
^fi^er mit
.nten bctrad)-
/•3ubrel)te, bü
j- n?irft cö il}m
.^11
nic^t mctg, fidlt
^tÖgcrcn 5!JJtinn. Unb
,<> trot rid^tig meinen
.4t fd^neU genug 3urücf-
.i..6itIor, iScttaü)tu ng^n über
fo crfd)öpfenb unb t»orbi(MiL^
.oettterc^runö" an.
ein anberer Jfal^rgaft neben mir,
Jjjftt %<ii üöilicj infommcntmäBigc)
cm tefft)eibcn c^cf'eibeter, jüngerer
»^, 6nfd;cincnb nid;i-§ dg» 3^^^0^"»>''!^'
r i
}
I met Prof. Einstein once in the Com-
pany of a famous archaeologist I shall call
Dr. Gordon. The conversation went like
Ihis: Mr. Einstein said, "Hello, Dr. Gordon
how is your little boy?" and Dr. Gordon
Said, "Hc's fine, Professor, except my wife
and I were worricd about him. he's almost
, 3 and he doesn't talk." "Oh, don't worry "
I Said Prof. Einstein, "I didn't talk until 'l
was 5."
i While Dr. Gordon and I waited for the
Station wagon to take iis back from the In-
stitute for Advanced Studies to Prinreton
; we spent a half hour lalkin^ to Mr. Einstein!
It was not a dull conversation at all. We
did not discMss the theory of reiativity but
vve did talk about patterns of normalfty in
children— our children. I was able to'tell
the Professor my children began talking
about the time all kids begin talking.
Von solcher Bewunderung hatte Yohudi
Monuhin seit seinem fünfton Lebensjahr
mehr zu spüren bekommen als irgendein
anderes Wunderkind seiner Generation
..Lieber Yehudi. heute hast Du wieder be-
wiesen, daß es einen Gott im Himmel
gibt sagte der Relativitats-Theoretiker
und Geigenspieler Albert Einstein, nach-
denri er den 13.jährigen Yehudi im Konzert-
saal gehört hatte. Ähnhch überschweng-
lich äußerte sich auch der gewiß nicht
A few vcars ago I had ihcluck lo hav c tea u iih Albert Einstein
and LM-adLially his serious conversation broke inlo ihai uonderfu!
lauiiiuer uh.ch used to shake his uhole bodv. Suddenlv he
stopped and said, -Thal is a ihinji ue Europeans ^\o- ue lauizh:
vve ^o not lake liiinirs loo earnestlv.^'
The European is Emsicni wlio' Jaughs. He is Pieasso uh.
> Seattercd across the face of the Moon are
, the namcs of some of history's supremc intcl-
. lects: Archimedes, Aristotlc. Darwin, Des-
cartes. Da Vinci. Einstein, Euclid, Kant,
Kepler, Leibnitz, Newton, Plato, Pythagoras,
to mention a few. Inevitably. the later scien-
tists and philosophers ha\e had a raw deal,
i being fobbed olV with very second-ratc forma-
tions. The sad case of Einstein is a good ex-
, ample; he has been given a sorry little crater
less than thirty miles across, so ncar the edge
ofthe Moon that it might just as well bc on the
other side.
In a sense, the most his-
toric moment came 29 days
before the war began, when
a white-haired genius ih
Pnnceton, N. J., vvho hated
violence but now knew onlv
strength would halt Hitler
wrote a letter to President
Rooseyelt. "it may become
possible to set up a iiuclear
Q\\^m reaction jn a large
mass of uranium," wrote AI-
• t Einstein. "Extremely
'' bombs of a new
> corstructed" .
^
R's nicEsr
saicl. "1 couldn't rcnicmbcr who the
dcvil she was and I couldn't take a
chanCe." -Richard Ü. Hublcr in McCull -
Till Princeton campus was quict and
bcautitul in the falling snow, and the
carol sin^crs in the distancc werc an
addcd touch to the Christmas Eve
scenc. I was Walking my dog when I
inct the camlcrs going into the garden
entrancc of Dr. Albert Einstcin's home.
One ot the boys startet! to sing, "O
little tovvn ot Bethlehem, how still wc
see thee lic," and the others took it up.
The front door opencd suddenly and
Dr. Hinstein stood there a moment.
Thcn he turncd back into the house
aiui reapjK'arcd with his violin. With-
out a woril hc started to play with the
^^iirt^Aixs — cach versc through the hymn.
Without a word to break the spell,
the young peoplc turncd away silcntly,
and Dr. Einstein closed the door slowly
on the snovvy scene.
It was a Christmas Eve to remember.
— Comribuicd by Evelyn VVuods Ulyal
i
TRY, TRY AGAIN
GF.RMANV'S LATE CARDINAL VOxN KAULHABKR of Muüi
oncc had a conversation witli the renowncd mathrnj
tician, .Albert Einst(M*n.
"Cardinal von Faulhaber," Einstein remarked, 'T i'.
spect rehgion, but I b.'hcve in mathematics. Probably i
is the other way aiound with you." ' I
*Tou are mistaken," thr Cardinal retorted. "To nv
both arr mercly ditferont expressions of the same divin
exactness."
"Hut, ^'our Enn'nence, what would you say if math*
niatical scirnco should sonir day tonii^ to conrlusioi
directly ((^ntradictory to religious brliefs?"
"Oh," ansuvrrd the Cardinal, "I ha\c tli<' highrst r.
gard for the competence of mathcmaiicians. I am sr
they would never rest until they discovercd tb;
mistakc." ^jtie i
\
/^?\
Way to Test an Einstein Premise
\Found by 2 Harvard Scientists
,^ (ilen A. Rcbkii Jr.
I - —
By H AKOM) M
Physicist.s at Harvard Uni-
versity havc found a way of
testin^ conc'hisively a crucial
■)remise of Einstein's General
rhoory of Relativity. Hereto-
fore it has always defied meas-
arement, even against Ihe giant
yardstick of astronomical space.
In certain gamma rays, which
ire like high cncrgy X-rays, the
hysicists have found a tool so
nsitive they are suro the pre-
tion can be tested in a singl€
Iding over a path as short
'enty-five feet.
s'' ^e is offered by a
t xülo the university'a
Je f fersen P.'- sical
nearly IOC rs
I
Prof. Kohert \ . i ouiui
S( HMK( K Jr.
ago. That was lon,2; befor(>
gamma ray.s or iclativity had^
boon tlKiughL of by the world's
scientists. j
The authois of the expeii-
ment aie Dr. Robert V. Poiind.
a Professor of Physiis with a
reputation for meticuloiis re-
search, and Glen A. Rebka Jr.J
a graduate student working for
his doctorate.
They will iise gamma rays of
vcry sharply defincd wave
length to test a basic postulate
of Einstein's theory called the
principle of eqnivalence.
The theory holds that there
Continued on Page 76,Coliimn S
•■■■.■■ .' • T •
Oft sfnd es gär nicht einmal die welt-
verändernden Ideen, deren Verwirk-
lichung zunächst an der Unzulänglich-
keit der Mittel ihrer Zeit scheitert, aber
sie stellen uns die Aufgaben. Hier helfen
Erfahrungen, gewonnen aus dem viel-
seitigen Kontakt, den eine vielseitige
Erzeugung schafft. Erfolgreiche Konstruk-
teure werden diese Chance nutzen. Sie^
sollten »Reisholz« fragen.
Dies zum Beispiel ist ein
nahtlos geschmiedeter
Hohlkörper von 35t Gewicht,
den wir für die chemische
Industrie herstellten.
Ähnliche Stücke können
wir bis zu 80 t Schmiede-
gewicht für olle sonstigen
Sparten der Hochdruck-
technik liefern.
pIm^^,
O
f. *
STAHL- UND RÖHRENWERK REISHOIZ ÄMBn. DÜSSEIOORF-REISHOLZ
PHiliPP [RANK
EINSTEIN
Sein Leben und seine Zeit
472 Seiten mit einem Titelbild. Gatr/leincn DM 12.S0
Das Budi nimmt nidu nur im Rahmen der Einstein-Literatur
eine Sonderstellung ein, sondern muß sogar als eine der bedeu-
tendsten Biographien überhaupt angesehen werden. Neben
der tiefschürienden Analyse der Entdeckungen Einsteins und
ihrer Wechselbe/iehung zurGcsanitentwicklung unseres Welt-
bildes vermittelt dieses erstaunliche Buch eine Schildcruni;
historischer Zusammenhange unserer Zeit in kiinstlerisdicf
Form.
Prof. Pascual Jordan in der Neuen Zeitinigy München
i
' l»T VERMAG .VIÜN
34
" VV ^
•'W
/
)
/-7 / /
WORLD SCIENTISTS
HAIL EINSTEIN AT 70
Acciaim H-s Life Quest to Unite
Knowledge of, Universe and
His Beneficence to Humanity
THE NEW YORK TIMES,
WHJ. HK 70 VFARS OLI) TOMOKUOW
V^y WILLIAM L. LAURENCE
Albert Einstein, who demon-
strated in his relativity theory that'
absolute time has no objectivej
reahty, will be 70 years old tomor-
row in terms of orchnary years as
measured by the non-relativistic
calendar. i
The man revered above all oth-
ers by scientists the world over as
the outstanding intellect of his
generation. who was acclaimed as
one of the immortals of history at
the age of 26. will observe his
rearhing the Biblical three-score
and ten quietly at his modest home
in Princeton.
Still slowly recuperating from
the major surgical Operation he
iindei-went at the end of last year,
he will See only the immediate
members of his family and a few
rlose personal friends who will
drop in and stay just long enough
to wish him a happy birthday.
The lest of the time, his strength
permitting, he will work as usual
on his major problem for more
than a quarter Century— the con-
struction of a mathematical the-
ory linking the forces operating
withiii the infinite stellar universe
with those operating within the
equally infinite universe of the
nuciei of atom?.
For the first category his rela-
tiv: :' theory offers the best avail-
abl. explanation so far and far
the second the quantum theory, of
ivhich he is a major proponent,
now provides a partial and still un-
satisfactory understanding.
Having united time and spare.
matter and onergy. the laws of mo-
tion and of gravitation. into a com-
prohensive Single cosmic entity. he
has been seeking all these years.
and will continue to soek until the
end of his days. for a still larger.
all-embraring concept that would
also include electromagnetism amid
the vast forces within the nuciei
of atoms that hold the universe to-
gether in ono fundamental cosmic
law. which. like a white radiance
niay manifest itself as a many-
colorcd rainbow^ through a multi-
facetrd prism.
World-Wide Kecognition
It has always been Dr. Einstein's
wish to ignore his birthday anni-
yersary. regarding it as of no par-
ticular importance in the temporal
Iife of an individual. This year
however. advantage will be takeri
of the occasion to noto not only
^'^ contributions as onr of the
Albert Einstein relaxing at his home in Princeton, X. J.
The New York Times
his
eight "universe builders" in his-
tory. as George Bernard Shaw de-
scnbed him. but also as a world
Citizen and one of the outstanding
spintual leaders of his generation
Who has become a symbol of the
^uman spirit and its highest aspi-
rations. ^
Under the auspices of the Unjted
Nations Educational. .Scientific and
Cultural Organizafiort. (UNESCO)
'^--- Of the V i.|heading sei-'
^^ _^ ^\>**m Of Dr
Einstein as a scientist. as a man
and as a world Citizen. These^ re'
Views have been made avallabk
to radio Station« throughout th!
World for broadcasts ^"®
Nills^ Bohr ^^"^^i^^tors are: Prof.
^ eis Bohr of Denmark. Nobel
next to Ernstem in greatness a.<, r
sumptions in even our most ele-
mentary and accustomed concepts
means to all people a new encour-
agement in tracing and combating
the deep-rooted prejudices and
complacencies inherent in every
national culture.
"With his human and noble Per-
sonality, characterized equally by
wisdom and humor, Einstein him-
self has through all his Iife. and
not least in these latter years,
worked for the promotion of in-
ternational understanding. On his
seventieth birthday evidence of the
Veneration and gratitude our whole
generation owes to him will reach
Einstein from many sides. and we
all want to express the wish that
the hopes for which he has lived
and worked may bo fulfiUed to the
benefit of all mankind."
Iladamard Recallg Manifeste
Professor Hadamard, who is
Einstein's senior by 15 years. said:
"The theory of relativity was
known only to scientists at the
time the war broke out in 1914.
Two ideas of the world then stood
face to face. That which inspired
the Germans was expressed in the
manifesto of the ninety-three in-
tellectuals. which has remained
infamous from that day.
"But the human conscience re-
plied. A counter manifesto was
signed by Einstein and only two
others. By this gesture, the man
whom scientists already knew to
be great, showed himself no less
so in his humanity.
"There were scientists, even dis-
tinguished scientists, who believed
that his theory contradicted com-4
spoke a more violent language.
First. Einstein was a Jew. Then
he had chosen Swiss nationality as
f y°"^,^' ^or he had already dis-
hked the moral climate of Ger-
many That was enough to have
his theories called 'un-German'
Germany""*^^ ^'"^ unpopulär in
Position of Buridan's ass. which
was unable to decide upon any spe-
cific bündle of hay. This was ob-
viously due to the fact that my
intuition was not strong enough in
the field of mathematics in order
to differentiate clearly the funda-
mentally important. that which is
really basic. from the rest of the
more or less dispensable erudition.
"Beyond this. however. vc\y inter-
est in the knowledge of rature was
also unquahfiedly stronger; and it
was not clear to me as a studont
that the approach to a more pro-
found knowledge of the basic pnn-
ciples of physics is tied up with
the most precise mathematical
methods.
"This dawned upon me only
gradually after years of independ-
ent scientific work. True enough.
physics also was divided into sepa-
rate fields. each of which was ca-
pable of devouringa short lifetime
of work without having satisfied
the hunger for deeper knowledge.
The mass of the experientially
given and of the insufficiently re-
lated was overwhelming here also.
"Inthis field. however. I soon
learned to scent out that which
was able to lead to fundamentals
and to turn aside from everythinf,
eise, from the multitude of things
which clutter up the mind and di-
vert it from the essentials.
"The hitch in this was. of
course. the fact that one had to
cram all this stuff into one's mind
for the examinations, whether one
liked it or not. This coercion had
such a deterring effect (upon me)
that after I haa passod the final
examination. I found the considcr-
ation of any scientific problems
distasteful to me for an entire
year.
"In justice I must add. how-
ever. that in Switzerland we had
to suffer far less under such coer-
cion, which smothrrs evory truly
scientific impul.se. than is the rase
in many another locality. Thero
were altogether only two examina-
tions. Aside from these one could
just about do as one pleased."
This was especially the ca.se "if
one had a friend. as I did, who at-
tended the lectures regularly and
who worked over their contents
conscientiously." the excerpt con-
tinues, giving one freedom in the
choice of pursuits until a few
months before the examination. Dr.
Einstein then goes on to say:
"It is. in fact. nothing short of a
miracle that the modern methods
of instruction have not yet entirely
Strangled the holy curiosity of in-
quiry; for this delicate Httle plant
aside from Stimulation. stand>
mainly in noed of freedom. With-
out this it goes to wreck (.sie) and
ruin without fail."
Dr. Einstein wrote his autobiog-
raphy. the only one he has done. in
the Winter of 1916-47. He penned
it in longhand, beginning as fol-
low:
"Here I sit in order to write. at
the age of 67, something like my
own obituary."
Dr. Schilpp. author and Profes-
sor of Philosophy at Northwestern
Univ^rsity. now is translating the
manuscript from German. It will
be the seventh in the series. "The
! Library of Living Philo.sophers."
edited by Dr. Schilpp. It will in-!
clude the autobiography. critical
essays on Dr. Einstein's^ work and,
ieas, and his reply to the critics. j
.. .vc»rl(J
Citizen and one of the outslandirg
Spiritual leaders of his Reneration,
who has becomc a symboI of the
tinman spirit and its highest aapi-
rations.
ITnder the auspices of the Un'ted
Nations Educational. .Scientific and
Lultural Organization*, (UNESCO)
*'-'•'*'» of the V '" leading sci-
-1« ^f Dr.
Einstein as a scientist, as a man,
and as a world Citizen. These re-
views have been made available
to radio stations throughout the
World for broadcasts.
The threo contributors are: Prof.
Niels Bohr of Denmark. Nobel
Prize winner in physics. who ranks
next to Ein.stein in greatness as a
Hving physici.st; Prof. Arthur H.
Compton, Chancellor of Washing-
ton University, St. Louis, also a
Nobel laureate in physics. and
Prof. Jacques Hadamaid of France,
one of the groatest living niathe-
maticians and a founder niember
of the League foi- the Defense of
tho Rights of Man.
The second event in honor of
Einstein's seventicth birthday an-
niversary will be a Symposium on
the theory of relativity in contem-
porary scicnce to be held at Prince-
ton. N. J.. Saturday under the
auspices of Princeton University
and tho Institute for Advanced
Study, of which Dr. Einstein is the
most distinguished member. More
than 300 specially invited scientists
will attend the all-day Session,
part of which. it is hoped. Dr. Ein-
stein will be ablo to attend. While
he is expccted to be an interested
listener. it is not improbable that
he may add a word of comment
here and there.
Compton Ilails \p\v Horizons
In his Statement for UNESCO,
Chancellor Compton said:
"Einstein is great. not becausc
of any effect he may havc had on
our habits of lifo, but because he
has shown us our world in truer
perspective and has helped us to
understand a little moro clearlv
how we are related to the uhiverse
around us.
"Hc has made it possible for
man to see himself in his truer
proportions. His concept of light
quanta has helped us understand
the atoms that make up the world
of which we are a part. In his spe-
cial theory of relativity ho has
taught US that wo must think in
terms of objects that we see. not
in terms of some imagined frame-
work of Space.
"By his general theory of rela-
tivity he has unified our laws of
motion and our law of gravitation.
and has opened tho way for us to
Äoe with new claiity our universe.
finitc now in extont. but vaster far
than had been dreamed before his
thoughts stimulated the Imagina-
tion of the scientific world.
"Einstein continuos his studies.
He still hopes to bring all the
forces that physics knows, gravi-
tational. olectrical and nuclear.
into one unified formula. As yet
that goal is not achieved. but in
his progress toward that goal he
has grcatly expanded our hori-
zons."
Bohr Stresses Gifts to Manklnd
Professor Bohi- said:
"Through Albert Einstein's work
the horizon of mankind has been
immeasurably widened, at the
aanie limo as our world picture
has attained a unity and harm.ony
never dreamt of before. The back-
ground for such achievement was
created by preceding generations
of the world-wido community of
scienti.sts, and its füll consequences
will only be revealed to Coming
generations.
"The gifts of Einstein to human-
ity are in no way cojifined to the
»phere of science. Indeed, his re-
cognition of hitherto unheeded aa-
inlaiiKjus trom lliat day.
"But the human conscience re-
plied. A counter manifesto was
signed by Einstein and only two
othors. By this gesture, tho man
whom scientists already knew to
be great, showcd himself no less
so in his human ity.
"There were scientists, even dis-
tinguished scientists, who believed
that his theory contradicted com-
spoke a more violent language.
First, Einstein was a Jew. Then
he had chosen Swiss nationality as
a youth, for he had already dis-
liked the moral climate of Ger-
many. That was cnough to have
his theorics called 'un-German'
and to make him unpopulär in
Germany.
"At that very time (1919). his
theories were boing attacked in
France because their author was
called a German. And elsewhero.
so-called philosophical and political
attacks joined forces; relativity
was called 'Bolshevism in physics.'
"VVhen Einstein came to Paris
in 1922. at the invitation of the
College de France, we were afraid
that there might be demonstrations
against him by nationalist fanatics
— the very men who later in 1940
collaborated with the invaders of
our country. So we even kept his
address in Paris a secret.
"In addition to scientific discus-
I also had the pleasure of
intimate conversations and
contacts. in which I leained
to know Einstein in yet another
light: the almost disingenuous
youthfulness of his look and that
great simplicity which marked
even his deepest and most fruitful
ideas.
"To this pleasure was added that
of a common love of music. It
was a delight to have that gieat
scientist reveal himself in my home
as a first-class Violinist with a rare
musical gift and to .seo the pleasure
which he took in taking part in our
musical reunions."
and to turn aside from everythinf
eise, from the multitude of things
which clutter up the mind and di
vert it from the essentials.
"Tho hitch in this was, of
course, the fact that one had to
cram all this stuff into ono's mind
for the examinations, whether one
liked it or not. This coercion had
such a detorring effect (upon me)
I
ii
sions
more
other
ASSAILS EDÜCATION TODAY
Einstein Says * Mt Is Miracle'
Inquiry Is Not 'Strangled*
EVANSTON. Hl.. Mafch 12 t/P)~
Albert Einstein, one of the great
scholars of all time. has dipped a
probing pen into education. Sug-
gesting freedom for students to
study things that interest them.
he writes:
"It is nothing short of a miracle
that modern methods of instruc-
tion have not yet entirely strangled
the holy curiosity of inquiry."
Ho sets forth his views in an
autobiography that will form part
of a book. "Albert Einstein: Philos-
opher-Sciontist." The voiume. edit-
ed by Dr. Paul Arthur Schilpp, will
not be published before November,
but Dr. Einstein consentod to the
use of an excorpt on the eve of his
seventieth birthday anniversary
Monday.
Harking back to his teens. when
he was a Student at the Polytech-'
nie Academy in Zürich, Switzer-
land. he write.s:
"In Zürich. I had excellent teach-
ers, so that I really could have
gotten a sound mathematical edu-
cation. However. I worked most of
the time in the physical laboratory.
fascinated by the direct contact
with experience. The balance of the
time I used in tho main in Order
to study at home.
ReHult of Negleoting "Math"
"The fact that I neglected mathe-
matics to a certain extent had its
cause not merely in my stronger
interest in the natural sciences
than in mathematics. but also in
the following stränge experience.
"I saw that mathematics was
spht into numerous apecialties,
each of which could easily absorb
the .Short lifetime grantc'd to us.
Consequently I saw myself in the
V ••
- f*
Km
\ tr\r^
Aa" uci-
J
Dr. Einstein
(Continued from vage one)
was. nnd whon he smilcd she said
loudly in her naiive Gorman: "We
pre herp to spe Dr. Einstein!"
She flnally was convinced that Dr.
Einstein hked to wear slacks.
Fports Shirts and sv^-eaters.
Dr. Einstein presented his visi-
tnrs with a box of cliocolates and
riried fruit and summoned Chico.
liis terrier. to entertain them
further.
In a formal Statement he in-
dorsed the United Jewish Appeal
for $250.000.000 to empty the dis-
placed persons camps of Europe.
provide for migration of Jews to
Israel, assist re.settlement of Jew-
ish immisrants in the United
States and help in the reconstruc-
tion of Jewish communities re-
maining in Europe and North
Afrira.
"These children visitins me." he
Said, "are symtaolic of the ideal of
H revitalized Jewish people." Dr.
Einstein is honorary ehairman of
the Princeton eampaign for the
United Jewish Appeal.
The scientist plans to pa.ss his
birthday tomorrow quietly at his
home. but many of his coUea^ues
expeet to mark the day with suit-
able testimonials.
The American Committee of
Jewish Writejs. Ai'tists and Sci-
rntists. Inc.. wiiK frathcr at 80
Fifth Avenue tomyrow to send
him ' "«rat''' ory messace
testimonial of love. respect and ad-
miration which Rreets you today.
we are proud to ioin."
The United Nations Educational,
Scientific and Caltural Organiza-
tion eleased stat'^ments landing
Dr. Einstein by two Nobel Prize
winn?is — Dr. Arthur Compton and
Professor Niels Boh"-and öy Pro-
fessor Jacques Hadamard French
mathematician. Dr. Compton said
Dr. Einstein's theory of relativity
had led to the f\nding of the
"enormous energy associated with
atomic fission." Professor Bohr
said that throujzh Dr. Einstein'.s
work ' ou: world pictire has at-
tained a unity and harmony never
dreamt of before.' Professor Hada-
mard said Dr. Einstein had pro-
vided the world with "high moral
Vision" as well as scientific*genius.
A $15,000 prize award named
after Dr. Einstein has been estab-
lished by the trustees of the Lewis
and Rosa Strauss Memorial Funcf
to be presented every three year
to a scientist making an out
Standings contribution to th;
mathematical or physical sciences
Dr. J. Robert Oppenheimer. direc-
tor of the Institute for Advanced
Study, announced the establish-
Iment of the Einstein award today.
«•
V
V
3 C w \ \ (^
tSttl IRE
Ends at Easter
SIiiiii
• • • •
Voll will soe another pieture of Albert
Einstein in this issue on paffo <)(), which is a
"fornial" portrait })y ^ousiif Karsli, the
C(»l(0)rato(l photo^n-aplier, and which happily
(liscovers all the inforinal \ irtiies and simple
tTv'nius {){' the jjreat seientist. Mr. Karsli,
who once liad the tt^nerity to reniove Win-
ston Churcliiirs ci^ar froni his iiiouth and
thus eaii^ht the old hulldoji: at his niost
dojjf^ed, was hiniself snapptMl hy one of his
staft' niakirifr a ji:entle point with Kinstein.
A Karsli ])()rtrait, von will perceive, is not
only a path of iiisigfht to the eharacter and
life of the subjeet, it is also the reeord of the
])hotosrapher's diploinaey and skill in
arran^enicnt of the spirit as well as the per-
son of his snbj(M't. \Ve are hjippy to take Mr.
Karsh tnkinir Mr. KinsUMii. +ff
/
^ '^. *^ KJ i. \.»
jtute ror -<^^^s^^'^.;;^^^l^[^^Tk^:^
IfNTi'l-JNriMONAl. S1')JL)N13- VX\\
. t i
i
tC
y ( .
5
li l!!iiil5< 21 i lün^iii^i
I it I
%'
, .'.«
*.*:■, '^ 5!»
'Iiiilhi o|Mniiii: iind im' m-V rlm—
r.m-
+ j>-
^"U Wlil Srf ;ill(»!}|rr pMMllfr itf AIImTI
l"'.iM<i«iii in Mus is^iic <ni p.'iiTf !Mi. wliidi i< .-i
"t'"Ciii.-i!'" |Mtrlr;iit l»y N.*ii-»iir |\;ir-h tli»'
<•( lrl.|-nt<'(l |ilnti(»Lrr;i|»)irr. .-1 tili uludi }i.'i|>|>ily
«('i->('i)\ rr'< nll t lir i!ir(tcrii;il \ irt ins .-i ml siiiiplc
L'- 'IM IIS of ih« ;j-n>;ii -<'i«-iilist. Mr. K.'i'<li.
^\^|'> ^^\\<'i' li;i<l tlh- t< iiirr'ity 1o i-rnmxc \\ \\\-
^io'i < 'liiM'<'hiir^ ciLr.Mr tVoiii lii> iiiuiiili .ni<l
iliii^ (•.•iiiirli' tli«' nM hiiÜdoLT ;il In- nm^i
<l(»LrL;-f(|. \s;is flllfisrif sn.-|hln'«l hy diii' <>t' lll^
>\-a\\ ninkiiiLT :i ir«iitlr |M»iiii \\\\\\ l'^'n -ii'iii.
A l\;ir<li [>< tri '•;iil , yoii wiil (MrcciN f. \< n«»!
•'iily ;• |i:!:fi i<i' m^iLrlit In ihr chiir.'ictci- .-UMi
lil'f (»r 1 llr Sllhi<'''t . |1 I- ;il,>(» t hl' !•( ri.r«! of t ||c
('lict OL' r;i plif i-'s <1 1 (»l(Hii;n-\ ."i in! <kill in
n rr.-injjiiiM'iil nf llic spiril .'is wdl ;is tlir \n'V-
SOli ,.!' \\\< Slll.jcci. \\r j'rr 'n.-l| p\ In l.lkr Mt.
l\i!r>li hikli,'.: Mr. !-!in.-,(iii. itl-
/
1 I
tute for Advanced ■s'tudv-Poi''rhr?.''i/,""::^'"" rniv?r,,t.v-and
«icea »tuaj. P,of.,the Institute for Advanced Sti.rtv
anced Study.
rj
Dr. Albert Einstein at Seventv
nL:'::iü x: .uune - Acme
The nnlptl srientist. serenty today, phtyg host to a groiip of Kiirn-
ppan Hhplarcd children at bis honte in Princrton^ >, J, U hile
Chicn^ l)r, FAnstein'n trrrirr, enlertainn, Lronnrn .irnpnnps situ on
thc Professoren Inp, In hnckgronnd is WiHinm Rosenivaltl. national
chai»-fntm itf L'tiitcd i#«Mr^A .dppeaif tviio accunipanied the children
\ Lpcaal tc thc Herald Tribüne
PRINCETON, N. J., March 13.
— A proiip of European displaced
children, all recently arrived in
the Unitec States, paid a con-
gratulatory call today on Dr.
Albert Einstein, who celebrates
his seventieth birthday tomor-
row. One of the children. Eliza-
beth Keizck. is a cousin of Dr.
Einstein. The children, brought
to this country by the United
Service for New Americans,
were shepherded by William
Rosenwald, national chairman
of the United Jewi?-h Appeal.
They marched into the scien-
tist's house with Miss Kerzek,
who had never before seen her
famous cousin. leadin? the way,
She asked a man who was casu-
ally attireci in slacks, sports shirt
and sweater wherc Dr. i in
(Continucd on pagc 10, column l)
EINSTEIN TOßEHONORED
Scientists to Pay Tribute During
Convention at Princeton
\
SDPcial u> The Nkw York Times
PRINCETON, N. J.. March 18 -
Dr. Albert Einstein, who celebrated
his 70th birthday on Monday. will
be honored by .350 scientist.s con-
vening" at Princeton University
tomonow for a Symposium on "the
theory of relativity in cont^mpo-
rary srience."
PappTR at the morning: pe.s.<«ion
will he dplivered by Dr. .) Robert
j Oppenheimer. rijrertor of the Ir-ti-
Itutc for Advanced Study P/of.
Isidor I. Rabi, hrad of Columbia
University physics department,
and Dr. Eugene P. Wigner. Profes-
sor of mathematical physfcs at
Princeton Univensity.
Speakers during the afternoon
will be Prof. Howard P. Robertson
of the California Institute of Tech-
nology, Dr. Gerald M. Clemence of
the United State.s Naval Observa-
tory, and Prof. C. H. Hprmann
Weyl of the Institute for Advanced
Study.
Dr. Einstein, author of the Revo-
lutionary Concept of Tim<>, Spare,
Matter and Energy, is expected to
attend th^^- sessions. jointly spon-
sored by Princeton University and
the Institute for Advanced Study.
IZ [i
^
\
ß.wi(, ^ J
hdi
W'X'
\
';'1v^"^
^r
'7ltfT,lM-
)H 14. 1949.
13
Einstein, at 70, to 'Sit and Think'
Scientist to Forgo His Daily Walk— Visited by Girl
Cousin, 11, Recently a D. P. From Europe.
Einstein Gets Honorary Degree
Albort Einstein, woiid famous
scientist, colcbrated his seven-
tieth birthday today by rcmain-
ing at his sniall framo houso in
^Princeton, N. J., instead ol tak-
ing his usual three-quartor-mile
walk to his offico at the Institute
Jor Advanced Study. He rcmarked
that he intended to **sit and
think."
Bolicving typical bnahday cele-
brations only for children. the
gicat mathematician could
"think" of scvoral things--the
^childien who visited him yester-
■ (.iay Ol- his own complex theoiy of
lelativity. He might even play
• the violin. a pursuit his bushy
hair makos appiopriate. In any
case, he insicted, no interviewe.
110 Statements, no parties.
) The children who called yester-
day at the 112 Mercer stroet ad-
dress recently arrived in the
United States as displaccd per-
sons of Europe. They were led by
the sciontist's 11-yeai-old cousin.
Elizabeth Kerzek. who had never
Seen him bcfore. The youngsters
were with William Rosenwald,
national chairman of the United
Jewish Appeal. They were
brought to this eountry by the
United Service for New Amer-
icans.
In Informal Attire.
Elizabeth, who carried a pres-
ent of flowers, had evidently ex-
peeted a soniewhat diffcrent fig-
ure, but she was finally convinced
that the man in the tan sports
70 Today
A.s!">(i»*rd Press MiotO
MONOKAKV Ihxlor of PliHosopliy t!t't;n'«' frtini Hebrew l'nlver-
Khy of .lenisalem Is pres«Mited \n Vrat. Albert Hiiistoiii. 70, a(
Prineeton. N. .1.. by Dr. Israel S. Wechsler (left), pnsideiil ol
llie Anicricaii I ririuls of the Hebrrw l iiiversUy.
Afcisoclated Press Photo.
Prof. Albert Einstein.
Shirt, blue sweater and pair of
jslacks was her distinguished
cousin. She spoke to Einstein in
German and the scientist pre-
sented the group with a box of
; chocolates. He also brought out
his terrier, Chico, for their
amuscment.
Dave Boone Says:
Prof. Einstein was 70 years old yesterday. He's the world'«
greatest mathematician, but he picked a bad day for general
recognition. On the day before March 15 there must be millions
of Americans trying to prove they are faster with figures, if not
so reliable.
Dr. Einstein is famous for having brains. and nsing them. And
In this u orld of today he is one of the very few nien who is at all
conspieuous in that respect.
The more you lock around, study the bohavior and listen to the
words of poopje on all levels and in all positions of responsibility
at the moment, the more you realize what a novelty a man who
uscs his brain is.
I wonder how It feels to be like the professor, all alone In a
World of filibusters, Ultimatums, hatreds, ar^uiments, cockeyed
Speeches, stickups. wire tappings, pyramld contests, Jackpots and
qucstions like "what explorer discovered the Hudson River?"
''^ ■ * fclfl l>**rfj
"I ilon'l kiioK tchat wcapoiis >*ill
be usrri in World War IM. biit I
ran »p<*ak for the fonrtli HorM
war. Thr urapon u.»r<l nill be
rook^.
»»
ALHFKT EINSTEIN
IN EINSTEIN'S HOME, Laurenceand wife talk ^vitli preat malfirrnaliViati,
AN Im» is lifc ihctuIkt of ihr Institute for Advanced Studies at Priiicctfni, N.J.
"I «lon'l kiiow uluit H.';i|Miii« v*ill
Im- ii^rd in ^ orlW \\;ir IM. liiil I
ran ••iM-ak for ihf foiirlh \»orlH
Har. rin* ui'apon ii-«'«! mIII Im*
AI Hl IM i:i>STFI>
IN EINSTEIN'S HOME, lüiiirciicf arnl wilr l;ilk willi ^rcat niallirtnaliciaii,
\\\n) i^ lilr nuMiiliir <»( llic Institute for AdvanccMl Stinlirs al IViiicrtim, \.l.
THIi NEW YORK TIMF.S, SUNDAY, JANUARY 1. 1950.
MR. LOW'S NEW YEAR'S GREETING
Low, .Vnrld O.pyrlKht by nrr.n«cmout with The London Evf nlng Standai .1
.■A
ALBERT
EINSTEIN
Ol/V-.^!
1
profelTor Or. 5(l6erf einflfnn
[üqtc- deiner llcbevaeiiöung unb meiner (irfar^rung iiadj Qibi d
fomcn ^.i)^enfd)cn, bem bic ,'p a u p t b i [ t) u n g ^ w c r t e bei Diatlic
motif unsuganölid) irärcn. ^i foiift iiürmol gciftig^n ^dfiigfeiten
fnmi el tro{)l eine unjulänGlidK 9Uu uiD ü r jte l lun g unb ein
mcnig miögi^bilbeteei Äo mbi na tionöüc r in bgcn geben, ober
ctnc pria^ipicüc Uiifäliinfcit. matliematifdjen *J3roblemen folgen ju
fönnen, t)obc \d) nocl) nicmöl§ fcftgefteüt. 2ßenn in unfeten ©c^l-
tlDflcn fü biele i^erfager au [inbcn finb. fo liegt ba§ entu)cbet an ber
fal[d)en SluSmüI)! b€8 etoffeä ober an ber päbagDgifd)cn Unfäf)igfett
ber ^clircr. Gin Unterrid)t. ber nur bie wrfalftc 5otm, bic
e d) ab Ion e ber 5liaÜ]ematif Derir.ittelt unb bon bem Icbcnbtgcn
Önl]alt be§ nuitI)euiQti[d]cn S;enfen§ nid^tS al)nen lö^t, fülirt ben
jungen a}k'n|d]en 311 [d)iüer überiüinblirfjcn ^mmungen.^ (Srft in
Ipätercm '^tltcr l)nben mir bcfonntc 'imenfd)rn Qe\aqt, ba^ tlire fd)ein-
taxe niatf^ematifdie Salcntlofigtcit auf foId)C Cnemmunöen im
früf^en Ainbef-ulter 3urücf^ufiif]ren mar.
5ad)t Sebenönft?)e ift bic l).Qnbtfäd)ridie O^orbetung für ein
gdjulfad]. fonbctn ber ®eminn, bcn bie geiftigen ?5^ol)tg-
!eitcn öon ter bctreffcnben Hebung f)Qben. ^d) bin ber "iOiei-
nung, bau bie i^e]d)dftigung aud] nur mit bcn elementar jten ®runb-
gügcn ber 5:'ktficmatif eine (^rf)ulung für bie ^lQrt)eit
unb Souberfeit be§ 2enfen§ gibt, mie fein nntcre§ ^^ä]
jonft; bn§ mefcntlid) bilbcnbe Ü'tDment ift bie ^rfenntni^ ber mat^c-
mntifdjen tlti e t f) 0 b c.
^tr erfd)eint ein allgemein berbintltd)er i^urfu§ tu ben un«
teren Älaffen al§ unbebingt notroeubig. STber etiua bon ber
Unterfcfnnba ab fclTte eine Sdjeibung in matf)cmottfc^-
n a t u riü i j i e n f d) a f 1 1 i d) e unb p f) 1 1 0 l 0 g i f d) • f) i ft 0 -
r tfd)-iuriftif(^e 2?cgabungcn ftattfinben. 5^iel weniger 2Dcrt
ift meiner Ueber3eugung nad) auf bie f 0 g e n q n n t e 91 1 1 g e •
m e i n b i l b u n g a\% auf eine ber S3egabung§rid^tung
entf predienbe 3d}utung ju legen. ^<ifj nebenbei ben
on ber ^H^otlKmatif C^nterefrterlen au§ ben pf)ifolDgifd)-biftorifd)en
klaffen ouf H^rlangen ein fafultatiber Unterridjt au gc-
'^p^tiöfiren ift, erfd)e:nt mir felbftberftänblid^.
3 e i t u n 9 , fco» 0« *5 ,t*it «^DtCtfflclt, »itb, tDie bctcita
Oriinbtte Organ bet «»'»''f \„ W' ®n "e" be ©r.itjtec oon
ein ft ein, .f «''»^,3"^;^ «' „g^'barfcinfn «oBcgen Sricbttd)
übet ben ton.«f««n Äat^ol.,.6mue^^^ si^ ^
fieilec tn '^«''^ »""L^'^^^fatimtä MbeotU unb Crtenntni»-
IfS " nn ^bcf im i uVmeineu anettcnncnben Jiyiprediung
inbcit Fl* ^t« , l""^ ,r,„6 ' hl, öScbäubc unterer 3ßincii(l)aft
»ciAncnbcn 3aotte: „Sog Das ipcoauuc um" " .
::f ?Ä. A.:i Ars, ll "Jl«Ä
\
ber ©örtci in einem fiefiilon? . . . 0* Av k^. Ä.ff 9^p*
«Öi» itnnbl. 2Rar 2en, 3)1. ^tantf, aJloj »on 2aue, ilbolf
(&oIM<i)mibt, Crnft fecpmonn u. a. _
I
6atftd(ag.
5Don
[S'lQcfcbrucI bcttotcn.]
tp f a 1 1 e t Walthor NIthack-Stahn.
,m ift fd&mcr, bie 5Jlcnfd)en ju lieben, trenn inan fic
fenneu gelernt 1)0^ — fo lai \6) auf einem 2Öibniung§blatt
t>on ber ^-vanb beS berü^mteften lebcnben ^.pi)t)lifcr5, ber aud)
ein (Stf)ifet ift. S)iefcr nad)benflid)c (cprud), ber ttJic
ein 3cufaer flinot. finbct feinen unauslöfdjlidjcn btlbl)aften
^^uSbrucf in bem i^rujifiji-u^. Unter allen 2)en!malen, bie tü\x
!Dlcnfd)()eit unfcren t)ermeintlid)en ober mal)rcn 2öol)ltatern
neictjt, ift bie§ ha% fürd)terlid})te, aber aud) ba§ elirhrt)fte.
!Rid)t nur ein C%id}ef)ni8 (grauet 5)ür,^eit fteUt e§ bar, fonbcrn
\)a$> tl}piid>e ediidjal berer bie „il)r üoüe§ ^r^ ntd)t tvapr-
ten". äöenn bon iroeubeinem frembcn Cocftirn ein Uöeicn
Ijerniebcrfticge, un§ fenucn ^u lernen, fo braudite man ir)m
nur bie§ «ilb gu geiocn unb ^^u erfläfcn, unb bie nan,^c
Iraqöbic unserer !i^eben§aefd)id)te ioürbe il)m aufnel)cn. 3rrci-
lid) 'ipürbc biefer ffrembling nod) crftaunter fem, ^u l)ören,
bafj als ha^ l)üd)ftc Coebot ber ^enldil)cit flelte, fidi untcretn-
anber ju lieben — unb bafj eben jener an ben '^d)anbpial)l
öcfdilagenc bic§ öclcl)rt unb betätigt l)abe.
e§ mao einmal jcmanb im 3Rauid) be§ ©lücfeS in bct
(Stimmung fein, „53MUtonen ^u umfdiliuGcn", aber er mü&tc
fidi ba^ berbe 2Dürt f?riebrid)§ be§ ©rofeen QcfaUen laffen:
„(5r tennt bic ^affe noc^ niditl" ^ein SmeifeC ta^ biefe fid)
in ben un§ übcrjel)baren 3al)rtauicnben nid^t irefentlid) bcr-
änbert [)at; t>a^ man l)cute mit anberen 3}iitteln aU einftmal^,
aber au8 älinlidyen ^^emcgqrünbcn einen mieberfeljrcnben
ei)riftu^ totid)reien ober totiditoeigen ober — trasi [a bct
eigentlid)e <5inn bet Sltcuje^ftrafc wai — bem ©eläcf)tct l'tci»-
gcbcn ȟrbe.
<Bo crmädjfi immer n^tebet aus biefcm 3(nblid ancrtiefftet
^effimi§mu3, ber burd) unferc erlebniffc ber Uiiitn id)\\
Saläre „S[Öeltaefd)id)te'' n?af)rlid) nid^t Qeminbcrt''motben ift.
Acin Sßunbcr, ba{3 ntd)t nur 3:^co- unb 5lntl)ropojopl)en,
fonbcrn auc^ moberne ©eifter n^ie 9iifatba ^ud) lüicbct an-
fangen, an ben leufel 3u glauben, meil acmiffc 3)amonien
bc«s '931cnfd)cninnercn pfl)rfiolopifc^ faum fa&bar finb unb auf
mctapl)t)ftfc^c ^intetflrünbe l)inbeuten. 3:a6 e3 ttotj aüebem,
Jüenn aud) unfäglirf) fd)mcr, fo bod| nid)t unmötilid) ift, bic
^Jenfd)en ^u lieben, bemcift uns am l)eutipcn 3:anc ba<äfelbc
etl)abene Äcifpiel bc5 %uöfprud)e§: „Sie miffen nid)t, n)a§ fic
tun" . . ., ber auS bcrftcl)enber C^^üte bie 33o§l)eit al§ lot-
i)cit unb S3etblenbung au betrad)ten tmftanbe ift.
3)amit ift natürlid) nid)tS cntfd)uIoiöt, bcnn UJtt
gjlcnfdhcn fönnen unb follcnmiffen, traSmtt
tun. (^^ ift eiae^ ber I)äf>liü)ften Sd)aufpieie, Daf^ ftd) bic
cinselncn, bic etänbe, bie 2Öirtfd)aftöoruppen, bic ^arteten,
bie 'Milex — nod) baju foldhe, bie im 8d)atten be§ ^reuxcä
leben — acöenfcitig ibte ÜJliftetatr»- brmerfcn unb icber ficf)
\
, UU41 uuta
if bie man
«teren finb
t, m alä
l)aben tt)it
' n3of)lmci§-
»t (Suropa»
n man uu8
erpreßten
3t!crgerid)t§
^ber bicje
Dcit fül^ren,
i^ttdger t)in-
DaS bcutfd)C
lut gelitten,
met tidjtig.
urd) unferer
flefäl)rlid)cn
in unb oen
iluf^eä mife*
uns auf baS
xngcU. 2öcnn
n, jencö un-
c§ au§ bciu
^infl". ift C^c-
er !0lentd)cn-
ba^ eine QC-
.d)empfinbcnS
nung frcmbct
)ft f(l)meralic^
nt gcncn bic
Colfs^öenoffcn
»ol)r. ©eredit
leredit lüitb.
'Cutcn ^Öiöcn
jnen unb Coc-
V.
I
^c Duuti aufnimmt, uup muii m ^)cuc»i ijLUt5tii, ova uutii
t)erf4ulbctcn Unf)ei(a nac^ 8üuDenböcfcn iucf)t, auf bic man
ben gf^ud) cine§ flanken 3eita[tcr§ f)äuft. 2:ie lefetcreu finb
bann — menfd)li(f) fienug — tnicberum geneigt, fid) al§
aän^lid) fdiulblofe DJMrtt)rcr ai^ufelicn. ^tdierltd) l)aben irir
ä^eutfdie ba§ qutc ^e^t, uns öCH^n ^^c immer nodi mof)lroctö=
lid) auftcd)ter{)attcnc i'üqe bct ?lüeinfd)ulb au bec eutopa»
fatafttopi)e ;^u iDcfiren, gegen biefen i^aflftricf, in bcn man unö
l)in€ingelorft unb -gc?\mungen f)at, um ben crpref^tm
„Jrieben^oertrag" ol^ ta^ 8trafurtei( cinel 5}ölfcrgcrtd)t^
über t>a^^ fünbige bcutfdie 53ol( ,^u begrünbcn. ?lber btcfe
flttlid)c 93ermaE)rung barf uns XcntW "id)t fo mcit fül)ren,
uns — ujie eö leibet geid)ief)t — als feE)Uofe ßreu^trager l)iu-
Sufteücn. 66 tft 23la«pt)emte, unferc iTHcberlage M^ bcutfdie
C'DDlgatlia" ju nennen. 5^Bin, irtr I)abcn nid^t nur gelitten,
mit l)abcn aud) ge!)anbc(t, unb fcine^mcg«; immer riditig.
3öit ^aben in bcr 3?Drfxieg^jcit ;\um minbeftcn burdi unfcrer
i^ührer — unb baniit burd) eigene iSd)ulb — bcn gefä£)radicn
<^d]txn auf unl getaben, Unruf)egciftcr ^n fein unb oen
2[^erfud)en emeö veditlid)en 23ölfcr3ufammcnfd)luffeä mi^«
trauifc^ aus^utueidicn.
^n bicfcm ticfcrnftcn ©cbcnftagc foütcw mir un§ auf baS
befinncn, tra§ nod^ immer un§, mic aller 2Bclt, mangelt. ^Benn
jenc§ galfdinrteil. beffen Ergebnis ba^ ,^reu^ mar, jencö un-
gel)CueTlid)ftc ^ii^bcrftänbniS eine§ (^crid)t2^f)oiesi au§ bem
^JJiangel elementaren ®crcd)tigfeitdfinnc^ ()erbürginn: ift (^c*
red^ti'gfeit, ba^ gfunbamcnt bcr Staaten unb aller ^T)|enfd)cn*
gcmcinfd^aft, un§ F)eutc eigen? (5S mag (ein. baft eine ge-
ringere S^cibenfdKtftlidifeit unb bic b^abc beä 'iiladiempfinbenS
unjcr 5}olf ^n einer 8ad)lid)feit in ber ^ncrfennung frcmber
löorgängc bcfäl)igt, bic mir auf ber ©cgcnfeitc oft fdjmcrjlid)
ocrmiffen — cS mirb fogar bdiauptet, ba^ mir gegen bic
anbereu ju geredit feien — im 33erliältni8 bcr 2?olf^gcnoffcn
jucinanbcr uef)mcn mir Icibcr ba^ (Gegenteil mal)r. ©credit
(ein fann am önbc nur, mcr bem anbcrcn gercrfit mirb.
Hub bic§ micberum fc^t bic 5äl)igteit unb bcn guten 50ÖitIcn
t)orau§, fid) aud) in bie 9lötc unb «Sorgen, i5^*^ncn unb 05c.
banfcn, tn bie ©ciftcdmclt einer anbcr^ orientierten 53olf3-
flaffc l^ineinaubcrfcfeen. 2^€r nur all^u mal)rc 9lu§fprud) eineS
fo^tal berbicntcn iri)Colo()cn, ba'^ „m ^cutfditanb ^ei bcr-
^ditcbene 5}bl(cr leben, bic gcgenfcitig nidjt einmal il)it
{
Alic^t cuuttUt
Forced to flee Germany in 1933 be-
cause of nazi persecution of the Jews,
Albert Einstein came to America where
he could be free to perfect his theories
on the nature of the universe.
"As long as I have any choice," he
told friends at the Princeton University
Institute of Advanced Study, where he
had a lifetime professorship, "I will stay
only in a country where political liberty,
toleration, and equality of all Citizens be-
fore the law is the rule."
He gloried in the f reedom he shared
with his fellow Citizens and never hesi-
tated to Step into the political arena to
voice his beliefs, even though they might
prove to be controversial. He was pro-
foundly concerned with how the world
put to use the vast new knowledge he
had revealed.
Although the ideas worked out by
Einstein before his death in 1955 are
highly complex, it is not difficult to see
their immense importance to mankind.
With his "Theory of Relativity"
(1905), in which he demonstrated that
matter is simply **frozen" energy which
can be released under certain conditions,
he opened the door to the Atomic Age.
With his ''General Theory of Rela-
tivity" (1916), he gave to the scientific
World a new perspective of the structure
of the universe with time as the "fourth
dimension." For his work he was
awarded the Nobel Prize in physics.
With his "Unified Field Theory"
(1950) he attempted to combine in a
Single sequence of mathematical equa-
tions the physical laws governing both
electromagnetic force (the basis of light
and all radiant energy) and gravitation
(the mysterious force that guides the
movements of celestial bodies and all
material objects).
His theories have been landmarks
on the unfolding frontier of knowledge
about the universe in w^hich we live. In
the broadest sense, Einstein's goal was
to show that all forms of nature — stars,
planets, light, electricity, and possibly
even the tiny particles inside the atom —
obey the same universal laws. How
well he has succeeded time will teil.
Whatever the verdict, this quiet,
gentle man with the halo of white hair
will undoubtedly be marked by history
as one of the most imaginative and fear-
less intellects of our time.
1
28
GLI IDEATORI
< Uidea della bomba atomica
era stata suggerita aZ Presi-
dente Roosevelt dal famoso
Albert Einstein, e la siu» co-
struzione sboccö in un^impre-
8a di proporzioni colossali, II
dottor ^ Hobert CyppenfiSk:
mer, insigne fisico deiVUni-
versitä di California, aveva
rnesso in piedi a LoaAlamos
ü centro fondamentale del
processo produttivo. A lui,
piü che ad alcun altro, va i2
merito delVimpresa. » Neüa
foto : Einstein e Oppenheimer,
1
GLI IDEATORl
« L'idea della bomba atomica
era stata suggerita al Presi-
dente Rooftevelt dal famoso
Albert Einstein, e la sua co-
strusione sboccö in un'impre-
sa di proporzioni colossali. II
dottor J. Robert Oppenhei-
mer, insigne fisico d^lVUni-
versitä di California, aveva
tnefiso in piedi a Los Alamos
il centro fundamentale del
processo produttivo. A lui,
piü che ad alcun altro, va il
merito delVinipresa. » Nella
foto: Einstein e Oppenheimer.
I^?l
mx
\
CyM(L '^-(^
\l CJy\.h^My^
I
/
^ 'Ü?9
1
lUA^-x oJ,^
ciLui Yis/
An intimate glimpse of the
world's greatest living genius
as Seen through the eyes of his son,
and related here for the first time.
By BELA KORNITZER
In his study, witli tlw aiitlu>r.
Einstein — o biographiccl sketch:
Albert Kinstein. 71 yrars oM in Manli, is (»nr of
the least known ihoiij^h mnst widely accIaitiKMl meii
of our time. Kellow scieiitisis hail Www as haviii^
Started a "greater revolution of thoufiht" than
Coperniens. Galileo or Newton, hiit few claini to
nnderstaiid his reeent theory of how the univers«*
works, or even his nuieh older theory of relativity.
His nanie is a househohl word. a synonym for f^enins.
hut so rare are his puhlir a|>|M'araiiees that he is
niore often thon^ht of as sometliinf^ in a s«-lioolhook
than as a liviiig. hreathiiif» jx-rson— a man who has
l>een married, liad ehiMren. wnrried ahout money
and likes gnnidrops.
He was only 26 wlien he first exponnded his theo-
rie8 on the close (Corttimied «>m l'atii- 255)
HILIPI'E HAI-SMAN
"l live in that solitude which is painfui in youth hut delicious in maturily.
BY some riirious maj^ic which is rare
in this perit)d of hijih-powtTed pul-
lieitv, one (d the hest-kept secrets seems
U\ he the fact that Dr. Alhert Kinslein—
the Doctor Einstein— has a son livinji in
this rountry. A srientist iti his ()v^^ ri^ht,
he is Dr. Hans Alhert Kinslein. lorty-si\,
AsscM-iate Professor (d (j\il Kn^ineerin«:.
of thelJniversitV(d (lalifornia. And lliou«ih
he has heen leac hin«i here nearly ten
vears, I douhl ii ten out of a huiidred stu-
dents know that tlwir retirin^, pipe-smok-
ingDoetor Kinstein isthe son (dthe wfjrld's
retirinji. pipe-sniokiu^ Dortor Kinstein.
Not ihal Herkele\\s Doitor Einstein
d(»es not have trouhles as the son (da man
who is irnrnortal in his o\\n lifetinie. He
has had ernharrassing exp<'rienees uith
telephnne Operators, post-oHice clerks and
tralfie (dfieers. He has received a parking
ticket frorn an irale policernan kIio, suspi-
cious (d his name, refused to helicve hirn
am! wrole (»ut tln- ticket as a lesson t(» a
''uise f^uv. ' He has had people h»ok hiin
squarclv in the eye and say hlunlly, Irn-
possihle. Einstein has no son/' In addi-
tion, several times a week he has oocasion
to walk throujih the uin'versitN lihrary,
where a hust (d Dr. Alhert Kinstein Stands
hetween those of Danl«' and (]openu<'Us.
And w hen I askcd hiin to pose for a photo-
graph heside it, he agreed reluctanlly, hut
asked, ''Do you know what it is to have
your father a statue?"
I had conie t(» Dr. Hans Alhert Einstein
to get, if possihle, an intimate picture «d
one i>{ the ^TCcTtest — and most rem<»te —
li^un's (d'all lime, asseen throu«ih ihceyes
(d his son. He j^ranted me the first inter-
view he has ever »jiven ahout his widtdy
puhlicized hut litlle-known father. Hut
(»nlv hecause Ins father said he nii«;ht.
I ha<l w ritten lir>t, tellin«: hini that I was
W(>rking on a hook dealing with rn»tald<'
fathers an<l s<nis, and should like to have
an interview with him. He replied pnunptly,
"Since you would (d)viously want me to
speak ahout my father, I eould not possi-
hlv «iive such an interview without his
w ritten pernn*ssi(>n."
I imrnediatelv wrote to Doctor Einstein
at IVincctnti. I explained that I was an
exiled llunfiarian Journalist, a p(»liti<'al ref-
ugee, and that interview s with liini and his
son would he of inestimahle henefit to me,
hecause in Hunj^ary \ had written a hook
(d fathers and s<mis and hoped U) do a simi-
lar hook in this country.
In a few davs I received a c(»rdial notein-
viting nie to visit him at th«' modest, wocmI-
frame house on Mereer Street, Prineeton,
New Jersey, where he Uvea with his house«
kct'per, and his seeretary,Miss Helen Duka.-,
guardian of his appointment hooK and
zealous harrier against the outside world.
\V hen I pre^ented niyself for the inter-
view I was let in hy Miss D'jkas to a dark,
shaded room (Continued on Page 134)
<
— i*
I
J
I
LADIES- ITOME KtliRNAI,
I
"KIXXTKIX
1.0» >IY rATIIKII"
(Conlinunl fmm PtiRf 17)
relationships botwecn time and space. j^ravi-
talion and inert ia. niattor and enerKV. whicli
WL'R' cvenlually lo lead to li'k'vision. and ihc
alom bomb. Hc was livin^ then in Switzer-
land. wheri' bis falber had senl bim lo study
enKineerinji. a profession in wbich bis fallier
badn't been i^articularly successful. bul wbicli
be IIioukIU bis son should follow. Tbe boy
liad been lx)rn in Tim. (iermany. and brou^lil
up in Munich; his family was Jewisli. but the
diildren vvere educaled in Calbolic scliools.
VoiniK Kinslein's sch<H)hv()rk was only fair,
bis inleresl in si»rls and physical educalion
abnosl nonexistenl. and bad il not been for a
cbance «ib. bis cbildh(K)d miy,hl liave been
(juite melancboly. Bul when lie was 10. be
was y;iven a book on k'<^^)nietry wbicli was
not in Ihe scb(K)l pro^ram and likin^ il s<)
well, be meniorized il. and tben proceeded
lo study liiKber malbemalics and pliilosopby
on liis own. He esiK'cially liked tbe views of
Immanuel Kant and. as be lold a friend laier,
it was Ihrou^ii Kant 's pliilosopliy thal be
be^^an to (juestion tbe truth of «enerally lield
beliefs. Tliis. plus bis faitli in tbe exact accu-
racy of malbemalics. led iiini to work out bis
own original llii'ories.
Wlien he was 15. iiis father's en^ineerin^
business failed. and tbe family moved lo
Milan. Ilaly. S<H)n after. lie was senl lo
Zurieb lo study at llie Polylecbnic Institute;
in due course. iIioukIi somewbal tard^ly. be
uraduated froni il. bul not as an en^ineer.
and Starled job liuntin«. He liad a bard time
findin« anylliinu. and aller nearly slarvin^.
be Kot a rouline i^ost as a palenl examiner in
Ik'rn. Il was an easy job for bim. bowever,
and he liked it lar^ely Ix'cause he was able
to do in an bour or two vvlial il t(K)k other
employees all day. lo do. Tliis ^ave him plent y
of time to work on his private iheories. and
lo gel married. Tbe weddinii t(K)k place in
UK)3. and bis bride was a «irl be had met in
bis malh classes. a youn^ Serbian Calholic.
His lirsl son. Albert, was born in UKM.
The foHowinK year Einslein announced his
llieory on relativily. and from tben on iie was
sou^lil afler as a leacber and leclurer. In
190^) anolher son. li^uard. was born; in tbe
same year, he koI his brsl professorship at
tbe University of Pra^ue. ^
His marria^e was not ^oin^ well, bowever.
When Albert was ten llie family splil up;
tbe wifereturned toZuricb. wberelheirsecond
son still lives. S(X)n Einslein moved a^ain. to
Bi'rlin. where his fame bad now become so
great thal bis sludenls all complained they
C(juld nol ^el into his classes because of tbe
crowds of [x.'ople. Whal caused tbe Einsleins'
Separation is nol known. bul Ibin^s cannol
bave been easy for Ibe youn^ couple: Ein-
stein's salary. for inslance, wbile a ])r()fessor
at the University of Prajiue was only $60 a
montb. Vears laier. in 19*J1. when Einslein
received the Nobel prize for physics of $45,-
(XK). be Kave it all lo bis lirsl wife. By Ibis
time be was makin« $50(X) a year and he had
married a^ain -lo Elsa Einstein, bis lirsl
Cousin, witb whom he had ^rown up as a
child, and wbom be bad now met a^ain in
Berlin. She. like bimself. was a divorcee. and
bad two younji dau^blers. wbom Einslein
benceforward re^arded as bis own. fcllsa
Einstein died in Princeton, New Jersey,
where P^instein now lives. in 19H6. two years
afler tbe dealh of her younger dau^hler. Tbe
eider dau^bter, Margot, still lives in Prince-
ton.
Altbou^b he was German by birth, Ein-
stein let bis German citizensbip lapse and
t(X)k out Swiss papers when be was 21 . When
be went to Berlin, he was given bis citizen-
sbip back, bowever. as a special honor. But
wilh tbe advent of Hitler, be protested tbe
IxTseculion of tbe Jews, renounced his na-
live State, and exiled bimself to America
while tbe Nazis confiscated his bome. posses-
sions and bank deposits,
Here, he joined the Institute of Advanced
Study at Princeton. as professor of theoreli-
'"<jl pbysics. and seyen yea. s laier be became
.1
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•"" >o.
l)r)•^hn^; A MiltH for morninir. Htr«e<t. «ftcrnoon.
SprInK I ""■ hUort.H, fJ.Vh to 22. IM. Also iiiHterntty lorhPüi
Style. ,„„.^__.. ,,,^,,
(C^'Htinned fnmi l'a^c 17)
that si)<)ki' of nim'tccntii-cvntiiry Kuroix'. in privacy and hi- rcsents that bitterly.
The furniturc was heavy. solid. oUi-fash- Basically hc is a stron« Individualist and he
loncd. I KJanad up tluniKh I iiad hcard would like to be left alone." Ik' jiöuscd. 'I
no sound -and suddinly KinstcMii api)cartd don't Unow what I can teil you about hini.
at tlic lu'ad of the stairs. In that ul<><>"n' Hut ask what you wish to know. and I proni-
rooin. I had tiie eerie inipression of an appa- ise to answer your (juestions as best I can."
rilion a liKure in «ray. with a pak' face
framed in a lialoof wlüte hair. slowly lloatinu
down the slaiis toward nie. I renienilx-Ted
then lliat he always wore slipjK'rs.
What was it like, I sUirUd off. to ht the son
of such a jdfNous JathfT?
"ll niakes nie feel very proud, obviously.
but fre(iuently it creates most embarrassin^
'•('.ood day." he said. Iiis hand extended situations too. It has a tendency to make a
and alxjut liim the courtliness of the old- son completely U)se liis own identity. People
wodd EurojK^an. " I am so happy to see you." usually are surprised. at hrst. to learn who I
He six>ke in a soft voice. in (iernian. "Do sit am, and then I can aimost see iheir minds
do^vn." workinu as they make a (|uick mental coin-
lle indicated an (Ad unnuy easy chair. and parisonc^f meand my fatlier. i;nf()rtunately."
t<H)k another chair nearby. I le was wearin^ a lie said with a rueful smile. '* this isn't always
white Shirt ojK-n at tlie neck, over it a lar^e complimentary to the ixx>r son.
j^ray shaiKdess sweater. and a i>air of un
pressed uray trousers. He wore slipixTs but
no soc-ks. Ilis wiiite hair extended aimost to
Ins Shoulders. His brown eyes were tlie lärm-
est 1 have ever seen in a man. and surrounded
by networksof infinite wrinkles. His face was
(|uite pale
At introductions people sonietimes stare
at me as if tliey were l(K)kin^ at an oddily.
Then it is dülicult lo Ix' one's own seif and
talk naturally lo otliers. I must admit thai
in academic circles the name commands re-
spect. but it is always minuled with a curi-
IIVV |^«.«AV • --f- - - -
He diose a piix from a stand on a table osity that makes ix-ople scrutinize nie when
near his chair. and Ix-^^an lillink^ it with to
bacco from a canister on tlie table.
"It is a pleasure to meet you. Mr. Kor-
nitzer." he said. "Teil me sometinnu alxnit
HunKary. what you have done tiiere. and
they thmk I'm not hx^kinvi. One can't be too
comfortable in such circumstances."
Hoic (lo you thiuk your fatha Jeels about his
jamt ?
" Well, fatlier used to say ralher wryly. ' 1
what has taken place these last few years." offen feel amon^' crowds like a prost itute wh< >
\Ve talked a Ion« time. is under constant jxjlice surveillance.'"
Once he said, "Foruive me for askin« all Haie you ever hoped to htconie as famons as
these ciuestions. Hut it is necessiiry today for your father?
one to know evervthinK that hapix'ns -not "I never lliou^ht not even subcon-
only m Pnnceton and New York, but in sciously, I believe -that I would achieve the
London and Paris and Budaix'st." eminence my father has. Nor was it ever my
Kvidently my recital
alx)ut my work with the
I lun.narian Underground
pleased him. because w iieii
I linally and hesitantly
intnxiuced the sul)ject of
sjx'akinM, to his son alxnit
iiiin. he l(M)ked at me for
Till' Nilrill iiiuii i> oilni uorlli
li»<l(>iiiii(i to.
-JAPANESE PROVERB.
ambition to learn. let us
say, ballet dancin^ or
ti^htroiK* Walking or sur-
jiery. Father and I just
don't work in the same
lields.
"Quite seriously and
honest Iv. I don't con-
a moment with i^reatpatience. and then. with sider that it's particularly pleasant to Ix-
an aimost fatherly kmdness. said to me: world-famous."
"My dear Mr. Kornitzer. now do you Mrs. Kinstein. who was listenini; with
really think ix'ople would Ik- so interested in interest. broke in. "I remenilx-r once, in
readniK ix-rsonal informatum alxmt nie?" 1940, before we came to Ik'rkeley. when we
1 assured iiim that I a*rtainly believed were livinu in South Carolina, he came t<»
tliey would. He sh(K)k his head, as if to say visit u«, and we drove from (ireenville to
that there were some thin^s he would never Washington. D. C. How deli^hted he was
Ix" able to understand. and called to ins see- that no one seemed to recoRnize iiim in the
retary. Miss Dukas. To iier iie dictated a smaiier places and he was so iiappy - he
brief note. addressed to me. winch stated. stcjpix-dal each Howard Johnson onljie way.
" If my son is wiliin^ I iiave notlim« a^ainst liavinu ice-cream cones and ice-cream sodas.
your interviewinu him." and enjoyin^ liimself so much! Nobcxly rec-
o^nized iiim. It was wonderlul!"
11k siuned it. in ins tiny. i)recise hand- Was your father a disciftlinariau whtn you
writinu, and «ave it to me. He shullled to tiie u-ere small? Did he ever s/tafik you as a child/
d(H)r witii nie, movin^i slowly. Then iie e\- "He may liave but I d<)n't remember
tended ilis iiand to me a.uain. and smiled Ins liim iiflin^ a iiand lo ine. I'm sure I was
slow smile of amusement and doubt. " I iioix- anytliinK but a model youn^sler. You l now
my son will ix able to teil you what you wisii iie is an extremely patient man. He has told
to know." he said. nie since that those days. when I was particu-
larly iryinR. iie would always reflect tliat as a
Tiie junior Einsteins live in a small liilltop cliikl he a.ssuredly was no an^el, either. and
home in licrkeley. Theview from thewindows that my nau.uliliness was jusl comjx'nsation
is cxjjansive and maiinilicent. It overkxjks for his own wiien iie was my a^e.
all of San Francisco, and the slim symmetry ";\cluall\ . I understand tliat father was a
of tlie Ciolden (iate Bridue. set in the rieh very well-beiiaved ciiild. He was shy. lonely
blue of the harbor. makes a beautiful ^eo- and wiliidrawn from the world even then. He
metric desii^n far below. But the iiouse itsell
is humble to tlie p)int of actual severity
very much like his father's in Brinceton. for
that matter.
Dr. Hans Albert Einsteni is of medium
heiiiht. Willi dark eyes sparkhnu Ix-hind thick
was even considered back ward by his leach-
ers. He iias told nie llial his teachers reporled
to his fallier that he was nientally slow, un-
s(X'iable and 'adrifl forever in his foolish
dreams.'
"Once he told me that one of his teachers
blasses, llie same prominent forehead and nicknamed him 'Baier I^n.nweir -'Father
« im«erii<. (I'bUIok rtmileil in IiIhiii eiivrloi*^
CRAwrORD'S. /'«/>r /4 .729 Salt.. Hansa« City 6. M«.
prominent nose of his father. a (juick. Ilasli-
inK smile. and a way of holdinu Ins piix- tiial
is liiRlily reniiniscenl of the older man. I le is.
however. clean-siiaven. and hisliair is cul in
the usual fashion witii no siniilarily Ix-
tween il and the laller-day-Liszt effect of
his father's. His wife. Frieda, is Swiss and
bkmd.
Hans .MlxTt read my note, and sliot a
Bore.' An interestinn little fact. don't you
ihink?"
Lau you teil nie niore ahmt your father as
you remember him from your childhood?
"As I say, he was calm. kindly and always
i^entle. I don'l believe he sliowed any particu-
lar «nterest in my brotlier and me while we
were mere infam s. But, accordin« to motiier.
he was a fine baby-sitler Wiien she was busy
fjuizzical ulance at me. "Very well." he said. around tiie iiouse, fallier would put aside Ins
"I see papa aßrees. I don't know how you work and watch over us for hours. bouncinK
manaued to jx-rsuade him. because. you us on his knee. I remember he would teil us
know, the world doesn't ixTmil him to live (Coutinued on PaRt /.>v>)
\
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((.'imiitiHftl fnmi Pa^c i.it) "Substanlially. no. He Ihinks liberally on
stories— and he oflen played his violin in an this subject. As I said. he enjoys discussions
efforl to make us quiet. But I also recall niy and arKuments. He likes to convince his fel-
mother sayin^ that even the loudest baby-
cryin^ didn't seem to disturb falher. He
couid Ko on with his work cornpletely iniper-
vious to noise.
"As s(X)n as we out^rew babyh(K)d when
WC became what he called 'sociable per-
low man of the truth of his theories. But he
never ^oes so far as to threaten the personal
inte^rity of the individual.
"Tiiis was iiis approach to the menibers
üi his fannly too. He watched over our stud-
ies, after we had chosen our Meld, but he
sons'"he used to give useasy mathematical never sou^ht to inij^ose his will on us. His
method was to su^Kt^st. to reason with us—
and to allow us to decide.
I AM a civil en^ineer and work in sedi-
nientary research. It is the or^anic part of
soil conservalion. for which both father and
I foresee a ^reat future. But there is no real
Is your falher jiood-natureil? Nervons? Erer analo^y between it and father's work."
irritable? Did your jather have auythina, to do with
"(i(H)d-natured is the best description. your choice of a career, then?
Puzzles and help us try to solve them. He
seemed to ^et a ^reat enjoyment out of help-
inK US master theni.
"He used to lake us boatin^ it is still his
favorite pastime and for k)nK walks. He
never seemed to ^et bored with us as prob-
ably he should have."
Father likes people in K<-'neral when he's
treated as a human bein^. and he likes jokes.
He likes to lau^h and he likes to smile. I
remember him sayinK, 'The most beautiful
thinK in the world is a beamin^ face.' As for
irritability — no. Father is not a nervous man.
In fact, he is a very
"Yes. he did. I vvant to rejx'at that he
never tried to force his will on anyone. This
may Ix; because he remembered his own
youth. At the a^e of sixteen his father ur^ed
him to forKet his 'philosophical nonsense,'
and apply himself to the 'sensible trade'
of electrical engineer-
wnRins lAsnfST MANurAfiuRER or quahty B(Droom and oininc room furnituh
calm and deliberate
man."
Does he like conver-
sation? Or does he
uithdraw into silence
ivhen people are
around?
"Oh. no. Father
loves conversation ! I
argue with him fre-
quently, and he loves
it. He is in his ele-
mentthen. Hedoesn't
orate, but he is a ^ckkI
talker. He likes dis-
cussion better than
anything eise. And
he likes jx-'ople. He is
a social creature. I
have heard him say
he especially likes
to be surrounded by
young peoi)le. He
fmdstheyrefreshhim.
He doesn't particu-
larly relish the Com-
pany of people his
own age. I have heard
him say that he
doesn't like to be re-
minded of his age,
and that he is most
relaxed when younji
jxiople speak to him.
• ••••*•••
r
/e
lly Joun .\u«*<iur|
Tireless, the swiftly shifting sun
Scribbies romances in ihe shade,
Kath a sufiicient, single one
No matter how minutely made.
The jointed iizard on the rock
Succinct and undeciphcred
Stands,
A tiny semaphore to mock
Luve letters spelled with Ups and
hands.
The humming hieroglyphic wing,
A deiicate fury in the air,
Hums with the will to say and sing
And celebrate its scented lair.
And the sea's white-lashcd emerald
eye,
A faceted and iucent liar,
Winks at the mild and maiden sky
Cool riddles of marine desire.
• •••••
• •
in«.
"But in the mid
die 1930's. when I
was studying in
Switzerland and in
some doubt as to
whether I should
come to the United
States and take up
soil-conserva t ion
research. he did all \\(
could to persuade me.
I have his letter -
it's about the only
one I'vekept of his."
He jfot it for me.
''Lieber Albert r\i\^-
Kan. "/r// weiss dass
du einen harden Kopf
//fl.s7" -which. collo-
quially translated.
means. "I know th-'t
you are somewhat
muleheaded." "But I
am so convinceu that
you are on the brink
of committing an '.i-
revocably foolish
mistake that I aniK*»-
in^ to make one lasl
try. Soil conservalion
has a Kreat future in
this country (the U.
S.|. In the li«ht of
In the early days did he help in chores ahout present hardships, you can't throw thisaway
the house cookina, shoppin^i, dishwashin^. from you. In the end you'll find yourself Ix-
repairinfi? tween two chairs and the ll(K)r. and no one
"He was not tcx) good at any of these will care. If you stay in Europe you will lose
things. but he tried his best, as far as I can your citizenship. which is very important
remember." now. I^'sides. you'll get out of your profes-
Did he help you with your lessons? sion. and no one is indispensable. So think
•'Only when I asked him to." it over carefully a^^ain. Don't let temporai^y
Did he euer mention his professional work at difliculties make you k<> headfirst into the
home?
wall. With best wishes to you and all ol
yours. Papa."
" I took father's advice," Hans said. ' I've
not re^retted it."
Whatdo vou consider vour father's out stand-
"On, yes. While I was still quite young.
father would often enter the house saying
very happily. 'I have a new idea.' And then
he would explain it to all of us in terms nearly in^ characteristic?
all of US could understand. Of course it was "His stublx^rnness— the same 'mulehead-
only the principal axiom. stated very gener- edness' that he attribuled to me. By and
ally. But he was delighted when we under- large. I think it's a g(H)d trail. One of the
st(K>d. or seemed to. He was even more de- reasons for his success is his determination
lighted when we'd argue with him. And. of to stay and struggle with a problem until it's
course, I still do." solved. Vou mustn't forget that hisrelativity
Does that mean that you understand your theory.andalltheotherswhichhedevelopx'd.
fathefs theories? did not come to him in a blinding llash- as.
"Heavens. no. Frankly. I just don't pos- for example. Newton's law of gravity is sup-
sess that kind of mathematical knowledge. posed to have come to him when ai-. apple feil
Understanding them calls for years of sjx)- on his head. Many. many years of tnough
cialized study. And my specialization is quite and mental struggle lie behind father's thei»-
different." ries. And in that time. despite all kinds of
// has been said that only twelve persans in criticism and even heated attacks ujxm hiin
the World understand your father's theory of as a crack-brained scientist. father stood bis
relativity. Do you consider that to be true?
Dr. Hans Albert laughed. " I'm no author-
ity on that subject. but I can teil you that
when that Statement was once made to fa-
ground.
"Yes. his major trait detinitely is his stub-
bornness. the same virtue- or fault— that he
criticizes so sharply in me.**
Do you still ask your father's help in solving
ther. he literally snorted. 'Pure nonsense!'"
Did you r father direct you r studies when you you r Problems ?
ivere a youth? (ContinueJ on Page 139)
i
iE JOl RN M.
i:\o
. fCouiinucil front PaRt 1^6) in ßames— not cven chcss. wliich is playcd so
"Oh. ycs, cjuilo often. He answcrs con- oftcn by tliose vvho enjoy malhcmalics. The
scientiously and his views alx)ut the subject coinbinalions in chess seeni not to have ini-
in (lueslion are ^iven in «real detail." pressed hini, nor llie coinbinalions in card
I)i(l your father help von out Jiuancially m uames. To my knowled^e he has never had a
yoi4r eärh'eT years? deck of cards in his hands in his hfe."
**I received considerable ("inancial aid W hat ahout Sports?
from him when I came lo Ihe United States **He doesn't «o in for Ihem very much,
al his invitalion and expense in UKi7. In
fact. tlirouKh this assistance I was able to
estabhsh myself here
either tliat is. speclator six)rts. He's never,
to niy knowled^e. attended a liorse race, a
baseball or a f(K)tball ^anie. But he does
Diä your father help you by inlrodHcinn enjoy bein« oul of doors. He loves bc:)atin^;
and he's an experienced yachtsnian. He has a
saillx)at of liis own, you know. and you can
always find liim in tlie summertime pilotin^
it about the walers near Princeton.
riis favorile sport is. of course, walkin^.
He hkes hikes— not only for the exercise,
bul for the sense of freedom they j^ive liim,
But he hales to climb. You'd think Ihat with
his Swiss background lie'd enjoy mountain
chmbin^, but lie doesn't. Even the si^lit of
you personally, or sending letters of intro-
duction
I was unable to finish this question. Dr.
Hans Albert interrupted me. "üh, no. no!"
he Said, with ^reat eniphasis, wavin« his
pipe. " I have never asked him for any Ictter
of introduction. I have never in any vvay
wished to attempt to make use of his name
or his fame. That I would never do!"
How often does he ivrite to you?
" Whenever tliere is somethin^ to be said."
Your father is oft n descrihed as the typical mountains depresses liim they bear down
ahsent-mimled f)r fessor. Is he that? on him, he says. But wide-open plains, vast
*'Far from it. \Ve used to liear so many expansesof space— these delight his eye and
fantastic storics, but we have become used uplift his spirit. One of the reasons he enjoys
to them. They used to say he'd walk out with boatin^ is the wide vistas of water, the dis-
one black and one tan shoe. Nonsense. They tances he can see. And. when he walks. he
lalkof hisso-called eccentricities— his uncut likes to have a companion usually some
hair. his never wearin^ ties, his meetin.u dis- alert, intellectually slimulatinK youn^? per-
tinRuishedixTsonaliliesinapuU-oversweater. son to walk with him. Then. Walking and
ba^Ky trousers and slippers. But the simple lalkinR. walkin^ and developing a theme, he
trutli as to his dress is that he likes to be is really liappy."
comfortable. He wants notliin« to restrict or Ilas he any other hohbies?
restrain him. He dislikes anythin^ ti^ht "Well.of course, there is his violin. Father
about his neck, so he doesn't wear neckties. loves it. And make no mistake, he's not a
»
He llnds a loose sweater gives him physical
freedom and comforl. By ^^^^^^^^
the same loken, he likes ^^^^^^^
his hair as it is — free—
and as Nalure would have
it. He prefers not to be
re^imented into visitin^
[i barbershop.
"He is a jjolite jx-rson.
He cares for social life and
he enjoys it. But as to ap- ^^^^^^^
pearance. he thinks that ^^^^^^^
one should be perfectly
free to dress as one wishes, as simply, as un
ostentat iously and as comfortably as possi
novice
Tlir worsl hankriipl in llir
\M>rl<l is t li(> Miaii \s\\u lias
loHt his ciilliiisiasin. I.rl liiiii
los«' t'v«*r>lhinn v\sv liiit i'ii-
liiiiMiasiii aiid lic \s\\\ roiiir
lliroii^li a^aiii lo simti-ss.
— H. W. ARNOLD.
He has surprised many musicians
^^^ with his skill. He once säid
^^* that music was 'an inner
necessity' to him. As a
child, I remember father
would be in his study,
workinK over sonie Prob-
lem, and then. unexpect-
edly. the sound of his vio-.
lin. That was how he re-
^^^^^^^ laxed. instead of pacing
^^^^^m^ back and forth, or lying
down to rest."
Does he collect auything?
"You certainly wouldn't call father a col-
ble. When Pandil Nehru was here from India lector. He smokes pipes, you know— usually
he visited father in Princeton and father short pnes. He has a rather sizable assort-
greeted him in sweater and open sliirt and ment of them, but nothing to be called a
Slippers. He feit it was not necessary to
cliange his habits because he was to meet
sonieone. He likes slijipers because they are
more comfortable tlian shoes. But you can
bet that his slijipers matcli.
"Absent-niinded? No. F'ather is a precise
man. He dales his letters. He signs his name.
formal collect ion. He reads widely. but he
doesn't even collect lxx)ks. He has been
(|uoted as having said. ' I prefer thinking to
reading.' Tliat's not true. He says, 'I don't
care for a large library. but I read a great
deal. Not detective or ad venture stories. but
anything that interests me.' And what inter-
He does not fordet his umbrella and he does ests him usually beside science, is hislory,
not arrive on Tliursday for Wednesday's ap- biography. essays. He is lond of fme pictures,
ix)intment. Not fatlier. His desk, for ex-
aniple, is always clean. As a child I used to
play in his study, but I never reuiember
I)laying with his papers tliey were never
about. They were always liled away in his
desk. There was not hing in disarray.
"And speaking of professors in general —
absent-minded or not father is not en-
amored of the general academic type as such.
He says the pedantic type of mind has always
bored him.
but does not collect them. No. he is not a
collector and this goes for money too."
I asked Hans Albert if he had lieard about
the fantastic offers made to his father -such
as that of an automobile Company wliicli
offered him $2.^,(XX) and a luxurious sedan if
he would ix)se Ix'side it for Publicity pur-
IX)ses; of tiie fabulous Hollywood invitations
to play himself in Ulms.
"Yes," said Hans Albert. "Those offers
are tossed into the wastebasket. I think that
■ *'As for father's not knowing what he's despite father's comprehension of things
eating and or being as easily satisfied with most of us can't even begin to understand.
this as with that- that's bosh. As a matter of he is really bewildered by some of the every-
fact. he's something of a gourmet. Ile loves day things he runs across."
good food simple dislies. but well pre-
pared and he is cjuile conscious of the dif-
ference between g(X)d and indilTerently pre-
pared food.
And politics?
"In a general sense. father has no love
either for politics or ix)liticians. But he has
always been aware that jx^litics is a very im-
portant factor in life. It is because he feels
lo give you an idea of how keenly he deeply about democracy. for instance, that
feels about good food, he used lo say lo me, on occasion he has Iried to do what he could^
'You can measure the cultural level of a to induence events.
people by what they eat. The Germans, for " It was his anxiety for the fate of civiliza-
example, have the reputation of liaving a tion and the fear that Nazi barbarism would
very bad cuisine. Their taste and personality overrun the world that compelled father to
are clearly rellected in Biersuppe (beer soup) write that letter to President Roosevelt in
and Kartoffel Puffer (potato pancakes). The 1939.
latter would serve better a's glue than as a *'It was the one whichwent: *5k)merecent
substance to beeaten. Yet the Germans cling work by E. Permi and L. Szilard. which has
to the idea that both are food ! ' " been communicated to me in manuscript.
What about games? Does he play any? leads me to exp)ect that the dement, Ura-
"With the exception of the mathcmatical nium, may be turned into a new and impor-
puzzles I've mentioned, he has little inlerest (ContinueJ on Page 141)
}
(Contiuued from Page 13^)
tant source of energy in .the immediate
future. . , . A Single bomb of this type . . .
exploded in a port -. . . might very well destroy
the whole port, together with the surround-
ing territor)' . . .'
"The result.of course," Hans Albert con-
tinued, "was' Hiroshima and the crushing of
Japanese imperialism by the A-bomb.
"Bul by ordinary ix)litical Standards,
father might very well be called *unrealistic. ' "
What are your father's religious belief s?
"I think," said Hans Albert, "that if we
use the ritualistic and ordinary meaning of
the Word 'religion,' father isn't religious.
But if one spends many years as he has in
seeking the Solution to problems which will
benefit all mankind, that in itself is an abid-
ing faith of a sort.
"Hiller awakened in father a pride in
being Jewish. Father's Humanist ic thinking,
in tum, had a lot to do with awakening in
him an interest in Zionism. Father spent
years in aidinj; the Zionist movement, not
as a Zionist, but because father has always
been a chämpion of ihe downtrcxiden.
"Father doesn't go in for religious ritual,
buL in the intert^sl of Charit y I have seen him,
wearing the tradilional skullcap, play his
violin in a synagogue. Father is religious in
this way."
Hoiv do you think your father feels ahout the
State of the world today?
"As a man with strong Imagination and an
idealist," said Hans Albert, "he is by defini-
tion something of a dreamer. His conception
of the unity of peoples and world brother-
htK)d is often seemingly Utopian, but he is
not discouraged, even when he sees opposile
tendencies prevailing. To many persons he
may appear to be a very naive man. Since
father isn't an Opportunist, he unhesitatingly
Stands on the side he considers right, without
regard for the fact that it may not be populär
with the majority. Sometimes his views
prove not to have been correct, but he still
holds to them. saying, 'Well, that would
have been the right course to pursue, regard-
less of whether it would triumph or not.* One
of his favorile sayinj^s which expresses part
of his philosophy is, * There is one thing we
do know ; man is here for the sake of other
men.'"
Tjie interview was drawing to a close.
Were there any examples of Einstein's sense
of humor he'could cite?
"When father first came to the United
States in 1921 there was a series of elaborate
receptions for him.
" He was invited to the White House. He
was awarded an honorary degree al Prince-
ton. Nicholas Murray Buller, then Presi-
dent of Columbia University, called him
'the ruling monarch of the modern mind*
al the concluding banfjuet. Somebody asked
father what he thought of this very fancy
reception he had received.
"'It was nice.' said father. 'I now feel
exactly like a fanious baseball player.*
\
i.\i)ii:s' H(>>
"Then there is his Statement: 'Now that |
my theory of relalivity has been proved true,
Germany will claim me as a German and
France will claim me as a Citizen of the
world. Had the theory proved false. F'rance
would have said I was a Gemian scientist
and Gennany would have declared that I
was a Swiss Jew.* *'
I turned to Mrs. Frieda Einstein. " Do you
have anything to add?** I asked.
"All I can teil you,** she said, and she
chose her words, "is that Doctor Einstein
has been the sweetest, kindest, most under-
standing father-in-law any wonian would
want. I know nothing about him as a scien-
tist, e.xcept what I read. But as a human
being— as a father-in-law— he is a good and
wonderful man,**
Now eighteen-year-old Bernard came into
the rcK)m. He and his sister. Evalyn. nine.
are Einstein*s only grandchildren. Blond,
bespectacled. with sc^mething of his father*s
features, Bemard had just graduated from
Berkeley High Sch(x>l. He said that he. too,
had his diflficulties with the name Einstein.
"But it works two ways.*' he said. "I re-
member once arguing with a fellow on a
trolley about a math problem. The argument
got pretty heated until at last he almost
shouted, * Who do you think you are, any-
way, Einstein?* I answered Ves!* and
everyone on the trolley burst out laughing.
"Then there was my physics teacher.
When I first enrolled. he began reading the
list of names and then announced, *It looks
as if the class average is going to go up. We
have an Einstein in our midst.*
"The only catch about that is that it
didn*t go up particularly."
I asked Bernard what his classmates had
to say about his grandfather.
Said Bernard. " Well, he's a little t(X) deep
for them, frankly. They know he had some-
thing to do with the atom bomb, and that
he's put out some kmd of gravitation theory
which is supposed to be even more imix)rtant
than his relativity theory. but they're not
very sure what it's all about. Neither am I.
for that matter."
"Why don't you ask your grandfather
about it?"
Bemard Einstein grinned. "Pm goin" to
have my own troubles with my profs in Col-
lege," he said. "You don't see me taking on
any Einstein!"
As I left them I thought of what Ein-
stein had said of America when I had visited
him at Princeton.
We were in the small garden outside the
house. I asked him if he ever considered go-
ing back to Europe someday. or perhaps to
the new Israel.
Einstein smiled. "I have no intention of
leaving America." he said. "I have ixace
here.** And pointing to the green grass under
his feet, he added. "I will die here.*'
IHK KM>
u
NEW YOPK WORLD-TELEGRAM
Lord l Taylor
Award Given
To Dr. Einstein
Dr. Albert Einstein, world-
famous scientist. today received a
special award ai the 16th annual
Lord & Taylor Awards luncheon at
rlie Waldorf- Ast oria. Miss Dorothy
Shaver. President of Lord & Tay-
lor. Said that the special $1000
a\\ard was presented to Dr. Ein-
stein a.s "the greatest intellectual
adventurer of cur times."
The four regulär awards of
51000 each \wnt to Dr. William F.
Albrisht. chairman of the orien-
tal seminaiT of Johns Hopkins
Üniversity: Edward R. Murrow ol
the Columbia Broadcasting Sys-
tem: Dr. George S. Stevenson,
medical director of the National
Assn. for Mental Health, and Dr.
Theodore von Kaiman, chairman
of the NATO advisory group for
aeronautical research and develop-
ment.
Brain *Advpnturers.*
The awards are presented an-
nually to four persons who are
deemed "intellectual adventurers
whose preat contributions stem
from their creative and nononho-
dox approach to their fields of
endeavor."
Miss Shaver. in brief reman s
precedin? the awaid presentations.
eaid thai the achievements of the
wiryiers "hold meaning for the e n-
tire free world" and that it was
therefore gratifying that her audi-
cnce included guesis not only Xrom
all over the United States, but
from England, France. Italy, South
America and Japan.
She Said that. as usual. eminent
fiuthorities in many fields were
consulted before the aw.ards were
determined and that in this regard
"a remarkable thing happened."
Everyone Agrecs.
"Everyone we consulted.*' bm
fcaid. "whether the great thinkerti
of our universities, our loremost
Industrial leaders. members of the
Press, scientists or artists— all of,
them were in unanimous accord
that what the awards must convey
is the urgent need for men in all
fields to dare to think oripinally,
to dare to be non-conformists, tx)
dare to be intellectual adven-
turer.«!."
This year s award winners." Miss
Shaver said. "all dared to think in
new directions."
Dr. Einstein was unable to be
Miss Dorothy Shaver presents
I\Ir. Murrow and Dr. Stevenson.
awards to, from left, Dr. von Karman, Dr. Albright
*»^6to by PaUim)«
present to accept his award. but a
recordmg of his brief acceptance
remarks was played. Dr. Ein-
slein .vaid. "It gives me great
pleasuj'e, indeed, to see the ^tub-
bornness of an incorrigible non-
conformi.st warmly acclaimed."
/
i
Einsteins Fefd-Theo
vollendet
rie
!'> über di,
Mit einem Aufwand vom
M>ll,o,u.n Dollar ,sl in d.eseä T,^ ,'' '^"^ Au.mv„!<u„« d.-r 4,
Se« in New York e^nf^d x I ^Ir^^"^ ^'" ^^ä u^:7
ve<su.v geeründe. worden. d,e den n'tdi. iS'-« ''^ Alonr^r
"••n wird d".VT-'"'"" '^^l-
'-otopen auf i?, ''"•^^'adio.ikt.ve
^* iv.
df-n menschlivi;;; K,' '"'' '^'"'■■^
Iren-, Wt'o
bessere E.nTidu " '""" "'"^
^'l>en Vorgänge d,' ""i ''■^"^'"i-
P'o.es.se innerhalb 'd^s"'"'^"
Di. \\ ^^,
'Ä der
f'rhält Di*- u-""°!'^ ^^^^ Körpers
Körpers b, ^yn.,n,k
>"n«en.
des
AiJr eine Fraq^ (j,,,.,
^oi'ie meinte
^inheitlic-hte Feld-Th
«Einstein, der
sonst
seine ver-
nn Genensatz
k'.mn.en war: -J.ZJ^"} «.';-
Arboil iibc
'Ja. ich habe die
f^eJd-Theorie-
itheniü-
ovvcison, wel-
' ma tische
, ciiirin. h
►Schwierigkeit besteht
oraa^zufinden. ob dje o^..
(Fortsetzung auf Seite 2)
Dos
neueste Porfräf des 1
in ■• I h '
irfk
*imSii pi\B suoj:iD9id ;o «an^^dojc'
jur. JÄJQ innl iJjf ^pt't■iill iiOoo
a^^ard uas pieseiued to Dr. Ein-
ftein 85 'ihe gieatest iniellectual
adventurer of our umes. '
The four regulär a^^"'^«''^ of
IIOOO each t^thi to Dr. V, . .n F.
Albright, chairman of ihe orierj-
tal «mmaiT of Johns Hopkins
Vniversily: Edward R. Murrow ol
thc Columbia Broadcasting Sys-
tem: Dr. George S. SteA-enson.
medical direclor of the NationaJ
A5sn. lor Mental HeaJth. and Dr.
Theodore von Karman. chairman
cf the KATO advisory group for
aeronautical research anr» develop-
ment.
Brain •.\dvenlurers.*
The awards are presented an-
nually to lour persons who are
deemed "intellectual adventurers
whose preat contnbuuons Mem
Jrom their creative and nononho-
dox approach to their Jields of
endeavor."
M:ss Shaver. in brief remari >
precedmg the award presentations
fcaid iha: the achievements of thc
wiry^.ers ''hold meanmg lor the en-
tire Iree worid" and that Jt 'was
therefore gratifying that her audi-
ence included g uesis not only Irom •
all over thc United States, but !
from England, France. Italy. South j
America and Japan. |
She Said that. as usual. eminent i
fiuthonties in many lields vere'
consulted beloie the aw.a:ds were
determined and that in this regard
*'a remÄrkäble thmg happened."
E^eryone Airees.
"Everyone v^e consuited.** sh**'
Said, •"whether the greai thinkers
o! our unjversjties our joremos:
jndustrial ieaders. memoers of the
Press, scientists or artists — all of
them were in unanimous accord
that what the awards must convey
is the urgent need for men in all
fields tHD care to think originally.
to dare to be non-conlormists. to
dare to bc int-ellectual adven-
turcrs."
Thi5 year 5 award winners." Miss
Shaver said. **all dafred to think m
nea- directions."
Dr. Einstein was unable to bei
Tf^itffr
•'wtffi''7wriifn
Miss Dorothy Shaver presenls awards to, from left, Dr. von Karman, Dr. Albright
Mr. Murrow and Dr. Stevenson.
»»^f,1o bv Pi ii»T«w
pre.sent to accept bis award, but a
record.ng of his bnef acceptance
remarks was played. Dr. Ei
stein .'.aid. 'It gjves me great
pieasure. indeed. to see the .^tub-
bornne.ss of an incorr^^'^.lp non-
conformi^t warmly a ned."
a
ice /
n- /
'at /
ur
Einsteins Feld-Theorie
vollendet
Mit einem Aufwand von lü iil...,- h, a
Mulu,„on Dollar .s. in d.esenTa: ILT^ A'^v.rkuns der A,o,n-
-n New VO.U ein. n.a... r.V"- ^J^'f ^J:!^^- J^n-
een
n.^chr Fakulläl der Ye.sh.va Uni- das, dt S . "^ "^'"^'' «'^'■-^■•<.
versny gegründet worden. d,e den medizi fi^X^'^u? '*''' ^"""■■^ ^^'■
b-sere E,.,;:^, ^^^^^^ -- -e
s'lien Vorgäns-e d»-,- ,hJ^
P'o.es.se innerhalb de, kT''"
erhäU, D,e Wanderung dt, vT
t- uoer die Dvnamik rf»
Körpers bringen." ' °^'
Auf eine Frage über seine ver
einheit uhte Feld Tho„, •
fin.tein. der inp!'^ "''''"'''
-. ^sebr^^uf-esSrr,^,"
kommen war: -Ja. i,h habe ITe
Arb..,< über d,e Struktur der
oeendet^ E.S gibt einen mathema-
.v^f ^" Weg. u,„ ,u beweisen, wel-
che Gesetze mathematisch richti..
rcn H^'^^r, «'^''^'"''•g-n definie!
rcn die allgemeine (vereinheit-
iHhfe. Feldtheorie. Die mathe-
matische Schwierigkeit be.,teht
di-nn heraa<zulinden. ob die ge-
(Forlselziing auf Seile 2) !
»
Das neueste Porträt des
Gelehrten
Namen "AWjert Einstein College
or MedKine" führen wird. Da«
Coilege L<t die erste neue medjl
•^inische Lehranstalt, die seit 54
Jahren dem New Yorker Unter-
nchtswe.<en hinzugefügt worden
ist. und wird in dem Bau de^ 40
Millionen Dollar kostenden neuen
BroMx Munitipal Hospital Center
eingegliedert werden.
Anlasblich der Gründungsfeier-
lichkeüen gab Prof. Ein.nein ein
Intervjey über den gegenwärti-
gen Stand seiner Wissens^ huft-
iKhen Arbeh Danach hat der Ge-
lehrte sein Werk über die math^-
matisrhe Struktur der Gleichun-
gen für seine vereinheitlicht^'
Feldlheone beendet, aber noch
keinen physikalischen Bewei- da-
für gefunden. Mit der genannten
Theorie versucht Einstein ein Ka-
turgeset/ festzustellen, das die
Phanofnenc Schwerkraft. Mn^tie-
ti&mus und Elektrizität zusarn-
menfassl. Ki «laubt. dass ein soJ.
ches Gesetz alJe phybikali.nhen
Erscheinungen des Universums
vom Mikrokosmos des AtoiiK bis
zum Makrokosmos der Mih h- '
Strasse und zum uneridlu h,:.»! '
Ri*urn erklärt.
Aul einf rjHf^t^ des Ber« bf-
eistattPr< der Harald Tribun«
■^\^^
EINSTEIN AND S^^IBOL
Albert Einstein (1879-1955),
eminent theoretical physicist
whose deductions led to wide
scientific Knowledge of atomic
lenergy. will be honored by the
' State of Israel in Jamiary with
' a 350 pruta stamp. according to
iword reaching Gimbels Stamp
Department.
Inscribed near his portrait m
the Vignette is his formula ex-
pressing the theory of relativity:
Er=MC», namely, energy equals
mass multipied by the Square of
the Speed of Ught.
In Memoriam Josef Scharl
Von Albert Einstein
Der Gelehrte war ein persön-
licher Freund des kürzlich in New
Yark gestorbenen Kunstlern und hat
ihm mehrmal« für Portrat» geseuen.
Nur durch wenige Jahre hatte
ich das Glück, diesen warmherzi-
gen und bedeutenden Menschen
persönhch zu kennen. Aber diese
wenigen Jahre genügten, eine
feste, innige und beglückende
Freundschaft zu begründen. Al-
les an ihm war echt, ursprünglich
und unverdorben. Er sah durch
die Tragik und durch die Ab-
gründe dieser Menschenwelt. Er
litt darunter so stark wie selten
einer, aber nichts vermochte ihn
für die Dauer niederzudrücken —
sem sonniger Humor und seine
starke Einfühlung in den Adern
Hess keine Mutlosigkeit, keine
lähmende Resignation in ihm auf-
kommen. Vom Schicksal hart an-
gefasst. war er mit seiner inneren
Stärke stets der Gebende, der
Halt für schwächere Naturen.
Nie war er einem schwäch-
lichen Kompromiss zugänglich,
weder als Künstler noch als
Mensch; es wäre ihm unmöglich
gewesen, sich durch solche Opfer
an Ehrlichkeit das äussere Dasein
leichter zu gestalten. Als gebore-
ner grosser Künstler folgte er nur
der inneren Stimme, die ihn
unentwegt den sicheren Weg
zu steigender Meisterschaft und
Reife finden liess. Die Mode-
Torheiten auf dem Kunstgebiete
konnten ihm nichts anhaben, ob-
wohl er keineswegs durch über-
kommene Formen und Vorurteile
gebunden war. Er suchte und
fand die sichere Wiedergabe sei-
nes persönlichen künstlerischen
Erlebens. Dies Streben war seine
Leidenschaft, die ihm die höchste
Kraft des Schaffens auch durch
die Zeiten schweren körperlichen
Leidens bis zum plötzlichen Ende
bewahrte. I
Nun schlug die plötzliche Ab-
schiedsstunde mitten aus frucht-
barem Schaffen heraus. Es ist
das Ende derer, die wir als der
Götter Lieblinge empfinden.
Wir überlebenden Freunde wer-
den seiner in Liebe und Ver-
ehrung gedenken, solange wir at-
men. Das Häuflein derer, die die
Kunst wirklich lieben und ver-
stehen, wird in steigendem Masse
zu schätzen wissen, was er der
Welt gegeben hat.
*-
Vrnu
27
L +
Max Brods Werke erscheinen
künftig im Verlag F. A. Herbig
in West-Berlin, und in Kürze
werden schon Neuauflagen der
Romane "Tycho Brahes Weg zu
SINSTEIN AWARÜ MEDAI
El
TOZWSClENTlS'ß
Schwinger of Harvard and
GoedelofPrinceton Institute
First to Win the Award
THEY WILL SHARE $15,000
The
Roben
Julian
(ioedel
Both Eminent Mathematicians,
Their Fields, Respectively,
Are Physics and Logic
work desijjned by Gilroy
s that >*ill po to Prof.
Schwinper and Prof. Kurt
Camria Afcfiociat« in-
Bv WILLL\M L. LAURENCE
fhc first Albert Einstein Award
[or achievement m the natural
sciences. reported as the highest
award of its kind in the United
States, has been won by Prof.
Julian Schwinger, mathematical
phvsicist, of Harvard University,
and Prof. Kurt Goedel. mathemati-
cal logician. a colleague of Dr. Ein-
stein at the Institute of Advanced
Studv. Princeton, N. J.
The awards, made by a com-
mittee of distinguished scientists
hcadcd by Dr. Einstein, were an-
nounced yesterday by Lewis L^
Strauss. President of the board of
trustees of the Institute for Ad-
vanced Study, who served as a
rear admiial in the Navy durmg
World War H and later as one of
the original members of the Atomic
Energy Commission. Mr. Strauss
established the award in memory
of his parents. the late Lewis and
Rosa Strauss of Richmond, Va.
Formal presentation of the
award will take place at Princeton
on Wednesday. Dr. Einstein'i sev-
enty-second birthday.
Winners to Dlvlde $15,0(K)
The winners will dividc a $15.000
cash pnze and will receive medals
bearing the likeness of Dr. Ein-
istein. designed by Gilroy Roberts,
Thiladelphia stulptor and engraver.
In additton to Dr. Einstein, who
is honorary chairman. the commit-
i tee making the award consists of
jDr. J. Robert Oppenheimer. direo-
nor of the Institute for Advanced
J; Studv; Dr John von Neumann and
flDr. Hermann Weyl. two of the
^world's outstanding mathemati-
Jcians, both members of the insti-
fitute.
(Professor Schwinger, who was
33 years old on Feb. 12. is regard-
: ed * among American theoretical
physicists as the heir-apparent to
the mantle of Dr. Einstein. During
World War II. whilc serving at the
radiation laboratory of the Massa-
ilchusetts Institute of Technology,
where war-time radar was devel-
oped. he discovcred new methods
for the treatment of electromag-
netic waves.
This formed the basis for murh
theoretical and practical work with
microwaves, which, according to
the award committee. '*had great
'vil and military significa:ic-
'•lia most reccnt worlT^r«-'
m of iight and matter -..
propcrticB of electrons and lighi.
both basic to the understanding of
the force« making the matenal
universe tick
Professor Schwinger's work ü
,said to have piovided physicists
with *'a powerful new niathemati-
' cal compass to guide them through
the dark jungle.s of the miclei of
atoms. promising to lead them to
hithorto lorbiddrn domains of
knowledge concrrning the inner-
most workings of the matenal um-
vei'se ''
When he was stilfin hi« early
twenties he was credit ed with hav-
ing "contrihuted many important
suggestions about the .«»tnicture of
atomic nuclei and about many de-
cisive experimental studies of nuc-
lear interactions."
Dr. GoedePs .\ihie\»'nicnt«
Dr Goedel's work in mathemati-
cal logic is regarded. according to
the award committee. "as orie of
the groatest contributions to the
sciences in reccnt timcs."
Born in Ernenn. Czerlioslovakia,
on Apnl 28. 1906. and in the Unit-
ed States sincc 1938. Professor
Goedel came to the attention of
srientists toward the end of the
1920's when a number of outstand-
ing mathematicians were working
on the Problem of simplif^ing and
understanding the foundations of
logic
i Of* him. Dr. Oswald Veblen of
ithe Institute, who is a noted
mathematician said:
"Dr. Goedel's first great contn-
bution was to realize that there
are. in a properly codified mathe-
matical svstem— such as. for ex-
ample. ordinary arithmetic —
propositions which can neither be
proved nor disproved."
Sincc this initial achievement.
Dr Veblen said. Dr. G©edel has
gone on with a "very broad study
of logic in all its aspects. and m
particular has displayed great
power in determining. so to speak.
what can and what cannot be
dorie." ^ * ui «#
"Perhaps the mo.«*t notanie or
these achievements." Dr. Veblen
'added, "was the proof. which he
imade .something over ten years
ago. that two of the axioms whuh
Ihave been generally used by mathe-
Imaticians. although frequently
doubted by the more sophisticated
— namelv. the 'axiom of choice anci
the 'Cantor continuum h>TO^^^*^''^
—are consistent with the other
axioms of set theory if^ these
axioms are also consistent.
Dr Goedel also has delved ' very
deeplv" into the history of logical
and scientific ideas. He is regarded
as a leading authority on Leibniz,
and has shou^ that it was part oi
the great German philosopher-
mathematician's program for sci-
enre to work out a symbolic logio
Kbased on pure mathematical con-
cepts) of the sort that is only now
Ibeing dev^loped. 235 years after
Leibniz's death.
Dr Schwinger leceived nis A. b.
and Ph D. degrees at Columbia
University and has been Professor
of Phvsics since 1947. one of the
voungest to achieve the rank
Professor at Harvard in it'
year history.
Dr. Goedel receivH ni;* F
the University of Vlenna
and taught there from 193
THURSDAY, MARCH 15, 1951.
Slre New ü
BIRTHDAYHONORS
At Fete on 72cl Anniversary
He Presents Science Awards
to Schwinger and Goedel
THEIR ATTAINMENTS CITED
Famous Physicist Exchanges
Usual Slacks and Sweater
for More Formal Attire
By
AT CEREMONIES MARKING EINSTEIN MEDAL AWARD
WILLIAM L. LAURENCE
Special to THf Nrw York Times.
PRINCETON, N. J.. March 14—
Nobel Prize winnors and other re-
novvned figures in physics and
mathematics attondcd an exlraor-
riinary luncheon galhering here
today.
Thr orcasion. at the Princoton
Inn. was the flward of the first
Albert Einstein R:old medal and
Slä.OOO piize In Prof. Julian
Schwinger of Hai-vard and Prof.
Kurt Goodpl of the Institute for
Advanced Studv for their opoch-
makin^ rontributions to niiclear
physics and niatlioniatical logic. It
also was Profoi?.sor Einstein'.s sev-
entv-srcond birthday. Professor
Einstein, making: one of his rare
public appearanros in roccnt tinips.
niade the pie.sentation to the|
winnprs.
With his ii.siial simplicity. hr
rose and handcd thp medal and the
check to Dr. Schwinj^ei-. Whon he
tuined to Dr. Goodol. a close per-
sonal friend and rollcns:iip at the
Institute here, he boanicd broadly.
"You don't nccd it!" he said with
n chuckle as he presented the gold
medal and a check for $7.500. The
audience joined in the laup^hter.
Host at the luncheon was Lewis
L. Strauss of New York. Presi-
dent of the boRrd of triistees of
the Institute, who establishcd the
medal and award in mrmory of his
parents. the latp Lewis and Ro.sa
Strauss of Richniond. Va. Mr.
Strauss served as rear admiral in
the Navy in World War II and
later aa one of the original mcm-
bers of the Atomic Enerpy Com-
mipsion.
Kinstoln's MUenoss on Modal |
The modal bears an engiavod
likeness of Dr. Einstein, designod
from life by Gilroy Roberts. Phila-
delphia sculptor and engraver.
Aa Mr. Strauss congratulated
Dr. Einstein, the audience stood
and applauded. Dr. Einstein, who.
had changrd from his usual slacks
and swoater to more formal
clothes. beanied. He usually passes
lis birthday at home with a few
riends, and never, as far as is
' ha.s appr»ared at a public.
I)r Albert Ein«.tein, who ohserved his .seventy-.^econd birthday yeslerday, presentinj? the fir.«.t Albert
Kin.lein Award for aehievement in the natural sciences (o Prof. Kurt Goedel at the Princeton Inn.
].(M>kinK on are Prof. .lulian .Schwinger, right, who was also honored. and I.ewis L. Straus.H. pre.sidenl of
Ihe Board of Trust ees of the Institute for Advanced Study.
pgwWWWWW*^*^^^**""'^*'"*''
y
u
/vj"4
xJ^M'^ii
7^
i
,'{\i <.\ ^*>
{^, l\Sj
isll 'u
l^.
">'
^f'lp.'
S'
{uasjjd «ABpadisaX i(epm.i|q piiojds-
aavAvv ivaaw NiaiSNia ONm?r
81 ^m ^te
.. .uivftnced Study: Dr. J'^^'^"
sVumann and Dr. Herimnn Wey^
iwo of the world's outstanding
mathematicians and taolh members
of the Institute. 1
Dr Oppenheimer descnbed bner-.
Iv the work of Dr. Schwinger J
whilo Dr. von Nevimann jjave a
resume of the accomplishmcnts of
Dr. Goedel. J
Dr Schwinger, said Dr. Oppen-
heimer. hinipolf a l«^ador in nucleMr
phvsics. "was the first to have in-
sijrht mto the deeper reasoufl why
atomic nuclri are not little rouna
spheros. but ßcnerally have an
asvmetric shape."
■•'He was the first to pomt out
Ihat vahiable infoimation about
miclear interactions conld be ob-
tainod from expenments in vvhich
more than one nucleus affected the,
pratterinff of neutrons," said Dr.
Oppenheimer. "He developed new •
and immenselv powerful mcthods
for the treatment of electroma^-
netic waves. which have formed
the ba^is for mnch of the practica!
work with microwaves. of such
great civil and military signifi-
cance. * ^ . ^..^^
"But perhaps his greatest woiK,
as well as the most recent has
been to give us a new understand-
Ing of that old and deep problem
of the mteraction of Hght and mat-
ter to sweep away the confusions
and inhibitions of more than two
decades of physics. and to give us
new and correct insight mto the
properties of electrons and of lignt
themselves."
A ♦Monumental Achievement"
"Dr. von Neumann said "Kurt i»
Goodel's achievement in modern
logic is Singular and monumental
- "indeed it is more than a momi-
ment it is a landmark which will
remain visible far in space and
"Whether anvthing comparable
to it has occurred m the logic ofi
modern times may be debated." Dr. |
von Noumann declared. "In anyl
case the conceivable proxima are _
verv verv few. The subject of
logic has certainly completoly
VCeC changed its nature and possibilities
ȧ with Goedel's achievement.
"Goedel was the first man toi
i demonstrate that certain mathe-
matical theorems can neither bo
proved nor disproved with the ac-
cepted, rigorous methods of math-
ematics. In other words. he dem-,
onstrated the existence of unde-|
cidable mathematical proposition.s.
He proved. furthermore. that n
verv important specific proposition
belonged to this class of undecid-
ablo Problems— the question as to
w^hether mathematics is free Ol
•p» inner contradictions. 1 .
"The result is remarkable in it.s,
nnasi-paradoxical '.self-deniar : It
vill never be possible to acquire
with mathematical means the cer-
tainty that mathematics does not
contain contradictions. It must be ,
emphasized that the important
point is that this is not a philo-
: ,ophical pnnciple or a P^ausiblr
intellectual attitude. but the result
of rigorous mathematical proof ot
an rxtremelv sophisticated kind.
The Nobel Prize winners pre.'^-
•nt in addition to Dr. Einstein,
worp Prof I. I. Rabi of Columbin
llniversity, with Mrs. Rabi and
«.^•l Prof. Hideki Yukawa, also of Col-
• J J| umbia, with Mrs. Yukawa.
•IS6I 'SI HDHVK TT-
X
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 14, 1951.
linstein, 72 Today, Alters Routine
To Present Award Named for Hirn
)
Dr. Albert Einstein, who will observe bis seventy-second birth-
day, as he appeared last week at Princelon University. Richards
Special to The
PRINCETON. N J., March 13
i — Dr. Albert Einslein. World re-
nowned mathematician and physi-
cist. will forego liis usual morning
walk to the Institute for Advanced
Study tomorrow in fa\ or of a cele-
bration honoiing' him on Ins seven-
ty-second birthda\ .
Dr. Einstein, who will be break-
ing bis ctistom of observing birth-
days quietly for the first tinie in
several years, will make an appear-
ance before a distinguished audi
New York Times
ence at the Princeton Tnn. He will
present the Albert Einstein Award
:in natural science to Prof. Julian
Schwinger of Hai'vard and Prof.
:Goedel of the Institute for Ad-
Ivanced Study.
Otherv\ise. arcording: to Miss
^Helene Dukas. Dr. Einstein's per-
;sonal secretary, the gray-haired
scientist will follow his normal
jroutine with no special observance
of the occasion planned by his
ifaniily or close friends.
1
cein Concedes Even He Can Err
rs as Expert in
/sicist Friend's
Patent Suit
Ibetw Einstein left the qulet of
i Princeton Office yesterday tt»
jstify for two hours as an expert.
witness in a patent infringement
suit involving a highly technical
medical camera.
Sitting lelaxed in the witness
chair before Federal Judge Sylves-
ter Ryan, the white-haired 73-year-
old physicist, wearing a salt and
pepper three-quarter length tweed
jacket and gray trousers, smiling-
ly admitted, '1 may have made a
mistake." He was «uggesting a
modification in his anawer to a
pre-trial deposition question.
Almost inaudibly, Professor Ein-
istein gave an involved discourse
on the minute workings of the
camera. Turning to Judge Ryan
with a trace of a smile, Professor
Einstein asked: "Is that not so?'*
Judge Ryan grinned and said:
"The court Stands on its preroga-
tive not to answer — not even a
Professor Einstein."
The suit was brought by Dr.
Gustav Bucky, 72-year-old physi-
cist and friend of Professor Ein-
stein for thirtj^-five years. The
defendants -are-Carl J. Sebo of 225
West 106th Street and the Coreco
Research Corporation of 1908
Broadway.
Dr. Bucky said that between
April, 1941, and 1947 he received
^a patent for a ".self-focusing il-
luminating device for Photographie
Cameras" and for an "automatical-
' ly focused and illuminated camera."
With theae devices he perfected
Associated £u's»
Dr. Albert EinHtein loavinR court in an automobile
the Coreco-Bucky camera. designed Paul Kolisch said that Dr. Bucky
for physicians unfanuliar withihad ^renscd the Coreco corpora-J
pl.otograpliic equipnient. The de-jtion toNüanufacture the camera |
vices were said to set the dislan{'<\s|atW<Teeetve(t.>,.S25,000 in i'oyalties!
from the object to the loji«, ITTdl- Ift IlVe years. Then, the physicist's
cate the apertuie and |iy.sh back
the film, all automatically^ 1 Continued on Page 13, Column %
.0-1
Lhet
EINSTEIN ADMIT8
EVEN HE CAN ERR
j Cuntlnued From Page 1
attoniey said, the royalties stopped
land the coiporation began to nian-'j
ufacture a camera similar to Dr.!
Bucky's.
Dr. Einstein testificd that the
corporation's caniora enibodicd tiie!
pnnciples of Dr. Bucky's invention.f
Under cioss - exarnination byj
Knianucl R. Po.siiack. defense coun-l
sol, Professor Einstein said h^ had
worked in patent offices in Switz-
crland from VM)2 to 1909 and in
patent Offices in Germany before
the last war.
Mr. Posnack handed Dr. Einstein
his pre-trial deposition and, after
reading certain excerpts, the wil-
• ness said there was one part he
thought needed modification.
"What!" Judge Ryan exclaimed.
"Would you say that Einstein had
inadc a mistake?"
"I may have made a mistake,"
Ihe physicist answered with a
smile.
In hjs original statement Pi
los.sor Einstein had strossecl th
\alue of Sharp focus in photogra-
phy. This he modified yesterday
by remarking that. even with poor
focus, a usable picture might be
obtained.
The Court queried: "Would you
hold yourself an expert on canieias
'and the art of photography?"
i "No, I am here as a physicist
and out of friendship foV Dr.
Bucky."
Professor Einstein was the first
witness and when he was asked to
give his name, job and his qualifi-
cations. Judge Ryan smiled broad-
ly and said: "Oh. now. do we really
need that':' That infoimation is
almost a matter of common knowl-
edge. I would think."
When the physicist had com-
pleted his te.stimony, Judge Ryan
shook his hand and said: "Profe.s-
sor. I am veiy glad to see you.
You must Visit us again sometime,
but when you are not a witness."
Dr. Bucky originally went to
Professor Einstein with a draft
Problem involving his inventions.
The Professor described the Prob-
lem as "very difficult," adding that
"no one of ordinary .skill would
have found the Solution that Dr.
Bucky did."
The suit was filed April 20. 1949.
The defense contends that the let-
ters patent are "invalid and void
for lack of invention because the
subject matter required only ordi-
nary designing ability and not in-
vention withm the meaning of pat-
ent law and comprise what was
common knowledge to those
skilled in the art."
The trial will continue Monday
I
\
•» Af
-vjveiiiment
KADASSAH NEWSLETTER • December 1951
Israel's dollar shortage can be overcome "If the Jews outside Israel give all the iinancial help within
their power," said Professor Albert Einstein es he bought the 200,000th State of Israel Bond to be
sold in the United States. The 200,000th bond was sold to Professor Einstein at his home in Princeton,
N. J. by Yael Sharett, the daughter of the Foreign Minister of Israel. Miss Sharett is in the United
States to study müsic. She is at present attending classes at Hunter College in New York City.
1
IWWl'IONAL SJ'XJJMJtxmsURE
KAOASSAH NEWSLETTER • December 1951
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Israel's dollar shortage can be overcome "if the Jews outside Israel give all the £inancial help within
their power," said Professor Albert Einstein as he bought the 200,000th State of Israel Bond to be
sold in the United States. The 200,000th bond was sold to Professor Einstein at his home In Princeton,
N. J. by Yoel Sharett, the daughter of the Foreign Minister of Israel. Miss Sharett is in the United
States to study music. She is at present attending classes at Hunter College in New York City.
* .^
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THE NEW YORK TIMES, MONDAY, MAY 14, 195l'
THE PRIME MINISTER OF ISRAEL VISITS EINSTEIN
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ßnsteitt s New tquations
Put Universe in Its Place
»nal equutions in cmpty spacc to be the e
g.k:. = 0, r, = 0
4—
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R,, = 0, Riu 4- Rki.i + Rii.k = 0
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owever, explain why I have gone to so much
at this result> The_ contemDiirBÄ. ohysicv'
l r«»m a pajfe in l.mslcin's new booK.
ilere aro the svmbols by vfhieh Prof. Albert Kiiistein
riescribes all the torcos oC the pliysical universe— a iiew set
ot* euuatKuis piiblishod today by the Princeton Uiuversity
as Class Is Stumped
by Its Geometry
By GLADWIX HILL
Special to The New York Times.
LOS ANGELES, May 15— Dr.
cnaMe albert Einstein, the mathematical
Press as an appendix t<> his
•*The Meaninjr of Kelativity."
Tl\e 71 year-old scientist. ^vllo
Rpectacularlv advan( od tlu* law of
jrravitai.ion laid down l»y Sir Isaac
Newton iiioro than 2(H) ycars ajro. gj/j^ V^fiteS an Appeal
Said lu' liMjK's thesc ioimiilas arc
tlie last wo.'d (»n Iho sLil»Ji'cts of
both «rnvitation and olectro-maK-
netism — bin ho lianKIy admits lu'
doei* not kr\ow. and it could woll
take anotlicr (.•(.•ntmy or two to
piove it.
p:inste'iM l)(diovf«?( tliat (lu'se syni-
hoL>* (thav upsi<l<' (i(»wM'L is called
a j»-anu iH funolion) will
matlx
tation,
into
vliii'li ^'
thoojv.
llc* is Iryiiiu' to ixplain cvcry miles away with her plane geom-
ihit\u Wy a c-oiKU'pl of forccs, bu'etry couise.
adniils thai it "s not yct possil.l^ Confronted with a problem that
to devise n»atluMnatical expcrnncnt ^^.^^^^ ^^^ ^^^, ^^^^ clasbmates
^%\TXlil.vel "how.vcM-. thai hi could solve, Johanna Mankiewicz,
e<u>a'""^"^ ^^'^'^ ^^''*^' ^*' "" inubM^daughter of Herman Mankiewicz,
Standing ol what niakes atojns, tbj Hollywood film writer, wrote the
foicc
the
I Study at Princeton, N. J., bespeak-
ing his assistance. She renünded
him that he had known her giand-
father, the late Dr. Frank Man-
Einstein Sends Q.E.D. to Problem of Schoolgirl, 15
iciiiaticians to wi!i|i up K™\''-wizaid. took time out from inves-
n. eU-tncity »"'V ';''!:"':' ut'"8^"ng the mystenes of the uni-
a 1V\\ iundanuMital concopi^ " . ^ , x. ^
U \w calls a "unifud tjcld verse a few days ago to help a 15-
'unifu<l ticld^^^se a few days ago to help a 15-
year-old Los Angeles girl 3,000
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H'<,
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iding Ol what niaUes aunns, uiinoiiywood tum writer, wrote the
•OS of spacc, and' cvcn. "iJj.y*»^73-year-old theoretical physicist
strang-c forcos cf hic itsclt. ^^ ^^^ Institute for Advanced
^.%
Tlie New York Times
Dia'xram Dr. Albert Einstein sent 15-year-old Los Angeles pupil in reply to her plea for assistance. Hif
kiewicz, Professor of Education at' answer reads: *Thc radius rJ of K5 is the differing r3 — r/ — xi. The tangent 02 —->■ KJ is ,i to the tangen
the College of the City of New «" ^^ ^^^ ^^ *"*^ <^*" ^^ easily construeted. This gives the Solution. A. E."
York.
By return mail, Dr. Einstein
sent her a diagram of the problem,
sketched on the back of her letter,
indicating the method of Solution,
although not giving the exphcit
answcr.
He signed the diagram "A. E."
without further comment.
."Dear Professor Einstein:
"Our geometry class here at
Westlake School for Girls found
itself completely at a loss today
when no one in the class could do
a certain problem.
"I realize that you are a very "Very respectfuUy your« ting the tangent with the two dif-
busy man, but you are the only "Johanna Mankiewicz (secretary fering radii in a triangle that '*car
person we know of who could sup- of the sophomore class, Westlake be easily construeted."
ply US with the answer and let us School). "This.'' he added laconically,
keep ourselves busy at our other "P. S. I think you knew my "gives the Solution."
business. grandfather, Professor Frank Man- Johanna said that while she did
"So, if you could possibly worki kiewicz of C. C. N. Y." not recall exactly what length th*»
this problem for us, we woiild be! Dr. Einstein indicated in his tangent had turned out to be, her
very grateful. This is the problem :|sketch how the length of the tan- teacher had duly ratified Dr. Ein-
"The common external tangent gent could be established through
of two tangent circles of radii 8 the Pythagorean theorem (the
inches and 2 inches is
. I Square of the hypptenuse of a right
"I think you will agree it is the .triangle is equal to the sum of
hardest thing! Ithe Squares of the sides) by plot-
stein's Solution.
Although details of Dr. Ein-
stein*» diagram and equation were
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1
NhW ^OHK TIMHS,
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Knsteitt Will Try to Explain \
It AU in His Newest Theory
Albert
Einstein
By RUSS SYMONTOWNE <y
Tlit; Ni'ws Ö<ien<-e Wnter
As the larj?est Convention of
scientists ever held got underway
yesterday, word came that Albert
Einstein, world
famous philoso-
pher of science,
will shortly at-
tempt to explain
the behavior of
the whole uni-
verse, from
tiniest atom to
mightiest star,
in a Single the-
ory.
The announce-
ment was made
by a spokesman
for the Princeton
TJniversity Press which will publish
in February a new edition of Ein-
stein's book, "The Meaning of Rela-
tivity," with a IG-page appendix
niapping ont the new theory. The
announcement was given to science
writers gathered at the headquar-
ters of the UGth meeting of the
American Association for the Ad-
vancement of Science at the Hotel
Statler. The meeting, which will
continue all week, will attract about
10,000 men and women of science
from many parts of the world.
A **GcnraHzcd Theory of Garv-
itation" is the name given by
Einstein to his newest contribution
He calls it a ''highly convincing
exxtension of the general theory of
relativity which brought him world
fame in 1915.
In his goneial theory of relativ-
ity, Einstein offered a mathema-
tical explanation for the behavior
of matter traveling at spceds ap-
proaching that of light. The older
laws of gravitation proposed by
Sir Isaac Newton could not explain
this behavior,
Einstein ealculations enabled
physicists to woik out problems
which in the end led to their
greatest achievement, Splitting the
atom — which resulted in the atom
bomb.
HoWever, in a sense, Einstein's
»»
theory of relativity, instead of
Clearing up confusion in physical
science, actually contributed to it.
Scientists before and after Ein-
stein have worked out theoriea
which explain various groups of
phenomena. But these theories. are
in some- cases mutually inconsist-
ent, and there is no one theory into
which al lothers can be fitted. On
top of that, none explain the real
origin of meaning of such forces
as electro-magnetism and gravity.
It has been that Einstein has
worked for many years to give to
the world an over-all theory — a
sort of mathematical master plan
with which other well proved theo-
ries could be reconciled.
Proof to Be Worked Out.
Einstein, W^o will be 71 next
March, has been complaining for
some time to close associates at<
the Institute for Advanced Study
at Princeton, that he finds great
labor involved in the mathematica
of his theory.
It was hinted yesterday that he
has finally decided to make the
theory public and let others carry
on the work of seeking proof for
it. He was quoted as saying "due
to mathematical difficulties, I have
not yet found a practicable way to
confront the results of the theory
with experimental evidence."
As a sort of teaser, the announce-
ment by the University's press de-
clared that the heart pf the theory
lay in four equations which cannot
be* reprodueed by a linotype. No
explanation of the equations was
given.
Atom Demonstration.
The highlight of yesterday's
meeting of the AAAS was a dem-
onstration in the Hotel Statler ball
room last night of atom Splitting
by Dr. John R. Dunning, of Co-
lumbia Univcrsity. Using radium
and $50,000 worth of apparatus,
Dunning split atoms on a micro-
scopic Scale, proving he had done
so by a series of spectacular ex-
periments.
EINSTEIN STRESSES
CRITICAL THINRING
Opposing Early Speclalties, He
Says College Must Aim at
'Harmonious' Personality
By BENJAMIN FINE
Albert Einslein opposps prema-
ture specialization for the College
.<3tudenL. A good education, he
maintain», will teach yoimg men
and women the importance of in-
dependent, critical thinking.
In an interview on education at
hl« Office in the Institute for Ad-
vanced Study at Princeton, N. J.,
where Dr. Einstein is Piofessor
Emeritus of Mathematics and The-'
oretical Science, the scientist de-
clared:
"It is not enough to teach man
a .^pecialty. Through it he may be-
come a kind of useful machine, but
not a harmoniously developed Per-
sonality. It is fssential that the
Student arquir© an imderstanding
of and A lively feeling for values.
He must acquire a vivid aen.se of
the beautiful and of the morally
good.
"Otherwise he — witJh his special-
izcd knowledge-more closely re-:
sembles a weJl-trained dog than aj
harmoniou.sly developpd per.son. He
mu.'üt learn to undersland tlie mo-l
tives of human beings. their illu-'
aions and their .«ufferings in ^''^^'*'' ■■
to acquir« a proper rftlatioaship toj
individual fellow men and to thelschool of nursing and other health
Community. jaccommodations.
•'These precious thing.s aie cön-| Calling the Yeshiva medical col-
veyed to the younger generationlege bolh an oppoitunily and a re-
through personal contact withisponsibility for the entire com-
those who teach. not— or at leaat munity. Dr. Einstein .said:
DISCUSS ES EDUCATION : Dr.
Albert Einstein In hU offire
at the Institute for .\dvanced
Study at PrincMon. X. •!.
not in the main — through text-
book<^. It \n this that primarily
constitute.s and pres^rves culture.
"Sufficient knowledge and a
.solid background in the basic sci-
ences are essential for all medical
This ia what I have in mind when'studenta. But that ia not enough.
I recommend the 'humanitips' aa A physician is not only a scientist
important. not just dry specialized or a good technician. He mu.st he
knowledge in the fields of historyimore than that he must have
and philosophy." |good human qualities. He has to
In opposing earlv apecialization, have a personal understandmg and
Dr. Einstem declared: Isympathy for the suffering of hu-
"Overemphasis on the competi- man being.s.
tive System and premature special- "The new medical College haa «
ization on the giound of immediate|tremendous opporlunity lo help
u.sefulne.sa kiUthe spirit on whirhjtrain top-ranking physicians who
all cultural life depends, special- jwill posseas technical .skills and
also have the human approach that
is .so essential in this profession.'j
Professor Einstein celebrated his
seventy-lhird birthday last March ^
14. and he has been on the retired'
lisL at the Institute for Advanced
Study for the last eight years. But!
this technicality doei not hotherj
him. He rontinues to work as hardj
as he ever did.
He has been happy at Prince-
ton. At first ^ was troubled by
the curioua, who staied at hi?n aa.
bareheaded and wearing ill-fitting
clolhes. he trudged each morning
from hi." home to the Institute, a
mile and a half away.
But by now Princeton haa be-
come accustomed to ita distin-
g\iished lesident. He can come and
go aa he plea.ses. having lost,
after nineteen yeara. his statu«
aa a showpiece. Today he ia ac-
ceptrd aa one of the rommunity
ized knowledge included
"It ia al.so vital to a valuable ed-
ucation that independent critical
thinking be developed in the young
human being. a developmenl that
ia greatly jeopardized by overbur-
dening with too much and too var-
ied subjects jpoint systemj. Over-
burdening neressaiily leada to au-
perciality. Teaching shonld be
such that what la offered is per-
reived aa a valuable gift, and not
aa a hard duty."
Recently Dr. Einslein became
national honorajy chairman of
Yeshiva Univei sity'g projected Col-
lege of Medicine. In Cooperation
with New York City, a new medi-
cal Center la being established in
the northeast .section of the Bronx.
The city is biiilding two hospitals,
with apace for 1.250 beda. at a cost
of $37.500,000. Yeshiva Ilniversity
lig raising $25.000.000 to build a
medical school, a dental achool. a'and he is de^ply giateful for it
• V.*^A^^
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Professionals
Need
A
Union
A message from Albert Einstein
for the trustees and overseers
of Albert Einstein College of Mediane
"1 consider it Important, Indeed urgently
necessary, for intellectual workers to
build an Organization to protect their
own interests."
^ • "^ ^.^....^Syü^^^
Albert Einstein
1
in of church'and schooiingOf' all New York chil- ucation^s stand canie from the part under the control or direc
dren, should interject itself in
mbodied in Article
III, of the State
the ban is under
a controversy which in niany
^ ^ LUMUüN, juiy ly ^Keuieis^iHi-'^»'»-»«.^ t>"
Unltcd'ParcntrAsliociatio'ns"*" Tion of any religious denomina-j— A Government - appointod liquency has
Also commending the boardition." Icommittee recommended today all picture
wavs will onlv cause more was the Committee for Public! The First Amendment tolthat youngsters be allowed to'blameless, t
Problems for itself," saidiEducation and Liberty. headedFederal Constitution says that'marry at 18 without parentabage group.
It doesti't
it doesn't fill you
YouVe probably thinking that since
Gablinger's Beer doesn't have any carbo-
hydrates and doesn't fill you up, it can't
taste like good beer. •
But it does, because Gablinger's Beer
is brewed the same way as any other
good beer.
^'^^
We pick the choicest hops. Like every-
one eise. We use carefuUy selected grain.
Like everyone eise. And we brew our beer
the way good beer has been brewed for the
past 600 years. Just like everyone eise. ^
We only do one thing diff erent,
We take one extra step during the
brewing process tha
hydrates. Which lea
tasting beer that do
matter how much yc
Gablinger's Beer
It tastes like it
doesn't fill you up.
,9^'^
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. N'
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Albert Einstein
/ N T E L LE C TU A L A 1) V E N T l ' It E h'
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Professor Albert Einstein occupies a iinique place in nuKlern life. He works on
what The New York Times called "the lonely summit of a scientific Sinai," his epochal
discoveries understood only by top-ranking scientists. Yet he is a towering figure in
the iniaginations of millions of the ordinary, unscientific people in the world— and an
oddly beloved one. He makes news simply by eating an ice-cream cone on his birth-
day, quietly in his garden at Princeton. His effect on the public is in inverse ratio lo
what niight be expected; instead of overwhelniing or overawing, be inspires; inste;>d
of leaving us all far behind hini in his daring intellectual plunges into the mysteries
of time and space, matter and energy, the very secrets of the universe, he seems to
raise us all to a higher level. To understand his work is forever out of reach of niost
of us; yet most of us feel a curious, fierce flicker of pride that this work has been
carried on in our time (and of late years, in our country).
Loaded with every honour the world can bestow— the Nobel Prize, the oflFered
Presidency of Israel, degrees from every major university in the Western world, an
American medical school rising in his name— he remains utterly innocent of pride
er pretension, dressed usually in an amorphous grey sweat-shirt, his thin white hair
resembling somewhat a seeding dandelion. The latest of his honours, received in
May, was a Special Award in the group of awards given aimually by Lord & Tay-
lor. Since the theme of the awards this year was "creative and intellectual pioneer-
ing." it was feit that all the awards would be meaningless unless special recognition
were made of this century's greatest intellectual pioneer. In accepting the award in
absentia (through a recording. made for the occasion, which rcvealed the curiously
mild, light, and humourous timbre of his voiee) Professor Einstein said, in part.
". . . It gives me great pleasure, indeed, to see the stul)l)ornness of an incorrigible
non-conformist warmly acclaimed."
0
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Einsiein^s maihematical ^
summaiion of hi,^ adtenture:
the equations.the symhols irhich
represent the Jurthesi limii
of man^s mathematical concepf
of the universe.
104
YOGUE. JUNE. 1953
\
The New York Times (by Patrick Burns)
EINSTEIN AT 74: Th« sdenttit, who obuened hl» birthdaj on Saturday, sho\%ii during a prc§«
Conference at the Prhioeton Inn yesterdar.
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ERNST HAAS
Albert Einstein, photographed especially for Vogue, in bis study at Princeton
105
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lf7irKriv>fNi/\l. Sl-XTXNiL) l.-
ERN:T HAAS
All»ert Einstein. pliotograplnMl e^pecially for Vogiie. in lii- >lii(lv M Princeton
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Einstein Garb Theory:
Clothes Are Irrelative
'^■M
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DR. Al.BERT E. KINSTEIX.
A rare social appearnnce.
Scientist At+ends Wedding a+ Plaza
In Knii Cap, NRA Coat and Old Suit
Prof. Albert E. Einstein miiif^lod
with the full-dressed and fasliion-
able crowd at one of the season's
most elegant weddings last ni^ht
in one of his rare social appear-
ances.
But the Tlyear-old scientist.
who sometimes refuses to vvear
socks in public, made little effort
to be fashionable himself.
He sM-nde tlirough the refined
halls of the Hotel Plaza into Ihc
elaborately decoraied Terrace
Hoom. pulled off and handcd to
the checkroom girl an old navy
blue knitted cap— the kind sailois
vvear ior a cold vvatch.
j Ancient Overcoat.
' Then he dofted an overcoat so
ancient that a wailer was not
surprised to see it had an NRA
label in it.
I Then, in a well-worn dark busi-
less suit and vest and an ordin-
•^y striped tie. the vvhite-haired
Einstein went in to mingle
' in white tie and tails
•j gowned in formal silk
'•n c?.me to the vved-
ding because the groom, Dr.
Thomas Lee Bucky, Is the soii
of an old friend, physicist Gustav
ßucky.
The younger Bucky, director of
Student health at Cornell Univer-
sity Medical College here. was
married to Miss Margaret Neu-
burg, daughter of Mr. and Mrs.
Alfred Neuburg, of Park Ave.
and Weston ,Conn.
1
V.,
U
ember of the Wedding
NEW YORK (.T' — Thr a?rd.
whitp-hairrd nian strodo intn thr
fashionahle Hotel Plaza last
niRht. and hradrd for the plab-
oratrly dreoratrd tcrrace room.
He handrd tho chockroom girl
an old navy bluo knittcd rap
simi ar to thosp sailors wcar lor
a pold watcii. Thon hv dnffrd an
ovrrcnat in which a waitrr spot-
ted a National Recovery Admin-
istratipn labcl of tlie carlv
1930's.
Then. in a well-worn dark busi-
ncss .suit and vcst and an ordi-
nary striprd tir. the white- ha i red
man strolled into the main room
'to niingle with mcn in white tir
and tails, and women gowncd in
formal silk and jrwels.
MOST E.>IINK\T (il KST
It was one of the season's mosl
olegant weddings. and the aged
g:entleman in tho dark business
suit was perhaps the most emi-
nent weddiiig gue.-t.
He camo late but was ono of
the first through the recrption
ine nfLer tho ccremony to ton«
Sfratulate the bridegmonV Dr
Thomas Lee Bucky of Cornell;
University Medieal College hpre»
and the bride, the former Miss ]
Margaret Neuberg, of Park Ave-
nue and Weston, Conn. j
The guest, a dose friend of
Bufky's fathrr, physicist Gustav :
Bucky, quickly ducked around aj
rornrr froni the reception linc
and into an elevator and out of
sight.
It was the eiid of a rare socia;
appearance for 74-year-old Prof
Albert Einstein.
HAiR t".'; face
REMOVED FOREVER
Recemmended By Local fhy$;c/«i?i
GRAOUATE ATTENDANT
CLAIROLD
II U ro.MHTIO.Nr l>
ELECTROLYSIS STUDIO
779 Bergen Ave., Jersey City
DE 3-8196
Fashion Plafe Einsfein
Wears Socks af Bridal
A preview of what the well-diessed physicist will wear in '54 — «n
old navy blue knitted cap like the .^ailors wear when it's very voU\ and
an overc-oat so old that it still had an NRA label on it — was given tht
public last night by Prof. Albert Ein.stein.
The 74-year-old fashion plate showed up at the elejrant Hotel
Plaza to attend the weddinjr of Dr. Thomas Lee Bucky, son of Kin-
•tein's old physicist friend, (iustav Bucky, and Miss Margaret Neuburj;
©f Park Ave. and Weston, Conn.
After Kivinjj: the hat check g:irl the fright of her life by tenderin^
kif« navy cap and old coat, P^instein showed up among formal -ck)the<l
^uests, wearing a well-worn dark business suit and ordinary striped tie.
However, he did make one conccssion to the occasion. Unlike .sonit
«f bis public appearances, he did wear socks. (Pictureon pa^e 1)
)S.
1
-nr-TTir.
Out of a life dcdicatcd to simplicity have come the most complex and
far-rcaching thcories of our time
The World of
Albert Einstein
I V ^ ^
nii: WORLD Ol- AlBFRT lilMSTlUS
77
Condensed from Pathfindcr
' HE cREATiox of thc atoiii homb
J is probably ihc most significant
cvcnl in modern history. It radically
changcd our conccpt of vvarfarc and
has bccomc thc
hard corc of our
most hard hcadcd
thinking about
World stratcgy.
Yct thc man bas-
ically responsiblc
for this dcvclop-
mcnt is onc who,
for muchof bis lifo,
was a Icading paci-
fist, and whose
idcas secmcd to
many visionary
and unworldly.
l*or it was a Icttcr
iVom Albert Einstein to FrankHii I).
Kooseveh that started the Manhat-
tan Project. And it was Kinstein's
"Special Theory of Relativity" that
provided the basis for the develop-
menl of atomic energy.
Throughout bis life Albert Ein-
stein has been pursued by diings
Joseph Phillips
he has ncver wantcd — publicity,
fame, ofTers of money and power. He
has becn surroundcd by misunder-
standing and controvcrsy. Ilun-
drcds of scientists
havc dcvotcd much
of thcir carccrs to
cxplaining, or re-
futing, bis discov-
crics. Although he
believes in frecdom
of thc individual
and in dcmocratic
institutions, he has
bcen call cd both a
"bolshcvik" and a
*'tool of Wall
Street." Althotigh
hc has an unshak-
able faith in God
hc has bcen assailcd as an athcist.
Much to bis astonishment as an
objectivc physicist, he has becn of-
fercd as much as ^25,000 to endorse
products ranging from corn plasters
to cars. His bust Stands in libraries
and universitics throughout the
workl, and a monumcnt has been
76
ralhßnJcr{M<>y. '??), corymhf ,<,<;; h: l-.nm JnurwiL Inc., .'?.> M'. rr./c/wff/o« .SV"'/«".
PhilMldplüa 5, Pa. IlluMraiioii Iroiii a plioH)j;npl» l>y K:irsh.
^tcd to bim in Gcrmany. Ile is
le onlv American cili/xn evcr of-
ired thc prcsidency of another na-
tion.
All this has come to a man who
askcd only for the solitude to think
and work. 'i am happy bccause 1
want nothing from anyone," he has
said. ''But 1 do gel pleasure out of
the appreciation of niy fellow work-
ers.
Since his arrival in 1933 at thc
Institute for Advanced Study in
Erinceton, N. J., iunstcin has rc
ccived far more than protessional
appreciation. Scientists, liabitually
chary of loosc languagc, frcely use
'\saintly," ''noble," "lovable" in
describing bim. "Even when dis-
ctissing theoreiical physics," a mathe-
\ ' matician said, "he radiales humor,
warmth and kindliness." Yct alter
nearly a half Century of fame,
Einstein rcmains a sbadowy, remote
figurc to all biil his friends and
neighbors.
Each wcek-day morning at 10:30
hc dons a shapelcss black coat —
and, in winter, a black knitted stock-
ing cap, the kind worn by seamcn
— and leaves his frame house to
stroU thc milc and a half to thc in-
stitute.
Einstein is now 74. His long, un-
traincd hair and raggcdy mustachc
are white. His face has lost its firm-
ncss. His eyes, though they look at
you vvith patiencc and mild curios-
ity, arc tired and red-rimmed. Hc
speaks in a low, soft voice, his words
tinged with a German accent.
In his big comfortable olTicc with
a relaxing view of a small wo(xls, he
*rcts down to work without prelim-
inaries on his Unificd b^ield Theory,
which has absorbed bim for three
decades. l'he Theory connects the
two great forces of our physical
univcrse, gravitation and clectro-
magnelism, and thus shows the
rclalionship between all known
physical phenomena.
ile sits back in his chair, balances
a large päd on his knee and writcs m
a small, neat script. When blocked
by a problcm he stays with it, calm
and screnc, somelimes twirling a
Strand of hair around a lingcr. Each
of his theories has bcen the rcsult of
montbs and years of stubbornly
pursuing what hc calls "ideali/xd
expcriments.*' Pcncil and paper are
bis scientific equipment; his mind
is thc laboraiory. He wanders up
wrong alleys, draws wrong conclu-
sions. E^ut he ncver gives up.
fhc answer is sure to bc found, hc
fcels, bccause "God is subtle, bui
nevcr mischievous." Einstein be-
lieves in the simplicity and logical
ordcrlincss of nature. 'Tt is a kind
of faith that helpcd me through niy
vvholc life not to bccomc hopeless in
thc great dilliculties of investiga-
tion." When he weighs his own con-
clusions, hc speculatcs: "Could this
bc thc way God crcated the uni-
vcrse.^" As a crcativc scientist he
finds a discovery as ''beautifuE' as
it is "corrcct."
At onc in thc afterniK)n Einstein
abruptly drops his work and ambles
home. i.unch is prepared by Miss
Helen Dukas, who since the dealh
\
/
7^
Tili: READLiRS DlGliS'l'
\
\
TUE WORLD Or .iLBERT EINSTEIN
79
oithc sccond Mrs. l'inslcin in 1036
has lakcn carc of all houschold at-
fairs. Shc rcmiruls lunsicin of bis
appointmcnls, lakcs Ins diclaüon,
halanccs thc chcckbook aiul niakcs
surc ihat hc sticks to bis dicL. Doc
tor's Orders torbid bis bclovcd pipc,
but fricnds ibink bc occasionally
brcaks tbis riilc in thc pri\ acy o{ bis
study.
His bouscbold also includcs Mar-
got Einstein, bis stcpdaugbtcr and a
talentcd sculptrcss. aml an a<,^cd,
siibdiicd tcrricr callcd Cbico. \\\\v
stcin's sislcr, Maja. li\ cd wilb bini
for ncarly tcn ycars nnlil bcr dcadi
in 1950. W'bcn sbc lapscd into a
coma, bc still spcni two bours cacb
aftcrnoon wilb bcr, rcading aioud
from Plalo. Altbougb sbc gavc no
sign of undcrstanding, bis intuition
told bini ibat a pari of bcr mind
livcd iintil bcr last brcatb.
Tbc aftcrnoon is uscd for a nap
and thc mail — bc rcccives 25 to 35
Icltcrs a day. Räch rcasonablc rc-
qucsl gctsan answcr. Wbcn a yoinig
scicntist scnt bim an intcrcsting
matbcmalical problcm, Einstein
found tbat tbc Solution was corrcct
but tbc calculations contained two
crrors. Knowing bow proud scicn-
tists arc of tbcir indcpcndcnt work,
bc callcd attention to tbc fact tbal
thcre were crrors, but didn't namc
thcm. 'Ibis Icft tbc young man free
to kccp his work original by uncov-
ering tbc mistakcs himsclf.
Nlost of Einstcin's cvcnings arc
spent at work in bis study. Sitling
in a higb-backcd stuffcd chair, he
usually works tili midnight. A prob-
lcm often kccps bim up mucb h.
and Princcton policc bavc scci
bim, bead bowcd and bands claspccl
bebind bis back, wandcring across
tbc imivcrsity campus at 4:30 in
ibc morning.
Solitudc is important to bim, but
he is no rccluse. He frequcntly
spends an evcning witb fricnds, talk-
ing World aflairs, politics and music.
llc lovcs jokcs and laugbs casily.
W'bcn askcd once for a guiding
principle to succcss, Einstein said,
"If A is succcss in lifc, tbe rulc migbt
bc expressed A = X -f- Y + >^' ^
Ixing work and Y play." And Z.^
"l'bat is kecping your moutb shui."
Sccond only to bis work is Ein-
stcin's lovc for music. He has occa-
sionally played tbe violin for cbarity
fund-raising drives, but acttially bc^
is a better pianist tban violinist, and
amuscs himsclf by improvising littlc
fantasics in tbe style of Mozart.
If possible, Einstein avoids travcl.
He is bappy in Princcton, wbere he
Tmds tbc peacc bc has always wantecl
Ncigbbors don't consider it odd tbat
he wcars bis hair long bccause bc
docsn't want to botber witb tbe
barbersbop, or tbat bc dresscs for
comfort — unpressed slacks, loosc
puUover sweatcr, sometimes an old
neckt ic for a bell.
Like many great mcn, Einstein
is bumble and sby. Wbcn he walked
inlo a Washington meciing concern-
ing Palestine, every person in thc
room bursl into applausc. Takcn
aback, he whispered lo a friend. "I
tbink thev ouijbl to wait to see wbat
1 sav.
few ycars ago, at a d inner
. Einstcin's bonor, Speaker after
Speaker dclivcred panegyrics to his
genius. Einstein squirmcd. Einally
he turned to autbor I\anny Hurst
and abruplly brougbt her down lo
carth witb, "You know, I ncvcr
wear socks."
lo tbe recent oflcr of a chance to
becomc President of Israel, I>in-
stein replicd witb bis usual modcsty
tbat hc feit unqualified for a role
tbat involvcd binnan relations. 1 le
tbougbt it better, bc said, to con-
tinuc bis study of i he pbysical world,
of which he had "a litilc conipre-
hension."
Manv pcople ba\c wondered why
Einstein, in ycars past, belpcd spon-
or organizations whicb latcr turned
)ut to bc Communist fronls. 1'he
nswer appears to bc tbat he was
imply taken in by tbc professcd
liberal aims of tbe groups conccrncd,
nnd failed to queslion tbcir leader-
sbip and moti\es.
"Einstein is loo percent against
Communism," says a dose Iriend.
"He has too independeni a mind. is
too mucb of an individualist, to fit
himsclf to any kind of dictated
tbinking. Hut he has a strong social
fecling for mankind, and sometimes
has given himsclf to causes which, he
latcr found out, did not follow his
idcals.'*
Anotber collcague indicated tbat
bjnsiein is a littlc bitter alx)Ut ihc
pcople wW) ba\ e duped bim. I !c is
now quin, suspicious ol oigani/.a-
tions ibal .i<k for ibe iise of his nanu.
Einstein bas ne\ er iKdonged w bolc-
heartedly to any social group. He
does not casily invohe his beart
wilb Ol her pcople. It is not tbc rc-
sult of his work, but ratber thc na-
tu re of tbc man. Tbis aloofncss can
bc noticcd in his cycs in thc earliest
pbotograpbs taken of bim as a child.
llis placid, sby nalure sei bim aparl
from other cbildren in Munich,
wbere bc spent his early ycars. I le
was so slow to Icarn to talk tbat bis
parents tbougbt bim abnormal.
Teachcrs considered bim a misfit.
IIc had few fricnds and avoided
games. His vcrsion ol fun was to
compose litilc religioiis hymns on
tbe piano and hum thcm wbile
Walking alonc.
I)V tbc time bc was 12 bc was pur-
sui ng an indcpcndcnt study of
mal bemal ics and scicnce. Hc was,
however, an indiflercnt pupil in
scbool. IIc wanted to coniinue his
sttidies m wSwil/erland. but failed thc
cnlrancc examination to thc poly-
technic College in Zürich. .\ ycar
later bc tried again and made thc
ijrade.
After graduation h.instcin found
and lost thrce tcacbing Jobs, lived a
hand-to-mouth existence, and mar-
ried Milcva Marcc, also a scicnce
Student, by wbom bc had two sons.
In 1902, wbcn bc was 23, he landed
a jiost as an cxaminer in tbc Bern
patent olbce. Thc job wasn'l loo
taxing and allowed lum to con cen-
trale on bis own studics. 1 le had set
for himsclf ihe la^^k of linking time
and Space, maller and energy.
Som( tim^s hc despanvd, and on thc
vcrv dav before siriking the corrcct
\
So
TUE READER'S DIGEST
results hc told a fcllow cxainincr,
^Tm going to give it up."
At ihc agc of 26, iinkiiown in thc
scientific uorlci, he subniilled liis
^'Special Theory of Rclalivily" lo
a physics Journal. 1 le expressed his
theory in vvhat is now the most
famous equalion of science: E =
mc^; roughly, that energy equals
mass times the square of the speed
of light. Tiie equation demonslrated
ihat if all ihe energy in a half poiind
of any matter wcrc rcleased thc rc-
sulting power would cqtial thc ex-
plosive forcc of scven niillion tons
of'INT.
Thoüch it revohitioni/.ed nian's
conception of the universc, few
physicists at the time realizcd its
staggering importance. hör years
E = mc- was a livcly topic for de-
batc; thcn, with Hiroshima, it was
translated into reality.
Einstein juoN'ided more than the
theorelical hasis for thc atomic
bomb. In the late 1930's many
scicntists knew that the Nazis wcrc
working all-otit to dcvclop atomic
energy. I'hey tried to interest oiir
military Icaders in a similar proj-
ect, btit made lillle impression. In
desperat ion they appealed to Ein-
stein to iisc his iniliience. One
night in 1939 he tlraftcd what
was 10 be one of thc most impor-
lant letters in American history.
"Keceni work," he wrotc to Presi-
dent Rooscvelt, '"leads nie to c
that thc dement uranium may
tiirned into a new and importan^
source of energy in thc immediatc
future. . . . This new phenomenon
wotild also lead to thc construction
üi bombs."
President Rooscvelt inimediatcly
began thc construction of Manhat-
tan Projcct, and thc United States
entered history's most fatcful racc
for a military weapon.
Todav leinst ein labors at the same
pace that he has maintaincd for 50
years. His Unificd l'icid I'heory,
published thrce years ago, is thc re-
sult of 35 years of intensc work. The
heart of it consists ot foiir cquations
that would take up but two lines on
this page. In this series ot cquations
hc combined the physical laws that
control thc forcesof light and energy
and the mysterious torcc of gra\ita
tion that holds all matcrial ohjects
in its grip. Einslein belie\es his
theorv is "hi[rhlv convinciiifi," but
doesn't reallv know whcther he's
right or wrong. Einstein iiitcnds to
spend thc remainder of his years
searchini:: for the matliematical tools
to determine the correctncss of his
theory. Ilie possibility of faikire
does not disturb him. llc knows that
man can never know everything
and that "the most bcautifid thing
WC can experience is the myste-
rious.
>»
-y ^^ '^ 'y
Criticism. If you stop cvcry tinu a dog barks, your road
\\ ill nc\Cr i:ni\. — \ral> pn.vcrb
N
I
c. t*se to Testify/ Einstein Advises
tellectuals Called In by Congress
i;
By LEONARD BLDEK
r. \lbeit Einstein, in a letter|the postscript thal it need noL be j
le public yeaterday, said thaticonsideied co^ifidential.
llNSTiiiH COUNSELS:
REFÜSE TO TESTIFY'
Conti mied From Pago 1
Uniled States."
"On principled constitutional
leach'er for more' than twenty- rround. I rcfused to »nswer ques
;; ;n7el7eclu;r;.;nod before a' H.ached by lelephone "-t 1^'' f-^r:,! rToa^TofT'luca.ion
... • ^.-.,« in Prinpptr»n INT I Dr Ein- a'an^^i'Cl by tue tioaia or riniaaiiun.
^r:r^;ro^setot^rry.and|stein confirmed t.e letter. ^^^^^f^^^^:^' ^^^
must be preparcd for Jai. and' was read to hin. ^^^^l^^^^^^"^'^^ ^t'esTas
conomic ruin. in shorl. for theisponse to a question. th.^ he would^ ^ized by a^^^^
tcrifice of bis per.sonal wclfare inirefuse to testify if called beforc a oemg^ f^^J!"^'},,^^' '''^''''''
le interesl of the cultural welfarc Congressional committee.
f bis country." M'- Frauenglass. a high scheel
He declaiTd that "it is shameful
','' a blamoless Citizen to siibmit
^ such an Inquisition," and that
his kind of Inquisition violates
e spirit of the Constitution."
The World' s foremost physicist
ide his Views known in an ex-
ing"e of correspondence with a
w York leacher of English who
acing: disniissal from the school
.tem beoause of his refusal to
tify before the Senate Internal
urity subcommittee. The teach-
. William Frauengla.^- of James
dison High School, niade public
three years, wrote to Dr, Einstein
on May 9 and referred lo a stat*j-
ment the scientist had made rc-
centl:'' in which he described him-
self as "an incorrigible noncon-
formist" in a "remote fie^.d of en-
deavor" that no Senatorial com-
mittee had as yet feit impelled to
tackle.
The Brooklyn teacher then re-
lated that on April 24 he had been
called before the Senate subcom-
mittee as a result of lectures he
had given »ix years earlicr at an
Einsteins letler. which bore Contiiiitf4 on Tage 9» Column S
'V
aons as to political affiliations,",
Mr. Frauenglass wrote, noting
that he now faced dismissal under
Section 903 of the City Charter.
This section vacates the positions
nt City rmployes who refuse to
answcr ofiici;il questions by plead-
ing tho protection of the Fifth
;Amendment to the Constitution.
"A Statement from you," the
teacher's letter said, "would be
, most helpful in rallying educators
and the public to meet this new.
obscurantist attack."
Scientist Explalns View»
Dr. Einstein's reply, dated May
16, was as follcws:
Dear Mr. Frauenglas.s:
Thank you for your communlca-
i tion. By "remote field" I referred
'( to the theoretical foundationa of
physics.
The pif.blem with which the m-
lellectual-j of this couniry aic
* c(mfionted is very seiious. The
reactionary politicians have man-
; aged to instill suspicion of all in-
■ tollectual efforts into the public
, by dangling before their eyes a
dknger from without. Having suc-
ceeded so far they are now pro-
ceeding to suppress the freedom
of teaching and to deprive of
their positions all those who do
not prove submissive, i. e., to
starve them.
What ought the minority of in-
tellectuals to do against this evil?
Frankly, 1 can see only the revo-
; lutionaiy way of non-cooperation
in the sense of Gandhi's. Evciy
intelloctual who is called before
\ one of the committees ought to
refuse to testify. i. e., he must be
prepared for jail and economic
ruin, in Short, for the sacrlfice
of his personal welfare in the in-
terest of the cultural welfare of
his country.
This refusal to testify must be
based on the assertion that It is
shameful for a blameless Citizen
to submit to such an inqulsitlon
and that this kind of Inquisition
violates the spirit of the Consti-
tution.
If enough people are ready to
take this grave step they will be
successful. If not, then the in-
tellectuals of this country deserve
nothing better than the slavery
which is intended for them.
Sincerely yours,
A. ElNFTRIN.
P. S. This letter need not be
considered "confldential."
First IvCtter Revlscd
Mr. Frauenglass said yesterday
that Dr. ICinstein also montioncd
in the letter that intellectualsj]
should not seek the protection of|
the Fifth Amendment in refusing
to testify. However, the teacher
said that Dr. Einstein agreed to
his request to delete this State-
ment, and sent him another copy
without such mention.
The teacher added that on Mon-
day morning he had traveled to
Princeton, and although he did not
have an appointment, was permit-
ted to see Dr. Einstein. He said
he had told the scientist of his In-
tention to make public the letter,
and he quoted Dr. Einstein as say-
ing that he was prepared to go to
jail if he should be called before
an investigating committee.
f, :■ <-)
')
I
— ^— — ^^— i— ^1— — ^—
Letters to
Einstein's Stand Supported
Danger I« Constitutional Safeguards
Seen in Investigative Methodi
\
\
To THi Editor or Thb Nkw York TiMMf
A. man of Professor Einstein's in-
tellectual greatness needs no defender
for his opinions or convictions. Since,
however, in your editorial of June 13
"Professor Einstein's Theory" you ad-
mit the evils of McCarthyism and simi-
lar excesses occurring in certain Con-
gressional committee investigations,
and since you seem to differ with Ein-
stein only as to the method to be em-
ployed in resisting the trends In our
public life symbolized by McCarthy,
your line of argument and its apparent
fallacies are a fair object of critical
Observation.
You question the right of a witness
to refuse to testify in some of the Con-
gressional hearings upon constitutional
grounda. I ask you in all fairness: Of
what use are constitutional safeguards
if the possessor thereof has no right
to assert them, and to assert them, too.
without any inference of guilt or taint ?
If, by asserting them, the witness is to
be ipso facto dubbed a criminal and to
'j&e Position as such, then the safe-
guards are a mera pretense and, far
from being a shield, become a suicidal
s^vord on which he is automatically
impaled.
There is a climate existing today in
our public forums, our investigative
bodies and similar undertakings which
is permeated with hy.steria. Such is the
atmosphere breathed out by McCarthy
and some others in the Congressional
hearings. You admit that this is so.
Danger to Witness
A witness, altogether Innocent of any
wrongdoing but having what he con-
ceived to be liberal opinions and con-
victions some twenty or thirty or more
years ago, can be haled before one of
these committees, taken in band by a
McCarthy or a Jenner or other ques-
tioner of similar temper. Before that
witness knows it he is trapped and
snared, perhaps merely by lapse of
memoiy. into a Statement or denial
which may bring him before a judge
or Jury where, meeting much of the
same atmosphere, he is put into pnson
and castigated as a traitor and a felon.
It is to avoid the use of physical force
and violence that wise men use the
milder weapons of protestation and, if
needs be, civil disobedience. The les-
sons of history and of man's hfe
throughout all time teach us that force
is the ultimate but inevitable weapon
of a frustrated people whose liberties
are being trampled upon.
Every country has fovinded its free-
doms in force. But it is to avoid the
ultimate necessity of such a radical
remedy that men of distinction should
come forward and be counted so that
their weight and their prestige may
help to tum back, in a peaceful man-
ner, the invading tide of tyranny and
oppression. That is where all of its
readers expect The Times to be.
DangerH in Waiting
You talk about the "tide of freedom
and enlightenment certni^y gathering
force and it will become irresistible by
a natural process of the reassertion of
i^itC^ ou
Dr. EinsLein's reply, daled May
16, was as follcws:
Dear Mr. Franenglas.s:
Thank yoii for your rommunfca-
tlon. 13y "remote fleld" I leferred
to the theoretical foundationa of
physics.
The ^t^.blem wlfh whicb the In-
lellectual.s of this couiiUy arc
confionted ig very seiiouB. The
reactioniiy politicians have man-
aged to instill suspicion of all in-
tollectual effüits into the public
by dangling before their eyes a
danger f rom without. Having suc-
ceeded so far they are now pro-
ceeding to suppress the freedom
of teaching and to deprive of
1 their positions all those who do
not prove submissive, i. e., to
I starve them.
• What oiight the minority of in-
tellectuals to do against this evil?
Frankly, 1 can see only the revo-
i lutionary way of non-cooperation
in the sonsc of Gandhi's. Every
intelloctual wiio is called before
one of the comniittees ought to
\ refuse to toatify, i. e., he must bc
prepared for jail and economic
ruin, in Short, for the sacrifice
of bis personal welfare in the in-
terest of thÄ cultural welfare of
his country.
This refusal to testify must be
based on the assertion that it is
shameful for a blameless Citizen
to submit to such an Inquisition
and that thts kind of Inquisition
You question the right o£ a wiUies»
to refuse to testify in some of the Con-
gressional hearings upon constitutional
grounda. 1 a/ik you in all fairnea«: Of
what use are constitutional safeg^uard»
if the possessor thereof has no right
to assert them, and to assert them, too.
without any inference of guilt er tainl ?
If, by asserting them, the witness is to
(be ipso facto dubbed a criminal and to
^^se Position as such, then the safe-
^guards are a mere pretense and, far
from bein^ a shield, becomo a suicidal
sword on which he im automatically
impaled.
There is a climate cxisting today in
our public forums, our investigative
bodies and similar undertakings which
is permeated with hysteria. Such is the
atmosphere breathed out by McCarthy
and some others in the Congressional
heahnga. You admit that this is so.
Danger to Witness
A witness, altogether Innocent of any
wrongdoing but having what he con-
ceived to be liberal opinions and con-
victione some twenty or thirty or more
years ago, can be haled before one of
these committees, taken in band by a
McCarthy or a Jenner or other ques-
ll tioner of similar temper. Before that
witness knows it he is trapped and
snared, perhaps merely by lapse of
memory, into a statement or denial
which may bring him before a judge
or Jury where, meeting much of the
same atmosphere, he is put into prison
and castigated as a traitor and a felon.
It is to avoid the use of physical force
and violence that wise men use the
milder weapons of protestation and, if
needs be, civil disobedience. The les-
sons of history and of man's life
throughout all time teach us that force
is the ultimate but inevitable weapon
of a frustrated people whose liberties
are being trampled upon.
Every country has founded its free-
doms in force. But it is to avoid the
ultimate necessity of such a radical
remedy that men of distinction should
come forward and be counted so that
their weight and their prestige may
help to tum back, in a peaceful man-
ner, the invading tide of tyranny and
oppression. That is where all of its
readers expect Tue Timks to be.
DangerH in Waiting
You talk about the "tide of freedom
and enlightenment certarjiy gathermjc !
lorce and it will become irresistible by
a natural process of the rea.ssertioa of
I those moral and political pnnciples on
which our nation has always been
based.** In 1776 there were those who
preached this same gospel and doctrine
conceming the tyrannies of the British.
For much too long a time that was the
gospel preached with respect to segre-
gation and all the evils of discriminat-
ing laws and practices by the Southern
States. That is as fallacious a doctrine
as you claini Professor Emstein's sug-
gestions of civil disobedience to be.
Waiting for the processea of education
may prove dangerous becau.se — who
knows?— the opposmg cancerou.s proc-
essea may outgrow them and, in this
latter event. there must inevitably
come physical violence.
Safeguards such as are expressed in
our Constitution are sacred rights and
Privileges to be used and asserted by
any and every person who elects and
chooses to assert or use those rights.
Any attempt by government or by indi-
viduals either by direct or indirect
means and methods to nuUify those
rights and their assertion as one may
see fit, is, to my mind, a dangerous
Subversion of constitutional freedoms.
It is a pleasure to know that Pro-
fessor Einstein is not only one of the I
world's greatest scientists but is also
a ^political philosopher of farseeing _
Vision. E. O. AUSTIN, j
New York, June 13. 1953. i
r
-o
i 0
L L.tc. CJ
lOSEVELT HEEDED,
JIHSTEINASSERTS
lestic Issues Are Declared
äcondary to Problem of
World Security
Special to Tfir Nkw Yofk TiMr.?.
ENTON, N. J., Oct. 9— Dr.
l Einstein declared tonig^ht
even the most important do-
c issues were secondary in
>ming election to the problem
•ngingf about world security
lastingf peace, and on that
it he urged the public to sup-
President Roosevelt for a
term.
Einstein's views were made
in a Statement read for him, \
le was unable to appear in
before a rally of the In-
ent League for Roosevelt.
rs included Attorney Gen-
ancis J. Biddle, who during
V spoke also at Atlantic
trs. Kermit Roosevelt, Or-
lles and Frank Kin|*don.
.s discu.'^sion of the world
\ Dr. Einstein said:
Presidential election be-
nong the most crucial de-
'.he American people ever
■»d upon to makr. Will chil-
sparod the dreadful expe-
of our present generation
the heavy sacrifices Amer-
nade for her security once
ove f utile in the end?
lern of World Security
omestic issues, consequen-
they may be, are of scc-
mportance as hold agalnst
1 question, for they all de-
)n the Solution of the prob-
vvorld security and peace.
t satisfactory tax policies,
nee, would be of no avail
ew world crisis allowed to
A^ay even the most favor-
ditions and the most en-
g provisions in cur home
eure a lasting peace and
;t the future wo'rtd from
aggression will there-
he paramount and super-
difficult task of the years
For this job we sliould
man with long experience
ational affairs, a man who
knows about the inevitably uni-
versal Interconnection of all future
Problems, even those which appear
purely domestic, a man who is
used to considering every Single
problem from this broad point of
View, who has firm and long-
establiahed convictions as to the
necessity of this way of viewing
things and has proven right by the
verification of his foresight. What-
ever grievances anyone may have
against Roosevelt. there can be no
denial of his possessing these
qualifications.
"Together with Churchill and
Stalin he is striving hard to create
the atmosphere of loyalty and con-
fidence on which the security of
all nations depends. These men
have shown the will, the energy
and the moderation that are needed
for the accomplishment of this
gigantic work of peace. We should
not hamper the progress of this
work by creating a new Situation,
by undoing, or at least gravely en-
dangering subtle relations that
have grown through the friendly
Cooperation of the three men in
the last perilous years.
"The older among us still re-
member the fateful days when
Wilson's efforts to bring the world
security and peace were frustrat-
ed by the lack of siipport from his
fellow-citizens. This we must by
all means prevent from happening
again. not only in our own inter-
est but for the sake of our children,
for the sake of all nations which
have suffered so terribly and now
look to America for assistance in
their struggle for a free and united
world.
"Let US. therefore. do what we
can and use all our influence to
the effect that Roosevelt be elect-
ed by a vast majori ty."
EINSTEIN DECLARES
FOR A FOURTH TERM
Classes in Speaking Set
The Women's Action Committee
for Victory and Lasting Peace will
Sponsor a series of Speakers' train-
ing classes to be conducted by four
women prominent in lecture anW,
radio fields, with the first sessio»/^
to be held at 11 A. M. today at tiie
Bank of Manhattan, Madijon Ave-
nue at Sixty-fourth Street. Instruc-
tors will be Eleanor Nash. Adelaide
Hawley, Mrs. George Fielding EUot
and Fanny Bradshaw. The classes
will meet twice a week, the morn-
ing sessions to be held on Tucsdays
at the bank and the evening Ses-
sion at 6 P. M., Thursdays, at 1
East Fifty-seventh Street, head-
quarters of the committee.
Leagae of Indeptndent Voters
Is Started in Jersey
Special to Tmk New York Timks.
PRINCETON, N. J.. May 22 —
Dr. Albert Einstein, internatlonally
famous scientist who has made
Princeton his home for a decade,
issued a brief Statement today urg-
ing the re-election of President
Roosevelt for a fourth term. His
Statement was made in conjunction
with a meeting held at the Prince-
ton Inn to form a New Jersey
League of Independent Voters to
campaign to return the President
to Office.
Dr. Frank Kingdon of South Or-
ange, former President of the Uni-
versity of Newark, was elected
President of the league. James Im-
brie of Trenton was chosen secre-
tary. The steering committee,
which will begin at once to organ-
ize county committees, includes
Walter Bayer of Atlantic City,
Frank Ryan of Camden, Morris H.
Cohen of Newark, Roger Hinds of
South Orange, Frank C. Mooney of
Jersey City, George Pellettieri of
Trenton, George Lamont of Somer-
ville and David Fales of New
Brunswick.
p
-Uv \\, \\So
NEW YORK WORLD-TELEGRAM AND
Rankin Calls Einstein
'Cid Faker' and Pro-Red
f Associated Presn.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 14.— Rep.
John Rankin «D.. Mis.s.) .said yes-
terday that Albert Elnf^tein is an
"cid faker" who should have been
deported long ago because of his
*'Communistic activities."
The Mississippian said, further-
more, that Prof. Einstein had
nothing to do with developing the
atom bomb.
At Prof. Einstein 5 New Jersey
home, a spoke.-man >;aid the scien-
tist would make no comment on
Mr. Rankin'.s statement.
Prof. Einstein is generally ratcd
among scientists as the greate.st
theoretical physicLst since Newton.
The United States embarked on
. the A-bomb project after Einstein
wrote to President Roosevelt dur-
ing the war saying that .such a
bomb was po.ssible and that the
Germans might succeed in pro-
ducing one.
Mr. Rankin said. *'One of the
greatest fakers the world ever
knew is Albert Ein.stein who should
have been deported for his Com-
Tnuni.stic actlvities years ago.
**He has been engaged in Com-
munl.stic activities in this countrv
'for a long time. , . , He had no
more to do with developmerit of
the atomic bomb than if there
hadn'f- been such a thing." '
Einstein Stand Calied
Insult to Red-Hunters
By thf A'isnciiitrd Press.
PHILADELPHIA. June 15.~For-
mcr Sen. Herbert R. O'Conor 'D..
Mri.'> has accused Dr. Albert Ein-
stein of "unwarranied intcrf»'r-
i ence" for advisinß American
j tcachers to refu.se to tesiify before
i a Senate committee probing pos-
sible Communist affiliations.
In a Speech here ycsterday. Mr.
O'Conor calied tue .^cientist's ad-
vice an "indefensiblc incident" .nd
"an insulf to the Senate Intornol
Security Committee.
The former head of tlie Senate,
Crime Committee calied Dr. Eni-
vStein's statement to tcachers "tlus
gratuitous coim.scl" which "com^s
with bad prace from Dr. Einstein,
one who should not be permittcd
to impede the efforts of officip^-
of our nation to uproot anv
vers*ve activities. if the^'
the \miversities pnd r
}
h^KM^v V « ^ "*. ?'"***'■'" 'onimenioratlve dinner will be
Md in N V. Siinday nlffht. Sl Fabian, the theaterohain Operator
who Is chairman of the evcnt. was one of the froup visiUn^
^ Einstem on his 74H. birthday. They lold the scientfst öf the pl"S
t« build the Albert Einstein (College of Medicine i.ere. and as'ked
per„,isston to „so bis „an.e. "Wi.y nie?" Einstein sald "Why not
~ple •• """'^' '"'■ " '■•""^ ^""* man-Mai„.o„idcs "ol
Marc Clia^all will anive from Franpo on May 2G to kcture
and paint somc Irescoos at Brandeis University . ! . Tho nation>
^
/^
n
\
/^yv
K] ^D^
cUcd.
'Vi
4
^i
A
Und die Ptosen werden blühen
Zum 75. Geburtstag Albert Einsteins / Von Hans Kudszus / j b^'
Mit einer nur hannlo««en ühertreibunq darf
Bian heute sagen: die ganze Weh kennt ihn
und der Welt ist er so unbekannt, daß fasr
keiner ihn kennt. Wer aus der jetzt sehr weit-
räumig gedachten Welt der Gebildeten und
nicht nur der Gebildeten kennt nicht den
Kopf Albert Einsteins mit dem immer wie
.vom Winde verwehten weißen Haar, den
vierfach nebeneinander tief eingefurditen
Horizontalfalten in der Stirnfläche und dem
fast kindlich-weltoffenen Glanz der großer
Augen, die nodi mehr an Goethe erinnern
"würden, wenn in ihnen weniger eindringlich
der Ausdruck verhaumter Abwesenheit läge.
Wer vciDindet nicht mit diesem Nanaen Asso-
ziationen an den Habitus eines bohemehaften
„Zigeuners", al© den er sic+i selbst mal be-
zeichnete, zu dem die Pfeife und der Violin-
kasten ebenso gehören wie zu Churchill die
Brasilzigarre und die Palette.
Weit bekannt sind auch mancherlei Anek-
doten, die von einem unbekümmert Eis-
"waffeln essend durch die Straßen von Prince-
ton und unbeschuht auf Socken durch die
Wohnung ambulierenden, allem Förmlichen
und Feierlichen, allen Effekten und aller
'Affektiertheit abholden „Einspänner" erzählen.
Er selbier bekennt einmal, daß er in einem
Doppelgeschirr oder in Gemeinschaftsarbeit
nicht zu gebrauchen wäre und niemals in seinem
•o becomc '«^«"t of
>n Chaim-f*^' '^a^n dl
ned.
GABRI ELE
Von Anton Schnack
Wie Strophe einer Vogelkehle.
Dazu paßt Weiß: (Das Weiß des Schnees)
Und das Behutsame der Schwäne.
Dazu paßt Blau (Das Blau des Sees),
Die Liebe eines Attaches
Mit einer grauen Sdiläfensträhne.
Der Name paßt für Baronessen,
So ohnegleichen, wie Porz'llan.
Er paßt für Liebesbriefadressen
Und duftet gut nach Thymian.
Er paßt zur Landschaft der Zypressen
Und zu der Heldin im Roman.
Er paßt in einen Bildnisrahmen
Zu einem Mondscheinaquarell.
Er war beliebt bei Reifrockdamen,
Die an den Hof des Königs kamen,
Hochbeinig, schlank wie Ariel:
(Grund für ein Eifersuchtsduell.)
Er paßt für seelenfromme Nonnen,
Er trägt die Last der Einsamkeit.
Er ist zu Gott emporgesponnen —
Von hier zu Gott; der Raum ist weit.
Man denkt dabei der Weg-Madonnen,
Von Staub begraben . . . schneeverschneit.
Leben zu einem Land, einem Staat, einem
Freundeskreis, ja auch nur zur eigenen Fa-
milie gehört habe.
Man V eiß von dem gar nicht so selten recht
ironischen, gelegentlich zynischen Esprit sei-
ner Schlaqfertiqkeit, von seinem Humor, von
seinem Pazifismus, der aus demokratischer
Gesinnung sowohl als auch jeder Diktatur
feindlich ist. Mian weiß aber auch, daß
dieser ihn keineswegs hindeirte, in
einem weltgeschichtlich bedeutsamen Brief
vom 2. August 1939 den nordamerikanischen
Präsidenten Roosevelt zur Konstruktion der
ersten Atombombe zu motivieren, für die er
selber durch seine Forschungen die theore-
tischen Gnmdlanen gelegt hatte. Man weiß
•auch von der „Internationalen Binstein-Kriegs-
dienstverweigorer-Stiftung", deren Gründung
*»r 7UistimmtR. k ( -'
von Japan, dem König Alfons XIII. von Spa-
nien und, anläßlich der Verleihung des Nobel-
preises für Physik 1922 in Göteborg, dem
König von Schweden. Es stimmt also schon:
die Welt kennt Albert Einstein. Es stimmt
aber auch, daß Albert Einstein der Weit ein
großer Unbekannter ist. Warum?
Das „Eigentliche" Einsteins liegt, wie bei
jedem Geistigen vom Format de« Schöpfe-
rischen, in seinem Werk. Nicht dessen quanti-
tative Ausmaße sind entscheidend; obwohl
die Bibliographie immerhin bis 1953 nicht
weniger als 312 literarische Dokumente unter-
schiedlichen Umfangs aufweist. Was das Werk
schwer zugänglich macht, ist seine innere
Kompliziertheit; eine Kompliziertheit so hohen
Grades, daß der Name Einstein bereits ein
Synonym für Unverständlichkeit geworden ist.
Wenn höchste Ansprüche an ein wirklich
intimes Verstehen gestellt werden, würden
wohl kaum mehr als ein Dutzend Menschen
auf der weiten Erde die Probe aufs Exempel
bestehen können. Dabei ist das Werk fraglos
von einer nicht willkürlich, sondern aus tief-
liegenden methodologischen Gründen ergrif-
fenen Intention zu größtmögliciier Einfachheit
erfüllt. Bereits von Kirchhoff (1876) wurde
das Postulat erhoben, unter Verzicht auf jede
komplizierte und wesenhaft problematische
philosophische Begründung der Physik, die in
ihren Bereich fallenden Naturerscheinungen
„vollständig und auf die einfachste Art zu be-
schreiben". Dieses Postulat war auch für
Hertz (1888) verbindlich, wenn er zur Ver-
meidung erschwerender Hilfskonstruktionen
auf eine Ableitung der Maxwellschen Grund
gleichungen aus der mechanistischen Physik
verzichtete und sie als Hypothesen ansetzte;
ebenfalls für Mach, und damit auch für den
von ihm in methodischer Hinsicht beeinfluß-
ten Einstein.
Theorie heißt für ihn, mit einem Minimum
von Hypothesen oder Axiomen ein Maximum
von Phänomenen durch logische Deduktionen
umspannen.
Wer sich eine Übersicht über die Struktur
der Einsteinschen Theorien erworben hat,
muß bestätigen, daß ihre grundlegenden
Prinzipien und Ausgangshypothesen von über-
raschender Einfachheit und in ihren Konse-
quenzen von nicht minder überraschender
Fülle sind; nur daß sich die Einfachheit mit
einer in der Entwicklung des Werkes immer
mehr zunehmenden Abstraktheit, Unanschau-
lichkeit imd Erlebnisferne verknüpft. Zieht
man gleichzeitig noch die ebenfalls mit der
wachsenden Vollendung des Werkes zu-
nehmende Kompliziertheit des mathematischen
Apparates in Betracht, so ahnt man, was
H. G. Wells gemeint haben mag, wenn er
die Eigenart des Einsteinschen Denkens mit
dem glücklich gewählten Terminus „subtile
Einfachheit" festhielt.
Diese, nicht das vielberufene „Revolutio-
näre" der Einsteinschen Physik macht sie
schwer zugänglich. Da« Revolutionäre seiner
Leistung schätzt Einstein seiher gering ein,
bestreitet es im Grunde, da für ihn jeden-
falls die eine seiner beiden großen Leistun-
gen, die Relativitätstheorie, die natürliche
und systematische Fortsetzung der Maxwell-
Lorentzschen Elektrodynamik ja die Fortent-
wicklung einer seit Jahrhunderten verfolg-
baren geschichtlichen Linie ist. Während die
zweite große Tat Einsteins, die an die Ar-
beiten von Max Planck und Lenard an-
knüpfende Lehre von der quantenhaften Zu-
sammensetzung des Lichts — nach ihr kan»n
das Licht nur in Portionen von bestimmter
Größe ausgesendet werden — , eine wohl doch
schon revolutionär zu nermende Neukon-
struktion der Physik nötig machte. Und noch
mehr mag das gelten von dem gewaltigsten
Wurf Einsteins, von der „Einheitlichen Feld-
theorie", deren mögliche empirische Kontrolle
noch aussteht} ist es doch das Ziel dieser
Theorie, die Relativitätstheorie, die unsere
Ideen von Raum, Zeit und Gravitation neu
formte, und die Quantenphysik, die unsere
Anschauungen vom Atom und von den
Elementarteilchen der Materie und der Ener-
gje umgeßtaltete, das heißt zwei in ihren
Grundlagen voneinander völlig unabhängige
ujid zueinander nicht spannungsfreie Theorien, | \
so zu vereinheitlichen, daß eine fast hybride
anmutende Aufgabe gelöst ist: eine Reihev
von Gesetzen zu finden, die sowohl für die \
elektromagnetischen Felder und die Gravita-
tionsfelder de« Weltraumes wie für die un-
vorstellbar winzigen Kraftfelder des Atoms
gelten. Sie hat mithin den Makrokosmos uind
den Mikrokosmos gleichsam als Facettie-
rungen einer letzten physikalischen Realität,
des Urfeldes oder — mag dieses „oder" auch
dem Nichtphysiker unverständlich sein — der
Struktur des vierdimensionalen Raumes, dar-
zustellen. Dann erst erweist sich die durch-
aus nicht absurde Union von Einfachheit und
Komplikation der Natur, der wir uns mit
Einstein nur mittels der raffiniertesten
mathematischen Denktechniken zu bemächti-
gen vermögen. „Gott ist raffiniert, aber bos-
haft ist er nicht" steht an einer Wand im
„Institute for Advanced Studie«" in Prince-
ton geschrieben, an dem Einstein seit 1933
seiner Forschertätigkeit nachgeht.
Einen weit revolutionären Charakter aber
als der gesamte Einsteinsche Theorienkomplex
besitzt, von der Newtonschen Mechanik aus
gesehen, der Typus Physik, der von Louis de
Broglie, Schrödinger, Dirac, Heisenberg und
Niels Bohr im Anschluß an die Einsteinsche
Theorie der Lichtcjuanten geschaffen ist und
unter Ablehnung jeder metaphysischen Auf-
fassung der Wissenschait die Verwirklichung
eines radikal positivistischen Programms be-
deutet. Für diesen Typus ist Wissenschaft , *
nicht die Erforschung einer objektiven Welt
physikalischer Realitäten, sondern nur die Be-
schreibung, Ordnung und Systematisierun(|
von Beobachtungen mit Hilfe bestimmter
Meßapparate. Für Einstein aber ist Wissen- *
Schaft die Eruierunq der in der Natur selber
verborgenen Rationalität, der objektiven
Vernunft des Weltsystems, der geheimen
„definitiven Theorie" der Realität selber.
Reines Denken ist für Einstein befähigt,
die Weisheit des Seins selber zu erfassen. In
diesem Sinn ist er kein Nachfolger Macbs,
sondern ein unmodern-moderner Erbe
Spinozas und Hegels. Er selber kennt sehr
genau diese seine „Hegelei", das „Don
Quichottesche Element", das man als „Laster"
brandmarken kann; aber „wo dies Laster
gründlich fehlt, ist der hoffnungslose Philister
auf dem Plan". Der moderne subjektivistisch-
positivistische Geist, der die Außer-Ein-
steinsche Physik beherrscht, ist für Einstein
eine „Mode", die die Geister beherrscht; denn
Menschen seien suggestibler noch als Pferde
Diese von vielen Lesern vielleicht nicht er-
wartete philosophische, dezidiert metaphy-
sische Interpretation seiner Wissenschaft
rückt Einstein noch in einen anderen Aspekt:
der Glaube an die Vernunft des Seins ist für
ihn der „Kern jeder wahren Religit)sität". Er
bekannte von sich, „in diesem Sinne gehöre
ich in die Reihen der aufrichtig religiösen
Menschen", und gab seiner Einstellung selber
den Titel einer „kosmischen Religion", für die
er andererseits gelegentlich Wendungen fand,
die in die Richtung eines personalistischen
Theismus weisen. Dazu rechnen wir auch das
vielleicht nur metaphorisch gemeinte pn^&ii-
voUe Wort, mit dem er betonte, daJ er im
Gegensatz zu dem positivistischen Typua der
Physik an dem klassischen Prinzio der Kau-
salität und des Determinismus festhält und sie
nicht zugunsten rein statistisder Gesetz-
mäßigkeiten opfern will: „Ich werde nie
1
Dazu pdht Blau (Das Blau des Sees),
Die I-lebe eines Attadi^s
Mit einer grauen Sdiläfensträhne.
Der Name paßt für Baronessen,
So ohnegleichen, wie Porz'llan.
Er paßt für Liebesbriefadressen
Und duftet gut nach. Thymian.
Er paßt zur Landschaft der Zypressen
Und zu der Heldin im Roman.
Er paßt in einen Blldnlsrahmen
Zu einem Mondscheinaquarell.
Er war beliebt bei Reifrod(damen,
Die an den Hof des Königs kamen,
Hochbeinig, schlank wie Ariel:
(Grund für ein Eifersuchtsduell.)
Er paßt für seelenfromme Nonnen,
Er trägt die Last der Einsamkeit.
Er ist 2.U Gott emporgesponnen —
Von hier zu Gott: der Raum ist weit.
Man denkt dabei der Weg-Madonnen,
Von Staub begraben . . . schneeverscbneit.
Leben zu einem Land, einem Staat, einem
Freundeskreis, ja audi nur zur eigenen Fa-
milie gehÖTt habe.
Man V eiß von dem gar nicht so selten redit
ironischen, qelegentlich zynischen Esprit sei-
ner Schlagfertiqkeit, von seinem Humor, von
seinem Pazifismus, der aus demokratischer
Gesinnung sowohl als auch jeder Diktatur
feindlich ist. Mtan weiß aber auch, daß
dieser ihn keineswegs hinderte, in
einem weltgeschichtlich bedeutsamen Brief
vom 2. August 1939 den nordamerikanischen
Präsidenten Roosevelt zur Konstruktion der
ersten Atombombe zu motivieren, für die er
selber durch seine Forschungen die theore-
tischen OnndUnen gelegt hatte. Man weift
auch von der „Internationalen Einstein-Kriec^s-
dienstverweigorer-Stiftung", Heren Gründung
♦»r 7vstiniTnto
..**j-i)is(iam gab es einen „Einstein-Turm",
in Palästina wächst der „Einstein-Wald". Der
Forscher geriet in den Sog politischer Skandale
und Kontroversen, weil die gefährlichste
Union, die sich denken läßt, die Union von
menschlicher Niedertracht und massiver
Dummheit, sich an seiner von unbegreiflicher
Genialität aufgebauten Ideenwelt verging; und
andererseits, weil Einstein zeitlebens von dem
Grundsatz besessen war, ein „sauberes Bei-
spiel zu cfeben" und „den Mut zu haben,
ethische V/berzeugungen in der Gesellschaft
von Zynikern ernsthaft zu vertreten". Damit
wollte der bis z\ir Ablehnung des Schachspiels
allem Agonalen und Militanten abgeneiate
Forscher keineswegs die Rolle eines poli-
tischen oder sozialen Reformers, Fanatikers
oder rrar Revolutionärs spielen, die durch seine
konstitutionelle Distanzierunq zu ieder ideolo-
gisch fixierten Schablone ausgeschlossen ist;
mag auch die scharfe, aber schmale Grenz-
linie zwischen ethischen Postulaten und poli-
tischen Parolen in einer von Tag zu Tag sich
zunehmend politisierenden und d||r Kategorie
der „Totalen" verfallenden Welt in der Praxis
noch schwerer als in der Theorie zu ziehen
sein.
Witzblätter machten aus ihm eine Standard-
Figur. Wer die zwanziger Jahre mit Bewußt-
sein erlebte, erinnert sich des seit 1920 orga-
nisierten Kampfes gegen Einstein, der beson-
ders in der Berliner Philharmonie unter Füh-
rung eines obskuren Paul Weyland, des für
spekulative Abstraktionen gänzlich unbegab-
ten Physikers E. Gehrcke, und des beaabteren
Nobelpreisträgers und politischen Wirrkopfes
Philipp Lenard inszeniert wurde; auch gegen
seine tausendfach miß- und unverstandene Re-
lativitätstheorie, die bald als „Bolschewisten-
physik", bald als Dokumentierunq „asiatischen
Geistes" und „talmudischen Denkens" diffa-
miert wurde, während man sie stellenweise in
Frankreich als „Produkt des teutonischen Han-
ges zur mvstischen Spekulation" glaubte ent-
larven zu können.
Zu seiner weltläufigen Bekanntheit hat seino
Vortragstätigkeit viel beigetragen: er sprach
fast immer über die von ihm aufgebauten
Theorien, in Deutschland, Frankreich, Holland,
Belgien, Spanien, Österreich und der Tschecho-
slowakei, in Nord- und Südamerika, England,
Japan. China und Palästina Die Massen lern-
ten ihn kennen, und ebenso die „Großen der
Welt"^ von Lloyd George und Bernhard Shaw,
von Kafka, Whitehead und Henri Bergson bis
zum Gouverneur von Palästina, der Kaiserin
bUldil Uie
Theorie heißt für ihn, mit einem Minimum
von Hypothesen oder Axiomen ein Maximum
von Phänomenen durch logische Deduktionen
umspannen.
Wer sich eine Übersicht über die Struktur
der Einsteinschen Theorien erworben hat,
muß bestätigen, daß ihre grundlegenden
Prinzipien und Ausgangshypothesen von über-
raschender Einfachheit und in ihren Konse-
guenzen von nicht minder überraschender
Fülle sind; nur daß sich die Einfachheit mit
einer in der Entwicklung des Werkes immer
mehr zunehmenden Abstraktheit, Unanschau-
lichkeit imd Erlebnisferne verknüpft. Zieht
man gleichzeitig noch die ebenfalls mit der
wachsenden Vollendung des "Werkes zu-
nehmende Kompliziertheit des mathematischen
Apparates in Betracht, so ahnt man, was
H. G. Wells gemeint haben mag, wenn er
die Eigenart des Einsteinschen Denkens mit
dem glücklich gewählten Terminus „subtile
Einfachheit" festhjelt.
Diese, nicht das vielberufene „Revolutio-
näre" der Einsteinschen Physik macht sie
schwer zugänglich. Das Revolutionäre seiner
Leistung schätzt Einstein selber gering ein,
bestreitet es im Grunde, da für ihn jeden-
falls die eine seiner beiden großen Leistun-
gen, die Relativitätstheorie, die natürliche
und systematische Fortsetzung der Maxwell-
Lorentzschen Elektrodynamik ja die Fortent-
wicklung einer seit Jahrhunderten verfolg-
baren geschichtlichen Linie ist. Während die
zweite große Tat Einsteins, die an die Ar-
beiten von Max Planck und Lenard an-
knüpfende Lehre von der guantenhaften Zu-
sammensetzung des Lichts — nach ihr kann
das Licht nur in Portionen von bestimmter
Größe ausgesendet werden — , eine wohl doch
schon revolutionär zu nennende Neukon-
struktion der Physik nötig machte. Und noch
mehr mag das gelten von dem gewaltigsten
Wurf Einsteins, von der „Einheitlichen Feld-
theorie", deren mögliche empirische Kontrolle
eines radikal positivistischen Programms be-
deutet. Für diesen Typus ist Wissenschaft
nicht die Erforschung einer objektiven Welt
physikalischer Realitäten, sondern nur die Be«
Schreibung, Ordnung und Systematisierung
von Beobachtungen mit Hilfe bestimmter
Meßapparate. Für Einstein aber ist Wissen-
schaft die Eruierung der in der Natur selber
verborgenen Rationalität, der objektiven
Vernunft des Wellsystems, der geheimen
„definitiven Theorie" der Realität selber.
Reines Denken ist für Einstein befähigt,
die Weisheit des Seins selber zu erfassen. In
diesem Sinn ist er kein Nachfolger Macbs,
sondern ein unmodern-moderner Erbe
Spinozas und Hegels. Er selber kennt sehr
genau diese seine „Hegelei", das „Don
Qnichottesche Element", das man als „Laster"
brandmarken kann; aber „wo dies Laster
gründlich fehlt, ist der hoffnungslose Philister
auf dem Plan". Der moderne subjektivistisch-
positivistische Geist, der die Außer-Ein-
steinsche Physik beherrscht, ist für Einstein
eine „Mode", die die Geister beherrscht; denn
Menschen seien suggestibler noch als Pferde.
Diese von vielen Lesern vielleicht nicht er-
wartete philosophische, dezidiert metaphy-
sische Interpretation seiner Wissenschaft
rückt Einstein noch in einen anderen Aspekt:
der Glaube an die Vernunft des Seins ist für
ihn der „Kern jeder wahren ReligiT)sität". Er
bekannte von sich, „in diesem Sinne gehöre
ich in die Reihen der aufrichtig religiösen
Menschen", und gab seiner Einstellung selber
den Titel einer „kosmischen Religion", für die
er andererseits gelegentlich Wendungen fand,
die in die Richtung eines personalistischen
Theismus weisen. Dazu rechnen wir auch das
vielleicht nur metaphorisch gemeirte prf*&\f-
volle Wort, mit dem er betonte, daj er im
Gegensatz zu dem positivistischen Typus der
Physik an dem klassischen Prinzio der Kau-
salität und des Determinismus festhält und sie
nicht zugunsten rein statistiscier Gesetz-
mäßigkeiten opfern will: „Ich werde nie
*
EINSTEIN RECEIVES
CERMANS' HÖMAGE
I
Western Papers Devote Much
Space to Birthday Paeans
— Flight Is Recalied !
Special to Th( Ntw York Times.
' BONN, Geimany, March 13—
West Gcrman newspapers have
%\ven much spac* to the sevcnty-
. fifth birthday of Prof. Albert
Einstein, which occurs tomorrow.
, Some of the articles have fillcd
i half a pagc. Photographs and
I drawings of Dr. Einstein have
been published in profusion.
The writers of the articles. in
;nany cases scientists, stress the
historical significance of Dr. Ein-
; stein's discoveries and their in-
i fliience on mankind. The writers
aß:ree that Dr. Einstein's work
has had a revolutionary effcct on
the ideas and psychology of man.
Also, the articles notc, that Dr."
Ematein was driven into exile by
'{ the Nazis and obtaincd refugc in
the United States, whcre he con-'
tinued his contribution.s to scicnce.l
The authois share another atti-i
fl tude— reverence for Dr. Ein.stein!
. Uie man as well a.s the scicntist.'
Several of them emphasize thati
; the scientist had bcei ^orccd into'
€xilc bccause he was a Jew.
Commemoration Programt
litical leader.«; and newspapers
also are relebrating this weck-
end the lOOlh anniversary of the
birth of Paul Ehrlich and Emil
von Behrin«-. two of the greatest.
Pioneers in the field of immunol-
ogy. I
Ehrlich, a Jew. collaborated
with von Behring in having'
working out the thcory and prac-
'ice of immunization "against in-
'ections diseases. He al.so pro-
duced salvar.san. a eure for
syphili.s. Von Behring produced
a serum again.st cerebral spinal
meningitis. and also made nota-
ble discoveries of methods to
combat diphtheria.
Both men worked on the the-
oty that the human body pio-
duces it.«? own antibodies again.st
disease. Ehrlich died in 191.5. von
Behring in 1917. Each mon No-
bel Piizes.
Prof. Theodore Heus.s. West
German President, will presideatj
a centenary commemoration be-
ginning tomorrow in Frankfurt,
whete Ehrlich worked. and con-
tinuing to Marburg Univcrsity,
wher«» von Behring worked. The
commemoration program will last
three days.
Israel Plans Honors
JERUSALEM, March 3 (JP\ ~
Piesident Izhak Benzvi of Israel
will dcliver the leading address at
a convocation tomorrow in honor
of Dr. Albert Einstein's seventy-
fifth biithday. Many Israeli schol-
ar« will discu.ss various aspects
of the scientists work.
The progra mhas been organ-
ized by ' Hebrew University of
Jerusalem, the overnment R«.
«earch Council. Technological In-
stitute of Haifa and the Veiz-
:ute of Science,
stein is a member of the
• u öf ;5^c"«rnora of Hebrew
versity, froV^ which he holds
-»norarv' de^''^ * He was in
'o become ident of Is
"n Chaim W '^«nn die('
ned.
^^
length of time was in 1948, when he
accidentally met a concert pianist and
her brother, a Violinist with the Co-
lonne Symphony Orchestra just over
from Paris. On the street they got
Into a discussion of music and Einstein
asked if the brother itnew the Bach
double concerto and the Vivaldi double
concerto. The Violinist said that he
did and they were beautiful, and Ein-
stein said, "I will come to you this
evening." That night he came with
his violin and his music, and the three
played all night.
Here in his home, despite his re-
moteness, he loves to greet his friends'
children whenever he feels up to it. Re-
cently, the daughter of a friend and
her husband, who is a physicist. called
on him. and he welcomed them with,
"Here comes the younger generation.
What shall we talk about ?"
The young man suggested politics,
.*nd they discussed that for about ten
minutes. Then Einstein said, "Oh, well,
let's go on tu what we like best."
They disappeared into another room,
and for three hours talked physics.
N,
O report on Einstein would be com-
plete without some mention of what
he means to scientlsts and to the world.
Speaking for physicists, Dr. Oppen-
heimer puts it this way: "The remark-
able thing has been the wonderful eye
that he has for the deep order of things
—the immense power to get rid of the
trivia. to see where the Wide and the
beautiful truth lies. So he gave us a
new confidence in human reason and
its ability to cope with new experience
— to seek unexpected harmony and
structure."
His old friend Gödel, Czech-bom, a
master of mathematical logic who has
been on the faculty here since 1940,
has this to say:
"The reason why Einstein appeals to
the Imagination of so many people in
the World is that his theories don't
have an interest only for specialists.
They also concern very general phil-
osophical problems: for instance, the
essence of time, of the fundamental
concepts which occur in science and
in everyday life. Partly because his
theories have such a general meaning,
partly because of his personality — his
* wohlwollen / his well-meaning toward
everybody people feel this influence
without knowing him directly."
R
ERHAPS Einstein himself has pro-
vided the best answer to what he has
come to mean.
Here where he likes to live quietly,
a semi-recluse with his books and his
notes and his thoughts, there is one
thing that brings him out, as it brought
him out in the Thirties against bigotry
and the Nazis: that is what he con-
ceives to be the ideals of human be-
havior and human rights. To millions
of people he is not only some grand
and obscure genius but, in a deep, per-
sonal sense, a flesh-and-blood neighbor
and philosopher of great kindness and
compassion. To them he is never so
detached from the world that he can
ignore the human equation; indeed. his
outspoken abhorrence of demagogues
and political trickery have more than
In his familiär wool cap, Einstein strides homeward through Princeton from his office.
once recently made him a controver-
sial figure.
As one associate interprets this: "He
is füll 'of worry and contempt that
there are fewer and fewer liberal voices
to be heard speaking up for freedom
and decency and truth. And if his
voice has to be the last to speak, he
thinks, then let it be the last."
* * *
AS the scientist and humanist goes
on with his work, puzzles over
the equations and searches for the way,
one recalls his words which have been
etched in stone on a fireplace in Eine p^
Hall: "Raffiniert ist der Herr Gott,
Aber Boshaft ist Er Nicht."
"God is aubtle, but he is not ma^ y
hcious." f
And as he greets his friends, one is
reminded of his recent admonition to
a sick friend who protested that his
taking time to come and Visit him was
"an imposition."
Einstein wagged his finger and told
him — and seemingly the world:
"The Word imposition is never used
where there is love."
1
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ead-Pipe Cinch
Thal is the plumber's lot or is it? Anyway,
Dr. Einstein evokes some Stillsonian thoughts.
By C. B. PALMCR
I
N Ins iung and fabuUnus caieei Di.
Albeil Einstein has intitKUirfd a
number of fiiiuianriental contepts
and qiiite a few leained pioposilions.
But hitherto he has not \)een known
as a eontributor to the Anieiiran ver-
nacular. Now he has come pietty dose
to coining a phrase: "As independeni
HS a plumber." He didn't say that.
exactiy. He said. ((Hu-eining emioarh-
ments on the free pursuit of scholai-
ship. that if he were starting life over
again he would not eiert to be a seien-
tist or teachei but: "I would lather
choose to be a plumber or a peddler in
the hope to find that niodest degree of
independence still available under pres-
ent circumatances."
Few people are in a position to argue
. with Dr. Einstein on scientific matt^rs,
but there are plenty who will Charge
him with gross Understatement in re-
ferring to a "modest degree of inde-
pendence" in plumbers. To most of us,
a plumber is a man who has a shop
around the corner, with a door on it
that is aiways shut, and pasted on the
Xlass is aiways a hand-lettered card
ying: "Back in ^ hour." The sign
has ooviously been there since 1927.
He is listed in the phone bock, but no
one has answered that phone since
1928
He is a man of admirable skill. al-
most indispensable in many a house-
hold crisiü. \nd 't is probably that
indispensability which helps make him
independent. If your lights go out you
can struggle along with candles. If
your oil burner falls you can wear
your mink around the living room. But
if your sink or -well, anything like
that gets stopped up. you absolutely
have to have expert help. No amount
of poking, jabbing and pouring strong
solvents m will do the trick. You have
to call The Plumber.
lou get him in one of two ways:
(1) set a bear trap m front of that
Shop door; (2) call his wife. who says
she hasn't seen him since yesterday
but she' 11 leave a message. The first
method catches potential patrons, but
not plumbers. The second yields re-
sults a day later. when the man calls
back, aoks what the trouble is and says
^ hell try to fit you in Thursday.
And he really gets there Thursday.
parking his truck in the driveway just
as you are about to take your own car
out of the garage to drive to the sta-
Dr. Albert Ein.-.tein has dc-
ciared that, if he had his c^reer
to lashion all over again, "I
would not Iry to become a scien-
tist or Scholar or teacher."
In a letter to the editor to be
published tomorrow in The Re-
porter magazine, the famous
physicißt said he would become a
plumber or a peddler to seck the
independence that thcsa voca-
tiona afford.
The letter was written fn re-
sponse to a request from The Re-
porter Tor Dr. Einstein's coni-
ments on a recent series in the
magazine by Theodore H. White,
"U. S. Science: The Troublcd
Quest." The series said that
Centers of intellectual life were
tion. The Standard joke about the troubled by recent Federal ac-
plumber aiways having to go back for tions concerning scientists.
a certain wrench is away out of date; Dr. Einstein has been an out-
nowadays he arrives with enough^'Poken critic of these actions.
equipmem to overhaul the Empire Wheii Dr. J. Robert Opprnheimer
State Building (or at least the Chrys-^'^s dmi^d .seciirity clearance by
1er). A good portion of this is carried^'^« Atomic Energy Commission,
into the house in large satchels and
band trunks and distributed among
the Spode in the dish drainer or the
guest towels in the bathroom. as the
case may be. After a certain amount
of muttering and a dismaying number
of loud clanks the Job is done and the
man goes. saying he'll send you a bill.
Maybe he does and maybe he doesn't.
That's how independent he is. |
A good part of his independence
stems no doubt from the fact that he
is aiways being called on to correct
human error. Folks keep trying to
get drains and pipes and tanks to do
things they weren't designed to do.
That fact alone is bound to give a man
a certain simmering impatience. Also
a degree of .self-esteem is surely gen-
erated by the tokens of amateur ef-
forts to repair a leak with a pair of
dime-store pliers. an old pair of socks
and a band-aid; the skilled technician
need only paw through ninety-four
pounds of Stillson wrenches and fittings
to come up with exactiy the right an-
.swer « a double-hex reducer. )
If Einstein Were Young Again,
He Says, He'd Become a Plumber
Hn iO^
1954.
Dr. Einstein said: "The systeni-
atic, widpspread attempt to des-
troy mutiial trust and confidence*
constitules the scverest poasible
blow against society." i
Early this yoar he advised v/it-J
nessea to refuse to testify on their
EINSTEIN DECRIES
SCIENCE AS CAREER
Cuntinued From Page 1
activities before the legislative! in the liope to find that modesti
committee h^aded by Senator' degree of independence still I
ndependence still!
e linder present < ircum-
Joseph R. McCarthy, Republicanjavailabl
of Wisconsin. Istances.'
The text of Dr. Einstein's let-' In Princeton. Dr. Einsteins sec-
^^^'- jrotary dechned to elaboraLe on
"To the Editor: ;this comment.
"You have asked me what l'; In Publishing the leltei- Max
thought about your articles con-l^scoli, the editor of The Report-
cerning the Situation of the scicn-^^'"' ^^^^ ^^at it wns an honoj- but
tists in America. Instead of try-(j,^^.^^^i;\..^,.P'^^''^>'.''« ^^ publish
ing to analyze the problem, I maylTj^
•^ itnis letter from Albeit Einstein."
^ ,. -jThe comment will be freelv used
express my feeling m a short re- by enemr ' • '• '
les of the United States.
mark: If I would be a young man; he said.
again and had to decide how to, ^^'^ he added that the freedom
to Protest, whirh Hr Emstein'
ment, cant
r coun
,. good record
on ihis score, not ju.st a better
do the totalitai
nations. Mr. Ascoli
editorial comment.
Continiied on Page 37, Col »un 6
said
lan
in an
i^GRAMAND SUN, FRIDAV, NOVEMBER 12, 1954.
And Ruhe Goldberg Should Be a Scienlisl!
E
.INALLY. a man who already has a
sense of indispensability, a dishearten-
ing acquaintance with human frailty
and a flat and indisputable knowledge
of his own talents, and who adds to
these a feeling that no plumbing crisis
ever happens at a decent hour on a
quiet day. is very likely to set himself
apart from if not above — the rest of
mankind.
Plumbers show their independence
in a number of ways. Years ago a man
had to crawl under the foundations of
our house to put in a new pipe. He
sized up the Situation, opened up his
tool box. then turned and said: *'Have
you got an old shirt I could borrow?
I ha*e to get this one dirty." A neigh-
lx)r of ours teils about the plumber who
looked over the whole drainage system
and said with some asperity: "The
trouble with you folks is you do too
much washing."
Incidentally. the word "plumber"
comes from a Latin root meaning one
who works with lead. Not in his heels.
of course. , -
/
In Tin- oiJ) Lcagiic ot Nations I had
tlic privilcgc ol siitinij nn a toiiiiiiitlce
with II. A. Lortiit/., ianicd pliysicisl,
ami Nvilli liis cvcii morc iamous tlisciplc,
AllKTt lunstcin.
1 lic day canu u hcn a sliriiikiiii; budg-
el lorccd a rcadjustmcni in salarics.
Sincc WC a^MCfd that ihc ciits should bc
proportional lo thf rcduciion in l'unds,
it was a probkni in simple arithmctic.
lunstcin ainl Lorcniz bcgan scpa-
ralclv to work out thc ncw lit;urcs.
Pcriiaps onc iiscd trii^'ononuirv aiul thc
ollitT dillcrciilial calciilus. Biit thc two
seien tists cainc up with resiilts that
were not only conipletely dillercnt
biil toially al)surd.
Loreni/, iiis brows furrowed, stared
«5
Kkmkmhkk the arrival of
this hi^hly publicized Immi-
grant from (lermany in lOlili?
Here Albert Kinstein and bis
wife (now deceased) reacb
Los Angeles on the way to
make space studies at Mount
Wilson Observatory. Heing a
bigb-sehool pupil tben, I
asked him if there was any
limit to Space. His sincere
reply inslantly won him
friends. " Only God/' he said,
''can answer that/'
-LEO ROSENHOUSE.
Einstein Rescued
From Saranac Lake
Saranac Lake, Aug. 23 (A. P.).
—Prof. Albert Einstein and sev-
eral companions were thrown into
the choppy waters of lower Sara-
nac Lake when his sailboat cap-
sized yesterday, but they were
quickly rescued. None suffered
any ill effects.
86
TUE READL
fixcdly at Einstein, vvho rcgistered com-
plcte amazemcnt. Finally boih broke
into loiid, hclpless lau<;btcr. The con-
flict was solved by brin^ing in an
accouniant, ior whom the problems ol
ratio and proportion were child's play.
— lulio Casarts, of thc Royal Acadcmy, Ma<trid
M
NEW YOI
Einsfein Upsefs Odds,
Wins
Brooklyn Police Lt. Edward
J. Shea disclosed today that
Prof. Albert Einstein won a bet
for him recently when the
mathemetician — against odds
that he wouldn't— wrote him a
letter stating his theory of gov-
ernment.
Mr. Shea said that Hardy
Burt, producer for Facts
Forum's TV show, Answers for
Americans, bet him at a party
last month that he couldn't get
a reply from Mr. Einstein if he
wrote him on the subject. Prof.
Einstein did reply, and here is
his answer:
". . . A good government resp.
Constitution is— in my opinion—
one which gives the Citizen that
maximum amount of liberty
and political rights as is desir-
lable in his own interest. On the
lother band the state has to pro-
vide for the Citizen personal
security and a certain amount
of economic security. This Situ-
ation necessitates a compromise
between those two requirements
which has to be found accord-
ing to circumstances."
The Sun Dia
EINSTEIN
We have becn studying the latest Einstein
Theo»-/ of Relativity and our ignorance remains in-
tact but groggy. We arc left with an Impression that
whatever intelligence we possess
has been knuckle-balled to dcath.
If we get it correctly Dr. Ein-
stein's latest 1953 model stream-
lined equation reads:
"GiK; 2 minus 0 plus awk
equals 0.
Reckety-Kex equals 0 plus
RSVP over Hub.
This is a broad advance over
ihe conclusion that RIK minus
SNAFU is the equal of Vox over
Pop, but it still leaves the ques-
tion of this year's Kentucky Derby winner up in
the air and gives no adequate algebraic answer to
"caix the bums repeat this year?" "Whatever be-
came of Sen. Kefauver?" and "Are the olive and
the dry martini a dual necessity under the law of
Newton and Alcoholics Anonymous? Even assum-
ing the new equation could supply the answer to
these questions of cosmic importance, is not the
entire matter subject to a revicw by Sen. McCar-
thy, Dagmar and Mossadegh?
Epochal as is Dr. Einstein's new theorem, which
now includes an intellectual synthesis embracing
both thc f ield of gravitation and electro-magnetism,
the amazing concept barely touches the reasons for
the behavior of a man Walking backward up a
moving stairway (beyond establishing that it is his
own fault) and leaves unexplained the reason why
a $3800 sedan is always equipped with a $1.50
H. 1. Phillips
if.TC f jTionol
"SMILE FOR YOUR BIRTHDAY," said
the I.N.S. photographer. Willing but imp-
ish Albert Einstein, miscalculating the
speed of a news camera, decided to make ?
face first, got caught with his tongue out
By H. I. Phil
clock: why a man putting on his socks in tb
will always get one on inside out and how
that when "A" sets his sights on the parking
"X," the character designated as "B" wil
into it first?
There is no definite box-office appeal a
fail to see how the newest Einstein equati(
get public attention unless it can be dressed
Video and explained minutely by an adequate
band.
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sollten Inder Jugend der sowjetuchen Bevotzungszone entwickelt werden
Vor den kommun.itischen Gewalthobern marschierten im Gleich»chritt
Jungen mit geschulterten und Modchen mit umgehongten Gewehren »orbei.
1 •""
DA:
Ni\C!IRlC!ir£M
i
iits Elnstein's
^ilence Theory
Madison, Wis., June 13. (U.R).—
♦nator Joseph McCarthy (R-Wis.)
id today anyone who pave advice
ch as Dr. Albert Einstein did
is week **is himself an enemy of
merica."
"Anyone who advises Americans
, keep socret information which
ley niay have about spies and
iboteurs is himself an enemy of
merica," McCarthy said.
Einstein wrote William Frauen-
iass, a New York public school
acher who recently refused to
stify before the Senate Internal
ecurity subcommittee, stating
»at intellectuals called before
mgressional committees should
fuse to testify even if it means
il or economic ruin.
McCarthy, hcre to address the
te Republican Convention, said
e scientist's letter was "nothinp
w. That is the same advice tha
3 been given by every CommunI
; lawyer that has ever appeare«
fore our Committee."
\
'
ij^V^
uß.
COAST G.O,P. PAPER
ASSAILS EINSTEIN
California Organ Scores Hirn
as Leader of 'IntellectuaT
Opposition to McCarthy
f
THE NEW YORK TIMES,
ene Dukas. said at Princeton,
Ip«d«l to The New York Time«.
LOS ANGELES, April
10-
ally received tacit concurrence [Ainericans for Democratic Ac- ing exception to its observations
from the party membership. with tionl, the left-wing groupg and^^^'e ^^ecn received.
Fnanlmity Doubted
Other party observers said pri-
vately they doiibted there w^as as
much unanimitv among state par-
tisans about either Senator Mc- "Even his best friends woiild ad-
Carthy or Dr. Einstein as the mit Joe McCarthy has ahottomper
piiblication implied, and hazarded^ind a vitriolic tongue. * * *
that the expressed views might; "But he obviously is not against
evoke some dissent. the welfare of the nation, and is
In a leading article attacking,not trying to put over any snoaky
howling which is pretty sucress-\ '^"»»^t'» Einstein U Intere^ted
fully diverting the attention of _ ^^•_^j"-'^tein's secretary. He
the nation from what the Com
munists are doing to us.
^. J., v.'here the noted scholar
\ associated with the Institute
r Advanced Study, that he
•ew nothing about the attack
him and that she did not
\ik he would be interostcd.
ideas. He needs the füll (and
insistent) Cooperation and advice
'the kind of people who wouldn't
tum their back on AlEfer Hiss
The California Republican State'* « . ^^o support Owen Latti-'of his entire committee.
committee'» official otgan, de-jmore and who hate every anti-j "The A. D. A. Domocrats and
fending Senator Joseph R. Mc-'Communist/' the News Bulletin the Communists feel that the
Carthy of Wisconsin. bitterlV|Said: Republican party can be split
denouncea Dr. Albert Einstein asj "Albert Einstein, the^ noted ref- ^Y repetition of such attacks as
a leader of the "intellectual" op- "^^® ^^^^ European hatred and Adlai Stevenson made. and that
Position to th« investigation oflJy^:^^">\ y^peatedly adviseg 'in- the nation will turn away from
communism |tellectuals to refuse to testify the Republicans if enough fear;
Declaring that the Republicanh^D£f ^^^"«^ ^^«^^ Communist ties.-and doubt is sprcad."
Senator'« inquiries merited the' ^H "J?"; T^J', ^^« received! The News Bulletin is edited by
vhole-hearted support of Con- "'^'^ ^^® ^"^^®^ ^^^®^ ^*^ "^^^® '^'^^ Brown, assistant to Mr.
gressional colleagues. the latestlf.^^" !l^,?l*s P^'^'': arrogates to Murphv^
ißsue of the publication. the com-lj^^!?«^^^ ^^® ^^^^ to mstruct hiS; Mr Brown said the views ex-
mittee's biweekly News Bulletin. i!?"?^'^^<^"^^"^^"8: the extent of pounded in the latest issue re-
■aid this week: their Obligation to this nation. jflected generally the opinions
"McCarthy and [Senator Wil- "^® believes himself and those expressed at a state committee
liam G.] Jenner [of Indiana] and^^°,^^^"^ «« ^® ^o«« ^^ ^® above^meeting two weeks aß:o. In
their committees must be avN'ful-^^®^^.'^'.^,/'^"^^io'^'^^owenore-recent months. he added, the
ly close to exposing .some hiß1ily>'*P^"^'"^'^'^>\^^ .Devotion to the publication has reflected the
»ensitive Communist nerve to^*^"^®P^^ ^"^ P^^^^P^^''' ^^«^ ^^^'^i^'^^^'^ °^ California Republicans
cause all this uproar " made this country a haven eveniClosely enough so that only a
The scientist was described as ^^J" A^^^® who hold in contempt,handful of Communications tak-'
a refugee "free-loader" who con- ^^^ ^"^^ ^^^^ Americans hold in.
fiidered himself "above the laws'^®y£f^"f.^-
of nations" and to whom "science ,,. ^^ "^^ science is a god, and|
is a God." liberty and freedom mean only
The News Bulletin is a mimeo-'^^*^ ^'^^ ^^"^ ^^^'^ ^^^ "«^^^t to
graphed brochuie published from.^^^^ ^^^ ^r again.st the interests
the Office of the state Republican ^'.V'® nation as they please.
chairman, George Murphy, thei '^^ ^^^^ ^f these men of sei-
actor. It circulates among 3.000 ^"^^ ^^^ "^t have the backing of
of the most activeG. O. P. party IP^^c^'c^l business men who fi-"
members. |nance their long years of re-
A committee spokesman said^^*^'^^« ^^^ ^^ ©' them could
the sentimenU expressed in thej^^PP^rt themselves," the publica-
periodical were supposed to be ^*°" added. "• * ♦ The looner
the consensus of the committee ' ^^® ^i^^^J^* of the nation realize
and, as nearly as could be as-i^^^^ ^^^y ^^^^'Uust free-Ioaders,
aewed, th« feelings of most of;^^*^ ^^^Y J^ave responsibilities
the party's members In the state. |*^d duties other than collecting
A» of J&nuan^ there were 2,252.. their generous stipends, the
809 registered Republicans in the: better all of us will be."
atate.
Day Antiques Show n,,^
Mr. Murphy commented that
while the opinions expressed in
Diversion Charifed
Of Senator McCarthy, the
the periodical were ".«^ometimes News Bulletin .«said:
controversial." they had gener-i "Th«» Communista. the A. D. A.
Einstein Voices Respect
For Oppenheimer
By the Vnited Pres$.
WASHINGTON, April 13.-Dr.
I Albert Einstein said today he has
"the grcatest respoct and wärm-
est feelings" for Dr. J. Robert
Oppenheimer.
He made the statemcnt in a
telephone interview from his
home at Princeton, N. J., after
being notified that Dr. Oppen-
heimer had been suspended as
Commission pending a new inves-
tigation of security risk charges.
Dr. Einstein added:
"I admire him not only as a
scientist but also as a man of
great human qualities."
Dr. Einstein, whose formulae
laid the basic scientific ground-
work for atomic development, is
on the faculty of the Institute,
for Advanced Study at Princeton,!
an adviser to the Atomic Energy which Dr. Oppenheimer heads.
DAILY
Dr. Albert Einstein as he warned mankind yesterday that general
annihilation beckons unless t>ar and distrust are done away with.
Disarm or Die, Bnstein Wams
By JAMES DESMOND
The man who armed science with the theoretical knowledge needed for the H-bomb,
Albert Einstein, solemnly warned yesterday that mankind can be saved from possible
•*general annihilation" only ""^ — —
by:
1. Baniiingr all violence among
nations "not only with respect to
means of mass destruction," and
2. Creating" a "supra - national
judical and executive body to de-
cide questions of immediate con-
cern to the security ot the
liations,"
"General Annihilation."
For, Said Einstein, the "hysteri-
cal charactcr" of the aimuments
lace between the U. S. and Russia
has now assumed complusivt force
in fashioning- policies. '*Every step
appeais as the unavoidable conse-
ouence of the preceding one," Ein-
fctein said. **ln the end, there
beckons more and more clearly
general annihilation."
The Statement was the first pub-
lic pronouncement by the scientist
since President Truman ordered
the Atomic P^nergy Commission to
proceed with manufacture of the
1
Mr«. Eleanor Roosevelt
Moderator of H-bomb forum.
H-bomb which has a theoretical
blast power 100 to 1,000 times
Ki-eater than the atom bombs that
hit Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
Einstein's warninp was broad-
cast as a transcription in a Sympo-
sium on the H-bomb and its por-
tent that marked the first NBC
television pro^rram of iMrs. Eleanor
Roosevelt at 4 P.M. yesterday. The
scientist was not present in person.
But the show had as guest speak-
iers Senator Brien McMahon (D-
Conn.), chairman of the Joint Con-
'gressional Atomic Energy Com-
^mittee, and Dr. J. Robert Oppen
heimer, who is, perhaps, the toi
active atomic scientist in this coun
itry.
Einstein was caustic in denounc-
(Continued on paffe 2h eoL 1)
CO
IH
>^
<
w
w
<
p
o
w
l-H
<
pro-
ii
in-
this
Give Up Arms
OrWeAllDle,
Says Einstein
(Conti mied from pagc 3)
iwf^ the present policies of both
the U. S. any the Soviet.
"The idea of achieving security
ihrough national armamont is, at
the present state of niiiitary tech-
niqiie, a disastrous illu.sion," he
said. "On the part of tli^ U. S. k.
this illusion has been particularly
fostered by the fact that this
country siicceeded first in
ducing an atomic boml)."
But, said the scientist, the
evitable consequences" of
"mechanistic, technical - niilitary
psychological attitude" already are
l)eing feit.
Within the U. S., he said, the
results have been the concentration
of vast financial i)ower in the mili-
tary, the militarization of youth
and the "close supervision" of loy- 1
alty "by a police force growing j.
more conspicuous every day." Für- ji
tlierniorc, he wont on, independont jj
political thinking has been intinii-|i
dated; the radio, press and school
have undertaken indoctrination of |
the public, and niilitary security is
narrowing the ränge of public in-
forniation.
Wams of Conseijuences.
And on the international scene
*oii both sides, the means to mass
destruction are perfected with
feverish haste — behind the respec-
tive walls of secrecy."
"The H-bomb appears on the
public hoiizon as a probably at-
tainable goal," Einstein continued.
*'It.s accelerated developnient has
been solemnly prociaimed by the i
President. If successful. radioactive !
poisoning of the almosphere and I
lience annihilation of any life on \
earth has been brought within the ;
ränge of technical possilibities." i
He saw no way out of "this im-
passe created by man himself" ex-
cept to "do away with mutual feai-
«nd distrust." But, he said, "re-
ßtricted world government" even if i
set up solely on the basis of dec- '
larations by nations "to collaborate |
loyally" would "consideiably reduce
the imminent danger of war."
Lilienthal on Program. j
With that fear pushed back, h?
•aid, "peaceful Cooperation among
men" could be worked out on the
basis of "loyal give and take." He
liazarded no opinion on how to
evaluate or obtain Coniniunist give-
«nd-take. |
Rinstcin made the only formal |
ßtatement. The rest of the bioad- '
cast was a roundtable discus.sion
i»f the H-bomb and related sub-
jects, but produced nothing signif-
icantly new. Besides Mrs. Roose-
velt, McMahon and Op[)enheimer,
those taking part were David H
Iiilicnthal,retiring chairman of the
Atomic Energy C'ommission; Dr. D.
W. Bronk, President of Johns Hop-
kins University; Dr. Hans Bethe,
Cornell physicist, and Allan Kline
of the American Farm Bureau
Federation.
Mrs. Roosevelt presented a
plaque to Lilienthal in recognition
of his loner nnhüp Rorvip»
i
/|.
r
[
/
Einstein, at 7S,
Is Still a Rebel
He refuses to conform — either in the
field of science or the field of human äff airs.
By GERTRUDE SAMUELS
PRiNci-rroN, N. J.
THE morning is bright, crisp and
(;old. and the green Station wag-
on with the lette ring, "The In-
stitute for Advanced Study," is making
some routine pick-ups around town.
The driver stops for Dr. Kurt Gödel,
mathematics department, a slight,
stooped man in ä huge coat who mur-
murs good morning as he takes a seat
behind the driver and lapses into
silence. At Fine Hall, there is a short
wait. but the usual passengers have
apparently caught a ride, so the car
proceeds to Nassau and Mercer Streets
where it takes on two younger mem-
bers of the Institute.
It is 10:35 as the car turns into Mer-
cer Street for its traditionally last
morning pick-up. It slow^s down along
this tree-lined street of simple frame
houses as it approaches No. 112.
On the sidewalk opposite the house.
Walking toward the Station wagon with
the sure. brisk steps of the younger
men. is a lone figure. A navy blue
stocking cap is pulled low over his
foiehead and ears; the eyes are deep-
ly underlined. the mustache shaggy;
the famous flowing white hair shows
but an inch or two above his red-and-
white striped muffler. which is crossed
under his chin; he wears a long black
overcoat and carries under his arm a
thin, brown-leather briefcase.
Whether because the street is desert-
ed at this hour and he seems identified
with its loneliness, or because of the
sweetness of his anticipatory smile as
he approaches the car, or because of
his Strange and indifferent garb, the
effect is electric.
Now the car stops at the curb. Hand
on knob, he gives a shght, Old-World
bow to the occupants, with a special
glance for his old friend Gödel; opens
the door, and says good morning as he
takes his seat besiae the driver. Then
the cai- Starts up again and as it speeds
to the Institute there is some early
morning banter.
The driver says, '*Well, you have a
nice day to walk back. Doctor." The
woolen cap bobs with laughter as he
replies. "Yes; well, I'd like to walk both
ways, but I can't do that now." 'Do
yoii think," asks the driver, "that if s
going to snow again this year?" There
is another chuckle. and the doctor
answers. "He hasn't told me yet."
\jFoDEL, who has caught this, chuck-
les, too. For the rest of the way, there
is silence in the car, of a mutually re-
spectful sort. Halfway there, he draws
a newspaper from his briefcase and
hards it to Dr Gödel to read; It is
Vashington commen-
tary. Now the car enters the Insti-
tute's spacious grounds and draws up
before the broad Geor^an building.
with cupola. called Fuld Hall. He
thanks the driver, gives him a joking
salute as the car empties, Stands chat-
ting briefly over the newspaper with
Gödel, then walks briskly to a side en-
trance which leads to his office on the
main floor.
Thus, without pomp or privilege does
Dr, Albert Einstein, professor emeritus
of The Institute for Advanced Study.
Nobel prize winner and, according to
George Bernard Shaw, one of the eight
"makers of the universe," who today
is celebrating his seventy-fifth birth-
day. Start his working day. ( The seven
others, Shaw said. were Pythagoras,
Arlstotle. Ptolemy, Copernicus. Galileo.
Kepler and Newton.) He makes the
trip each morning of the week except
Sunday, driving in by Station wagon
and at 1 o'clock Walking the mile and
a half to his home where he continues
his work in his study: in the summer,
he reverses the procedure— Walking to
the Institute in the nnorning and riding
home in the afternoon heat. His Walk-
ing habits are so well known and fixed
a ritual along Mercer Street and the
roads to the Institute that Princeton
residents "keep time" by him and visi-
tors can observe him as he goes about
his business.
To
1919 At 40. Tbl» yedi Eimtein's theory o4 relativity is hiii venfied by celcstial Observation.
,0 gather this portrait of how Ein-
stein lives and works today, the writer
has largely talked with those who work
dosest with him at the Institute and
with those who know him personally
and live with him.
The Portrait is. at the outset. that
of a man who is held in the greatest
veneration by his colleagues and neigh-
bors- as much revered for his great
humanity, the purity of his life and his
absolute rectitude — "for his example,"
as one friend put it — as for his contri-
bution to science. He rarely has visitors,
pref erfing "that solitude which is pain-
ful to youth, but delicious in the years
of maturity." Yet, over the years.
Prime Ministers have sought him out -
Nehru and Ben-Gurion—as have Ta-
gore, Schweitzer, political and labor
leaders. authors and clergymen, and.
above all, people with ordinary human
Problems to whom he appeals as a man
who studies not only the stars but.
with interest and compassion, his fel-
low men, His humanity and forbear-
ance were illustrated recently when a
distinguished colleague was admitted
to Princeton Hospital and proved to
be a difficult patient.
^ "What is there about this man." the
attending physician asked irritably of
Einstein, who was visiting h, \"that
Y^ «in^irAr*^-: "^' xvpnt to h»-^ ■—**•*- -
|931-.On a U. S. vfsit. h« demonstrates an equation. Two year» later he fied Naxi Germany.
1940 — The scicntist and K»s daughter, Margot, take the oath of allegiance as Citizens.
/'
>
1
Einstein, at 75, Is Still a Rebel
8
1
(
(CoHtinued from Page 13)
his own field, he is without a peer. Out-
side of his field, what does it matter?"
It is in his comfortable and airy Of-
fice in Fuld Hall, with its small black-
board behind a large desk piled with
books, papers and periodicals, and its
old leather chairs and couch. a wooden
footstool by his desk chair, where much
of the work that has been occupying
Einstein for the past forty years — the
Unified Field theory is being thought
about and worked on.
Behind this theory is the idea that
natiire is basically simple. Einstein
has been working on the assumption
that there is one theory which will
unite electricity. magnetism, radiation
and gravitation. He has said that he
knows of no way in which the latest
formulation of his Unified Field theory
can be verified. But it would add up
to a kind of higher geometry of the
universe; its purpose would be to ex-
plain in one grand, all-embracing for-
mula every manifestation of matter
and energy — perhaps the most stupen-
dous conception that has ever been
proposed to explain the universe and
reduce it to its simplest terms.
Assisting him in the mathematical
Problems of this enterprise is a 35-
RELATIVELY FAST
In the Twenties, Einstein's relativity
theory was a populär subject for lay-
men to speculate on, and such lim-
erick» a$ this blossomed:
There was a young lady caiied
Bright,
Who coüld travel nf>uch faster than
light;
She went out one day,
In a relative way,
And came back the prevjous night.
year-old mathematician and physicist,
Biuria Kaufman, who was raised in
Israel (then Palestine) and took her
Ph. D. in theoretical physics from Co-
lumbia University. Her husband teach-
' es at the University of Pennsylvania.
From Miss Kaufman you glean the
natura of the work and the monumental
patience that he brings to it. It involves
his constant reconsideration of equa-
tions mathematically, and also the at-
tempt to solve the equations mathe-
matically. This means much talking
over of Problems, which is always
done in English (since her German is
"not good enough," and Einstein's Eng-
lish, whlle accented. is excellent).
E
IINSTEIN has some ideas on how to
approach a problem during the talk-
ing; he Starts off with something on
paper; to continue the trend of think-
ing, she cariies the problem to the
blackboard and works it over; th^n
they may go at it together, filling the
blackboard with equations and Sym-
bols. Or they may get to a point where
she takes the problem home with her
to work over, and often, "practically
always," she comes to an obstacle;
then she comes back to discuss what
to do next. Sometimes Einstein will
make a "simplifying assumption," and
then that partlcular problem gets
solved. If it doesn't, they start some-
"AU are special cases of the theory,"
Miss Kaufman explains, "and what he's
trying to find out is how these Prob-
lems become concrete in a special case.
"Then he has certain criteria by which
to judge whether this is relevant to
physical reality or not; so that, even
if we solve the mathematical problem.
the Solution might be irrelevant to
physical reality. So you try something
eise — a different physical set-up from
which you start the problem off."
"His patience," she goes on, "is what
is wonderful. He's always optimistic
about the Problems — even optimistic
about failures. His attitude is, 'Well,
we've learned something.' "
s
FOME momings Einstein drops his
work to greet a visitor. or he may stop
by to talk over a question with Dr. J.
Robert Oppenheimer, director of the
Institute, who has his Offices at the
opposite end of the same floor- it
might be a technical question, or "seien- |
tific gossip," or perhaps the prospects
of some young man stuck in an inac-
cessible part of the world whom Ein-
stein is trying to help. Around 1 o'clock,
he puts his notes back into their thin
briefcase, dons his scarf and overcoat
and stocking cap, and Starts home,
taking the long, narrow, black-top
path that cuts across the "campus" and
Winds toward the white house where
the Oppenheimers live. Sometimes he
stops to Chat with the Oppenheimers'
two youngsters, of whom he's very
fond; or eise he continues on down the
middle of the road, lost in his own
thoughts, until he reaches M<»rcer
Street. He cuts '* lonely figure.
Often Dr. Gödel makes the walk with
him and they talk over related Prob-
lems, or politics and philosophy. Some-
times a young faculty member will ac-
company him "for some Shop talk" in
mathematics. But many of the young
scholars at the Institute make no effort
to see him, "feeling that their Prob-
lems aren't great enough to bother
him."
T.
,HE simple frame house with its
front porch and green shutters, hedges
and old-fashioned garden in back — a
house indistinguishable from the others
on Mercer Street — is typical of the ex-
treme ascetism and unpretentiousness
in which he lives and works. Occupying
the ten-room house with him are his
daughter, Margot, and a housekeeper,
Miss Helen Dukas, warm, gracious and
German-born. who has been with him
for twenty-five years. Here he receives
a "minimum of a hundred letters a
week," from which Miss Dukas sifts
the more intelligent and interesting
ones for him to read, and he does so
avidly. (He also receives a fair amount
of crackpot mail, which usually blames
him for trying to destroy the world. )
He likes to nap after his lunch (de-
spite his recent illnesses. "his appetite
is very good"), then works or reads
far into the night. He seldom goes out,
but occasionally plays a little Bach,
Mozart or Vivaldi on his grand piano,
a Bechstein. He hasn't touched his
violin for several years, probably owing
to his bursitis attacks, and "is out of
W^«rM «« «« ^ ^ #« ^ Ff
^gnizc thdt7^^«causc of *
_ j
NEW YORK WORLDTELEGRAM AND SUN, SATURDAY, MAPCH 13, 1954.
Einstein, Turning 75,
He's an Enigma to His Neighbors,
Though Children Understand Hirn
By ALLAN KELLER,
S^ff Writer,
If tomorrow is a pleasant day in Princeton, N. J., some
of liis neighbors will see Albert Einstein trudging along the
elm-lined streets between his home and the university. His
white mane will flow in the breeze, his old sweater will be
half out of a pair of slacks. He'll wear run-down shoes
and a coat that looks as if it had been rejected by the
Salvation Army.
still
an
No one will know what is go-
ing on in the incredible brain un-
der the white thatching. In all
the World there are but a handf ul
who could understand it anyway.
Yet a child vvould find him a good
companion, füll of understanding
Xor childish problems.
Prof. Einstein may know it is
his 75th birthday and he may not,
depending on whether his daugh-
ter Margot reminded him. It
Won't matter a whit to him.
Better than a half Century has
roUed by since he published his
fh-st thesis on relativity. It has
been a period that has carried the
civilized world to the brink of
self-extinction because men have
put the Einstein theory to war-
like uses.
Still an Enigmu.
Everything the common man
knows as atomic power— includ-
Ing the lethal Potentials of the
atom bomb and the hydrogen
bomb — came about because Prof.
Einstein figuerd out a mathemati-
cal equatlon. When still in his
early twenties he said inert mat-
ter could be made to produce
energy and the theory was
proved in the air over Hiro-
shima.
Taciturn to Ihe point of fanat-
Icism, the greatest scientist of
our time, and one of the four or
Xive greatest of all ages, is still an
enigma in his adopted home town.
In truth, Einstein the man is as
unknown as Einstein the philos-
opher and scientist.
He llves in a gray clapboard
tnd frame house which the In-
stitute for Advanced Study pro-
vided for him when he came
here, fleeing the Nazi terror, In
1933. He works in a second-
floor Office of the Institute al-
though he was theoretically re-
tired from the faculty in 1945.
An old band at theories himself,
he has paid no attention to that
Step.
Money IMeans Nothingf.
Very few persons in Princeton
know him well. They collect
little stories and anecdotes about
him, trying to piece them to-
gether to form a whole, and
never getting anywhere.
When he first arrived, adults
tried to lionize him and he turned
down the approaches. Yet on
Christmas Eve a band of young
carolers serenaded him, lured
him from his study, and asked
for pennies,
Dr. Einstein disappeared, only
to appear again wearing a jacket
and his famous stocking cap,
carrying a violin.
*1'11 accompany you.
"providing I get my
pennies."
Money means nothing to him.
When he was asked to join the
faculty he was told to name his
own salary.
He asked for $5000.
From then on the trustees dealt
with Mrs. Einstein, figuring that.
to do otherwise might mean the
whole family would go hungry.
A Ready Answer.
One day, the story goes in local
circles, the Rockefeiler Founda-
tion sont him a $1500 check. It
>»
he Said,
share of
This striking picture of Dr. Albert Einstein was made in his study in the gray clapboard house he oceup
Alan W. Richar^d?
In Europe, where he sl
from one university and I
Society to another, across r
frontiers, lecturing on rr
he usually traveled, o»"
ou the Pruicetoii campus.
should have gone to Mrs. Ein-
stein. The scientist used it for
awhile as a bookmark — and then
lost the book.
His wife-s last years vvere
marked by her earnest efforts to
make him more of a conformer
— particularly in matters of rai-
ment. One day she rebuked him
lovingly for going around with-
out socks. The professor had an
answer— right out of Spinoza:
"It would be a sad Situation if
the bag was better than th»; meat
wrapped in it."
1
f
Six mWccins sc trouvaicnt au chcvct d'Albert Ein-
stein quand est mort cclui qui, k juste titre, pou-
vait 6tre consid^r^ comme le plus prcstigicux savant
de notre tcmps. Lc premicr chapitrc de la carri^rc
du c61^re physicien commence par une anecdote qui
a juste 50 ans. Un jour d'avril 1905, un jeune
homme de 26 ans franchissait le seuil de la rWac-
tion d'unc petite revue xurichoise qui s'appelait
€ Les Annales de Physiquc ». II demanda ä voir le
f^dacteur cn chef, fut re^u et, timidement, lui tcndit
le manuscrit qu'il avait sous le bras.
— Peut-^tre arrivere2-vous k cascr cela.
«Cela», c'ftait le premier texte d'Albert Ein-
stein sur la thtorie de la relativit6 qui allait boulc-
verser la sciencc contemporaine. — Albert Einstein
<tait alors ingteieur k l'Office fW^ral des brevcts et
rien, jusqu'alors, ne permettait de penser que ce gar-
Con peu sür de lui, quelque peu d6braill6 dans son
allure, deviendrait un savant illustre. N^ a Ulm en
1879, il avait 6t6 tout le contraire d'un cnfant pre-
dige. II apprit k lire tr^ tard et son p^re, modeste
entreprencur, crut longtcmps que son fils ne ferait
'ien de bon. L'institutcur k qui il l'avait
* »^lus s^vire encore dans scs appr^cia-
disait-il, est un petit arri<r6. »
tout de m^rne par d^rocher son
•r au Polytechnicum de
nationalit^ helv^tique
'S la Suisse que son
•^eusc th^orie de
'ec une philo-
s au monde
valut les
devenir
'^'aymond
Ingenieur k l'Office des brevets, il avait enseign^
dans de modestes ^blissements priv^.
II enseigna successivement k Bcrne, Zürich,
Prague et Leyde. II n'avait pas 40 ans quand il fut
appcl6 k si6ger k l'Acad^ie des Sciences de Berlin.
CouvcTt d Honneurs avant I arriv^ du nazisme, il fut
pers^cut6 quand Hitler prit lc pouvoir. Les naiis ne
lui pardonnirent paa d'*tre Israclitc et d'avoir aban-
donn^ sa nationalit^ allemande pour la national it6
helv^tique. II fut chass^ de lAcad^mic de Berlin.
Scs biens furent confiiqu6s. Plus tard, sa t^te fut
mise k prix : 20 000 marks. Einstein accucillit la
nouvelle avec.son sourire habituel :
— Je ne savais pas, dit-il, que je valais si eher.
Les routes de l'exil conduisirent Albert Einstein
de France en Belgique, puis cn Anglcterre, jusqu'au
jour oü une chairc lui fut Offerte k l'Universit^ de
Princetown. II s'^tablit d^initivement aux Etats-
Unis et devint citoyen am^ricain.
Tout ce que le monde compte de savants illustres
a rendu visite dans son petit cottage du New Jersey
k cet homme qui, du premicr au dernier jour, v6cut
modcstement et que Ton rencontrait souvent d^am-
bulant dans les rues, sa chevclure blanche ft>ouriff^
par le vent, v^tu d'un chandail et d'un pantalon en
accordfen.
De tcmps k autre, il rompait son silcnce pour
adresser un message k un chef d'Etat ou k scs con-
temporains. Tantöt pour d^oncer les effcts de la
bombe H dont il mesurait mieux que quiconque les
effroyables possibilit^s. Tantöt pour sugg^rer aux
hommcs de sc r6concilicr en exigcant un gouverne-
ment mondial, 61u au suffrage universcl. Cc messk
de la sciencc ^it aussi un pacifiste convaincu.
DAROLLE
N
/'
*i
AN AMERICAN WEEKL> ^dLlSHED IN NEW YORK
by the New World Club, Inc., 2700 Broadway, New York 25, N. Y. Phone: UNiversity 5-0800
Kntered as second olass matter January 30. 1940. at New York Post Oflice uncier Act ot iVlarch 3, 3879 ABC
Vol. XX— No. I 1
NF.W YORK. N. Y.. FRIDAY. MARCH 12 10>4
m
USA
15^
Triumph eines Lebens
Zum 75. Geburfsfag Alberf Einsfei ns am 14. Mörz
7*bolo Frod Stein
Die neueste Aufnahme von Albert Einstein
Als der Sohn des beiühinten Arzte» Dr. Gustav Bucky, einer der
von Hitler aus Deutschland gejagten hervoi rc«genden Wissenscliaftler,
I kuizlich in New York die Tochter und Eibin eines bedeutenden
! amerikanischen Industriellen heiratete, gab es eine grosse Hochzeit
I in elegantestem Stil, Plützlich aber tauchte inmitten all' der Smok-
: in^s und Abendkleider ein alter Heir in einem faltenreiclien Sweater
und in recht formlosen Hosen auf. Und doch war sofort, in ehr-
i XurchtsvoUeni Ab.stand, ein Krois von Bewunderern rings um ihn.
I
Die ägyptische
Sphinx
Von Immanuel Birnbaum
Kin junges Fcllathenmüdchen '
fliitzt siih auf eine halb aufge- j
richtete Sphinx. So stellt ein |
J/:iyptist.licr Bildhauer unserer ]
T-cit in einem Denkmal in Kairo j
**das erwachende Aegypten' dar.
Da^' Land am unteren Nil ist eine.«
df^r ältesten Zentren meni<ch-
lich-,*!' i>u\tur. aber die.'^e Kultur
eicschien allen andeien V(>lkern
ifi-^mer gehei}nni.svoll wie das
Un^^eheuor mit dem "Men.sohen-
»ntlitz, das jedermann ver-
fchlingt, der seine Rätsel nicht
losen kann.
Dieses selbe Land ist hcutp ein
Angelpunkt de.«; jun^^cn Nafiona-
Ii.<;mus, der die Völkfi' von den
Säulen des Herkules im Westen
bis zur hinterindischen Inselwelt
in Front gegen die* allen Ko-
lon ialmä* hie gebracht hat. Auch
dieser junge Nationcdisnnis ist
indessen rät.selvoU durch die
vielfältigen und tiefen Wider-
sprüche, die er in sich birgt. So
ist es kein Wunder, dass die Dy-
namik der national revolutionären
Bewegung gerade in Ac^gypten
die Welt mit immer n<'Uen Explo-
sionen überrascht.
Im Verlauf weniger Jahizehnte
ist das Nilland voi unseren Au-
gen ein formell unabhängiges
Königreich geworden, in welchem
9f>r «Jf^ .'S?*
EIN FREUND DER KINDER
Prof. Alberl Einstein im Kreis jugendlicher Flucht' inge, die seinerzeii vom United Refugee Service aus
Europa nach USA gerettet worden waren.
Ei- war Buckys enger Fi<»und,
Professor Albert Einstein.
Er kommt selten nach New York.
Mit 75 Jahren und mit noch so-
vielen Gedanken z(jr ewig unvol-
lendeten Arbeit im Kopf, nimmt,
man e.s mit der Zeit sehr ernst.
Im übrigen war Einstein nie ein
Freund von Gesellschaften. Wami
immer er sich der Flut von Fei-
ern ur»d Ehrungen ent/iehen
konnte, hat et e.< getan. Er lebt
zurückgezogen in der Universi-
tätsstadt Princeton im Staate New
Jersey einem l)erühmten Zen-
trum der Cfel"hi samkeit. Sein
Heim in einer stillen Strasse
ist ein besch*i(ienes Fachwerk
und hegt in der Nähe seiner Ar-
beiis.stätte. (ies "Princeton Iiiati"
tute iof '\dvanced Siudh", wo er
von 10 Ulu- früh bi> 4 Uhr nach-
mlHags seinen .Studien obhegt.
Dann geht er heim. ruht, und wid-
met den Rest des Taye«^ seinen
Freunden, seinen Hü( he^n. seinem
Garten. Wenn iinmer möglich
wehrt seine langjährige Sekretä-
rin. Heh'n Dukas. eine ungarisch*»
Naturwissenschaftler in. Besucher
ab. Interviews gibt der Gelehrte
nicht. Radio und Fern.sehen sind
aus meinen Zimmern verbannt.
Auch die Kammermusikabende —
Einstein wai* Zeit seines Lebens
ein leidenschaftlicher und. für
einen .^titat^nar. hochqualifizierter
Geiger — sind jetzt fa>t ganr ein-
gestellt. Das Werk. dävS weiter
drängende, in inm-ier neuen Ent-
wicklungen sieh entfaltende wis-
senschaftliche Epos seiner For-
schung^ b(^herrscht ganz die spä-
ten Stunden dieses Leidens.
Aber das bedeutet niiht. dass
Albert Einstein ein Ereinii ge-
worden ist. der von den Händeln
der Welt nichts wissen will und
sie üb^r seinen Formeln und
Gleichungen vergessen hat. Er^t
kürzlich bi achte er eine kleine
politische Bombe zur Explosion.^.
Ein New Yorker VoJksschuUeh '
\
(,I XX— No I 1
NKW YORK. N. Y.. IKU)A>. MAKe H 12. I*^>4
USA
m
Triumph eines Lebens
Zum 75. Geburfsfag Alberf Einsteins am 14. März
Pholo Fred Siein
Die neueste Aufnahme von Alberf Einsfein
Als der Sohn des berühmten Arzte« Di. Gustav Bu(k>. einer der
von Hitler aus Deutschland gejagten hervoJ ragenden Wissenselialtler.
\ küizlieh in New York die Toehter und Erbin eines bedeutenden
amerikanischen Industriellen heiiatete, gab es eine grosse Hochzeit
in elegantestem Stil. Plötzlich aber tauchte inmitten all' der Smok-
i ings und Abendkleider ein alter Hejr in einem faltenreichen Sweater
und in recht l'ormlosen Hosen auf. Und doch war sofort, in ehr-
ifurchtsvoUeni Abstand, ein Krois von Bewunderern rings um itm.
<f
}
Die ägyptische
Sphinx
Von Immanuel Birnbaum
"Ein junges Fcllachennüi<li hen
ttiitzt sich aui eine halb aufge- j
richtete Sphinx. So stellt ein |
ägyptischer Bildhauer unserer
Teit in einem Den!; mal in Kah'o
**das erwachende Aepypten" dar.
Da^ Land am unteren Nil ist rineP
d<a- a] testen Zentren n;ensch-
Iicn.-i J>uliur. aber diese Kultur
^icichien allen andeien Völkern
immer geheimnisvoll wie das
Un/^ehcuor mit dem Mcii.>chen-
»ntlitz, dci^ jedermanii ver-
schlingt, der seine Ratsei nirht
lösen kann.
Dieses selbe Land ist heute ein
Angelpunkt des jungen Nationa-
lismus, öer die Volk« i' von den
Säulen dc-^ Herkules in» Westen
bis zur hinterindischen In chvelt
in Front gegen die' alten Ko-
lonialmächte gebracht hat. Auch
dieser junge Nationidisnms ist
indessen rät .seivoll duith die
vielfältigen und tielen Wider-
sprüche, die er in sich birgt. So ;
ist es kein Wunder, dass die Dy- |
naniik der nationalievolutionärcn :
Bewegung gerade in Aegypten 1
die Welt mit immer n<u«»n Kxplo- '
üionen überrascht.
Im Verlauf weniger Jahrzehnte ^
ist das Nilland vor unseren Au- j
gen ein formell unabhängiges
Königreich geworden, in welchem ,
1 r I - '-i -r 1V^^..->--v/.l'«o»-> mif n«''ht
minder ehrgeizigen Paschas aus
d^r Schicht der grossen Grund-
herren um die Ma( ht rangen.
Dann stürzten nach dem miss-
glückten Krieg gegen das kleine
Israel patrioti.sche Ofli/iere so-
wohl den letzten König wie die
Pascha-Partei. An die Spitze des
Staate? gelangte der 'unbekannte
Soldat" Napib, Symlx.l des selbst-
losen und tapfcien Pülriotisinus
(Foriseizung aui Seite 4)
EIN FREUND DER KINDER
Prof. Albert Einstein im Kr«i« jugendlicher Flucht' inge. die «einerzeil vom United Refug
Europa nach USA gerettet worden waren.
•• Service aus
E^ war Buckys enger Freund,
Pioiessor Albert Einstein.
Er kommt selten nacl New York.
Mit 75 Jahren und mit noch so-
vielen Gcdanktm zur ewig unvol-
lendeten Arbeit im Kopf, nimmt
man es mit der Zeil sehr ernst.
Im übrigen war Einstein nie ein
Freund von Gesellschaften. Wann
immer er sich der Flut von Fei-
ern und Ehrungen entziehen
konnte, hat er es getan. Er lebt
' zurück .gezogen in der Univeisi-
] rätsstadt Princeton im Staate New
Jersev einem berühmten Zon-
I ^ ' '
triim der Gek'hisanikeit. Sein
! Heim in einer stillen Strasse
ist ein besch^^idenes Kachwerk
und hegl in der Nähe seiner A'"-
beilsstättt\ des 'PrifCPion Insti-
I tute ior Advanced Siurii/', wo er
von 10 Uhr früh bis 4 Uhr nach-
mittags seinen Studien oh'iegl.
Dann gel,t er heim, ruht, und v,id-
rnet den Rest des Tage»-- seinen
Freunden, seinen Büchern, seinem
Garten. Wenn immer möglich
wehrt seine langjährige Sekretä-
rin. HeJen Dukas:. eine ungarisch*»
Natur wis.<;enschaftlei- in. Besucher
ab. Interviews gibt der Gelehrte
nicht. Radio und Fernsehen sind
aus seinen Ziimnei n verbannt.
Auch die Kaminermusikabende —
Einstein war Zeit seine? Leben«;
ein leidenschaftlicher und. für
einen Aniat'nir. hochqua^ifiziei ter
Geiger — sind jetzt fast ganz ein-
gestellt. Das Werk, das weiter
drängende, in immer neuen Ent-
wicklungen sich entfaltende wis-
senschaftliche Epos seiner For-
schung behenscht ganz die spä-
ten Stunden dieses Lel>ens.
Abei das bedeutet nicht, dass
Albeit Einstein ein Eremit ge-
worden ist, der von den Händeln
I de-r Welt nichts wissen will und
sie üb'^r seinen F^ormoln und
Gleichun^ien vergessen hat. Er^t
kürzlich bia(hte er eine kleine
politis( he Bombe zur Explosion,
i Ein New Yorker Volks-schulleh
mtv ^v»»* ■,*»
Some One Say Something
About a Lamb?
Shanks. i». The BuOalo Evenint News.
l
Kommt die deutsche Armee?
Paragraphenverhpü um den westdeutschen Soldaten
Bonn, im Mar». nen und zu verkünden, solange
Rund zwei Jahre nach der leier-: Karlsruhe nicht festgestellt hat,
li.?hr Unterzeichnung des EVG- , class die Ratifizierung aul gesetz-
Veruages befindet sich dieser massigem Wege erfolgte; um wei-
- und d^mit der neue we..tdeut. j tere BefurdUungen fer Opposi-
sche Soldat - noch immer hinter . tion zu zerstreuen, hat schliesslich
einem Paragraphenverhau der : auch noch der Bundeskanzler offi-
Verfassung und des Besät zungs- j zieh versprochen, die Ratihka-
statuts, einem Dickicht von Ver- ; tionssurkunden in Paris erst zu
sprechungen des Bundesprasiden- j hinterlegen, wenn alle anderen
ten und des Bundeskanzlers usw. Vertrag.spartner sie bereits hin-
Die Situation ist folgende: terlegt haben.
Der Vertrag ist von beiden Da die Regierung Adenauer bei
Kammern mit einfachem Mehi dvn BundestagswaliJen vom 6.
ratifiziert worden; die sozialdemo- | September 1953 eine Ziveidrittpl'
kratische Frakion hat daraufhin ?nejjr/ipif im Bundestag — und
beim Bundesvcrtassungsgericht in ^ später auch im Bundesrat, der
Karlsruhe Klage erhoben, da nach landerkaminer — erhielt, konnte
ihrcj- Ansicht die vom Gericht Adenauer es nun wagen, ohne den
i geteilt werden durfte — die Ver- j gofürchteten Spruch von Karls-
! träge einen verfassungsändernden I ruhe abzuwarten, von sich aus
Charakter haben und demnach die Verfa.ssung zu ändern und .so
nur mit einer Zweidritlelmehr- den ganzen Verfassungsstreit und
heit ratifiziert werden können; damit auch das Karlsruher Urteil
daraufhin hat doi- Bundespräsi- gegenstand.slos zu machen. Zu
dent der Opiio.-ition versprochen, diesem Zwecke legte >lic Rogie-
die Verträge nit ht zu unterzeich- (Fortsetzung auf Seite 4)
Albert Einsfein mit setner verstorbenen Frau
i
A U F t A U
der von dem Seriafoi' Joseph Karriere. Damit begann jener I setzt hat, hat der Menschheit ein
, McCanliy voi ?ein Komitee
l^t^laden worden war, liiitte einen
Brief an den GeUhrlen geschrie-
ben und ihn um Rat gebeten, wie
er sich verhalten solle. Die Ant-
Aulbau i\ei^ wissenschaftlichen
Werkes des Gelehrten, das von
der Relativilüts-Theorie bis zur
mathematischen Formulierung
seiner "Einheitlichen Feld-Theo-
wort war ein in allen Zeitungen , rie" (1949) reicht und das
veröffentlichter Bi ief Einsteins
gewesen, in dem dieser seiner
Verachtung für McCarthy und
dessen Methoden drastisch Aus-
druck gab und dem Lehrer riet.
auch auf die Gefahr eingesperrt
oder wirtschaftlich ruiniert zu
werden, nicht zu antworten. Mc-
Carthy bezeichnete darauf Ein-
stein als einen "Feind Amerikas".
Aber die Polemik versickerte
rasch. Denn der Name Einstein
und die Gestalt Einsteins gehören
in unserem Lande zu den wenigen
populäi'en volk>tümlichen Be-
griffen, die nicht die Modeange-
legenheit eines Jahres sind, son-
dern Bestand haben. Der greise
(telehrte mit dem zerzausten,
dichten, eisgrauen Haai*, den tie-
fen gütigen Au{.:en und der ewig
faltigen Kleidung, in der er aus-
sieht, als ob er nä( htelang darin
geschlafen habe, ist eine Art
Volksliebling geworden.
Der Kopf an der Kirche
Man liebt diesen Mann und hat
ihm ungezählte Ehrungen berei-
tet, ja. n»an hat sein Antlitz in
Stein in die Front einer Kirche
eingemeisselt. Es blickt auf den
Kümmling von der Fassade der
New Yorker Riverside Church, die
die Gesichte]- unsterblicher Füh-
rer der Menschheil zeigt. Der
F^rcdiger der Kirche, der auch als
Rc^ligion<\\ issenschaftler hoch gc-
schätzte Reverend Harry Emer-
son Fosdick, erklärte seinen Gläu-
bigen das stemerne Portrat eines
jüdischen CJelehiten an einer
christlichen Kirche damit, dass
Einstein nicht nur "wegen seines
edlen Charakters und seiner Lei-
stungen" dorthin gehöre, sondern
weil er auch ein Beispiel für den
Menschen sei. von dem das Neue
Testament mit heiligenden "Wor-
ten schrieb: "der. der Gutes tut,
ist ein Teil Gottes".
Die.se Ehiung hat sich das "Al-
beitle", wie ihn seine Mutter
nannte, sicher nicht in jener frü-
hen Jugend träumen lassen, die
er in seinei' schwäbischen Heimat,
jm Elteinliaus in Ulm, veibrachte.
Da hatte er nur wenig schmei-
ehelhafte Spitznamen: als Kind
den eines "Pater Langweil", weil ^
er sich abseits hielt und jede Art
von Soldatenspiel hasste. und }
später, als er in der katliolischen '
Volksschule in München das ein- I
zig jüdische Kind war. nannten ;
die Knaben ihn "Biedermeier", i
Drr junge Einstein war kein Re-
bell. Das ihn drückende Schul-
icglement und die forsche Militär-
anbetung seiner Lehrer machten
ihn nur schweigsamer und seinen
Büchern noch verbundener.
Dos grosse Werk
Der frühen Jugend -Epoche
'olgten dann nach dem 15. Le-
n.sjahr Schuljahre in der
. dt.*M JStudL&pJahrft — ax.
gesamte wissenschaftliche Welt-
bild auf das Nachhaltigste beein-
flusst und umgeformt hat.
Der Gelehrte hat dieses riesige
Gedanken- und Formelwerk, das
ihn nun schliesslich zu dem von
ihm bereits lange vorgeahnten
ungeheures Ergebnis vorgelegt.
"Denn", schreibt Lincoln Barnett
in seinem viel gelesenen Buch
"Das Universum und Doktor Ein-
stein",- "der hüchskf und unmit-
telbare Triumph der einheitlichen
Feld-Theorie liegt in dem ersten
Wort ihier Bezeichnung. Sie ver-
einheitlicht dem Menschen de.i
Begriff des Universums, in dem
er lebt. In der ungeheuren Per-
spektive, die sie eröffnet, ver-
blasst und schwindet der Unter-
X»»
sie.
hc/tft
Wo- u;,
da ist. ttv
utts mit An.
zuriickzHiieh.
selbst. . . . ß,
ähnlich tu wie
stehen andere .Sck
der Biifine. Sie spw
schleclit. Die drohende
4. ^^._^T^
^^ 4 \ \f <> I
Sie" galt, ist immer ein gläubiger
Mensch gewesen. Seiner mathe-
matischen Gewissheit von der
physikalischen Einheit des Uni-
versums lag seine religiöse Ueber-
zeugung von dem einzigen und
unteilbaren Gott zugrunde. Die-
.ser Gott musste eine in sich ein-
heitliche Welt geschaffen haben,
musste ihrer äu.sseren Mannigfal-
tigkeit ein harmonisches Grund-
prinzip zugrunde gelegt haben;
Einsteins Gott wollte nicht, wie j aber noch nuiergleichlich
der Gelehrte bei der Herausgabe | mer. Da man die lüu&io,
seiner '•Einheitlichen Feldtheorie" . freien Willens verloren hat
begleitend sagte, "mit der Welt
Würfel spielen".
Diese religio.se Ein.<»teilung
machte Einstein zum Anti-Mili-
taristen, zum heftigsten Bekämp-
fer des Krieges, und vor allem
zum Non-Konformisten gegen-
über jedem irdischen Diktator; i
sie machte ihn zum Typ jenes f
echten Demokraten, der die Frei- ^
heit des Individuums als ein gutt- ;
liches- Recht und als nur von der ;
Freiheit des Nebenmenschen be-
grenzt, ansieht.
Atom und Furcht
Es ist vielleicht eine der tra-
gischsten Schicksalsstunden in
seinem Leben gewesen, als dieser ] Gandhi. F. D. Roosevelt. Heute
Pazifist sich eines Tages, als die i sind seine Kontakte mit der Um-
Gefahr des internationalen Fa- ''" ^ .. ...
schismus die Welt zu verschlin-
man nicht einmal mit Groll rt
agieren. Wevn wir im Himmel
ankomtne)i, werden wir uns in
der DonQuichote-Kamyrier wie-
derfinden. E<nstiveilenaUer.Güle!'*
E.S gibt viele Leute, die sagen,
dass Einstein nichts von Politik
verstünde. Nun. dieser Brief zeigt,
dass er mehr darüber weiss als
viele berufsmässige Leitartikler.
Er ist freilich kein Politiker im
Sinne des "politician" aller Län-
der. Er ist ein Moralist und er
ist ein Idealist. Die Männer, de-
ren Leben und Wirken ihn be-
sonders anzogen, waren u. a. Per-
sönlichkeiten wie Tagore. Fieud,
—R* produftd by (ourtesy "Univetial Jewitk Bncyrloptdi»*
Eine Handschriftenprobe des grossen Gelehrten
im August 1P39
jenen berühmten
Beweis geführt hat, da.ss alle Na-
turerscheinungen (Sterne und
Phineten. Licht, Elektrizität und
selbst die winzigen Teilchen im
schied zwischen Gravitations-
und Elektromagnetischer Kraft,
zwischen Stoff' und Energie, zwi-
schen elektrischer Ladung und
gen drohte,
hinsetzte und
Brief an den Präsidenten Frank-
lin D. Roosevelt schrieb, in dem
er diesem mitteilte, dass die Ge-
welt, au.<serhalb seines Arbeits-
kreises, meist nur noch sehr per-
sönlich.
Aber wenn er aueh die Tür
.seines Hauses vor Neugierigen
verschliesst. sie öffnet sich immer
Menschen, die von Unrecht oder
fahr der Herstellung von Atom- Gew alt verfc^lgt werden. Wo sein
Innern des Atoms) den.selben all- , elektrischem Feld, zwischen
bomben auf der gegnerischen
Seite bestünde. Es war dieser
Brief, der die verstärkten ameri-
kanischen Anstrengungen zur er-
gemeinen Grundgesetzen gehör- ; Raum und Zeit, da ihre Beziehun- ! sten Schaffung dieser Bombe aus-
chen, in mühseligen Etappen ge- gen enthüllt sind und die tiefe
schaffen. Die.se Etappen führten ' Einheitlichkeit, die dem Univer- !
ihn über die Universität Prag ; sum zugrunde liegt, aufgedeckt
wieder nach Zürich zurück, an ist "
die Eidgenössische Technische
Hochschule und dann an die Ber-
I liner Universität (1914).'
! Als der Mac*htantritt Hitlers
seiner Leitung des "Kaiser-Wil-
; helm-Institut.s" ein Ende machte
'. und Einstein in Deutschland nicht
j mehr atmen konnte, ging er nach
! den Vereinigten Staaten, wo er
mit offenen Armen aufgenommen
wurde. Hier war es, wo er, für
ihn die Krönung seines Werks,
schliesslich die vier Gleichungen
seiner oben erwähnten "Einheit-
lichen Feld-Theorie*' vollendete.
jener Theoiie, in der er die phy- steinschen Werkes gibt ihm,
sikali^chen Gesetze der beiden
Urkräfte des Universums, die der
Gravitation und des Elektro-
Magnetismus. auf eine gemein-
same Formel brachte.
Einstein hat viel Ehrungen in
seinem Leben erhalten: vom No-
belpreis bi.s zur Ernennung zum
Mit-^lied zahlreicher Akademien
und zum Ehrendoktor von .sech-
zehn Universitäten, unter ihnen ^_ ,....„.
Genf, Oxford, Cambridge und j rigkeiten hinwegzuschwingen" E^
Jerusalem. Und wenn auch die war auch ein tiefer Glaube Der
grosse Masse des Publikums seine Jude Einstein, der zu den Ver-
Arbeit nicht 'Versteht", so wei.ss ! fechtern des Herzl'schen Gedan-
Dreiunddrei.s^sig Jahre hat Ein-
stein der Erforschung endloser
Kombinationen mathematischer
Logik gewidmet, um in seine
"Allgemeine Relativitäts - Theo-
rie" von 1916 die Gesetze des
elektromagnetischen Feldes ein-
zuordnen. 1946 war er soweit, die
Gleichungen niederzuschreiben,
die die Einordnung lösten. Dieses
Niederschreiben — vierundzwan-
zig Seiten im Ganzen — nahm
weitere drei Jahre in Anspruch.
"Goff spieh nicht Würfel"
Das bisherige Ergebnis des Ein-
so
j wie es an der Riverside Church
, in New York geschehen ist. einen
I Platz neben Euklid. Galilei und
j Kopernikus. den drei gro.«sen
I geistigen Erbauern des Univer-
sums, ein. Aber es war nicht nur
^ sein mathematisches Genie, das
Einstein zum Erfolg verhalf, ihn
befähigte sich über endlos und
immer neu sich ihm entgegen-
türmende Berge von Denkschwie-
löste. dieses furchtbaren Zerstö-
rungswerks, das ohne
magische Gleichungen niemals
möglich geworden wäre. Aber
alle Entwicklungen können zun^.
Guten oder zum Bösen verwandt
werden. Es kommt auf die Men-
magischer Name einem solchen
Flüchtling helfen kann, leiht er
ihn her. Seine Augen wandten
sich j?chon immer von der Welt
des Tages den Geheimni.-sen der
Ewigkeit zu. In einem Buch "I
Einstein^ I Believe". das 1940 in London er-
schien und die philosophischen
Bekenntnisse berühmter Zeitge-
nossen enthält, .schrieb Einstein:
"Das Scliönste, deyn wir begeg-
nen können. Ist das Gehelninifi.
ist freilich | Es ist die Quelle aller wahren
.^chen an. Einstein
nicht zu optimisti.sch. Resigniert \ Kunst und Wissenscliaft. Wetn
lässt er sich in einem Interview | die Erregutig darüber iehh, wer
mit Alfred Werner (1949) ver- \ yncht stillsiehen und, von Ehr-
nehmen:
**Die Furcht vor der i
I Atombombe kann die Situation '
I nicht retten. Das kann nur po- |
litische Weisheit und Mässigung. '•
Leider entdecke ich davon einst- !
weilen auf allen Seiten nur we- '
' nia." 1
Es ist kein Wunder, dass Ein-
stein, ein Freund von Bjumen.
! Kindern und Musik, in unserer |
i heutigen Zeit immer einsilbiger i
' geworden ist. Seine Stimmung
I lässt sich am besten aus einem
bisher niemals veröffentlichten
Glückwunsch-Brief ersehen, den
er, schon im Jahre 1947. an
' den damals in London und heuto
I wieder in Berlin lebenden deut- ,
I sehen Pazifisten Otto Lehmann-
Russbueldt zu de.ssen 75. Geburts-
tag schrieb: (
furcht iiberkonitnen, sich ici4?i-
derri kann, ist so qut wie tot:
seine Angen sind ge.^chlossen.
Die Einsiclit in das Mysterium
des Jyebens. wenn sie auch mit
Furclit verb\n\den sein mag. hat
auch die Religion entstehen las-
sen. Zu wissen, dass das, was un^
durchdringlith ist für uns, wvk-
lieh existiert, dass es sich mani'-
fesxtert als die höchste Wei.<sheit
und die stralilendste Schönheit,
dte unsere stumpfen Sinne nur
in den primitivsten Formen be-
greifen können — diese Erkennt-
nis, dieses Gf'fühl ist der Kern
walirer Religiosität. In d>esem
Sinne, und nur in diesem Sinne,
gehöre ich in die Reihen der tief
religiösen Menschen.**
Manfred Georg«
•IT III «11
1 I 1 V J I
i'Liiui AlneIlku^^ .
AbtT die Polemik vorsickeite
i»S(!h. Denn d.M- Name Einstein
und die Gestalt B^insleins jieliören
in unserem Lande zu den wenigen
populäien volkslünilirhen Be-
j;i i(Ten, die nicht die Modeunge-
legenheit eines Ja Vires sind, son-
dern Bestand haben. Der greise
(belehrte mit dem zerzausten. |
dichten, eis^^rauen Ilaar. den tie- :
fen gütigen Augen und der ewig
faltigen Kleidung, in der er aus- I
sieht, als ob er na< htelang darin i
geschlafen habe, ist eine Art !
Vulksliebliiig grwi»rd(.'n.
0er Kopf an der Kirche
Man liebt diesen Mann uiui hat
il^m ungezählte Ehrungen berei-
tet, ja, man hat sein Antlitz in
Stein in die Front einer Kirche
eingemeisselt. Es bli(kt auf den
Kummling von der Fassade der
New Yorker Riversidc Church. die
die Gesichter unsterblicher Füh-
rer der Menschheit zeigt. Der
Prediger der Kirche, der auch als
Roligionswissenschaftler hoch ge-
schätzte Reverend Harry Emer-
son Fosdick, erklärte seinen Gläu-
bigen das steinerne Portiät eines
jüdischen Gelehrten an
christlichen Kirche damit
*»^ i/4.^^%.
"tm» •
Würfel spielen".
Diese i'eligui.se Fan.»*tellung
machte Einstein zum Anti-Mili-
taristen, zum heftigsten Bekämp-
fer des Krieges, und vor allem
/.um Non-Konformisten gegen-
über jedem irdischen Diktator;
sie machte ihn zum Typ jenes
echten Demokraten, der die Frei-
heit des Individuums als ein gött-
liches» Recht und als nur von der
Freiheit des Nebenmenschen be-
grenzt, ansieht.
Atom Mnd Furcht
Es ist vielleicht eine der tra-
' ■ ■ " " ' ^ " ■ ' '-' . U Lt. l ^
agieren. Wevn wir im HimiueX
ankoit)tnp)i, werden wir uns in
der DonQuichote'Katnmer wie-
der finden, EinsiweilenaUenGuie:''
Es gibt viele Leute, die sagen,
dass Einstein nichts von Politik
verstünde. Nun. dieser Brief zeigt,
dass er mehr darüber weiss al.s
viele berufsmässige Leitartikler.
Er ist freilich kein Politiker im
Sinne des "politician" aller Län-
der. Er ist ein Moralist und er
ist ein Idealist. Die Männer, de-
ren Leben und Wirken ihn be-
sonders anzogen, waren u. a. Per-
gischsten Schick.salsstunden in sönlichkeiten wie Tagore. Fieud,
seinem Leben gewesen, als dieser
Pazifist sich eines Tages, als die
Gefahr des internationalen Fa-
.schismus die Welt zu verschlin-
— H*produr«d by fourlesy '*l'nivetttd Jewish Encyrloptdi***
Eine Handschriftenprobe des grossen Gelehrten
Beweis geführt hat, dass alle Na- schied zwischen Gravitations-
turerscheinungen (Sterne und , und Elektromagnetischer Kraft,
Planeten. Licht, Elektrizität und , zwischen Stoff und Energie, zwi-
.^elbst die winzigen Teilchen im | sehen elektrischer Ladung und
Innern des Atoms) den.selben all- elektri.schem Feld, zwischen
gemeinen Grundgesetzen gehör- j Raum und Zeit, da ihre Beziehun-
einer j (_.h^ri. in mühseligen Etappen ge- I gen enthüllt sind und die tiefe
Gandhi. F. D. Roosevelt. Heute
sind .««eine Kontakte mit der Um-
welt, ausserhalb seines Arbeits-
kreises, meist nur noch sehr per-
sönjif'h.
Aber wenn er auch die Tür
.seines Hauses vor Neugierigen
verschliesst. sie öffnet sich immer
er diesem mitteilte, dass die Ge- : Men.^chen, die von Unrecht oder
fahr der Herstellung von Atom- , GexAalt vei folgt werden. Wo .sein
bomben auf der gegnerischen i magischer Name einem solchen
Seite bestünde. Es war dieser | Flüchtling l.clfen kann, leiht er
Brief, der die verstärkten ameri- ihn her. Seine Augen wandten
kanischen Anstrengungen zur er-
sten Schaffung dieser Bombe aus-
zu
gen drohte, im August 1.Q39
hinsetzte und jenen berühmten
Brief an den Piäsidenten Frank-
lin D. Roosevelt schrieb, in dem
Einstein nicht nur "wegen .seines
edlen Charakters und seiner Lei-
stungen" dorthin ;;ehö]e. sondern
-weil er auch ein Beispiel für der
Men.vchen sei, von dem das Neue
Testament mit heiligenden Wor-
ten schrieb: "dej-, der Gutes tut,
ist ein Teil Gottes".
Die.se Ehiung hat sich das **A1-
bertle". \^'ie ihn seine Mutter
nannte, sichei- nicht in jener frü-
hen Jugend träumen lassen, die
er in seinei' schwäbisclien Heimat,
im Elternhaus in Ulm, verbraclite.
Da hatte er nur wenig schmei-
«•h( lliafte Spitznamen: als Kind
den eines "Pater Langweil", weil
er sich abseits hielt und jede Art
von Soldatenspiel hasste
später, als er in der katliolischen
Volksschule m München das ein-
zig jüdische Kind war. nannten
die Knaben ihn "Biedermeier''.
D?r junge Einstein war kein Re-
bell. Das ihn drückende Schul-
reglement und die forsche Militär-
anbetung seiner Lehrer machten
ihn nur schweigsamer und seinen
Büchern noch verbunoener.
Das grosse Werk
Der frühen Jugend-Epoche
'olgten dann nach dem 15. Le-
n.sjahr Schuljahre in der
dass I schaffen. Diese Etappen führten | Einheitlichkeit, die dem Univer- ! rungswerks. das ohne Einstein
sich schon immer von der Welt
des Tages den Geheimnissen der
löste, dieses furchtbaren Zersto- ! Ewigkeit zu. In einem Buch "I
Logik
, ihn über die Universität Prag • sum
(Wieder nach Zürich zurück, an ; i>'t."
die Eidgenössische Technische
Ho. hsrhule und dann an die Ber-
ijn»^>r Universität (1914).'
i Als der Mai*htantritt Hitler-;
seiner Leitung des "Kaisei -Wil-
I helm-Instituts" ein Ende machte
'■ und Einstein in Deutschland nicht
1 mehr atmen konnte, ging er nach
I den Vereinigten Staaten, wo er
, mit offenen Armen aufgenommen
i wurde. Hier war es, wo er, für
1 ihn die Krönung seines Werks.
schliesslich die vier Gleichungen
seiner oben erwähnten "Einheit-
iiclion Feld-Theorie'* vollendete.
zugrunde
liegt, aufgedeckt
Believe", das 1940 in London er-
magi.sche Gleichungen niemals [ schien und die philosophischen
^ . j , . . ., ^ , „ möglich geworden wäre. Aber Bekenntnisse berühmter Zeitge-
Dreiunddreissig Jahre hat Ein- alle Entwicklungen können zum nossen enthält, .schrieb Einstein:
stein der Erforschung endloser ^ Guten oder 7um Bösen verwandt
Kombinationen mathenjatischer ! werden. Es kommt auf die Men-
gewidmet, um in seine ' sehen an. Einstein
*'Das Sc^LÖnste, dem wir begeg-
nen kÖHiien. i,st das G€}ieimnis.
. . . ist freilich j Es ist die Quelle aller xcaliren
•Allgemeine Relativitat.s - Theo- ! nicht zu optimi.stisch. Resigniert ' KuH.st imd Wissenschaft Wem
rie von 19J6 die Gesetze des lässt er sich in einem Interview | die Erregung darüber jehlt, ^rer
mit Alfred Werner (1949) ver-\nicht stilhielien und, von E'ir-
nehmen: "Die Furcht vor öer \ furclit überkonitnen, sich u-kh-
Atombombe kann die Situation dem kann, ist so gut wie tot:
nicht retten. Das kann nur po- | seine Augen sind geschlossen.
litische Weisheit und Mässigung. j Die Einsiclit in das Mysierlum
Leider entdecke ich davon einst- i des Lebens, wenn sie aucJi mit
weilen auf allen Seiten nur we- ' FurclU verbunden sein mag. hat
elektromagnetischen Feldes ein-
zuordnen. 1946 war er soweit, die
Gleichungen niederzuschreiben.
die die Einordnung lösten. Dieses
Niederschreiben — vierundz wan-
zig Seiten im Ganzen — nahm
weitere drei Jahre in Anspruch.
Goff spielt nicht Würfel"
Das bisherige Ergebnis des Ein
*'i
ni<?
1
auch die Religion eyitstehen las^
Es ist kein Wunder, dass Ein- ' sen. Zu ici^sen, das.^ da.<f, was un-
j^^^ ; j^ner Theorip, in der er die phy- stein.schen Werkes gibt ihm, so -^tein, ein Freund von Bjumen. | durc/»dr/t»g?<th ist /ür uns, loirk-
io..v,.^r^ t ''*^^^**^^"^*'" Gesetze der beiden i wie es an der Riverside Church ■ ^^"^^^'" ^^^ Musik, in unserer | (ich e:ci.sfiert. dass es sich niani"
Urkräfte des Universum«, die der 1 in New York geschehen ist. einen * ^^"^^'^en Zeit immer einsilbiger j /est^ert als die höchste Weisheit
Grnvitation und des Elektro-
Magnetismus. auf eine gemein-
same Formel brachte.
Einslein hat viel Ehrungen in
seinem Leben erhalten: vom No-
Platz neben Euklid. Galilei und
Kopernikus. den drei grossen
geistigen Erbauern des Univer-
sums, ein. Aber es war nicht nur
.^ein mathematisches Genie. da<
geworden ist. Seine Stimmung u^d die stralilendste Schönheit,
\ lässt sich am besten aus einem die unsere stumpfen Sinne nur
'■ bisher niemals veröffentlichten ' in den primitivsten Formen be-
Glückwunsch-Biief ersehen, den greifen können — diese Erkennt-
er. schon im Jahre 1947. an nis. dieses Gefühl ist der Kern
beipreis h\s zur Ernennung zum ' Einstein zum Erfolg verhalf, ihn ^^" damals in London und heute lüahrer Religiosität. In diesem
Mit 'Jied zahlreicher Akademien befähigte sich über endlos und , ^^^^^^ in Berlin lebenden deut- : .9i/in^. und nur in diesem Sinne.
immer neu sich ihm entgegen- ' ^^^^^ Pazifisten Otto Lehmann- gehöre ich in die Reiiien der tief
und zum Ehrendoktor von sech-
zehn Universitäten, unter ihnen
Genf, Oxford, Cambridge und
Jerusalem. Und wenn auch die
grosse Mas.«e des Publikums seine ! Jude Einstein
türmende Berge von Denkschwie- Russbueldt zu dessen 75. Geburts- religiösen Menschen.'*
rigkeiten hinwegzuschwingen. Es ^^S schrieb: 1 Manfred Georg«
war auch ein tiefer Glaube.
mit dem Bleistift in der Hand und
mit seinem rechnerischen Gehirn
arich, Emstein gab die deutsche
otaatsbürgerschaft auf und wurde
"chweizer Bürger. Das Patent-
amt in Bein beschäftigte ihn als
Fachmann für die Bearbeitung in
das Patentfach schlagender phy-
sikalischer Fragen. In dieser
Stellung veröffentlichte er 1905
seine eiste Arbeit zur Relativi-
täts-Theorie unter dem Titel
"Zur Elektro-Dynamik bev^cgter
K'irper".
Die Schrift errcfjte grosses Auf- "
sehen und erüft'neie Einstein, mit
einer Berufung an die Universität
Zürich, zugleich die Universitäts-
Arbeit nicht "versteht", so weiss
^^^ ■ ,Stil,^ifniahrP -'^^^ ^trnM f^wr di^er Mrmnr der I kens
Der
der zu den Ver-
fechtern des Herzlschen Gedan-
einer "nationalen Heim-
stätte für das Jüdische Volk in
Palästina" gehörte, als Zionismus
die ganze Welt in Bewegung ge- i noch als eine "verrückte Phanta-
Hausverwaltung!
Resolute Berlinerin übet nimmt no?h
2- 3 solche. Erfithren und bei Be-
höden eingeführt. Er.ste USA und
Berlin Referenzen.
Toni Mueller. Mommsen Str. 60
0_ »:_ /^W,,.U»fÄnKtiro 4-
DEUTSCHLAND
von New York noch 9 deutschen Städten
BREMEN HAMBURG MÜNCHEN
DÜSSELDORF HANNOVER NÜRNBERG
FRANKFURT KÖLN STUTTGART
in Royal Super Constellation»
|(i«drig* Sparsaison-Pr«i«« i*tzt in Kraft.
SUCHEN SIE IHREN REISEAGENTEN~'AUF •der
KL>* Royal Dutch Airline% 572 Fi(th Avenue,
U^^M York 36. N. Y. - JUdson 2-4020
\
NEW YORK WORLD-TELEGRi
Einstein Hunts,
Realiiylleiiind
App4»araii€*es |
But Theroips Are Uard
For Laymcn io Crnsp
By DAVID DIETZ,
ScrippS'Hojcard Science Editor.
The fccling of bcwilderment and
frustration with which the average
layman approaches Prof. Albert
Einsteln's new unified field theory
is nothing new in the world.
It greeted Newton's theory of
gra^itation in 1687. Maxwells
electro-magnetic theory of Ught in
1873 and Einstein's theory of
iclativity only a few decades ago.
In all probability the Citizens of
ancient Greece responded similarly
in the sixth Century. B.C., when
the first nature - philosophers.
Thaies and Pythagora;>. announced
their theories of the structure of
the universe.
Thcre is a natural Progression
from Thaies to Einstein and,
Strange as it may seem. it will help
US undc]\stand Einstein if we talk
a bit about the ancient Greeks.
The basic question is: How shall
we understand the universe?
One View, held by an important
group of the ancient Greek philos-
ophers, accepted the world of Sen-
sation at its face value. Thus sugar
was sweet because sweetness was
the "essence" of sugar.
But anoiher f^roup of philoso-
phers saw the necessity of pene-
trating behind the appearance of
Ihings and our sensations of them.
Chief among these were the first
philosophers to suggest an atomic
theory of matter. Leucippus of
Miletus and his pupil. Democritus.
Democritus. who lived from 470
to 400 B.C.. wrote: "Accordin^ to
Convention there is a sweet and a
bitter, a hot and a cold: according
to Convention there is color. But
in reality there are atoms and the
void. The objects of sense are sup-
posed to be real and are usually
regarded as such, but in truth they
are not. Only the atoms and the
void are real."
' Here was the first Suggestion of
a kind of reality which differed
from the evidence carried to man's
brain by his five senses. Plato and
Aristotle led Greek thought away
from the atomic idea but it re-
turned to favor in time. It was
held by Galileo and Newton, al-
though it did not begin to assume
its modern form until the work of
Dalton at the Start of the 19th
Century.
'fSf
Der Kolumbus der Naturwisscnsdiaft
„DAS EINZIG UNBEGREIFLICHE AN DER
I
The tendency in science has
been to move further and further
toward this kind of a description
of the universe. The layman is
often made unhappy. as for ex-
ample, when Bertrand Russell
says: "Electricity is not a thing
like St. Paul's Cathedral. It is a
way in which things behave. When
we have told how things behave
when they are electrified and un-
der what circumstances they are
electrified we have told all there
is to teil."
Man hat Albert Einstein, der am 14. März
75 Jahre alt wird, einmal den Kolumbus der
Naturwissenschaft genannt. Wie der Spanier
aus Genua, so stieß auch der schwabisch«
Fabrikantensohn, der in Ulm geboren wurde
und in München aufwuchs, zu einem unent-
deckten Kontinent, zu einer n^ucn Dimension
des Denkens vor, die das Zeitalter der Atome
begründen half. Dieser Mann, der durch seine
Relativitätstheorie unser Weltbild von Grund
auf veränderte, wirkt mit seiner eisgrauen und
wirren Löwenmähne eher wie ein „wandern-
der Violinvirtuose". Er lebt in einem beschei-
denen Haus in Princeton (USA) und liebt
Bach, Mozart und Beethoven über alles. Jeder
freie Abend gehört seiner Geige. Albert Ein-
stein ist vor dem Lärm des Ruhmes in die
Stille und Abgeschiedenheit eines bchliciiten
Bürgerdaseins geflohen; er ist nur schwer zu
bewegen, den Frack der Repräsentation anzu-
ziehen und sich in der Öffentlichkeit zu zeigen.
Lieber schlurft er in bequemen Sandaletten
und mit offenem Hemdkragen durch seinen
Garten und hält (in leicht schwäbelndem Eng-
lisch) einen Schwatz über den Zaun hinweg
mit einem Nachbarn.
Vor Jahr und Tag wuide einmal ein Preis-
ausschreiben mit dem Ziel veranstaltet, zu
einer halbwegs verständlichen und volkstüm-
lichen Erklärung der von Einstein geschaf-
fenen Relativitätstheorie zu kommen. Es wur-
den zwar von den zahlreichen Einsendungen
einige wenige mit Preisen ausgezeichnet. Aber
die plausible und populäre Umschreibung der
Einsteinschen Lehre ist nicht gefunden worden.
„Einstein", so hat man es überspitzt aus-
gedrückt, „dieser Name ist gleichbedeutend mit
unverständlich". Ist er es wirklich? Professor
Philipp Frank, ein Physiker von internatio-
nalem Ruf, beweist uns das Gegenteil in sei-
nem Buch „Einstein — sein Leben und seine
Zeit" (List, München). In dieser biographisdien
Darstellung wird Einsteins Werk überzeugend
verlebendigt und (auch für den Laien) be-
greifbar gemacht. Wer von dem Denken Ein-
steins, so ähnlich formuliert es Frank, nur
ein wenig begreift, der hat die Welt unseres
zwanzigsten Jahrhunderts besser verstehen
gelernt. Ein wichtiger Beitrag zum besseren
■—.Verständnis einer gewandelten Welt ist, meine
l||ich, auch das Buch Philipp Franks, in dem
das Schaffen Einsteins als das dargestellt wird,
—was es ist: als die vielleicht größte denkerische
*^^' Leistung seit Newton, dem Entdecker des
'^ Gravitationsgesetzes.
> i Es heißt, daß Albert Einstein der Gedanke
DT') an einen neuen Krieg, der ja ein Krieg der
>\\l Atombombe sein würde, die er der Welt durch
)jt seine Forschungen indirekt an die Hand lie-
. p ferte, nachts aus dem Schlafe schrecke. Immer
)jj wieder mahnt er, daß die Mächte der Erde
31 in ihrer hysterischen Sucht nach Sicherheit
WELT IST IHRE UNBEGREIFLICHKEIT"
nicht jene Kräfte der modernen Technik ent-
fesseln sollten, die das Ende aller Zivilisation
und Kultur bedeuteten. Nicht in Schlachten,
so sagt Einstein, kann der Friede gewonnen
werden, sondern nur durch einen Zusammen-
scliluß derer, die guten Willens sind. Er for-
dert eine Weltorganisation gegen die ver-
derbliche Ichsucht des Nationalismus. Er ruft
in seinen Manifesten dei Vernunft aus, daß
die ungeheure Gefahr der modernen Massen-
vernichtung uns weniger Schrecken einjage,
als die kleinen nationalen Mißgeschicke. Der
französische Schriftsteller Denis de Rou-
gement erzählt von einem Gespräch, das er
mit Einstein über diese „Weltregierung des
guten Willens" geführt und wie er von seiner
Skepsis gegenüber einer solchen politischen
Utopie keinen Hehl gemacht habe. Sicher, sagte
Einstein darauf, der Weg mag bis dahin noch
weit sein, aber eben deshalb dränge die Zeit,
ihn jetzt und sofort einzuschlagen. — Der
französische Marschall Lyautey gab seinem
Gärtner einmal die Anweisung, in seinem
Garten einen sehr seltenen Baum zu pflanzen.
Als der Bedienstete einwandte, daß der ge-
wünschte Baum mehr als hundert Jahre zu
seinem Wachstum benötige gab der Soldat
die Antwort: „Also sofort ans Werk, mein
Freund, Sie sehen, daß man nicht eine Se-
kunde Zeit verlieren darf."
Diese Antwort könnte Einstein gegeben
haben, der aus sittlicher Verantwortung im-
mer wieder zum unbequemen und unduld-
Warner wird. Der gewich-
seiner Feder „Aus meinen
(Deutsche Verlagsanstalt,
Bild von der Spann- und
H
E
[•
samen politischen
tige Aufsatzband
späten Jahren"
Stuttgart) gibt ein
NESDAV. i)i:(:::MnE;i ii
Reichw^eite seines öffentlichen Wirkens für den
Frieden. Das Buch, eine großartige Dokumen-
tation politischer Unabhängigkeit und geistiger
Lauterkeit und Weitsicht, zählt zu den wich-
tigsten Publikationen unserer Tage, weil Ein-
stein die bedrängenden Fragen unserer Zeit
entschieden anpackt, ein bedeutender Schrift-
steller, ein schöpferischer, politischer Moralist.
Aber Einstein ist nicht nur ein Freund des
Friedens. Er ist auch ein Freund der Kinder.
Ein Gast des Hauses von Princeton erzählte,
daß es ihm einen unvergeßlichen Eindruck
gemaclit, wenn Einstein die komplizierteste
wissensdiaftliche Niederschrift sofort unter-
brach, wenn das Kind eines Nachbarn in sein
Arbeitszimmer trat und ihm wortlos ein
Schulheft in die Hand drückte, damit ihm der
große Mann bei der Lösung einer Aufgabe
behilflich sei. Einstein machte sich, beendete
der Gast seine Erzählung, mit einem Ernst
über die simple rechnerische Gleichung des
ABC-Schützen, als handele es sich um ein
gewichtiges naturwissenschaftliches Problem.
Kann man Schöneres zum Ruhme des Gelehr-
ten sagen, der ein Freund der Kinder, der ein
Freund der Welt ist? Carl Unsöld.
CAMERA AND STARS
SUPPORT EINSTEIF
Photographs Back His Theory
That Gravity Frcni Siin
Bends the Light Rays
WASHINGTON. Dec. 9 (UP)— |
'xhe National Geographie Society i
reported new evidence today to,
1 Support Dr. Albert Einstein's the-^
'ory that gravity can bend light
rays.
Dr. Einstein predicted nearly a
half Century a^o that an apparont,
Ishiftin.'? of stars' light passing'
close to the sun wnuld be one of
Uhr proofs of hi.^ theory of rela-
Uivity.
Tho Society said Dr. George van
iBicsbroeck. Univer.^ity of Chicago
]astronompr. had-niade actual meas-
urements this year that tallied
irloselv with Dr. Ein.stom's predic-
i'tion. To de this Dr. van Biesbroeck
mado two trips this year to Khar-
toum. c?.pital of the Anglo-Es:yp-
tian Si'.dan.
Dr. Einstein said ho cmild not
con-iniont on Dr. Van Pic.^-broeck's
findinps unMl he examined the as.
trononier's report on his trips.
i His first trip was to take ad-
vantage of a total eclipse of the
3un Feb. 2o. The eclipse permitted
him to photograph slars then lo-
catcd almost directly behind the
I bla«ked-out sun.
Tue second photographs Were
made Au;?. 29 when the same .stnrs
had reached the posilions in the
night skv idenlical to those they
occupied^ when the first picturcs
werc made. i
Bv comparinjT thp photographs
Dr. "^Ivan ßicsbroeck figured out!
I the grativational pull of the sim|
! on the light from the stars. Iti
1 came to 1.70 seconds of are, a tiny
I fraction of one degroe of a circls.
' Dr. Einstein calrulated the li;^ht,
would be bent 1.T5 seconds of arc.j
For years astronomers have|
been an.\ious to test Dr. Einstein's'
th*»orv. In 1917 a National Geo-|
5:raphic Society expedition to,
Brazil attempted to obtain proofi
but the Star field behind the sun
was too scattered to be conclusive.
Dr. Van Biesbroock, vvhose ex-
peditions woro financed by the
Geog:raphic Society, took a twenty-
foot telcscope-camera to tho Sudan
for the three-minute period he had
to take pictures with the sun in
total eclipse.
f —i-t.
>«wc'
Elnsteln's new unified ficld theory
is nothing new in tlie woiid.
It greeted Ncwton's Iheory of
gra'/itation in 1687, Maxwell's
clectro-magnetic theory of light m
1873 and Einstein's theory of
lelativity oniy a few decades ago.
In all probability the Citizens of
anclent Greece responded similarly
in the sixth Century, B.C.. "when
the first nature - philosophers.
Thaies and Pythagora.^. announced
their theorles of the structure of
the universc.
Thcre is a natural progression
from Thaies to Ein^^tein and,
Strange as it may seem, it will help
US undci-stand Einstein if we talk
a bit about/ the ancient Greek.^.
The basic question is: How shall
we understand the universe?
One View, held by an important
group of the ancient Greek philos-
ophers, accepted the world of Sen-
sation at its face value. Thus sugar
was sweet because sweetness was
the "essence" of sugar.
But anolher group of philoso-
phers saw the necessity of pene-
trating behind the appearance of
things and our sensations of them.
Chief among these were the first
philosophers to suggest an atomic
theory of matter. Leucippus of
Miletus and his pupil. Democritus.
Democritus. who lived from 470
to 400 B.C.. wrote: "Accordin^ to
Convention there is a sweet and a
bitter, a hot and a cold; according
to Convention there is color. But
in reality there are atoms and the
void. The objecto of sense are sup-
posed to be real and are usually
regarded as such, but in truth they
are not. Only the atoms and the
void are real."
' Here was the first Suggestion of
a kind of reality which differed
from the evidence carried to mans
brain by his fivc senses. Plato and
Aristotle led Greek thought away
from the atomic idea but it re-
turned to favor in time. It was
held by Galileo and Newton, al-
though it did not begin to assume
its modern form until the work of
Dalton at the start of the 19th
Century.
• • «
The tendency in science has
been to move further and further
toward this kind of a description
of the universe. The layman is
often made unhappy. as for ex- |
ample, when Bertrand Russell
says: "Electricity is not a thing
like St. Paul's Cathedral. It is a
way in which things behave. When
we have told how things behave
v;hen they are electrified and un-
der what circumstances they are
j electrified we have told all there
' is to teil."
TITe trend is away from pictui o*.
and mechanical modeis and to-
wards mathematical descriptions.
Prof. Einstein's new theory rep-
resents the climax of a chain of
events that began in Cleveland in
1887 with the famous Mlchelson-
Morley experiment.
tine iiU wird, einmal ut'u rwuiuiauub uct
Naturwissenschaft genannt. Wie der Spanier
aus Genua, so stieß auch der schwäbischa
Fabrikantcnsohn, der in Ulm geboren wurdt
und in München aufwuchs, zu einem unent-
dcckten Kontinent, /u einer n^'icn Dimension
des Denkens vor, die das Zeitalter der Atome
begiünden half. Dieser M jnn, der durch seine
Relativitätstheorie unser Weltbild von Grund
auf veränderte, wirkt mit seiner eisgrauen und
wirren Löwenmähne eher wie ein ,, wandern-
der Violinvirtuose". Er lebt in einem beschei-
denen Haus in Princeton (USA) und liebt
Bach. Mozart und Beethoven über alles. Jeder
freie Abend gehört seiner Geige. Albert Ein-
stein ist vor dem I.ärm des Ruhmes in die
Stille und Abgeschiedenheit eines schlichten
Bürgerdaseins geflohen; er ist nur schwer zu
bewegen, don Frack der Repräsentation anzu-
ziehen und sich in der Öffentlichkeit zu zeigen.
Lieber sdilurft er in bequemen Sandaletten
und mit offenem Hemdkragen durch seinen
Garten und hält (in leicht schwäbelndem Eng-
lisch) einen Schwatz über den Zaun hinweg
mit einem Nachbarn.
Vor Jahr und Tag wurde einmal ein Preis-
ausschreiben mit dem Ziel veranstaltet, zu
einer halbwegs verständlichen und volkstüm-
lichen Erklärung der von Einstein geschaf-
fenen Relativitätstheorie zu kommen. Es wur-
den zwar von den zahlreichen Einsendungen
einige wenige mit Preisen ausgezeichnet. Aber
die plausible und populäre Umschreibung der
Einsteinschen Lehre ist nicht gefunden worden.
„Einstein", so hat man es überspitzt aus-
gedrückt, „dieser Name ist gleichbedeutend mit
unverständlich". Ist er es wirklich? Professor
Philipp Frank, ein Physiker von internatio-
nalem Ruf, beweist uns das Gegenteil in sei-
nem Buch „Einstem — sein Leben und seine
Zeit" (List, München). In dieser biographischen
Darstellung wird Einsteins Werk überzeugend
verlebendigt und (auch für den Laien) be-
greifbar gemacht. Wer von dem Denken Ein-
steins, so ähnlich formuliert es Frank, nur
ein wenig begreift, der hat die Welt unseres
zwanzigsten Jahrhunderts besser verstehen
gelernt. Ein wichtiger Beitrag zum besseren
Verständnis einer gewandelten Welt ist, meine
ich, auch das Buch Philipp Franks, in dem
das Schaffen Einsteins als das dargestellt wird,
was es ist: als die vielleicht größte denkerische
Leistung seit Newton, dem Entdecker des
Gravitationsgesetzes.
Es heißt, daß Albert Einstein der Gedanke
an einen neuen Krieg, der ja ein Krieg der
Atombombe sein würde, die er der Welt durch
seine Forschungen indirekt an die Hand lie-
ferte, nachts aus dem Schlafe schrecke. Immer
wieder mahnt er, daß die Mächte der Erde
in ihrer hysterischen Sucht nach Sicherheit
Uv.^
Schlachten.
und Kultur bedeuteten. Nicht in
so sagt Einstein, kann der Friede gewonnen
werden, sondern nur durch einen Zusammen-
sdiluß derer, die guten Willens sind. Er for-
dert eine Weltorganisation gegen die ver-
derbliche Idisucht des Nationalismus. Er ruft
in seinen Manifesten der Vernunft aus, daß
die ungeheure Gefahr der modernen Massen-
vornichtung uns weniger Schrecken einjage,
als die kleinen nationalen Mißgeschicke. Der
französische Schriftsteller Denis de Rou-
gement erzählt von einem Gespräch, das er
mit Einstein über diese „Weltregierung des
guten Willens" geführt und wie er von seiner
Skepsis gegenüber einer solchen politischen
Utopie keinen Hehl gemacht habe. Sicher, sagte
Einstein darauf, der Weg mag bis dahin noch
weit sein, aber eben deshalb dränge die Zeit,
ihn jetzt und sofort einzuschlagen. — Der
französische Marschall Lyautey gab seinem
Gärtner einmal die Anweisung, in seinem
Garten einen sehr seltenen Baum zu pflanzen.
Als der Bedienstete einwandte, daß der ge-
wünschte Baum mehr als hundert Jahre zu
seinem Wachstum benötige gab der Soldat
die Antwort: „Also sofort ans Werk, mein
Freund, Sie sehen, daß man nicht eine Se-
kunde Zeit verlieren darf."
Diese Antwort könnte Einstein gegeben
haben, der aus sittlicher Verantwortung im-
mer wieder zum unbequemen und unduld-
Warner wird. Der gewich-
seiner Feder „Aus meinen
(Deutsche Verlagsanstalt,
Bild von der Spann- und
samen politischen
tige Aufsatzband
späten Jahren"
Stuttgart) gibt ein
Photo^raphs Back His Theory
That Gravity From Sun
Bends the Light Rays
Reichweite seines öffentlichen Wirkens für den
Frieden. Das Buch, eine großartige Dokumen-
tation politischer Unabhängigkeit und geistiger
Lauterkeit und Weitsicht, zählt zu den wich-
tigsten Publikationen unserer Tage, weil Ein-
stein die bedrängenden Fragen unserer Zeit
entschieden anpackt, ein bedeutender Schrift-
steller, ein schöpferischer, politischer Moralist.
Aber Einstein ist nicht nur ein Freund des
Friedens. Er ist auch ein Freund der Kinder.
Ein Gast des Hauses von Princeton erzählte,
daß es ihm einen unvergeßlichen Eindruck
gemacht, wenn Einstein die komplizierteste
wissensdiaftliche Niederschrift sofort unter-
brach, wenn das Kind eines Nachbarn \n sein
Arbeitszimmer trat und ihm wortlos ein
Schulheft in die Hand drückte, damit ihm der
große Mann bei der Lösung einer Aufgabe
behilflich sei. Einstein machte sich, beendete
der Gast seine Erzählung, mit einem Ernst
über die simple rechnerische Gleichung des
ABC-Schützen, als handele es sich um ein
gewichtiges naturwissenschaftliches Problem.
Kann man Schöneres zum Ruhme des Gelehr-
ten sagen, der ein Freund der Kinder, der ein
Freund der Welt ist? Carl Unsöld.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 9 (LT)—
The National Geographie Society
reportcd new evidence loday t0|
Slipport Dr. Albert Einstein's the-
vy that gravity can bend li^ht,
rays. '
br. Einstein predicted nearly n
!half Century ago that an apparont|
ishifUn.? of Stars' lip:ht passing'
rlose to the sim wnuld bc one of
thr proofs of hin theory of rela-
tiv ity.
Tbo soriety said Dr. Geor-e van
Bio.sbrocck, University of Chicago
astroiioiner. hadTiade actual meas-
urements this year that talüed
closelv with Dr. Ein.stein's predic-
tion. To do thm Dr. van Biosbroeck
mrulG two trips this year to Khar-
toum. Capital of the Anglo-Egyp-
tian S)Man.
Dr. Einstein said he could not
,comment on Dr. Van PMc<:broecl^'s
!findin?s un4l he examined the as-
ti'onomer's report on his trips.
I His first trip was to take ad-
I vantage of a total eclipse of the
l.sun Feb. 25. The eclipse permitted
'him to phntograph slar.s then lo-
catcd almosl directly behind the
ibla(ked-out siin.
' Tue second photogiaphs were
made Au.g:. 29 when the same stars
' had reached tho posilions in the
night sky identii'al to those they
occupicd when the first pictures
■were made. |
I By comparinp: the photographs
I Dr. Ivan ßicsbroeck figured out'
the grativational pull of the sun|
on the light from the stars. It'
came to 1.70 seconds of are, a tiny
! fraction of one dogrce of a circl3.
Dr. Einstein calculated the light
wonld be bent l.T.j seconds of arc^
1 For years astronomers have
I been anxious to test Dr. Einstein's
Ith^^ory. In 1917 a National Geo-,
I qrraphic Society expedition tO;
, Brazil attempted to obtain proof'
' but the Star field behind the sun
was too .scattei-ed to be conclusive.
Dr. Van Biesbropck, whose ox-
poditions were financcd by the
i Geographie Soriety, took a twenty-
foot teloscope-camera to the Sudan
for the three-minittc period ho had
to take pictures with the sun in
total eclipse.
*^y^€
As the 19th Century drcw to a
dose scientists feit that they had
built a perfect picture of the uni-
verse on the basis of Sir Isaac
Newton's law of gravitation.
This was a mechanistic uni-
verse. set in a framework of abso-
lute Space and absolute time. in
which the law of cause and effect
operated without exception. There
was, however. one difficulty in
the picture. To explain how the
light of the sun and the stars
reached the earth it was neces-
sary to imagine spare filled with
a medium, a sort of invisible vi-
brating jelly in which light waves
traveled. This medium became
known as the ether of space.
In Prof. Einstein's new theory
this ether is abolished.
Einstein's Daring Mind
ALBERT EINSTEIN: Philosopher-
Scicntist. Editcd by Paul Arthur
fthiipp. The Library of Living
Philosophes. Vol VII. 781 pp.
Evanston, ill.: TKe Library of Liv-
ing Philoiophcrt. $8.50.
By WALDEMAR KAEMPFFERT
ACCORDING to one of the
^ contributors to this vol-
ume, Prof. Adolf Harnack once
remarked to his coUeagues of
the University of Berlin: "Peo-
ple complain that our genera-
tion has no philosophers. Quite
unjustly; it is merely that to-
day's philosophers sit in an-
other department; their names
are Planck and Einstein."
Harnack was right. The
Creators of latter-day cosmo-
logical and nuclear physics
were forced to become philoso-
phers when they had to an-
swer such questions as: What
are space and time? What is
matter? What are cause and
effect? So it happened that
the theoretical physicists and
mathematicians who developed
the current conceptions of the
closed universe, of matter that
wraps Space around itself, of
almost empty atoms in which
events are more important
than substance, joined the
philosophers who made logical
analysis their main business,
and who therefore did their
best to purge their subject of
fallacies and slipshod reason-
ing.
Whether or not he considers
himself a member of this
school, Einstein is an exemplar
of its methods. What these
methods are Einstein teils in
the important "autobiographi-
cal notes" that introduce this
volume. Anyone who expects
to read details of his personal
life in these notes is doomed
to disappointment.
This is an intellectual auto-
biography. We behold a dar-
ing mind that takes nothing
for granted and penetrates to
the heart of a problem. The
Afr. Kaempffert is the sei-
ence editor of this newspaper.
germ of relativity appears as
early as Einstein's sixteenth
year, by which time he had
perfect command of differen-
tial and integral calculus.
Even at that early age he be-
gan to consider what would
happen if he pursued a ray of
light with the velocity of light
and already had reached con-
clusions that were later to
evolve into the theory of rela-
tivity.
His *'autobiographical notes"
do not make too easy reading.
They presuppose a consider-
able knowledge of mathemati-
cal physics and of the trend
in logical analysis which began
in the last Century with Ernst
Mach, a physicist who merci-
lessly tore apart Statements
that could not be verified by
experience and who had no use
for unsupported hypotheses.
This is no sugar-coated, gin-
ger-bread presentation of rela-
tivity that can be swallowed
without gulping.
[IN STEIN 'S recent an-
nouncement that, after nu-
merous attempts, he has at
last developed a unified or
generalized field theory which
integrates gravitation and
electromagnetism (light, mag-
netism, radiation in general)
is elucidated by some of the
contributors to this volume.
As matters stand, we have
two kinds of physics. One
kind cxplains what happens in
the universe at large, the
other what happens in the
atom. The two are as yet
irreconcilable.
All "forces" in nature arö
either gravitational or elec-
tromagnetic. All obey the
same laws. except that elec-
tromagnetism is proportional
to the change and not to the
mass of the body on which it
acts. Because of this differ-
ence it has been hitherto im-
possible to weld gravitation
and electromagnetism into a
Single set of principles ex-
pressed in a few equations.
Moreover, the quantum the-
Ambition
EVEN wh*n I was a fairly
precocious young man
the nothingnofts of the hopef
and strivingi which chas«s
most men reitlessly throuqh
lU» came to my conscious-
nett with conslderable vital-
ity. . . . It was poftsible to
■atUfy the stomach by such
participation. but not man in
so far as he is a thinking
and ieellng belng. — Albert
Einstein in "Albert Einstein:
PhilosopherSclentist."
ory presents difficulties. Ac-'
cording to this theory. all
energy is radiated in bullets
called "quanta." If gravita-
tion is to be made part of
the quantum theory (and this
is the main purpose of a uni-
fied field theory) it must be
conceived as acting not con-
tinuously but in spurts; in
other words, there must be
gravitational quanta. It has
not yet been observed that
gravitation does act like light
and magnetism'in spurts.
Einstein is not convinced
that the quantum theory can
explain what happens in the
universe at large; Neils Bohr
is equally convinced that the
quantum theory offers "a
completely rational description
of physical phenomena," but
that we shall have to change
our conception of physical
reality. Einstein disUkes the
quantum theory's inability to
predict what will happen in
an atom under given condi-
tiona. whereas his theory of
relativity does permit predic-
tion of what can and does hap-
pen in the universe.
The announcement men-
tioned above, that a theory
has been constructed which
makes gravitation and electro-
magnetism manifestations of
the same f undanriental principle.
has far-reaching consequences.
If experimental verification is
possible (Einstein has his
doubts on this point) we may
{Contintted on Page 2\)
9 t'vi ^t \i\t^^<S
I
Einstein's
Daring Mind
(C<yn.tinued frorti Page 6>
have to conclude that the
quantum theory is not a true
picture of reality.
The volume is a tribute to
a great scientist by his peers,
who honor him on his seven-
tieth anniversary ( Einstein
was born in 1879). Among
those who thus do honor to
Einstein are Niels Bohr, Ar-
nold Sommerfeld. Louis de
Brogile, Max von Laue, Wal-
ter Heitier, P, W. Bridgman,
Wolfgang Pauli.
These men do not hesitate to
disagree with some of Ein-
stein's reasoning, and they use
mathematical equations to do
so. Like Einstein himself, they
write for a trained group of
readers. It was a happy
thought of the editor, Profes-
sor Schilpp, to end the volume
with Einstein's reply to his
eminent critics.
Though scores of volumes
have been written on relativity
and on the quantum theory,
there is a place for this com-
pilation. It Stands apart be-
cause it links philosophy with
physical science and because
it asks searching questions
about Einstein's meaning while
he is still alive. But it is no
dish for the ordinary reader.
From an Etching by Ferdinand Srhniutzer.
FEUILLETON
Am Webstuhl des Weltalls
Für Albert Einstein zum 75, Geburtstag / Von Manfred George
Als der Sohn des berühmten Arztes Dr. Gustav
Bucky, eine der Zierden der von Hitler aus
Deutschland gejagten Wissenschaftler, Kürzlich
in New York die Tochter und Erbin eines bedeu-
tenden amerikanischen Industriellen heiratete,
gab es eine große Hochzeit im elegantesten Stil.
Plötzlich aber tauchte inmitten all der Smokings
und Abendkleider ein alter Herr in einem falten-
reidien Sweater und in recht formlosen Hosen
auf. Und doch war sofort, in ehrfurchtsvollem
Abstand, ein Kreis von Ehrfürchtigen rings um
ihn. Es war Buckys enger Freund, Professor Al-
bert Einstein.
Er kommt selten nach New York. Mit 75
Jahren und mit noch so vielen Gedanken zur
ewig unvollendeten Arbeit im Kopf nimmt man
es mit der Zeit sehr einst. Im übrigen war Ein-
stein nie ein Freund von Gesellschaften. Wann
immer er sich der Flut von Feiern und Ehrungen
entziehen konnte, hat er es getan. Er lebt zu-
rückgezogen in der Universitätsstadt Princeton
im Staate New Jersey. Sein Heim in der stillen
Mercer Street ist ein bescheidenes Fachwerk-
haus und liegt in der Nähe seiner Arbeitsstätte,
des „Princeton Institute for Advanced Study",
wo er von 10 Uhr früh bis nachmittags um 4 Uhr
seinen Studien obliegt. Dann geht er heim, ruht
und widmet den Rest des Tages seinen Freunden,
seinen Büchern, seinem Garten. Interviews gibt
er nicht. Radio und Fernsehen sind aus seinen
i Zimmern verbannt. Auch die Kammermusik-
abende — Einstein war Zeit seines Lebens ein
leidenschaftlicher und, für einen Amateur, ein
hochqualifizierte!' Geiger — sind jetzt fast ganz
eingestellt. Das Werk, das weilerdrängende, in
immer neuen Entwicklungen sich entfaltende
wissenschaftliche Epos seiner Forschung be- J
Aber das bedeutet nicht, daß Albert Einstein
ein Eremit geworden ist, der von den Händeln
der Welt nichts wissen will und sie über seinen
Formeln und Gleichungen vergessen hat. Erst
kürzlich brachte er eine kleine politische Bombe
zur Explosion. Ein New Yorker Volksschullehrer,
der von McCarthy vor sein Komitee geladen
worden war, hatte einen Brief an den Gelehrten
geschrieben und ihn um Rat gebeten, wie er sich
vet^halten solle. Die Antwort war ein in allen
Zeitungen veröffentlichter Brief Ein.s^teins ge-
wesen, in dem dieser seiner Verachtung für
McCarthy und dessen Methoden drastisch Aus-
druck gab und dem Lehrer riet, auch auf die Ge-
fahr hin, eingesperrt oder wirtschaftlich ruiniei't
zu werden, nicht zu antworten. McCarthy be-
zeichnete darauf Einstein als einen „Feind Ame-
rikas".
Aber die Polemik vei'sickerte rasch. Der greise
Gelehrte mit dem zerzausten, dichten, eisgrauen
Haar, den tiefen, gütigen Augen und der ewig
faltigen Kleidung, ist eine Art Volksiiebling
geworden.
Einstein hat viel Ehrungen in seinem Leben
erhalten: vom Nobelpreis bis zur Ernennung zum
Mitglied zahlreicher Akademien und zum Ehren-
doktor von sechzehn Universitäten, unter ihnen
Genf, Oxford, Cambridge und Jerusalem. Und
wenn auch die große Masse des Publikums seine
Arbeit nicht „versteht", so weiß sie doch eins:
dieser Mann, der mit dem Bleistift in der Hand
und mit seinem rechnerischen Gehirn die ganze
Welt in Bewegung gesetzt hat, hat der Mensch-
heit ein ungeheures Ergebnis vorgelegt.
Dreiunddreißig Jahre hat Einstein der Er-
forschung endloser Kombinationen mathemati-
scher I/Ogik gewidmet, um in seine „Allgemeine
hprTv^oht ganz die späten Stunden dieses Lebens. i,^elativntä+c+i-eorie" von 1916 die Gesetze des
i'
.i
f .
V
EINSTEIN. 1879 —
Albert Einstein establishcd new conccpts of
thc universe, time and sp«cc. Hit theory of
relativity with his basic formula dealing with
Cfiergy and mass are kcy principles in thc
study of cosmology and atomic cfiergy.
elektromagnetischen Feldes einzuordnen. 1940
war er soweit, die Gleichungen niederzuschreiben,,
die die Einordnung lösten. Dieses Nieder-
schreiben — vierundzwandzig Seiten im ganzen
— nahm weitere drei Jahre in Anspruch, -
Das bisherige Ergebnis des Einsteinschen.
Werkes räumt ihm einen Platz neben Euclid,
Gaiilei und Kopernikus ein. Aber es war nicht
nur sein mathematisches Genie, das ihm zum
Erfolg verhalf, es war auch ein tiefer Glaube.
Der Jude Einstein, der schon zu den Verfechtern
des Herzischen' Gedankens einer Rationalen
Heim.stätte für das jüdische Volk in Palästina**
gehörte, als Zionismus noch als eine „verrückte
Phantasie" galt, ist immer ein gläubiger Mensch
gewesen. Seiner mathematischen Gewißheit von
der physikalischen Einheit des Universums lag
seine religiöse Ueberzeugung von dem einzigen
und unteilbaren Gott zugrunde,'»der nicht, wie
der Gelehrte bei der Herausgabe seiner „Einheit-
lichen Feldtheorie" begleitend sagte, „mit der
Welt Würfel spielen" wollte.
Diese religiöse Einstellung machte Einstein
zum Anti-Militaristen, zum heftigsten Bekämp-
fer des Krieges, und vor allem zum Non-Kon-
formisten gegenüber jedem Diktator. Sie machte
ihn zum Typ jenes echten Demokraten, der die
Freiheit des Individuums als ein göttliches
Recht ansieht, das nur von der Freiheit des
Nebenmenschen begrenzt ist.
Es ist vielleicht eine der tragischsten Schick-
salsstunden in seinem Leben gewesen, als die-
ser Pazifist im August 1939, als die Gefahr deg
Internationalen Faschismus die Welt zu ver-
ichlingen drohte, jenen berühmten Brief an den
t5räciHp.ntpn Franklin n Roos«volt schrieb der
a Amerika die Anstrengungen verstärkte, die
erste Atombombe zu schaffen, dieses furchtbare
Zerstorungswerkzeug, das ohne Einsteins ma-
gische Gleichungen niemals möglich geworden
wäre. Aber alle Entdeckungen können zum Qu-
ten oder zum Bösen verwandt werden Es
kommt auf die Menschen an. Einstein ist 'frei-
Af nicht zu optimistisch: „Die Furcht vor der
Atombombe kann die Situation nicht retten!
Das kann nur politische Weisheit und Mäßigung,
Leider entdecke ich davon einstweilen auf allen
Seiten nur wenig."
^ Es gribt viele Leute, die sagen, daß Einstein
mclUs von Politik verstünde. Er ist freilich keS
?r !t '''' '?. ^'^^^ ^^' .politician' aller Länder.
Er ist ein Moralist und er ist ein Idealist. Wenn
er auch die Tur seines Hauses vor Neugierigen
IZ'n^'^^lrß^''^^ '^^ ^"^"^^^ Menschen, die
nZ ^la'^i °^^f ^^^^^* ^^^^°^ß^ werden. Wo
sein magischer Name einem solchen Flüchtling
helfen kann, leiht er ihn hin. Seine Augen
rages den Geheimnissen der Ewigkeit zu In
einem Buch „I Believe''. das 1940 in London er^I
schien, schrieb Einstein:
i.t ri^f r!?^'''^^* t^"^ "^^^ begegnen können,
ist das Geheimnis. Es ist die Quelle aller wähl
ren Kunst und Wissenschaft. Wem die Erregung
darüber fehlt, wer nicht still stehen und, von
Ehrfurcht überkommen, sich wundern kann ist
so gut wie tot: seine Augen sind gesSossen
Die Einsicht in das Mysterium des Lebens wenn
sie auch mit Furcht verbunden sein mag ha^
auch die Religion entstehen lassen. Z^^Ässen
li^h f'- ^^l ""durchdringlich ist für uns. wirk-^ .
hch existiert daß es sich manifestiert als diu
hodiste Weisheit und die strahlendste Sdion!
^eit..die unsere stumpfen Sinne nur in den pri-
ttftivsten Forme« \müf^ifen können ^ df^
Erkenntnis, dieses Gefühl ist der Kern wah^
ehgiosität. In diesem Sinne, und nur in <iiesem
-3,nne gehöre ich in die Reihen der tief reS
-5jn Menschen." »t-iigio-
n
^y^v
jr
fS
/i
/
daß Gott
Albert Einatein
(Diese Aufnahme entstammt der Einstein-Biographie von Philipp Trank im Paul List Verlag. München)
mit der Welt Würfel
glauben,
spielt."
Es wäre verlockend, die fraglos in d«r
diffizilen Gefiamistruktur des Einsteinschen
Geistes aufweisbaren kantischen Momente
nodi heraußzustollen, womit, um es kurz an-
zudeuten, der freie Entwurf-Charakter der
grundlegenden Prinzipien physikalischer Er-
kenntnis von Gnaden einer konstruktiven
Phantasie des menfidilichen Geistes gemeint
ist. Bei diesem Geburtstagsgruß muß indessen
darauf verzichtnt werden. Wohl aber ®ei noch
daran erinnert, daß dieses gewaltige Genie
weit von jedem Dünkel entfernt ist. Einstein
kennt „das mamora« LlldMiii der unerbitt-
lichen Natur, die uns mehr Sehnsucht als
Geist verliehen hat*.
Gespannt blicken wir in die Zukunft, die
"über die Tragfähigkeit »einer letzten großen
Entwürfe durch bereits geplante empirische
Forschungen entscheiden wird. Während
seiner Bemer Zeit verkehrte Einstein mit dem
italieniftchen Ingenieur Beese, der mit hdlem
Verständnis auf die neuen und über'-aömen-
den Ideen Einsteins reagierte und ru sagen
pflegte: „Wenn es Rosen sind, werden sie
blühen." Sie werden blüben.
1
r
Am 14. März wurde Einstein 75 Jahre alt
50000
Mark auf
Einsteins
Kopf
Attentat auf den Gelehrten — aber er besucht die
Frau, die ihn töten wollte, im Gefängnis
D
<^^fj^i viWMf-:^'?^''^^'^*
Frau :*i<
i
ie zwanziger Jahre bilden in Ein-
steins irdischem Dasein die un-
ruhigste Epoche. Die Mark sank
so abgrundtief, daß Einstein stöhnte, die
Rechnung werde für sein armes Gehirn
allmähhcn zu kompliziert. Es gebe da Pro-
bleme, die fast so schwierig seien wie das
magnetische, das ihn damals in Hinblick
aufdie tiefen Temperaturen in Atem hielt.
„Bald werden hiesige Professoren wie
alte Kleider beim Trödler angeboten",
schrieb er. Mit dem Rest seines durch die
Deflation zusammengeschmorten Ver-
mögens kaufte er für den Eigenbedarf
bei einem genialen Geigenbauer, der
allerdings ein „versoffenes Luder** ge-
wesen sein soll, eine Geige und für seinen
Freund einen Hupfeld-Flügel.
Im November 1922 erhielt er „für seine
Verdienste um die theoretische Physik
und besonders für seine Entdeckung des
fotoelektrischen Effekts** den Nobelpreis
für Physik, dessen finanziellen Ertrag er
benutzte, um seiner ersten Frau und den
beiden Söhnen das Leben materiell zu
erleichtern.
Zu dieser Zeit quollen aus de.n deut-
schen Volke immer trüber antisemitische
Giftgase. Sie waren der Grund, daß sich
Einstein innerhalb der zionistischen Be-
wegung tatkräftig für das Judentum ein-
zusetzen begann, ohne daß er sich
deswegen die Freiheit nehmen ließ, an ihm
ebenso freimütig Kritik zu üben wie an
der übrigen Umgebung. „Die größten
Feinde jüdischen Volksdaseins und jüdi-
scher Würde sind fette Degeneration**,
schrieb er, „das heißt, aus Reichtum und
Wohlleben hervorgegangene Gewissen-
losigkeit.**
Die Anpöbelungen gegen Einstein
nahmen bald solche Formen an, daß sich
die Professoren Laue, Nernst und Rubens
veranlaßt sahen, im Spätsommer 1920
der Presse eine gemeinsame Erklärung
zu übergeben. In dieser heißt es: „Es
kann nicht unsere Aufgabe sein, uns an
dieser Stelle über die beispiellose, tiefe
Gedankenarbeit zu äußern, die Einstein
zu seiner Relativitätstheorie geführt hat.
Ueberraschende Erfolge sind bereits er-
zielt. Die weitere Prüfung muß natürlich
Sache der künftigen Forschung bleiben.
Dagegen möchten wir betonen, daß auch
abgesehen von Einsteins relativistischen
Forschungen seine sonstigen Arbeiten
ihm einen unvergänglichen Platz in der
Geschichte unserer Wissenschaft sichern;
dementsprechend kann sein Einfluß auf
das wissenschaftliche Leben nicht nur
Berlins, sondern ganz Deutschlands kau
überschätzt werden. Wer die Freude h?
Einstein näherzustehen, weiß, daß er ^
niemand in der Achtung fremcs,.
finnhtiirirt in« MiiiMii
1.
:v^s->.* .^-^^i\>^^V6r^7^*;:-*^^• VA>^
l
t/.
Albert Einstein — TSjähri«::
Mein Vaterland ist das Häuflein denkender Menschen, mit
denen ich verbunden bin", sagte Einstein zum Portrat-
fotografen Karsh aus Ottaua. der den großen Physiker zu
seinem 75. Geburtstage aufnahm.
geistigen Eigentums, persönlicher Be-
scheidenheit und Abneigung gegen
Reklame übertroffen wird."
Ein Attentat auf den Gelehrten
Zu Beginn des Jahresj92<; wurde Ein-
stein in Uiden zu einer'Xniversitäts-
feier erwartet. Er hatte sich mit dem
Morgenzug aus Berhn angemeldet, er-
schien aber nicht zur vereinbarten Zeit.
Als er endlich am Abend eintraf, erklärte
er Dr. Ehrenfest, bei dem er einquartiert
war, die Verzögerung damit, daß er in
Berlin noch probiert habe, eine „Freun-
din" aus dem Gefängnis zu holen. Er
meinte damit lene Russin, die ein politi-
sches Attentat auf den Sow)etgesandten
in Paris, Lconid Krassin, versucht hat
und nach ihrer Internierung in einem
französischen Irrenhaus von dort ausge-
brrxihen war, um sich an Professor Ein-
stein zu rächen. Sie hatte nämlich die
Zwangsidee, er sei der berüchtigte, unter
verschiedenen Decknamen sowohl für
die zaristische Regierung wie für die Re-
volutionäre arbeitende Spion Asew, der
sie, seine Geliebte, treulos vcrstofkn
habe. Sie drang also zu Einsteins in der
HaberlandstraSe 5 gelegenen Berliner
>X'ohnung vor, um ihn zu erschiefSen. Im
Hausflur begegnete sie Einsteins Stief-
tochter Margot, die sofort dachte : „Diese
Frau sieht dcnt»
rückt aus, d;
bestimmt zu
will !" Sic eilte
zum nächstei
fonautomaten ^
wies das Dier, \
chen an, bei ^
scheinen der 1»
sagen, der Pr
sei nicht zu
Hierauf wur-
Polizei avisiert,
die Kranke z
ins Untersuch»^'
fängnis einlK
Dort besuchte s
fessor Einstei«' -
fragte sie : „\X'a (^
Sie eigentlich
mich?" Die ^
fixierte ihn lange :
antwortete dann : „(
gen Sie ? Über^;ij
nichts. Sie hal '
eine viel kürzen
als Asew." Eiri.-j
erkundigte sich |
nach ihren >X,
sehen, besorgte dit
betene Wäsche
brachte sie der \
dauernswerten Att
täterin ins Gefäng
Ueber sein Mii
fühl für die Um\
gibt es zahlre'
Geschichten. O
Dvmow erzählt
Einstein zu s
Berliner Hausf
mit folgendem
schlag kam: „Es
Ihnen gewiß z
Mühe, jedesmal
Lift zu betätigen, wenn mein Hausn
chen von seinen Besorgungen kon(
Wollen wir es von jetzt an nich
machen : ich benütze die Treppe,
Fuß in den fünften StcKk zu gel
während das Mädchen an meinerl
den Lift benützt?"
Ebenfalls in Berlin in der Habe
strafk s war es, wo die auf Besucl
lende Zürcherin Eva Hurwitz miterl
daß der Professor von einem Ha-
an der Wohnungstür mit ungel
Wortschwall bearbeitet wurde. K
ließ er die aufdringliche Sua^'
ergehen, so daß ihn seine v
Besucherin schließlich stupfte.
Sie doch endlich energisch, He.
fessor!" Einsteins zweite Fra«
meinte dazu: „Als wir in Caput
einstockiges Landhaus bewohnten
tete ich immer, irgendein Vertretei
meinem Mann noch die Bestellun
Lifts aufschwatzen!"
Nachdem Einstein bereits 19
seiner Frau eine Kur in Leukerbi
macht hatte, mußte er im folgende
nach Davos und Zuoz reisen, ur
Herzschwäche auszukurieren. Au
leid wollte er bei der Ankunft der
Hotelporticr nicht erlauben, sein C
zu tragen. Er schleppte also die
selbst ins Hotel. Das Resultat war,.
Zuoz drei Monate das Bett hüten
Jianhfudrr QQQQjQ
. ^«^ v^ fc ^%^A
einst das '^
'.insteins Aufstieg zum Weltruhm — Das Leben ist
ine aufregende Angelegenheit — Entscheidende
, Jahre in Berlin — Wahnidee und Toleranz
Ein Bericht für die Frankfurter Jllustrierte von Carl Seelig,
durchgesehen von Albert Einstein persönlich
f
li
Nur ein Dutzend Menschen auf der
>Xelt begreift die Relativitäts-
theorie. Einmal hat Einstein sel-
ber eine ergötzliche Anwendung des
^clativitätsprlnzips gegeben. Während
iner Schweizer Zeit dachte er kaum
daran, daß er von jüdischer Abstammung
war. Auf dem Heimatschein steht er als
Dissident eingetragen. Man heß ihn in
Ruhe, und er selbst zeigte keine Neigung,
sich um religiöse Fragen zu kümmern.
) Erst der nachkriegszeitliche Chauvinis-
mus hat ihn dazu getrieben, sich auf die
Sieite der Verfolgten und Geächteten zu
stellen. In jener Zeit also scherzte er:
„Heute werde ich in Deutschland als
,deutscher Gelehrter*, in England als
»Schweizer Jude' bezeichnet. Sollte ich
aber dereinst in die Lage kommen, als
Ij^te noire' (schwarzes Schaf) präsen-
tiert, zu werden, dann wäre ich umge-
kehrt für die Deutschen ein ,Schw^cizer
Jude', für die Engländer ein , deutscher
Gelehrter*.
Ganz naiven Fragern ist die Relativität
von zwei amerikanischen Filmkomikern
erklärt worden : „Siehst du, sie ist doch
ganz einfach", sagt der eine. „Stell dir
vor, du gehst zum Zahnarzt, um dir einen
, Zahn ziehen zu lassen. Nach fünf Minuten
kommt es dir vor, als sitzest du schon eine
Stunde lang im Stuhl. Am gleichen Abend
triffst du deine Freundin und küßt und
umarmst sie eine ganze Stunde lang.
Aber es scheinen dir kaum fünf Minuten
vergangen zu sein." - „Das verstehe ich
%it", antwortet der andere. „Aber nun
* einmal: damit verdient der Einstein
L C!^*»*n solchen Haufen Geld ?**
Am 28. April 1909 konnte Albert Ein-
stein seinem Freund Conrad Habicht
(neiden: „Die Stelle an der Zürcher Uni-
xrsität (als Professor der theoretischen
fhysik) ist mir nun ziemlich sicher." Der
nit 1
setzun ,
schweizerische Erzähler Otto >X'irz, der
zusammen mit Einstein im Patentamt |
tätig war, hat den Augenblick miterlebt,
als Einstein seine Stellung kündigte, um
sich fortan der wissenschaftlichen Tätig-
keit widmen zu können. Als er auf die
Frage des Vorgesetzten, was er nun zu |
tun beabsichtige, erklärte, er habe einen
Ruf als Professor an die Universität
Zürich erhalten, schrie der ihn barsch an :
„Das ist nicht wahr, Herr Einstein - das
glaube ich Ihnen nicht. Das ist ein fauler
Witz!"
Der Ehrendoktor im Platzregen
Zuvor aber sollte Einstein eine freu-
dige Ueberraschung erleben. Eines Tages
erreichte ihn im Berner Patentamt ein
großes Kuvert, aus dem ein nobles Papier
zum Vorschein kam, auf dem auf latei-
nisch etwas stand, das Einstein nur über-
flog, uninteressant fand und in den näch-
sten Papierkorb warf. Später erfuhr er,
daß es eine Einladung zur Calvinfeier der
Genfer Universität war, bei welchem
Anlaß er selbst zum Ehrendoktor er-
nannt werden sollte.
Als Einstein auf die lateinische Ein-
ladung keine Antwort gab, machte die
Universität Genf Anstrengungen, durch
Freunde hinter die Gründe seines Schwei-
gens zu kommen. Einer seiner Freunde
überredete ihn dann, an der Genfer Feier
teilzunehmen. Einstein berichtet darüber
mit eigenen Worten : „So fuhr ich ab und
traf abends in Genf einige Zürcher Pro-
fessoren im Resuurant des Hotels, in
dem wir wohnten. Hier hockten wir zu-
sammen. Jeder von ihnen erzählte, in
welcher Eigenschaft er da war. Als ich
schwieg, erging die Frage auch an mich,
aber ich mußte gestchen, daß ich keine
blasse Ahnung hatte. Die anderen wuß-
ten aber Bescheid und weihten mich ein.
1*^1
igin
>ppeHW
H imd Ot
TELESCOPE GIVEN
EINSTEIN SCHOOL
Hand-Made Gift of Engineer
for Children in Israel
Fascinatesthe Physicist
Sppfiai trt Tl»e New York Tim«
PRINCETON, N. .1., Mav 8
Dr. Alben Einstein, woiid-re-
nowned physicist. omergcr from
his usual seclusion briefly this
wcek to acccpt a g^ift on bchalf
of thp Elsa and Albert Einstein
School in Ben Shonien, Israel.
The gift, an oig-jit-inch New-
tonian F-8 telescope made by
hand, is the i^sult of two years
of work by Zvi Gezari. an indiis-
,trial eng^ineer and plant manager
'Of the Charles F. Guvon Com-
pany of Harnson. N, J.
An amateur astronomer in his
spare timc. Mr. Gezari Is a vice
fh.iirman of Children to Pales-
tine, an Organization engaged in
tho rcscue of Jowish jofugee chil-
dren and their rehabilitation in
Israel.
The pre.-^entation in tho back
gardcn of Dr. Einsteins hou.se on'
Thursday vva.s informal, as Mr.
Gezari moved swiftly betwoen
tool box and telescope in as.sem-
bling: the instrument.
Ciiriosily of the Recipient
He was followrd by Dr. Ein-
stein, who evinced groat intcre.st!
in the process and asked qiies-
tion after question. The phy.sic-
ist learned that Mr. Gezari" had
groiind th(* optica] parts by hand
in the Hayden Planetarium in
New York. The lens. he said.
is accurate to within one-mil-
lionth of an inch. i
Wilh thf» telescope nssembled.
Mr. Gezari obsejved that it was
a work of the hand?;. not the,
head. To thi.s Dr. Einstr-in re-|
sponded: "All my lifo I liavp
woiked with my head, and T havr
nevcr built anything with niv
hand.«."
Watebrd rlosf ly by Miss Melone I
THE NEW YORK TIMES, SLNDAY, MAY 9, 1954.
Tht
1 *.' A 1 o 1 I
ilitt
T.\KL\(i A l.()N(; AII'^W: Dr. Albert Kinstein evainiiies telescope as it is nssenibied by
Dr. Zvi Ge/ari in garden of physicist >» home in Princeton. Boy is Dr. (iezari's son, Ualter.
Dukas, his secretary-hoiisekcepei-.
he ventured a quick lock through
the eycpiece and then smiled.
This siimmer the telescope will
bp sont imder the au.spices of
Childien to Palestine to the Ein-
stein School. which, upon comple-
lion. will provide scientific train-
ing foi- children of twenty-seven
nationalities upon rompletion.
Featiiros of thp Instiiinient
The telescope ha.'? th<» quality
and slabilit.v of a fixed observa-
tory instrument. yet is easily
pojtable despite it,«? quarter-ton
weicht. It.<^ .slow motion drixr.'^
and fine ad.)ustment sights were
constructed from panoramic gur\
sights of the German field artil-
ler.v.
"It has always becn my ambi-
tion to turn swords into plow-|
.sharcs." ]Mi-. Gezari told Dr. Ein-^
stein, and the physicist noddcdi
appiovingly.
At the presentalion were Mrs.
Martha Sharp. \i<p (.iiairman of
(Children to Palfstin •. and Mr.
Gczari's two young sons who
spent the visit shooti ig incessant
pictin-e« with a n'ovie .'amera and
a .^ri-nim niiniature.
On thi» one prev^oT'^ visit that
the Gezari'a made to thö bouse
Dr. Einstein had given them f
page from one of hii=! manuscriptf
with a personal dedication. In re
turn the bo.vs gave him a rare sei
Shell they found off the California
coast.
Givcn Dl'. Einstein's autograph.
they were somewhat disappointed
to find that hp had written only
"A. Einstein, T)!.' A.sked Nvflelher
he evcr signed hi.«? füll n^iine. he
8n.«!wered "no, only on chet k.s,"
and then joined the gcneial
laughter.
l
^1
i EINSTEIN GiVES
■■■■«"'^T'"A COLLEGE
L'i'fVl
Yeshiva Medical School
rc to Honor Hirn— 100 at
I Luncheon Pay Tribute
By BENJAMIN FINE
special to The Nkw York Times.
PRINCETON, N. J., March 15—
r. Albert Einstein, the world's
oremost physicist, gave his name
oday to the first medical school
o be built in New York in more
^han half a Century.
^ Yesterday, Dr. Einstein quietly
)served his seventy-fourth birth-
y. But today, amid the flashing
photographers' bulbs, the whlr-
g of newsreel cameras and the
,re of television lights, he was
ified/that the Yeshiva Univer-
y Medical School had been
med the Albert Einstein College
Medicine. One hundred commu-
V leaders from this country and
lada journeyed here in a driving
i to pay honor to the famous
>ntist.
'he new medical College will be
j)ted in the northeast part of the
■n-. as the first unit of a $25,-
000 Center. School.«^ of nursing,
islry, public health and post:-
luale siudie.s will be included.
' York City is building a 1,349-
3ronx Municipal Hospital Cen-
it a co.st of $37,500,000, which
be affiliated with the collegf
. Einstein in the past had r ;
ntinued on Page 12, Columii'^/r
EINSTEIN GEIS SCROLL
i
<H
THE NEW YORK TIMES.
Thü Nrw York Tlrrn»»
INSPKCT MODEL OF ,$2.i,000,000 M KOICAL TEXTER ITXIT: l>r. Albert Einstpfn nnnk^ by
Dr, Samuel Be Ikln, )«ft, prw^fd«»^t of Y^hiva ITnlvermty, aad Nathanlel U Gö\<\%i^\n, New York
State Attorney General, at PHr.cetoo yenterday looklng: over projerted medical coHe«:« biiiWlng:
to be nanried the Albert Einstein Colleja;« of Medicine.
I
Medical School Named for Einstein;
Scientist Feted, Teils of New Work^
Scientist Cables Message to
Jerusalem Center Ceremony
Spe< lal to The Nkw York Timm.
PRINCETON. N. J., June 4—'
Piofessor Albert Einstein, at ape-'
cial ccrenionies at his home today, i
reccived a scroll from Hadassah,!
the Womens Zionist Organization
of America and the American
Friends of Hebrew Universitv to
mark the ground-birakinp: ceie-
mony in Jerusalem tomori'ow for
the Hadassah-Hebrew University
Medical Center.
After the presentation of the
scroll. Dr. Einstein cabled a mes-
sage to Jerusalem to be read at
the ceremonies. Prime Minister
David Ben-Gurion will be among
those who will hear the message,
The scroll signified that Dr. Ein-
stein's name will be inciscd upon
the center's "Wall of Healing" anc'
^also cited the scientist for his con
tributions to the world as follows
"Attaining the highcst reaches c
mn's mind, you have sought abov
l a higher humanity." The centc
expected to cost S10,000,000.
4umänity Scroll
Honors Einsfein
ipccial to World-Telegrnm and Sun.
PRINCETON. June 5.— Profes-
sor Albert Einstein received a
scroll yesterday at his home citing
him for 'attaining the highest
reaches of man's mlnd" and seek- '
ing *'above' all a higher humanity.*
The scroll came from Hadassah.
the Women's Zionist Organization
of America, and the American
Friends of Hebrew University. It
marks the ground-breaking cere-
mony in Jerusalem today for the
Hadassah-Hebrew University Med-
ical. Center. The great scientist's
name will be engraved upon the
center's "wall of healing." j
had "sedured many men In biolcg;^
in make too primitiv« thcories ii
this complicated field.'*
"Can you cite an example?" h|
waÄ asked.
The scientist shook his head. and
good naturedly observed: "I won'tf
glve any example — it might be toof
offensive."
Reminiscing on th« influences
that had led to hia choic« of a sci-
entific rareer, Dr. Einstein recalled
»
rontJniied From Page 1
lected all overtures to appear on
radio, television or the lecture
platform. He has tumed down re-
questa for the use of hia name. Not
long ago, he refused the invitation
of the Israeli Government to be-
come its second President, suc-
ceeding the late Chaim Weizmann.
Today waa the firat time in the
twenty year.q since he came to thi.sji^^^ impressed he waa by his first
country, a victim of Hitler'a anti-jsight of a compass when he was
Semitism that he IK the barsi."), «nH hia introduction to plan?
down. For the firat time his nameiR:«^^"^«^^; "♦ the ag« of 12^ Hp .said
, , , * ^ M *ui «^,.« .the.<!p outwSide stimuli had had a
,a to he prrpetiiated in thia coun-;^^^^.^^^.^^^^ mfluence on hia de-
try hya maior Institution of higher|^,^,^ ^„^ ^^ observed. seeingr
learning. It was p^in to see that. ^ ^^mpass for the fir.t time might :;•
.modest as he is. he waa quietly, „^, ^^^.^ ^ similar effect
l
on an-m
other child.
"What is it that determme.'? {he
particular reaction of an indiv-
idual?" he asked. thoughtfully.
"On« may theoiize about it. more
or le.^a plausibly, bvit. on« will
acarcelv reach a deeper inaight.
pleased with the honor. It was,
he explained, » step that, had heen^
taken .^olely in the interest of a:
medical coliege he loved so well. |
At an interview after a luncheon
in hia honor at the Princeton Inn.j
Dr. Einstein kept hia good-natured
compoaure aa reportera tumbled ^^ ^^ ^^^ ^j^^^, ^^^^^^ ^j^^^^ ^^
questiona upon him. His fl^^ing ^^ ^^ within'us."
white hair aa imruly as ever, Dr. * **
Einstein appeared tired; moreover, $3,000,000 in th« Fund
he had been sick in the last week.l j^ ^^, announced that $3.000.0001
JJJ'iin cash and pledgcs had beenL
^"^Iraited toward the $10,000,000 need-^
J^<edF5 cofiatruct and equir "^ '
but this did not prevent hia
swering the questiona., For
loccasion, he had piii
r
t EINSTEIN GIVES
,;;,Mc T(\
Yeshiva P^edical School
,re to Honor Hirn— 100 at
! Luncheon Pay Tribute
By BEXJA.MIN FINE
Siiecial to The Nkw York Times.
PRINCETON. N. J., March 15—
r. Albert Einstein, the world's
oremost physicist, gave his name
oday to the first medical school
o be built in New York in morc
han half a Century.
^ Yesterday, Dr. Einstein quietly
'^served his seventy-fourth birth-
y. But today, amid the flashing
photographers* bulbs, the whir-
g of newsreel cameras and the
.re of television lights, he was
ified /that the Yeshiva Univer-
y Medical School had been
med the Albert Einstein College
Medicine. One hundred commu-
V leaders from this country and
lada journeyed here in a driving
i to pay honor to the f amous
hntist.
%e new medical College will be
jited in the northeast part of the
*,n'. as the first unit of a $25,-
000 Center. School? of nur?ing,
istry, public health and post-
luate sludiea will be included.
' York City is building a 1.349-
3ronx Municipal Hospital Cen-
it a cost of $37,500.000, whicb
be affiliated with the colleg*
. Einstein in the past had r/
ntinued on Fa^e 12, Colunm^/r
f
1
I
öespite hjs age,
still working diligently on his life-
long project — the unified field
theory, which attempts to tie to-
gether gravitation, magnetism and
electricity into one law that can
explain thes« phenomena.
"I have finished the work on the
structuie of the equation bnt. I
ihave not. been able \n find out if
is. ifre ' J
\^ ^^ ...ti plans
wifl be of contemporary design.*
cotistructed of reinforced steel and
concrete. The ground -break ing is
expected to take place in the fall.
Upon its completion, the medical
College will have an enrollment of
400 8tudent.<n and will be operated
on n. non-.«?ectarian, non-denomina
tional basjs.
fiit," he
At today'a lunfheon. T>i. Samuel
here are any physical truths injBelkin. President of Yeshiva Uni-
he said. * "There is a math-jvprsity, formally not ified Dr. Ein-
al war of showing whirh Istein of the college's n*='w name.
laws are niatheniatically roirect., "A rornerstone of onr faith is
It. is necessary to definp the gen- 1 the bclief thnt the truest way to
eral field theory, Th<» mathemati-jserve God is by serving man." Dr.
ral difficulty is to find out if thelBelkin said. "We are assembled
whole theory has to do with nature
- if it is true in the ordinary gense
of the word."
When asked about the impor-
tance to medicine of Splitting the
atom, Dr. P^instein observed. with
a laugh: *'Everyone knows that
this will help medical sciencc."
*'Does Splitting the atom offer
medical hope ."' he was asked.
"Sure," came th« reply.
A moment's thoughtful pause,
and then:
"The most important thing is
here to give this College a name
that, will rmbody these Ideals and
serve as an inspiration 1o those
dedicating their lives to the pur-
suit of knowledge and the weif are
of mankind. The name we have
chosen is one that will b« remem-
bered for generations to comp as
a great scientist. a great scholar
and Ä great humanitarian."
A model of the projected insM-
tution was presented to Dr. Ein-
stein by State Attorney General
Nathaniel L. Goldstein, national
that radioactive isotopes can be chairman of the medical College
followed on their way through the campaign. Asserting that the na-
body so that one gets deeper in- lion faced a shortage of 20.000
sight into the dynamics of chemi-ldoctors, Mr. Goldstein said "it. is
ral processes inside the body. Thela sad reflection upon our medical
migration of the different atoms
will give US better insight into the
dynamics of the body."
Observing that a clo.se relation-
ship existed between physics and
medicine. he said:
"To begin with. physics has fa-
voted medicine by g'vmg civilized
man ronfidence in thp scientific
progress to observe that this in
stitution will be the first new
medical «chool in New York City
in fifty-four years and the t.hird
new medical College projerted in
the entire nation in twenty-five
years."
At th*» rIo.se of the day's celpbra-
tion. Dr. Einstein, still smiling,
method. It ha.«: also .«enired thelsaid simply:
physician with indispensable tools "I am grateful
and concepts."
Hp warned, however. that the
authority that physics had gainod
i
that 'hiva
IJniversity ^ has honoied -^ . by?
using my name in connecti- ' with
the new rollegrt of medicine. ^U i
r—
INSPECT MODEL OF $2n,000,<
I>r. Samuel B«^lkin, )«ft, prenideb
State Attorney Oenernl. at Prir
to hei nnm
3t
EINSTEIN GETS SCROLL
Scientist Cables Message to
Jerusalem Center Ceremony
Spe« ial to The New York Time».
PRINCETON. N. J., June 4—
Piofes.sor Albert Ein.stein. at spe-
cial ceremonies at his homc today,
received a scroti from Hadassah,
the Women'a Zionist Organization
of America and the American
Friends of Hebrow IJniversity to
mark the gi'oimd-brcaking cere-,
mony in Jerusalem tomorrow fori
the Hadassah-Hebrew University
Medical Center. '
After the presentatlon of the
scroll, Dr. Einstein cabled a mes-
sage to Jerusalem to be read at
the ceremonies. Prime Minister
David Ben-Gurion will be among
those who will hear the me.ssage.
The scroll signified that Dr. Ein-
stein's name will be incised upon
the center's "Wall of Healing" and
/also cited the scientist for his con
tributions to the world as followsj
"Attaining the highest reaches c!
mn's niind, you have sought abov
1 a higher humanity." The cente
expected to cost ^10,000,000.
Humänity Scroll
Honors Einstein
Special to World-Tplegrnm nnd Sun.
PRINCETON. June 5.— Profes-
sor Albert Ein.stGin received a
.scroll yesterday at his home citing
him for "attaining the highest
reaches of man's mind" and seek-
ing "above' all a higher humanity.*
The scroll came from Hadassah.
the Women's Zionist Organization
of America, and the American
Friends of Hebrew University. It
marks the ground-breaking cere-
mony in Jerusalem today for the
Hadassah-Hebrew University Med-
ical. Center. The great scientist's
name will be engraved upon the
center's "wall of healing."
1
Das Porträt der Woche
*^^^B=
fHC
rAirlu
i
ALBERT EINSTEIN
Als Albert Einstein vor nunmehr 50 Jahren
seine spezielle Relativitätstheorie veröfj entlichte
und init ihr die große Welt auf seine Weise be-
wegte (siehe auch Seite 3), da begann ein ne?;("*
Abschnitt in der Geschichte der physikalischen
Wissenschaft. Als Einstein dann am 27. Dezem-
ber 1949 zum erstenmal über eine neue Allge-
meine Gravitationstheorie berichtete, dip. in
einem einzigen System mathematischer Glei-
chungen alle physikalischen Gesetze vom Atom
bis zum Universum zusammenzufassen ver-
sucht, war das im Jahre 1905 fundamentierte
Denkgerüst in schwindelnde Höhen gewachsen.
Selbst der Urheber mujUe bekennen: „Meine
Arbeit über die Struktur der Gleichungen ist
beendet, aber ich habe nicht feststellen können,
ob sie physikalisch wahr sind, ob die Theorie
der Natur entspricht". Also setzt die Unheweis-
barkeit der Allgemeinen Gravitationstheorie —
j zumindest vorläufig — der physikalisch-wissen-
schaftlichen Lebcnsleistung des großen Gelehr-
ten den Grenzstein.
Albert Einstein, der am 14. März 1S79 ge-
borene Sohn eines Ulmer Installateurs hat indes
seine Forschungen, für die er meist nicht viel
mehr als Bleistift und Papier benötigte, nie als
Beruf empfunden, sondern eher als ein Ver-
gnügen für die Freizeit. So erklärt sich woJil
auch seine Vielseitigkeit in ganz anderen Wis-
senschafts- und Lebensgebieten. Philosophie
und Politik beschäftigen ihn vor allem, die
Musik, der er in mehreren Schriften, in teils
öffentlicher Ausübung als Geiger und daneben
als dilettier ender Pianist huldigte, ist aus sei-
nem Leben nicht wegzudenken. Mit der gleichen
Hingabe züchtet er im Garten seines Hauses
in Princeton Rosen, und kaum etwas sonst
könnte ihm mehr Freude bereiten, als wenn
eines der Nachbarkinder zu ihm kommt und
ihn bittet, er möge doch bei der Anfertigung
der Schulaufgaben behilflich sein.
Übrigens dokumentiert Einsteins äußere Er^
scheinung die unbekümmerte Art, sich über
alle Äufierlichkeiten hinwegzusetzen. Er gleicht
eher einem italienischen Virtuosen als einem
deutschen Professor. Wenn er in Sandalen ohne
Strümpfe, im Pullover ohne Überzieher eis-
cremeessend durch die Straßen von Princeton
geht, sind seine Studenten begeistert, doch man-
fypf ^pr hc]^^^ ^fofßSfQrsjiknileffenjn^igt eher
dazu, die Nase zu rümpfen. Auf solche Art also
bewegt (f er ttroße Gelehrte auch die kleine,
ganz kleine Welt seiner nächsten Umgebung.
Auch das gehört mit zu seinem Bilde.
^*4>*i*9rr
^iT
^tt
l
•^
l.
ii ri
^M^
I
\
n
\
N
1.
I
*
I
Leonard Engel
t-^
l
y\Q
\^ ^
-»j
WHAT EINSTEIN
WAS UP TO
\
Tn liis later yoars. tlie greatest srientist
of our era piirsiUMl a lonely ji^oal — which ft'w
of Ins fellow j)liysi('ists thoii«:lit
wortli scekinjr — in xhv ho\}c of provin^ that
"Go<l does not play dice with ihe world/'
WHEN a giant passes, it is difFKult to
riiul words tliat rcrall just liow tall hc
was. Such a giant was Alheit Kinsttin. Ovcr the
cenlurics, thc Western World lias i)r()du(C'd a
reniarkablc arrav ol giants — Ai istotle, (;alileo,
Darwin, Pasteui. Rutheilord. \ i)()siti()n has
long since heen aaorded Kinsiein aniong ihcni.
Hut the iutuie is likely to place him even higher,
all the way up on the lolty eininence occupied
hitherto bv Arthiniedes and Newton alone.
IVrhaps the best way to recall how trenicnd-
ously tall he was is to look into ihe task on whi( h
iie was engaged at the tinie ol Ins death this jKist
Ajiril. Kinsiein's Tust ejKKhinaking pai)ers on
relativity were published in MM);'); the gencral
theory ot relativity and Ins lanious hyi)()thesis
(hat the "forcc" oi gravitation is not a lorce at
all but a pr()i)eriy ol spare-tinie canie in 1916.
For niost ol the rest ol his lile, Ins attention was
givcn to a single undertaking. Iliis was the tor-
nndation ol a "unified field theory."
Ihe unified Held theory has been dcscribed
niaiiy tiines as a theory that would bring togelher
linder a single law the phenomena ol gravita-
tion, light and other lornis ol clec troniagnetic
radiation, and matter. It would do that and
nuK h niore. It would also seeure ihe toundations
ol a eoncept that lies at the heart oi the whole
vast edifice ol modern science and technology,
and of the world outlook of srience's rreation,
modern man. The eoncept is that of a toherent
and orderly universe.
Although he may hardly be aware of it, mod-
ern man believes deeply in an orderly and co-
herent universe. He thinks that nature can be
pu//ling, but is not capricious; and that the cry
of a bird is somehow related to the stately mo-
tions ol the stars. II he did not think this, he
coidd not be sure (as he is) that the sun will rise
tomorrow; nor (ould he have (onfidenee in his
own power to manipulaie the lorces of nature.
I his idea ol order and coherente in the uni-
verse is only an assumj^tion. It can |)robably
never be proved. The assumption would be
greatly strengthened, however, il the universe
could in lact be described as an orderlv whole—
in other words, if the diverse |)hcnomena ol na-
ture (ould be brought under a single all-embraC-
ing law. It is just such a law that Kinstein
hOUght.
Curiously, Einstein stood nearly alone in the
long search for a unified field theory. No doubt,
this was due in part to the (as it tin ued out) ap-
palling dilfi(ulty of the task. It stemmed also
Irom th(^ eager preference of most of his lellow
physicists lor keejnng iij) \\itli the rush ol ex-
perimetu: it is given to lew to l>e deeply con-
cerned with fundamentals.
Hut a tnore im|K)itant lactor has been the cir-
cumstance that most physicists no longer believe
in the kind ol orderly iniiverse a unified held
theory implies. They have anotlier conception
ol nature, based on the central theorv ol atomic
j)hysics— (plan tum theory— of which Einstein, by
an odd irony, was one ol the original architects.
Accordingly, juost jjhysicists ha\e lelt that in his
later years he was pursuing a non-existent goal.
Hut it coidd be that the first long stej3 toward
the "non-existent" goal has aheady been achieved
by the giant that Einstein was. Two years ago,
shortly after his seventy-fourth birthday, Ein-
stein annoinued a theory that brought together
gravitation and electromagnetic waves. He was
1
70
HARPER'S MAGAZINE
WHAT EINSTEIN WAS UP TO
71
unable to (iiul a ineans ot puttin» the theory to
cxpcriniental test; it was nevcitheless "highly
convinciiig" to him. He iniglu well have been
light, thoiigh iK) test ol it has been lound lo this
day. lii Ins long career, "evidence" and col-
leagues niaiiy tinics stiibbornly insisted that Ein-
stein niiist be wrong. Moic oltcn iban not, it was
Einstein and not the "evidence" that finaliy
proved right.
II
DTRIXG the hist twenty-two years of his
hfe, Albert Einstein hved an outwardly
sinijile lue in a niodest house on Mercer Street
in Princeton, New Jersey. In bis office at the
Institute for Advanced Study, oi which he was
an cnieritus member at the tinie of his death, he
worked with the siniplest of tools — j^encil and
])aj>cr. Likcuisc, the central concept of the proj-
ect Einstein labored on for three decades— the
devcloj)nient of a unificd field theory — is out-
^vardly sini|)lc.
Physicists (and other scientists) have a short-
hand way of describing natural phenomena. Such
shorthand descriptions are tcrnicd laws. For in-
stance, theie is a law, called the law or principle
of Archiniedes, describing how far into the water
a floating body will sink. In physics, laws are
usually put into niatheniatical form. This has
the advantagc (lor those wbo know niatheniatics,
at any rate) that niathematical cxpressions are
easier to nianipulate than words. Further, by
suitable niathematical manipulation, it is often
possible to show that two laws are related.
The unificd field theory that Einstein sought is
nothing niorc tha.n a set of equations from which
can be derivcd other equations describing the
actions and cffects of gravitation, electromagnetic
^vaves, and matter. Physicists already have sepa-
rate sets of equations foF each of these phenom-
ena. Prior to Einstein's announcement of two
years ago concerning gravitation and electromag-
netic radiation, none of the sets of equations had
been related to each other.
Unifying theories, revealing the order beneath
the chaiiging face of nature, have been sought
since ancient tinies. Empedocles of Sicily be-
lieved that matter was made up of varying pro-
portions ol air, water, fire, and earth as basic
Clements; Leucippus argued the existence of
atoms; a thousand others whose names are for-
gotten have guessed at the ultimate natine of
things. Modern seekers after a unifying theory,
like Einstein, have had both an advantage and
a disadvantage over their predecessors. They
have had the aid of modern mathcmatics, a pow-
erful tool. At the same timc, they are not free,
as the ancients were, to speculate. In this day,
we demand that theories of the ultimate nature
of things be tested by physical reality; they must
prove thenrselves by predicting phenomena that
can be verilied by Observation.
The chain of events leading to Einstein's uni-
fied field theory can be said to have been initiated
in 1905. In that year, Einstein, then an unknown
examiner in the Swiss patent ofh(e, published
his two papers on the special theory of relativity.
The two papers were crannned with revolution-
ary concepts and insights. Aniong other things,
Einstein settled a sid)tlc but critically inq)()rtant
question concerning the application of the laws
of physics to moving bodies.
Throughout the nineteenth Century, it was
supposed that sjjace was filled with an impon-
dciable lluitl, the ether. Ihe ether was looked on
as the medium through which light waves were
transnntted. It was also (since it was held to be
everywhere the same) a usefui dcvice for obtain-
ing unilorni a]>]jlication of the laws of light to
the universe as a whole and to the various mov-
ing bodies in it.
IN THE 1880s, the American physicists Mi-
chelson and Morley performed a series of experi-
ments— the famous ether-chift experiments— that
cast doubt on the existence of the ether. Ein-
stein's contenqjoraries saw with dismay the laws
of light and the very structure of physics collaps-
ing in ruins.
In tlie papers on special relativity, Einstein
saved the day. He found a way to dispense with
the ether and to apply all the laws of physics,
including the laws of light, to bodies moving in
an etherless space. He showed that the ether
would be undetectable, cven if it existed.
Actually, in the special theory of relativity,
Einstein diel this oidy for the special case of boci-
ies moving with uniform relative motion. The
question rcmained: could the laws of physics be
apjjlied to non-imiform motion, to Systems of
bodies speeding up (accelerating) or slowing
down (decelerating) with reference to each other?
One might imagine that they could be, but most
of the then available evidence suggested that
they coidd not. It took Einstein ten years more
to show, in the general theory of relativity, that
the laws of physics can be applied to all Systems
of bodies, however they niay be moving relatively
to each other.
In order to acconq^lish this, Einstein was com-
pelled to do a curious thing. He had to cast over-
I
I
board the traditional notic:)n of Gravitation as a
"force." This was necessary because gravitation
as "force" implied the existence of some point
(or the äquivalent) out in s})ace that was abso-
lutely at rest. 1 he latter was as unthinkable as
ether. In place of the idea of gravitation as
**force," Einstein put forward the bold hypothe-
sis that gravitation is a projjerty of Space.
We are accustomed to thinking of space as a
sort of "stage" for the material universe. Space
is simply there, and everywhere the same, though
some Corners of it may be a little crowded. In
the middle of the nineteenth Century, the Ger-
man geometer Riemann suggested that space
might be of a different nature. In Riemann space,
distanccs and other properties of sjKice depend on
what the space contains. Riemann space is dis-
torted by the number and kinds of bodies here
and thcre, and is not everywhere the same.
In the general theory of relativity, Einstein
suggested that the universe is a type of Riemann
Space and not a space of the kind men had been
accustomed to think of. (The particular Riemann
space he had in mind has lour dimcnsions in
place of the three we are used to. Since the
fourth dimension is time, this space is usually
referrcd to as "space-time." I will refer to it
simply as "space," however, as there is no need
to get into the time dimension here.)
Einstein suggested further that gravitation is
a propcrty of this Riemann space. Newton's apple
feil to the ground. not because apple and earth
were "attracted" toward each other, but because
space is so distorted by the jnesence of aj^ple
and earth that they tend to move toward each
other. Similarly, plancts go around the sun be-
cause, in the presei^ce of planets and sun, sjjace
is so curved as to provide the "tracks" the planets
actually do follow. In the languagc ol general
relativity, material bodies generate gravitational
"fields" around them; the fields clistort sj)ace and
thereby condition the motions of bodies within
the fields.
At first glance, Einstein's concept of grav-
itation certainly seems queer. A little rellection
will show. though, that our traditional idea of
gravitation is no less cjueer. In the traditional
view, gravitation is an "attraction" which mate-
rial bodies exert instantaneously upon each other.
No time at all is needed for gravitational "lorce"
to travel between two i)odies, be they an inch or
millions of light years apart. In other words,
the "force" of gravitation is j)r()pagated with in-
finite velocity.
A force that travels with infinite speed should
be (and would be, if we were not so used to the
idea) as great a tax upon the Imagination as a
"force" that is a property of space. And Einstein's
view has two distinct advantages over the tradi-
tional idea of gravitation. It is consistent with
the non-existence of absolute motic^n, and it fits
the observed facts better. It was Einstein's theory
of gravitation, for instance, that finaliy cleared
up the eccentricities of the orbit of Mercury (the
planet stubbornly refused, to a small but sig-
nificant degree, to obey Newton's law of grav-
itation) and that predicted the bending of light
rays passing near massive bodies like the sun
(an effect confirmed by British eclipse expeditions
in 1919). Moreover, Einstein's new view of grav-
itation led to the unified field theory.
Not long after publication of the general
theory of relativity, the mathematician Herman
Weyl suggested that what Einstein had done w ith
gravitation could also be done with electromag-
netic radiation. If gravitation can be represented
as cmvature in the special sj)atial geometry of
Riemann, why not a geometrical representation
for light and radio waves and other forms of
electromagnetic force? Thus one might do away
with the notion of force here, too. Furthermore,
if the two geometrical representations could be
connected, gravitation and electromagnetic force
would have been brought under the same theoret-
ical roof. They would be but different aspects
of the same "unified field," and a great step would
have been taken toward a modern iniitary theory
of nature.
Weyl actually föund what seemcd a plausible
means ol representing electromagnetic force geo-
metrically. By an ingenious modification of the
Riemann geometry employed l)y Einstein, he ob-
tained a set of equations from which he was able
to derive the famous equations that James Clark
Maxwell had used to describe the pro|)agati()n
of electromagnetic waves. It turned out that
W^eyPs partictilar construction was unsatisfac tory;
as Einstein showed, it imj)liecl that atoms can be
made to emit a kind ol light they do not in fact
give off. But Einstein was captnred by Weyl's
underlying idea. He pursued it, and the great
goal beyond— a mastcr theory uniting gravitation,
electromagnetic force, and matter— to the end.
III
IT WOULD have been extrac^rdinary if
Weyl's initial attempt to fcjnnulate a unified
field theory had been successful. It would be
even more remarkable if Finstein or anyone eise
had already arrived at the ultimate goal. Con-
sider just two ol the difficidties.
72
HARPERS MAGAZINE
i
WHAT EINSTEIN WAS UP TO
78
Light waves, X-iays, ladio waves, aiul other
kinds of electroinagnetic radiation or torce de-
rive from the electrical nature of at Icast two
constituents of matter (electrons and piotons)
in the same way that gravitation derives froin
the inass (or, very roughly, weight) of matter.
The force generated by the electric charge of an
electron is 10^" (10 followcd by 39 zeroes) times
as hirge as the gravitational "force" associated
with the mass of that electron. It is hard to see
how two such disparate forces can be put ander
the same theoretical roof. (Said Pauli, one phys-
icist who gave up trying, "VVhat God has put
asunder, let no man put together.")
But suppose gravitation and electromagnetic
force were got into the same unificd field theory.
Now the theory must be made to cover the struc-
ture of matter. What this nieans in practical
terms is that some way nuist be found to get
from a unified field theory a mathematical repre-
sentation of the fact that atoms and their con-
stituent subatomic particles are particles. Similar
expression must also be obtained for the fact
that light and other electromagnetic waves, in
some ways, also behave as particles. This is no
easy task, for the equations of Einsteinian grav-
itation and of unified field theory cainiot be made
to yield "particulate" expressions by any accept-
able mathematical methods now known.
SOME YEARS aftcr Einstein pointed out the
confiict betwecn the Weyl theory and experiment,
another mathematician, Theodore Kalu/a, ob-
tained Maxwell's electromagnetic equations from
the gravitational equations of Einstein by adding
a filth dimension to the four of the Einstein
equations. Later Oswald Veblen, then at Prince-
ton University, showed that the fifth dimension
was not a fifth dimension at all, but a math-
ematical quantity arising from certain procedures
in lour-dimensional geometiy.
Einstein was intrigued by the Kaluza theory
and worked with it off and on for several years,
but fuially abandoned it. He disliked the fifth
dimension (he could not imaginc what it might
be) and was not convinccd that Veblen had really
got rid of it. Moreover, Kaluza's approach seemed
to him unlikely to lead to new, previously un-
observed phenomena, such as were necessary to
prove any new theory a better theory tlian an
older one. Einstein finally chose a more direct,
if nuich more difficult tack. He would attempt
to obtain both the gravitational and electromag-
netic equations from a more general form of the
mathematics from which hc had originally ob-
tained the gravitational equations alone.
The gravitational equations of the general
theory of relativity are written in a form of
mathematics that deals with quantities called
tensors. A tensor is a special kind of vector. If
you remember yoiir high-school physics, you will
recall that a vector is a "directed quantity": it
is a something that has a certain size and is going
in a certain direction. You will also recall that
the si/e may be specified by a set of numbers, and
the direction by other numbers.
In the general theory of relativity, gravitation
is represented by a tensor with ten components
—that is, a tensor described by ten sets of num-
bers. It happens that there is a more general
type of tensor, described by sixteen components
—the ten needed for Einsteinian gravitation, plus
an extra six. Now, the Maxwell equations for
electromagnetic radiation involve six compo-
nents, and they are mathematitally strikingly
similar to the extra six of the sixteen-component
tensor.
Einstein therefore set out to build u|) both the
gravitational and the Maxwell equations Irom
the sixteen-component tensor. If he could ac-
complish this in an appropriate way, he would
have at once the intimate connection he sought
between gravitation and electromagnetic lorcc.
For both would then be but different aspects of
the same "total field."
The approach Einstein chose was tedious and
lined with pitlalls. There are actually many
possible ways in which the two sets of equations
might be built up. In most, any real connection
between the gravitational and electromagnetic
equations is lost. Unfortunatcly, the exploration
of each possible niethod of constructing the two
sets of equations required months of mathemat-
ical laboi. Electronic Computing machines would
have been no hclp, even if they had been in
existence when Einstein began. Galculating ma-
chines j)erform numerical computations only;
thev do not solve pioblems in abstract analysis,
the realm of mathematics here involved.
In an appendix to the 195.3 edition of The
Menuiug of Relativity, the i)ook in whidi he
gives his own account of bis work on relativity,
Einstein amiounced that he had finally dcrivcd
equations for the gravitational field and electro-
magnetic force from equations of the "total
field." Hc Ick that the procedures he had em-
ployed were valid, and that he had adueved a
genuine unification of gravitation and electro-
magnetic force.
In this lornuilation of unified field theory,
the general theory of relativity's representation
of gravitation as curvature of Space is preserved.
The new form of electromagnetic force, however,
is difficult to spell out. So far, the new equations
have yielded no clear geometrical interjjretation
of electromagnetic radiation, no hint of what the
things we know as electromagnetic waves might
really be.
Moreover, it may be a long time before pre-
dictions of observable new phenomena— wliidi
alone can provide a test of the new theory— are
forthcoming. The equations of the gravitational
and unified field theories belong to a class of
equations known as non-linear j)artial differential
equations. This class of equations has been, for
more than a Century and a half, the unexplored
tropical jungle of mathematics. Aside from ap-
proximate arithmetical methods, which are not
always feasible even with the aid of a calculating
machine, there are no general methods of solving
these equations, only special methods that apply
to a particular very few of them. More or less
by luck, there were special cases of the gravita-
tional equations that could be solved and that
led to readily verifiable prcdictions, such as the
correct orbit of Mercury. No comparable cir-
cumstance has turned up thus far in connection
with Einstein's unified field theory. Indeed, it
seems unlikely that one will, for the equations
of the new theory are nuich mare complicated
than those of the original gravitation theory. Ac-
cordingly, a test of the theory— as also its exten-
sion to the third primary of the nniverse, matter
—may have to wait on the discovery of new
methods of dealing with non-linear partial dif-
ferential equations. That is a task that could
well take many able mathematicians decades to
accomplish.
IV
TH E Story should also be told of how
and why a unified field theory, such as
i instein's, is in confiict with quantum theory,
the great and paradoxical hypothesis underlying
modern at(miic physics— and how and why Ein-
stein feit he had to make a choice-and why he
elected to give up quantum theory, a theory he
himself had been instrumental in establishing.
Quantum theory originated in 1900 in a Sug-
gestion advanced by Max Planck to explain some
puzzling aspects of the nianner in which a solid
body (such as a chunk of carbon) gives off light
as it is heafed to incandescence. Planck suggested
that, while light and other forms of radiant
energy are obviously wave-like in form, light is
given off by a glowing body in discrete packets,
which he termed quanta (now also calied
photons). In other words, although visible light,
infra-red rays (radiant heat), radio waves, and
other forms of electromagnetic energy are waves
and travel through Space as waves, they are also
particles of a kind. Later, it was shown that what
we ordinarily think of as particles— electrons,
protons, and so on— likewise exhibit dual be-
havior. 1 hey are particles, but under certain cir-
cumstances they behave and can be treated as
waves.
At first, the quantinn theory had rocky going.
The "wavicle" (as humorous physicists dubbed
the wave-particle what-is-it) appeared to many as
an outrageous logical contradiction; it was cer-
tainly difficult to imagine. Planck himself scarcely
belicved in the quantum theory, and it did not
get anywhere until Einstein took it up and, with
characteristic brilliance, used it to solve outstand-
ing j)roblems of heat and light. The "wavicle"
thus became respectable, and an uncommon un-
intelligibility became a conniion unintelligibility;
today, nearly all physicists accept the "wavicle."
For all the successes of quantum theory, how-
ever, Einstein and some other of the older
physicists did not forget that the "wavicle" in-
volves serious logical difficulties. Einstein was
troubled by them to the end of his life.
Einstein was even more deeply troubled by a
matter of Observation that has been elevated into
an axiom of quantum theory and to a basic
principle of natural law. The Observation is the
simple fact, noted in many laboratories, that we
cannot look too closely into an atom. If, for
example, we seek to learn the position of an
electron within the atom, we may not find out
how fast it is travel ing in its tiny orbit. And if
we seek to know its momentum, we may not
learn its position. This iollows from the fact
that we can peer inside an atom only by using a
probe of some sort— a ray of light, for exam[)le.
But a ray of light is made u|) of photons or
quanta, which are "bullets" that cannot fail to
move or disturb the electron in some way, and
hcnce camiot but introduce an dement of luicer-
tainty into what is being observed.
THIS has been elaborated into the famous Un-
certain ty Principle of W^Tner Heisenberg. Ihe
Uncertainty Principle states that there is a limit
to what may be known of natural phenomena.
Natural events cannot be fully described or
(which is the same thing) determined; they are
only more or less probable, never certain.
There is no doubt that the Uncertainty Prin-
ciple States a very real difficulty of experimental
Observation, particularly in atomic physics. No
I*
/ •
74
HÄRDERS MAGAZINE
oiu' uxlay secs any way oi gettiiig aiound it.
Einstein was as avvare ot thc difficultics as any
othcr physicist.
In ihe tiue sense of the word, howcver, Ein-
stein was a classitist. Hc was unwilling to give
iip the classical conception (going hadc to New-
ton and cailier) of an oideily univeise, wheie all
evcnts are fully deterniined and where effe( t
follows cause as the night the day. ("I cannot
believe," runs his well-known reniark, "that God
wonld (hoose to j)hiy dice witli the world.
. . . Unliniiert ist der Herr (iott, aber boshaft ist
Er nicht.") He was nnwilling to give up— as the
Uncertainty Principlc said he nuist— the classical
goal of science, the conijilete description of
natnie.
Anothei of Kinstein's ol)jcctiüns to quantmn
theory is niore a matter of logic and Icss of feel-
ing. Dp to the present tinie, cjnantuni theorists
have found it nccessai y to eniploy in their studies
sonicthing called an ineitial System: try as they
have, they have not heen ahle to do away with it.
An ineitial system involves, as does gravitational
"foice," the idea of ahsohite rest and a kind of
absolute motion (absolute acceleration). But ab-
solute acceleration is mv öf the very things
Einstein did away with in general relativity. In
other words, if quantuni theory is retained, thcn
one must abandon the theory of relativity and
also relativity's ofTspring, the possibility of a
coherent picture of the universe as a whole in the
form of a luiified field theory.
In the two years between publication of his
unified field theory and his death, Einstein gave
no indication of progress toward a test of it; or
toward deriving froni it e(juations that describe
matter and that might in time supplant the
quantuin theory in atomic physics. However, in
a letter to the Physiral lie\>iexr, the* chief Journal
of American |:>hysicists, Einstein once suggested
a way in which atonis niight ultimately— when
more is known of the niatheniatics concerned—
be got out of his equations.
Ibis is not the place to attempt to give the
details of his proposal. 1 will observe only that
it is perilous to assert that he was wrong. For
Einstein 's most niarkcd characteristic was ever a
remarkable instinct for thegrain of truth hidden
in a labyrinth of confusing appearances.
A recent developnient in cosmology (the
science of the form and historv of the uni-
verse) illustrates this well and furnishes a fitting
epitaph. When Einstein formulated the first
equations for the form of the universe nearly
forty years ago-and thereby inaugurated the
modern study of cosmology— he was forced, by
certain assumptions he had madc, to indude an
arbitrary correction factor in his equations.
Otherwise the equations would not apply to the
kind of universe depicted in general relativity.
I1ie correction factor, called lambda or the
cosmological constant, turned up again when
another theory of the universe was put forward
by the Abbe Leniaitre, and in still other theories
of the universe advanced by others later on.
In the meantime, Einstein, who had never
liked it, had abandoned latnbdn. Wlien others
pointed out that Uunbda was required by known
astronomical data, Einstein replied that hirnbdn
destroyed the elegance of the equations and the
data nnght well prove wrong.
The data concerned related to the si/e and age
of the universe. They were wrong. Better figures
were final ly worked out three years ago at ob-
servatories here and abroad. When these were
used. tt turned out that Uunbda wasn't needed
to balance the cosmological equations at all.
Lambda could be dropped, as Einstein had said
it shonid three decades before. Once more, the
modest man with the saintlv mien had shown
that he knew, better than anv man since Isaac
N'euion, wliere lay the hidden grain of truth.
\
MAN WITHOLT A FUTURE
A
SAN administrator Winston Ghurchill has becn cautious to excess and fol-
lowed his chief war adviser, Admiral Lord Fisher, very closely . . . no great
or original stroke of genius need be expected from him in any place. . . . He
reads only to prej^are his Speeches and has no other artistic tastes. But, on the
other band, he is easy of approach and his heart is in his work: he listens to
everyone, even though he cannot grasp all that is said to him; in fine, he is an
excellent subaltern: capable, industrious, and supremely courageous, but not a
pathfinder or great leader of men.
—Frank Harris, Cdnternporaiy Portraits (.Sd Series), 1920.
1
.^i.
V.-
Ein Deutscher veränderte die Welt
Man hat ihn mit Kepler, Galilei, Köper-
nikus und Newton verglichen. Als größtes
wissenschaftliches Genie unserer Zeit hat
er das Schicksal eines jeden von uns be-
einflußt wie kein anderer. Mit 26 Jahren
schuf er ein neues Weltbild, das für im-
mer mit dem Begriff der Relativitätstheo-
rie verbunden ist. Bereits damals stellte
er die berühmte Formel E = mc' auf, die
die Entwicklung der Atombombe prak-
tisch möglich machte und von der es ab-
hängt, ob unsere Kinder und Kindeskin-
der im Paradies oder in der Hölle leben
werden. Doch Albert Einstein war nicht
nur ein großer Gelehrter, sondern auch
ein qroßer Mensch. Er wurde nie müde,
vor den Gefahren zu warnen, die der
Menschheit durch ihre neuen technischen
Machtmittel drohen. Der „Eroberer des
Universums", der in Ulm geboren wurde
♦jnd in Berlin seine größten Triumphe er-
'<*bte, war ein Geist, der irdische Güter
^**-\ng schätzte, Freiheit und Toleranz
über alles stellte. Deshalb emi-
Von Hans Haiensee
u^
griertfe Einstein auch schon im Jahre 1933
noch den USA, wo der einsame Denker
von Princeton von einem Mythus umge-
ben war, wie er nur wenigen Sterblichen
bereits zu Lebzeiten zuteil geworden ist.
Wer Albert Einstein nur flüchtig
kannte, glaubte in ihm einen
zerstreuten Professor zu sehen,
einen zerstreuten Professor,
der im vorigen Jahrhundert
den Lesern des „Kladderadatsch" oder
der „Fliegenden Blätter" enorm viel Ver-
gnügen gemacht hätte. Sie glaubten, daß
er lediglich in der Welt mathematischer
Kalkulationen lebe und so den Zusam-
menhang mit dem täglichen Leben ver-
loren hätte. Sie glaubten zum Beispiel,
schon seine Nachlässigkeit in der Klei-
dung auf diese angebliche Weltfremd-
nt'it zur üdkfüU 1^.1. £,u kOuiicii.
In Wirklichkeit hingen diese äuße-
ren Dinge mit der innersten Natur des
Mannes zusammen. Einstein trug keine
Schlipse oder geschlossenen Kragen,
weil er sie für unbequem hielt, weil
er sie scherzhaft „Werkzeuge des Hen-
kers" nannte, weil er fand, daß sie ihn
würgten. Er zog einen bequemen Pul-
lover oder eine graue Strickweste An-
zügen vor, weil man sie schneller an-
ziehen konnte und weil sie wärmer
waren. Er trug tagaus tagein eine
blaue Wollmütze und einen rot-weißen
Schal um den Hals, weil sie seiner An-
sidit nach das Beste gegen das tük-
kische, neblige Klima von Princeton
waren.
Er liebte es, im Sommer Schuhe ohne
Strümpfe zu tragen, weil ihm dies die
Freiheit gab, mit seinen Zehen zu
wackeln. Als er einmal von Bernhard
Shaw dabei gehänselt wurde, erwiderte
er: „Sie essen kein Fleisch und ich
wackle gerne mit meinen Zehen, weil
es mich entspannt. Aber ich mache
keine Religion daraus wie Sie." Er trug
oft Schuhe ohne Schnürsenkel, weil es
ihm einfach unwichtig erschien.
Segeln — ein Sport für Faule
Einstein, und das machte ihn so vie-
len Millionen von Menschen besonders
liebenswert, war nicht nur in den gro-
ßen Fragen des Lebens, sondern auch
in allen kleinen, nebensächlichen Din-
gen ein Non-Konformist, ein Mensch,
der sich nicht in ein Schema pressen
ließ. Sein Haus in der Mercer Street
war genau nach seinen Bedürfnissen
eingerichtet. Es hatte die Gemütlichkeit
deutscher Gelehrtenwohnungen. Viel-
leicht hatte ein wenig die „Bude" sei-
nes Freundes Professor Max Planck
Pate gestanden.
Den einzigen Sport, den er betrieb,
war Segeln. Als ihn jemand fragte,
warum, antwortete er mit seiner typi-
schen Aufrichtigkeit: „Ich hasse körper-
liche Anstrengungen, ich bin faul von
Haus aus, und Segeln ist der einzige
Sport, bei dem man sich nicht viel zu
bewegen braucht."
Es war ganz selbstverständlich, daß
sein einfaches Fachwerkhaus mit den
grünen Fensterläden und dem leicht
vernachlnssigten Garten, dem jeder
Sdtmuck und jede architektonische Ver-
zierung fehlte, die Phantasie von
Millionen Zeitungslesern beschäftigen
mißte, denn es war so ganz anders
ate die Häuser anderer Universitäts-
professoren, anderer Nobelpreisträger,
anderer eminenter Wissenschaftler.
Genau so bescheiden wie das Äußere
des Hauses war das Innere. Einsteins
j^ibeitszimmer war im Sinne eines bür-
gerlichen Haushalts unordentlich. Tisch,
Stühle, Bücherregale waren mit Papie-
ren, mit Denkschriften, mit Zeitschriften
überladen. Die meisten seiner Bücher
7
I I
und Verehrung für Professor Planck hat
Einstein, wiederhoh warmen Ausdruck
gegeben, obwohl er fand, daß er öffent-
lichen Dingen so naiv wie ein Kind
gegenüberstand und von Politik so viel
begriff „wie eine Katze vom Vater-
unser". Einer der letzten Artikel, die
Einstein vor seiner Abreise aus der
Schweiz geschrieben hat, galt Planck.
Der Sechsundzwanzigjährige
schafft die Relativitätstheorie
Die Keime zu Einsteins Relativitäts-
theorie reichen übrigens bis in seine
Jugendzeit zurück. Als Knabe hat er
über die Vorstellung des Mannes, der
einem Lichtstrahl nachläuft und über
die Situation, in der sich ein Mensch in
einem fallenden Aufzug befindet, lange
nachgedacht. Die erste Vorstellung über
den Lichtstrahl hat zur Speziellen Rela-
tivitätstheorie geführt, die zweite vom
heiunterstürzerden Fahrstuhl zur Allge
meinen Relativitätstheorie. „Wenn ich
mich frage'*, meinte Einstein einst zu
einem Freunde, „woher es kommt, daß
gerade ich die Relativitätstheorie ge-
funden habe, so scheint es an folgendem
Umstand zu liegen : der normale Mensch
denkt nicht über die Raum-Zeit-Pro-
bleme nach. Alles, was darüber nachzu-
denken ist, hat er nach seiner Meinung
bereits in der frühen Kindheit getan. Ich
dagegen habe mich derart langsam ent-
wickelt, daß ich erst anfing, mich über
Raum und Zeit zu wundern, als ich
bereits erwachsen war. Naturgemäß bin
, Wenn dieser Regenbogen eine Fata Morgana ist, dann gellt es uns schlecht !" Halbritter
ich dann tiefer in die Problematik ein-
gedrungen als ein gewöhnliches Kind."
Als Jahr des entscheidenden Durch-
bruchs seines Genies kann das Jahr 1905 ;
angesehen werden, in dem gleich fünf |:
Arbeiten in den „Annalen der Physik" ,
erschienen sind, darunter jene, die Ein- ^
Steins Weltruhm begründet haben. J
Seine dreißig Druckseiten umfassende'
Arbeit „Elektrodynamik bewegter Kör-
per**, deren Handschrift gleich nach der
Veröffentlichung vernichtet wurde, ent-
hält die „Spezielle Relativitätstheorie".
1943 schrieb Einstein seine Arbeit nach
uer Druckvorlage nochmals von Hand
sb, um das Manuskript dem War-Bond-
Drive - der amerikanischen Kriegsan-
leihe - zur Verfügung zu stellen. Es
wurde zu Beginn des Jahres 1944 in
Kansas City für sechs Millionen Dollar
versteigert und der KongreßbibUothek
in Washington einverleibt.
Der erste Freund, der von der Rela-
tivitätstheorie Kenntnis erhielt, war der
Ingenieur Michele Angelo Besso. Auf
Einsteins Vorschlag hatte sich Besso
1904 als Prüfungsbeamter beim Eidge-
nössischen Amt für geistiges Eigentum
angemeldet und die gewünschte Stelle
auch erhalten. Da die beiden Büro-
nachbarn den gleichen Heimweg hatten
und der in Soziologie, Medizin, Mathe-
matik, Physik und Philosophie unge-
wöhnlich beschlagene Besso ein an-'
regender Debatter war, weihte ihn Ein^,
stein in seine Entdeckung ein. Besso er-
kannte sofort, daß es sich um eine Ei*
kenntnis von außerordentlicher Be-
deutung und Tragweite handelte.
Ein blinder Käfer
Zu jener Zeit gab es wenig Leute, die
mit ruhigem Gewissen behaupten durften,
sie hätten Einsteins Relativitätstheorie
verstanden.
Ueber diese Theorie sind bisher gegen
4000 Bücher, Broschüren und Abnand-
lungen geschrieben worden, darunter
viel Unnötiges und Verworrenes. Die
Witzblätter haben sich ihrer bemrichtigJ:
und der Volksmund. Den meisten Zeit-
genossen mag es heute so gehen wie
ProfessorEinsteinszweitem Sohn Eduard,
; der seinen Vater als neunjähriger Schüler
/ fragte: „Warum bist du eigentlich so
berühmt, Papa ?** Zuerst lachte Einstein,
dann erklärte er ihm ernsthaft: „Siehst
du, wenn ein blinder Käfer über die
Oberfläche einer Kugel krabbelt, merkt
er nicht, daß der Weg, den er zurück-
legt, gekrümmt ist. Ich hingegen habe
das Glück gehabt, es zu merken.**
(Fortsetzung folgt)
Aus der Biographie ..Albert Einstein" von Carl Seelig,
Copyright by Europo-Verlag, Zürich
h—
i
\
y
/
^
y
f
.-I,
sind keineswegs wissenschaftlicher Nd-
tur. An seinem Todestag fand man auf
seinem Arbeitstisch ein Buch „Die Bibol
in der Literatur", eine Biographie über
Max Planck, Heines Reisebilder und
das neueste Bildwerk über Abrah m
Lincoln.
Sein Schreibtisch war ein rundes, kl -
nes Tischchen. Man würde vergebl. ii
nach Schreibmaschine, Diktaphon, Fern-
sehempfänger oder Rundfunkapparat i
gesucht haben. Sein einziges Arbeiis-
werkzeug war der Bleistift. Bücher hat-
ten offenbar auch die Bilder von sein? r
zweiten, so geliebten Frau Elsa und s' i-
nen beiden Kindern verdrängt. In dem
Haus mit seinen zehn Räumen waren
nur fünf bewohnt. Neben seinem Arbeits-
zimmer lebte er noch in dem sogenano-
,t'^'^ *' ' aum, dessen einziger Schmudc
»ger Bedisteinflügel war.
Kinder waren ihm nie zuviel
in'
Seine Tochter Margot und die
Deutschland geborene Helene Dukas
lebten mit ihm zusammen. Helene Du-
kas, sehr liebenswürdig, aber eisern ent
schlössen, unerwünschte Besucher abzu
wimmeln, war Haushälterin und Privat
Sekretärin zugleich. Als Einstein starb,
stand seine geliebte Violine verstaubt
und vergessen unter seinem Bett im Mu-
sikzimmer. Rheumatische Schmerzen hat-
ten ihn seit sieben Jahren gezwungen,
dem Geigenspiel zu entsagen. Nur von
Zeit zu Zeit konnte er sich noch an den
Flügel setzen, um Bach und Mozart, seine
Lieblingskomponisten, zu spielen.
Fnrtsftzuryg auf Seite i»'»
DlrtSTüDlIRSTüBE war der On, von
den) aus Albert Einstein die Welt aua
den Angeln hob. unser Foto oben zeigt
den Gelehrten in seiner Berliner Wohnung
währenddes ersten Weltkriegs. Rechts eine
aer letzten Aulnahmen vor seinem Tode.
'>v
/
XI
*/^
'rv^
\'A'
5*-'
.!'■ .i»S •.'•-..-- _.
[
msUN, MONDAY, MARCH 14, 1953
['fSf
QUIET BIRTIIDAV: Dr. AI-
bert Einstein observed his
76tli birthday loday witlioiit
fiiss or foslivitios — as usiial.
The famed physicist, who be-
lieves that "birthdays are for
children/» planned to stay at
his modest Princeton home
rather than jjo to his offiee at
the Institute /or Advanced
Study.
'World No Longer Interested in Me'
Emtein, Nm'mg 76th BirtMay, Says He's a 'Has Seen'
iINCETON (INS) — Thel The great and near-ereat will Marrh 14 if fr;«^^o i^^^ «.. ,
PRINCETON (INS) - Thel The great and near-great wül March 14 if friends had
man acclaimcd universally as flood this quiet university town'reminded him
the greatest living scientist is with messages of congratula- ^hinner, his
a "has been" today in his own
76th
eyes.
Prof. Albert Einstein, whose'life.
genius has confounded fellovv,
scientists and headline writersl TO THE SHY little man with
notfamous and people developed
lillusions of greatness about me
wrinkled face that were untrue."
tions as Dr. Einstein passes the 7^\ZIZ P^l^/^^'^ "«"^.^ ^^^"^ His plans?
brol^e a long-standing personal
aUke for half a Century. insistsT the VnrunSmbed white Tair rn?P f J°"S-^'^"^ing personall
-That the World he «rst told and flo^vn^^ache « wm nte^view ' ^ ''™' ''""'''''H °? ™ ^EAN he would I
)out the atom 50 vears arm i« vu. ^„e* JU^fu^« iic__^-.'_ , ". "rFf^^.^^* Ispealc out publicly when he felti
about the atom 50 years ago is
"no longer intersted in me."
be just another Monday of re-| Did he have anv 7ßth Wrfh^,,.'f^^ ^"^ publicl
-That the u:usioVs-or«reat.,rorari;Äru\t!^^^^^^^^^^ U ,s „y
«ess the World developed about'atTrÄn's celebrlted Ins t??«? XenTus'' '*' ^'''''' '"^'""- f "*^ *° ^""^ "^^'^'^ '" ♦h%?n'"
him are ".mtrup." .tute for Advanced Study of^''Thrj,nri^ i» , '^^""""^ °' individual liberty or
On Monday. those who reverc which he is a lifo member lested in mp "" ^"^"' '"'^'- ^P^^^^^il rißhts."
him most will stage an interna-i To Albert Einstein birthrtav<!-T,ü„„r -^ . ' Was he now workinfj on some-
" • leven have remembered his is oninobody. and then TVcame'som'ethCJg newT '^'"''^'"^ ""
\
\
\
f
^ '
4
EINSTEIN S DESK. AS HE LEFT IT. HOLDS HIB PIPE AND PAPERS. HE WAS USING EQUATIONS ON BOARD IN SEEKINQ NEW WAYS TO EXPRESS RELATIVITY THEORY
DEATH OF A GENIUS
His fourth dimension, time, overtakes Einstein
'I'Ik* cmptv chair by llic fdrimila-dllcd Mackhoaid looked as if ihe scholar
u li(t iisualiy sat in it liad mcrcK >I('[>|km1 a\Nay, porhafis to ga/.e reflcclivfly
al llic ru<'a(iou uliicli rolls j)asl llic Priiicchm Instilule lor AdvanctMl
Slii(l\ . Bul ihe cliair >\(nil(l m>| a«:aiii 1«* lillcd. Last weck the ontirc world
wcnt iiilo niouiMiin«^ lor tlu* grcalcst scinitific lliinkrr ol his agc, llic man
who liad paiiilf'd a ncw |»i(tuio ol llic uiiiversc w ilh his concepl tfial liine
is the louith (limcnsioii. \ iclim ola ru|)liir(Ml arlcry, Dr. Albert Einstein
had i\ir(\ in his sleej) at tlie a^c oi' 76.
Kur .")() vears ihe world had hcen lieapinjz hoiHirs on him, })ut Einstein
rernained indifVerenl t(» worldly jilory. DressiFijj in baggy old clolhes, he
shiil hiinseli" awav in hmcdv conlcinplalion ol the massive intellectual
Problems he alone roulcl s(d\('. Hui he emerge«! to ehampion the ideals
he eherished: justice, Ircedom. peaee. Ile i)tdieved in his own form of
''cosmie" relijiion. '4 (h) not helieNc in ihe (iod ol" iheoloj^y who rewards
good and punishes evil,'' iie said. *. . . the |)resenee of a superior rcason-
iiig power . . . reveal(Ml in ihe ineomprehensihle universe, forms my
idca (d' C/od." 'I'he da\ lie dicd. .bis body uas eremaled. Without eere-
inonv, familv and liirnds said a last farev\<'ll al the eemelery. Einstein's
brain had beeil removed for seieiitilic study* a last gilt to man's kiiowledge.
1947 PORTRAIT BY PHILIPPE HALSMAN WAS AN EINSTEIN FAVORITE
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62
/
/^
Death of a Genius
CONTINUED
ÜLD MAN'S ADVICE TG YOUTH:
'NEVER LOSE A HOLY CURIOSITY'
As a scicntist Einsteiri's creative imdgination tvrought the greatcst
rvvolution of our time and also touched maus everyday lifc. IJis
famous formuld^ E=mc^, proving that matter is concentrated en-
crgy. uslicrt'd in the atoniic age. His photoelectric law, for ivhich
he H'on the \()hel Prize in 1921, led to the development of the pho-
toflt'ctric cell. Hhivh has been put to a thousand practiad uses.
His f/icories on the strueture of solid s paved the u/iy for transis-
tors, the tiny devices that now are revolutionizing electronics. IJis
theory of relativity made possible the atom-smashers.
Just as his ground-hreaking scientific conclusions teere uncon-
ventional, so icere Einstein s philosophical concepts. In politics
he took sides that ivere unpopulär with Americans. In the sphere
of religion his views contradicted strongly held belief s. But be-
cause of his univavering rectitude Einstein was regarded as one
of the most unselfish men of his time. An ititimate glimpse of
Einstein s persontd mann er is aßorded by this personal memoir
by one ofLlFE\s editors, If'illiam Miller:
SOME months before Einstein's death I drove up to the scientist's
>niall house at 112 Mercer Street, Princeton. Two others were
with me, my son l*at, a Harvard freshman who had h)ng made Ein-
stein one of his personal heroes, and a Iriend, Professor William
Hermanns of San Jose, Calif., who had known Einstein years ago
in (HTmany.
It was not an errand of idle curiosily but planned in the hope that
such a meeting might help give some inspiration to Pat. He had al-
wavs shown a natural gift ior the sciences, had managed to win the
science prize at his prep sehool, Lut at ((»liege iiad hogged dov\n into
a stirt of philos(>phi(al nihilism, asking himself vvliat significance there
was to human endeavor if the universe was dying.
Our interme.liary, Dr. Hermanns, a German from a cultured and
well-to-do family, had volunteered for World War 1, lived through
the indescribable carnage of the Baltle of Verdun, been captured and
imprisoned for three years by the French. Afterward he was a poet,
ihen a fugitive from Hitler. In his 5()s, he is a gentle man of trans-
parent idealism and unselfishness. He was a friend of Bishop Fulton
Sheen and hoped to get from his old friend Einstein a Statement ab(>ut
the latter's concept of God w hich the bishop might use on his televi-
*i(»n program. We had chanced the trip without an appointment.
W hen WC knocked at Dr. Einsteins door we were tcdd he was having
lea with guests and could not be disturbed. But after Dr. Herrnamis
explained his oM a( quaiiitaneeship Dr. Einstein's secretary adinitte«!
US to a small parlor, separated by drapes from the diniiig room. Bevoiid
them we could hear voices and the oecasional clink of spoons. The
drapes parted an(J Einstein came through them, his magnificent face
wreathed in its halo of flowing white hair, his childlike eyes htok-
ing from face to face with impartial serenity, benignity and angelic
indilference. He was wearing sandals, baggy slacks and a gray wocden
pullover sweater, a tieless shirt open at the neck.
Looking about the room, I was Struck by the porcelain figure of a
Madonna and Child in one corner. Meanwhile Dr. Hermanns talked
with Einstein. He was getting nowhere in his quest for a defiiiilion (d
Eiii>lein's religion. But looking at Einstein's face one had the feelin^'
of secing a liviiig saint. The lucid wiiidows of his eyes seemed t(»
rcNcal not a man but an embodiment of f)ure thought.
"\ came because I am concerncd about the growlh of anti-Semi-
tism, ' said Dr. Hermanns. ^'The anti-Scmites spread it by saying that
vou want to share our atomic secrels wiih Kussia."
FZiiistein leaned back in his (dd-fashi(uie(l rocker and, chuckling
mildlv. said, '^Whoever said that is just anotlier liar. The pr(ddem is
one of human survival. If the nations do not agree on basic principles
first. all our treaties and armaments are for nothing. There is no secu-
rit\ for one if not for all; se(!urity is indivisible. Only a supranational
govenmieiit. induding all nations, can save us."
Dr. Hermarnis changed the subject to religion. "I believe you once
said that one could name the Urgesetz, or law of laws, God."
"You are in füll liberty to call any power you believe in God,"
said Einstein, shrugging. ''But if you say this, what are you telling
me? I cannot accept any concept of God based on the fear of life
or the fear of death, or blind faith. I cannot prove to you that there
CONTINUeO ON PAGE 64
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Death of a Genius continued
is no personal Gtul, hut il I wen» tc» speak i^l him I would hc a liar."
Hut was tluTo no message, aske<l Dr. Hermanns, wliieh he could
take Hishop Sheen? '*lf you niusi teil the bisliop something about
me/' he said genially, "teil him I am an honest man."*
At this point niy son asked if there was anything in whieh one
could believe. "Certainly there are things worth helieving," said Kin-
stein. '4 helieve in the hrolherhood (d" man and the uniijueness of
the individual. But if you ask me to prove >vhat I helieve, I can't.
You kiiow them to he true hut you could spend a whole lifetime with-
out heing ahle to prove them. The mind ran proceed only so far up<»n
what it knows and ean prove. There eomes a point where the niind
takes a leap — call it intuition or what you will —and comes out upon
a higher plane of kn(>wledge, hut can never prove how it got there.
All great discoveries have involved such a leap." j
''Does experience give us truth?" asked the young man.
Einstein warmed to the boy's seareh for guideposts. "This is a
difficult question," he said, a slight lisp noticeahle in his voice. ''One
is always seeing things without heing sure that one does see them.
Truth is a verbal concept, which cannot hc submitted to mathemat-
ical proof."
Dr. Hermanns asked whether truth were not inherent in man. "You
once told me that progress could be gained only by intuition and not
the accumulation of knowledge."
*'It is not quite so simple," said Einstein. "Knowledge is neces-
sary too. A child with great intuition could not grow up to hecome
something w orthwhile in life vsithout some knowledge. However there
comes a point in everyone's life where only intuition can make the
leap ahead. without knowing precisely how."
''You do helieve in a soul." persisted Dr. Hermanns.
"Yes, if by this you mean the living spirit that makes us long to
do worthy things for humanity."
I broke in to describe my son's philosophical impasse: "\ow he
can find no reason why he should strive to achicve." Einstein liM.ked
at Pat and simply asked, "Does not the question of the uiidulation of
light arouse your curiosity?" (The nicest thing about thcquc-tion was
his simple assumption that the boy w(>uld und<Tstan»J it.) "Ye^, very
much," said the boy, his interest brightening.
"Is not this enough to occupy your whole curiosity for a lifetime?"
"Why, yes," said Pat, smiling rather sheepishiy. *T guess it is."
"Then do not stop to think." said Einstein, "about the reas«»ns
for what you are doing, ab<»ut why you are questioning. Tbc inq)nrl-
ant thing is not to stop questioning. (Curiosity has its own rcas«»n lor .
existente. One cannot help but b<' in awe when he contcnq)latc> the i
mysteries of eternity, of life, of the marvelous structure «d" reality. It
is enough if one tries merely to comprehend a little of tbi- my-tery
each day. Never lose a holy curiosity. Try not to hecome a man ol
success hut rather try to become a man of value. He is con-idcrcd
successful in our day who gets more out of life tban he puts in. Hui r
a man of value will give more than he reoeives."
At this point, feeling we had i)erhaps intrud<Mj too nunli <»n ibe
great man's time. 1 interruptcd and a^ked. if in leaving, I c(tuld take
some motion pictures. As l shot the film- Pat p(»inted toward a tree in
the yard and asked whether one cnuld truthiully say it was a tree.
"This could all be a dream,'' said Kinstein. "You may nnt be seeing
it at all."
'Tf 1 assume that I can see it." persisted ibe student, "how do I
know exactly that the tree exists and where it is?"
"You have to assume something,*" said Einstein. "Be glad that you
have some little knowledge of something that you cannot penetrale.
Don'l stop to marvel."
FINAL WORDS OF COUNSEL w«'n- ofb-re«! by FJnstein t(» Pat Miller (r/>f/j/)
Standing on porch witli ür. Htrmannfe a& the visit tu the HcientiHt ended.
i
The Sil. _ .al
By H. I. PHILLIPS.
A LETTER TO DR. EINSTEIN.
Desr Prof. Einstein:
I am still going ovcr that vocent crack of
yours that if you wcre starting lifc anew you
uould be a p'lumber so you "could enjoy the
t "^«-««aKSj-i^ modest dejrree of independence
still availablc in America un-
der present circumstances" and
which you hold is not available
to scientists. Doc. you were
nevor so wrong. You would
never know any happiness In
the plumbing trade. If there
is anything a plumber has to
do it is to take criticism, accept
abusp and not bruise easily.
H. 1. PhilJlps A plumber safe from critl-
cism? Immune fiom a little unfair comment
row and then? How wrong can a man like v'ou,
uho is not supposed to make any mistakes,
get? The plumber has to stand more hasseis,
knocks and harsh cracks on any one morning
when the pipes spring a leak than a scientist
is asked to endure dunng bis entire life. A
plumber expects to take the sour with the
Fweet. \\'hy does he carry a plumber's helper
around with him? Because he gets into so
many hasseis where he wants to counl on on9
Iriend.
• • •
Some of the roughest criticism is taken by a
plumber cvery time the radiator falls to heat
iip and whenever he prcsents a bill for fixing
a faucet. The big difference betwoen scientists
and plumbers is that plumtaers can "take it."
Thev don't get indignant and start bleeding if
they gel a dirty look. If some plumber some-
where gets criticized for his routine, all the
plumbers in America don't shriek: "You can't
do this to US • 'This is a blow at liberty" and
"\Ve should start hfe anew in some other busi-
ress." Professor, you are one of the world's
greatcst men. You have a brain of brains. You
have made enormous contributions to human
knowledge. But you would make a bum plumb-
er. I am pretty'sure that if a fiery housewife
bellowed: "Einstein, you fixed the wrong sink,"
you would find something evil in American life,
• • •
And if you were down a cesspool clcaning
out the kitchen grease on a cold winter morn-
ing. with a lot of kibitzers yelling: "Are you
sure you are doing this the right way?"
wouldnt you feel that it was more than any
man could stand? Professor, what makes scien-
tists so touchy, and so superscnsitive? With all
that education. mental suj)eriorityr prestige and
comfort they should be able to take occasional
criticism in isoiated spois. Please continue
being a top scientist. prolessor. and not a mem-
her af the plumbing trade. The world is troubled
cnough. And remcmber me to relaüvity and
all the folks.
Love and equations.
ELMER.
TH' ^t^M D/Au
i
id
\VltÜ^
The Lyons Den
:By Leonard Lyons:
, Ml^rt Einslein acr...! ).. a|.po»r i.. the Ar.ny n.ovie almut
G.rn.any, «ne u. ..... "Kn..« V..ur E„en,V series A. ...e a,.p..m..d
h mr Ue .an«. ... .I.r ^....»o an., was civon a scnp. 1« rea. . When
.he pro,,ara.i..ns «ere o..n.pIe.e,l. Kh,s.ei« began «o reci.e .he senpt
and .he n,ovie n.aUin. '»•«-• ^^^;'!">-'^p "%r;.':'' '^t" an.«.:
r„r.t-.hne eTnaul" i.".' i-e sden.is.. an.. .he„ he exp.an.e..
" "The greatest veloci.y ue can compiehcnd in computations is
that of light," Said Einstein. "It is elemen.ary that light travels
ir than sound. And so when, simuUaneously, you try to record
my voice and my face, they cannot possibly be synch.on./.ed. \on
are destroying the time equation."
The Armv diree.or. who was a Script wri.er h. e.vili.n life,
thoush. quiekly. 'Dr. Einstein." he replied, '.his difference .s ..«.,.-
>ens..e.. for when .he n,ovie is shown In the •^-'--^ '''"';
Ihea.res, you wi.i »o.ice. .he fl..n projection hoo.h - '" '^e -•^;^
„hile .he screen and the sound appara.us «^f- -.„'";,;';/;„, .^
Ihls w»v we achieve synchronlzation . . . *''"*''*^'" "rhe llnie
mS. Then he «aved .t the cameraman and sald. The .Im«
equation has been res.ored. Proceed please.
Die größte Entdeckung /
Anekdotrn um
Albert Einstrin
Albert Einstein befand sich einmal in Holl>-
wood, um an Ort und Stelle einen Jilm zu be-
gutachten, der sich mit dem Thema einer inter-
p^anetarisdien Explosion beschäftigt. Die Film-
schauspielerin Ann Sheridan, die auch wegen
der ««chönen Farbe ihres kastanienbraunen Ha-^-
les bekannt ist, fragte den großen Gelehrten bei
dieser Gelegenheit:
„Welches ist eigentlich die größte Fnldeckung
in der modernen Chemie?"
Einstein betrachtete schmunzelnd das Haar
der Künstlerin und antwortete lei.se. „bnter uns
gesagt — das Kastanienrot. mit dem man die
Haare sdiöner Frauen färbt!"
Gelegentlich einer Reise durtn die Vereinig-
ten Staaten kam Einstein nadi Boston. Trotz
der späten Stunde fand der übermüdete Gast
in nahe dem Bahnhof gelegenen H )tel nodi ein
Zimmer. Er ließ sein Gepäck nach oben brin-
gen und begab sich in das Restaurant. Erst als
er Platz genom.men hatte, dachte er daran, daß
seine Brille in der Aktentasche verparkt war.
Er bat deshalb den Kellner — einen Neger —
ihm die Speisekarte vorzulesen.
Voller Verständnis beugte sich der Neger zu
ihm herab und flüsterte diskret: „Bedüure sehr,
mein Herr — aber ich kann auch nicht lesen."
5^
Albert Einstein besuchte eines Tages — in
Begleitung seiner Frau — die Sternwarte von
Palomar. Auf einem Rundgang zeigte der Lei-
ter des Instituts nicht ohne Stolz das neue Ric-
senteleskop.
„Wozu brauchen Sie denn so ein gewaltig
Gerät?" fragte Frau Einstein.
„Insbesondere zur Erforschung des Weltalls"
bestätigte der Astronom.
„Ol" ver.setzte Frau Einstein überrascht, „da-
zu benötigt mem Mann nur einen Bleistift und
einen Bogen Papier."
^^-
i
Wii\i I)«tuj:la> \va- mi tlic screen
h.' u:i^ in real lil«'. Wliatfxcr the
uaM<:n in any «»1 lu> iilins. I t\itn\
Itcall tliat \\v c\cY usod an\ ^alc-
LMiard- «»! prt'rautions. Tlu*y jiiJ^t
wen n*t nicket. l)on}:la>- wa- alwa>>
r\|>loiin^ an»l playin^i tlu' prank^tn.
Thal \va> a il«M.r t»f cliildlinud tliat lia«l
u.V. r cln-rtl MU hini. <»r perliaps tliat
l,a<l nnl\ o|»«'n«(l at a tirnr wlu ii it liad
( io-i'(l oll nlluT».
W hrn thr wliolt- m«>t ion-pictur«' in-
,lu-lr\ vva> in ilu* dojilionM' n\tr >om«'
ncNN Itlack -lwM|) l)(Mij:la> and Charlie
wunid pitk »ip tlu' ttdrphonr and rinji
iip ihr inoie pnnipou> and soli-ri^ht-
eou^ pioducers and prelmd th<'\ weif
nrAv-i»apfr rt-portfi-.
"\\r nndti-tand Nt»ii knou a jireat
<lral murr ahoiit this scantlal than
Nou'xc told thf p«dirt'. This >t»>ry may
inean om johs. Caii u«- (pintc von to
the elT««t that — "
Theie would he an imtnediale
ihieat «d a la\N»uit honi the ..tlier eiui
oi the telephone. 1 UMially listened in
on an e\len>inii. aiul 1 renieiiihr-i \u>\\
lerritie«! 1 u<.uld jiet vnIumi 1 heard I
tinise indijinant tone^. 1 wa^ certain
the pnliee \>nuld traee th»; eall and
the in<hi'-ti\ wmild liavc a iresh Man-
dat on it~ hand>. ihere wa> ne\er a
dnll nionient wiien thuse two scala-
VMi^L" were tnjiether.
Not that the\ were alway> lookin^i
Im a lau«:!! «»r aetinji like a e«mple
oi kid> ont ol Mark Twain. J^ aaw
theni onee wat^hinji Piole-xir Kin-
-lein deinon>lrate hi> Thei.ry ui Puda-
tivity with a knife. a huk. a plate and
the edge «d mir dinin«: table. 1 eati
jitill ?ee the loi.k of («.inplete eoncen-
tration and heiuddleinent uii th«Mi
laee>.
\\e Nvere havin": dinner with Dr.
and Ml-. FiiiMein at Picktair >linilly
after the\ arrixed here. PI•ofe^.H>r
tin>tein^ lan^uage wa> tlien <»nl\ he-
•.inniii}; to take rerot-ni/ahle -haiie a>
Kngli-h. wliith did not make the tlie-
niy any cleaier to tlie bo\.-. l"ni aliaid
that evrn it In- Knjiiidi liad heeii
llawle-.- l)«ui«ila-. Charlie ainl 1 would
-tili haxe beeii in the durk, relativeiy
speakin«:.
A brain >peeiali>l uh«' wa» pre^^ent
had at fir-t intr«»dueed the Mihjeet of
thou^hl Iran-ferenee.
"l a.; i- thut.''" d-ktil Eiii>leiH.
"i thiiik and coiieentrate my think-
inj: on yoii.'" expiaine<l the hraiii spe-
<iali>t. "antl yuii catch m> thoujiht."
".Ve/Vj." ^aid l'rtdes-or Kin.-tein.
"<l<is ist not po>-il)le. *
"Hut wa-nt >«>ur theury just as iii-
credible -and -tili i- to ino-t people.''"
l*iote»or Ein>lein iii-i>te(l it wa-
really a \ery -iinple theory. To prove
his p«»inl lic >lapped the ed<ie nt the
table a- the outer rini uf sj)ace. iised
the plale a- ihe World or the sun or
unixerse — 1 can't recall \vhi(di- -and
plied away at the diinen-ioii- with hi>
silverware.
1 was too awe(i to a>k (juestions. so
1 annised niyself hy studying the opeii-
nioiithed attention of Charlie and
Douglas.
Tlien there were Charlie*- -ide-
splittin«: iinpre>-ion> <d different char-
acters. There was the inebriated
Cockney woinan. Y(»u could actually
^ee her standin«: at the curh with an
(Continurd on iHifH' 1 i'i )
timf And ü
1^55
r
NEW
Tea ior Two; Guess Who
Eartha Kitt and Einstein!
Giff fo Charl+y
Opens the Door
EABTUA KITT.
ALBEBT EINSTEIN.
r
\
I
By CAROL TAYLOR,
Staff Writer,
Eartha Kitt, sultry singer of
pop tunes, Said today that a
$10,000 contribution to a home
for children indirectly won her
an "interview-rendezvous" with
Dr. Albert Einstein "the most
exciting hour of my life."
Miss Kitt had tea with the
famed physicist at his Prince-
ton. N. J., home last Sunday.
"He was warm and affection-
ate," she said today. "I feit
right at home. And I was not
conscious of him being more
intelligent than I. I didn't feel
like an idiot, as I thought I
would.
"I think that concerning his
intelligence he is the way a
smart wife is with her husband.
That is to say, the wife mlght
be smarter than her mate, but
she Shows intelligence by not
letting him know that she is."
I Never Hoard of Her.
The Singer is now acting in
"Mrs. aPtterson" on Broadway
and is widely seen on television
but she said Dr. Einstein didn't
have the vaguest idea who she
was. And she didn't teil him.
"He likes quiet music he can
think by," she said. "He said'
he liked Beethoven." She said
she had always longed to meet
Dr. Einstein. Recently she gave
$10,000 to the North Side Cen-,
ter Home for Orphans and hap-i
pened to mention this desire to
an associate of the center. •
Meeting Arranged.
It happened the associate is a.
close personal friend of Dr. Ein-
stein's secretary. She wrote to
the secretary, who contacted
Miss Kitt, and subsequent let-j
ter from Miss Kitt to thel
scientist clinched the dale.
"I just told him how greatlv
I admircd his life, not only his
achievements, but his desire for
privacy and peace of mind," she
said.
They talkcd about everything
from the American theater to
the beginning of the world. She
mentioned her play "but hc
couldn't figure out what I did
in the theater. He thinks the
American theater Is very com-
mercial. And he doesn't have a
television set."
She Said he wore a real
"sloppy Joe" sweater for thein-
terview and an old pair of
trousers.
• 1
V
1
• M^* ^ • •
>l ill |ki\ . 1k. II III iIk .1.11 In. m lali\'l ^
\ In .UM >-|l. iKlIi-l W tl.. U.l- |iM ' iil
lui.l ,il In -\ ml i.mIik '•.! lii«' -iili|' r| nl
tli«iii;^lil I r.in-ti'i iii. ' .
" } .i . i t 1 . . 1 I ' . I - l\ ' ' ! I . I 1 I - l ' I M .
"1 lilillk .IIhI ( .(llC'Ill 1 ,lli il|\ llllllk-
in;: Uli \Mii. .Aiil.iliiiil \\\r In. im -|m •
ri.ili-l. ".iinl \.'ii i.ilrli iii\ llitMl;:lil.
"■ \ iin" -ai<l ri.il' --"I !■ iii-l.iii.
"ihl^ /S/ ll<»l |MI--||l|l .
•■|liil w ani'l \ i'iit I li''iii s iii-l ii- IM-
. I < ililiji .111.1 -I ill i- l.i iiio-t |i.-.i|il« .'
r!..|(--..i r.iii-li 111 iii-i-I.'.l il wa-
I f all\ a \ . I \ -mi|'l' I li'.'i n . I " |m .i\ .
In- |i.>iiil Im >lap|'i .1 tli. .•.|'_" nl llir
lajilc ,1- I lii' oiil.i 1 im III 'pa« <•. ii-'<l
I lir |ilal'' a- I II.' NS'M M "I lIi«' -im .»i
iiiii\ i \ -!■ I CHI I I fcill w lii.li aiul
plitii a\\a\ al iIh' (limrii-i.ui- willi lii-
-il\ • I wai ♦'.
I wa- I.MI .ixNi'.l In a-k »III. -t 1' ai-. ^n
I aii:ii-'.l iii\-rll li\ -liiii\iii;: llir ..imm-
iiMiiiilird all. Uli I riuiili.' aii.l
I )iiii;:! 1-.
'riicii tlirif unr (Üi.irli»'"- -i»!«--
-|ililliii;: irii|ir«'>--i.iii- <•! (lillririii < iiai-
aclri». Tlii't«' ua~ fli«' iii»'l)riatt'(|
(.ockin'v w.iinan. ^ mi roiild arliialK
-(•«■ lin ^lamliii;: al lln' ein 1» w illi an
( ( .nllliliuril Dil iKlui' I I > I
''■ ' ■ ' L>t\ Kinstrin didn'i
was. Aiui shc (iifin't toll him.
"IIa liko.s quiot music ho ran
think by." she said. "He saU\
ho likofi npothovon." She said
^he had always lon^od to moot
Hr. Kin.stoin. Rrrently she pavr
' $10.000 to the North Side Con-
tor Home for Orphans and hap
ppnod to mention this desirc to
an associato of the centcr.
Moetinir Arrariffod.
It happenod the associato is a
clo.so personal friend of Dr. Ein-
stein's secretary. She wrote to
•he spcretary. who contacted
Miss Kitt, and subsoquent let-
ter from Miss Kitt to thr
seien t ist dinchod the daie.
"I just told him how proath
r admirtMi bis lifo, not only his
•uhievement.s, but his dosiro fori
privacy and peace of mind." she|
said.
They talkcd ahout everythinj^
from Iho American ihoater to
the beginning oX the World. She
mentioncd her play "but he
I(?ouldn*t figure oui what I did
'in the theater. He thinks the
American theater is very com-
mcrcial. And he doesn't have a!
television set."
She Said he wore a real
"sloppy Joe" sweater for theln-i
tervievv and an cid pair oX
trousers.
•int"
EX, PAGE 75
596.
Entfrcd a» S«cnnd-Cli»s Matter.
Post Offlc«. New York. N. Y.
Copyright^ 1955, by The Ne
NEW YORK, SUND.
Nine Noted Scientists UrgeWarBan
Warning on Nuclear
Peril Was Signed
by Einstein
By PETER D. WHITNEY
Sppclul to The New York Times.
LONDON, July 9— Nine emi-
nent scienüsts, including: the
latft Albert Einstein, Jjave ap-
pealed to the nations to fore-
swear war because the hydrogfen
bomb threatens "the continued
existence of mankind."
Bertrand Russell. British
mathematician and philosopher,
Statements on nuclear warfara
vill be found on Page 25.
revealed today tliat Einstein
subscribed to the appeal in a
letter that reached London the
day the physicist died in Prince-
ton. N. J.. April 18.
The appeal calied on other
scientists. both in the Commu-
nist and non-Communist worlds,
to join in a Conference. Its ob-
ject would be to drive home to
,the average man the "very real
] danger of the cxtermination of
jthe human race by dust and rain
ifrom radioactive clouds."
Among the signatorie.«5 were
seven Nobel Prize winners. One
of them, Prof. Leopold Infeld of
VVarsaw University, is behind
the Iron Curtain. Another, Prof.
Frederic Joliot-Curie of France.
is well known as a Communist
.sympathizer,
The American signers, bcsides
Einstein, were Prof. Percy W,
Bridgman, physicist of Harvard.
land Prof. Hermann J. Muller,
jgeneticist of Indiana University,
Iboth Nobel Prize winners.
Lord Russell today sent copies
of the Statement to President
Eisenhower, Premier N. KalaiA.
Bulganin of the Soviet Union,
Prime Minister Eden of Britain.
President Rene Coty of France,
Mao Tse-tunz, Chinese Commu-
nist leader, and Prime Minister
Louis S. St. Laurent of Canada
— the heads ot countries that
As-socUted Pre.s» Radlopiioio
Bertrand Russell delivers statement subscribed to by Al-
bert Einstein just betöre bis ileath and signed by eij;ht
other scientists callinR for the renunciation «f war.
have acquired or will eventually
acquire nuclear armaments..
Lord Rus.sell said the cam-
paign by the scientists grew out
of a broadcast lie gave here last
Dec. 23 on the nuclear peril. He
received many letters of con-
gratulation. among them one
from Professor Joliot-Curie.
"I was pleased, becauae he is
not only an eminent aclentist but
a noted Gomminist," Lord Rus-
.sell .said at a pre.ss oonferencej
today. The letter encouraged!
him to try to bridgc differencesj
between the Communist and anti-
Communist worlds by an appeal
to the scientists. "who under-
stand the great danger."
Lord Rus.sell was a pacifist in
World War I. but in 1949 he said
he would prefer a third war with
Continued on Page 25. rolumn 2
*»'
An Interview with Einstein
T^a) ivccks hcforc Einstein died he ii'ds visited hy a historian
of scicnce. Thcy sat in Einstein 's study and discussed sonie
of his illustrious predecessors in the ei^olution of physics
by I. Ik'riiard Coliou
OD a Siiiulay inorning in April, tvvo
weeks betöre the death oi Albert
Einstein, I sat and talked with
him ahont the historv ot scientific
thoui^ht and great men in the physics of
the past. ^
I had arrived at the Einstein home, a
small frame house with green shutters,
at 10 o'clock in the morning and was
greeted by Helen Dnkas, Einstein's sec-
retary and honsekeepc r. She coiidncted
nie to a cheerful rooni on the second floor
at the hack of the house. This was Ein-
stein's study. It was lined on two walls
with i)ooks f rom fioor to ceiling and con-
tained a large low table laden with pads
of paper, pencils, trinkets, books and a
eolleetion of well-worn pipes. There was
a phonograph and reeords. Dominating
the room was a large window with a
pleasant green view. On the remaining
wall were portraits of the two founders
of the electromagnetic theory-Michael
Faraday and James Clerk Maxwell.
After a few moments Einstein entered
the room and Miss Dukas introdueed us.
He greeted me with a warm sniile, went
into the adjacent bedroom and returned
with his pipe filled with tobacco. He
wore an open shirt, a blue sweat shirt,
gray flannel trousers and leather slippers.
There was a toneh of chill in the air, and
he tueked a blanket around his feet. His
face was contemplatively tragic and
deeply lined, and yet his sparkling eyes
made him seem ageless. His eyes
watered almost continually; even in mo-
ments of laughter he wonld wipe away
a tear with the hack of his hand. He
spoke softly and clearlv; his eonimand
of English was remarkable, though
marked by a German accent. The con-
trast between his soft speech and his
ringing laughter was enormous. He en-
joyed making jokes; every time he made
a point that he liked, or heard something
that appealed to him, he would hurst
into booming laughter that eehoed from
the walls.
W/^e sat side by side at the table, facing
^ the Window and the view. He ap-
preciated that it was difficult for me to
begin a conversation with him; after a
few moments he tnrned to me as if an-
swering my uiiasked (juestions, and said:
"There are so many unsolved prohlems
in physics. There is so inuch that we do
not know; our theories are far from ade-
(juate." Our talk veered at once to the
problem of how often in the historv of
seience great (juestions seem to be re-
solved, oiily to reappear in new form.
Einstein expressed the view that per-
haps this was a characteristic of physics,
and suggested that sorne of the funda-
mental prohlems might always be with
US.
Einstein remarked that when he was a
young man the philosophy of seience was
considered a luxury, and most seien-
tists paid no attention to it. He assumed
that the Situation was much the same
with respect to the history of seience.
The tvvo suhjects must be similar, he said,
because both deal with scientific thought.
He wanted to know about mv train-
ing in seience and in history, and how
I had beconie interested in Newton. I
told him that one of the aspects of my
research was the origin of scientific con-
cepts and the relation between experi-
ment and the creation of theory; what
had always impressed me about New-
ton was his dual genius— in pure mathe-
matics and mathematical physics and in
experimental seience. Einstein said that
he had always admired Newton. As he
explained this, I remembered those
striking words in his autobiographical
Statement following a criticjue of New-
tonian concepts— "Newton, forgive me."
Einstein was partieularly interested in
the various aspects of Newton's person-
ality and we discussed Newton's con-
troversy witli Hooke in the matter of
priority in the inverse-scpiare law of
gravitation. Hooke wanted only "some
mention" in the preface to Newton's
Principia^ a little acknowledgment of his
efforts, but Newton refused to make the
gesture. Newton wrote to Halley, who
was supervising the publication of the
great Pihwipia, that he would not give
Hooke any credit; he would rather sup-
press the crowning glory of the treatise,
the third and final "book" dealing with
the System of the woHd. Einstein said:
"That, alas, is vanity. You find it in so
many scientists. You know, it has always
hurt me to think that Galilei did not ac-
knowledge the work of Kepler."
We then spoke of Newton's contro-
versy with Leibniz over the invention of
the calculus, and how Newton had at-
tempted to prove that his German con-
temporary was a plagiarist. There was
set up a supposed international commit-
tee of incpiiry, composed of Englishmen
and two foreigners; today we know that
Newton anonymously directed the com-
mittee's activities. Einstein said that he
was shocked by such conduct. He did
not appear too much impressed when I
asserted that it was the nature of the age
to have violent controversies, that the
Standards of scientific behavior had
changed greatly since Newton's dav.
Einstein feit that whatever the temper of
the time there is a (juality of human dig-
nity that should enable a man to rise
above the passions of his age.
nPhen we talked about Franklin, whose
^ conduct as a scientist I had always
admired, especially because he had not
entered into such controversy. Franklin
was proud that he had never written a
69
The Institute for iilvanced Stiuly, at uhich Einstrhi uns professor of wnthcmatics
polcMiiic in defense of Ins experiments or
Ins ideas. He believed that experiments
can be tested only in tlie lahoratory, and
that eoneepts and theories nnist make
their own way by proving their validity.
Einstein only partly agieed. It was well
to avoid personal fights, he said, but it
was also iinportant for a man to stand
up for bis own ideas. He shonld not sim-
ply let them go by default, as if be did
not realK believe in them.
Einstein, who kiiew of my interest in
Franklin, wanted to know niore about
him: Had be done more in seience than
invent the lightning rod? Had he really
done anvthing of importanee? I replied
that in my opinion tbe greatest tbing to
eonie out of Franklin's researeh was tbe
prineiple of the eonservation of charge.
Yes, said Einstein, diat was a great eon-
tribution. Tben be thought to himself for
a monient or two and, with a smile, asked
me how Franklin eould have proved it.
Of eourse, I eonceded, Franklin was ordy
able to adduee some experiinental ex-
amples of ecpial positive and negative
eleetrifieation, and to show the applica-
bility of tbe prineiple in explaining a
varietN' of phenoniena. Einstein shook
bis head onee or twiee, and admitted
that until tben be had not appreciated
that Franklin deserved a plaee of honor
in the history of physies.
The subjeet of eontroversies over sci-
entifie work led Einstein to take np tbe
subjeet of unorthodox ideas. He men-
tioned a tairly recent and controversial
book, of whieh he had found tbe non-
scientifie part-dealing with eomparative
mvthology and folklore-interesting.
"Von know ," he said to me, "it is not a
bad book. No, it reall\ isn't a bad book.
The only trouble with it is, it is crazy."
This was followed by a loud burst ot
langhter. He tben went on to explain
what he meant by this distinetion. Tbe
author had thougjit be was basing some
of bis ideas u[)on modern seienee, but
found the seientists did not agree with
him at all. In order to defend bis idea of
what he eoneei\'ed modern seience to be,
so as to maintain bis theories, he bad to
turn around and attaek the seientists. I
replied that the historian often eneoun-
tered this pioblem: C:an a seientist's eon-
temporaries teil w hether he is a erank or
a genius when the onl\ evident faet is
bis unorthodoxy? A radical like Kepler,
for example, eballenged aeeepted ideas;
it must have been diffieult for bis con-
temporaries to teil whether he was a
genius or a erank. "There is no objeeti\'e
test," replied Einstein.
Einstein was sorry that seientists in
the U. S. had protested to publishers
about the publieation of such a book. He
thought that bringing pressure to bear
on a publisher to suppress a book was an
i>vil thing to do. Such a book really eould
not do anv barm, and was tberefore not
realK bad. Left to itself, it would have
its moment, public interest would die
away and that would be the end of it.
The author ot such a book migbl be
"crazy" but not "bad," just as the book
was not "bad." Einstein expressed him-
self on this point with great passion.
\ I ucb of the tinie we spent together
^ ' was de\()ted to the history of sei-
ence, a subjeet that had long been of
interest to Einstein. He had written many
articles about Newton, prefaees to his-
torical works and also biographical
sketches of bis e()ntenipt)raiies and the
great men of seience of tbe past. 1 bink-
ing aloud about the nature of the his-
torian's Job, he compared history to
seience. Certainly, he said, history is less
objective than seience. For example, he
explained, if two nun were to study
the same subjeet in history, eaeh would
stress the particular part of tbe subjeet
w hieb interested him or appealed to him
the most. As Einstein saw it, there is an
inner or intuitional history and an ex-
ternal or doeumentary history. The latter
is more objective, but tbe former is more
interesting. The use of intuition is dan-
gerous but necessary in all kinds of his-
torical work, especialK when tbe at-
tempt is made to reconstruct tbe thought
proeesses of someone who is no longer
alive. This kind of history, Einstein feit,
is very illuminating despite its riskiness.
70
. l
*^
It is important to know, he went on, what
Newton thoiight and why he did certain
things. We agreed that the challenge of
such a problcm should be the major mo-
tivation of a good scientific historian. For
instance, how and why had Newton de-
veloped his concept of the aether? De-
spite the success of Newton's gravitation
theory, he was not satisfied by the con-
cept of the gravitational force. Einstein
believed that what Newton most strong-
ly objected to was the idea of a force
bcing able to transmit itself through
empty space. Newton hoped by means
of an aether to reduce action at a dis-
tance to a force of contact. Here is a
Statement of great interest about New-
ton's process of thought, Einstein de-
clared, but the ({uestion arises as to
whether-or perhaps to what extent-one
can dociiment such intuition. Einstein
Said most emphatically that he thought
the worst person to document any ideas
about how discoveries are made is the
discoverer. Many people, he went on,
had asked him liow he had come to think
of this or how he had come to think of
that. He had always f ound himself a very
poor source of infonnation concerning
the genesis of his own ideas. Einstein be-
lieved that the historian is likely to have
a better insight into the thought process-
es of a scientist than the scientist him-
self.
Einstein s interest in Newton had al-
ways been centered on his ideas, which
are to be found in every textbook of
physics. He had never made a systematic
exaniination of all Newton's writings, in
the manner of a thorough historian of
science, but of course he had an appre-
ciation of Newton ian science that could
come only from a scientific peer of New-
ton. Yet Einstein was keenly interested
in the results of scholarship in the history
of science, such as the devek)pment of
some of Newton's fundamental opinions
in his successive revisions of his major
works, the Opticks and the Principia. In
cur correspondence on this subject, the
(piestion had arisen as to whether there
was any sense in which Einstein might
have "revived" a Newtonian concept of
light in his paper on photons in 1905.
Had he ever read Newton's writings on
light before that year? He told me: "As
f ar as I can remember I had not studied,
or at least not studied profoundly, the
original before I had to write the little
foreword for the Opticks. The reason is,
of course, that ever) thing that Newton
ever wrote is alive in the later works in
physical science." Furthermore, "young-
er people are very little historically
minded." Einsteins main concern had
been his own scientific work; he had
known of Newton primarily as the
author of many of the fundamental con-
cepts in classical physics. But he had en-
countered Newton's "utterances of a
philosophical character"; these were
cited again and again.
In 1905 Einstein knew that Newton
had espoused a corpuscular theory of
light, a fact which he must have found
in Drude's famous book on light, but he
had evidently not known until many dec-
ades later about Newton's attempts to
blend a corpuscular and wave theory.
Einstein knew of my interest in the Op-
ticks, especially in the influence of this
book on the later course of experimental
physics. When I rcmarked on the great-
ness of Newton's intuition about the
study of light being the key to exact
knowledge of the corpuscles of matter,
Einstein misunderstood what I had said.
He replied that we must not take too
seriously the historical accident that
Newton's corpuscular view of light with
wave aspects sounds something like
modern Statements. I cxplained what I
had meant: Newton had attempted to
infer from what we call interference or
difi^raction phenomena the size of the
corpuscles of matter. These intuitions
might be very profound, Einstein agreed,
but not necessarily fruitful. For exiim-
ple, he said, Newton s thoughts on this
subject did not lead anywhere; he could
not prove his point nor derive precise In-
formation about the structure of matter.
Einstein was actuallv niore interested
in the Principia and in Newton's views
on hypotheses. He greatly esteemed the
Opticks, but primarily for the analysis of
color and the magnificent experiments.
Of this book he had written that "it alone
can afford us the enjoyment of a look at
the personal activity of this uni(iue man."
Looking back over all of Newton's ideas,
Einstein said, he thought that Newton's
greatest achievemcnt was his recognition
of the role of privileged Systems. He re-
peated this statcment several times and
with great emphasis. This is rather puz-
zling, I thought to myself , because today
we believe that there are no privileged
Systems, only inertial Systems; there is
no privileged frame-not even our solar
system-which we can say is privileged
in the sense of being fixed in space, or
having special physical properties not
possible in other Systems. Due to Ein-
stein's own work we no longer believe
(as Newton did) in concepts of absolute
space and absolute time, nor in a privi-
leged System at rest or in motion with
respect to absolute space. Newton's So-
lution appeared to Einstein ingenious
and necessary in his day. I was reminded
of Einsteins statcment: "Newton, . . .
von found the only way which, in your
age, was just about possible for a man of
highest thought and creative power."
I rcmarked that Newton's genius was
displayed in his adopting as a "hy-
pothesis" in the Principia the statcment
about the "center of the System of the
World" being fixed, immobile in space;
that a lesser man than Newton might
have thought he could prove such an as-
sertion, either by mathematics or by ex-
periment. Einstein replied that Newton
probably did not fool himself. He was
apt to know what could be proved and
what could not; this was a sign of his
genius.
Einstein then said that the biographi-
cal aspects of scientists had always in-
terested him as much as their ideas. He
liked to learn the lives of the men who
had created the great theories and per-
formed the major experiments, what kind
of men they were, how they worked and
how they treated their fellow men. Re-
verting to an earlier topic of our conver-
sation, Einstein observed how many
scientists seemed to have suffered from
vanity. He pointed out that vanity may
appear in many different forms. Often a
man would say that he had no vanity,
but this too was a kind of vanity because
he took such special pride in the fact.
*Tt is like childishness," he said. Then he
turned to me and his booming laugh
71
l
\
Alon^ this slreet Einslein tvalked to the Institute
filled the room. "Many ot iis are childish;
somc of US nioro childish than others. But
it a man knows that he is childisli, thcn
tliat knowledgc can he a mitigating tac-
tor."
The eonversation theii tiirned to New-
ton's Ute and his private specuhitions: his
investigations ot theology. I mentioned
to Einstein that Newton had essayed a
linguistie analysis of theology, in an at-
tenipt to find the eonuptions tluit had
heen introdueed into Chiistianity. New-
ton was not an orthodox Trinitarian. He
helieved his own views were hidden
awav in Seriptnre, hnt that the revealed
cloeuments had been eorrupted hy later
writers who had introdueed new eon-
eepts and even new words. So Newton
souglit l)\ linguistie analysis to find the
truth. Einstein renuirked that for hiin
this was a "weakness" in Newton. He did
n(^t see why Newton, finding his own
ideas and the orthodox ones at varianee,
did not sinipl) rejeet the estahlished
views and assert his own. For instance,
if Newton eould not agree with the ac-
cepted interpretations of Seriptnre, why
did he believe that Seripture must
nevertheless he trne? Was it only be-
eause the eonimon point of vievv was
that fundamental truths are eontained
in the Bible? It did not seem to Einstein
that in theology Newton showed the
same great (juality of mind as in physies.
Einstein apparently had little feeling for
the way in which a man's mind is im-
prisoned bv his eulture and the eharaeter
of his thoughts are inolded by his intel-
leetual environment. I did not press the
72
point, but 1 was Struck b\ the fact that
in physies Einstein could see Newton as
a man of the I7th Century, but that in
the other realms of thought and actiou
he viewed each man as a timeless, free-
1\' aeting individual to be judged as if he
were a contemporary ot ours.
Einstein seemed particularlx im-
pressed by the fact that Newton had not
been entirelv satisfied with his theologi-
eal writings, and had sealed theni all up
in a box. This seemed to indicate to Ein-
stein that Newton was aware of the im-
perfect (piality of his theological eonelu-
sions and would not present to public
view an\ writings that did not nieasure
up to his own high Standards. Sinee New-
ton obviously did not wisli to puhlish his
speeulations on theology, Einstein as-
serted with some passion that he per-
sonallv hoped no one eise would puhlish
them. Einstein said a man has a right to
privacv, even after his death. He praised
the Roval Society for having resisted all
pressure to edit and print writings of
Newton which their author had not
wanted to puhlish. He helieved that
Newton's correspondence could justly be
published, because a letter written and
sent was intended to be read, but he
added that even in correspondence there
might be some personal things which
should not be published.
'^phen he spoke bricHy about two great
' phvsicists whom he had known well:
Max Planck and H. A. Lorentz. Einstein
told me how he had come to know
Lorentz in Leiden through Paul Ehren-
fest. He remarked that he had adinired
and loved Lorentz perhaps more than
anvone eise he had ever known, and not ••
only as a scientist. Lorentz had been ac-
tive in the movement for "international
Cooperation," and had always been inter-
ested in the welfare of his fellow men.
He had worked on many technical prob-
lems for his own countrv, an activity
which was not generally known. This
was part of Lorentz' eharaeter, Einstein
explained, a kind of nobility which made
him work for the well-being of others,
preferably in anonym ity. Einstein also
expressed great affection for Max Planck.
Planck was a religious man, he said, and
always sought to reintroduce the al^so-
lutes-even on the basis of relativity
theorv. I asked Einstein whether Planck
had ever fully accepted the "theory of
photons," or whether he had eontinued
to restriet his interest to the absorption
or emission of light without regard to its
transmission. Einstein stared at me for a
moment or two in silence. Then he
smiled and said: "No, not a theorv. Not a
thron/ of photons," and again his deep
laughter enveloped us both— and the
(|uestion was never answered. I remem-
bered that Einstein's 1905 paper, for
which (nominally) he had been award-
ed the Nobel prize, did not contain the
Word "theory" in the title, but referred
instead to considerations from a "heuris-
tic viewpoint."
There are fashions in science, Einstein
said. When he had studied physies as a
voung man, one of the major (juesticms
being discussed v/as: Do niolecules
exist? He remembered how important
scientists, men like Wilhelm Ostwald
and Ernst Mach, had been explicit in
stating that they did not reallx believe
in atoms and molecules. One of the
greatest differences between physies
then and now, Einstein observed, was
that todav nobody bothers to ask this
particular (piestion any more. Although
Einstein did not agree with the radical
Position adopted by Mach, he told me
he admired Mach's writings, which had
had a great infiuence on him. He had
visited Mach, he said, in 1913, and had
raised a (piestion in order to test him.
He asked Mach what his position would
be if it proved possible to prediet a prop-
erty of a gas by assuming the existence
of atoms-some property that could not
be predicted without the assumption of
atoms and yet one that could be ob-
served. Einstein said he had always he-
lieved that the invention of scientific
concepts and the building of theories
upon them was one of the great creative
properties of the human mind. His own
vievv was thus opposed to Mach's. be-
1.
cause Mach assuincd that the laws of
scicnce wcrc only an cconomical way of
describing a largc collcction ot lacts.
Coiild Mach accept the hypothesis of
atoms linder the circumstances Einstein
liad stated, even if it meant very compH-
cated computations? Einstein told me
liüw dehghted he was when Mach re-
phed affirmatively. U" an atoniic hypoth-
esis would make it possible to connect
bv logic some ohservable properties
w hicli woukl remain niiconnected with-
oiit this hvpothesis, then, Nhich said, he
would have to accept it. Under these
circumstances it would be "economical"
to assume that atoms may exist hecause
then one coiild derive rehitions betvveen
()l)servati()ns. Einstein had been satis-
fied; indeed more than a little pleased.
With a serious expression on bis tace, he
told me the story all over again to be
sure that 1 understood it tully. Wholly
apart from the philosophical victory over
what Einstein had conceived Mach*s
philosophv to have been, he had been
gratified because Mach admitted that
there might, alter all, be some use to the
atomistic philosophy to which Einstein
had been so strongly cominittcd.
Einstein said that at the beginning of
the Century only a few scientists had
been philosophically minded, but today
physicists are almost all pbilosophers,
although "they are apt to be bad philoso-
phers." He pointed as an example to
logical positivism, which he feit was a
kind ol philosophy that came out of
phxsics.
iSIow it was tiine to leave. I was horri-
fied to reali/e it was a (juarter to 12.
Knowing that Einstein tired easily, I
had meant to stay only half an hour. Yet
every time I had gotten iip to depart he
liad said, "No, no, don't go yet. You have
conie to see nie about your work and
there is still more to talk about." Yet at
last I was taking my leave. Miss Dukas
joined iis as we walked toward the front
of the hoiise. As I neared the stairs, I
turned to thank Einstein, missed a step
and almost feil. When 1 had recovered
mv balance, Einstein smiled and said,
"You miist be careful here, the geoiiietry
is complicated. You see," he continued,
"negotiating stairs is not really a physical
problem, but a problcm in applied
geometry." He chuckled and then
laughed out loud. I started down the
stairs and Einstein began to walk down
the corridor toward the study. Suddenly
he turned and called: "Wait. Wait. I
must show you my hirthday present."
As I returned to the study Miss Dukas
explained to me that Eric Rogers, who
teaches phvsics at Princeton, had made
a gadget for Einstein as a present for bis
76th hirthday, and that Professor Ein-
stein had been dehghted with it. Back
in the studv, I saw Einstein take from
the Corner of the room what looked likc
a curtain rod five feet tall, at the top of
which was a plastic sphere about four
inches in diameter. Coming up from the
rod into the sphere was a small plastic
tube about two inches long, terminating
in the center of the sphere. Out of this
tube there came a string with a little ball
at the end. "You see," said Einstein,
"this is designed as a model to illustrate
the cMiuivalence principle. The little ball
is attached to a string, which goes into
the little tube in the center and is at-
tached to a spring. The spring piiUs on
the ball, but it cannot pull the ball up
and into the little tube because the
spring is not strong enough to overcome
the gravitational force which pulls down
on the ball." A big grin spread across bis
face and his eyes tvvinkled with delight
as he said: "And novv the ecjuivalence
principle." Grasping the gadget in the
middle of the long brass curtain rod, he
thriist it iipward until the sphere touched
the ceiling. "Now I will let it drop," he
said, "and according to the eijuivalence
principle there will be no gravitational
force. So the spring will now be strong
enough to bring the little ball into the
plastic tube." With that he suddenly let
the gadget fall freely and vertically,
guiding it with his hand, until the bottom
reached the floor. The plastic sphere at
the top was now at eye level. Sure
enough, the ball nestled in the tube.
With the demonstration of the hirth-
day present our meeting was at an end.
As I walked out to the street, I thought
to myself that of course I had known that
Einstein was a great man and a great
scientist, but I had had no idea of the
warmth of his friendly personality, his
kindness and his rieh sense of humor.
There had been, during that visit, no
sense of the imminence of death. Ein-
stein's mind was alert, his wit was keen
and he had seemed very gay. On the
Saturday following my visit, a week be-
töre Einstein was taken to the hospital,
a Princeton friend of long standing and
intimacy vvent with Einstein to the hos-
pital to see Einstein's daughter, who was
ill with sciatica. This friend writes that
after he and Einstein left the hospital
that Saturday, "we went for a long walk.
Strange to say, we talked about our atti-
tudes toward death. 1 mentioned a ((uo-
tation from James Frazer in which he
said that fear of death was the basis of
primitive religion, and that to me death
was both a fact and a mystery. Einstein
added, *And also a relief.
» »»
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73
1
V
*^^-'
pur (.i:<)iu.i:s rii:h(:v
DlKI.CTI.l H i>i: l/t)HSi:HVATOlHI. OK tlKNKVi:
jimiii
1 II s'a^it de la Iheorio de la ivlativitö ; cliacun
sail (lue k^s Premiers travaiix (fAlherl Hinslein a ee
Sinei onl ele presenles eii^ UK);'), alors (jue rauteiir
vivail a l^erne. 11 etail done loiil nalurel qiie les
speeialisles de la (pieslion, poiir teler ee eincpianle-
naire, se donnenl reiidez-vous a Herne, oii une (jmlc-
mur inli'i nationale siir la llu'nric de la irlatwilr a ele
orivanisee du 11 au H) juiUel <le eelle aiinee. La ehose
inreresse indirectemenl le ehronoinelrier Iheorieien,
puiscpie le tenips (pii s'eeoule est Tune des pieees du
'^ Le sic^nalaire du present artiele n'a pas eu ja possi-
bilile de prendre pari a ees diseussions ; aussi n'esl-d
pas (pieslion de donner ici lül-ee un eourl aper(^u de
ce(iuis'vesl passe. 11 saisil sinipleinenl eelle oeeasion
pour exposer aux leeleurs de ee Journal (pielcp.es
remar(pies el rellexions sur la Iheorie donl il s at^il,
soil sur la parlie de eelle Iheorie (pii eoneerne la
relaliviU' reslreinle (resireinle au eas du niouvenienl
recüliiine el uniforme), parlie (pii a juslemenl tail
robjoi des Premiers Iravaux d'A. lunstein, soll sur ce
(piisuivil el (pii lul desii^ne sous le lilre de rrlatwüc
iwnvralc. Ce n'esl pas la preiniere lois (pie je nrallache
a Teliide de ee i)rol)lenie j^eneral Irouhlanl, a propos
du(iiiel on a prelendu faire dire a Taslronomie ce
(urelle n'a pas dil '>. Ma eonelusion elait el resle (pie,
malere le hruil fail aulour des inlerprelalions emslei-
niennes, eelles-ei ne s'imposenl pas. D'ahord, ee n esl
pas la seule Iheorie relalivisle prelendümenl j^onerale ;
comine i)our la relaliviU' reslreinle, il y en a (rautres,
(pii iililisenl les nuMnes moyens malhemaluiues el
qiii ahoulissenl a des forimiles linales i(lenli(pies a
rapplicalion, mais (pii onl Tavanlai^e de resler dans
l'espaee ordinaire el de eonserver le lemps aslrono-
mi(pie universel. Kn fail, loules les Iheones relali-
vistes diles ^enerales sonl lot^ees a la nuMiie ensei.une
cn ee (pii eoneerne les veriliealions aslronomupies
i'xperinienlales ; elles sonl loules veriliees au nuMiie
dolore (rapi)r()ximalion, ee (pii n'a rien (relonnanl
piiTs(prelles eonduisenl loules aux nu'mes tormules
ons aslronomüiucs. Arrhiws d,s Snrncrs, i.vuvsv 1«MH, pp. -H» .iOO.
' \ nronos do Im coiu-hision (|u'()n prut tircr du prohicint' »U's ('•toiU's
,1oun1-s Jn CO Mui c.ncc.r.u. los liuM.rios rolalivistos. Arcluvrs <lrs
Scivncvs, Cionövo 1942, pp. 2.) .i<), ni S".
Los iiilorpröli.tions rolalivistos ol rastronomio. Scicnliu. Milan
i«)i:i, pp. n •'>«•. i>i ^"^
— \ propos (lo roclipso lolalo do Soloil (in 2:. fövrior Hi.Vi. i.a snssi.
uoHUXiKHK l9.->2 I, pp. l.'> IS. '" » "•
n
ti
in S".
finales. De sorle que Tobservalion aslronomique
n'apporle aueiin ar^^unienl deeisif en faveur de l'une
ou de l'aulre de ees inlerprelalions. De ee poml de
vue, il semblerail plus iiidique de ehoisir l'une de eelles
qui'restenl eomprehensibles ^\ i)lul(M qu'une eons-
Iruelion de type einsleinien.
Mais en oulre, et ceei esl plus ^rave, ees veriliealions
numeri(iues sonl loin de donner salisfaelion ; et le
moins (pi'on puisse dire esl (pi'il esl bien imprudent
de prelendre lirer de ees formiiles approehees des
eonelusions e()sin()g()ni(pies, conime on l'a abondam-
menl essaye.
Les rc'serves ei-dessus rappelees ne dmiinuenl en
rien mon admiralion pour l'ceuvre (fKinslein ; son
interprcaalion des e^quations de Lorenlz et sa relalion
VV = mc- enlre la masse et Teneroie onl pr()V()(pie une
suite de diseussions ardenles ; et plus lard, lorsque
arme de Tinslrumenl malheniatique prepar(' par les
Hiemann, ChrislolTel, Hieei el Levi-Civita, el adaple
par son ami (.rossmann, il eiil lanee sa Iheorie de la
relativile generale, il enlraina dans son sillaije de
nombreux ehereheiirs.
Mais eela n'eiiqx'ehe pas cpie des remar(pies, des
eritiques et des reserves aient ele formulees sur la doe-
Irine einsleinienne. Ce n'est i)()inl diminuer Timpor-
lanee du relalivisme dans Thisloire des scienees que
de relever ses poinls faibles.
11 n'esl pas deplaee de rappeler ici la eonelusion a
hupielle arrivail en 1922 le prolesseiir L. Maillard, bon
eonnaisseur de la (jueslion-»:
« De par la nalure nu'me de nos moyens de eonlrole,
Ions lesfaits nouveaux decoiiverls j^raee a la relaliviU«
sonl et seront interpretahles dans l'espaee euelidien
el le lemps lerreslre. »
2. Albert bjnslein publia done en 190.'), a l'at^e de
2irans, dans Les Annalcs de Phijsuinc, trois memoires ;
rmi de eeux-ci trailait de la relalivite, l'aulre des
(p.anla de lumiere, le lr()isi('me du mouvemenl
brownien.
11 ne faul pas oublier, soil dil en j>assanl, (pie c est
pour ses Iravaux sur l'elTel ph()l()eleelri(pie (pi'Kinslein
a re(,'U en 1921 le Prix Nobel de Physicpie.
Kinslein posa, a priori, les deiix prineipes sur
les(piels Lorenlz s'elail iniplieilement api)iiye :
n Inlorprötalions do 11. Vahcoi.mkh, do 1». Divi:, do C.-l.. Sacii,
do W.-H. M«. Ckka, do H. (liAi/ni.m, par ox.
2) L. Maii.i.ahi). Cosnioj^onio ol uravitalion. — Imprnnories
Ht^niios S. A., l.ausanno 1022.
33
l-
a) La vilesso de la limiiore dans ]v vide est conslanU'
c[ iiKlrpciidanlc de la vilesse du loyor, au nioiiis
(juaud i'v loyori'sl auinir d'uu niouvouicnl uuilonnc;
b) Les lois des i)lK'n()nu'Uos ualuivls sonl iudcpcu-
dauU's (U' l\dal de uiouvomenl du systomc des
(•oordonucesparrapporlauciuelk'splu'noinonessonl
observes, i)()urvu cpu' vv systönu' ue soll pas aniiiu'
d'un inouvonuMil aeccU'MV (i)rinciiK' de rclalivilc)
L'inlroducliou du priucipo di' ivlaliviU' (h) \)vv-
iiudlail d\'lal)lir unc Ihoork' hii'ii rohöivnli' cpii,
c'vidt'innu'ul, nc cousliluail pas une synthöso c.ipli-
nüirn', inais loul au uioins une synthost' loi^icjuc.
II faul i'uU'iidiv par syullu'sc I()i>i(pK' un cxposc oii
Ton pari dv ceiiaiiis |)()srulals, saus s'occupor do savoir
s'ils sollt priniordiaux ou uon, pour vi\ liivr par voie
(U'ductivc des consöcpiences (pi'on s'allachera a coin-
l)aiTr aux falls d\'\porieiH'o ; une teile synlhese ne
peut pas satisfaire notre souhait de eonnaitre le lond
des ehoses ; eile IVra ])eut-etre plaee, par la suite, a une
Synthese exi)liealive ou partiellenient explicative.
' Or, sur le terrain dont il s'a^it, nous ne possedons
aueune svnlhese expliealive ; nous ij^norons les eauses
prenueres de la «^ravilalion et des lorees eleetro-
nia^neti(iues.
S'ai)puvant sur les deux prineipes (d) el fb).
Kinstein a donne, de la tränst ornialion de Lorenlz,
une demonstration pureineiit einematique. Le resultat
t'st eonnu ; j'en rai)pelle les lorniules (1), (jui eoneer-
ne!d les svstenies de reterenee (.r o //)et(Xl> Y) de la
li^ure 1, en inouvenienl Tun par rapport a Tautre,
de teile la^on (pie les droiles (h et il\ iilissenl l'une
sur Tautre, le poinl il ayant une vilesse /; eonslanle
sur O.r :
y
y
M
0
a
I-i«. 1
.\ -
X
Vi
\
(1)
1/ ; /
X + V T
1
('-
//
V ;
/ ;
r -
vx
v-^
v/'
iß
T-V
V'
V \
(•■i
üii r represenle la vitesse de la lumiere dans le vide.
Avec ces forniules et leur theorie, les j)hen()nienes
se passent dans ee eontimiuni ä (pialre diniensions
(.r, y, r, /) que Minkowski appela ri'nwcrs. Lette idee
a ete expriinee par Minkowski sous la forme suivante,
dans une eonferenee (pi'il a faite en 1908 : « Des inain-
tenanl, l'espare in(lei)endanl du lenips et le tenips
indepeiidanl de resi)aee ne sont i)lus (jue des onihres
vaines ; une sorte d'union des deux doil seule suhsister
eneore ►>.
Un evenenieid est alors represenle i)ar un poinl de
rUnivers; et il deerit dans son evolulion une ligne
d'linivers.
L'ex|)ression (ü)
(2)
ds-^
c
-i (It-^
dx^ dif^ dz^
ne elian«>e j)as cpiand on elTeelue sur les cpiatre coor-
donnees les Iransforinalions expriniees par les e(|ua-
lions de Lorenlz.
11 n'esl pas sans interetde renuircpuT (pie, (hinseelle
theorie, on parle eonstaninienl de nu)uvenienl uni-
forme, sans relleehir cpie dans eelle expression le lenips
est Ulis en jeu, alors (\\\\n\ n'en a i)as eneore formule
la deünilion, ni indicpie les melhodes de distrihution
t't de inesure. II y a la une petile dillieulle.
Sl, par exempie, on veut e()nq)arer les heures niar-
quees par deux ehronometres lixes respeelivement
en 0 el en il il faul imaginer (pi'on (lisj)ose (l'un
ehronometre mobile, (pi'on Iransporlera de Tun ä
l'aulre poinl ; niais nous i^norons si le Iransport
de ee Iroisieme ehronometre, la vilesse de son (ie|)la-
eenient, le ehemin pareouru, ne vonl pas inlluersursa
nutrelie et eommenl ; e'esl la un poinl dont la Solution
(k'pendrail d'une experienee imi)ossible a realiser i)ar
le fait des dillieuUes i)rali(pies insurmontables (pi'elle
souleve. Or, preeisemenl. Tetude de la relalivile
eonelul ä une teile dependance.
:\. On peul arriver aux forniules (1) en s'ai)i)uyanL
non sur le i)rineipe de la relalivile, niais i)ar applitation
du principe de miproriti' en ee (pn eoneerne les deux
svsliMues 0 el il en mouvemeiil relalif uniforme, el
dans les(piels on suppose avoir ete elablies des distri-
bulions horaires naturelles identi(iues. Si le Systeme il
se deplaee avee la vilesse unifornu' n par rapport au
Systeme O, eelui-ci se deplaee aussi avee la vitesse n
par raiiporl a iL
Kn ne s'appuvant que sur le seul i)rineipe de reci-
proeile, K. Ksehuif^on i» a etabli les forniules de
Iransformations suivantes :
i'^)
\
X
vi
V'
v^
1} ; Z
X -h V T
X
\
v^
C
= y
/ -
r -
vx
C
\
— »
v^
C
T -h
/ =
r - Z
vX
C
V
1 —
c
n Iv. l<:s(.i.ANr.oN. l.ii noIioM .le Umps. l'iiris, ( .aiiUnt-r-Villars liKiS.
\
34
l
' I
Oll C vs[ [\nv coiistaiili' ; on nv sail rii'ii a priori sur
coUt' coiislaiiU' C; vWv pciit iHre posilivr ou lU'^alivc
saus ccssiT iVvivv coiiipalihk' avcc k' princiix' do
Si r; a une vak'iir positive, on voil iinnu'diaU'nuMil
(pio la vitosse (renlraiiuMnent n est limitco ; la (piaiitile
inscrili' soiis W radical des foriiiiik's (:i)_tk'vant (Mre
l)()sitivi', coki oiitraiiu' kicondition p < ^ T , t'n (k'hors
de la(pu'lk' k' i)rin(ipr (k' rrciprocitc nv sorait pkis
valahk'. Si par coiitiv la conslaiiti' C a iiiu' vaknir
nöi^alivi', auciiiu' liinilt' i)our la vitt'sso (l\MitraiiH'nu'nl
D iw scrait plus imposce.
Les toriiiulcs (.'i) iic sont auliv cliosr (Jik' k's tor-
mules (k' Lorentz. Knsuile, k' nioino principe de reci-
procite pormet d'otahlir Ics cMpiations londanientalcs
de la dvnaiiiicpH'.
A priori, et eii Tahsenee de tont lait experimental,
on n'a aucune indieatioii sur la valeur ä attrihuer a la
constante C..
Par eoiitre, on eonnaitrait eette valeur s'il existait
Uli mobile pour lecpiel les ohservateurs des systeines ()
et i> niesureraient la inenie vitesse ; eette vitesse com-
mune vaudrait ^ c; .
('/est ainsi (pu", si Ton re<^arde comme etahli (pie la
vitesse de la lumiere a la valeur r i)onr tous les ohser-
vateurs (principe {<i) de Loreiit/j, on tronve C c- .
Dans ces conditions, les fornudes (ii) prennent
Tecrilure exacte des lormules (1).
On sait (pie sur ee poinl de la constance ahsolue de
la vitesse de la lumiere, l'accord est encore loin d'etre
etahli aujourdlmi. Cela n'a i)as (rim|)ortance pour les
expericnces concernant notre voisina^e ininiediat ;
inais la chose devient inij)ortante dans le cas (les pro-
hlemes de Tastronomie, (pii sortent du domaine de la
plivsitjue courante.
i>our les theoriciens de celle-ci, il existe une vitesse
privile^iee n -= ^'C '' •
Cela souleve une dilliculle. i;esi)ace 0(M)nietri(pie et
vide du prohleme envisai^e devrait etre indillereut
aux positions et aux vitesses ; on peiit donc se deman-
der |)()ur(pioi intervient ici une vitesse privileoiee et
knie. Admettons eependaid Texistence de celte
derniere.Onenconclnt (pie Tespace de nosohservations
n'est pas neutre : il n'est |)as ^öomötricpie, conime
kjnstein le prelendait en amorc^ant la demonstraliou
de ses formales : il est physique.
l/kypothese primordiale de rindillerence totale (les
mouveinents relatifs en ce cpn eoncerne les phenomenes
naturels ne serait donc plus ri<i;oureusement valahle ;
on voit sur^ir ici la notion de niouvements absolus, et
il ne pourrail i)lus etre cpiestion des l'ornmles de
Lorenl/. On voit hien la dilliculte : on se tronve en
face (rune sorte de contradiel ion du i)oinl de vue
loj^icjue : les lormules de Lorentz, sous-entendant un
espace physicpiemenl ueulre, paraissent satisfaisantes
pour les faits j)hysi(pies, tont au moins dans certaines
limites ; et ce])endant Tespace reel ne ])eut iMre consi-
dere connne physi(piement neutre.
On se tirera de celle dilliculte en admetlant cpie les
fornudes de la relalivite representent des lois appro-
cliees, valahles seukMuent dans le cas de vitesses
relatives v faihles a cöte de la vitesse ])riviliiviee c .
L'espace est eii eilet sillonne de radial ions de toutcs
sortes, d'electrons et de |)hol()ns, qui conslituent un
Substrat um moyen hien dillicile a detinir, variable
peul-elre (Tuiu' re^ion a Tautre, mais susceptible
(rinlkieiu'er certains phenomenes naturels.
On retrouve la, |)ar un delour, la reserve exprimee
plus haut concernant la pretendue constance ahsolue
de la vitesse r ; en raison de Texistence du substratum
moyen et variable dont nous venons de parier, il est
permis d'envisa^HT cpie la vitesse de la lumk-re n'est
pas forcement la meme dans toutes les re^ions de
resj)ace. C'est (railleurs hien ce que certaines obser-
vations des vini^l dernieres annees semblent conlirmer.
1. Les remarcjues ci-dessus nramenent tout natu-
rellenient ä ev()(pier la Iheorie de la relativite preten-
due generale.
A. Kinstein a ete peu a peu conduil ä concevoir une
inleri)retation plus etendue (pie celle constituant la
relativite dite restreinte. Dans sa relativiti' j^i'uerale,
il remi)lace le ds- de Minkowski (fornude 2) par un
ds- de la forme :
(I)
(Ix- >. (Jil< il-^'i fi-^'l^ '
(un-
W<i ' '
l'ne teile forme est dite rurlidicnnr (puuid eile est
susceptible (TiHre ramenee a la fornu'
dX'i - r/\Ü : dxi 4- (/xL
es X, etant des fonctions des .r/, ; si eette transh)rma-
tion est du domaine rc'-el, certains carres pourront etre
precedes du sii^ne ( ) ; c'est ce qui se prc'sente dans la
formule (2) de Minkowski. 11 peut en outre arnver
(jue toutes les coordonnees ne joueid pas un r(Me
i(lenti(pu', conune c'esl le cas du temi)s / dans la
fornude (2).
Cela pose, on adniet en princi|)e (jue tonte la |)liy-
si(pie doit (Mre exprimee par des e(pKdions conservanl
la nuMue forme lors de tout chan^ement de coordon-
nees. Cela constitue le i)rincipe de relativite sous sa
forme «»enerale. 11 en est notammenl ainsi pour les
e(piati(ms du mouvement d'un point libre ; elles sont
obtenues en (''crivaiit :
li
(.')) n I ds
0
A
c'est-a-dire en exprinuuit (pie la Variation de Tinter-
valle ds entre deiix evenements est nulle ; les trajec-
loires correspondantes sont des (jcadcsiipics du ds
consideiv.
Ainsi, la physi(pie (Tun l'nivers (k'pend de la slrnc-
lure de son int ervalle ds.
Les seiils conlnMes de caracti-re experimental
auxquels la theorie de la relativite a pu iHre soumise
en astronomie jusqu'ici se raj)i)ortenl ä un champ
ponctuel de oravitation du a un point supi)ose place
a l'oriijiine.
I
35
Li' ds' correspondanl osl celiii dil «de Schwarz-
schild » Oll rj ost r(Mn|)la(H'' |)ar /, td ii, .v-j^ .i:\ j)ar les
coordomu'i's i)()lairi's /, N, ^ :
0>)
^y.s^
/
' c^ di'^
dr'-^
,2^102 ,2 cos-^ (9 . f/C^ ,
Oll ^^ = 1
2 ff.
1 -^ (V^
' , avi'c (/ =
r/ et 7' (k'si^nant rospoclivi'iiu'nl le ^rand axe vi la
(liiröe do rövolulion. Le calcid (jui a coiiduil a Texpros-
sion (()) a (railleurs ote facilite ^race a diverses liypo-
theses siniplifieatrices.
On troiive (pie l'orhite (Tiin poiiit libir dans l'espace
represenle par (()) est approxiinativenient iine ellii)se,
dont l'oriuine est im fover ; inais le lirand axe de cetle
ellij)se n'est j)liis fixe eoinnie dans le |)rol)lenie newto-
nien des deiix eorps ; il toiiriie ä eluHjue ivvoliilion du
point libre, (riiii i)elit ant^le e^al ä
(7)
(:'2 7'2 ( 1 c'2)
Oll r est rexeeiitricile de Tellipse ; il s'a^it done la (l'un
deplaeenieiit du perihelie de l'orhite.
Appliquee au cas de la planete Merciire, rexj)ressioii
(7) donne la valeiir 12 ", 9 par sierle, represeiitant iine
avanee du |)erihelie i)ar rapport au resultat donne par
la nieeanicjiie Celeste elassicjue.
Or, il se trouve (pie les ohservations fönt elTeetive-
ment ressortir une avanee seeulaire du perihelie de
Mereiire ; inais la valeiir exi)eriinentale de ce nonibre
n'est pas deterininee avee |)reeision ; loin de la ; on a
cependanl adople im residii inoyen de 12 " ; et Ton
a voulu voir dans rette eoneordance avee le resultat
annonee j)ar (7) ime j)reiive deeisive en hu'eiir de la
theorie en question.
Mais il faul hien voir (pi'en tonte inipartialite ee
n'est pas im ari^iiment sans replicpie, eertaines valeiirs
experiinenlales s'eloit^nant tres seiisihlenieiit de 12 " ;
le ealeiil de Scnwomh ^^ donne une avanee de .'U "
seuleinent ; et les ohservations de Le \'r/T/(T -> don-
neraient (')() ". Ainsi, la eoneordance reteniie ne |)eut
])as avoir le caractere ahsolii (jiie certains se sont piu
a proclainer.
Ponr les avances des perihelies des autres j)lanetes,
les resultats ne sont ^iiere satisfaisants ; j)()iir Mars,
|)ar exenij)le, Tavance experinientale est de l'ordre de
8 " ; les formules relativistes donnent 1 ", ii").
II faul enlin ra|)peler (pie, dans les calculs relati-
vistes, on identilie le tein|)s astrononii(|ue imiversel
avee ce qii'on api)elle le tenq)s cosmicpie ; or, on
ponrrait anssi l'identilier avee le tenips |)roi)re ter-
restre ; et les resultats des formnies seraient tres
dilTerents i)()ur les avances des |)erihelies.
1) Nkwcomh. riu' clcmt'iils of tlic foiir inner pliiiu'ls. "
2» Li: Vkhhikh. Animhs ilc rohsrriuiloirr tlr l'aris. isr)9.
.'). L'approhation de rastronoinie en faveiir de la
relativite dite «Generale a ete sollicitee encore pour deiix
|)rohlemes |)hysi(jiies, dont noiis ne dirons ici (jiie
(piidcjues mots.
Les deux elTets physi(pies sit»nales par I^instein sont,
comme on sail :
1" la devialion des ravons lumineiix dans im chainp
<*ravili(iiie ;
2^ le deplaceinenl des raies du spectre solaire.
Siir le premier point, I'jnslein a appli(jue le principe
(riliiy,L>ens a im rayon lumineiix, d'ori^ine stellaire,
j)enetranl dans le chanip du Soli'il. Le resultat tire
des iMjuations est (jue le rayon est devie (Luii petit
an^le de 1 ",75 ; cette Solution de calcul est nette et
soustraite a toute correction theoriqiie. Or, jiisqu'ici,
les resultats doimes par les ohservations, lors des
ecli|)ses totales de Soleil, sont plulot decevants ; a
pari i\vu\ ou trois resultats voisins de 1 ", 7."), la plu-
part des valeurs ex|)eriinentales sont superieures ä 2 ".
Avee iin tel ecart, on ne peiil j)as deceniment afliriner
cpie les inesures en (juestion ai)|)ortent une j)reuve
deeisive en faveiir de la relativite i^eneralisee, (ju'il
s'ajL^isse de Tinterpretation einsteinienne ou de l'une
des interpretations concurrentes ahoutissant aux
meines formules linales.
iMilin, en ce (pii concerne le deplacement des raies du
spectre solaire, ou eilet hjnslein, il ne seinhle pas non
l)lus (jiron piiisse Tinvocjuer comme im ari^ument
decisif en faveiir de la relativite dite i*enerale. L'expe-
rience a en eilet monlre (pie l'elTet mesure au hord
du Soleil, a une valeiir double de celle aimoncee par
Kinstein, tandis (jue celle-ci corres|)on(l au centre du
disque. Kn outre, le deplacement est d'autant plus
iin|)ortant (pie l'intensiti' des raies spectrales est plus
forte.
La theorie de la relativite'^ ^encTalisee est inca|)ahle
de rendre compte de ces ohservations.
On constate donc (pie, si les deux elTets pliysi(pies
l)redits j)ar hjiistein ont ete hei et hien (lualitativement
constates, il ne semhle par contre |)as j)()ssil)le d'aHir-
mer qu'ils suivent exactenient, du point de vue quan-
titatif, les lois issues des equations de la theorie rela-
tiviste oiMiorale, (pielle (pie soit rinterj)retation utilisee
pour etahlir les fornmles finales de celle-ci.
]\u resume, il reste (pie, pour les deux faits physiques
en (juestion, le merite de In decouverte en demeiire
ac(juis a A. I^instein ; par contre, les faits d'observa-
tion montreiit (pie les formules linales de la theorie
de la relativite dite »^eiierale ne sont pas entierement
satisfaisantes niimeri(pieinent.
('). Quant a disciiter ä perte de vue pour savoir si
ITnivers est eiiclidien ou einsteinien, c'est proprement
philosopher.
hjiislein a ecrit en 1920 la phrase suivante : « Cette
theorie ne |)eiit ni ne veiit doimer aiiciin Systeme du
nionde, mais seiilement une conditioii restrictive ä
hupielle les lois de la natiire doivent se souinettre ».
Quelle sa^H^sse dans cette |)hrase ! VA comme on a
eil tort de roublier !
36
l
.J^
Albert Einstein in hi* Princeton home.
As Einstein Sees It
IDEAS AND OPINIONS. By Albert
Einstein. Baied on "Mein Weltbild, "
edited by Carl Seelig, and other
sourcei. New translations and re-
vitiont frorrt tKe German by Sonja
Bargnnann. 377 pp. New York:
Crown Publisher». $4.
By I. BERNARD COHEN
EINSTEIN'S general writings
have been thus far available
in two major collections in Eng-
lish. "The World As I See It"
(1934) and "Out of My Later
Years" (1950). "Ideas and
Opinions" contains the most in-
teresting and important selec-
tions from those two books,
some of them revised or re-
translated, others from the
Swiss collection which appeared
last year, and a few additional
pieces. Here one find.s Einstein's
Views on the nature and meth-
ods of science, his own contri-
butions to physics, his reminis-
cences about scientific col-
leagrues. and his evaluations of
the achievements of great scien-
tists of the pasl Kepler. Copern-
icus. Newton, Maxwell.
About half the book is de-
voted to general aspects of
science; the remainder deals
with the great issues with which
Einstein has been associated:
World peace and international
co-operation, academic freedom,
Zionism and problems of Ju-
daism. education and social and
economic welfare. Sonie of the
selections run to many pages
and olhers are but a few lines
long. There are carefuUy writ-
len articles and speeches and
also public letters, statements to
the press. and messages taken
from tape-recordings of radio
broadcasts.
In a tribute to the editor of
a famous German scientific
weekly, Einstein humorously
i-ecalls his deflnition of a
"scientific authoi" as "a cross
between a mimosa and a porcu-
pine." In these pages Einstein
shows that he has neither trait.
He willingly expresses his be-
liefs without leservation and he
treats friendly critics gently
and fairly. But there are firm
letters of protest about teach-
er's oaths in fascist Italy, the
extravagances of the Nazis, and
American investigating commit-
)
Mr. Co'ptn t,v Aft80<riaU Pro-
fessor of the History of Science
nt Har^yiLrd. Hia most recent
1
tees. Many pages are devoted to
Einstein's great ideal of a
World without physical want,
hatred, or war.
Ein.stein teils us that the
'most beautifiil experience we
can have is the mysterious. It is
the fundamental emotion which
Stands at the cradle of tnie art
and true science." And when-
ever Einstein writes about
science, whether his own work
or science in general, he con-
veys something of that awesome
struggle between the rational
imagination of the investigator
and the mysteries of the uni-
verse and stubbom facts of ex-
periment.
I^EADING the various state-
ment.s about the growth of
thought concerning time and
Space, the reader gains an in-
sight into the unique character
of Einstein's thinking in science
and begins to sense the grounds
of Einstein's basic satisfaction
"with the mystery of the eter-
nity of life and with the aware-
ness and a glimpse of the mar-
velous structure of the existing
World, together with the de-
voted strivmg to comprehend a
portion, be it ever so tiny, of
the Reason that manifests itself
in nature." It is at this point
that Einstein's self-styled pan-
theism and cosmic religion take
on their füll measure. For Ein-
stein, science always has reli-
gious overtones and he believes
"that a conviction. akin to reli-
gious feeling, of the rationality
or intelligibility of the world
lie.s behind all scientific work
of a high order." This finm be-
hef. "bound up with deep feel-
ing, in a -superior mind that re-
veals itself in the world of ex-
perience," he says, "represents
my conception of God," the God
of Spinoza.
In this collection many f acets
of the mind and personality of
the greatest scientist of our
time are presented in a dis-
tinguished translation. A brief
Synopsis of the developmc^t of
Einstein's principal physical
theories, by Valentine Barg-
mann, Professor of Physics at
Princeton. helps the reader to
place Einstein's scientific ex-
planations in the framework of
his thought. But it is to be re-
gretted that Einstein's state-
ments on pub^'C issues do not
alw»"« carry the da^** on which
r r^'
Id
llf
THE NEW YORK TIMES
114. Einstein, His Life in Pictures
ediled by William tu Im
The photoblograpliy of ono of ilit» pnnt-
esi men in all history and one of th.-
bosiloved figures of all lime. Score« oi
niagnifirem photographs niid a simple,
moving lexl rover lii» life from hal.y
pHlures to hh recent dealh. 160 page^.
$3.00
MMMM
nMaMMMMMflMIMSA»»
f El NSTEI
Frida/, December 23/ 19S5
A tf P t A U
Auf Einsteins Spuren
E^ ist einige Zeit her, dass ich,
aut einem Sonntagsausflug von
Stuttgart, durch die Stadt Ulnn
gekoniinen bin. Ich hatte erst
viele Jahre in den Vereinigten
Staaten sein müssen, um dann
nach Europa zu fahren und das
Münster "nachzuholen". Es gibt
eine ganze Anzahl solcher Plätze
auf dtr Erde, deren Besucch man
vergeblich bisher im Notizbuch
seiner guten Absichten vermerkt
hat. Man hat jahrelang m einem
Land gelebt und sie nie gesehen.
Und in Romanen und in Kunst-
büchern tauchten sie immer wie-
der aul", bezwingend und verfüh-
rerisch mit ihren Bildwerken, be-
rühmten Häusern und alten Le-
genden. So habe ich z.Bsp. auch
auf dieser meiner letzen Reise
endlich das Bcethovcn-Haus in
Bonn besucht.
Aber bleiben wir bei Ulm. Es
Wir ein Sonntag, und irgendwo
in den Aussenbezirken der Stadt
find eine grosse Feier statt: die
ErolTnung der ''Ulmer Hoch-
schui.« für Gestaltung", die durch
di$ Energie einer jungen Frau,
Inge Aicher-Scholl, entstanden
ist, jener Inge Scholl, deren Ge-
schwister von Hitler in München
wegen ''Aufreizung" der Studen-
ten gegen das blutige Nazi-Re-
gime hingerichtet worden waren.
Ilu'e Namen trägt heute der Platz
der Münchener Universität. Eine
jener grossen und zugleich be-
scheidenen, heldenhaften Persön-
lichkeiten der deutschen ''Resist-
ance", deren es von solchem For-
mat nicht allzuviele gibt, hat Inge
Scholl, nicht zuletzt mit Hilfe
eines Schecks des damaligen High
Commissioner McCloy, der über
eine Million Mark beitrug, ihrem
Land<^ ein neues Bauhaus ge-
schenkt. Und Walter Gropius,
heute längst Amerikaner, war zur
Stelle, um die Eröffnungsrede für
die Nachfolge des Dessauer Insti-
tuts zu halten.
Die Ulmer Bürger, die ihren
Sonntagsspaziergang machten, sa-
fien mit Verwunderung viele teils
fremdländisch aussehende, teils
markante Gestalten durch die
Strasse eilen. Sie ahnten nicht,
dass hier ihrer Stadt, interna-
tional bisher im wesentlichen
durch die herrliche Kathedrale
mit ilirem wundervollen Reich-
tum an Holzskulptur bekannt,
ein neues internationales Wahr-
zeichen geschenkt worden war.
Aber das war nicht der Grund
meines Aufenthalts in Ulm. Ich
war auf einer Spur. Auf der des
berühmtesten Bürgers, den Ulm
hervorgebracht hat: Albert Ein-
steins Der Dom und Einstein —
das waren die beiden Dinge —
wenn man von dem sagenhaften
Schneider von Ulm absieht — die
Ulm für mich bedeuteten. Aber
es war nicht möglich, Einsteins
Haus zu finden. Die wenigsten
Ein Sonntogsouftflug noch Ulm
Menschen, die ich auf der Strasse
fragte, hatten von dem Namen
gehört. Manche sahen mich miss-
trauisch an, und nur ein uralter
Mann, der an den Hausmauern
dahinhumpelte. erinnerte sich
schliesslich, dass das "da gewe-
sen sein muss, wo Erlangers Ge-
schäft gewesen ist."
Es schien überhaupt wenig alte
Ulmer in Ulm zu geben. Die
meisten waren zugezogen und
wussten nicht viel von früher
Dreiviertel der Stadt waren durch
Bombardement zerstört. Die Ju-
den waren vorher von den Nazis
ten Oberbürgermeister und Ge-
meinderat des "grossen Sohnes
unserer Stadt" in öfTentlichen
Khrungen.
Einstein selbst hat oft an die
Wiege seines Lebens zurückge-
dacht. So schrieb er an den Chef-
redakteur der "Schwäbischen Do- 1|
nauzeilung", Kurt Fried, 1929
oinen Brief, in dem es hiess:
"Die Stadt der Geburt hängt i
(lern Leben als etwas ebenso Em- '
zigartiges an, wie die Herkunft
von der leiblichen Mutter. Auch
der Geburtsstadt verdanken wir
einen Teil unseres Wesens. So
So sah Einsteins Geburtshaus aus
deportiert worden und nur am
Erfrischungsstand des Bahnhofs
fand ich noch ein« freundliche
Ueberlebende aus jener grauen
Vorzeit vor 1933, an die mich der
Mann in der Bahnhof. sauskunft
gewiesen hatte.
Allmählich aber holte ich mir
doch einiges zusammen, vor al-
lem mit Hilfe des liebenswürdi-
gen Herrn Allgoewer vom Haupt-
amt des Städtchens. Er wusste
natürlich über den Sohn des In-
strumentenmachers Hermann Ein-
stein Bescheid, der am 14. März
1879 in dieser lieblichen Land-
schaft geboren worden war. Das
Geburtshaus hatte ich allerdings
vergeblich gesucht. Denn das Ge-
bäude Bahnhofstrasse B No. 135
war bis auf den letzten Stein zer-
stört. Sobald das Grundstück wie-
der in Ordnung gebracht sein wird
wird die Stadt hier eine Plakette
anbringen. Im übrigen gibt es
auch eine Albert Einstein Strasse
im Westen Ulms, die schon 1922
nach dem grossen Gelehrten be-
nannt worden war. Die Nazis
hatten sie schmählich umgetauft,
aber 1945 erhielt sie ihren alten
Namen zurück. Am 70. Geburts-
tag Einsteins widmete Ulm ihm
eine Feierstunde, in der der
Ordinarius für Physik an der
Universität München, Professor
Dr. Geerlach, die Festrede hielt,
und als Einstein starb, gedach-
? gedenke ich Ulms in Dankbar-
I keit, da es edle künstlerische Tra-
'dition mit schlichter und gesun-
der Wesenart verbindet."
Bei dem grossen Festakt 1949
anlässlich der 1100 Jahrfeier des
Münsters, hielt der Oberbürger-
meister Pfizer eine Rede, in der
er Einstein als den 'grössten
Mann, der in Ulm geboren wurde"
pries, und die er mit den Wor-
ten schloss:
"So wird für uns alle, und au( h
für uns Deutsche, das Werk sei-
nes Geistes bleiben, das er der
ganzen Menschheit geschenkt hat.
. . . Möge es auf seine Weise da-
zu beitragen, die Menschheit aus
den Umdüsterungen ihres immer
wieder durch eigene Schuld so
schmerzlich gestalteten Lebens
zu befreien, und reineren Welten
zuzuführen. , , ."
Nun, Einsteins Geburtshaus,
einst giebelig und hell getüncht,
mit schönen, starken Bäumen da-
vor, .»^teht nicht mehr. Von den
516 Juden Ulms gibt es nach der
letzten Volkszählung vom Herbst
1950 nur noch "34 Einwohner jü-
dischen Religionsbekenntnisses."
Aber das Münster und Einsteins
Werk, Gipfel menschlicher Lei-
stung, werden noch lange in die
Jahrzehnte hineinragen. . . .
Manfred George.
1
Einstein, Albert - Betty Kewman
Collection
p^ ßi)
ia.-36. QS ^ü
1956-1974 and n.d. AR-A.1652
*i
/ir^
r
L
/nt)
\
\
*
Erinnerungen an Ein<
Von M(iiiia''('ta Mrnircnlmis-voti VrxhucU
Zum ersten Male sah ich Einj^tein in einem
Laboratonum des Physikalischen Instituts der
Technischen Hochschule in Zürich. Meine Be-
kHnnl>.haft und spätere Freundschaft mit ihm
danke ich einem Konflikt mit unserem Physik-
Ichrcr Professor F., dem ich erklärt hatte, dal.i
die Losung einer Aufgabe nach seiner Methoae
unmöglich sei. Verstimmt durch unbefriedi-
gende Versuchsergebnisse hatte ich mich zu
einer undiplomatischen Kritik verleiten las-
sen. Zu spät bemerkte ich hinter dem Ge-
lehrtcnhaupt ein anderes, aus dem mich zwei
unpcwohnlidi ausdrucksvolle Augen deutlich
warnten. In begreiflicher Wut rannte der Pro-
fes.sor fort. Eine sanfte Stimme brachte mich
zur Besinnung: ..Mein Name ist Einstein, ent-
sdiuldigen Sie. daI5 ich die Szene mit angehört
habe. Idi bin besorgt um den Professor. Sein
reizbarer Nervenzustand ist Ihnen wohl un-
bekannt?" . o U • M
..Allerdings: Ich merkte nur. daß bei ihm
e(was nicht stimmte. Ist es wahr, daß die
anderen Praktikanten wohl nach seiner
Methode arbeiten können?"
„Natürlich nicht! Aber wir müssen dodi
an unser Examen denken und ihm gut Freund
«;ein Darum schlage ich vor. daß Sie mir nach
jedem Praktikum Ihr Notizbuch geben, ich
werde dann sdion ein annehmbares Resultat
herausrechnen." i- , ,..
„Mit diesen ungenauen Daten? Lnmoglicn.
Der Student schmunzelte. Der Fall machte
ihm offenbar Spaß. . , v. •
Uebcrlassen'Sie da.s ruhig mir, ich bringe
alles m schönste Ordnung." Lachend holte
Einstein aus seinen Taschen adit Notizbücher
cleidier Art heraus, griff mit einem freund-
lidien: ..Erlauben Sie''" nach dem meinen und
steckte es als Nummer neun zu den andei-en.
Zum Protestieren liel^ er mir keine Zeit. Die
Redmerei sei für ihn kein Opfer, solche
Rechenrätsel machten ihm sogar Spaß. Ich
könnte midi darauf verlassen, daß er das
Notizbuch rechtzeitig zurüdNbrmgen werde.
Das hat er audi ein Jahr lang treu getan mit
dem Ergebnis, daß unser Professor, bei einem
seiner nächsten Rundgänge meine Notizen
kontrollierend, laut rief:
Nun sehen Sie. daß Sie mit etwas gutem
W'lien trotz meiner .unpraktisdieh Metho-
den doch noch etwas Brauchbares erredinen
können!" Im Hintergrunde sah ich m ein ver-
gn-i^l leuditendes Augenpaar.
«
Von iemand, der seiner Kollegin Mangel
an D.plomatie vorwirft, sollte man erwarten,
daß er selbst sich in ein gutes L^^ht zu stellen
wußte Das Gegenteil war der Fall. Ernstem
ignorierte die uns sdinftlich angegebene
Methode zur Losung einer Aufgabe völlig und
wählte .einen eigenen Weg. Als Professor P..
hierüber verstimmt, seinen Assistenten fragte,
was er von diesem Studenten halte, der ganz
anders als vorgeschrieben arbeite, antwortete
dieser, das treffe wohl zu, aber seine Losun-
gen seien riditig und interessant.
A^> denn audi Einstein stets häufiger Pro-
fessor P/s Kolleg und Praktikum ^u sdiwan-
zen begann, führte dieser beim Rektorat
Klage, der zufolge E. einen amtlichen Vei^weis
erhielt. Daß Einstein im gleichen W^inter beim
Experimentieren sich Brandwunden zuzog,
trug audi nidit dazu bei. den Physiklehrer vo.n
d- besonderen experimentellen Begabung
die.^es Schülers zu überzeugen. Bekanntlich
waren Einsteins Kenntnisse von der Vorschule
her so dürftig, daß er die Aufnahmeprüfung
für die Tedmisdie Hochschule wiederholen
mußte. Merk^vürdig ist, daß er si^ aucli an
dieser in keiner Weise vor seinen Mitschülern
auszeichnete.
Am wenigsten erkannt hat ihn damals
wohl' sein erster Lehrer, unser oben erwann-
ter cholerischer Physiker P^ Ich vernahm d.c^
dreißig Jahre später von Ernstem selb.t als
wir, von seiner Villa oben am Zuridiberg die
Aussicht bewundernd, ^^^^^'^^l^^^^^il^^^^^^f^^
Riditung de.s Physikgebaud^ blickten. Ein-
stein bemerkte:
Wissen Sie, daß P. mich dnmal gefragt
^ .i^U Id. eigenthd. Physik studierte
.v.)> r^w.^t lieber MeC*m. Sprachen
ich nidr-, nodi weniger vermutete ich, daß
der Sdi>pfcr der Rclativitatsthrurie mein
phantasi reicher Kollcj;c aus Zürich sein
konnte, ivh glaubte denn auch an ein Mil-
verstiindnis, als ich elf Jahre spater (1011),
bei Einsioins erstem Besuch m der hollän-
dischen Iniversitätsstadt Leiden, \on Profes-
sor Lorc.itz aufgefordert wurde, abends mit
meinem .Vlanne meine Freunde Einsteins zu
begrüßen, die auf der Durchreise nach Eng-
land sich einen Tag in Leiden aufhielten. Als
wir ersuiienen und Professor Lorentz aus
einem gr ^ßen Zimmer voll Gelehrter Einstein
herausrief, kam mir ein Herr mit ausgestret-k-
ten Händen entgegen. Uh erkannte ihn nidit.
Aber die Augen, wo hatte idi die sdion ge-
sehen? Mein Zogern bemerkend, rief Einstein:
Wie Si ■ erkennen mich nicht? Verleugnen
Sie midi' Undank ist der Welt Lohn!** Nun
erkannte ich ihn.
ordentlicher Professor In Leiden Vorlesungen
zu halten So pendelte er bis zu seiner Flucht
nach Amerika zwischen Berlin und Leiden
hin und her.
In Leiden fand Einstein die lieiß ersehnte
Ruhe die er sich in Berlin und Zürich nur
schwer erkimipfen konnte. Er wohnte hier et-
was auL^crhalb der Stadt in einem Hause, das
Professor Paul Ehrenfest neben dem unsri-
gcn hatte bauen lassen, als er als Nachfolger
von Professor Lorentz aus St. Petersburg her-
berufen wurde.
Ließ das Wetter es einigermaßen zu, dann
spazierte Einstein täglich an unserem Hause
vorbei dem stillen Landweg zwischen Kanal
und Bauernhöfen entlang ins Freie.
Manchmal durften ihn auch die Ehrenfest-
sdicn Kinder begleiten, jauchzend um den be-
liebten stets zu einem .Spaßchen bereiten Gast
nen Maße. "Es klnnf? abnr doch schön In der
Abendstille. , ^ , .
Einstein war m Leiden nuht nur Lehren-
der &ondcin audi .selbst Lernender, bidi
nuttcn unter du« Studenten sdiaiend. horte «r
•mth dir Voilesungen seiner KolU-vn. Seine
Kelalivität.stheorie und ilne Tragweite se.en
ihm erst durch Professor Lorentz j-ut den lidi
gowordcn. versicherte er. Einstein:, dunakte-
rislische Vcrnachlässiguni^ seines Aeußeren,
der er seit seiner Studentenzeit audi l)ei gro-
ßen Gelegenheiten treu ueblicben ist, wurde
I ilun als Eitelkeit ausgek^gt; er wolle sidi da-
i nut auch außerlidi ein ueniali..che.. An.sehen
geben In Wirklichkeit beruhte sie seit jeher
1 auf Bequemlichkeit und ausgesprochener A.)-
neigung gegen jeden gesell. schalt luhrn Zwang
und Code. Seine Einfachheit und ;;ioße An-
spruchslosigkeit ist ihm immer bei-eblieben.
Was brauche ich? Bett, Tisdi, Stuhl. Geige
und Manuskripte, alles andere ist Ballast,
sagte er.
Sein köstlicher Humor half ihm .stets über
Entbehrungen und Enttäu.schungen hinweg;
daß sich hinter seinem bisweilen sehr kerni-
gen Witz oft tiefer Ernst verbarg, wurde nicht
immer begriffen. Insbesondere waren seine
r,..r/,gua . ührr KapiuJIrr,. Detail ton der liuhen PorlaheUe der SeUottcnkirchc St. Jaknb in Re
^rns/jj/rg.
(Folo: Huiis Retzlall)
„Tst's möglich'? Sind Sie der Polvtechniker,
der so großartig schieben konnte?"
Natürlich, der bin ich. und Zahlen schieben
tue ich au'.h jetzt noch für mein Leben gern.
Ich tue ja nichts anderes al.^ Schieben." Großes
Gelächter im schwarzberockten Gelehrtenkreis
um ihn. v( n dem er in seinem grauen Reise-
anzug staric abstach.
Bald n ah diesem ersten Kontakt Einsteins
mit den \'rrtretern der Leidener Universität
wurde ihm von dieser eine ordentliche Profes-
sur angeboten, als Nachfolger des großen
Mathemat.r.ers H. A. Lorentz, der wegen des
erreichten -iebzigsten Lebensjahres abtreten
wollte. Emftein lehnte diese Berufung aber
ab weil ui sich nicht ent.sehH-^<«" i.-r.nnf-
sich tummelnd. Auch a:>. den Strand nahm er
sie manchmal mit. Daß sie ihn '^ /^^^^^ .*^;.""
gruben und ungeniert über ihn hinwegkro-
chen, störte üin nicht un g^;^i^^g-^t^J^ .i.^ ^^J"
nem Gedankengang, wie er behauptete^ Sein
Verständnis und seine Liebe zu Kindern war
auffallend. Etwas Kindliches war ihm selbst
ja auch immer beigeblicben.
An Sommerabenden, im Garten sitzend,
tönte durch die offenen Fenster des großen
Studierzimmers im Nadibarhause Geigenspiei
zu uns herüber. In Hen dsärmeln musizierten
die Freunde. Einstein über seine Geige ge-
beugt, eifrig fiedelnd, s( in Freund am Flügel,
sich bemühend, seine Begleitung dem Geigen-
spiei anzupassen, denn wie auf so vielen an-
, rr-i.'o+r,- -•• stein auch in der Mu-
. , j i- ;'»u «inh nw'ht
Kollegen verwundert, wenn er, nadi Feststel-
lung einer Unrichtigkeit in einer Theorie, d^e
Enttäuschung mit scheinbarem Gleichmut mit
einem Witz zu erledigen suchte. Nach seinem
Gefühl für Humor maß er die Intellii;enz eines
Menschen ab. Als er einmal in Am>terdam mit
einem ihm als sehr intelligent gepriesenen
Engländer Bekanntschaft madien sollte, Iragte
er schmun.'.elnd: „Ist er audi intelligent ge-
nug, um einen jüdischen Witz zu begreilcn.
Einstein, der wegen seiner Tenue manches
spöttische Wort von seinen Kollegen zu huren
bekommen hatte, hat sich einmal den Spaß
geleistet, sie alle in der Ausstaffio.ung aus-
zustechen. Das war am 9. Februar 1925 an-
läßlich der Verleihung des Ehrendoktorats an
Königin W'"--^mina durch die I iversitat
L'
rliche,r I?rozessiün Reri_ u^
fessnren und Dozenten der Universität durch
die alte Stadt zur liaupthier in die Peters-
kirche lind zurück zur Universität, wo der
KmF)fang durch den Senat vorgesehen war.
Mitten unter ihnen befand sidi Einstein phaii-
tastLsdi ausstaffiert. In reu her Gc.ldsljckerei
hing eine lange lunimclbiaue Peleriiu; au-,
glänzendem Atlas tief über seine .Schullern.
Den buschigen Kopf zierte ein eben.soldie.-.
Barett, auf dem zwei schlanke weiße Strauß-
federn wippten. Amüsiert erklärte Einstein
seinen erstaunten Freunden: ..Diese Herrlich-
keit stammt aus Madrid. Jetzt v;erden meine
Kollegen dcjdi wohl zufrieden mit mir sein!
Die Abendzeitungen aber meldeten, die Ju-
gend von Leiden habe an dieser Prcjzesslcm
ihre besondere Freude gehabt, weil ihr ganz
gegen allen Braudi der Prunkvollste der
„Hcjoggeleerden", Profes.sor Einstein, lachend
mit der Hand zugewinkt habe.
In Erinnerungen an Einstein vertieft, ver-
nahm ich kürzlich von Frau Ehrenfest,
wie Einstein einmal auf eine Enttäuschung
reagierte. Er war gerade von seiner Reise nach
' Japan und Indien zurückgekehrt, als er sei-
nen Freund Ehrenfest, der sich auf der Durch-
reise gerade in Berlin befand, in seinem Hotel
anrief und freudig erregt mitteilte: ..Denk
dir, ich habe etwas sehr Schönes gefunden,
gerade als ich nach der furehtbaren Hitze in
Japan und Indien in Aden ankam und
glaubte, mein Hirn sei vollkommen ausge-
brannt und leer, so daß ich überhaupt nie
mehr denken könnte. Und gerade da kam mü-
der Gedanke, es müsse eine Relation zwi-
sdien Gravitation und kosmischen Strahlen
geben. Das muß ich dir zeigen, ich komimo
sofort!" Ehrenfest, als hervorragender mathe-
matischer Fachmann bekannt, betrachtete prü-
fend die Gleichungen und bemerkte, selb>t
enttäuscht, daß an dem Gleichgewicht der
Formel etwas fehlte, daß sie nicht stimmte
„Wie furchtbar .schade!" rief Einstein tief
enttäuscht. ..Es wäre doch so iiehi hübsch
gewesen!" Den banalen Ausdruck ..hubsdv
gebrauchte er öfters, auch wenn ihm etwas
Großes gelungen war Hatte er eine neue Re-
lation im Weltraum festgestellt, so genoß er
von seiner Hypothese nicht nur als Wissen-
schaftler, sondern auch als Kunst 1er. der eine
neue Schönheit und Harmonie im Weltraum
entdeckt hatte.
Das Bewußtsein, daß zahlreiche Probleme
von ihm ungelöst bleiben müßten, stimmte
ihn zu Bescheidenheit. Gerade er. der sich mit
den Rätseln des Universums beschäfti?.tc.
Begrenztheit des menschlichen
Könnens wohl bewußt. Fol-
zeugen hierfür: ..Je weniger
Forscher besitzt, um so ferner
^ von Gott. Je großer aber sr.n
Wissen^st. um so mehr nähert er sich '^^^■"
Einstein besaß genügend Einsicht, um d:c
Grenzen seines Könnens zu erkennen. Otfi-
ziclle und halboffizielle Instanzen haben inm
die Rolle eines Weltfriedensstifters- aufgedrun-
gen. In der richtigen Ueberlegung und Hoffnung,
daß sein berühmter Name seinen Worten
Nachdruck verleihen könne, hat er :n ..Men
Weltbild" seine pazifistischen Ideen offenbar*.
In seiner Kritik dieses Buches bemerkte der
niederländische Autor N. ter Braak. er wo..e
gern annehmen, daß Einstein im Gebiet der
Phvsik Außerordentliches geleistet habe, auf
anderem geistigen Gebiet könne er ihn aber
unmöglich als Autorität anerkennen. Seiiv
politischen Gedanken seien tatsächlich naiv, sie
zeugten von gutem Herzen, aber nidit von
Menschenkenntnis und politischer Einsicht.
Von der Richtigkeit dieses Urteils über-
zeugte ich muh selbst bereits im Juli 1914
nach dem verhängnisvollen Attentat auf Erz-
herzog Franz Ferdinand und GemahLn .n
Serajewo. Gleich nach Bekanntwerden dlese^
Ereisnisses kam Einstein mit seinem Freunde
zu uns herüber zu einem Meinungsaustausdi.
Zu unserem Erstaunen war Einslem der An-
sicht der Mord könne vielleicht eine Revolu-
tion nut segensreichen Folgen auf politischem
und sozialem Gebiet hervoriulen. Daß bei
der herrschenden Weltlage ein Krieg unver-
meidlich einer Revolution vorangehen mußte,
realisierte er nicht, ebensowenig die kata-
strophalen Folgen von beiden, denen er
schließlich selbst zum Opfer fiel. Als er die
Wirklichkeit endlidi erkannte, verfiel er in
schwere seelische Depressionen. Er zog >xa
stets mehr von der Welt und sogar seinen
besten F-e^nden zurück. Der einst so lebens-
freudig ' bp-hloß sein Leben in -^«-ihs:!-
war sich der
Wissens und
gende Worte
Kenntnis ein
fühlt er sich
'i-tt
die Physik i.«?t; ich wollte Sie nur in lurem
eigenen Interesse wai.".wn."
Von da an begleitete mich Einstein vom
Praktikum regelmäßig nach Hau.se. in regem
Gespräch. Ich glaube, die Probleme, die ihn
bis zum Leben:.ende beschäftigten, tauchten
damals bereits in seinem rastlo.=; arbeitenden
Kopf auf. Sein lebhaftes Bedürfnis zu dozie-
ren, entsprang wohl dem Wunsch, gleichsam
durdi lautes Denken sich selbst über eine
Frage klar zu werden. Unvergeßlich ist mir
aus unserem ersten Gespräch geblieben: E.-regt
vom eben erlebten Konflikt äußerte ich m.eine
Verwunderung darüber, daß man uns kernen
geeigneteren Lehrer zugewiesen habe.
„Aber es ist doch nicht schlimm, daß das
eine Fach nicht befriedigt: im übrigen ge-
nießen wir doch vorzüglichen Unterricnt an
unserem Poly!-* ,.Sie haben gut reden, nach
dem Kandidatenexamen studieren Sie weiter
bei einer Autorität wie Professor W.. wir
Biologen aber nicht." Verblüffende Antwort:
„Ach, wis..en Sie, was der eine lehrt, Ln nicht
richtig aber was der andere lehrt, stimmt
auch nicht immer!" Sollte der arme Junge an
Größenwahn leiden'.' dachte ich.
Obwohl von der Richtigkett seiner Theorien
überzeugt, ließ Einstein von Eitelkeit nichts
merken. Er war bescheiden, freundlich, hilfs-
bereit und müde, sogar in seinem Urteil über
unsere Dozenten, wenn er diese audi manch-
mal in seiner spaßigen Weise düpierte.
Aeußerlich glich er einem der zahlreichen
osteuropäischen Studenten. Trotz seiner senr
beschrankten xMittel hatte er seinen wilden
Haarschopf, Kragen und Schlips doch besser
versorgen können, wenn er etwas um sein
Aeußeres gegeben hatte.
Ich wohnte eine Zeitlang mit Mileva
Maritsch zusammen, einer serbischen, mit mir
befreundeten Mathematikstudentin, einem
e-^sten, stillen Mädchen, Einsteins zukünftiger.
Frau. Idi traf Einstein dort häufig im Wohn-
zimmer der Pension neben Mileva sitzend, die
nahte, Klavier spielte und ihn bisweilen beim
Geigenspiel begleitete. Sie war wohl die erste
Person, die unbedingt an die Richtigkeit seiner
Theorien glaubte. Auf meine Frage, ob sie
die^e nicht phantastisch fände, antwortete sie:
\ber er kann sie doch beweisen!" Zu diesem
ernsten Mädchen fühlte sich der lebharte,
geistreiche Einstein angezogen. ..Sie ha: eine
V.c'-x:^ Stimme und rechnet besser als :drj\
meinte er.
«
Ich hatte von da an die beiden völlig aus
dem Auge verloren. Von einer Heirat ahnte
....*.
1
TUESDAY, MARCH 6, 1956.
Last Einstein Formulas Printed;
They Revise Relativity Theory
Equations Represent Lifelong Search for
a Unified Field Theory Embracing
Gravitation and Electromagnetism
m the
continuous firld.
of "corks"
ocean.
By WILLIAM L. LAIRENCE
A revisod and simplified «et ofiforce* within the nudci of
formulas for his enlargred theory jatom». as well as the atomistic
of rclativitv was completed byland quantum structure of real-
Dr Albert Einstein m December.l ity. The latter seem to all ap-
1954 a few monlhs before his pearances to contradict the bas c
iooth Anrii IR 1955 1 relativistic concept of a field
dea h. April 18. 19ü5. 'continuum, behavm? as thoiiph
The new "^^'^''ll^^^iJ^^^^'^^^ were sm?;ularities
stein Theory. cntitled The Rela- «mKracinr
Itivistic Theory of the ^'on.Sym. ; ^ l"^^^^^^^^
imetric Field.' is published today^l^^^iing Uke mtinn^^
bv the Princeton University o^ the uaves oi me
' Press as an appendix to the fifth Einstein Give» Opmion
edition of Dr. Ein^tein's book, «.|^ j^, j^y opinion." Dr. Ein-
,**The Mcaning: of Relativity," ^^^^^ wrote. "that singularities
first published in 1922. j^^^g^ ^e exchided. It does not
In a note to the fifth edition. seem reasorable to me to intro-
Dr Einstein wrote : ; duce into a continuum theory
•For the present edition 1 haveipoints |or lines, etc.] for which
completelv revised the 'General- the field equation.s do not hold,
ization of Gravitation Theory"' "is it conceivable that a field
under the title 'Relativistic, theory permits one to undcr-
Theory of the Non-Symmetrics stand the atomistic and struc-
Field • For 1 have succeeded— in! ture of reality? Almost every-
part m collaboration with my as-,bodv will answer this qiiestion^
sistant B. Kauf man— in simpli-.with 'no.' But I believe that at ,
fying- the derivations as well as the present time nobody knows
the form of the field equations. anvthing reliable abput it. 1
The whole theorv becomes there-j "Only a significant propress,
by more transparent, without in the mathematical methodsi
chanrine its content." can help here." ^ ^, , «1
r ,., , r...^.» His fmal paragraph. the lastT
A Lifelong Quest ^^ ^.^^ ^^ ^^^^^^ ^^ ^ scientific
1 The new Einslein equations j^g Iure, reads a.«? follows:
take up thirty-three and a halft "One can give pood reasons
printed pageis. They represent j^rhy reality cannot at all be
Ithe work of one of the world's j-epresented by a continuous
greatest intellects for more thani field. From the quantum phe-
,thirty-five vears. or mo;e thanl^omena it appears to follow
half *of his' lifetime. The equa-'with certainty that a finite sy.«;-
'tions represent his lifelong questjtem with finite enerpy can be
for a Unified Field Theory. which! completelv described by a finite
would encompass both the phe-|set of numbers (quantum num-
nomena of gravitation. as ex-ibers.l This doe.<; not seem to be
pressed in the law» of the gravi- j in accordance v^-ith a continuum
tational field and of electromag-| theory and must lead to an at-
netism, as expressed in the equa-; tempt to find a purely alpebraic
tions of the electromagnetic theorv for the de.-^rription of
field. reality. But nobody knows how
"In my opinion," Dr. Einstein to obtain the basis of such a
wrote in his new chapter. "the theory."
theory presented here is the logri
cally *^ »implest relativistic field
theory which is at all possible.
"But this does not mean that
nature might not obey a more
complex field theory."
Dr. Einstein expressed the
Dr. Valentine Bargmann.
Princeton University physirist.
Said there were still "imsolved
mathematical problems involved
in the Einstein Unified Field
Theory." He added that physi-
cists had yet **to prove or dis-
hope. though he was by no , prove the theory."
means certain himself. Ihatl "It is undoubtedly the private
eventually a Unified Field Theory | opinion of many physicists. Dr.
could be* developed that would Bargmann said. "that the uni-
cmbrace not onlv the laws ofjfied field is impo.ssible to attain.
irravitation and * electromagne- 1 But it must be cmphasized that.
tism but also tWe enormous i these are only private opimons. )
rUESD.W, APRIL 17, 1956
TV Review
Dramatized Portrait of
Einstein Attempted
A
i
By JACK GOULD
N ill-adviscd attempt to
offer a "factual dramati-
zation" of the nonscientific
pha^e of the life of Albert
Einstein, the «^cientist. was
made last night on the Robert
Montgomery program over
Channel 4.
"Portrait of a Man." writ-
tcn by William Kendall Clarke,
undertook to provide an in-
sight into the human side of
the genius who developed the
theory of relativity. The face
of the actor portraying Ein-
stein nevcr appeared on the
screen; by a series of drama-
tized incidents the play sought
to draw the outlines of a pro-
file.
Einstein'? pacifism. humble-
ness and philosophy were sug-
gested. particularly in the
drama's closing moments. But,
on the whole. "Portrait of a
Man" was a lamentable effort.
Mo.<?t of the incidents were dis-
mavinglv theatrical and very
avvkwardly staged. There was
httle or lio depth to the Por-
trait, only a superficial and in-
completere-enactmeni of some
of the more publicized episodes
in his career.
The events in Einstein's life
were al.so presented in confus-
ing sequence. and some were
of dubious accuracy. When
the pro gram was over a
Viewer had little new or re-
vealing knowledge of the sei-
en ti st.
Mr. Montgomery's error
was in not realizing that the
life of Einstein hardly lends
itself to a hurried, simulated
documentary. It would have
been far better to have fore-
g-one the drama format on
this one occasion and Ict those
who knew Einstein give their
own nieasure of the man. This
technique has been employed
on the radio brilliantly in
the casc of "Biographies in
Sound"; it could be adapted
to television and make up-
necessary such misfortunes as
la.st nights program.
. 1956
Einstein Book Gives
Final Word on Theory
by tne Associated Press.
PRINCETON. March 6.— Dr.
Albert Einstein's final revision
of the theory he hoped would
jencompass all physical phenom-
ena is being published today
by the Princeton University
Press.
The revision in his unified
field theory, entitled "the
relativistic theory of the non-
Symmetrie field," appears as an
appendi.x in the fifth and final I
edition of Prof. Einstein's book.
'The Meaning of Pwelativity."
Dr. Einstein sent the simpli-
fied revi.sion of his gencralized
theory of gravitation to the
University Press just before
his death last year on April 18.
1
^\a
Ein Erinnerungsblatt
Der galante Poet aus Ulm
und die Menuninger Arztin
Albert Einstein, dessen Name'
in der Menschheitsgeschichte
ewig lebendig bleiben wird, ist
der Welt vor einem Jahr vom
Tode entrissen worden, — der
Welt, die viel von seinem wis-
.^enschaftlichen Werk, wenig
\on seinem Eigenleben erfuhr
und weiß.
Von dem ausgesprochenen
Sinn für Humor z. B. den der
ernste Forscher und Gelehrte
sich bis zuletzt erhalten hatte.
hörte man gelegentlich: Daß er
•^ar ein außergewöhnhch schar-
manter galant homme selbst
ihm unbekannten Flauen ge-
genüber war, zeigt ein ErlebnLs.
das eine New Yorker Ärztin, Di*.
Else Toller, 225 Central Park
We«t. N. Y. C, mit ihm hatte.
Anläßlich seines 70. Geburts-
tages, am 14. März 1949, hatte
Dr. Toller, eine Schwäbin aus
Memmingen dem in Ulm im
schwäbischen Württemberg ge-
bürtigen "Landsmann" aus tief-
ster Verehrung für einen der
Größten unserer Zeit aus einer
plötzlichen Eingebung heraus
ein lustiges "Liebesgedichf
übersandt, in welchem der
Ulmer Spatz, das Wahrzeichen
der Domstadt, und der Mond in
Menrmiingen, der Heimatstadt
der Ärztin dort, "der Memmin-
ger Mau'' genannt, eine Rolle
spielen.
Wir lassen dem humorvollen
Wechsel der Briefe in gebunde-
ner Sprache folgen, ohne zu ver-
gessen darauf hinzuweisen, daß
Prof. Einsteins Kollegen von der
t psychiatrischen Abteilung der
Princeton University den Kuß,
den er so "respektvoll" über-
sandte, als eine ''kosmische
Umarmung" charakterisierten,
iMögc er uns im Gelehrtenhim-
mcl diese Indiskretion ver-
zeihen !
Und nun geben wir Dr. Else
ToPf c^?-5 Wort zu ihrer Ge-
jinjrtstagsode an AJb^^t Einstein.
Zum 14. März 1949
(Albert Einsteins 70 Geburtstag)
Du bl&cht ft rimrr Spalile
und i bin vom Mrmminger M»u.
Du warsthl scho' immrr mel Schafilf —
(Brkrnntnis einer Frau).
Ich denk mir hall wie Goethe:
wenn Ich dich lieb hab, was jthis
dich an?
Es i*t ja nicht ronnole".
daB du das welfit, großer Mann.
Es steht auf meiner Kommode
dein Bild, und ich hebe die /.uge.
Mir Ist, wenn Ich es betrachle,
als ob das Leben Ich leichter ertrüge.
Weiß wallt das Haar dir »ms Köpfle,
nms edle, kühn und lanRlieh.
Hätt* Ich noch meine Zöpfle,
dein AntlltE macht mich banglirh.
So aber, reif «n Jährte,
»war noeh nicht 70 wie du.
liebkosen möchf Ich dein llarle
und heimlich rufen dir xn:
Deine Augen, dein Mond, sie l;i<hrln
voll Oute und Weisheit und tief
In Anmut empfang *»*« BotM-haft:
Auch Liebe i«t relativ!
Da
welBt's nicht, aber warst immer
mein Schattle . . .
• Bekenntnis einer Frau) , , •
Was geht's dich »n, Vlmer Spalsle?
Mein Gluckwunbch!
der Memmlnger Mau.
Else Toller
Prof. Einsteins
*'Kosmische Umarmung'*
Princeton, den 2. 4. 49.
Liebe Schwabin ohne Tadel,
von ▼ersehmitzten Seelenadel —
Deine Verslein, traut und fein,
schlugen In mein Herse ein.
rnd e» schwant mir nHeui Knaben.
d»B w»« Schon't irersäumt wir haben.
daB nicht früher uns gebannt,
beide «US dem Sehwabenland.
Doch was ewig uns entrückt,
mehr »Is alles uns entsnekt
Blüten unserer Phantai.le.
Was erlebt, erreicht sie ui«.
Liebliche Verslel« bust du gemacht.
d»s Schönste, was der Geburtstag ge-
bracht.
Cnd da ich die« dankbar bekennen mUB,
send' Ich respektvoll dir einen Ko«,
Mit herzlichen Retour - Wün-
schen
Ihr
A. Einstein
P.S. Diesen Kuß nannten
meine Kollegen (Psychiatrists)
"Cosmic embrace by Einstein"
»♦
EIN MENSCHENALTER - MILLIONEN JAHRE?
Einsteins Relativi»aetstheorie in der Praxis > ^i "^ Q^
Das von Di*. Eugen Sänger
geleitete Forschungsinstitut
für Physik der Strahlantriebe
in Stuttgart veranstaltete kürz
lieh eine internationale Ta-
gung in Freudenstadt, auf
der 250 Fachleute aus zehn
Ländern einander die erstaun-
licnsten Dinge erzählten. Was
auf der Tagung berichtet wur-
de, klang mehr als einmal
nach Jules Verne, wurde aber
nicht als Zukunftsphantasie,
sondern mit exakten mathe-
matischen Berechnungen, die
im Auftrag grosser Industrie-
fh-men der Welt angefertigt
wurden, mit der ernsthaften
Absicht baldiger technischer
Verwirklichung vorgetragen.
Das Institut Sänger hat
Heisswasser-Raketen entwik-
kelt, deren Schub auf einem
ausströmenden Strahl heissen
Wassers beruht, das vorher in
einem Kessel unter 50 Atmos-
phären Druck gesetzt worden
ist. Die Rakete braucht ge-
wichtsmässig sechsmal soviel
Wasser, wie die chemische Ra
kete an Treibstoff verbraucht,
aber Wasser ist billig. Der
Kessel wird mit Kohle oder
Elektrizität geheizt. Die Rake-
ten sind im Beirieb billig und
sicher. Sie sollen als eine gu-
te Starthilfe für grosse Ver-
kehi'sflugzeuge in Betracht
komiiien. Die Autoiirma
Daimler-Benz konnte über
weit fortgeschrittene Versuche
mit einem „fliegenden Ofen-
rohi*'* berichten, einem klei-
nen Staustrahltriebwerk für
Hubschrauber.
Einen breiten Raum nahm
die Erörterung des mit Atom-
energie gespeisten Strahlan-
triebs ein. Zwei Wege eröff-
nen sich: einen Luftstrahl im
elektrischen Lichtbogen auf-
zuheizen und die Elektrizität
aus einem mitgeführten Atom
kraftwerk zu gewinnen, wobei
möglicherweise die aus Elek-
tronen bestehende Beta-Strah
lung beim Kernzerfall unmit-
telbar in Strom umgesetzt
werden kann; in Amerika
sind schon Modelle solcher
,3eta-Zerfallsbatterien" ge-
zeigt worden. Aber die Wärme
des Kernreaktors kann die
Rückstossmassen auch direkt
aufheizen. Mit dem Strahl
gehen auch Neutronen und
Kernspaltstücke ab, wobei sie
Rückstossenergie an die Ra-
kete abgeben.
DAS PHANTASTISCHE
WASSERDAMPF-PLASMA
Je schneller der Strahl aus-
strömt, umso weniger Treib-
stoff braucht die Rakete. Die
Firma Siemens-Schuckert be-
richtet« über geradezu phan-
tastische Versuchsergebnisse
mit sogenannten Plasmaströ-
mungen. Ein Plasma im phy-
sikalischen, nicht biologischen
Sinn ist eine hochglühende
Gasmasse, in der „thermische
Ionisierung" eingetreten Ist,
d. h. die Atome haben unter
dem Einfluss der hohen Tem-
peratur Elektronen abgegeben
und sind zu
rv
ma", ebenso der Feuerball
der Atombombe. Die Fähig-
keit der Gasplasmen, sich
auf enorme Temperaturen
aufheizen zu lassen, hat die
Aufmerksamkeit der Raketen-
techniker erweckt. Während
der Strahl einer chemischen
Itaketj aes Lisher uoiich-n
Typs eine Ausströmgeschwin-
digkeit von zwei bis drei Se-
kundenkilometern besitzt,
strömt der Wasserdampfstrahl
einer Modellplasmarakete
von Siemens-Schuckert mit
sechseinhalb Sekundenkilome-
tern aus; er ist 8000 Grad
heiss. Da es kein irdisches
Material gibt, das die Plas-
matemperaturen aushielte,
erzeugte man eine „Kessel -
wand" aus Wasserwirbeln. In
diesem seltsamen Brennraum
heizten Hochleistungslichtbö-
gen den Wasserdampf auf.
DER „KLEINSATELLIT"
Ein amerikanischer Refe-
rent, Dr. Porter, berichtete
über den bereits in Herstel-
lung befindlichen ..Kleinstsa-
telliten", der in absehbarer
Zeit auf seine künftige Um-
laufsbahn in 1300 Kilometer
Höhe befördert werden soll.
Dieser künstliche Mikroplanet
wird nur zehn Kilogramm wie
gen: die dreistufige Trägerra-
kete allerdings, die ihn auf
seine Bahn bringen wird, wird
9000 Kilogramm Gewicht ha-
ben. An ihrem Raketenantrieb
arbeiten grösste amerikani-
sche Firmen wie General
Electric und die Flugzeugfa-
brik Glenn-Martin. Ein grös-
serer Satellit soll erst nach
Erprobung des kleinen gebaut
werden.
PHOTONENRAKETE
UND RELATIVITAETS-
LEHRE
Hielt sich dieser erste Ver-
stoss ins Ausserirdische im-
merhin noch in engen Gren-
zen, so ging das Thema der
Sängerschen Photonenrakete
über alle Grenzen hinaus.
Der Gelehrte sagte selbst,
dass hier Naturwissenschaft,
Technik, Mythologie und Me-
taphysik „,ln einem Bett" lä-
gen. Dr. Sänger hat über sei-
ne Photonem-akete schon 1953
vor d. Internationalen Astro-
nautischen Kongress in Zü-
rich gesprochen. Photonen
sind die kleinsten Teilchen
des Lichtes in seinem korpus-
kularen Aspekt, d. h. wenn
man es als Teilchenstraniung
statt Welle auffasst; bekannt
lieh lässt die moderne Phy-
sik beide Auffassungen neben
einander zu. Di*. Sängers Idee
ist eine Rakete, die Lichtteil-
chen nach hinten abstrahlt;
der Rückstoss, den die (natür
lieh mit Lichtgeschwindigkeit
fliegenden) Teilchen beim
Verlassen des Fahrzeugs auf
dieses ausüben, soll die Rake-
te antreiben.
VON DER ERDE ZUR
SONNE: EIN KILOMETER
Hi ^ überschattete der Geist
*"* "die TajBTunc Da die
* Von WALTER THEIMER
lativitätstheorie eine „Zeit-
dehnung" an Bord eintreten.
Alle Uhren würden, von der
Erde aus gesehen, sehr viel
langsamer gehen; die Insas-
sen würden es nicht merken,
auch wenn eine „Bordsekun-
de" einer Million Jalire auf
der Erde entspräche. Ihnen
käme die „g^edehnte" Sekunde
unentwegt nur wie eine ganz
ordinäre Sekunde vor. Da
auch die Lebensabläufe (man
denke nur an den Herzschlag)
periodischer Natur sind, ver-
langsamen sie sich nach Ein-
stein el>enso; der Mensch
wird in der Raketensekunde
nicht älter als in einer Erd-
sekunde, ob die Raketense-
kunde nun einer Erdsekunde,
einem Erdjahr oder einer Erd
JahrmJllion gleich ist. Daraus
konstruierte Einstein das be-
rühmte Gedankenexperiment
des „fliegenden Zwillings":
ein ZwUIingsbruder bleibt auf
der Erde, der andere saust 50
Erd Jahre (für Um nur einige
Sekunden) fast mit Lichtge-
schwindigkeit im Weltraum
herum. Kehrt er auf die Erde
zurück, findet er seinen Bru-
der als Greis vor, indes er
i»eibsi frisch und Jung wie
beim Abflug der Rakete ent-
steigt. Er hat, irdisch gesehen,
langsamer gelebt und ist da-
her noch im Jugendstadium.
Sängers Photonenrakete soll
dieses Gedankenexperiment
in die Tat umsetzen. Der
Stuttgarter Forscher hat —
im Auftrage einer grossen
amerikanischen Flugzeugfir-
ma — euie i* lugmechanik lür
solche Raketen aufOrund der
Elnsteinschen Theorien aus-
gearbeitet. Von der Erde aus
gemessen, kann die Rakete
nach der Relativitätstheorie
keine höhere Geschwindigkeit
erreichen als die Lichtge-
schwindigkeit, desgleich von
der Rakete selbst aus gemes-
sen. Dr. Sänger führt Jedoch
den (wohl mehr rechnungs-
mässigen) Begriff einer drit-
ten, der Eigengeschwindigkeit"
der Rakete ein, die sehr wohl
die Lichtgeschwindigkeit über
schreiten kann. Das Verhält-
nis der Eigen- zur Lichtge-
schwindigkeit nennt Sanger
die „Einsteinzahl". Bei einer
Einsteinzahl von 18 ist eine
Sekunde auf der Rakete gleich
einem Erdjahr, bei „Einstein
32" — von der Erde aus ge-
sehen, nahe der Lichtge-
schwindigkeit — vergeht auf
der Rakete nur eine Sekunde,
während auf der Erde eine
Million Jahre vergeht. Ent-
sprechend schrumpfen die
von der Rakete aus gemesse-
nen Eäitf ernungen : bei „Ein-
stein 21" messen die Instru-
mente auf der Rakete die
Entfernung zwischen Erde
und Sonne (nach irdischem
Mass 150.000 Kilometer) auf
nur einen Kilometer I
AUSFLÜGE INS WELTALL?
Damit wird die Raumfahrt
nach Millionen (irdisch ge
messen) Lichtjahren entfernt
liegenden Sternenwelten denk
bar, dann das Leben der mit
nahezu Lichtgeschwindigkeit
reisenden Astronauten wird
dank der Relativität entspre-
chend verlängert. Sie würden
nach irdischen Betrriffen Mil-
lionen Jahre leben. Wie den
Weltraumfahrern nach der
Rückkehr die Erde vorkom-
men wird, Ist eine andere
Frage. Sie dürfte sich sehr
verändert haben, falls sie
überhaupt noch da ist, denn
indes die Weltraumfahrer
nach ihrem Erleben nur ein
paar Tage abwesend waren,
sind auf ihrem alten Planeten
Millionen Jahre vergangen.
Bescheidenere Leute könnten
sich mit kürzeren Ausflügen
in die Welt der gedehnten
Zeit und der gerafften Ent-
fernungen begnügen, etwa 100
oder 500 Erd jähre — einige
Raketensekunden bei relativ
massiger Geschwindigkeit.
Alles hängt davon ab, dass
die Behauptung der Relativi-
tätslelire über den verlang-
samten Lebensablauf in sol-
chen Bewegungssystemen
stimmt. Sie ist logisch, wenn
man das Leben als eine Art
Uhrwerk auffasst. Er wäre
aber auch dankbar, dass das
Leben seine eigene „physiolo-
gische Zeit", eine absolute
Zeit, in sich trägt und auf
der Rakete genau so abläuft
wie auf der Erde. Vielleicht
gestattet Sängers Photonen-
rakete das grundlegende Ex-
periment zu machen, das al-
lein über diese Theorie — und
die ganze Relativitätslehre, —
entscheiden kann.
DK.
Internationale Tliealeriestspiele in Paris
Wie bereits berichtet, wird
an den diesjährigen (dritten)
Theaterfestspielen in Paris
auch das Kammertheater als
Vertretung Jisraels teilneh-
men. Bisher steht nicht fest,
welche Aufführungen aus dem
laufenden Repertoire das
Kammertheater mitzunehmen
beabsichtigt, da gerade die
wichtigsten und interessantj-
sten seiner Aufführunsen,
„Das Schlcss", „Wie es euch
gefällt' und die „Gute Frau
von Sstzuan" einen technisch
besonders grossen Aufwand
und spezielle Bühneneinrich-
tung verlangen, und es nicht
sicher ist, ob das Th^atre Sa-
rah Bernhardt die gleichen
Bühnenmöglichkeiten auf-
weist; ausserdem wurde ge-
rade „Das Schloss" schon
seinerzeit von der Truppe der
Uraufführung, vom Berliner
Schlossparktheater in Paris
gespielt. Sollte Mosche Scha-
mir's neues historisches Dra-
ma um Alexander Jannai „Der
Kampf der Söhne des Lichts"
über seine uns JisraelLs berüh-
rende Wirkungen hinaus er-
folgreich sein, so wäre dies
Originalwerk der hebräischen
Bühne die rechte Wahl.
Die Opernfes'*^'"^iele eeV>«*"
den Fest-«*'*''''
ihre Teilnahme zugesagt, so
die Scala in Milano, das
Teatro San Carlo in Neapel,
die Metropolitan Opera in
New York, Covent Garden In
London, das Liceo in Barcelo
na, die Wiener Staatsoper und
die Salzburger Mozartoper, die
Städtische Oper von West-
Berlin („Cosi fan tutte", „Fi-
garos Hochzeit"), die Ost-Ber-
liner Staatsoper („Walküre"
und „ Jenufa'* von Janacek),
sowie die Belgrader Oper. Die
Opernaufführungen werden
im Th6atre des Champs Ely-
sees stattfinden.
Am 1. Juni beginnen die
Aufführungen der Sprech-
bühnen: das Berliner Schiller-
Theater gastiert mit Erwin
Piscators Inszenierung von
„Krieg und Frieden" (nach
Tolstoi's Roman), das Bochu-
mer Schauspielhaus folgt mit
„Faust I", das Ost-Berliner
Deutsche Theater (einst Rein-
hardts Bülme) mit „Kabale
und Liebe" und das Züricher
Schauspielhaus mit einem
neuen Stück des Schweizer
Dramatikers Dürrenmatt. Wei
tere europäische Ensembles,
die an den Festspielen teil-
nehmen, sind das Moskauer
Stanislawski-Theater und das
Th^atre de la Monnaie In
Brüssel. Aus Uebersee werden
ausser dem Kammertheater
Ensembles aus Indien, Mexi-
ko, Argentinien erwartet; aus
dem Ostblock beteiligen sich
ausser der Sowjetunion auch
Polen und die Tschechoslo-
wakei.
Während des Monats Juni
werden, wie im Vorjahre, im
Rahmen der Festspiele täg-
lich Filme vorgeführt, die un-
ter dem Thema „Kino und
Theater" stehen. In der er-
sten Juni-Woche findet ein
internationaler Kongress der
Theaterkritiker statt. F.
CARMEL HOSPITAL ACHUSAH
HAIFA
Ich möchte hiermit meinen besten Dank für die aufmerk-
same Behandlung und gute "Pficge, deren ich im Carmel
Hospital, Achusah — Haila, zuteil wurde allen ?5ni
An».-*-
r%^
tc
lO'
IQ
?f
p
W
H
;^
P
[Instein Message Lacks
Spirituality, SaysRome
By KLEANOR PA( KARD
(^P-i'i.'il CuriTspüiKlciit of THK NEWS)
Vatican City, July 11.— The ofl'icial Vatican nows-
papei- Osservatore Romano, commeiiting on Prof. Albert
Kinstein's "last testament" calling lor the outlawiiig of
war, today likoned Ibe late physicist's concern for
humanity to that of a "manager of a zoo concerned about
. . . bis polar bears." 1
Kinstciivs poslhumoiis state-
mciil, also sij-ned by eighl other
pioniiTu-rit ^\<>vld scientists, was
icleased Satur-
(lay by British
phil osopher-
mathematic i a n
Hertrand R u s-
jsell.
Tho late l*rüf.
Einstein
as war
Point ing' out that Pope Plus
XII has long soujrht world peace,
the cditorial continued:
"Pope Pius XII spoke like a
father. He spoke of humanity.
Einstein spoke as an individual.
He spoke of the human race as
a biological species, like the
manap:er of a zoo concerned about
It'warned that i excessive heat for his polar bears
nuclear warfarejor too httle water for lus seals
could destroy! "This is not a reproach of the
niankind and! sciontist. Ile used tjie idoas and
that a ban on ■ lanftuaj^e he feit best suited to
nucloar weaponsi Start a world reaction of man-
would providelkind . . . and to awake the in-
only **iIlusory" stinct of self-preservation."
security.as.lon^,^^^,^^ fO Big 4:
Heed Einsfein
London. July 11 (U.R).— Foi mer
Prime Minister Clement Attlee
todav urged the Big Four Goneva
' Conference to act on Einstein's
Iposthumous warning: to mankind
Cüncci)ts. ^ j^j^ *'siop wars or die."
Force Needed as Check i^
However, the newspaper indi-j
rated, force must still be con-
sidered a valuable means of
rhecking aggression and i)unish-
ing evil.
Othorwise, the editoiial wained,
"the aggressor will know that his
blows against weaker people can
be cleverly dosed out, without
iouching off a war which would f—üP— ' ' '
niean the destruction not only of
the criniina!, but also of the vic-
tim nnd the victim's def enders."
leniained possible."
In a front-page editorial. Os-
Eervatore Romano said that fear
of atomic waifare is not enough
iinloss coupled with fear of (iod
and with spiiitual and ethical
LOOK Magazine. 3/20/56
Letters to the Editor
F.iii>l<"iii bv Krni
I
I
I was very happy to see the beau-
tiful reprod«ftions of Mr. Hans
Emi's work (Women in the Tirne of
Christ, Look. December 27». Hav-
ing been an admirer of Mr. Erni's
wurk ü)r njany yeacg, I had sent
sorrte olthe reproducSons of Ijiis re-
cent mftral in Neuchatel iSWitliei -
land 1 to Prof. Albert Einstein short-
stein's j^ture füppyc; is a purt of
the . . . mural. . . . We thought it
might be of interest. . . .
^ * F. A. PlC.\RD
Sun Valley. Idaho
A ( lenaa teve peraas irreparavha em l9iS. Morre
Einstein, o descobriäor da teoria da relatividade e
um dos maU praiundos estudiasoa da fisica nuclear.
-•^» *5 «^
- "'•ort ^ift
*» T Jm.
^(VicL 1^ (^\i
% cJl^
tj/i^yt^
JO
\
, x.iuKSDA VlARCJl 14, 195/
^•^^
ALBERT EINSTEIN
MARCH 14, 1879 • APRIL 18, 1955
*
'The power of resistance which has enabled the
Jewish people to survive for thousands of years
has been based to a large extent on traditions of
mutual helpfulness. In these years of affliction our
I
readiness to help one another is being put to
■ * • * '
an especially severe test May we stand this
test as well as did our fathers before us..."
€)(cerpt from a kUer to 'Bermrd }i. Saldier of TJeio york. ]une i4, i939.
on ihe need for help to Qerman jewish refugees fleeing ibe Vitler terror.
Albert Eipjsteim sewed as "Honorary TJatioml Co-Chaiman. X/]X
i941'i946, Tionorary VTA Chaiman for Vrinceton, 7^. J., i943'i947
:* ■
.i
100,000 LIVES MUST BE SAVED IN 1957
UNITED JEWISH APPEAL
$100,000,000 UJA EMERGENCY RESCUE FUND...-OVER AND ABOVE« THE 1957 REGULÄR CAMPAICN
H. behau oi . UNITED ISRAEL APPEAL • JOINT DISTRIBUTION COMM.TTEE • NEW YORK ASSOCIATION FOR NEW AMERICANS • UNITED HIAS SERVICE • 1« WEST 46.h STREET. NEW YORIt »«. N.T .
AND. IN GREATER NEW YORK: NATIONAL JEWISH VELFARE BOARD • AMERICAN JEWISH C0NGRES3
1
^0 i^^q
n
(fr2
t c£i
'U.^
JL. - .^
ise Tests Confirm Relativity
Light Experiments
Accurate to One in
a Million Million
[
3
1
s
t
1
By ROBERT R. PLUMB
Scientists at Columbia Uni-
versity have performed a series
of tests relating: to the velocity
of light that may form the most
precise cxperiment in history.
As was expected, the results
confirmed again Einstoin's Spe-
cial Theory of Relativity in that
they suggested that the velocity
of light is constant.
The experiment proves that,
at most, less than one one-
thousandth of the earth's mo-
tion around the sun could have
affected the velocity of light as
it was measured in the tests.
The earth travels at 18.5 miles
a sccond in its great yeaiiy
path around the sun. In the
laboratory, the speed of light
was measured while light
beams travcled with and
against the earth's motion.
Relativity holds that the
laws of nature should appear
the same to two observers mov-
ing uniformly in relation to
each other. A restricted case,
special relativity, holds that
light should move at a constant
velocity regardess of the mo-
tion of observers. This has been
tested experimentally many
times but never, it was believed,
with the precision that has just
been attained.
The new experiment was
suggestcd by Prof. Charles H.
Towncs of the Columbia Uni-
versity Physics Department. It
was carried out at the Watson
Laboratory, 612 East 115th
e
.e
e,
3
Contlnued on Pige 45, Column 1
Dr. Charles H. Townes, at
left. Professor of Physics
at Columbia llniversity, and
John P. Cedarholm.research
engineer at the IBM Watson
Research Laboratory at Co-
lumbia, examine one of the
masers, or atomic clocks,
used to confirm Dr. Albert
Einstein's Special Theory
of Relativity. The chart
shows how light velocity
was measured with Instru-
ments aimed east and west
(heavyarrows). Rotation of
earth (circular arrows) af-
fected east-west positions,
but at noon they were par-
allel to earth's movement
around sun (broken lines).
The New York Time»
n '^
Ö. i95A
0.02 milcji a serond for light j
iravehng at 186,280 miles a
second.
On Sept. 20, the experiment
was rcpeatcd many tniies. Cal-
culations showed that if the
earth's motion around the .sun
altered the ob.served light veloc-
ity. this should show up as a
difference of twcnty ryclcs a
.second in the freHuencies be-
twecn maser amnionia beams
pointed east and west.
Attually, a difference of
about one cycle a second wa.'^l
found throughout the day. But
this, the experimenters said,
,was caused by the earth s mag-{
|metic field and the magnetic in- 1
Profpssor Towncs. ifhience of oth^r eiecirical equip-
Gorrlon and H. J.jment m the Watson Laboratory
building.
Outside of the magnetic rf-
fects, no Variation greatcr than
a fiftieth of a cyclo a second
was observed.
The earth's 18.5-mile-a-second
motion around the sun might
cau.se a
differ-
aience. The observed difference.
a'no more than a fiftieth of a
..STl 'THEORY
PROVEI/PRECISELY
Continued From Page 1, Col. 2
Street, by .lohn P. Ccdarholm,
George V. Bland and ßyron L.
Havcns, rescarch rngincers
rith tlie laboratory, which is
operatcd al Columbia by the
International Bu.siness Ma-
chines Corporation. The expori-
mmt was canied out Sept. 20.
In 19jt.
with J. P.
Zeiger, doveloped an electronic
devicG called a "maser" which
was used an an enormously pre-
cise atomic clock in the ncw ex-
periment.
The coined word "ma.scr"
Btands for "mirrowave amplifi-'be expected at most to
cation bv stimulated Omission of |twenty]-cycle-a-.second
ladiation." The ma.ser has ' "*
ravity into which is directed
beani of ammonia particlcs ac- cvcle. meant that the earth s
roleratPd to hi^rh spocds. Thejorbital velocity was, at most
molcculos vibrale in the ravity |exerting only a thousandth of
and give off radio waves. Meas-ithe effcct it could have exerted
\irement of the frequency of thelif relativity was wrong.
generated radio waves provides Rotation Not Consldcrcd
a precise ^J^^^^^^^^^.^^^^^ \}^l The experiment did not take
posite diroctions-on an ^»^ti^^-i"a^^i|l| to the earth's motion
vadio waves generated by the
.speeding ammonia particlcs was
determined. Thcn the equipmcnt
was rotatcd 180 degrces and a
new determination was madc.
Wave Velocity As Constant
Radio-wave velocity is be-
liovod to bo a consl.int. the same
be correlatcd with the earthly
motion was observed.
The next step will be to re-
peat the experiment in three
months when the earth has
moved a quartcr of the way
around the sun. If motion of
the solar system as a whole,
by Chance, had cancclod out
the eaith's orbital motion on
Sept. 20, this might be re-
vealcd with new tests with the
earth and sun in new positions.
A preliminary scientific re-
port on the experiment has
been published by Professor
Townes and the Watson Labora-
tory group in the Nov. 1 jssue
of Physical Review Letter*;, a
publication of the American
Physical Society.
no changf^
that could
as light velocity. In the experi-
ment. f t*rquerif^ies of radio waves
generated v.hcn the ammonia
boams wcro aimed with the
earths motion were comparcd
with frcquencics of wavos gen-
erated whcn the beams were
aimed in the oppositc dircction.
The comparision was made
to an accuracy of one part in
a million mlllion.^. Such preci-
jsion in frequency comparision,
provided by the atomic-clock
accuracy of the masers, had not
heretofore been achievcd in an
actual experiment, according to
Professor Towncs. This, he said.
may make the experiment the
most precise ever done.
Earlicr oxpcriments with light
veiocity. dating from the classic
:xiicho1son-Morlcy experiment of
1S87 (whuii prodatcs the Ein-
.siein theory) have .shown that
if light travels through a hypo-
Ihetical ♦'ethcr." the earths mo-
tion through the fluid of spare
- the ethcr— is not detectablc
in laboratory tests.
The prescnt experiment in
rreases the precision of thi:
finding to the point where the
rffects or th« '^aith's motior
through the hypothctical ethei
( if such Äiccts exi>t at »11
are now l ¥>wn to be le.ss thai
I
I
Best
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ineverybox
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1
Schweitzer Laments
Loss of 'Humanism'
ms is tue last of tJnee articles hy Robert C. Rmrk oft
Dr. Albert Schweilzer's huvianitarian «.sstoiis.
By KOBKBT C. RUAKK.
LAMBARENE, French Equatorial Africa, March
1 1 Dr Albert Schweitzer is a big, touslcd. shaggy-
nÄhod man who turned 85 last Jan. 14 He seems
a very Seaimy 70-with that rare faculty of endunng
'"tparont|^. J.e is .evor .ein, -^luTiof^^'^^^^
nän w^ K urAfrictC winning the Nobel Peace Prize
ZTLZs Hbüity to hüstle the nec^sary ,....^..™
nuarlor of a miUion doUars a year to run
I is hospital hcre in the jungle.
1 e will never be old-not so long as
there is ono baby bonpo antelope höre to
ood from a boitle hcld in hands wh.ch
still ripple out arpoggios on the orgam Not
so long as he is the solid boss of the tnost
informal hospital in the world.
He gave me prrhaps the most unusual _
interview I evcr had. 1 was sweating m t^e Robert C.Ru.rk
h\K riisrovrrv of the atom, of alomic LUltino. iip u i ^
Scople aboL^ this danger. ^instein died despera_te.
„e spoKe again r^^^^^yj^^^^^^'^Z^ZJ'IS^r
Prcfacing her paraj^raphs with Vi. bcnwcii/x
""^^w:tsc°cuUure when we abandonod httmattism. We
lost cur etltics because they were "ol dj^l-ooted. \ e fo got
the responsibilitics of man to man. EUiks a c uue lo
sponsibilities of people to all l'vnR thmg •
Sistcr Silver listenod to more Geiman. 1 i^" y.
ira^pSiarrliirgirf- is no d, .^^a^^^^^^^^^ T,.re ;
must be a fundamental ""*'"" "J «"^"^f^' f^^'^bul goodness
ence for lifo. The churches may maKe laws, uul t,
'''' ofschweit/er spoKe somo more. Icani.tg on a splintery
table in his duttered office. He smilcd.
Sistor Silver said: ,f ^jj y^^-^^g
'Pho doetor says he has scen the "l""^"^.^ "'J^^ „„(, ^ust
1
. /-
COM M KM (> Ix* A ri V 1 : 1) 1 X N I : R CO M M ITTK K
Chairman
SIMON H. FABIAN
Associate Chairmcn
SAMUEL M. AHKAMS
SIDNEY (;. ALHEHT
EDWARD H. HENENSüN
WILLIAM HKANDT
MORRIS BRECHER
O. ROY CHALK
HERMAN B. COHEN
HORACE W. (lOLDSMITH
BENJAMIN S. HORNSTEIN
SAUL HOROWITZ
ALBERT M. KAHN
HENRY KALMAN
MAXWELL A. KRIENDLER
OSCAR LAZRUS
BENJAMIN J. LEVY
ABRAHAM LIEBERMAN
ALBERT A. LIST
JOSEPH I. LUBIN
MKS. JOSEPH I. LUBIN
LEONARD MILTON
ALBERT PARKER
MKS. GLADYS KITTER
(lEORCE ROSEN
SAMUEL ROSEN
(;. HARRY ROTHBERC.
HERBERT SADKIN
BENJAMIN H. SWIC.
Sponsors
FRANK ABRAMS
MAX ABRAMS
MORRIS ABRAMS
DR. DONALI) K. ADLER
ERNEST ADLER
JACK C.. ALBERT
MRS. JACK (;. ALBERT
BERN ARD E. ALPERN
JACK AMSTERDAM
MRS. JACK AMSTERDAM
LEONARD L. ARKIN
MRS. LEONARD L. ARKIN
STANLEY I. BATKIN
DAVID BERDON
DAVID BISCEIER
WILLIAM T. BLUMBERC;
SAMUEL N. BRIMBERG
WILLIAM M. BROWN
HENRY I. CHANIN
PAUL R. CHANIN
HYMAN I. COHEN
MAXWELL CUMMINOS
NATHAN ClIMMINOS
HARRY ETRA
MRS. HARRY ETRA
HYMAN L. FEDEKMAN
SAMUEL FINE
RAYMOND FOC.ELMAN
MELVIN J. FÜRST
ARNOLD LEWIS C.INSBURG
JACK A. OOLDFAKB
HARRY W. GOLDING
NATHAN GOLDMAN
MRS. NATHANIEL L. GOLDSTEIN
DAVID A. GOODKIND
BENJAMIN I. GOKDON
ALFRED J. GREEN
LEO GREEN BERG
DAVID J. GREENE
HYMAN GRILL
ISIDÜRE GROSSMAN
MAURICE D. GRUBER
IRA GUILDEN
ROBERT J. C.URNEY
OSCAR HAMMERSTEIN III
SIDNEY HOROWITZ
STANLEY HOROWITZ
BENJAMIN A. JAVITS
MRS. BENJAMIN A. JAVITS
NATHAN KALIKüW
ARTHUR KRIM
JULIUS L. KUFFLER
FRED LANDAU
MRS. WILLIAM S. LASDON
I. THEODORE LEADEK
SAMUEL LEFRAK
FRANCIS S. LEVIEN
MILTON LEVIN
MARTIN LEVINE
MRS. BENJAMIN J. LEVY
JACK LINSKY
SOL LIPMAN
JOE LOWE
WILLIAM MARX
CHARLES MASLOW
JEROME MILLER
N. AARON NABOICHECK
DR. LOUIS NATHANSON
MRS. LOUIS NATHANSON
LOUIS NIZER
HARRY C. OPPENHEIMER
BENJAMIN PERLEN
JOSEPH A. PERLMAN
MRS. JOSEPH A. PERLMAN
LEWIS H. POMPER
JACK I. POSES
CHARLES PUNIA
MRS. JOSEPH W. QUARTE
MAXWELL RABB
LOUIS AAKON REITMEISTER
HENRY RICHARD
TOBY G. RITTER
MRS. DAVID RITTMASTER
HERMAN ROBBINS
CHESTER ROHKLICH
MRS. ALFRED A. ROSENBERG
DAVID ROSENTHAL
SAMUEL ROSENTHAL
HARVEY ROTHENBERG
ARTHUR H. SCHWARTZ
JOSEPH J. SCHWARTZ
ROBERT B. SCHWARTZ
LOUIS E. SELEY
LEONARD I. SHANKMAN
THEODORE SHAPIRO
HERBERT R. SILVERMAN
PAUL R. SILVERSTEIN
MAX H. SKLAR
SPYROS P. SKOURAS
MYER N. SOBILOFF
MORRIS SPRAYRAGEN
JEROME L. STERN
ALFRED TANANBAUM
HERBERT TENZER
LILLIANA WEINMAN TERUZZI
HAROLD D. URIS
HARRY WAXMAN
ROBERT L WISHNICK
JEROME WÖLK
SAMUEL ZALES
if
1 K) A UJ) O F O V I :K S I : i: RS
Albert Einstein College of Medicine
iu)A ui) OK ^rRi s^rK i:s
Yeshiva University
Chairman
NATHANIEL L. GOLDSTEIN
GEORGE ALPERT
WALTER H. ANNEN BERG
SAMUEL BELKIN
IRWIN S. CHANIN
MAX J. ETRA
HENRY F. FISCHBACH
GEORGE FRANK EL
MAX L. FRIEDMAN
CHARLES FROST
SAMUEL H. GOLDING
THOMAS L. KAPLTN
CECIL D. KAUFMANN
WILLIAM S. LASDON
WILLIAM J. LEVITT
SAMUEL S. LÜNEN FELD
JACOB MICHAEL
FRANK C. MOORE
CHARLES H. REVSON
DAVID SCHWARTZ
MAX STERN
LEONARD STONE
JACK I). WEILER
LOUIS E. WOLFSON
Chctirmxin
MAX J. ETRA
DAVID ARONOW
DR. SAMUEL BELKIN
STANLEY R. BROFF
WILLIAM FEINBERG*
SOL FÜRST
LOUIS J. GLICKMAN
A. PHILLIP GOLDSMITH
DR. HERBERT S. GOLDSTEIN*
BENJAMIN GOTTESMAN
FRANK HILLMAN*
DR. LEO JUNG*
HARRY E. KALODNER
DR. JOSEPH H. LOOKSTEIN*
JOSEPH M. MAZER
SAMUEL MELLITZ
ISADORE NADEL
DR. LEO PERLMAN
SAMUEL ROSEN
PHILIP SHLANSKY
CHARLES A. SILVER
CHARLES H. SILVER
DAVID SILVER
MAX STERN
ABRAHAM R. WINER
*Honorary Trusteca
FOl'RTII AN XI AI.
AI.HKRT i:iNSTKIN
CO M M 1«: M O RAT I V i: DI N N K R
.MAV 1. 1!MM» • \VAM)<)K' I--A.S roK'i A
v...,_
A L- B E R T E I IN S T E I N C O L. L. E G E OF MEDICINE OF YESHIVA UNIVERSITY
j
1
ci /",'/")
y
S^mr/j'// cju^€r'^/€efi/d
^m.
HCIF.NCK
Dr. Richard R Feynman
Professar of Theoret icul rhysies,
California Institute of TeclDioloyy
AKTS
Leonard Bernstein
Conductor,
Neiu York VhUharmonic Orchestra
C^ITIZKNHIIIP Jacob Blaustein
Humanitarian and philanthropist
WSX 1^ I > S < DM M I T r I : I :
SCIENCE
Chairman:
Dr. Warrkn Wkaver
Mcmber Nati<ni(il Scioicc Board,
National Science Foundation
Dr. Dktlkv W Bronk
President,
Rocke feiler Institute
for Mcdieal Research
WlIJJAM L. T.AURENCE
Science Editor,
The Netv York Times
ARTS
Chairman :
Fannik Hurst
Novelist
CORNKMA OTIS SKINNER
i4rf /•r.s•.s
CITIZENSHIP
(liairwan :
Anna M. R()senb?:rg
Fo rm er A ss is t a n t
Secretarif of Defense
Max J. Etra
Chairman of the Board of
Trustees, Yeshiva Univcrsity
NaTHANIEL L. CiOLDSTEIN
Chairman of the Board of
Overseers, Alhert Einstein
College of Medicine
y^^^am
NATIONAL AISITHEM
IN VOCATION
Rabbi Seymour Essrog
Chaplain, Fort Eustis, Va.
DINNER
OPENING REMARKS
Simon H. Fabian
Chairman
GREEITINGS
Nathaniel L. Goldstein
Chairman, Board of Overseers
Albert Einstein College of Mediciyie
DPA MAXI Z ATI ON
AI.IiKKT i:iNSTi:iN-TIIIC MAN ÄND TIIK ^^VMIIOI.
Presentcd by Hinuui Hrown
Script by Sani Elkin
with
Albert Dckker
Larry Haines
Leon Janney
Frank Lovcjoy
^Fason Adams
Anne Seymour
ADDRESS
Dr. Samuel Belkin
President^ Yeshiva University
PRESEISITATION OF AWARDS
SCIKNC K
by William Laurence to DR. RICHARD R FeynMAN
AKTIS
by Fannie Hurst to LEONARD BERNSTEIN
C ITI/.KNHIIIP
by Max J. Etra to JACOB BlAUSTEIN
1
Albert Einstein, a renowned
scientiat, .Jos al^o a home-
spun individual. He usually
wore an old sweater and slip-
pers armind his hoitse in
Princeton, New Jersey. He
had so little concem for
money that he oJice used a
bank check for 1,500 dollars
to mark his ylace in a hook.
29
people to survive lor thousands
pt years has bcen based to a
lirge extont on traditions of
mutual helpfulness. In thcse
"»ars of affliction our readi-
the wrath of Hitler aboard the
liner St. Louis.
The ship headed for Cuba
with a promise of sanctuary
only to be denied admittance.
debarked in England, France
and Holland.
Mr. Einstein vrote Mr. Sand-
le when he re of his efforts
1 jehalf of ^ refuj?ees.
BERN ARD H. SANDLER.
1
Ifsrn'JSri'IONAL StXJüNü'hlXKJSUi^E
srietttist, .v/x nlsa u hoiix—
s}/iin iiKNcidnnl. II r KsiuiUy
irure an ohl sivenfi r uml slip-
jji'r.y aroinnl hi.-i Itousc m
Princi'tofi, \*. ir J* rsty. //»
fuid sf> littlt: conarn für
muney tfini he ortrc nsft{ a
hanh check far !,')(>( f »UdUirs
tu itHirk his }>hicv in d houl:.
'J.9
pcople to sui'vive for thousands
o£ ycars has been hascd to a
lar^e extent oii traditions of
Tiuiual hclpXulnGss. In Ihcse
-»ars of affliction onr readi-
tiie wrath of Hitler nboard thc
linor St. Louis.
The ship hoaded for Cuba
vvilJi a promise of .sanctuary
only to bp donipd admittance.
debarkod in England, France
and Holland.
Mr. Kinstein vrote Mr. Sand-
le when he re of his efforts
i >eha!f of * refu^rccs.
BERNARD H. SANDLEK.
»'•M^r
NEW YORK WORLDTKLKGRAM A\D
Einstein Letter on Israel Bared by Lawyer
An unpublishca Icttcr of tlie
late Albert Einstein was madc
public today by a vet^ran N>\v
York attorney vvho said he feit
1t was bis duiy lo Ict the gicat
physic'ist's vicws be known at
• tliis time of crisis in the State
of Israel.
Bcrnard H. Sandler of 223
•Broadway, to whoni the letter
'was writtcn, said *! feel I ovvc
It to his mcniory."
Severe Test.
In tlic Icttcr, writtcn in 1939,
Mr. Ein:.tein wrote: -w^-m,
''The power of rcsistance
\\'hich has cnabied the Jcwish
pcople to survive for thousands
of years has bcen based to a
lar;5e cxtent on traditions of
mutual hclpfulness. In thcse
"ars of afflictlon mir readi-
ness to help one another is be-
ing put to an especially severe
test. May we stand this tcst
as well as did our fathers be-
fore US.
"We have no olher means ol
selfdcfense than our solidarity
and our knowledge that the
cause ior which we are suffer-
ing is a momcntous and sacrcd
cause."
The unsolicited letter was
written to Mr. Sandicr just be-
töre the outbreak of World
War II whcn the attorney was
trying to help 907 German
Jewish refugees who had fled
the wrath of Hitler aboard the
liner St. Louis.
The ship hcadcd for Cuba
wilh a promise of sanctuary
onlv to be denied admittancc.
Mr. Sandicr sought to pcrsuade
the captain of the ship to an-
chor off New York while he
sought to enlist the aid of
President Roosevelt and Con-
gres.s to admit the homcless
Wanderers.
Returned to Euroi)e.
The attorney evcn went so
far as to set up plans for send-
ing two old Hudson River
Night Line boats to pick up
the refugees outside the three«
mile limit.
The St. Louis, however,
eventually returned to Europe
where the human cargo was
debarked in England, France
and Holland.
Mr. Einstein vrote Mr. Sand-
le when he re of his efforts
i >ehalf of ^ refu^ocs.
i'jög^;
..?-^^
*■
BERN ARD H. SANDLEK,
•'•»/*»•
7
GAMMA RAYS TEST ,
EINSTEIN PREMISEi
First Laboratory Trials Setj
Up to Cauge Valldity of
the 'Red Shift'
i
By HAROLD M. SCITMECK Jr.
Research on a rrucial prem-
Ise of Einstein' 3 General Theory
of Relatlvity has been brought
for the first time from the realm
of astronomy to the confines of
the laboratory.
The premise l3 that gravity
must distort light or any other
electromagnetic radiation by
ghifting its wavelength. This is
commonly called gravitational
red shift becauFe the distortion
would make light appear redder
as it moves againat gravita-
tional pull in leaving a massive
Star.
Yesterday sdentists of two
research teams reported to the
Americaji Physlcal Society re-
sults from the first laboratory
experiments that promise a
conclusive test of gravitational
red shift.
During the half Century fol-
lowmg the introduction of the
proposition by Einstem the only
previous feasible tcsls of gravi-J
tational red shift were by as-'
larger than the relativity the-
Test» Inronriusive
The astronomical results, how-
•vcr, have always been ambigu-
ous, some of the shifts being
larger than the relativity theory
would predict and others small-
er.
The laboratory experiments j
have been performed vvithin thel
last few vveeks by physicists at
Harvard University and at Har-
well, the British Atomic Energy
Research Establishment.
They were reported ata clos-
Ing Session of the American
Physical Societys 1%0 annual
meeting al the New Yorkpr Ho-
tel.
Not Conciuslv*»
Though both sets of experi-
ments appear to have reduced
by a considerable factor the am-
biguity of the astronomical
tests, they are not yet consid-
ered conclusive. The work at
both institutions is continuing.
If the experiments ultimately
fall to demonstrate the prc-
dictcd red shift the fact would
be revolutionary to the whole
framework of relativity ':hcory.
For thia rcason the research
has provoked considerable sci-
entific intercst.
The gravitational red ^\\\i\.
prediction can be calculated
from a basic premise of Ein-
stein's theory called the princi-
ple of equivalence. This holds
that there is no observable dif-
ference between any accelera-
tion prodwced by gravity and an
acceleration prodiired by an>
Other forces.
Both the American experi-
ments by Prof. Pobert V. pnund
•' OIp" * Rr.bkn Jr. of Kar-
1
r
f
vard and the British work by
Dr. J. P. Schiffer. Dr. T. E.
Cranshaw and Dr. A. B. White-
head. use gamma rays of a
wavelength that is extraordi-
narily sharp in its definition.
German Aided Tests
The work with these precise
gamma rays stems from a re-
cent discovery by the Ger^nan
physicist R. L. Mossbauer of
the Technische Hochschule in
Munich.
He found th.'it rc^rtain low
energy gamma rays cmitted by
the nuclei nl solids rould be
proterted from recoil and other
factors that tend lo ruin th^
precision of their frequency if
the nuclei were bn'ind tiphtly
enough m the solid materials.
The gamma rays" remarkable
precision also means that an
atomic nucleus like that which
shot out the gamma ray could
absorb only another gamma ray
of precisely the same frequency
and wavelength.
Thus if gamma rays from an
emitting source were aimed at
an appropriate absorber evcn
the mosL mmute frequency
change could be detectrd.
Phenoraena the Same
For the purpose r\i the red
Ihift experiments a tpst of grav-
Ity's pull on gamma rays is
equivalent to the same kind of
pull on light, sinrp both are
forms of electromagnetic ra-
diation.
The scientists both at Har-
wcll and at Harvard have in-
creased markedly the precision
first obtained by Dr. Mossbauer.
Both expenmental Systems
use an isotope of iron ralled
iron 57 as both emittei- and ab-
sorber of gamma rays. Profes- •
sor Pound and Mr. Rebka fired «
their gamma rays up and down \
a long helium-filled bag placed
in a seventy-foot tower in Har-.
vard's Jefferson Physical Labo-
ratory.
The workers at Harwell vised
a water tower and a near-
vacuum flight path for the gam-
ma rays.
The scientists at Harwpjl sald
they had observpd a freqiiencv
shift that correaponded to O.Pf;
of the valnp predicted by F:in-
Stein's theory.
They said yestprday that the
results plarpd the odds at one
in sixty that the Einstem prem-
ise was wTong.
The Harvard sriputistq said
painstaking analysis of their
experiments so far had not
shown results that could be con-
sidered conclusive.
1960.
^•^^
Bernstein Will Receive
Einstein Arts Award
Leonard Bernstein, mu.-^ical
director of the New York
Philharmonie, will receive the
1960 Albert Einstein Com-
memorativp Award in the
Art.s, given by the Albert
Einstein College of Medicine
of Yo.shiva l'niversity. The
presentation will be made at
a dinner at the VValdorf-
Astoria Hotel on Sunday.
Given for "lurt bering the
cause of international under-
standing through music," the
award will consist of a bas-
relief of Einstein and a $1,000
prize.
0 ES^ADO DE S. PAULO - DOMINGO, 12 DE ABRIL Ol 1959__
BaKoojno Test
Einstein Tlieory
I CHICAGO. Nov. 9.— An ad-
vonturo in pure seien ce — one
thai may lead the way lo final
'proof of Albert Einstein'» •
theory of rolatively— js sched-i
ulpfl to take place 120/^00 feet
ahove the Atlantic Ocean nexi
.Tanuary.
The uorld's largc«t balloon.
bt.-arin;; 1600 pound« of phDto-'
granhic equiiineni to i-erorri
^iibatojr.ic partklc*:. wUl so-r
to that altiti) ie somcwhrre
r^r-ar the Asc^nsion Irlands
nndrr a ron^'ant bombar-
rncni of (:o>mic rays.
The hopedfor result: Photo-
zraphs of all high energy^J
partir-les known tu man and
perhaps a lew new ones in^:
the physicists* never-endirig/
quest to d'.scover the internal jj
working of the atom.
i Dr. Marcel Schein, Universiiy^
of Chicago physicist ani
project head. said "Operation'
.skyhook." a Joint project of
ithe univer'^ity. the Office ofl
Naval Pvcseanh and the Sri ^
^ncc FoundaTion. may provide
'houFands of timcs more evi-
ionre of subatomic life than
now cxi«Tt«. '
"So fai- WC ^ccept the theory
of lelativity," Mr. Schein aaid.
'But that theory rests on tho
existence of ^ome final particle
of matter. There must b« an
ultimate number of sub-aton:iic
particles, but of that we have
no real assurance until we
know rrore about the atom."
jr'.trqd of rclying on hugh
ma s call accelerators,
which manulacture high en-
ergy particles. he said, this ex- n
periment actually will trap the
particles where they exist in
•^ure.st form.
TLESÜAY, MAY_M^J;*^60.
NEW TOOL PROVES
EINSTEIN PREMISE
Confirm Equivalence —
More Uses Are Sought
and acceleration produced by
other force. From it ^^an he
calculated the prodiction that
eravity must distort lißht anü
othor ladialion by shiftmg its
wave length. .
I Using the radioactive isotope
iron 57. the Harvard physicists
Tp<;ts ofMossbauer Effect ^eamed cramma rays both up
Tests CT 1Y.U ^^^ ^^^^^ ^ seventy-five-foot
tower to sce if gravity would
affect the radiation's enorgy.
, AI Harwcll. the Briti.^h
'Atomic Enerpy Researrh Es-
,. «r-uMFY-K Ir lablishmcnt. T. E. Cran.^haw.
By HARÜLD M. SCHMECK Jr. ^ ^ gchiffer and A. B. White-
Scienti^ts here and abroad are ^^,^^ indepondently pursued
«>eekine new uses for one of the much the samc re.^earch «cheme.
mos sln"Itive physical research Early this year the Han^-rll
?iols eler found. phvsicists made reports con-
The phenomenon that pro- ^i,ming the Einstein premise^
vides this tool has bcen known Their data, however. reflerted
less'than three vears. Already ^ome appreciable imcertamty.
it' anpears to have settled an Meanwhile the Harvard phys-
mportant question that. for ieists had found a jea.son for
dSes had defied final answer the uncertainty. They discov-
Ibv phvsicists and astronomers. ^red that even extremely smail
^ Future applications may well temperature differences be-
become the basis for highly pre- tween the emitter and absorber
eise methods of measuring ve- of the gamma rays eouW com-
locitv and distanre. according pietely swamp the results.
to an article in the May 27 m experiments that took this
.i^.ue of Science. into consideration. Prof. Pound
l The basis of the research is and Mr. Rebka confirmed tho
the phenomenon called the fr^quency shift.
vio«.sbauer effect, named for the Their data were published m
■^erman physicist. Rudolph L. the April 1 issue of Physical
Klossbauer. \vho fir.st described Review Letters.
in 1958. Now Dr. Kock .said, othe
re.searrh applying the Mos
bauer effect is in progross
FrequencieH Constant
Vhospital '•Albert Einstein", nos iito^ do Morumbi, sera um dos maiores e mais modcrno. cio PaiS
Ko diche, uma fütografia da maquete.
Coiiclusäo em lo meses das ol)ras
iniiiais do Hospital A. Einslein
Dcntro de 15 meses de^•era e«'
tar concluida a primeira fa«^e da
construgäo do Hcspital "Albert
Einstein" que a coletividade israe-
lita estä erguendo nos allos do
IMonimbi. A obra, orceda em cer-
ca de 200 milhöes de cruzeiros,
estä agora na fa^-e inicial. de son-
dagem e e^taqueamento do terre-
no. O hospital "Albert Einslein**
loi contebido de acordo com o que
de möis moderno exisle em tec-
nica hospitalar: terä capacidade pa
ra 250 leilü>, abrangendo as va-
rias especialidades da medicina
rnoderna. e incluirä ainda escoia
de enfermagem, centro de pesqui-
tü^. alojaraenlo para medicos es-
trangeiros. anfiteatro, ambulato-
rios etc. A Sociedade Beneficente
Israelita Dranleira. que construi-
rä 0 "Albert Einstein", ja conse-
guiu angariar. ate o momento. qua
5e 100 mj)höes de cru/eiros para
as obras do nosocomjo.
PROJETO DA OBRA
0 pro.ielo do ]Io«-plial 'Albert
Kin.neiu" ^ da auloria do »rquite-
T, que ocuparäo pouco meno^ de
um ler-io do terreno disponivel. O
hospital ergue-sea, assim, no cen-
tro de um parque, cercado de areas
verdcs. Sua situacäo nos altof? do
Morumbi parantir-lhe-ä exctlentes
condicöes de insolagäo e arejamen-
to. alem de uma soberba vista.
iJentro deste quadro natural, as ü-
nhas leve>i e aizradaveis do projeto
eoncorreräo para assegurar ao hos-
pital um ambiente adequado ä con-
valescenca dos pacientes.
O bloco principal. com 14 anda-
res. abriH8Ja as enfermarias e her-
eLrios. O bloco paralelo ä \ia pu
blica, mais extenso, tera apenas 4
andare>. Nele ficaräo os diversos
servicos auxiliare^. o necroterio, o
ruditorio, a «-eccäo de cirurj^ia. a
residencia dos medicos, os ambu-
latorios, a biblioteca etc.
DEPENDENCIAS
O ho.spitaI "Albert Einstein*' In-
cluirä: pronto-socorro. ambulalo-
; rios, tonsullorios medicos, e^cola
de enfermagem. rentro de pesqui-
«^a«' bomba de cobalto, secgäo de
mtdicna nuclear, gecyäo de cirur-
He found that gamma rays
emittod from radioactive nuflei
in rertain crystals had wave-
Icngths and frcquencies that
were remarkably con.stant and
sharply defined. Further. an-
other atomic nucleus like thal
whirh shot out .surh a gamma
rav could absorb only radiation
of'that precise frcquenry. The
«second point meant that
tremelv .<mall chanj^es in
auency could be dotodcd.
For about a year there
scemed to be little intorest in
,ia. anfiteatro. alojamento para | Dr. Mo.ssbauers report accord-
Professoren estrangeiros. alojamen- -.mg to the ^^^^^'^^^l" .^'^^^Trector
to para internos e estudanles. 1 Dr. Winston E Kock. diiecior
OS FUNDOS
many institutions.
rx«
fre«
I
A Sociedade Beneficente Israeli-
ta Brasilejra. responi^avel pela con^-
trucäo do hospital, ja arrecadoii
ctrca de 100 milhöes de cruzeiro^
rara as obras. Selscentas lannilia"'
atendertm ao apelo dos Virupos d<'
an;:ariadore>. O fünc*iOnamento do
Losocomio. no fuluro. estä asse^ni
rado pe!os lei^ados que a Socieda
de reccberä mais tarde de familia.s
que näo pos.suem herdeiros. Sete
familias nestas condicöes ja se
comprumeteram a deixar todos os
seus bens. estimados em muitos
rrilhöe^. para a manutengäo do "Al-
bert Einslein". Quando o hospital
estiver inteiramente pronto e em
funcionamento, o que deverä oror
rer dentro de um prazo maximo
de 4 ano.'-, o volume de conlribui-
(Joes espontaneas deverä cresccr
ainda mtis. permitindo a amplia-
cäo da obra, muiio alim dos iimi
tes em que foi concebida.
of Bendix Aviation Corpora-
tions research laboratories.
Then last fall in the scientific
Journal'. Phy.sical Review Lot-
ters Prof. Robert V. Pound and
Gleri A. Rebka Jr. of Harvard
proposod to use it to lest the
pnncipie of equivalence. an un-
derlyint principle of Einstein s
general theory of lelativity
The tlieory holds that there
is no obWMvable diffeience be-
tween acceleration of gravitv
THE NEW YQRK_TIMES. SIXDAY DECEMBER
IMSIEIN PREMISE
FACES A NEW TEST
Continued From Page 1. Col.
IS HO observable difference be-
tween any acceJeration due to
grravity and acceleration pro-
j duced by other f orces. From it
'can be calculated the predic-
I tion that g:ravity must distort
llight by shifting jts wave
peng-th. This is commonly
icalled gravitationaJ red shift.
The amount of distortion is
extraordinarily small and Ihere-
fore. the effect has never been
measurable in any laboratorj-
experiment set up on earth.
Thoug-h most modern physi-
cists beheve the principle and
jits prediction? valid, thipy
jwould like conclusive proof.
|They are haunted by the ghosts
lOf other established or even
I "seif -evident" truths that have
crumbled under the impact of
decisive expenments. i
A Re\ Gluti onar>^ Pofisibility
What would happen if no
gravi tational red shift could be
lound ?
*'lt would be quite revolution-
ary to the whole framework'
of relativity," said Professor
Pound.
Years ago Einstein sugg-ested
two ways by vi^hich astrono-
mers could test the effect of
gravity on ligrht.
He predicted that Jight pass-
ing close to our sun on its
earthward path from a distant
Star would be bent by the
dreds this has been measured fJ^ ^ 1°^ ^^^ gravitational shift.
seven times during total eclip-' *^"^^ ^^^^ ^^ ^^^^^t seemed Target for the gamma rays
«^^Although the results have'^^^^^^ suitable for a relativity i^üi be a piece oi iron foij
^»rted Einstem. they have experiment." the 40-year-old P^^*^^^ above an ordinary scin-
been good enoügh to Harvard phvsicist said ''It gave!^^^^^^^°" ^°^"^^'"-
the pomt oonclusively. a wav of i^Pa^nrinr. ovtr.»X,.i,.l . The r-.nr^ter will register
that o'r*
,,_,_^^^^ AssocjaifQ Pres« Wlreohoto .
STRESSING CHRISTMAS TRADITION: Store vs\^^tZ
m Cedar FalU, Iowa, are beinjj deoorated bv members
of vanous churches. This one at a plumbing shop, vieued l
from the inside. i^ by St. Johns Lutheran Churoh
■t
other proposal was to *;„« >• „♦ *
're the jrravi«ot<n^,i ^«^ iime distorüons in whvp ir.r,n^i, "u.
a way of measuring extremelyl^j^^^g^*
rniir^ter will
H -d rays
ly atcclcration due toi
gravity and acceleration pro-
ducod by other forces. From it
can he calculatod the predic-
tion Ihat gravity miist distortt
light by shifling its wave
length. This is conimonlyl
callod gravitational red shift. ;
The amount of distortion is|
extraordinarily small and there-
fore, the effect has never boen
nieasurable in any laboratory
experiment set up on earth. i
Though most modern physi-l
cists beliove the principle and
its predictions valid, they
wonld like concliisivo proof.|
Thcy are haunted by the ghostsi
of other established or cven'
"self-evident" truths that have
crumbled under the impact of
dccisive experiments. |
A Revolutionary Possibllity
What woiild happen if no
gravitational red shift could be
found ?
*'lt woiild be quite revolution-
ary to the whole framework
of relativity," said Professor
Pound.
Years ago Einstein suggested
two ways by which astrono-
mers could test the effect of
gravity on light.
He predicted that light pass-
ing close to our sun on its
earthward path from a distant
Star would be bent by the i
sun's gravitational pull. i
Since the early nineteen hun-
dreds this has been measured
seven times during total eclip-
«<^«^. Although the results havei
•orted Einstein, they have.
been good enough tO|
the point conclusively. i
other proposal was toi
're the gravitational redj
n light reaching earth
t distant massive star.
iivity predicts that such
must consume some of
jiiergy in fighting the giant
puil of the star's gravity. This
leaves the light less energetic
and hence redder when viewed
from a distant point such as
earth.
Evidence Inconclusive i
Although astronomers believe
they have secn such a red shift,
many unknowns and variables
have intervened between the Ob-
servation and its analysis. The
evidence again is suggestive,
but far from conclusive. I
Said a noted physicist in a
recent discussion o f th i s
subject:
"We cannot rest content with
the opportun! ties nature has af-
forded for testing the general
theory of relativity. They have
provided confirmation, but only
after a fashion."
The Harvard experiments will
test the effects of gravitational
pull on the wave lengths of
gamma rays. This is equiva-
Jent to testing gravity's pull on
light because gamma rays. like
X-rays, are of the same species'
of radiation as visible light. In
this sense, they are simply
ultra-ultraviolet light.
A German physicist. R. L.
Mossbauer. set the stage for
,^he Harvard experiments by dis-
covering something new about
the emission of gamma rays
from nuclei in solid materials.
The crucial point was that
certain gamma rays spewed
out by radioactive solids had
uave lengths remarkably con-'
stant and precise. Considered
m the sense of hght they were
extremely monochromatic. '
"You might say they were of .
a precisely defined color." said
Professor Pound,
Further, another atomic nu-
'leus like that which shot out
|uch a gamma ray could absorb
Inly a gamma ray of precisely i
W "color."
SuiUble For Testing i
Con.sequently, the slightest
lange in wave length would be
)ticeable because it would]
ake the gamma ray immune!
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Associated Press Wirephoto
STRESSIXG CHRISTMAS TRADITION: Ston* Windows
in Cedar Falls Iowa, are beins deoorated by inembers
of various churches. This one at a plumbing shop, viewed
from the inside, is by St. John's Lutheran Chiiroh.
to capture by a nucleus set as a
trap in its path.
"This kind of effect seemed
highly suitable for a relativity
experiment," the 40-year-old
Harvard physicist said. "It gave
a way of measuring extremely
fine distortion.^ in wave length."
In the Nov. 1 issue of Physi-
cal Review Letters, he and his
colleague proposed that Dr.
Mossbauer's research be ex-
tended in the hope of making
possible a relativity test.
The Journal, published by the
American Physical Society
through the American Institute
of Physics. is devoted to im-
portant discoveries and ideas in
physics. The relativity proposal
evoked considerable interest.
Continuing their study of the
phenomenon, Professor Pound
and Mr. Rebka found new gam-
ma emitters producing wave
lengths far more exact than
those Dr. Mossbauer had dis-
covered. They did preliminary
experiments that proved their
technique to test relativity red
shift could work.
A report on the initial experi-
ments will appear in the Dec. 15
issue of Physical Review Let-
ters. The same issue will contain
a description of similar research
by scientists in England. This
report suggests the method
might prove ideal for a test of
relativity red shift.
The form of expcriment that
no\^' appear? most promislng to
Professor Pound uses iron 57
as both the emitter and catcher
of gamma rays. This is a natur-
ally occuring isotope of the
metal that makes up about 2
per cent of ordinary iron.
The gamma ray source is pre-
pared by diffusing a small
amount of radioactive cobalt 57
as an impurity throughout a
piece of iron.
The cobalt atoms decay.
through a complex radioactive
process, into iron 57. As a final
Step in the chain, this shoots
out a 14-kilovolt gamma ray of
exactly defined wave length.
The physicists plan to aim
these gamma rays downward
through a partly evacuated pipe
that will Stretch from the tow-
er's top to its basc below
ground level.
The gamma ray source will
be kept moving very slowly to
produce an artificial frequency
shift called a Doppler shift.
This will' .sometimes just cancel
out the shift predicted from
gravity. The movement, there-
. fore. will allow finer calculation
lof the gravitational shift.
Target for the gamma rays
jwill be a piece of iron foil
placed above an ordinary sein-
tillation counter.
The counter will register'
those gamma rays tha^ <^^*
through. From Lhis, it will be
po5 iible to calculate how much
of the radiation has precisely
the right wave length and.i'
therefore, is absorbed by ironj
57 atoms in the foil.
The Doppler effect resembles
the Doppler shifts produced in
sound waves.
It is this Doppler shift that
causes the hörn of an approach-
ing car to rise in pitch and
then drop suddenly as the car
passes.
The extreme sensitivity pos-
sible with the newly discovered
gamma rays can be appreciated
by comparison with just such
a Doppler shift in a car hörn.
Professor Pound calculates that
it is possible to measure a shift
comparable to that which would
be produced in the sound of a
hörn approaching at the rate
of an inch every 1.000 years.
The method, his calculations
show, can gauge changes in the
characteristics of the radiation
to an accuracy of one part in
ten thousand million million.
Because they achieved accu-
racy to one part in a million
miliion. experiments last year
at Columbia on the velocity of
light were described as the
most precise in history.
Professor Pound s experi-
ments will give their answer,
leither for or against relativity,
almost at once. In a day's time
it should prove possible to
measure gravitational red shift
to an accuracy of within 10 per
cent, he estimated.
Although some physicists
think this might be enough for
a conclu.sive test, the experi-
ments will be continued to re-
fine the accuracy greatly.
School Suit Filed in Knoxvillc
KNOXVILLE, Tenn., Dec. 12
(AP)— A Negro group filed a
lawsuit today seeking desegreg-
ation of all Knoxville schools in
time for the January semester.
The suit asked that seventeen
Negro children and "other per-
isons, similarly situated" be per-
mitted to attend any school
maintained by the city school
board without regard to race.
The .suit was filed in United
States District Court to take
,the place of one dismissed in
jJune on a technical ground.
i)as im Bau befindliche
„Hospital Albert Einstein"
Um der Feierlichkeit des Be-
ginnes der Bauarbeiten am Hospi-
tal Alberto Einslein in S. Paulo
beizuwohnen, wird am 26. Novem-
ber Dana Sara Kubitschek, die
Gattin des Bundespräsidenten, auf
Einladung der „Sociedade Bene-
ficiente Israclita" nach S. Paulo
kommen. Wie verlautet, wird die
erste Dame der Union im Flugzeuge
gegen 15 Uhr eintreffen und soll
dann im Heim der „Hcbraica" fest-
lich empfangen werden.
u
tu
3 cl:
f^Y
?»^ "■' f^y
\
4 ^$
A
. %r^ä <clui
KURT R. GROSSMANN
Albert Einstein: Fünfzig Jahre Kampf für
Frieden und Freiheit
Von wenigen hervorragenden geistigen Persönlichkeiten kann man
sagen, daß sie, losgelöst von ihren wissenschaftlichen Leistungen, mit
Inbrunst, Überzeugung und Ausdauer für den Frieden gewirkt haben,
wie es Albert Einstein tat. Einstein war von einer fast messianischen
Glut und leidenschaftlidiem Wollen durchdrungen, seinen Beitrag für
den Kampf gegen den größten Zerstörer der Menschheit, den Krieg, zu
leisten. Wenn man die nahezu 7O0 Seiten des jüngst erschienenen Wer-
kes, „Einstein und der Frieden" (Einstein on Peace, Simon and Schuster,
New York) redigiert von Otto Nathan und Heinz Norden, gelesen hat,
kann man nur mit Bertrand Rüssel, dem cngiisdien Philosophen, über-
einstimmen, der in seinem Vorwort schreibt, daß Einstein während seines
ganzen Lebens sidi um den einzelnen Menschen sorgte und „um die
individuelle Freiheit". Er zeigte selbst „all den Mut", der unter den
gebotenen Umständen erforderlidi war, und er appellierte an andere,
„oft ohne Erfolg", gleidi ihm Mut zu zeigen. Aber dieser Mann, dessen
Wissen in den hohen Regionen der Mathematik nur von wenigen ver-
standen wurde, war ein großer, weil er nie Kompromisse mit den Prin-
zipien machte, die er als richtig erkannt hatte.
Einstein und die Atombombe
Gewiß hat Einstein seine Auffassungen über radikalen Pazifismus
dann aufgegeben, als er, frühzeitiger als Staatsmänner, erkannte, daß
Hiders Machtergreifung Krieg bedeuten müsse. So enttäuschte er die
Kriegsdienstverweigerer, die ihn als den Ihren auf den Schild erhoben
hatten, und die Radikalpazifisten waren unglücklich, daß Albert Ein-
stein, „leidensdiaftlidier Pazifist und Antimilitarist", der jeden Natio-
nalismus ablehnt, „auch wenn er sich nur als Patriotismus gebärdet", am
2. August 1939 den Brief an Präsident Franklin D. Roosevelt unter-
zeichnete, der auf die ersten Möglichkeiten der Produktion von Atom-
bomben aufmerksam madite, für die Uranium eine unerläßliche Vor-
aussetzung ist. „Ich höre, daß Deutschland den Verkauf von Uranium
aus den tschedioslowakisdien Bergwerken, weldie es übernommen hat,
eingestellt hat. Daß Deutschland so frühzeitig diese Maßnahmen ergrif-
fen hat, erscheint aus dem Grunde verständlich, daß der Sohn des deut-
schen Unterstaatssekretärs im Auswärtigen Amt, Ernst von Weizsäcker,
dem Kaiser Wilhelm Institut angehört, wo einige der amerikanischen
Experimente mit Uranium jetzt vorgenommen werden."
' 737
1
Die Kenntnis von diesen Experimenten erfuhr Einstein durch zwei
wissenschaftlidie Freunde, beide prominente Physiker, nämlich Professor
E. Permi und L. Szilard, den Einstein seit Jahrzehnten kannte. Daß
sie, wie Einstein die Gefahr erkennen konnten, die der Welt drohte,
wenn Hitler Herr über die Atombombe werden sollte, verdankt man
dem Umstand, daß zwei deutsche Wissensdiaftler, Otto Hahn und Fritz
Strassmann vom Kaiser Wilhelm Institut in Berlin, die mögliche Wir-
kung des Uranlums, wenn aus ihm das halb so sdiwere Barium produ-
ziert werden würde, in einem Aufsatz behandelten. Hahn sandte seinen
wissenschaftlidien Artikel an eine frühere Kollegin, Eise Meitner, damals
in Stockholm lebend, wohin sie wegen ihrer halbjüdischen Abstammung
geflüchtet war. Sie realisierte, daß es gelungen war, das Atom zu spalten
und, gemeinsam mit ihrem Neffen, Otto R. Frisch, teilte sie ihre Auf-
fassung Professor Niels Bohr mit, der diese wiederum im Januar 1939
seinen Kollegen in Washington vortrug. Der Rest ist Geschidite.
Albert Einsteins Beziehung zur Produktion der Atombombe war mini-
mal. Er hatte sich im Jahre 1905 mit seiner Relativitätstheorie einen
Namen gemadit, aber damals ahnte man nicht, daß diese die Grundlage
für Probleme in Beziehung zur Atomenergie" bilden würde. Als Ein-
stein im Jahre 1922 den Nobelpreis für Physik für seine „Verdienste
um die theoretische Physik und hauptsädilich für seine Entdeckung der
Gesetze der photoelektrisdien Effekte" erhielt, war er schon ein be-
kannter Physiker - und hatte sich im Lager der Friedensfreunde einen
Namen gemadit. ^. . . ^^
Wai-um wandten sidi Szilard und Farm! an Einstein, den Europaer,
wie er sich selbst nannte, mit der Bitte, den Brief der Warnung an
Franklin D. Rooseveh zu sdireiben? Einstein wollte übrigens diesen
Brief ursprünglidi an die belgische Königin senden, mit der ihn eine
jahrzehntelange Freundschaft verband. Auf Anraten eines Roosevelt
nahestehenden Bankiers kam Einstein aber von dieser Idee ab. Die Ant-
wort, warum man in dieser lebenswichtigen Sadie zu Einstein ging, ist
in dem vorliegenden Werke zu finden.
Es war, wie Einstein es selbst ausdrüdtte, sein Wollen, „der mensdi-
lidien Ge^ellsdiaft anzugehören, die nadi Wahrheit, Sdiönhelt und Ge-
reditigkeit« strebt. Er, der keiner Partei, aber einer Unzahl von pazi-
fistlsdien und für die Verwirklichung der Mensdienredite arbeitenden
Organisationen angehörte, war eine Institution geworden, eine Adresse,
an die sidi alle wandten, die sidi um der Menschen und der Mensdiheit
willen Sorgen maditen. Man steht unfaßbar vor der Fülle, ja Überfülle,
des Materials von Erklärungen, Briefen an die Großen und an den
einfadien Mann; Reden, Appelle, die Einsteins Namen und seine schöp-
ferische Gestaltung tragen; alles in sedisundvierzig Jahren, seit er von
der Sdiweiz an das Kaiser Wilhelm Institut berufen seinen Fuß aut
das Berliner Pflaster setzte. Damals war er fünfunddreißig Jahre alt,
und seine Berufung zum Direktor des neu begründeten Instituts für
Physik als einer selbständigen Abteilung der Kaiser Wilhelm Gesellschaft
zur Förderung der Wissenschaften bedeutete eine Anerkennung seiner
wissenschaftlichen Leistung.
Einstein wird ein aktiver Pazifist
In der Metropole des preußischen Militarismus ließ sich nun dieser
von Eitelkeit freie, freundliche Mann nieder, und sein lebenslänglicher
Freund, Maurice Solovine, bestätigt, was wir, die den Vorzug hatten,
mit Einstein für die höheren Ziele einer menschlichen Gesellschaft zu-
sammenzustehen, praktiziert sahen: daß Einstein einen tiefen Absdieu
gegen Vorurteile, Unrecht und reaktionäre Ideen hatte. Er war ein
Liberaler in seiner ganzen Lebensführung.
Bevor Einstein nach Berlin kam, hatte er seinen politischen Auffas-
sungen nirgends Ausdruck gegeben. Er war bis dahin nie öffentlich aktiv
hervorgetreten, und es schien fast, als ob er nie aus seinem Studier-
zimmer hervortreten würde. Als aber im Jahre 1914 der Ruf an Einstein
erging, sidi gegen das tragische Manifest der 93 Intellektuellen zu wen-
den, die den Neutralitätsbruch gegen Belgien zu rechtfertigen suchten,
zögerte der eigenbrödlerische Professor nicht, den von Professor Georg
Friedridi Nicolai entworfenen Aufruf an die Europäer zu unterzeich-
nen, der aber nie das Licht der Öffentlichkeit erblickte, weil außer
Einstein nur noch der alte Wilhelm Förster, Astronom, und ein junger
Professor Otto Buek es wagten, sich dem Strom des Konformismus jener
Tage entgegenzuwerfen. Von da an war Einsteins Weg klar vorgezeich-
net. Er wurde Mitbegründer des am 16. November 1914 gegründeten
„Bund Neues Vaterland" (später Deutsche Liga für Menschenrechte),
dem Männer des Adels und der Wissenschaft (Graf Arco, Telefunken;
Richard Wittig, Deutsche Bank, ein Bruder von Maximilian Harden;
Fürst Llchnowsky, letzter Vorkriegsbotschafter am Hofe von St. James;
Walter Schüdiing und Hans Wehberg, Professoren des Internationalen
Rechts; Helmuth v. Gerlach, der Junker, der von rechts nach links
gegangen war; Ernst Reuter, der unvergeßliche Berliner Bürgermeister
nach dem 2. Weltkriege; Lilli Jannasch, temperamentvolle Generals-
toditer; Otto Lehmann-Russbüldt und der Herrenreiter Kurt v. Tepper-
Laski) angehörten. In diesem Kreise fühlte sich Einstein wohl, weil
ohne Dogmatik für die Dinge gekämpft wurde, die das Leben wertvoll
und sinnreich madien und in dem die von ihm gehaßte Vereinsmeierei
keinen Platz hatte. Einstein blieb der Liga und ihren Ideen treu, auch
dann als sie als Organisation, wenn auch nicht als Idee, den Platz in
Deutschland räumen mußte.
Freiheit und Demokratie
Es gibt viele Beweise für Einsteins Gabe, die Welt in anderen Dimen-
sionen zu sehen als die über militärische Siege damals jubelnden Mas-
sen. Sie stimmten den Seher traurig, und als eine junge Sdiweizer Stu-
738
739
1
dentin ihn einmal besorgt fragte, was werden würde, hob er seinen
rechten Arm, machte eine Faust und sagte: „Die wird regieren". Aus den
tausenden von Briefen, Appellen, Erklärungen wird mehr denn je er-
kennbar, wie es Einstein darum ging, die Feder zum Schwerte und das
Schwert zum Pflug zu madien.
Dabei war Einstein weit entfernt von jeder idealistischen Phantaste-
rei. Er war sich durchaus klar über die Sünden der Unterlassung wie
der des Bösen. Dennoch sagte er, der Skeptiker par excellence: „Ich
glaube nidit an die Freiheit des Willens. Schopenhauers Wort, der Mensch
kann wohl tun, was er will, aber er kann nidit wollen, was er will,
begleitet mich in allen Lebenslagen und versöhnt mich mit den Hand-
lungen der Menschen, auch wenn sie mir recht schmerzlich sind." Diese
über den Dingen stehende Haltung konnte aber nicht die bittere Ent-
täuschung schmälern, die Einstein in dem „engstirnigen Nationalismus"
selbst bei Persönlichkeiten von Bedeutung feststellen mußte. So wurde
er der Freund der Geistigen, gleichgültig, ob sie Berühmtheit erlangt
hatten, wie Romain Rolland, Bertrand Russell ■— oder ob sie ein Teil
der anonymen Masse waren, in der aber diaraktervolle Menschen waren,
denen Einstein sich nicht weniger verbunden fühlte. Er begrüßte die
Revolution von 1918 in Deutschland, sagte aber zu seinen Studenten:
„Unser gemeinsames Ziel ist Demokratie, die Herrschaft des Volkes.
Es kann nur erreicht werden, wenn jeder Einzelne zwei Dinge respek-
tiert: Erstens, uns dem Mehrheitswillen des Volkes audi dann zu fügen,
wenn die Meinung der Majorität nicht der eigenen Beurteilung und den
eigenen Wünsdien entspricht. Zweitens, alle wahrhaftigen Demokraten
müssen auf der Hut sein, daß die alte Klassenherrsdiaft der Rediten
nicht durdi eine neue Klassentyrannei der Linken ersetzt werde." Zehn
Jahre später erklärte Einstein: „Idi bekenne midi zum Ideal der Demo-
kratie, trotzdem mir die Naditeile demokratischer Staatsform wohl
bekannt sind."
Abrüstung und Meinungsfreiheit
In jenen ersten Nadikriegsjahren leuditete das wissenschaftliche Licht
Einsteins heller und heller, und sein Name erschien, besonders nachdem
er 1922 den Nobelpreis für Physik erhalten hatte, immer häufiger auf
den Frontseiten der Zeitungen — und er war mit den Hoffnungen und
Bestrebungen verbunden, nach dem Blutvergießen der Jahre 1914/18 eine
bessere Welt zu gestalten. Es war Einstein, der sidi gegen die Hunger-
blodade der Sieger wandte; es war Einstein, der als erster Deutsdier
in England und Frankreich mit Ehrerbietung, ja Begeisterung nadi dem
Kriege empfangen wurde, und es war Einstein, der die Wissenschaftler
zu überzeugen suchte, ihre Talente dem friedlidien Wettbewerb der
Völker zu leihen. Es war Einstein, der der Deutschen Liga für Mensdien-
redite in der großen deutsdi-französisdien Verständigungsarbeit seine
Unterstützung gab und den Victor Basch, der hinreißende Redner, als
740
ein Stud geistigen Brotes bezeidinete, von dem Europa hoffe, essen zu
können. Internationale Vereinbarungen für weitgehende Abrüstung,
Losung des Kriegslastenproblems, ein ehrenhafter modus vivendi in den
Beziehungen zur Sowjetunion waren Einsteins Neujahrsbotschaft (für
die Chicago Daily News) für das Jahr 1929. Einstein wußte die Kon-
sequenzen pohtisdier Apathie einzusdiätzen, als er zum Waffenstill-
standstag am 11. November 1928 erklärte:
Me politische Apathie der Völker in der Zeit des Friedens bedeutet^
daß sie allzu willfährig sind, sich später zur Schlachthank führen zu las-
sen. Weil sie heute sogar nicht einmal den Mut haben, ihre Unterschrift
zur Unterstützung der Abrüstung zu geben, werden sie gezwungen sein,
morgen ihr Blut zu vergießen.''
Diese Erkenntnis, sidi dem sdieinbar Unabänderlichen entgegenzu-
werfen als Pfhdit der ganzen Menschheit gegenüber, bradite Einstein in
Sympathie mit der Kriegsdienstverweigerungsbewegung. Aber Frieden
ohne Freiheit ist undenkbar, und so hat er oft in Deutsdiland und in
UbA seine Stimme für die Letztere erhoben.
Als die Deutsdie Liga für Mensdienredite als eine Dedcungsmaßnahme
das Komitee „Das Freie Wort« im Oktober 1932 ins Leben rief war
Einstein einer der drei Persönlidikeiten (neben Rudolf Olden und Hein-
rich Mann), die es bildeten. Er nahm an dem Kongreß „Das Freie Wort"
am 19. Februar 1933 nidit mehr teil, aber sein Name half, den Kon-reß
zu organisieren, diesen letzten Aufschrei des anderen Deutsdilands. Dann
begann die deutsche Nacht.
Einstein enttäuscht die Kriegsdienstverweigerer
Im Jahre 1933 brach Einstein angesichts der Maditergreifung Hitlers
mit seiner Überzeugung, Kriegsdienstverweigerung als das Mittel anzu-
sehen, den Frieden zu sidiern. Am 28. April 1933 schrieb er seinem alten
pazifistischen, englisdien Freunde, Lord Ponsonby, Protagonist der
Kriegsdienstverweigerung: „Sind Sie möglidierweise über die Tatsache
informiert, daß Deutsdiland fieberhaft aufrüstet und für den Krieg
vorbereitet wird? . . . Weldien Sdiutz, als den der organisierten Macht,
konnten Sie vorsdilagen?« Als ein junger französischer Pazifist, Alfred
Nahon, Einstein bat, für zwei Kriegsdienstverweigerer in Belgien zu
intervenieren, konferierte Einstein mit dem belgisdien König Albert
und der Königin Elisabeth. Diese Ausspradie bestärkte ihn darin daß
er unter den waltenden, gefahrvollen Umständen, die durdi die Wen-
dung in Deutsdiland heraufbesdiworen worden waren, nidit der Auf-
forderung seines französisdien Freundes nadizukommen in der Lage sei
Die Enttausdiung über Einsteins geänderte Haltung brachte ihn dazu,
den berühmten Brief an F. D. Roosevelt bezüglidi der Atombombe zu
unterzeichnen.
Viele Jahre später hat Einstein in einem Briefe an japanisdie Frie-
densfreunde semen Sdiritt zu reditfertigen gesudit, in dem er dem Her-
ausgeber von „Kaizo" in Tokio am 20. September 1952 sdirieb:
741
„Meine Teilnahme an der Herstelhmg der Atombombe besteht aus
einer einzigen Handlung: Ich untcrzuchnete einen Brief an Präsident
Roosevclt, in dem ich die Notwendigkeit betonte, groß angelegtes Ex-
perimentieren über die Durchführbarkeit der Herstellung einer Atom-
bombe vorzunehmen.
Ich war mir der furchtbaren Gefahr bewußt, die die Menschheit be-
drohen würde, falls die Experimente erfolgreich sein sollten. Doch ich
fühlte mich verpflichtet, den Schritt zu tun, weil die Wahrscheinlichkeit
bestand, daß die Deutschen an dem gleichen Projekt mit der Aussicht
auf Erfolg arbeiteten.
Ich sah keine Alternative als die, zu handeln^ wie ich es getan habe,
obgleich ich immer ein überzeugter Pazifist gewesen bin.
Ich glaube, daß das Töten menschlicher Wesen in einem Kriege nicht
besser ist als gewöhnlicher Mord; aber solange Nationen sich nicht dazu
entschließen können, den Krieg durch gemeinsame Aktion abzuschaffen,
und Mittel finden, ihre Streitigkeiten und Wahrung ihrer Interessen
durch friedliche Mittel gemäß den bestehenden Gesetzen auszutragen,
werden sie fortfahren, es für notwendig zu finden, sich für den Krieg
vorzubereiten. Sie werden sich gezwungen sehen, die vcrabscheuungs-
würdigsten Waffen herzustellen in der Furcht, hinter dem allgemeinen
Wettrüsten zurückzubleiben. Eine soche Haltung kann nur zum Kriege
führen, und Kriegführen würde heute die allgemeine Vernichtung
menschlichen Lebens bedeuten.
Es hat daher wenig Sinn, gegen die Herstellung spezieller Waffen zu
opponieren; die einzige Lösung ist, Krieg und Kriegsdrohung abzu-
schaffen. Das ist das Ziel, dem wir zustreben sollten. Wir müssen ent-
schlossen sein, alle Tätigkeiten abzulehnen, die diesem Ziel in irgend-
einer Weise widersprechen. Dies ist eine harte Forderung für jedes
Individuum, das sich seiner Abhängigkeit von der Gesellschaft bewußt
ist; aber es ist keine unmögliche Forderung.
Gandhi, das größte politische Genie unserer Zeit, hat den zu be-
schreitenden Weg vorgezeichnet. Er hat bewiesen, welche Opfer ein
Mensch zu bringen fähig ist, wenn er einmal den richtigen Weg erkannt
hat. Sein Werk um die Befreiung Indiens ist lebendiges Zeugnis für die
Tatsache, daß Menschenwille, gemeinsam mit unerschütterlicher Über-
zeugung, mächtiger ist als materielle Kräfte, die unüberwindbar schei-
nen.
(t
Albert Einsteins letzter Akt im Jahre 1955 war der Kriegsverhinde-
rung gewidmet, als er mit Bertrand Russell und adit anderen promi-
nenten Wissensdiaftlern einen Appell an die Wissenschaftler der Welt
richtete, zu einem Kongreß zusammenzutreten, der die Gefahr der
Atomwaffen dramatisieren sollte, weil ein neuer Krieg — das Ende
der Menschheit bedeuten würde.
Einstein und das neue Deutschland
Gegenüber dem neuen Deutschland blieb Einstein unversöhnlich. Er
wollte nicht mit ihm kooperieren. Die verbrecherische Ermordung
742
von Millionen unschuldiger Mensdien hatte ihn tief getroffen, und er
hatte Angst vor einer Remilitarisierung Deutschlands. Alle Einladungen,
sich mit wissenschaftlichen oder anderen Institutionen des neuen Deutsdi-
land zu verbinden, hat er mit Bestimmtheit abgelehnt. Keine Ehren-
bürger-Angebote (oder Orden) hat er angenommen, obwohl er viele
deutsdie Freunde hatte, mit denen er in Verbindung blieb, wie Otto
Hahn und Otto Lehmann-Russbüldt. Aber als Otto Hahn, der ge-
sdiätzte frühere Kollege von der Kaiser Wilhelm Gesellschaft, ihn auf-
forderte, der Max Planck-Gesellschaft als „ausländisches wissenschaft-
liches Mitglied" anzugehören, schrieb Einstein:
„Es sdomerzt mich, daß ich Ihnen als einem der wenigen Menschen, die
in diesen furchtbaren Jahren anständig geblieben waren und versuchten,
zu tun, was immer Sie konnten, nein sagen muß. Das Verbrechen der
Deutschen ist ivahrhaft schändlich — "
Dem früheren Präsidenten Theodor Heuss, der ihn über einen Plan
vom Wiederaufleben der Friedens-Sektion des alten preußisdien Ordens
Pour le Merite informierte und ihn fragte, ob er erneut Mitglied werden
würde, antwortete er kurz und bündig:
„Ich danke Ihnen für Ihren Brief vom 10. Januar 1951 und das dem-
selben beigefügte Material. Im Hinblick auf die Massenmorde, die die
Deutschen gegen das jüdische Volk vollführt haben, erscheint es klar,
daß ein sich selbst respektierender Jude nicht wünschen kann, irgendwie
mit einer offiziellen deutschen Institution verbunden zu sein. Die Er-
neuerung meiner Mitgliedschaft in dem Pour-le-Merite-Orden kommt
daher nicht in Frage.**
Diese persönliche Stellungnahme hinderte ihn nicht, die amerikanische
Politik zu verstehen, Deutschland wirtsdiaftlidi beizustehen. Einstein,
der so vieles versucht hatte, den Kräften des Guten in Deutschland zur
Herrschaft zu verhelfen, war nicht unversöhnlidi aus Haß, sondern er
war in seinem ganzen ethischen Bewußtsein derart verletzt, daß er kei-
nen anderen Weg fand, als sich von Deutschland fernzuhalten — in
dessen Sprache er bis zu seinem Lebensende schrieb und redete.
Diese Haltung war bedauerlich, weil sie nicht die Kräfte in Deutsch-
land ermutigte, die so sehr der Ermutigung bedürfen. Albert Einstein,
ein Riese unter den Großen der letzten fünfundsiebzig Jahre, symbo-
lisierte den Gegensatz zu denen, die zu schnell und geschäftig sich über
die jüngste grausame Vergangenheit hinwegsetzten. Letztlich wird
Einsteins vom Schmerz diktierte Haltung von vielen Deutschen, auf
die es ankommt, verstanden werden, weil sie sich und die vorangegan-
gene Generation fragen: wie war es möglich?! Vielleicht liegt in Einsteins
Standpunkt des Nicht-vergebens und Nicht-vergessens, des Nidit-ko-
operierens tiefe, aber enttäuschte Liebe für ein Deutschland zugrunde,
das er immer mit seinen Freunden erstrebte, aber zu seinen Lebzeiten
nicht verwirklicht sah.
743
I t
A Scientisf s
Other World
EINSTEIN ON PEACE. Edited by Otto
Nathan and Heinz Norden. Preface
by Bertrand Russell. 704 pp. New
York: Sinken & Schuster. $8.50.
By BARBARA WARD
VIRTUALLY everything that
Albert Einstein, the great-
est scientist of our Century,
wrote on the issue of peace and
war and international relations
has been brought together be-
tw'een the covers of this book.
The words are left to speak for
themselves in strict chronologi-
cal order with the briefest thread
of narrative to connect them,
year by year. No attempt is
made to interpose the person-
alities or views of the editors.
This is Einstein, as directly as
we shall ever hear his views.
Such a course could have
grave disadvantages. Notes thus
pieced together from a multi-
tude of sources could easily lack
any sense of drama and crisis,
and stray writings could as
easily convey little sense of the
central outlook of the writer
himself. This collection of writ-
ings avoids both pitfalls. For
one thing, the years that are
covered — 1914 to the death of
Einstein in 1955 — are among the
most fateful in the human rec-
ord. They impose their own
dramatic unity. For another, the
author's integrity and purpose
are so forthright and inescap-
able that his writings, even in
the most clumsy and humdrum
translation, cannot fall to con-
vey the man himself.
And what a man he was! The
scientist appears only coinci-
dentally in these papers. There
is, naturally, no direct descrip-
tion of the vastness of the scien-
tific contribution or the vigor
and Vision of his continued re-
search. But the moral pre-con-
ditions of disinterested inquiry
recur, as naturally— ^in his pro-
found concem for human integ-
rity and independence, in his de-
fense of the complete freedom
of scientific research, in his total
•\bstention from pretense or van-
il ' or the prima-donna qualities
that, all too often. accompany
human excellence. This is per-
haps another way of saying that
Einstein's scientific integrity
was part of his profound moral
and human integrity — an integ-
! rity based on personal modesty
coupled with an uncompromis-
ing Claim for individual dignity
and independence.
Such a man is not lightly dis-
regarded, in life or in death,
especially when his words take
on, again and again. a prophetic
JT^ '.
Albert Einstein at 70.
quality. The flrst poltical mani-
feste he signed- in 1914— called
for a united Europe, an objec-
tive for which the struggle still
goes on. In the relatively civi-
lized World of the Twenties, he
proclaimed the right of the indi-
vidual to refuse military Service
as a means of weakening the
govemments* tendency to accept
the use of organized violence.
He was, however, among the
first of the pacifists after 1933
to see that Hitler could be
checked only by vigorous col-
lective defense. He was also one
of the first to recognize Church-
ill's wisdom. Yet his clear-
sightedness over the Nazi threat
did not pitch him, as it did so
many others, into a blind de-
fense of Soviet Russia as early
as 1932 he saw through the first
of all the phony "peace" Confer-
ences organized as a front for
communism.
Later, he foresaw — and
warned President Roosevelt —
that the Germans might manu-
facture the atomic bomb first.
Bqually. he foretold Russia's
ability to make its own bomb
and the consequences that
might flow from it. Such a
combination of integrity, impar-
tiality and prescience is not eas-
ily dismissed. Einstein still
speaks to our condition; we
still disregard him only at a
great risk to ourselves and our
survival. Three of his most per-
sistent themes are in particular
worth pondering as we face a
new year and, in America, a new
Administration.
The first is that to include in
the Wesfs defense an unlimited
reliance upon Gefman rearma-
ment is to invite a repetition of
the follies of a tragic past. The
second is that, profound as have
been Russia's errors since 1945
— and none denounced the dan-
gers of its doctrinaire and ex-
clusive approach more roundly
than Einstein— they have sprung
in part from fear, distrust and
misunderstanding- reactions for
which the West is not wholly ir-
responsible.
The third and greatest theme
is that there can be no hope, no
peace, no possibility even of
avoiding annihilation unless
mankind can agree to minimal
institutions of world govern-
ment in order to police and
safeguard a world rule of law.
No issue engaged the great
scientist more profoundly than
this. No other goal so consist-
entlv excited his passionate
Support — from his first political
manifesto to the very day of
his death. As he wrote shortly
before he died: "The develop-
ment of atomic power has im-
bued the [East-West] struggle
with a ghostly character; for
both parties know and admit
that, should the quarrel deterio-
rate into actual war. mankind is
doomed."
As one reads his pleas and
Statements, the uneasy realiza-
tion grows that in the fifteen
years since Hiroshima men have
lost a little of the great horror
they feit at the possibility of
imminent annihilation for the
human race. They have leamed
to live almost unconcemedly
with the ultima te risk. One may
therefore hope that these papers
Sil «♦;«.
^^v% g^r% r,*T^r»»*^ r» *^rkw%«»^\
i
Butthcsegrade-onethinkerswerefew\
and far between. They did not visit my \
grammar school m the t1esh though they \^*
were therc in books. I aspired to ihem, ^^ l
partly because I was ambitious and \^'
parlly because I now saw my hobby as
an unsatisfactory thing if it went no
rurther. Ifyou set out lo clinib a nioun-
tain, however high you climb, you have
faiied ifyou cannot reach the top.
I i/id meet an undeniably grade-one
thinkcr in my tirst year at Oxford. I was
lookingoverasmall bridge in Magdalen fs;
-1)
Deer Park, and a tiny mustached and
hatted tlgurc came and stood by my side. s.
He was a German who had just Hed ^ ;
from the Nazis to Oxford as a tempo- ^
rary refuge. His name was Einstein.
But Professor Einstein knew no Eng- J^
lish at that time and I knew only two -^
words of German. I beamed at him, xy
trying wordlessly to convey by my bear- J
ing all the affection and respect that the ^^
English feit for him. It is possible — and ^
I have to make the admission— that I ^^^
feit here were two grade-one thinkers n^
Standing side by side; yet I doubt if my
face conveyed more than a formless
awe. I would have given my Greek and
Latin and French an'J a good slict* of mv
English for enough German to com-
municate. But we were divided; he was
as inscrutable as my headmaster. Eor
perhaps hve minutes we stood together
on the bridge, undeniable grade-one
thinker and breaihless aspirant. With
true greatness, Professor Einstein re-r
alized that any contact was better thar
none. He pointed to a trout wavering in
midstream.
Hespoke: ''Fischr
My brain reeled. Here I was, mingling r"^
with the great, and yet helpless as the\^
veriestgrade-three thinker. Dcsperately
I sought for some sign by which I might
convey that I, too, revered pure reason.
I nodded vehemently. In a brilliant flash
I used up half my German vocabulary.
''Fisch. Ja. Ja.''
1 1
For perhaps another five minutes
we stood side by side. Then Professor
Einstein, his whole hgure still conveying
good will and amiability, drifted away
out of sight.
1
im
i
m^
^
t
ff^
V) v^
THE NEW YORK TIMES, TUESDAY. OCTOBER 16.
Books of The Times
By CHAHI
THE greatest revohitionary of our tlme
was also the gentlest. He is the subject
of an excellently readable biographical
Portrait: "Einstein, Profile of the Man."*
The man found ordcr in chaos. As the
foremost theoretical physicist since Newton,
he needed for his work only some paper, a
hlackboard, a pencil, some chalk.
Under bleak conditions he prodaced glow-
ing ideas. They led to explosions heard
round the world. His theories— particularly
the one on Relativity— became fighting is-
sues. He deplored that. He wanted very
much to see mankind learn to live in peace.
Combative by nature (for reasons that
Freud later oxplained to Einstein), man
went on fighting and Einstein grieved. But
a droll sense of humor lightened his gloom.
If some of my foregoing remarks need
the appropriately relativist qiialifications of
biirnt-fingered caiition, they may be applied
at will. Let us proceed now to the Ein-
stmian material gathered for this book by
Peter Michelmore, an Australian newspaper-
man posted in New York.
Hedwig Born, the wife of Max Born, the
physicist, was troiibled by the idea that
ficience secniod rather determined to reduce
Ihe wondrous mysteries of our universe to
cool equalions.
A Symphonie Consolation
••It's conceivable they will," Einstein ac-
Vnowledged. "But don't worry. It would be
forever inadequate- .something like repre-
senting a Beethoven symphony by air pres-
sure curvcs."
Einstein's ideas— that mas3 Is bottled
energy, that nothing in the universe is at
rest and everything has to be described as
moving relatively to something eise— baffled,
instructed and enrhanted the world at large.
It stirred furies, too. One thing it could not
be: it could not be ignored.
In the dark years after World War I,
Einstein, who had been born at Ulm on the
Danube in 1879, livcd a troubled life in
Berlin though he also held Swiss citizenship.
Farne broiight mixed rewards and hazarda.
"Rightist newspapers," Mr. Michelmore
notes, "implied that he had some foul plot
to discredit Oerman science with his 'stiipid
Relativity." They found scientists of Intense
patriotism who,' in letters and articles, de-
. cried Relativity as 'Bolshevism in physics.'"
This, Mr. Michelmore dryly adds, "seemed
odd in the light of a Moscow denouncement
that Relativity was 'a product of the bour-
geois class in decomposition.' "
At one point Einstein moonlighted extra
m.oney by serving as a Consultant to German
industrial enterprises. One firm, we are
told, made a fortune out of an idea for
ma.4-produced refrigerators advanced by
him. ^
On a trip around the world he got a
five-day-old cable in Shanghai notifying him
.ES POORK
f
< ..^..•_«_.j^,".*.'>.^^.^yi.'vi.O(>
.-^Ä--
The New Yoik Times (by raiiiLi. a. Burn«)
Albert Kinstein
• EINSTEIN, PROFILE OF THE MAN. By
Prter Michelmore, 269 payes. Dodd, Mead.
s:i75.
that he had won the 1921 Nobel Prize "for
your photoelectric law and your work in the
field of theoretical physics." Not a word
about Relativity. However, Ein.stein blandly
ignored his photoelectric law in his speech
accepting the prize. Instead, he discussed
Relativity.
Einstein worked for peace early and late
in his career, from the nationalism-torn
landscapea of Europe to the quiet of the
Institute for Advanced Study backed by two
philanthropists, Louis Bamberger and Mrs.
Felix Fuld, at Princeton.
He liked Princeton. He could play hia
violin there. He could sail his boat. He could
ponder the mysteries of man'a wasteful use
of his world.
And Refuge With a Child
♦•Princeton is a wonderful little spot," he
wrote his friend and fellow musician. Queen
Elizabeth of Belgium— "a quaint and cere-
monious village of puny demigods on stilts.
Yet, by ignoring certain .social Conventions, I
have been able to cieate for myself an at-
niosphere conducive to study and free from
distraction."
Not all distraction.q. A small girl Inter-
nipted a chanee meeting of some stilted
niinds. Ein.stein left them and conversed with
the child.
Einstein concluded that too many intel-
lectuals talked big and acted little on their
oonvictions. All kinds of cause-chasers
sought his maje.stic and benevolent support.
But he tended to regard their paper-frenzies
with a somewhat skeptical eye.
♦•He wanted harmony in his music as well
as in his universe," Mr. Michelmore sums up.
•'To him, this meant Mozart." Apart from
Einstein, there are not, in the whole history
of science, many geniuses with the Mo-
zartean spirit.
/•^
U
\n
,1
EINSTEIN— Thi$ 1952 portrait of the scicn-
ti$t wa$ in color, as «rc many Frasconi woodcuts.
NOVEMBER 3, 19*3
1
Splendid in Bitter Isolation
cINSTEIN: Profile of the Man. By
Peter Michelmore. 269 pp. New
York: Dodd, Mead & Co. $3.75.
By WILLIAM L LAURENCE
ALBERT EINSTEIN was one
of the legendary figures
of the twentieth Century whom
George Bemard Shaw described
as one of the "makers of the
universe." He was both an
Olympian, who walked the earth
in sohtude, and a humble, lov-
able human being, whom the
masses of the people everywhere
recognized as a spiritual leader.
As the years passed the figure
of Einstein, the human being,
became more and more remote,
while that of Einstein the legend
stood out more and more.
Peter Michelmore, an Aus-
tralian newspaper man working
in New York, decided to write
thls "Profile of the Man," after
he discovered that the many
volumes so far written about
Einstein "stressed his scientific
work but invariably neglected
the man himself." He obtained
much of the material for this
volume, in fact, all the original
material, by interviewing Hans
Albert Einstein, the scientist's
eider son, now a professor of
hydraulic engineering at the
University of California in
Berkeley.
This material provides new
light on a hitherto obscure
chapter in the private life of
the great physicisi and human-
itarian — about his first mar-
riage and divorce; about his
family . relationships and about
the tragic story of his second
son Edward, who suffered a
serious nervous breakdown. This
material is woven into a read-
able story that gives the reader
a closer view of this Olympian
figure than has been available
until now.
•|\/|R. MICHELMORE has also
dug deeply into long forgotten
newspaper files and has resur-
rected much interesting material
worth preserving, such as one of ;
Einstein's early answers to the
inevitable request for an ex-
planation of relativity in simple
♦frnis. eiven by him to report-1
ers on his first airival in New
York in April, 1921.
"It is a theory of space and
time," Einstein said. '
"Oh. come on, Professor, we
need a little more than that,"
the reporters persisted.
"Well," said Einstein, "just as
a joke and not to be taken too
Hterally, relativity has this ef-
fect on any thought of the uni-
verse: up to now the conceptions
of time and space have been
such that if everything in the
universe were taken away. if
there was nothing left. thei
there would still remain to ma
time and space. But under nc
theory, even time and space
would cease to exist because
they are inseparably bound up
with the conceptions of matter."
This satisfied the press: "Ein- '
stein said today that he had
destroyed time and space." |
Albert Einstein, 1950.
We get a more down-to-earth
View of Einstein through the
recollections of his eider son
who talks frankly about his
father in this book. For the
first time the veil is lifted on
the relationship of Einstein to
hi9 wife, Mileva, the mother of
his two children, who Stands
y/revealed as a figure in a Greek
tragedy.
"You will see that I will al-
ways remain true to you, in my
way," Einstein wrote to her
in a letter from Berlin telling
her to divorce him. He often
went to Zürich to visit her and
the boys. During these brief
interludes, Mileva and the boys
were keenly aware of Einstein's
love for them. It was a heart-
felt love. "While it was there it
was very sirong," the eider boy
remembered. "He needed to be
loved himself. But almost the
instant you feit the contact,
he would push you away. He
would not let himself go. He
would tum off his emotion like
a tap."
Einstein himself feit the bit-
temess of this inability "to let
himself go."
"I have never belonged whole-
heartedly to country or State,
to my circle of friends, or even
to my own family." he wrote.
"Such Isolation is sometimes
bitter, but I do not regret being
cut off from the understanding
and sympathy of other men. I
lose something by it, to be sure,
but I am compensated for it in
being rendered independent of
the customs, opinions, and pre-
judices of others, and am not
tempted to rest my peace of
mind upon such shifting foun-
dations."
This profile gives a clear and
poignant portrait of Einstein
the man and his private life. As
such, it is an important con-
tribution to the lore of one of
the intellectual giants of our
times.
yn{\
i
The Tax Man Comeih
I Albkrt Einstein oncc admittcd that figuring out his U. S. income tax
I was beyond him — he had to go to a tax Consultant. "This is too difficult
for a mathematician," said Einstein. "It takes a philosophcr." -rime
From the Complcte Poems of Robert Frost:
Never ask ot money spcnt
Wherethe spender thinks it wem.
Nobody was ever mcant
To remember or invent
What he did with cvery cent.
— Publishcd by Holt, Rinehart and Winston
— V*"--»»
f f Pipe Smoking contributes to
a somewhat calm and objec-
üve judgment in our human
affairs."
— Albert Einstein.
A8 science editor of The
Mr. Laurence urHtes fre-
New Horizons via the Telescope
Astronomers and their remorkable instruments peer ever deeper into the heavens
lo add to our growing knowledge of a 'hundred thousond million billion stars/
hcL-ulK^ IHI
I
By HARLOW SHAPLEY
TS there something revolutionary go-
ing on these days in the most
ancient of sciences? There was a
Cime not long ago when the astonomers
seemed to devote their main attention
to comets, variable stars, sun spots,
eclipses and the temperatures of stars
and empty space. None of these had
importance in the everyday life of the
layman — they provided no food, no
shelter, no material comfort and very
httle entertainment. The astronomers
for the most part admitted that the
old science was of little practica! value;
and they were proud of it. They
searched out the mysteries of the stars
for the sake of knowledge.
But are we not now hearlng much
more of the astronomical observatories
and astronomical problems? Indeed we
are, and the reason is not hard to find.
The jet planes and rockets, the fall-
out and astronauts, have tumed our
gaze upward. Beyond the thin gaseous
atmosphere is the beckoning moon, and
the planet s circling the sun. Beyond the
solar System is a vast emptiness, and
then other stars; and beyond them we
are reaching into the wheel-shaj^ed
"home galaxy" of a hundred billion
stars. Its indefinite bounds lead us to
more space, more galaxies and the
mystery of the Metagalaxy, or galaxy
V/llt<
-*.cm, that thertTIT^^together more
than a hundred thousand million bil-
lion Stars in the universe. The sun Is
one of those stars. Knowledge of such
mighty Spaces, times and numbers has
filtered down through the astronomical
terminology to language that we all
understand. In consequence, we are
now hearing much more about things
astronomical than our fathers heard.
The growth of astronomical knowl-
edge owes much to other sciences. It
is indebted to optics for the revolu-
tionary glass telescopes, to engineering
for the great radio-astronomy instru-
ments, to chemistry for thoughts of
life on other planets, to geology for
measuring the ages of rocks and me-
teorites, to mathematics, of course, for
the theories about the interiors of stars
and the source of the solar energ^ that
heats the earth and other planets.
These accessory sciences have naturally
affected the training of astronomers,
who have to know more about elec-
tronics and nuclear physics than here-
tofore.
XTL^W did this change come about?
Advances in mathematics had but little
to do with the astronomical revolution;
but physics had much to do with it —
as well as mechanical engineering, for
engineering has made possible the
manufacture of large reflecting tele-
scopes. I shall name a few of these
asslsts to the astronomer f rom the Wide
field of physics.
(1) Einstein's Special Theory of
Relativity of (Continued on Page 68;
HARLOW SHAPLEY, an astronomer for more
than forty years, has been Paine Profestor
of Astronomy, emcritus, at Harvard since
1956. He is the author cf **Of Stars and Men."
MARCN 11, 19«2
EYE TO THE SKY — An observer works at the negative piate holder in the prtmc-focus cage of the 200-inch Haie reficctor telescope «t Palomar
Observatory. At the top is one of the photographs taken by the Haie telescope — the central section of the spiral salaxy known as Mcssier 33.
65
New Horizons
Via Telescope
fCoHtinued from Page ß5>
1905 permitted the discov-
ery of the equivalence of
matter and energy (E=MC2)
and gave the astronomer that
remarkable tool for the study
of the sources of sunlight, for-
merly a profound mystery.
(2) The accurate measure
of the velocity of light, and
its constancy. provided a unii
of steller distances.
(3) The invention of the
photo-electric tube yielded a
süperb device for measuring
the intensity of light with an
accuracy far beyond that pos-
sible with the human eye or
Photographie plate.
(4) The invention and de-
velopment of aircraft got
some astronomical tools off
the earth into cur planet's at-
mosphere, the exploration of
which has revealed stränge
electronic zones. and even re-
vealed heretofore unknowrn
facts about the interior of
the earth into our planet's at-
bomb.
V^HEMISTRY enters also
our study of the atmospheres of
planets; for example, we now
know that the big planet Jupi-
ter has an atmosphere of hy-
drogen gas, methane (marsh
gas) and ammonia; Mars' at-
mosphere Is probably mostly
planes — but also by the hap-
pier contrlbutions, such as the
weather-survey satellites. the
explorations of the Van Allen
electronic belts and the study
of micro-meteorites which
have much to say to any space
travelers who are not pre-
pared to fend off these twenty-
five - mile - a - second meteoric
pellets from interplanetary
Space.
T.
THINKER AT WORK— Albert Einstein's tkcories of relativity gave «stronomere invaluable new tools for
studyms the workings of the universe. Above, he Icctures a< Carnesie Institute in Pittsburgk in 1934.
nitrogen; the earth's present
atmosphere blanket is more
than three-fourths nitrogen
and more than 20 per cent
oxygen. Geochemistry enters
our packet of astronomical
knowledge when we seek to
know the age of ancient fossil-
bearing i-ocks and the age,
therefore, of thls planet. And,
of course, the well-known
transmutation of four hydro-
gen atonris into one helium
atom plus gamma radiation is
a simple Chemical reaction at
vcry high temperatures. On
the basis of that knowledge we
make — alas ! — the hydrogen
bombs.
The boom in astronomical
curiosity and knowledge in re-
cent years owes much, of
course, to the word "satel-
lite." Until the man-made
satellites began to litter the
Upper atmosphere most of us
knew satellite chiefly as a
Word tricky to spell, and as a
synonym for moon. But now
we also know the words peri-
gee and apogee, eccentricity
and orbital inclination. The
public interest in satellites is
enhaneed by awareness of
some evil by-products — mis-
HE public interest in as-
tronomy had, however, been
growing rapidly for several
decades, well before we began
reaching for the moon. This
evolving Situation can be best
presented by reporting on sev-
eral astronomical highlights
since 1900. I have recently as-
sembled a "Source Book of As-
tronomy, 1900-1950 ' In the
course of that work I soon dis-
covered that in these past five
decades we have contributed
more to knowledge of the as-
tronomical universe than we
had contributed in all the pre-
ceding four centuries. Here
are nine outstanding develop-
ments:
(1) It is difficult to point
out the highhghts in the order
of imp)ortance. It seems un-
questionable, however. that
the half-century list should
Start off with the Theories of
Relativity. Those mathema-
tical-physical deductions will
live indefinitely. The first, the
Special Theory, will live long
because it introduced the prin-
\
T
siles. anti-missile missiles, spy (ContinHed on Page 7
;
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68
THE NEW YORK TIMES MAGAZINE
Jw
(%'!
u
L
X^
\
The Atom Explorers
• A
-.?
Einstein Toppled Old Theories
B> DAMÜ IUI IZ
Oui pipjipnt vievv ol tlip na-
ture of tho univeisr rests on
two rovolutionary thcories at
romplet«» variance with ITMh
Centun virws. Onp 15 tlip
thcoiy of irlativity; the oihor,
quantum tbeory.
AlbPit Lmstrin. who fnr
Tr.ulatrd tlif thoory of rela
tivity. pla>ed a mir rt oqual
importancp in thr rlevrlop
mein of quam um thcoiy.
Kor ihe stau ol tiir stoiy we must pn hack
to the ycar lOOr». By that linip. physicists had
come to thr icalization ihat ihc way in which
d heated body gave nn its energy in tlie torm
of heat and lighl failed to conform to theorcli-
cal consideiations.
• • ♦
In that \ear. a Geimar. phvsicist. Max
Planck, «howed that the dUficulties coiild be
done away with by assuminr that the encrgy,
instead of Coming' off in a continuous stream,
was leleascd in driblets or bursts.
This was a revohitionary su^sestion and
most physicists of iho day wnr unwilhns to
accrpt lt. Bui thr ie\okition had onlv hojiim.
The rrai break with dassiral IhfOiy was
made by Einstein in the .\ear 1005, ihe saine
year in which he foimuiatcd thp theon' of
relativity llr holdly pioposed thai pliysirists
abandon th^ notion that enei^y, including hght.
consisted of contmuous uaves.
He suggested that energy ah'.av^ exisred
in the form of disrretc packets or bullet? and
he coined the name. quanta, for these buUets.
Today, they are usually called photons. but the
basic theoiy is still cailed the quantum theory
• » .♦
The great scientist arrived at his notion of
the nature of energy from a stud\ of the photo-
elcctnc pflect.
Ir had been known pnoi to JrjOO that wheri
a bcain of light— particulaily a beam of ultra-
vio!r-t hrjht or X lays-fell npoii a mrtallir sui-
lace. electrons weie knocked out of the surface
This phenomenon of couise. is thp basis of
the f'lcctric eye or photo-electiir tube in com-
mon u!=e today It makps pos.":ible the televusion
cameia. (
Likp the
notlons of me^
out the Window
ladiation of eneigy from a heated
r.od> the photoelectnc effect defird explana-
tioii on Ihe basis of classical theory. ^^
Nlel> Bohl, the gif^at Danish physicist. laid
the founddtions foi- the modein theory of the
atom by api>lying Emstein's idea to atomjc
structure.
Bohl swept the dassical
chanics and elcctrodynamics.
With his picture of tlie atom
All this t(.ok place in 1013. Bohr was luSt
a Noung man of 27 woikin^' in the laboratory
of Lord flutheriord, tlien only Prof. Ernest
Rutherfoid. at the Univeisity of Manchester.
Rutherfoid picviously had announced liis
discovery that the atom consisted of a hard
"ore or nucleu.s sunoundcd by a cloud ol
elections. ?,
But this left physicists with a puzzle. It
was neccFsary to assume that the electrons
were rotating aiound the nucleus; othenvipe
they would lall into it and the, atom would
collapse.
However.
eneigy and,
A.« a result,
anyway.
Moref»vcr. a.^ u slowrd up. it ought to emit
hght of (oiifetantly decrcasmg wave-lenglh. This
uas not the rase.
Dl Bohr >-olvrd thi«- pi.zz!e hy applyiaj
FJinstein's notion of the nature of energy 10 the
behavior of ihe atom
• • •
Here is the revolutionär v picture of atomic
behavior which Bohr painted:
Electrons are capable of circling the nucleus
only in certain definite orbits An electron does
not emit light while in one of these orbits. It
is possible. however. Tor an electron to iump
from one orbiTlo anoHier When this happens.,
it emit.«? a quantum of hght .;^
Kach oibit can be ihought of as an energy
1p\c1. Whon an electron ahsorb«; a quantum bf
energy. it lumps Irom a .»-maller to a larger
orbit. Wlien it emits a quantum of energy it
falls ba-.k to the smaller oibit
TOMOKKÜW . Atom Grows More Compü'
cated.
a rotating electron ought to emit
as it did .^o. ii ought to slow up.
11 ought to fall into the nucleus
//
(
S
K^AGAZINE PAGE ONE
NEW YORK POST. THURSDAY. MAY 23. I<?63
L
Sons of the Famous
ARTICLE /V
Bv JERRY TALLMEK
E'NSTEIN, Afberl, mctKer- ' ' '-p'^ysicist; born Um
rrifny. Vvarch U, "879, ci'e3 P ' N. J, April IB, "l^i-
pounded Theory o^ Re.otivitv. .«'ja. L'i;<ied Field Theorv, If?^
to ü. S . 1923. lOinlPB institu^e for AOvanceo Studv; olertea
öent Rooseve't to P0Ei.bI"iti« of etonnic bomb. "'939; b= -■
C'ri:er ivi"!; autror v.ean.ng o^ Reisti^-tr n923). l .
Re:^' V- *» '92'', inv« "• Tneo^v o< ^^>e Brow
On rt>« v^€«-^od of "•
i 3Tiund Freud, i93J'; T-e
ip Physics, 1931; married
E:»a Ensten. *?'7 (d^ed
:4, 1904 . Eduard (bom 19
r^ffr- '^2i). AbouT r
P*!V£-C5 (^932 1; Why V.sr-
VS..-V
»5 1 See It (1934^- Möbel
P»- re
r '00' -
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Hans AL.
. >
Ger-
5 pro-
. came
P'-es-
U. S.
■'S on
■" ve-
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AoriO
V.iieva
193* i;
iO'.
IX HIS OFFICE at the University of California.
Berkeley, Hans Albert Einstein said: ' What was
the name of that bock?"' His inflections are a 59
year-old blend of Swiss German and piain American.
••Oh yes." said Einstein. ••'Life on the Mississippi,' I
didn't recognize it fiist in EngUsh. Yes. yes, I read
it in German long ago. It is one of the best descrip-
tions of a river you can find. Of course you have
to read between the Iine^, too. to learn something
trom it."
Einstein should kno%v. He is one of the small.
expert handful of praciicing-and-teaching hydraulic
engineers. His trade has mostly to do with river^».
••Rivers don't like to -be changed around," he said.
-They fight back."
By the time he entered Zurieh's Federal Institute
of Technology in 1922. Han.s Einstein knew he wanted
to be an engineei. 'Ho^v that arose I don't know. I
just wanted to do it. As a matter of fact, my father
was not very happy about it either. He thought I
might make a scientist rather thaji an engineer."
With a low chuckle the son of Albert Einstein
said: *'Later on he changed his mind." And with a
sort of growl he added: "I think my decision saved
me from a lot of grief, a? you can understand." He
did not pursue that theme.
"Essentially," he said, 'I was brought up in Berne.
S^^itzerland, to the age of 5, except when we were
one and a half > ears in Prague, 1911-12. After Herne,
it was Zürich. I went to public school for six years
and then to the Gymnasium, the State high school.
Then the Institute. My parents were together until
191 4-— when he was 10. "After that I lived with my
mother."
She was Mileva Maritsch. a Serbian from Hungary
with a Greek Orthodox background, once a feüow-
Student of Albert Einstein's ai the same Institute.
She ;s described by Philipp Frank in "Einstein: His
Life and Times" as "a free-thinker and progressive . . .
like most of the Serbian students" who had ''always
carried on a violent struggle against the Magyar
domination."
Frank also characterizes her as "extremely taci
turn and rather unrespon.sive" with **something blunt
and Stern about her." The son does not agree. "Stern?
Severe? This is not, I believe, really correct. A person
vho had gone through all kinds of mishaps and so
on, but not really severe. I would say" — he pauaed
for thought— "abie to give . . . and in need of love.
That means somebody not essentially based rn in-
tellect." A few words like *'essentially" and ph^r^ses
like "as a mat* »r oi fact** are habituai in his s; -h.
Jife" He posed uith his son for photogrophers,
and they left in a chauffeiirdrhen limousme. He
satd they would not go to Princeton immedicttely.
**I remember things of my childhood. things about
Jiim." Hans Albert Einstein said now. in his Office.
"But nothing that would stand out. How he looked.
how he behaved. Especially that he ahvays loved to
walk. He walked until his death. He enjoyed nature
verv much. as I do. I think that's where I learned it.
Of course. as soon as he got interested in an idea.
that was the end of everything: he forgot his sur-
roundings. And he always loved music. There was
Chamber music in the house quite regularly. some-
times good. sometimes not so good. In the later years
I was perniitted to turn the pages of the music foi
him. Yes. I Lke music today, radio. records, son;e
concerts. There are som^e quite good ones here at the
university. But it's too much effort to go aver to the
city (San Francisco» in spiie of the fact that tlie best
concerts are over there."
Einstein the son graduated from the Zürich Insti-
tute in 1926.
"Early in 1927 I started four years in the steel in-
dustry, at Dortmund, westein Germany, as a designer
of bridges and buildings for a firm namcd Klonne.
HANS ALBERT EINSTEIN
< ''ÄU I did all my Ufe f> v^rk'
place where I didn*t find a formor Student. Quite a
few of them are teaching. As a matter of fact, of all
tho people who made the doctorate with me, eight or
10 are teaching hydraulics one place or another."
A.q:ain he chuckled as he said: "A harmless type of
Population explosion."
He also does free-lance hydraulic work in a Con-
sultant capacity. "As a matter of fact the university
wams US to do that. You can only stay up to date in
your teaching that way. Otherwise you beeome stale."
Einstein has been involved in the development of the
Mississippi, tlie Missouri, the Rio Grande, and other
rivers in Utah. Mexico, India, Thailand.
"My outside stuft is about 10 per cent of my work.
At the university my teaching may take up let's say
40 per Cent, and research, includino^ the research of
students, takes 60 per cent. Then in addition to that
theres about 20 per cent red tape. no? You see that
the whole thing," he said cheerfully. "adds up to 130
per cent."
He has written no books but a good many hydrau-
lics paper.^. "Tn this particular field things go so fast
that ifs almost hopeless to wiite a book. It'.s out of
date by the time it comes out. Some people have
tried— not very good." But his papers are still read
15 years after he wiote them. "Their subject is rivers.
The characteristic there is that the flow is not flowin.*?
through a pii>e but through a Channel that caQ^ chani,^?
ili>eif. Changing the Channel is what makes it difficult."
A Short man, 5-foot-7 — exactly his father's height—
Einstein weighs 'usually 180 or a liitle more pounds.**
At Princeton he and his father were able "to wear
one anothers shoes, clothes, any thing." He has brown
hair with a lütle giray in it; wears glasses; di'
in the average American way. "Let's sa\ in the avu;-
age California way."
He was married in 1927 to a Zürich girl named
Frieda Knecht. They had a son named B^'rnard ("We
decided there were enough A's in the family so we
Started with B's"» who is now 33 and a nhy*;loi<:t i"
the Los Angeles area for Westinghou.se. A son named
Klaus, who was two years youn^er, died shortly after
they arrived in America. A daughter, Evelyn, 22,
is just finisJiing up as a German major at U. of C.
Frieda Knecht died in 1958. Einstein then mar-
ried Elizabeth . . . "Hah! Well, Fll teil you her maidc
name right away. Yes, that's very much in the fami'
character, ab.sent-mindedness. Ah. Roboz, Kliza^M
Roboz, a Hungarian name. She also is a teachei
chemistry. at our University of California Medicai
Center in San Francisco. How old she is? No, that
I don't know myself. ' (She is approximately his age.'
They live in Berkeley in a small house with a
beautilul view. They drive separate cars to their sepa-
rate Jobs. Einstein drives an Oldsmobile with mo^
than lOiO.OOO miles on it— "If you want to make
little advertisement for the Olds."
AS Hi: SAID. Hh L0\ ES NATUKi:. IN THIO PAS'
eight years he has found "the best way of gettin.
to nature" is by sailing. He has a 2:j-foot *loop-whic'.
he sails whenever he can on .San Francisco bay. On
or another of his children often accompanies him.
Einstein reads very little, he says, outside o'
work. "TTiat's a dark chapter. If one has to rf
much for ones own business, the desire to rea*^'
th n:?s isn't so big any more." He is an oc«
th( ater-goer--"not too often.' He daims to
involved in Community or politicai aflfairs. *
I try not to '(x\ Sometimes l'm dragged in
find out very quickly after they drasi rne i'
r'* much use. After all, you hr
whatever vou «star«
•irr.$ ^^ reis ^^^-^^ '^''^^"no ot 1U2<U^ o Ivxans
Sil
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oc
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.3., pu.M.ij « r.nni/uul iio MHun snoiAqo ouio..
luun uiUo.ip S0U1U1BJ •'^^^;.; \^^;'\ ,^7 jo a^iKulxo
in i>sBo.KnH
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^nn .loj suond.>>o.i "^^l^ ll^^l.oi .qi^^M .nun lie
■»•»•"*».■• .'^'
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1 1 1 > 1 1
• ■ ..
ivöm Mileva Maritsch and a few years latc ii
Berlin, married his cousin Elsa Einstein, a gemu ,ch
widow with whom he lived in relative contentmeni
until her death in 1936.
Hans Albert Einstein did not see him again until
1937, when he, Hans Albert, was a grown man
of 33 on a visit to the U. S. to size up the countr>''s
hydraulic needs and to see his lather, at the latter's
request, after Elsa 's death. They met at the Holland-
America piers in Hoboken. From a 1937 clipping:
Despite his name and Ihe fact that he clo&ely
resembles his father, Dr. Einstein was not identi-
fied on the Veendam, and it was only after pho-
iographers had taken his picture that someone
atked if he happened to be a relative of the Pro-
fessor.
"San;* h^ replied.
Professor Einstein declined to taJk to reporters,
expUxining that "after all, private hfe \9 private
\i NenX back to the hydraulic laboratory at the
Ins». ii Zürich. There I was what they call a First
Engineer, working on modeis and research and so on.
And there I remained until I came over to this country
in 1937. After spending three months with my father
at Princeton I took a trip all around the U. S., kind
of foUowing the hydraulic labs. I visited Berkeley
and Caltech and in-between places. And I visited the
Dept. of Agriculture. which at that time was quite
prominent in hydraulics. Out of that vLsit came thtn
my first engagement here. That means they invited
me to werk for *em" — his German and American now
quite scrambling together — "and I worked for *em
from 1938 to 1947. Then after '47 I came here to
Berkeley where I still am."
ABOUT 130 STUDEXTS A YEAK HA VE GONE
through his dajsses since 1947. "When I took a trip
around the world in 1961 there was practically n«
He agrees that his lamvi .
alv/ays eflfectively. In his younger years hc
fered under some of t^ose, let's call them
circumstances. You can pretty well trace th*
ever he was strongly involvod, it went back t.
thing he was confronted with in his early day
For his own part, Hans Albert Einstein say.
was never confronted by anti-Semiti.sm (political
otherwLse». In the years he was in Germany (19
31 1 "the important thing was the Depression, i
the Nazis. They only took over after 1932." In Switz.
land "there was no anti-Semitism really— not cnoii,
Jews."
In Short, it is his belief that he has led "an ab:
lutely quiet life. From school I went into rhy fii
Job and I was never without a Job since then. /
I did all my life is work." |
TOMORROW: The children of Fanny Bric4
and Nicky Amst^^in.
lö d
f^
Zr v^^^^
\
/
Einstein:
An intimate memoir
by Thomas Lee Bucky, with Joseph P. Blank
Among other charming oddities, the
fatlier of relativity once decreed that
the hot dog is a vegetahle. And he never
coiild grasp the purpose of shaving
Cream or a saüboaVs centerboard.
T
he first time I met Professor Albert Einstein
he tried to put me at ease by bringing out a Yo-Yo
and showing me hovv it worked. I was thirteen,
and the year was 1932. We were at Einstein's
home in Caputh, a suburb of Berlin. My father,
the late Dr. Gustav Bucky, was the physician to
Einstein's two stepdaughters, and this relation-
ship had prompted the Professor to invite our
family — my parents, my older brother, and me —
to dinner.
It was a great event, and I was terribly ex-
cited at the prospect of visiting such a celebrity
at home. When we shook hands, he must have
feit my fright and awe. Even in my own near-
blinding shyness, however, I saw that Einstein
himself was shy. But, seeing my discomfort, he
sat down with me and gently asked me about my
studies at school.
Then he said, **I have something to show you."
He went to his desk and returned with a Yo-Yo, at
that time the schoolboy rage of Berlin. He tried
to show me how it worked, but he couldn't make
it roll back up the string. When my turn came I
displayed my few tricks and pointed out to him
that the improperly looped string had thrown the
toy off balance. Einstein nodded, properly im-
pressed by my skill and knowledge.
After paying this kind of conscientious atten-
tion to my mother and brother also, he settled
down with my father, who was a pioneer in
radiology and an inventor, and they lost them-
selves in a scientific discussion. Mrs. Einstein
and my mother turned to Hausfrau talk.
At the end of dinner, my mother complimented
Mrs. Einstein on her fine cooking. In an effort
at casualness, she said, **It is nothing. We went
to no trouble. We dine like this every night."
**What?'* Professor Einstein burst out in spon-
taneous candidness. *'We eat like this — every
night?" And Mrs. Einstein, a sweet, mild woman,
broke into a blush.
1
' «
• •
44. P:INSTEIN: AN INTIMATE MEMOIR
After Rchool the next day, T hiirried to a toy
Htore and drove the salesladies noarly wild by
testing every Yo-Yo in stock. T fmally decided
that one was best for balaiice aiid feel. and niailed
it to the Professor as a Christmas present. P.y
return mail I reteived a handwritten papre-lon^
poem of thanks that be^'an :
Santa Claus doosn't liko to visit
Rickety ladies and old ^'ontlenien . . .
Einstein, we learned, was vory fond of little
trick toys, and my brother and 1 niade a point of
sendinK him play ^^adprets, liko the Chinese nail
trick, as thcy came on the maiket.
When Hitler reached power in ID^.S Einstein
was lecturinjr in the United States and he re-
mained. acceptinjr a post with the Institute for
Advanced Study at Princeton, New Jersey. Since
my j)arents already were naturalized American
Citizens, we were able to leave Germany in the
same year and settled in New York Tity, where
my father practiced medicine. He also opened a
sniall laboratory, which Einstein often visited to
work with him on inventions. The Professor was
not interested in the physical developnicnt (»f an
invention; he liked to think out the theoretical
Solutions.
The two men became close friends, and T spent
the next eijrht sunimers with the Professor, until
medical .school and World War II eliminated my
vacations. To a hoy, lOinstein was a jrod. Even
bis appearance had a jrodlike distinctiveness — the
•massive head with its nnruly manc of hair; the
rajrjred nuistachc: dcep, jrentle eyes that conld
twinkle with amusemont; the droopy npper lids;
and the soft, expressive wrinkles that creased
bis face.
His Own Emily Post
H
c also had an Olympian rcnioteness that was
really more the product of sbyness than aloofness.
No one outside of his immediate family ever
called him "Albert." Althoujrh he spent more time
with my father than with any other friend. it was
always "Professor F:instein" and "Doctor P.ucky."
The formality seemed to make l)oth of them com-
fortable. One time, after I had known him for
several years, I impulsively remarked that it
mijrht be time for him to abandon a frayed,
Rtretched sweater that was part of his daily
uniform. His sudden, cool silence told me that I
had stepped across the line.
Yet, he had a jrood sense of humor. Durinjr the
early part of the war when Einstein was a Con-
sultant to the Navy (he was trying to fijrure out
the laws that poverned waves of detonation), I
asked him if th<^ admirals had offered to put him
in uniform. The vision of himself in Navy ^rarb
so aniused him that he broke into his loud. slac-
cato lau^h. His only readinj? for fun was Emily
Post's book on etiquette. He read the book in his
bedroom-study i»^ the eveninps and his ••^bnrp
lau^'-h rattlcd throujrh the house. Ere(nM^'^^^-/ be
came downstairs with the book in hv «I and
ofTered to read us a particularly choice pass.ij^^e on
the proper conduct of a pentleman.
His humor could ev<Mi bend his onli'^arily in-
flexible attitude that a fact was a fact, and no
amonnt of human wishinjr could alter it. Ein-
stein's sister Maja lived at his Princeton house
for several years. Like Einstein, she was a jrentle
persoTi. Her tender retard for all livinj? creatures
had niade her a vepretarian. Put she had one pain-
fnl conflict: she loved hot dojrs. After li.stcninp
to Maja hemoan her problem Einstein resolve
the dilemma by decreeing that, in Maja*s case, a
hot dop was a vegetable.
Einstein's friends never expected him to behave
in the conventional manner. Tonvention takea
time and effort, and Einstein's work had first call
on his time and effort. Yet, his rejrard for otbers
often prompted him to do the conventional thi»^j!r.
When I was ill with tuberculosis at a vetprnMs*
hospital in The Bronx. Einstein creatcd a se*^sa-
tion there by visit inp me. I was treme'Mlo'isly
movcd. I knew how much he disliked to Ipmvo bis
work. how much he was bored by the two-and-a-
h;df hour automobile trip, and how pained ho feit
under public scrutiny.
Within a few minutes, the corridor outside my
room was crowded with people. The only P'^rson
who did more than slowly pass and po«'r i'i was
the hospital rabbi. He couldn't resist the ( ha'ice
to meet Einstein. He bepan apolopies, confessing"
he had no rijrht to impose, but Einstein stopped
him.
"Oh no. you have rij^hts," he assured the
chaplain. "After all, you work for a very im-
portant bosa."
When I was ordered to the mountains to re-
cu])erate from my illness, F^instein sent me a
poem in German. Translated, it reads as follows:
Dr. Buch'}! pracficfs wrdiciyif in Wfston, CimvfC-
tintt. Hr iook his M.D. af Yole nr\d iras on the
sfaff of the Nftr York H<>spito}, BfUevue, Movte-
ßi»r(\ and (tther im^fiivfionü in New York City.
His father fraa a pioneer in radiology and co-in-
vrntor trith Eitfsfein of the Automatic Camera.
Mr. BUmk irrites for monij leading magazines and
//y;.s vice President of the Society of Magazine
Writers laut year.
by Thomas Lee Bucky, with Joseph P. Blank 45
II
In the city everyone sighs
For peace and quiet
And wants to escape the tumult
For the mountains and the sky.
You are required to take
What others vainly seek —
The view, free and wide,
And tranquil solitude.
While I never saw Einstein emotional, he could
express his feelings with touching eloquence.
After my father recovered from a very serious
illness, Einstein wrote him a note, saying, "I
want to let you know how happy I am that we
have not been separated. From now on, we will
appreciate the value of each day that we spend
together."
Since we knew how Einstein was tortured by
formal occasions, we didn't invite him to my wed-
ding in 1953 at the Plaza in New York. It was a
white-tie affair and we feit it would be unfair
to put him in the position of having to accept a
friend's invitation. He showed up, without being
invited. He was dressed in a dark suit, with white
Shirt and tie — the perfect attire for the proceed-
ings, according to his Standards. He also wore an
overcoat that bore the NRA label of the 1930s and
a navy-blue wool seaman's cap.
Weddings involved long pauses and even on
this occasion the Professor couldn't abide wasting
time. He found some hotel stationery and, during
the lulls, busied himself with writing equations.
As a memento of the evening, I framed one of the
Sheets of hotel stationery bearing Einstein's small,
neat figures and symbols.
His compassion for others made it impossible
for him to resist a plea for help. For himself, he
was completely indifferent to compliments, awards,
medals, prizes. When Israel ofTered him its Presi-
dency, he respectfully declined. He knew he didn't
fit the Position. But when an Organization ap-
proached him with the plea that it needed his
name on its letterhead to help raise money for a
hospital, a university, or a group of needy people,
he frequently consented.
With few exceptions he refused requests to be
interviewed by well-known writers and to sit for
successful painters. A request based on a press-
ing personal reason, however, changed his tune.
On one occasion a painter asked Einstein to sit for
a Portrait, and was told, "No, no, no, I do not
have time."
"But I need the money I'll get for the picture,"
the painter said candidly.
"Well, thafs different," Einstein replied. "Of
course I'll sit."
While I never completely lost my awe of Ein-
stein, he was never anything but natural and un-
pretentious with me. When together we simply
were a man and a boy. When I bought my first
car, an old Model A Ford coupe, Einstein was
visiting us in New York, and I asked him to go
for a ride. He climbed into the rumble seat and
off we went down Fifth Avenue with motorists
and pedestrians doing double-takes as they caught
sight of him, a smile on his face and his hair
flying in the breeze.
During the summers we tramped together along
the beaches of Rhode Island, Long Island, and
Florida and the shore of Saranac Lake, New York.
Often he stopped to gaze for many minutes at the
sea, which held an endless fascination for him.
Whenever in my private explorations I found an
interesting inlet inhabited by crabs, starfish, and
fish, or used by waterfowl, I reported my find to
him, and we trudged to the spot to share the view
in silence. We talked about geology, nature, my
school studies..
On one of our walks, I asked him about the in-
teresting sights he had seen on his travels as a
lecturer in various parts of the world. The sub-
ject bored him. "I used to imagine far-off places
and they were pretty and interesting in my mind,"
he told me. "But when I saw them, they usually
were disappointing. My Images of them were
'»)
46
EINSTEIN: AN INTIMATE MEMOIR
more exciting." He even encouraged me to dis-
cuss scientific ideas, so long as I was reasonable
and logical. He had no patience with people who
talked out of ignorance or prejudice. In Company,
he coped with such people by abruptly excusing
himself from the room.
During the early part of World War II when
the Luftwaffe was bombing cities, Einstein and
my father became engrossed in a discussion about
a more accurate means of antiaircraft fire. After
toying with various ideas, they reached one possi-
bility for a new method of fire that excited them.
I left the house and when I returned several hours
later they were so füll of enthusiasm for their
new concept that they told me about it.
After listening for a few minutes, 1 began to
recognize that these two extraordinary minds had
violated a basic principle that I had learned in
elementary physics. When I pointed out the over-
sight, their jaws actually dropped. They ex-
changed glances, then agreed that I was right.
In the next moment they were delighted that
truth had exposed their error.
He Knew What He Wanted
A
s a boy and then as an adult I never lost my
wonder at the personality that was Einstein. He
was the only person I knew who had come to terms
with himself and the world around him. He knew
what he wanted and he wanted only this: to
understand within his limits as a human being
the nature of the universe and the logic and
simplicity in its functioning. He knew there were
answers beyond his intellectual reach. But this
did not frustrate him. He was content to go as
far as he could.
To do his work he needed only a pencil and a
päd of paper. Material things meant nothing to
him. I never knew him to carry money because
he never had any use for it.
He was devoid of the human feelings that can
cause trouble and misery. In the twenty-three
years of our friendship I never saw him show
jealousy, vanity, bitterness, anger, resentment, or
personal ambition. He seemed to be immune to
these emotions. He was beyond any pretension.
Although he corresponded with many of the most
important people of his time, his stationery car-
ried only a watermark — "W" — for Woolworth's.
The Problem of keeping an important secret
may produce a sweaty conflict in most people, but
not in Einstein. I was hardly a hundred feet from
him during one of the most important meetings
of this Century, and 1 never knew about it. During
the Summer of 1930, I was staying at Einstein's
vacation house near Southold on the tip of Long
Isl-nd. One August day, the housekeeper told me
that a group of scientists were coming to visit
the Professor and that Fd best make myself
scarce during the meeting. When the visitors left,
Einstein made no reference to the meeting. Never
in the following years did he allude to it. I only re-
member him expressing a vague fear in late 1044
that Germany might be making progress toward
a new and terrible weapon.
After the United States exploded the first
atomic bomb, the bits and pieces of the story be-
hind its development began to sift out. Only then
did I realize what had happened during the meet-
ing on that August day. Permi, Szilard. and a
few other physicists had persuaded Einstein to
write Roosevelt the famous letter, now in the
Library of Congress, that prompted the President
to launch the Manhattan Project for the produc-
tion of the atomic bomb.
As he kept his mind free of destructive emo-
tions, so did he avoid cluttering his life with
material things. He believed in simplicity. so
much so that he used only a safety razor and
water to shave. When I suggested that he try
shaving cream, he said, "The razor and water do
the Job."
"But Professor, why don't you try the cream
just once?" I argued. "It makes shaving smoother
and less painful."
He shrugged. Finally, I presented him with a
tube of shaving cream. The next morning. when
he came down to breakfast, he was beaming with
the pleasure of a new, great discovery. "You know,
that cream really works,** he announced. "It
doesn't pull the beard. It feels wonderful." Thore-
after, he used the shaving cream every morning
until the tube was empty. Then he reverted to
scraping his face with water.
The Professor's diversions were few and un-
complicated. Novels and other fiction held no
interest for him. Chess, to him, was "unproduc-
tive." He enjoyed smoking a pipe. After my
father recommended that he give up the pipe for
the sake of his health, he kept right on smoking,
but never in the presence of my father because
Einstein didn't want to hurt his feelings.
He also found pleasure in the violin. At nine
o'clock on some evenings, he retired to his sparsely
furnished bedroom-study and tuned up. He was a
mediocre Violinist and he rarely played prescribed
music. He enjoyed entertaining himself by im-
provising on quasi-Mozart themes. He used a very
inexpensive violin. When my father gave him a
somewhat better Instrument as a gift, Einstein
hij Thomas Lee Bucky, ivith Joseph P. Blank 47
sincerely protested that it was too good for him.
His only active recreation was sailing. He loved
it for its simplicity and the contact it gave him
with the sun and the sea. His boat, which he
dubbed with a Hebrew name meaning "Old piece
of junk," was a rowboat-like catboat, fourteen
feet long, which had cost him $150 in 1033. To
preserve the simplicity of sailing he refused to
carry an outboard motor, even for emergencies.
And somehow, it never occurred to him to use
oars when he was becalmed. He often lay oflfshore
for hours, waiting for the breeze to pick up while
Mrs. Einstein fretfully tried to keep dinner warm.
A Bath for the Record
H
e also refused to carry life preservers; he
believed the sea would look after him. His stub-
bornness worried both his family and mine, for
the Professor could not swim. Finally, my father
g-ot him to carry floating cushions by appealing
to his kindness. He told Einstein that the hard,
uncomfortable benches took away some of the fun
of sailing with him.
Once Einstein did capsize in Watch Hill Bay,
Rhode Island, and was rescued clinging to the
overturned boat. He never went along with the
modern fetish for ultra-fastidiousness; he be-
lieved that two baths a week were certainly ade-
quate for anyone in his line of work. When the
rescuers, who were frightfully concerned about
his safety, reached him and hauled him aboard the
motorboat, he thanked them and said, "We must
remember to put this bath on my record."
At Saranac Lake the Professor was on the
water every day and he liked to take my wire-
haired fox terrier Chico with him in the boat. He
sailed all the islands on the lake and he gave each
little piece of land a private name. The island
with few trees was called the "bare island"; the
one with chaotic foliage was ''Zausinsel'* "the
mussed-up island"; and the island where he regu-
larly stopped to allow Chico to answer the calls
of nature was given an unprintable name.
During the mid-1030s, the Professor introduced
me to the fundamentals of sailing with great
seriousness and authority. He made such a to-do
about the skill that he even impressed himself
with its difticulty and would not permit me to take
the tiller. He thoroughly convinced me that it
was an involved technical Operation. A few years
later, when I learned to sail on my own, I was
surprised to find that the Professor had vastly
overcomplicated the technique.
When I was a resident physician at Montefiore
Hospital in The Bronx in 1047, Einstein decided
to remain in Princeton during the summer and he
loaned me his little boat. I took it out on Long
Island Sound and enjoyed a pleasant sail until I
tried to return to my home base. I tacked against
the wind, but could make no headway. The wind
kept blowing me sideways out into the Sound.
After several hours of futile effort I made a
distress signal and a yacht took me in tow and
pulled me to my mooring. I couldn't figure out
what had gone wrong, so I telephoned the Pro-
fessor, hoping he might have a clue to my mis-
adventure.
"Oh, yes," he said, after listening to my
quandary, "maybe that happened because I sawed
off half the centerboard so that I could sail in the
shallow lake here in Princeton." It never dawned
on him that his little piece of carpentry would
make the boat uncontrollable ander certain wind
conditions.
Einstein was purely and exclusively the theorist.
He didn't have the slightest interest in the practi-
cal application of his theories and ideas. His
E = mc' is probably the most famous equation in
history — it shows the amount of unreleased en-
ergy in any given mass— yet Einstein wouldn't
walk down the street to see a reactor create atomic
energy. He wen the Nobel Prize for his Photo-
electric Theory— a series of equations that he
48 EINSTEIN: AN INTIMATE MEMOIR
considered relatively minor in importance — but
he didn't have any curiosity in observing how
his theory made television possible.
Einstein once appeared in a New York City
court as a witness on my father's behalf. My
father had invented a camera. The manufacturer,
after paying royalties for several years, decided
to challenge the patent and my father's claim to
originality. Einstein testified that he knew of the
invention from its inception and had discussed
many phases of its development with my father.
Interrupting him, Judge Sylvester Ryan asked,
"And when the camera was completed, did you
operate it?"
Einstein answered, "Why, of course not." He
couldn't understand why the judge would think
he would be interested in a product to which he
had contributed ideas.
My brother once gave the Professor a tricky
toy. A little bird stood on the edge of a bowl of
water and kept dunking its head and raising it
from the water, as if in perpetual motion. Ein-
stein sat and watched it in delight, trying to de-
duce the principle that made it work. He couldn't.
The next morning he came down f-om his
room and said, "I thought about that bird for a
long time when I went to bed, and it must work
this way . . ." He began a long explanation, based
on the assumption that gas in a tube within the
bird alternately Condensed and vaporized to shift
weight. Then he stopped when he hit a flaw in
his reasoning. saying, "No, I guess that's not it."
He pursued various theories for several days,
until I suggested that we take the toy apart to see
how it did work. The quick expression of disap-
proval on his face told me he did not agree with
this practical approach. He never did work out
the Solution.
Another puzzle that Einstein could never un-
derstand was his own fame. He had developed
theories that were quite esoteric and capable of
exciting comparatively few scientists. Yet his
name was a household word across the civilized
World. He was baffled by the phenomenon of him-
self. 'T\e had good ideas. and so have other men,"
he once said. *'But it's been my good fortune that
my ideas have been accepted." He was bewil-
dered by the deluge of public attention: people
wanted to meet him; strangers stopped on the
Street to stare and smile at him; scientists, states-
men, students, and housewives wrote him letters.
He could never understand why he received this
attention, why he was singled out aa something
special.
Helene Dukas, Einstein's long-time secretary
and, after the death of Mrs. Einstein in 1936,
also his Cook and housekeeper, once had a dream
that perfectly described the Professor's attitude
toward himself. ''Einstein was eating in a res-
taurant when suddenly a holdup man comes in and
Orders everybody to line up against the wall," she
said, in recalling the dream. 'Then he goes down
the line, removing money and valuables from
each person. On reaching Einstein, the thief rec-
ognizes him and says, 'Oh, no, I couldn't take
anything from you, Professor.'
"That is very unfair,' Einstein teils him. T
want to be treated just like anybody eise.' Then
he empties his pockets and gives the thief all he
has — a Single dime."
Right in His Feelings
In March 1955, my father telephoned me with
the news that Einstein was seriously ill. We drove
to Princeton, visited him, and conferred with his
physician, Dr. Dean. The Professor was suf-
fering from an ailment that possibly might be
corrected by new surgical terhniques. I wa^ un
the siaff of the New York Hospital at the time
and suggested that we call in Dr. Frank Glenn,
the Chief surgeon, who had been performing this
kind of corrective surgery. The next day, Dr.
Glenn drove with us to Princeton. He thought that
surgery was a possibility and recommended mov-
ing Einstein to New York Hospital for further
examination.
Einstein, now in great pain, flatly rejected the
advice. "I do not believe in artificially prolonging
life," he said.
My father tried to persuade him; so did his
doctor, his daughter Margot, Miss Dukas, and I.
His answer was "No." All of us were getting
frantic because he was suffering progressively
more pain as his illness grew worse. His son. who
had flown in from California, talked with him,
and he later told us that with a little more time —
probably by the next morning— he might be able
to persuade his father to make the trip to the
hospital. Our hopes soared.
But the next morning, Einstein died. He was
seventy-six years old. An autopsy proved that he
had been right in his feelings; surgery could
not have helped him.
He had left instructions that he wanted no
funeral or other ceremonies at his death. How-
ever, a simple service attended by his family and
a few close friends was held at his cremation.
The unforgettable meeting lasted only a few
minutes, just long enough for each of us to say
a private, mostly silent, good-bye.
Harpcr's Magazine, Scpteinbcr 196^
V
/
The Einstein Letter
That Started It All
' H message to President Roosevelt 25 years ago
launched the atom bomb and the Atomic Age*
im^
By RALPH E. LÄPP
ON Aug. 2, 1939. Albert Einstein
scrawled his signature on a two-
page letter that changed the
course of history. The letter began:
F. D. Roosevelt,
President of the United States,
White House
Washington, D. C.
Sir:
Some recent work by E. Fermi
and L. Szilard, which has been com-
municated to me in manuscript, leads
me to expect that the dement ura-
nium may be turned into a new and
important source of energy in the
immediate future. Certain aspects of
the Situation which has arisen seem
to call for watchfulness and, if neces-
sary, quick action on the part of the
Administration. I believe therefore il
is my duty to bring to your attention
the following facts and recommenda-
tions.
In the course of the last four
months it has been made probable
through the work of Joliot in France
as well as Fermi and Szilard in
America that it may become possible
to set up a nuclear chain reaction in
a large mass of uranium, by which
vast amounts of power and large
quantities of new radium-like ele-
ments would be generated. Now it
appears almost certain that this
could be achieved in the immediate
future.
A third paragaph contained the pro-
phetic words: '*. . . it is conceivable
— though much less certain — that ex-
tremely powerful bombs of a new type
may thus be constructed." Two more
paragraphs outlined steps to be taken
to accelerate uranium research and the
letter ended with a waming that ura-
nium sales had been stopped in Czecho-
slovakia and secret German research
was under way. The letter concluded:
"Yours very tioily, A. Einstein."
W
Pb
ROFESSOR EINSTEIN had never
expected he would write such a letter.
Apart from the fact that he was an
avowed pacif ist, he did not believe that
the atom's energy would be released.
Even after the neutron had been dis-
covered in 1932 (it proved to be the
magic bullet in atom-smashing) he had
declared : "There is not the slightest in-
dication that energy will ever be ob-
tainable. It would mean that the atom
would have to be shattered at will."
Contrary to his expectations, the
atom was shattered late in 1938 by
two German scientists. While working
at the Kaiser Wilhelm Institute in Ber-
lin they split uranium atoms in half.
They promptly rushed into print with
their findings and by the end of Janu-
ary, 1939, whon the news reached the
United States, American physicLsts
quickly duplicated their experiments.
Niels Bohr, the famous atomic sci-
RALPH E. LÄPP has played an aciive role in
nuclear-physics research in this country for
more ihan 20 years. Now a Consultant, he has
written many books, including "The Voyage of
Lucky Dragon" and "Kill and Overkill."
^ /
entist from Denmark, was at Princeton
University when the news of uranium
Splitting, or atomic fission, arrived. So,
too, was Albert Einstein, who had
conie to America from Germany when
he saw the fearful portent of Hitler's
rise to power. Even before Nazi power
swept over his homeland, Einstein had
written: "I am convinced that degen-
eracy foUows every autocratic sy.stem
of violence, for violence inevitably at-
tracts moral inferiors."
B
'OHR and Einstein, who conferred
and appraised the ominous slgnificance
of uranium fission, were not alone in
their thinking. That spring over a score
of scientists were doing active research
on uranium fission, and quite a few of
them feit that a bomb might be pos-
sible. Two of them, the Hungarian-born
Eugene P. Wigner and Leo Szilard, not
only believed that a bomb might be
made but they worried about the prog-
re.ss of German scientists — if Hitler got
an atomic bomb first, he would have
a superweapon for world domination.
Both Wigner, who was 36, and the
41-year-old Szilard knew Einstein well.
Wigfner was a professor of physics at
Princeton and Szilard commuted to
Princeton from his post at Columbia
University, where he worked with En-
rico Fermi.
Fermi was then deeply absorbed in
research on the chain reaction, but the
experiments were difficult because no
pure uranium was available. Szilard,
chafing at the slow pace of nuclear
research, expressed his concem to Wig-
ner, who feit that aid should be sought
fronn the United States Government.
But Szilard was skeptical — late that
Winter Fermi had gone to Washington
to brief U.S. naval experts on the pos-
sibility of uranium power, but he had
made little impression. It was Szii^rd.
according to Wigner, who finally pro-
posed that they enlist the suppwrt of
Einstein.
I
T was natural for them to seek out
Professor Einstein. As the most famous
scientist in the world, his name would
command respect if he signed an ap-
peal to the President. Einstein had met
Roosevelt and, in fact, had been an
ovemight gr^est at the White House.
As a bitter foe of Hitler, Einstein
could be expected to listen sympathet-
ically to their proposal. Finally, as
author of the relativity theory and the
equatlon relating mass and energy to
which all atomic development could be
traced, Einstein was the logical person
to take the initiative.
In July, 1939, Einstein was vacation-
ing on Peconic Bay out on Long Island,
where he liked to go sailing. Eariy
Sunday moming, July 30, Wigner and
Szilard set out for Einstein's hide-
away; Wigner was at the wheel of
his Dodge (Cmitinued on Page 50>
y*
■ .rmWSm
Aujuat 2nd, 1939
V.D* Roos«T«lt»
rr«sld«nt of tha Uhited
Ihlt« Hous«
Y««hington» D.C.
States,
8irt
Sone reoant «ork by S.Pemi and L« Szilard»
whiota hae beaa ocs-
■anioated to na In aanuscrlpt, leads n« to
expect
that the eleaeot uraa-
lUB may be turned into a
new and
Iraportant
source
of enercy In th« 1»>
TBedlate future. Certain
aspeote of the Situation which haa arisan seea 1
to call for watchfulness
and, If
neeessary,
quiek
adtion on the part 1
^|^h|||d|||l9|g^a^
bcJ^^
thM^ljr^
^^^it^^^^uty to brln« 1
«>
N vv^
[um
ilng^
Yours Tsry tnilj,
(Albert Blaateia)
CHAIN REACTION— From Albert Einsten't letter of 1939, shown hcrc in part, to tHe £t
boxnb and today's nvclear-armed pcace "'«'^ Biq Sci«nce is a progression that still '*
r\r9y\f.
Akm%f Einstein Letter
(Continued from Page 13^
coup6 since his coUeag^iie nei-
ther owned nor drove a car.
Wigner recalla that it was
a jbeautif ul day but that they
niade a mistake and headed
tor Patchogue instead of
Cutchogue, as they had been
df/ected. Finally they got on
Ihe right route. Near their des-
tination, they again asked di-
rections. and Wigner remem-
bers that the small boy who
pointed the way to the Ein-
stein place on Old Grove Road
found it odd that there were
people who did not know
where the great Einstein hved.
JLjINSTEIN, attired in an
undershirt and rolled-up pants,
led his friends onto a large
screened porch which served
as a dining room. There for
about an hour they talked
about progress in research, the
secret work of the Uran Verein
(Uranium Society) in Ger-
many and the problem of get-
ting United States Govem-
ment's assistance. "It will be
a hard thing to put this across
to the nnilitary mind," Ein-
stein declared. However, he
agreed that action had to be
taken if the United States
were to keep ahead of the Ger-
man». and he proceeded to
dictate a letter to President
Roosevelt. which Wigner wrote
down as the three scientists
sat about the wooden table
on the porch.
"I was amazed," said Wig-
ner in recalling the event. "He
had wonderful command of
language and the words just
flowed out. It surprised me,
because you know one does
not conipose such a letter cas-
ually."
It was about noon when
their work was finished. The
60-year-old Einstein saw his
two friends off to Princeton
and then retumed to his sail-
boat, for there was a fair
breeze that cloudless af ternoon.
■ «INSTEIN'S letter was
typed up the next morning in
Wigner's office and handed to
Szilard. But bcfore Szilard
could proceed, he needed Ein-
stein's signature on the docu-
ment. This meant another trip
out to Long Island. There was
some question of wording in
the letter and Szilard wanted
to discuss the matter person-
ally. On Wednesday, Aug. 2,
he drove or, more correctly.
was driven out to see Einstein.
Tliis time another countryman
from Hungary was the driver
— 31-year-old Edward Teller,
Professor of physics at George
Washington Univer.sity. Teller,
who later joked about his role
as Szilard's Chauffeur, became
deeply involved in the urani-
um projcK't himself and, in the
postwar peiiod, contributed the
basic ideas that flowered into
the H-bomb.
Once he had obtained Ein-
stein's signature on a letter
which he retypcd at Einstein's
8umm4?r place in order to make
some last-minute changes,
Szilard set about preparing a
technical meniorandum to ac-
company it. This was finished
on Aug. 15. The stage was now
set for Szilard's intermediary,
Alexander Sachs, a vice Presi-
dent of the Lehman Corpora-
tion and a friend of President
Roosevelt's.
Sachs, a Russian-bom econ-
omist and student of world af-
fairs, was an annateur follower
of scientific affairs. It was his
habit, for example, to read
Nature, the British scientific
magazine; thus, early in 1939
he had learned about nuclear
fission. He says that he called
the Potential of the atom to
President Roosevelt's attention
soon afterward. It was through
a mutual friend that Sachs had
met Szilard and so became the
man who was to carry Ein-
stein's letter to Roosevelt.
But before a White Hou.se
appointment could be set up
for Sachs, Hitler unleashed
his Wehrmacht against Po-
land. With the declaration of
a State of limited national
SZILARD— He proposed the letter.
emergency, the President had
a füll calendar. Sachs finally
obtained an appointment for
Oct. 11. On that day he took
with him the Einstein letter,
the Szilard niemorandum, a
covering letter of his own and
a Stack of technical papers.
Admitted to the President' s
Office, Sachs began reading
from his collection of docu-
ments. After a while, the Pres-
ident showed signs of inat-
tention and Sachs tu med from
his somewhat diffuse introduc-
tion to the Einstein letter,
reading out loud the first and
final paragraphs. Roosevelt
was preoccupied, possibly be-
cause of the pressure of other
matters or possibly because of
the stränge Jargon of nuclear
science. As John Gimther lat-
er ob-served: "Roosevelt had
as much knowledge of the
possibility of .Splitting the
uranium atom to produce a
chain reaction as the corner
cop."
Roosevelt asked his vLsitor
to retum for a second session
early the next day. At this dis-
cussion, Sachs reminded the
^nt Robert Fu.ton s
-teamboat and then rea«! a
prediction writton by F. W.
Aston, a British physicLst:
"Personal ly, I think there
is no doubt that .subatomic en-
ergy is available all around
US, and that one day man
will release and control its al-
mo.st infinite power. We can-
Aot prevent him from doing
so and can only hope he will
not use it exclu.sively in blow-
irfig up his next-door neighbor.
^ O this Roosevelt comment-
ed: "Alex, what you are after
is to see that the Nazis don't
blow US up." "Precisely,"
Sachs replied. At this point,
the President called in Gen.
Edwin M. (Pa) Watson, his
secretary. from an adjoining
room. "This requires action,"
Roosevelt declared and tiirned
the matter over to General
Watson, in.structing him to .set
up an advisory group to evalu-
ate the problem.
Dr. Lyman J. Briggs, Dl-
rector of the Bureau of Stand-
ards, was placed in Charge
of this Advisory Committee on
Uranium. Dr. Briggs, who had
entered the Government serv-
tary funds anion the civilian
Population. That v.ouid raise a
lot of morale." Adam.son
backed down: "Well, we do
have money for this purpose."
Thus the atomic project was
launched. Looking back at
these early days of the em-
bryonic atomic era, it Ls easy
to see with the clarity of hind-
sight that things could have
been speeded up considerably in
the 1939-42 period. For exam-
ple, the first official action of
the Government took place on
Oct. 21, 1939, with a go-ahead
for $6,000 for the uranium
research. This figure seems so
pitifully small compared with
the $2 billion that was spent
of the whole A-project that it
might .seem the initial action
was meaningless.
X^P'TER Oct. 21, events
were sometimes stalled for
months as decisions were de-
layed and deferred. During
this period Szilard became so
perturbed that he complained
bitterly about lack of prog-
ress. Secrecy around the
atomic research became so
tight that he was moved to
Protest. After the war he tes-
IN THE DRAMA OF THE EINSTEIN LETTER
WIGNER— He had the letter typed. SACHS— He delivered it to F.D.R.
ice in 1896 as a soil scientlst,
oonvened the committee on
Saturday morning, Oct. 21.
Two military repre.sentatives
were present, Lieut. Col. Keith
F. Adamson of the Army and
Comdr. Gilbert C. Hoover of
the Navy. Szilard, Teller and
Wigner attended along with
several other scientists. The
physicists wanted money to
buy graphite for Permi' s ex-
periments on the chain reac-
tion. They mentioned a sum
of $6,000. One scientist pointed
out that if a Single kilogram of
uranium were fully fissioned,
it would be the equivalent of
20,000 tons of TNT.
^^OLONEL ADAMSON, an
ordnance man, was definitely
not impressed. He commented
that he had once been oiitside
an ordnance depot when it
blew up and that "it didn't
even knock me down." He then
gave the committee a lecture
on how wars are won by men
and morale. not by weapons.
This tried the patience of Dr.
Wigner and he retorted: "Per-
haps, it would be better if we
■*id away with the War De-
irtment and spread the mili-
tifled before Congress that
over a year's time had been
wasted in the A-project. Wig-
ner concedes that the United
States could have had the A-
bomb much .sooner.
On the other band, the
atomic scientists looked rather
narrowly at their own spe-
cialty. Men like Vannevar Bush
and James Conant. who mas-
ter-minded the United States
wartime research program, had
to consider a host of other
projects and allocate critical
man power to them. They could
not in their own minds be sure
that the l>omb would work,
and if it did not, then effort
would have been wasted that
could have produced or accel-
erated radar. proximity fuse
bombs and missiles.
Had the A-project produced
its progeny in 1944 rather
than in 1945. President Roose-
velt would have had to decide
whether or not the A-bomb
would be used against Ger-
many. Actually, it became clear
in the winter of 1944-45 that
the bomb would not be used
against CJermany; it wouldn't
be ready in time.
Harry S. Truman learned
(Continued ofi Page 5AJ
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Endish
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reason to always order them by name when you're eating out, too!
Mmmmm, delicious. Thomas* promisesi
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d from Puye 51 >
about A-bomb shortly after
Roosevv V died on April 12,
1945. Truman made the decision
to u.se the bomb against Ja-
pan. Scientist.s working within
the secret A-project, t'.special-
ly men hke Szilard, raised
strenuous objections to such
use of the weapon. They had
been racing against time to
beat Germany to the bomb.
There was no danger of Japan
making one.
Mj UT the bomb was used at
Hiro.shima, and almost simul-
taneously the world knew
about it. A reporter broke the
news to Albert Ein.stein as the
scientist returned froni sail-
ing on Saranac Lake in a sail-
rigged canoe. Startled, Ein-
stein asked: "Do you mean
that, young man?" As.sured
that it was so, Einstein slow-
ly shook his head and after
a pau.se made but one com-
ment: "Ach! The world is not
ready for it."
Later Einstein was more
voluble about the bomb. "Had
I known that the Germans
would not succeed in develop-
ing an atomic bomb, I would
have done nothing for the
bomb." In this both Szilard
and Wigner expressed agree-
ment. Within a year after
Hiroshima, Einstein assumed
an active role as spokesman
for scientists who were wor-
ried about the bomb. "The un-
leashed power of the atom has
changed everything .save our
modes of thinking," he as.sert-
ed, "and we thus drift toward
unparalleled catastrophe."
The World has averted ca-
ta.strophe; no nuclear weapons
have been used in anger since
Nagasaki. But four nations
have spent $50 billion in
ama.ssing nuclear arsenals and
in developing a large family of
nuclear weapons. Many times
this amount of money has been
committed to developing and
producing the aircraft and
mi.ssiles for delivering nuclear
bombs and warheads. A vast
uranium - mining industry has
sprimg up; the United State.s
has created a special agency
of government, the United
States Atomic Energy Com-
mission, to deal with this new
force, and Congress has estab-
lished a Joint Committee on
Atomic Energy for this .same
purpose.
^ HESE developments are
specifically atomic, but much
more must be credited to Ein-
stein's letter. It touched off
an explosive growth of all re-
search and development and
set the pace for our Big Sci-
ence of today. The latter is
effectively described by one
statistic: This year the Fed-
eral Government will spend
$15 billion on scientific re-
search and development.
Of the four men who played
such prominent roles in usher-
ing in the Atomic Age, two
are still living.
Dr. Wigner, a professor at
Princeton, was honored recent-
ly with the Nobel Prize in
physics, and the judges had
a hard time deciding which
of his many -"^ientific accom-
plishments qujili'ietl
honor. Although a 'pu
entist" Dr. Wigner pro
practical worth man
during the A-bomb, ^»oj
for he de.signed the mass-.
machines which .succes.sfull>
produced bomb material fo'
two decades.
Alexander Sachs is still ac-
tive as an economic Consultant
and industrial adviser. "Im
the oniy independent man on
WaU Street," he told this
writer recently.
Dr. Szilard died in his sleep
early this summer after sur-
viving a bout with cancer, his
success due in no small part
to his own recommendations
for therapy. In the postwar
years Szilard spearheaded
many efforts to bring the new
force of the atom under' con
trol.
^^LBERT EINSTEINS last
words were spoken at 1:15
A.M. on April 18. 1955, but the
World will never know what
they were, for a night nurse
heard but could not under-
stand the mumbled German.
By his wi.sh, his body was cre-
mated that same afternoon
and, with his skeptical permis-
sion, the brain was removed
for scientific study. It was
found to be average in size,
but the World may not know
another like it for .several
centuries.
The great genius never over-
came a constant .sen.se of won-
der about the world. "A won-
der of such nature I experi-
enced as a child of 4 or 5
years," he wrote, "when my
father showed me a compass.
That this needle behaved in
such a determined way did not
at all fit into the nature of
events." And in his autobio-
graphical handwritten notes, he
adds : "Something deeply hid-
den had to be behind things."
It was something most deep-
ly hidden that Einstein came
upon in the spring of 1905
when he completed his special
theory of relativity. So pro-
found was the meaning of his
lonely theoretical joijrney into
time and space that it was to
split history forever into pre-
atomic and atomic eras.
It was to become a night -
mare for a world "not ready
for it." "Our defense is not
in armaments, • observed Ei-
stein, "nor in .science. n'
going Underground. Our «
fense is in law ^t\6 ord«"
3
rn
CO
LU
>
o
>-
<
o
CO
-^
CO
o
Ol
o
>-
Politics Taboo
Being Gast Off
ßy Scientists
By ARTHUR J. SNIDER
Chicago Daily News Service
The late Norbert Wiener,
father of cybernetics, once said
Ihat any scientist getting in-
volved in "that floating crap
game called poltics" must ex-
pect to get slugged once in a
whiJe.
The outpouring of scientific
Support for President Johnson
and for Sen. Goldwater has re-
sulted in some criticism of aca-
demic people by colleagues who
Jnsist that a scientist should not
enter into political activity.
Aloofness must be maintained
]n Order not to compromisc
scientific inquiry, in the critics'
vievv. If sciencc gets tied into
social or economic causes, it no
longer can romain independent.
This ivory-towor remoteness
1s being rejected by a growing
body of scientists. They have
found they must become com-
mitted to politics to some degree
Jf they hope to influence public
policy, particularly pulicy re-
lating to science.
Einstein^s Letter
Probably, several ineidents
could be used to maik the be-
ginning of modern sciencc's
new role in politics. But one
that Stands out is Alhcrt Ein-
Rtein's famous letter to Presi-
dent Roosevelt in which he
called attention to the fact that
science might be on the ver.i^ie
of ftssioning the atom anc? ihai
Gennany might get there first.
This set the President off on
a $2,000,000,000 outlay ^- the
biggest Single scientific expen-
diture in history to that point.
BeOause of security, there was
no opportunity to discuss it
with Congress or hold hearings.
It was a political gamble based
on faith in scientific entcrprise.
During the supersecret pe-
riod, when it became apparent
to scientists at the University
of Chicago, at Los Alamos and
at Oak Ridge that it was going
to be possible to make an atom
Ic bomb, many of them entered
the poltical arena for the first
lime to sign a petition urging
U. S. leaders not to use it.
Publicity Organ
To obtain a unified voice. thcv
Intimes von Einstein
r
Albert Einstein war Zeit sei-
nes Lebens mit dem grossen
Arzt und Radiologen Dr. Gustav
Biicky, mit dem zusammen er
die automatische Kamera erfun-
den hat, innigst befreundet ^»e-
wesen. Auch Buicky ist vor eini-
ger Zeit gestorben. Er hinter-
liesis seine Frau Frieda, eine Ver-
fasserin wundervoller Kinderbü-
cher und Kinderlieder, deren
schönste die grosse Negersän-
gerin Marian Anderson kürzlich
auf einer Schallplatie "Snoopy
Cat" festgehalten hat. und einen
Sohn, Thomas Lee Bucky, der
Arzt in Connecticut ist. Dieser
hat jetKt im Novemberheft von
"Harper's" einige Erinneruni^en
an Einstein veröffentlicht.
Für den damals Dreizehnjäh-
rigen war Einstein mit seinem
rie.sigen Kopf und seiner wilden
Gvoßzü^ii
Princclon
weinenden
In seinem. Wohnort
Albert Einstein einmal einem
Buben. , „ , . „.
Wfis feil ff dir denn?" fragte der Gelehrte.
Der Knabe ejitgegnete, er habe einen Dollar
verloren, ßr den er sich die Haare schneiden
lassen sollte.
Meinte Einstein: .
„Da brauchst du doch nicht zu weiv.en, hier
>bc ich dir einen anderen Dollar!"
' den Dollar, dann auj
gebe
Der Knabe anh auj
den qreisen Einstein und sagte:
,,Den Dollar kann
du mußt dir ja
men.
Haare schneiden lassen
ich von dir nicht neh-
noch dringender die
Ho.
f«»
y
D
1
r
r
I Haarmähne eine biblische Ge-
stalt. Wie Bucky erzäihlt. hat
Einstein sieh fast niemals in-
terviewen lassen oder ist bekann-
ten Malern gesessen. Bei einer
Gelegenheit bat ein Maler Ein-
stein, ihm für ein Portrait zur
Verfügung zu stehen und er-
hielt nur die Antwort "Ich habe
keine Zeit". Der Maler warf auf-
richtig ein: "Aber ich brauche
das Gold, das ich für das Bild
bekomme." Darauf Einslein^
"Das is-t allerdiiiGS etwas ande-
res. Dann sitze icih Ihnen."
I Alles was Einstein brauchte,
; waren ein Bleistift und ein No-
; tizblock. Geld trug er niemals
bei sich. Schach und seine Gei-
I ge waren seine einzigen Freu-
den neben seiner Arbeit, und
I dem Segeln. Rettungsringe ver-
schmähte er. Einmal kenterte
|sein Boot in der Wat^h Hill Bay
von Rhode Island. Als seine Ret-
U-r ihn herauszogen, dankte er
i ihnen und sagte: "Dieses Bad
. muss ich auf meine Liste set-
•zen." Er hielt sich nämlich
^streng an seine Regel, nur zwei-
nial in der Woche zu baden. Für
mehr Bader halte er "keine
iZeit."
I Einstein war immer nur an-
'der Theorie interessiert. Die
Praxis kümaneite ihn nicht.
Buckys Bruder schenkte ihm
/einmal ein kleines Spielzeug —
Einstein liebte Trick^s^pielzeug«^
— , das aus einem kleinen Vogel
am Rand eines Schüsselchens
mit Wasser bestand, der stän-
dig seinen Kopf hineintauchte
und wieder hob. Einstein ver-
suchte zwei Tage lanfj die Theo-
rie für dieses "Phänomen" zu
finden, aber als Bucky ihm vor-
schlug, das Spielzeug auseinan-
derzunehmen, wurde er sehr bö-
se. Er wollte die Theorie .90 fin-
den. ab?r es gelant^: ihm nie. Et-
was anderes, das er nicht ver-
stand, war sein Ruhm. Wajs
hatte er schon getan? "Das
Glück gehabt. gute Ideen
gehabt zu habtn wie andere
Men. sehen auch."
Seine langjährige Sekretärin
hatte einen Traum, der, wie
Bucky erzählt, genau die Ein-
stellung des Profcsscrs sich
selbst gegenüber beschreibt:
Einstein sitzt in einem Restau-
rant, als Räuber einbrechen, die
Gaste an die Wand stellen und
berauben. Als ein Räuber zu
EinÄlein koimnit. erkennt er ihn
und sagt: Oh. ich kann nichts
von Ihnen nehmen. Darauf Ein-
stein: das LSt sehr unfair. Ich
will wie jeder andere behandelt
werden. Dann leert er seine Ta-.
söhen und gibt dem Räuber
allee, was er hat — ein 10 C<^t-
"♦.^^
V
-^
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H
Letters
EINSTEIN'S WORDS
TO THE EDITOR:
Having long feit that Ein-
stein has received insufficient
recognition as a great master
of words, I was much inter-
ested when Ralph E. Läpp
quoted Eugene P. Wigner's
comment in "The Einstein Let-
ter That Started It All" (Aug.
2) on his dictation of the let-
ter to President Roosevelt: "I
was amazed. He had won-
derful command of language
and the words just flowed
out."
Consider the Quotation with
which the article ends: "Our
defense is not in armaments,
nor in science, nor in going
Underground. Our defense is
in law and order." This says
everything.
Then consider ~the quoted
note: "Something deeply hid-
den had to be behind things."
This expresses the essence of
science, of poetry, and of re-
ligion.
Paul Tillich quotes Einstein
as speaking of the awe with
which the scientist approaches
"the grandeur of reason incar-
nate in existence." Thus brief-
ly he defines the objective of
all true spiritual effort.
Einstein 's words may have
been few, but they deal with
the most important of human
concems and they go straight
to the heart of a matter.
They inight guide us if we
would foUow. "The world is
not ready for it," he said of
the atomic bomb. When will
the world be ready to find
peace in his politics. his po-
etry, and his religion?
Samuel Logan Sanderson.
Mohegan Lake, N. Y.
Yct, thercarc things morc (Iil]RLiIi
than spcakiiig out. Albert Kiiistcin,
askcd what hc would sav to science
students, rcplicd without hcsitation,
"I would advisc thcm to spcnd an
hcHir cvcry day rcjccting the idcas of
(Äthers und thinking things out for
thcmsdves. This will hea hard thing
to do, hiit rewardi ng."
Large Wars Obsolete
To TUE Editor:
Adlai Stevenson made a teilin?
Point when he told the American
Bar A.ssociation. as reported by you
on Aug. 14. that both the Radical
Right in the United States and the
Radical Left in Red China represent
"extremes in international politics "
A major trouble with Senator
Goldwater and other ideological ex-
tremists is that they oversimplify
a ccmplicated world. Reality does
not correspond to their verbal
descriptions. If i m tum mav over-
simplify--but not bv much-their
Position, I should sav that they have
never ffrasped the consequences of
E^I^^JC^ in international politics
Tills simple little equation of Ein- 1
stem's. on which the thermonuclear '
bomb is ba.sed, has made large wars
obsolete and "victory" impo.ssible
Secretary McNamara has just told
US that 100 million Americans will
be killed within an hour of füll-
Scale nuclear war.
Neither the Radical Right nor the
Radical Left (Peking brand) has
matured sufficiently to appreciate
this devastating fact. perhaps the
most important fact in all human
history. Stuart Chask.
Georgetown, Conn., Aug. 18, 1964.
** QiiotablcQuolcs **
^ij If you arc
out to dcscrihc the truth, leave elcgance to the tailor. /
— Albert Einstein, quoted injf^ia^^
Money Kept Einstein Relatively Confused
By j:rwin sa\klson
Of ihp Wofld-TflPffrnm Stnff
Toda>', on tho ninth an-
niversary of A 1 h p r t E^in-
Steins death, unpublished
leltcrs to his ad\'isor, philan-
thropist Samuel D^.Pidos-
dorf, provido nrw insights
into the mind of this famrd
iTiathomatician and physicist.
Thp letters disclose that
P^instein, whoso tJieory of
relativity unlocked many of
the sccT'ets of tho universe,
led to the dovelopmrnt of the
atomic bomb and astoiinded
the world's greatest soi^ntifir
minds, ran into trouble, like
ihe iT.st of US, with simple
mattri's.
He found diffirult>' koep
ing trark of his inono>\ In-
vestments and bank balances.
A classic example occunod
the day Leidesdorf, chairman
of the board of tfuslees "öf
the ' ThsTiTuTe' oT~~ÄTlvänced
Study at Princetori; where'
Einstein was a faculty mem-
her, triod to explain to him
how his Investments hart
risen from $24,000 to $60,000
in 10 years.
Didn't Dnderstand
"Ach." Einstein said, cut-
ting Leidesdoif off good-
naturedlN'. "I don't under-
stand, anyway. Let's lalk
about somothing eise."
Leidesdoif recaJled the day
the late Dr. Abraham P'lex-
ner, then director of the insti-
tute, suggested they per-
suade Kinstein to join the
faculty. Ein.stein had fled
Germany toescape theNa/is.
"Let's get him, then," pi'o-
posed Leidesdorf.
Was Ama/ed
"Dr. Einstein came over
and during our first inter-
view I asked whether he
would accept appointment at
$15.000 a year." Leidesdorf
Said.
"Dr. F^instein looked up in
amazement.
"Here was a mind capable
of commanding a fortune for
its knowledge and talent. All
he remaiked was. '$l.i,000?
60.000 marks'' Whal will l
do with all that money?" "
In October. 1938, Einstein
walked into Leidcsdorf's Of-
fices R\_ 12.) ^ark Ave. carrv~
'fng a crumpled manilOolder.
A G^neroiis Man
"Leidesdorf." he said. "here
are all my .securities and mv
daughter's. Put them in your
vault and take care of them."
"We knew he was generous
and kind-hearted." said Leid
esdorf. "He had a habit,
when called upon by a good
salesman, to contribute. He
wnuldn't look carefully into
CHUsos and would give them
almost whatever he had in
the bank.
"On one occasion, when he
didn't have a bank balance,
he gave a piece of paper
whioh turned out to be a
stock certificate."
It was such gener osity
that offen got P^inatein, an
innocent in politios, into bot
water and created headaches
for rolleague.s who became
increasinglv concerned about
his hapha/ard gifts to sup-
posedly worthy causes.
One friend who vvorried
about this was atom scientist
Dr. J. Robert Oppenheimer,
now director of the Institute.
He offen cautioned Einstein
about giving to subversive
causes.
R^vealing I^etter
One of the hitherto un-
published letters to Leides-
dorf, penned in German on
March 17, 1954, took cogni-
zance of the concern Einstein
feit he wa.s causing Oppen-
C'ontintied on Pajf« S
Big World's Fair Issue Monday! Send to Vour Out-of-Town Fr
y
■cH-^ X ^X.
^^U( /<f, /f /^
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Money Matters Kept Einstein
In State of Relative Confusion
rontinued (vom Page One
heimci". With a touch oI
humor, he wrote:
"Trembling, I reach for
my pen, in the knowledge
that I have, in my youthful
irresponsibility (he was 7.i
theni, again caused trouble,
as our good friend Oppon-
hoimer and my friend Nathan
clearly but kindly informed
me. I console myself with
the hope that my new sins
will be forgiven. . . .
"Your wonderfui gift of
flowers has assured me that
your friend ly feelings to-
wards me have not been
ohilled by the misunder-
Standing."
Ironically, a month later,
on April 13, 1954, Einstein
came to the defense of Op-
penheimer when the latter
was suspended as an adviser
to the Atomic P^nergy Com-
mission pending an Investiga-
tion of security risk charges.
€it«fi Hi» Respect
"T have the greatest re-
spect and wärmest feeling
for him," said Einstein. "I
admire him not only as a
scientist but also as a man
of great human qualities."
Leidesdorf had agreed to
take care of Einstein's Invest-
ments on condition that the
scientist deposit them with
the trust department of the
Princeton Bank and Trust
Co. and giant him power of
attorney.
"I warned him I would
tear up the paper giving me
power of attorney if he
touched any of the securities
without my knowledge," Leid-
esdorf said.
Einstein agreed and signed
the papors in Princeton on
Oct. 20, 1938. His securities
then had a market value of
about $24.000. Leidesdorf .said
he sold most of the securi-
ties, then reinvested the pro-
ceeds in blue chip Stocks.
P'instein never asked him for
an accounting.
"Ten years later, when the
portfolio was worth $60,000
to $70,000, I prepared a
Statement showing how his
investments had Increased
and showed it to Dr. Ein-
stein," I>eidesdorf went on.
"He looked at it for a mo-
ment, then asked:
" 'Leidesdorf, is everything
all right?'"
"When I replied, ycs, he
said, 'Let us talk about some-
thing eise. I don't under-
stand about securities and
investments anyhow'."
On March 26, 195.'5, three
weeks before his death, r:in-
stein wanted to thank Leides-
dorf for a birthday gift. De-
scribing the gift as "a highly
aristocratic and sensitive
plant, the keeping of whieh
means not a little responsi-
bility," Einstein said:
*'I would hardly be able to
keep this enterpri.se alive
without the permanent care
of my daughter, who is doin^
it 'scientifically'."
Leidesdorf replied on April
1 that he would bring "a cac-
tus plant, which is le.ss aris-
tocratic and sensitive," when
he next visited Einstein.
Einstein died April 18, ^955.
He was 76. On May 15, his
daughter, Margot, wrote to
Ira A. Schur of Leidcsdorf's
firm expressing surprise at
learning to what extent the
value of her holdings and
her father's had grown over
the years. The estate totaled
about $75.000.
"I know that he would
have wanted to thank you
and Mr. Leidesdorf for the
care you have taken in ad-
ministering his portfoho and
would have wanted grateful-
ly to congratulate you and
Mr. Leidesdorf on the success
you have had in allowing
him to leave so much larger
an estate than he would have
done without your help."
Kecalls His Rooni
Reminiscing about his as-
sociation with Einstein, Leid-
esdorf recalled the day he
entered Einstein's room at
the institute at Princeton.
J
In the room were several
scientists, among them Dr.
John Von Neumann, foimer
mem bor of the Atomic Ener-
gy Commi.ssion.
"Dr. Von Neumann said
they were trying to figure
out wiitings on the black-
boaid." Leidesdorf said. "Dr.
Einstein came in and ex-
plained his figuies and writ-
ings clearly and simply.
"Dr. Von Xeumann turned
to me and .said, Mr. Leides
dorf, that's a mind that
comes once in 1000 years. We
call it uncanny.'
"When the briefing was '
over, Dr. F:instein began ex- *
plaining to me points of his
theory of relativity. Fiftren
minutes later, l understood
less than when he had start-
ed. I put an arm around him
and .said, 'Profes.sor, remem-
bei' what you once told me
when I tried to explain your
investments and finances?'
" 'Oh, yes, yes,' he replied.
'Let's talk about somethin?
eise'."
n
crat o' Manh=T., '•'"■ Demo.
•Iphv.sicit wäs^y*"- The noted,
*■"• *•<» April 18. 1855. '
i
l
UZ
organized the Föderation of
American Scientists and bogan
bublishing: the BuUcfin of the
Atomic Scientists, now 18 years
old and becoming inrreasingly
influential in political matters.
In 1946, t h e Föderation
lanuche<l an attack on the mili-
tary-oriented May-Johnson bill
and had much to do with shap-
jng the terms of the McMahon
Acta, which led to the formation
of a civilian agency the Atomic
Energy Commission.
After atom scientist.«? blazed
the trail, othors who had con-
Jined their aetivitics to scientific
pursuits began (?ngaging more
and more in prlitical debates.
1
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88
L +
Oppenheimer View j
Of Einstein Warm \
But Not Uncritical
By HENRY KAMM
Special to The New York Times
PARIS. Dcc. 13- A warm and
adniirinR but not uncritical Por-
trait of Albert Einstein was
drawn toni^ht by J. Robert Op-
penheimer.
Einstein commanded the love!
of everyone, the American
physicist told an audience of
about 1,000. But ho added thatj
long before his death Einstein
lost touch with the professionj
of physics.
"Things had been learned. but
they had come too late in his
life," he said.
Dr. Oppenheim er. director of
the Insitute for Advanced Study
in Princeton. devoted his ad-
dress to the last years of Ein-
stein's life. when, he said. "we
were close colleagucs and some-
thing of friends."
The physicist spoko at the
opening session of an interna-
tional Symposium marking the
lOth anniversary of Einstein's
death and the 50th of his Gen-
eral Theory of Relativity.
The three-day Symposium is
sponsored by the United Na-
tions Educational, Scientific and
Cultural Organization at ils
headquartors.
"Einstein's early work was
paralyzingly beaut ful." Dr. Op-
pcnhoimcr ' sr.id, "but füll of
errors."
Correcting the errors has de-
layed the publication of Ein-
stein's collected works for 10
years. Dr. Oppenheimer said. He
added:
"A man whose errors take 10
years to correct is quite a man."
In the scientific Community,
Dr. Oppenheimer said. Einstein
founded no ".school" and did not
have many students as appren-
tices or disciples. Those who
worked with him, he noted. were
significantly called "assistants."
Dr. Oppenheimer said the
common assumption that Ein-
stein played a vital role in the
developmcnt of the atomic
bomb, with which he himself
was clo.sely comiected, was "not,
in my opihion. true."
Even the letter to Pi-esident
Roosevelt early m the war. in
which Einstein and other scien-
kists sought to make the Presi-
dent aware of the military Po-
tential of Splitting the atom,
was not imix)rtant. he said.
"The letter had practically
no cffect whatsoever," he de-
clared.
According to some historical
accounts. President Roosevelt
was said to have exclaimod
"this requires action!" upon
reading the Einstein letter,
thus beginning the project for
the first atomic bomb.
;
(
f
^.^J^M-tf c(j^
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Yir/a
I This HHJ Science Library book makes everything from Euclid to Einstein so fascinating you'll exciaim
1
SCIENCE
flC^
Centennlal of the \A/lzard Steinmetz
The Thunderer's
%
Legacy
Charles Proteus Steinmetz, the
man who did most to tame elec-
tricity to consumer use, was an
owlish httle hunchback of such
formidable intellect that even Ein-
stein marveied at it and sought him
out (left). This month, on the
lOOth anniversary of Steinmetz'
birth in Breslau, Germany, and 41
years after his death in Schenecta-
dy, N.Y., the enormous practical
fruits of that intellect are being
commemorated by American sci-
ence and industry.
In his 30 years with General
Electric, Steinmetz produced more
than 200 patents covering every-
thing from lightning arresters to
Street lamps. But all these devices
were incidental by-products of his
main business — thinking. When
people called him "The Thunder-
er,*' they had in mind not only the
bolts that crackled from his arti-
ficial lightning generator, but also
the sparks that crackled from his
awesomc brain.
When Steinmetz immigrated to
the U.S. in 1889, there was no way
to mass-produce electric motors
or generators, and no economical
way to send electricity more than
three miles. But these problcms
were solved by the mighty power
of Steinmetz' favorite weapons —
pencil and paper. Along the way
he also overcame personal handi-
caps to become a thoroughly en-
gaging human being (folloning
pages). People everywhere are in-
debted to him every time they flip
a light switch, plug in an elec-
tric shaver, turn on a television set
or haul out a tray of ice cubcs.
WKS^
Ute cigar-smoking Stein-
metz and Albert Einstein
were great mutual admireis.
This famous photograpli was
taken a round 1920, when
Einstein — then working on
the final phases of his rela-
tivity theory — came to visit
Steinmetz in Schenectady.
CONTINUED
53
STEINMETZ continued
He had a
flair for
the absurd
»iv; Standing neck-deep in Molmwk
River (he could not swim)^ Steinmetz
was never without spectacles and cigar.
Ulis trick picfme. which Steinmetz
made iip in Iah, shows him heside him-
self in line with one ior moie?) friends.
I
n another gag photograpßu Stein-
metz lies languidly on his side an a
rock in the middle of a mountain lake.
*'^W**--!
"MM.
CONTINUED ^^j^
y
THE READER'S DIGEST
^'\^^H')^ 'lir
they can ^^; for when one tries to frustrate him. He was content to 20
be something or someone, he is as far as he could "
never satisfied with himself even if / Einstein turned down the presi-
he achieves the desired goal. /dency of Israel because he knew he
^ , , , , /. did not fit the Job. He could teach
Une of the best examples of a per- / a lad to yo-yo, another to sail a boat,
son in whom the prime character-/ and express his compassion for oth-
istics of mental health were evident/ ers in simple, eloquent communica-
is Albert Einstein. Though he was
a shy and gentle man, sometimes
even remote from others, he had
dose ties to a n umher of people, to
his work, his music, the sea and
other phenomena of nature.
"He was," says his friend Dr.
Thomas Lee Bucky, "the only per-
son I knew who had come 10 terms
with himself and the world around
him. He knew what he wanted, and
he wanted only this: to understand
within his limits as a human being
the nature of the universe and the
logic and simplicity of its function-
ing. He knew there were answers
beyond his reach. But this did not
tions. Medals, honors, fame— these
meant nothing to him. Jlinstein
,ncvej^ed to />f ; Jb^ja^asj^ontent to"
do^ andtoTct whatevcr he could do
speakjorjtsclf —- — ~^-
How does one obtain this condi-
tion called mental health -^ As a mat-
ter of fact, you cannot get it. Mental
health is had in the working-toward,
in the process of pursuit.
Life is Short. It is to be lived. He
who has good mental health lives it
to the füllest, and he who lives it
enjoyably has good mental health.
For information on reprints
of this articie, see page 18
Home, Szvcft Home
It was fun, the camping life,
Songs around a dreamy fire;
But I'm homc again at last ....
(Darling washer, dearest dricr!)
There were birds that sang at dawn,
Hikes through an enchanted bower;
Now Im back where I belong
(Sweetest balhroom, dear-loved shower!)
Quict lakc and cooling breeze,
I>)me of Stars for making wishes
Now I'm home (and can caress
That machine that does the dishes!)
-Barbara A. Jones in Ladies' Home Journal
t 1^-ft.e ^
Einstein Stamp Is Planned
WASHINGTON. Oct. 13 (AP)
— An Albert Einstein com-
memorative stamp will po on
sale next March H at first day
ceremonies in Princoton. N. J.
The 8-cent stamp honori'np the
Nübel prize-winning phvsici.st
is part of a series of 18 stamps
in meniory of prominent Amer-
icans that will be issued diiring
the next sex^eral years. Dr.
Kinstein .spent his final vears
at the Institute for Advanced
Studies at Princeton^
*^LL/iii N Mrs. Alhcrt iMiisicin was askcd wIkiIut sIh' uiukrsiooil the
llunrv ot rc'lalivity, slu- rtj^litil staiiriihly, "No — l>ut I knou iny hushaiid
.liul I knoW he c;H1 Ix' trilStld. - l in Ko A. l-unull h.nh v. (.nur.il l iiuncs i .m-.
TO THE ElDITOR:
IN his book entitled "Oppen-
heimer," Haakon Chevalier
States that Dr. Leo Szilard
asked Albert Einstein in 1945
to wrlte President Roosevelt "a
letter of waming against the
use of the bomb and to sign a
detailed memorandum which he
himself had written regarding
the political and Strategie conse-
quences of its use." This State-
ment, which implles that Ein-
stein knew about the successful
production of the bomb before
it was dropped over Japan in
August, 1945, is erroneous.
Emphasizing that he could not
let E^instein know why he
sought an appointment with
President Roosevelt, Szilard
asked Einstein merely to write
a letter of introduction to the
President.
That Einstein knew about the
development of the bomb before
August, 1945, is also indicated
in Lansing Lamont's "Day of
Trinity," which waa reviewed in
your issue of July 18. Mr. La-
mont Gusserts that Einstein was
in Los Alamos, N. M.. in 1943-
1944. Einstein never went to
Los Alamos and had no part in
the work that led to the produc-
tion of the atomic bomb, except
for two letters which he ad-
dressed to President Roosevelt
in 1939 and 1940. He was kept
in complete ignorance about the
work done in producing the
bomb and was, when it feil over
Hiroshima, as surprised as the
rest of the world.
Otto Nathan, Trustee,
Estate of Albert Einstein.
New York City.
SCPTEMIER 1f, IMS
r^t<Ä,A ^^ 0) Li L|^-^ 'f'
I
BKTH HILLEL
/£^y? Ä
//
/ 6
r-
PAGE FIVE
SCIENCE AND RELIGION
AN APPRAISAL OF ALBERT EINSTEIN CN HIS iOth JAHRZEIT
The World ii it were not in turmoil would not pause in silent observance of the tenth
yahrzeit of one of God's most gifted children — Albert Einstein — and this despite the one-
time admonition by the father o fthe atomic age that "a man to whom it has been given
to bless the world with a great creative idea has no need for the preise of posterity."
The recluse of Princeton was a man of rare humility who shunned praise as a sin.
Though he deciphered the mystery of relativity and opened the door ajar to the very
secret of creation. the sight of creation did not spoil the man. He approached the mystery
with cleansed heart and he knocked at God's doors with saintly hands. Only a man with
a prcfound aense of the mystery thal is creation could have sounded the counsel that
science without religion is larr.e. that religion without science is blind and that "the man
who is not familiär with th'.s sense of the mysterlous. and, who has lost the facully for
wonder and veneration is dead."
Einstein saw no conflict between science and religion. believing instead that there
existed between the two "strong reciprocal relationships and dependencies." He repeated
over and again that there is no great scicntist without a religious feeling of his own. and
he refused to concede that the mysterious was ahen to science. He was even no alien
to the occult. The main source of conflict between science and religion. he once said. is
over the concept of a parsonal God and the thesis of reward and punishment.
1 An artist with reverence for the spiritual. Einstein considered life sacrosanct per se
and he could pot thereforo oither ronreive or concede its destruction. Life was sacred to
him. the supreme value to which all olher values are subordinale-on outlook he on occasion
ascribed to the influence of Judaism's "affirmative attitude to the life of all creation."
Having marvelled at the Psalmist for having given us "a sort of intoxicated joy and wonder
at the beauty and sublime grandeur of the world." he could not help becoming intoxicated
by the Jewish sense of the sanctity of life. and he could not help living in fear of destruc-
tion of that grandeur by civilization in its toying with the great secret.
I Ten years öfter the death of Einstein the world is still toying with the mystery. but
with unwisdom. sans awe and with lack of higher purpose.
Einstein once said that the "evolution of our world of ideas is in a cortain sen^e a
constant struggle against the miraculous. "Yet his life was studded not alone with miracles
of achievement but with contemplation of the miraculous. the mysterious. And. as he
grew older. he was drawn to the occult, to the mysterious. to the unknown. and to the
v.-ays which lead men to God, to aUar and sarctum.
i It has been said of Einstein that his Jewishness had been forced on him by an anti
Jewish world. This is a wholly false thesis. Einsteins Jewishness was of his very essence.
of his very life. His concept of ethics was as if born in the climate of the Prophets. He was
linked to Judaism by a fanatical love for independence and justice. His evaluation of
life as a sacrosanct quality by itself is truly "intimately related to his own reverence for
the spiritual." as one of his biographers aptly observes. He best expressed his attachment
to Jewish values when he said that the "traditional principles of the Jewish people prove
to me that it is my duty to belong to them."
It is not for aught that the sage of Princeton once chastised those who would have us
believe that God played with the universe, Einstein divided the secret and he was over-
awed, and that distinguishes him from the men of our time who are climbing to heaven
but v/ithout Vision.
(A xeveu arf fedtiire hy Satlmu Ziprin)
^Yt^^
1^ ifCr
"Oheöf
the greatest
achievements
in the history
of human
thought"
In 1919, Britain's Royal
Astronomical society
hailedasoneof man-
kind'sgreatestachieve-
ments a newiy-proven
theory by the Professor
of Physics at the University of Prague.
Only one American newspaper, The
New York Times, reported this event
In a Story that was the public introduc-
tion in the United States of Dr. Albert
Einstein.
Long before the beginning of the
atomic age, The New York Times recog-
nized the value of science news as part
of the day-to-day history of the world.
Today, more than ever, the world of sci-
ence is covered more fully— and more
clearly— in The New York Times than in
any other newspaper.
\ iive in that solitude which is painfui in voutfi but dclicioiis
iniLII'FB HALSMAN
s in rnatuntv.
IWIM-IONAL SECUND'KXroSURE
,^
V^
IV C^
"One of
the greatest
achievements
in the history
of human
thought"
In 1919, Britain's Royal
Astronomical society
hailedasoneof man-
kind's greatest achieve-
ments a newiy-proven
theory by the Professor
of Physics at the University of Prague.
Only one American newspaper, The
New York Times, reported this event
in a Story that was the public introduc-
tion in the United States of Dr. Albert
Einstein.
Long before the beginning of the
atomic age, The New York Times recog-
nized the value of science news as part
of the day-to-day history of the world.
Today, more than ever, the world of sci-
ence is covered more fully— and more
clearly— in The New York Times than in
anyother newspaper.
mi.II'l'B UALS.MAN
I \\\v in |(i;ii ^.►lihj.l.' uhicli f< p;iiri(ul III \(,iith l.ijt .Iflirinu- ifi f M jl'ii rri \' "
Seile 8 ~ ZEIT Ni. 21
THEMEN DER ZEIT
Freitag, den 28. Mai 1965
Aiitn : dpa |4|, tllülein Bildeidieiibt (.')
Deutsche Juden: Der Wissenschafller Albert Einstein, der Politiker Waitlier Rathenau, die Dichterin Else Lasker-Schüler, der Hamburger Reeder Albert Ballin und der Maler Max Liebermann
Der Dialog zwischen Deutschen und Juden
Haben die ßezieliuugeii der beiden Völker die JliÜeijahie überdauert? / Non Amold Mcizgcr
A/i>r ein p.i.ir W'odicn wiii'dcn nur „Verse aus
* 'lliereMeiisiAdt" /ui^esanJi, auf P.\piertet/.eii
im L.iiier iiekrii/cli. Gertrud K.iiuorowic/ har
Me i^eselirieiH",!, d'e l-reuiulin von Siinmel und
Sie! All (ieiirL;e, \ oii Beruf Runstliistorikerln, eine
tleuisehe Irau, eine jüdisclu» l*r.ui. Sie wurde,
schon in hülu'in Aller, aul der Mueht ert;ntfen,
\er\Nniu!et, nach Theresienstadt i^csehleppt und
kam dort iiadi uns.ii:lie;ien Leiden um. Durcli
iiire \ iTse t;elu in nimmer an I hörender Sdi\N'er-
nuit (.;/ (ieikinke: \\as ist mii Deuuddaiul
geseheheil? Ui das \)o^\] Heutschkind? Uiul tlann
die han|;e I rai;e, die Deuiselie und Juden gkMcher-
malsen, nodi heute naeli 20 Jahren, be\ve;^t und
nicht lo>kilst: Besteht emc innere Be/iehun<; /.wi-
sehen dem natinnakso/.ialistischen DemsdiLuid
und dem Deutschkuul, das die i;rolse l'luK)snphie
und Kunst lierv i)i;.;ebradu hat? W'ek'hes ist dann
die IW'/ieluini;? WD heL;t die SteUe der Be-
zieh un--?
Di
le
ww
<t noch heule kaum durchdacht.
cme Reh^f^ion, „\crwuizelt in cineiu mciaphysi-
sdien, das will sagen: liefe'r als physischen
Grund", ganz im Gegensatz zu den Deutschen
wie überhaupt zu den säkularen europäischen
Nationen, die aus der irdischen physischen Ge-
meinsamkeit von Land und Sprache, von ßräu-
^hcn und Traditionen und darin wurzelndem ge-
meinsamen Lthos erwachsen sind.
Im Anlang der jüdischen Geschichte sieht die
(>ltenbarung am Sinai, die Offenbarung des
linen, alle Mdischen zur lanheit einer Gemeinde
verbindenden, universalen (Jottes. Auf die irdi-
sdie Verwirklichung dieser Menschengemeindc
geht durch ilie Jahrtausende hindurch die messia-
lüsche Hoffnung dieses gequälten Volkes. Das
tragische Ciesdiick des Judentums war die Ver-
bindung eines stammlichen, nationalen Rituals
mit einer religiös universalen Heilslehre, die seit
ikw Propheten über alle stamm liebe, nationale
Bindung hinaus auf die Verwirkliduing eines
messianischen Reiches des irdisdien Weltfriedens
W^r müssen hier mit ein paar '^^oricn aul die
Zeit vor biitlers Maehiübernahme zurückgreifen.
,,Als im 19. Jahrhundert die napoleonischen la-
oberungen dem mors' h gewordenen , Heil igen
Römischen Reidi Deutscher Nation* ein knde
gemacht hatten, waren die Ki'äftc, die sich da-
mals zusammenfanden, um ein einiges Deutsches
Reich zu schaffen, nici c die ursprünglichen, gei-
stigen, universal gerichi jten der Befreiungskriege,
siMidern ökonomische I ntcressen und zuletzt das
Machtstreben der BismJircksdien Lpodie" (L. von
Kahler).
l-.s war die Zeit, in d^
sondern ebenso die
curopäisdi-amerikaniscl
aus dem kortschrittsbe-
der neueren Wissensdh"
des Verfalls des inncrei
des Menschen hineinge
physischer Matcri
r nicht nur die Deutsdicn,
Juden, die westliche,
e Gescllsdiaft im ganzen
/ui^isein der Technik und
it heraus in die Gesduchtc
universalen Selbst wesens
gen wurden. Ein grober,
'<? begann seine do-
Die politische Diskreditierung der „Intelligenz-
bestien", wie es blels, richtete sich zumal gegen
die Juden, von denen die Nazis, nidit mit Un-
recht, den Verdacht hegten, dafs die Richtung auf
Universalität zum Wesensgehalt ihres Daseins
gehöre. Indem sich der Antijudaismus — das
Wort ist besser als Antisemitismus — gegen die
Humanitätsidee der grofsen deutschen Vergangen-
heit richtete, konzentrierte er seinen tödlichen
Hals und seine Verachtung auf das Judentum.
Von Theodor Vlommscns These der Juden als
„1 lemente der Dekompensation" bis zur
Hitlerschen These der Juden als deutsch-
feindlicher kleinentc nationaler Destruktion geht
ci}i Weg.
,,Der Patriotismus der Deutschen", schrieb
Heinrich Heine, am Beginn der l'pochc des Vcr-
falLs des deutschen Preiheitsbewul^tseins, „besteht
darin, dafs sein Herz enger wird und dal^ er nicht
mehr Weltbürger, nicht mehr l.uropäer, sondern
nur ein enger Deutscher sein will." „Da sahen
die jederzeit dem Dämonischen ausgeliefert er-
scheint? Die deutsche Gesdiichte spricht davon.
Sie ist eine Gesdiichte siändigen Konlhkis dieser
zwei gegensätzlichen Manifestationen eines ein-
heitlichen, diese Ciegensät/e in sidi bergenden
Geistes, eine Geschichte, die mannigfache l nt-
wicklungen hat, aber die (jeschichte einer
menschlichen Wesenheit ist, welche sich iiumer
am Rande der Selbstzerstörung befindet. ,,Das
Ghristentum", sagt Heine, „und das ist sem
schönstes Verdienst, hat jene brutale, dämonisdie,
germanische Kampfeslust einigermalsen besänftigt,
konnte sie jeilodi nicht '/.erstören, und w enn ernst
der zähmende Talisman, das Kreuz, zerbridu,
ilann rasselt wieder empor die Wildheit der ah<'n
Kämpfer."
Wie steht es heute? Wie steht es mit der aus der
nationalsozialistischen Katastrophe hervor-
gegangenen deutschen Republik? Hat die Kata-
strophe eine sich ihres Wesens erinnernde Ver-
wandluivu der Nation mit sieh gebradit? Das ist
I HCl oiciisKuil /Li'j^fsanol, iiul i^ipici UU.cii
iin La«;!.'!- ^t'kiit/clt. (jciulkI KAiUDrowic/ luii
s\c gesell r'i'oci), cl'c 1 rciuulin von SiiniiK'l uikI
Su't.iii Cjcoi'J,c', \ou Ik'rut KuiiNihisiorikcrln, eine
JciiisJu' liwii, (.'inc iaJistlu» l-raii. Sic wurde,
scliDii in hohem Aller, auf der Miiclu cr^riücn,
vcrw iiiulct, n.ich 1 hcrcMc^^t.\clt i;cschlcppi iiiul
kam i'ori i,.\vii uns.i'f;lic'K*n LclJcii um. Durch
i'hi'c \ iTsc ;.;chi m nimmer aulhörciuk'r Scliwer-
mul ( u (icJankc: was im niii Dcuuelikuul
i;csciu'!icn? Ist tku iiDch Deutsch kinJ? Uiul ilami
ilic l>.mi;e I i-.\i;e, die Deutsche und Juden i;leicher-
m.\lsciK m>di iieuie n.ieh 20 Jahren, bewegt und
iiiclii k)>lalsi: Ik'sieht eine innere bc/iehun^ /.wi-
schen dem naiicMialso/ialistiH'hen Deutschland
und «k-m DcutsJilaiul, das die i;rol>e l?hiK)sopliic
und Kunst iie:\i»r|;cbraclu hat? Welches ist cktnii
die lU'/iehunL;? \\ o liegt die Stelle der Be-
zieh uiii;?
Die I'rai;e ist nocli heute kaum durchdacht.
Idi möchte sie im Zusammenhang mit dem be-
st>nderen Verhältnis stellen, das /wischen Juden
und Detitschen bestand, ehe Muler es /erbraeh.
Zwischen Juden und Deutseben bestand eine
eii;entiimli(.he, ia e'n/ii;artii;e, in kaum einem
lande aulser Deutschland mncrlidi verwur/elte,
idi dart sai;en: i;eisii'f;e ße/.ielumi;. ldi mödue
\o\\ der liebe der Juden /.u ^.Icn Deuisjien
sprechen. Sie geht durch die (jeschichte und lebt,
wie idi glaube, noch heute, auch wenn wir es
noch kaum aus/.usprechen wagen, über das Un-
geheuerliche hinaus, das den Juden von di:n
Deutsdien aiv^etan wurde.
1 leir Dr. Adler hat in einem seiner Inicher
Zeugen dieser deiit>ch-jüdisdien ['.inheit .\n-
gelühri. l'.r spricht von einer Symbmse beider
\ölker und zitiert Männer, wie den National-
ökonomen I }\'.!i/. Oi>iHfihvi?fic}\ den Marburger
Prolc-soi- /IcvffiiUDi Cohen und den in unserem
l.aiuie wohlbekannten MaUin Ihthvr, einen seines
jüdisdien X'olkstunis bewuisten Juden, der gerade
au^ seinem jüdischen Nationalbewul^tsein, das
wir heute ausgeprägt in Israel tinden, die Ver-
bindung mit (.lem Deutschtum immer gesLicht hat
und, wie ich glaube, heute wieder sucht.
Deutschland war tiir die Juden der ganzen
Welt, nidit nur ti'r die deutschen Juden, da.s
Land \on Kant und Cioethe, um nur diese beiden
zu nennen. In der Tat: vielleicht keine Nation
hat der Well edlere Apostel der Humanität
geschenkt. Niemand hat die Idee der llumanität
so groKartig, so jenseits von aller nationalen
IVindun«' verherrlicht wie l essing und Merder.
l.essing sagi: ,,Der gute Kut eines Patrioten
ist v!as l ei/ie, was ich mir wünsdue, wenn der
Patriotismus mich lehren s».)llte, mein Weltbürger-
uim zu vergessen," Bei Hegel steht in seiner Ke-
ligionsphilosophie das grojse \\di;i : ,,Wer seine
r)rust nichi aus dem Treiben des liullidien her-
aus ausgeweitet, in der Sehnsiicbt, Ahndung oder
im (ieKihI des l.wigen die l.rhebung seiner Selbst
nicht vollbradn und in den reinen Äther der
Seele geschaut hat, der besälse nidit den Stott,
der hier beiiiitleii werden soll."
1 s ist dieser Sh)lt, der in dem Denken, in
ilem Dichten, in der Musik der Deutsdien lehen-
dig ist — es ist dieser StofI, der ihre Lieder
durchdringt, der die Mvstik eines Meister l.ck-
hart, die grolle Philosophie des deutschen Kardi-
nals Xicolaus von Cues, von Jakob Böhme und
zumal den deutsdien Idealismus von Kant bis
j-fegel inid dev schiielslich, und nicht zulet/t,
Nietzsches einsames Denken bestimmt. |a, ich
möchte sagen: vvas wir den W'esensgrund des
deutsdien Cjcmüts nennen, ist von dieser Sehn-
sucht n,\e\\ dem, was alle Bindung an das Alltäg-
liche und das I nge, An das Partikulare und das
Provmzielk- durchbricht, getragen.
1 in .Ausspruch Hermann CA)lieiis, In dem von
der ,'\ulgabe der Deutschen und der Juden im
Sinne der gemeinsamen Herbeilührung einer mes-
sK^nischen Menschheit gcsprodien wird, ist keine
sentimentale ;\iibiederung, sondern kommt aus
der Überzeugung eines im Deuisditum aulgehen-
deii luden, der sidi tlieser substanziellen Gemein-
samkeii religiös bewulst ist.
Dennoch: die I lum.initälsidee tier |u«.len ging
m cmgegengesetzter Kichtung. .Sie war ihrem
letzten prophetischen Ziele nadi aul die Veräni^c-
rimg der W'eltv erhältnissc geridnet: aut die
Veräntlerung dieser Welt, in der wir leben und
deren irdischen Drangsalen wir ausgesetzt sind.
Die Juden sind ursprünglidi ein Siamm, eine
ethnische Gemeinschat i, die gctuniu isi durdi
Grund*', ganz im (iegensatz zu den Deutsdien
wie überhaupt zu den säkularen europäischen
Nationen, die aus der irdischen physischen Ge-
meinsamkeit von Land und Sprache, von Bräu-
chen und 'i'raditionen und darin wurzelndem ge-
meinsamen Ithos erwachsen sind.
Im Alllang der jüdischen (jeschiebte steht die
G>rienbarung am Sinai, die OHenbarung des
l'.inen, alle Melischen zur l.mheit einer (jemeinde
verbindenden. univer.-.aleii (joites. Aut die irdi-
sche Verwirklichung tlicser Meiischeiigememdc
geht durdi die Jahrtausende hindurch die messia-
nisdie Hottiumg dieses gequälten Volkes. Das
tragische (jesehiek des Judentums war die Ver-
bindung eines stammliehen, nationalen Rituals
mit einer religiös universalen Heilslehre, die seit
den Propheten über alle stammliehc, nationale
Bindung hinaus aul die Verwirklichung eines
messianischen Ileiches des irdischen Weltfriedens
gerichtet war.
Diese Riehtung auf Universalität haben die
Juden auch in unsereui säkularisierten und eman-
zipierten Zeltalter beibehalten, speziell in
Deutsdiland, als sie sich mit den nationalen
Autgaben des aufgeklärten Bürgertums verban-
den und hier in vorderster Front zusammen mit
den deutschen Mitbürgern, mit ihnen verbunden,
für Demokratie und nationale Linheit kämpten.
Die Riditung auf Universalität hat die Juden be-
fähigt, über die partikularen Ligeiisehattcn ihres
Rituals hinauszuwachsen und sieh supranationa-
len Autgabcn in den vielerlei Gestalten des Libe-
ralismus, des Sozialismus, des Pazifismus zuzu-
wenden.
Was also die beiden Völker verbindet, ist
etwas Gemeinsames, etwas Erhabenes, aber eben-
so etwas 'Lragisches, wie Erich von Kahler sagt,
nämlich, dals sie im tiefsten transnationale Völ-
ker sintI, jedes freilieh in einem verschiedenen,
ja einem antagonistischen Sinne. Ls ist ein ge-
meinsames, aber unterschiedliches, beide Grup-
pen verbindendes Humanltatsideal — wir dür-
fen sagen: ein gemeinsames, aber imterschied-
Ikhes nienschllches Glüeksideal, das beide Völker
in ihrer J'iete erfüllt und verbindet.
Ich spreche \on einem beiden Völkern gemein-
samen, aber gegensätzlich gerichteten Mensdien-
iileal. Immanuel Kant spradi von dem ,, Über-
sinnlichen im Menschen". L'.r meinte das Humane
im Menschen, ,,das eintaehe Herz", das in dem
lineii (jott geborgene (diristusherz In uns. Die
humanisilschen Bestrebungen der Menschen, die
deutsches Wesen repräsentieren — von Leibniz
bis Kant, von Lessing bis Herder, Schiller und
Goethe und Llumboldt — meinten, wenn sie
Deutschland sagten, immer den über das „Sin-
nenreich sich erhebenden", über partikulare na-
tionale Bindungen hinausgehenden, verwandel-
ten, geistigen Menschen in uns. Die Idee der
,,Lrziehung des Menschengeschlechts", die in den
deutschen Bildungsstätten die entscheidende Rolle
einnahm, hatte in dieser (Gewißheit des geistigen
Zentrums ,,in allem, was Mcnschenantlitz trägt"
(Lichte), ihre ebenso christliche wie deutsehe
W\nzeL
Demgegenüber steht das im jüdlsehen Messla-
nismus gründegide Denken etwa von Karl Marx
— nicht der Marxisten, mit denen Karl Marx
schon in seiner Zeit nicht in eins genannt werden
wollte. Ls ist diese ausgeprägte, ursprünglich
religiös inspirierte i'.igentümlichkeit des Dranges
zum Universalen, der den Juden in der nationa-
listischen Ära der L.poche des 19. |ahrhunderts
die Anklage einer antinationalen Wirksamkeit
eintrug — eine Anklage, die sie Inmitten ihrer
bedingungslosen Identillkation mit clem Deutseh-
tum zuletzt mit mörderischer bland traf. Man
vergesse nicht unter anderem: Ls war ein deut-
scher Jude, Eduard von Sirnson, der gewählte
erste Präsident des ileutschen kaiserlichen Reichs-
tags, der An der Spitze der parlamentarischen
Delegation stand, die 1S7I dem zögernden Kö-
nig Wilhelm von Preußen die deutsche Kaiser-
krone antrug.
Was liegt also vor, dals die jütlische Verbin-
dung mir dem deutschen (jesehiek, die jüdische
Liebe und Hingabe .\n das deutsche Wesen vom
tieutsehen Volkstum unbeantwortet blieb und
am [indc zertrümmert wurde?
Was ist der Grund, dM)^ der Judenhals in
Deutschland diesen ungeheuerlichen, in den Wil-
len zur Judenvernlehtung mündenden (irad
erreicht hat?
/-A ! L
IJt
^.. . ..,. iiji:li> ,Mmi abernahiiiv / urüekgreilei..
,,Als im 19. Jahrhund^jrt die napoleonisdien l.r-
"1 gewordenen ,1 teil igen
scher Nation' ein Inde
die Ki^ätte, die sich da-
um ein einiges Deutsches
: die ursprünglichen, gei-
,'ten der Belreiungskriege,
ueressen und zuletzt das
rcksdien Lpodie" (L. von
oberungen dem mors
Römischen Reich Den
gemadit hatten, waren
mals zusammenlanden.
Reldi zu Schäften, mci-
siigen, imlversal geriehi
sondern ökonomisdie 1
Machtstreben der Bisni.
Kahler).
L.s war die Zelt, in d. r nidit nur tlie Deutschen,
sondern ebenso die Juden, die westliche,
europäisch-amerlkanisel c Gesellschat t im ganzen
aus dem lortschrittsbe" v'ußtsein der Technik und
der neueren Wissenscha t heraus in die (jcsdiichtc
des \' er falls des Innerei universalen Selbstwesens
des Menschen hlneingez gen wurden. Ein grober,
physischer. Material' '• Legann seine do-
ndnlerendc Llcrrsd i-iiij -üvr "ibcr Deutsche
und über Juden, . dcrn über die ganze
anierikaniseh-europälsciie Zivilisationswelt.
Es Ist die im 19. Ja irhundert durchbrechende
positlvlstlseh-matcrlalis Ische Welt konzept Ion,
aus der das Bismareksihe wie das ihm tolgende
Wilhelmlnlsehc Reich hervorging, beherrscht von
einem von militärischem Macht willen geleiteten
Nationalismus. Im deu sehen Reich \'on 1871 und
nach 1S71 kamen die inlvcrsalen humanistischen
Bestrebungen der deut ;chen Denker und Staats-
männer nicht mehr zun bestimmenden Wort. Das
geistige Leben der Nation, durch einen Abgrund
getrennt, hörte auf, das politische Leben der
Nation zu bestimmen.' Die demokratische Rich-
tung geistiger Mensdiep war der Geringschätzung
preisgegeben. Die Riihtung zum universalen
dieser Menschen wurde als gleidibedeutend mit
Antlnationalismus, mit Antlpatriotlsmus ver-
femt. Philosophie wurde zu einer estnerlschcn
Angelegenheit von (jinilußlosen, sektierenden
Unlversltätsschulcn. "
ucsiieir', wie es hlels, richtete sich zumal gejicn
die Juden, von dene\^ die Nazis, nicht mit Un-
recht, den Verdadii hegten, dal^ die Riditung auf
Universalität zum Wesensgehalt ihres Daseins
gehöre. Indem sich der Antljudaismus — das
Wort ist besser als Antisemitismus — gegen die
Humanitätsidee der großen deutsdien Vergangen-
heit riditete, konzentrierte er seinen tödlichen
Llals uiul seine Verachtung auf tias Judentum.
Von Theodor Mommsens Lhcse der Juden als
„Llemente der Dekompensation" bis zur
llitlerscheii 'Lhese der Juden als deutsdi-
leindlicher Llemente nationaler Destruktion geht
eni Weg.
,,Der Patriotismus der Deutschen", schrieb
Heinrieh Heine, am Beginn der l^pochc des Ver-
falls des deutschen Lreiheitsbewußtseins, „besteht
d.irln, dals sein Herz enger wird und daß er nicht
mehr Weltbürger, nicht mehr L.uropäer, sondern
nur ein enger Deutseher sein will." „Da sahen
wir nun", fährt Heine fort, ,,das idealisciie Megel-
tum, das Herr Jahn (der 'Lurnvater Jahn) in
System gebracht... Es begann die schäbige,
plumpe, ungewaschene Opposition gegen eine
Gesinnung, die eben das Herrlichste und Heiligste
ist, was Deutschland hervorgebracht hat, nämlich
gegen jene Humanität . . . gegen jenen Kosnio-
polltismus, dem unsere großen Geister Lessing,
Herder, Schiller, Goethe, Jean Paul, dem alle
(Jebildeten in Deutschland immer gehuldigt
haben."
Was Hegt da vor, daß der deutsche Genius, der
die Idee der Humanität in einer ihrer reinsten
Cjc.stalten ausgebildet hat, aus seinem geistigen
'Zentrum in den Lebensterror gerissen wurde?
Das ist eine schwere philosophische Lrage. Ge-
hört es zum Wesen des deutschen Geistes, in einer
inneren, ihm eigentümlichen Beziehung zum
Dämonischen, zum Abgrund des Geschehens, zu
stehen, Insotern dieser Abgrund seine Existenz
ständig bedroht? Und ist die deutsche Humanitäts-
idee als Gegenzug einer Wesenheit zu begreiien,
. ac..-^' ..• "j::-.*
Händedruck zwischen Heiiss und Ren Gtniou; Beginn einer neuen Epoche?
scheint? Die deutsche GcNdiidiie spriciit davon.
Sie ist eine (jeuiiichte ständigen Konllikts dieser
zwei gegensätzlichen ManiteNiationen eines ein-
heitlichen, diese (iegensätze m sich bergenden
(jelstes, eine Cieschidite, tlie mannigtadie l lU-
wicklungen hat, aber die (jeschichte einer
niensdilidien Wesenheit i^t, welche sich immer
am Rande der Selhstzersiörung behndet. „D.\^
C^hristentum", sagt Lleine, „und das ist >eMi
sdiönstes Verdienst, hat jene brutale, dämonisdie,
germanische Kampteslust einigermajsen besäniiigt,
konnte sie jedodi nidit zerstören, und wenn ein^t
der zähmende Talisman, d.\^ Kreuz, /erbridii,
dann rasselt wieder empor die Wildheit der alten
Kämpfer."
Wie steht es heute? Wie steht es mit der aus der
nationalsozialistischen Katastrophe hervor-
gegangenen deutschen Republik? i lat die Kata-
strophe eine sich ihres Wesens erinnernde Ver-
wandlui\^ der Nation mit sich gebracht? Das ist
die Frage, wie idi ght'jbe, die entscheidende
lrage, vor der wir heute stehen. Der cvangclisdie
Theologe, Pastor Dietrich Bonhöijer, der einmal
von dem aus dem 'Lranszendenten her lebenden
Mensdien gesprochen hat, schrieb vor seiner
Hinrlchtung am 9. April PM5 im KZ Llossenbürg
in einem hinterlassenen Briefe: „Das Wunder der
Auferstehung und des neuen Lebens leuchtet mu-
ten in die Todeswelt hinein." Wird dieses Wun-
der der Auferstehung in unser heutiges politisdies
Leben wieder hineinleuchten und gestaltend he-
stimmen? Wird das edle, die dämonischen Ide-
nientc niederhaltende Deutschtum verwandelt
erstehen und sich gegen die Bedrohung von außen
wie auch, und nicht zuletzt, von innen behaupten?
Wird das humane Deutschtum zu einer das poli-
tische Leben der Nation mitbestimmenden NLulu
werden? I's ist eine Lrage aut Leben und lod,
heute mehr denn je in dem weltgesdiiditlichen
Augenblick, in dem es um die Auseinandersetzung
der beiden zum äui^crsten entschlossenen gegen-
sätzlichen Weltmächte geht, in deren tödlich be-
drohtem Zentrum unser Deutschland liegt.
Ich sprach am .\iifang von der Symbiose de>
ludentums und des Deutschtums. Sie ist zer-
stört worden. Aber sie kann nicht untergehen.
Denn sie war, genau gesprochen und wesentlidi.
nicht ein Dialog von zwei verschiedenen Völkern
oder zwei weseiisl remdeii Rassen, sondern v un
zwei verschiedenen Welthaltungeii, und sie war
darüber hinaus, bei aller Verschiedenheit der Cie-
sprächspartner, der Dialog einer gemeinsamen,
auf die Verwirklichung der Lriedensgemeiiischatt
der Menschen gerichteten Weltgesinnung. Dieser
Dialog ist, auch unter LIitler, nie ganz abgerissen.
Ls gab unter Hitler Kämpter des Widerstandes,
Deutsdie, die in der Verborgenheit gelebt uiul
gelitten haben oder in den Lagern umgekommen
sind, Deutsdie, die das Martyrium aut sich ge-
nommen haben, aus dessen Geiste die Republik —
wir hotfen es — »»ich anschickt zu leben. Diese
Kämpfer des Widerstandes gab es in allen
Sdiiditen des Volkes und in allen religiösen
Schattierungen.
Nidits Beglückenderes kann es heute tür die
beiden Völker geben als die ^X'iederauferstehul1g
dieses Dialoges, der als Beitrag, ja als politisdie
Macht, zur Konsolidierung unserer zerrissenen
Welt unentbehrlich geworden ist. Demi \nn
einer zentralen, alle Völker angehenden Autgabe
ist hier die Rede, die das Judentum und d.ts
Deutsditum in ihren repräsentierenden Cieistern
einmal verbunden hat und wieder verbinden
kann.
Vlelleldit liegt die Cdiancc unserer L'podie
darin — vielleicht zum ersten Male in der
Menschheitsgeschichte — , dals die Ideen der
der Humanität: der Mensdiengemeinsdialt, \nn
früheren Lpochcn als reine Gedankengebildc, als
Utopien verkündet, und als solche das Arsenal
bildend, aus dem deutsches ^'esen dachte und
dichtete, aus ihrer idealistischen Höhe heraus-
treten und zu Llementcn der politisdi-pr.ik-
tiscbcn Gestaltung unseres nationalen Daseins
werden. Sie haben die Tendenz, es zu >\erden in
dem Malse, in dem die Völker, zumal die beiden
führenden Weltmächte, zur Hinsicht kommen, daß
im Zeitalter der nuklearen Wallen Kriege nidit
mehr Instrumente der Politik sind, wenn sie
nicht zur Selbstvernichtung tüliren sollen. Die
HolTnung Deutschlands, die Hoflnung der W'elt,
.steht auf dem Glauben an diese Lntwicklung: die
Beherrschung des Dämonischen im Menschen —
ut onincs unutn siiu
/
/
>
/ domcnica 18 aprile T965
■1C
II 18 aprile 1955 moriva aPrinceton II fisieo piü geniale della nostra epoca
'''..'■■ ■ . ' ■■'.■''''',■'■'.'•'..•'. '
Albert Einstein, dieci anni depo
mm
Intervista con Marcello Cini, ordinario |
di fisica teovica all'üniversltä di Roma \
Lopera scientifica e l
Tazione per la pace I
J
Ancora aperti molti dei problemi ai quali il grande scien-
ziato - filosofo dedicö la sua indagine per mezzo secolo
L'impegno civile contro il fascismo e Tuso delle «atomiche»
Albert Einstein mentre concede un'intervista. Negli Ultimi anni della sua vita, lo scienziato si
batt* a fondo per auspicare un accordo tra le naiioni ctie mettesse al bando Tarma atomica
% A dieci anni di distanza dalla
morte di Einstein, come puö
essere giudicato ii suo con-
tributo allo sviluppo della fi-
sica moderne?
Una valutazione del ruolo
fondamentale che Einstein ha
«vuto nello sviluppo della fi-
sica, a dieci anni di distanza
dalla sua morte, non differi-
sce sostanzialmente da quel-
1a im«utmi«^nr)pnt^ rondivisa da
% Quali sviluppi ha avuto di
recente la teoria della relati
vitä generale e il tentativo di
Einstein di formulare una teo-
ria unitaria che abbracciasse
tutti l fenomeni fisicl finora
notl?
Anche se gli Ultimi venti an
ni di vita di Einstein sono sta
ti dedicati a questo tentativo,
non si puö diru che esso ab
bia avuto successo.
va diivtta o indiretta e rap
prcsenta solo un'idea sul! * '.ai
foridatozza e impossibile oggi
pronunciarsi.
La stessa teoria della rela-
livita generale , forse la piu
geniale elaborazione teorica di
Einstein, teoria che ha avuto
alcune si^nificative conferme
sperimentali, e ancor oggi og-
^etto di discussioni e contr(^
l versie ooorattutto dal purito oii
Nato il 14 marzo 1879 a Ulm, Albert Einstein
trascorse l'infanzia e l'adolescenza a Monaco di
Baviera dove la sua famiglia si era trasferita.
Nei 1894 un rovescio di fortuna costrinse la sua
famiglia a trasferirsi in Italia ed Einstein so-
spese gli studi per seguirla. Ripresi gli stiidi,
frequcntö il Politecnico di Zurigo laureandosi
nel 1901; nello stesso anno assunse la cittadi
nanza svizzera e si impiegö all'Ufficio Brevetti
di Bernd.
L'anno 1905 v<de la pubblicazione dei fonda-
mentali lavori sulla teoria della relativitä e sul
l'effetto fotoelettrlco che gli fruttarono la no
mina a libero docente all'Universitä di Berna.
La fama di Einstein cresce rapidamente: nel
1909 e professore alTUniversitä di Zurigo, l'an-
no dopo k protessore di fisica teorica all'Uni-
versitä tedesca di Praga, nel 1912 e professore
di fisica teorica al Politecnico di Zurigo. Nel
1913 Einstein si trasferisce a Berlino come
membro ell'Accademia dl Prussia.
A Berlino resterä circa vent'anni, fino a che
il nazismo non lo costringerä a cercare rifugio
prima nel Belgio e poi negli Stati Uniti; du-
rante il periodo berlinese, Einstein porta a ter-
mine il lavoro sulla teoria della relativitä ge-
nerale (1916). Nel 1921 riceve il premio Nobel,
ufficialmente assegnatogli per la sua teoria sul-
l'effetto fotoelettrlco.
Dimessosi dall'Accademia dl Prussia (1933)
Einstein diventa professore all'lstituto dl Studi
Superlorl di Princeton. In questo periodo si
intensifica l'impegno sociale di Einstein in par-
ticolare contro la barbarie nazista (in questo
quadro si inserisce la famosa lettera al presi-
dente Roosevelt per indurio a prendere In con-
sidcrazione i progetti di produzione della bom-
ba atomica) e, nel dopoguerra, per l'uso pacifico
dell'energia nucleare. Lasciö l'insegnamento nel
1945 senza interrompere I suoi studi sulla «teo-
ria unitaria »; mori a Princeton il 18 aprile 1955.
anm
Una delle ulH-
me foto dl A^
bert Einstein
L'EFFETTO FOTOELETTRICO
La scoperta per la quäle ebbe il Nobel
Timore di polemiche e limitazioni del regolamento impedirono che il I
premio Nobel fosse assegnato ad Einstein per la teoria della relativitä I TtfTjrpA TT Yf)T TQ
DEL PENSIERO
SCIENTIFICO
Il nome di Einstein e legafo
nella menle della maggior par
te delle persone, oltre che alla
sua figura di f^agfjio hiiono e
un po' hizzarro, alla parola are-
lativitä».
Anche cfii non si occupa di
scienza sa che Einstein e il pa
dre di quelln cosa difficile e i
un tantino misteriosa che e la
teoria della relativitä, 7na non
mnlti sanno che al di iuori del-
la elaborazione della teoria
della relativitä Vopera scientifi-
ca di Einstein e di tale im-
portanza da assicurargli un po
sto eminente nella stnria della
jisica: jondamentali sono i suoi
clossici lavori sulla teoria deJ-
Veffetto fotoelettrico, sulla teo-
ria dei mofi hrowvinni, sui ca-
lori specifici.
Un'idea della portata di que-
sti lavori e data dal jatto che
quando la fama di Einstein di-
renne vasti'J.sima e parve una
stranezza che un tale scienzia-
to non avesf>e ancora ricevufo
, condizioni nelle quali si com
pie iesperienza, non si avrä 1
emissione di elettroni. Aumen-
tare iintensitä della radiazin- 1
ne. cioe il mnnero dei jotoni, I
non serve a niilla; sarebbe i
come pretefidere di scalfire \
una lastra di acciaio con una
gragnuüla di palline di ham- |
bagia. Per converso basta an-
che un solo jotone di sufjicien 1
te energiü per provocare la •
emissione di un elettrone. Inol- i
tre, impiegando radiazioni di |
una data frequenza, cioe fo- .
foNi di una data energia, gli |
elettroni emessi avranno la
rr^edesima energia: aumentan- I
do Iintensitä della radiazione »
incidente. aumentando cioe il 1
numero dei jotoni, non aumen- I
tera l'energia degli elettroni e- .
messi, ma il loro numero. Per |
aumentare l'energia degli elet-
troni emessi, occorre aumenta- 1
re l'energia dei jotoni incidenti,
cioe aumentare la jrequenza 1
della radiazione impiegata (per I
espmnin. Iure nltrnvioletta an- i
Non sono certo numerosc
Ic innovazioni scientitiche che
possono vantare una « po
polaritä » cosl vasta come
quella goduta dalle teoric re-
lativistiche di Einstein. Fin
dal loro sorgere esse ebbcro
enormi ripercussioni anche in
ambiti assai diversi da quelU
dei fisici di mestiere. Per un
certo periodo di tempo, anzi,
si puö dire che le inierpreta-
zioni e Ic estrapolazionni « fi-
losofiche » nel senso piü va-
ge (e spesso anche squalifica-
to ) del teiynine pulluli^rono.^
rativistica.
Sarebbe crrato ritencre che
la diversi tä delle intcrpreta-
zioni qui sfiorate c delle ti-
tre che dobbiamo passare sot-
to silenzio sia soltanto dovu-
ta all'arbitraria accentuazionc
di aspetti che nell'opera di
Einstein sono indubbiamentc
compresenti ma armonicamcn-
te tusi nelle superiori sintc-
si teoriche. La rcaltä i che
nel pensiero cinsteiniano que-
sti diversi contrastanti aspet-
ti non vengono scrapre cffica-
cemente mediati e che cer-
1
i^%
Albert Einstein mentre concede un'intervista. Negli Ultimi anni della sua vita, lo scienziato si
batt* a fondo per auspicare un accordo tra le nazioni che mettesse al bando l'arma atomica
% A dieci anni di distanza dalla
morte di Einstein, come puö
essere giudicato ii suo con-
tributo allo sviluppo della fi
tica moderna?
Una valutazione dd ruolo
fondamentale che Einstein ha
flvuto nrllo s\'ilupp<) della fi-
sica. a dieci anni di distanza
dalla sua morte. non differi-
sce sostanzialmente da quel-
U unanimroicntc cunc^i^isa da
tutti i fisici ormai da alcuiii
decenni. K* noto che alcune
delle idee base su cui poggia
l'intoro edififio della fisica mo
dcrna (i principi della relati-
vitä e 11 concetto di folone)
sono State esposte da Einstein
in lavori che risalgono al 190.">.
Lo s\ilupp() di queste idee.
alle quali Einstein stesso diede
contributi importanti negli an-
ni successivi, ha veramente
trasformato la nostra civilta.
non solo per quel che riguarda
l'interpretazionc della realtä
del mondo fisieo. ma anche
per le applicazioni pratiche cui
ha dato luogo. in modo piu o
meno dirctto. I/esempio piu
drammatico di questa inciden-
za e quello della bnmba ato-
mica.
# Einstein ^ speclalmente e ge-
neralmente noto per la teo-
ria della relativitä; tu hai ac-
cennato come a cosa fonda-
mentale all'introduzlone del
concetto di fotone, essenziale
per lo sviluppo delle teorie
quantistiche. Quäle e stato
Tulteriore apporto dl Einstein
In questo campo?
Dopo essere stato uno dei
fondatori della teoria dei
quanti (la sua teoria dei ca-
lori specifici c un altro im
p<irtante contributo in questo
campo). Einstein non condi-
vise l'interpretazione indeter-
ministica delle leggi della fi-
sica, resa neccssaria da esi-
genze di coerenza interna della
teoria che si sviluppo in di
verso formulazioni (meccani
ca ondulatoria e qiiantistica)
per oi)era e^sonziaiinente di
Bohr, de Rroglie. Schrodinger
e Heisenberg, dallc premesse
gettate da Planck e Einstein
stesso.
Flinstein infatti. pur accet
tnndo la nuova teoria come
descrizione prov\isoria dei fe
nomeni su scala atomica. non
la riteneva concettualmente
soddisfacente. essendo convin
to che essa fosse una descri
zione approssimata di lipo sta-
tistico di una realta. su scala
subatomica. go\ernata da leg
gi essenzialmente determini
Stiche.
Pertanto. a partiro dal 1920
11 contributo di pjnstein fu es
senzialmente una acuta criti-
ca dei vari aspetti della de
scrizione dei fcnomeni atomi
ci. critica che lo stesso Bohr,
massimo esponente della scuo-
la cui si de\e la definitiva ela-
borazione della meccanica
quantistica. giudic^ <? un incen-
tivo del massimo \ alore i>. so
prattutto per « chiarire l'im
portanza degli strumenti di
misura ».
Pur essendo l'interpretazio-
ne non deterministica della
meccanica quantistica oggi co
munf^mente accettata. tentativi
di una fornnilazione determi
nislica secoiuio le idee di Fmo
stein sono stati conipiuti an
che recentementc. fra nW altri
da de RroLHie. pur sonza por-
tevt i ri.sullati positivi.
# Quali sviluppi ha avuto di
recente la teoria della relati
vitä generale e 11 tentativo di
Einstein dl formulare una teo-
ria unitaria che abbracciasse
tutti i fenomenl fisici finora
notl?
Anche so gli ultimi venti an
ni di vita di F^in.stein sono sta
ti dedicati a questo tentativo.
non si puö dire ehe esso ab
bia avuto successo.
Occorre premettere anzltut-
to che la teoria unitaria che
F^instein cercava di costruire
d()\eva abbraceiare l'insieme
dei fenonieiii ek^ttromagnetici
e gravitazionali. esciudendo
tutti i fenomeni atomici e nu
cleari. Pur restando nel cam
po dei fenomeni ehe rientrano
nellarnbito della fisica das
sica, l'ipotesi cinsteiniana che
elettromagnetismo e gra\ita-
zione abbiano un'origine co-
munc manca di qualsiasi pro-
Einstein
in italiano
Numerose sono le pubblica-
zloni in lingua Italiaita sutia
vita e sull'opera di Albert
Eeinstein:
Una del'e opere di maggior
re<^piro e quella di Leopold
Infeld, per moltissimi anni
collaboratore e amico perso-
nale di Einstein (Infeld: Al-
bert Kin.stein. L'uomo e lo
sci<>nziatü. La teoria della re-
lativitä c la sua Influenza sul
mondo contemporaneo (Plcco-
la Biblloteca Einaudi, 1962,
pp. 150, lire 500).
Una agile biografia roman-
zata e quella di Elma Ehrlich
Levinger (Albert P'.instoin. Bl-
blioteca Moderna Mondadori,
L. 250).
Utilissima, per una magqio-
re comprensione della vastitä
di interessi di Einstein, la
raccolta antologica, a cura di
P. A. Schlipp, intitolata AlVn'rt
Kinstein, scitMi/iato c flloi^ofo.
edita da Einaudi nel 19S8. SI
tratta di una raccolta di saq-
qi scritti da illustri scienziati
in occasione del settantesimo
compleanno di Einstein; II
grosso volume (670 pagine)
comprende anche l'unica auto-
biografia dello scienziato e
una completa bibliografia dei
suoi scritti.
Per quanto riguarda II va-
lore scientlflco delle scoperte
einsteiiiane, raccomandiamo
Topera di Wolfgang Pauli in-
titolata La teoria dell;i relati-
vit<). edita da Boringhieri nel
1959. Consigliabile anche la
lettura, per chi ha una certa
preparazione specialistica, del-
la raccolta di saggi di autori
varl intitolata ('ifK|UHnt<i anni
di relativitä. edita da Giuntini
e SansonI nel 1956.
Fra i volumi dedicati alla
divulgazioiie delle teorie sclen-
tifiche un posto di primo pia-
no occupa L'evolii/.ione dell.i
fisica. Sviluppo delle idee dni
concetti primitivi alla relati-
vitä e ai Quanti (ed. Einaudi,
1948),
Per quanto riguarda 1 testi
fondamentali sulla teoria del-
la relativitä e sui suoi sign!-
ficati nella fisica moderna,
sempre in lingua italiana, con-
siglinmo a chi abbia una soll-
da preparazione matematica
II ^isnificnln della relativitä,
di Albert Einstein, ed. Einau-
di, 1950.
g. c.
vd diretta o indiretta e rap
prcsenta solo un'idea sulla cui
foridatezza e impossibile oggi
pronunciarsi.
La stessa teoria della relci
tirita ()en(^ralp, forse la piü
geniale elaborazione teorica di
Pünstein, teoria che ha avuto
alcune significative conferme
sperimenlali. e ancor oggi og-
getto di di.scussioni e contro
versie soprattutto dal puiito di
vista della interpretazione fi
sica della sua formulazione
matematica. Per fare un esem
pio. l'esi.stenza di onde gra
vitazionali e tuttora in discus
sione. cosi come molte delle
implieazioni cosmologiche del
la teoria.
0 Oltre che per la sua opera
scientifica, Einstein e noto per
la Viva consapevolezza della
funzione e della responsabl-
lltä dello scienziato che egii
ha sempre dimostrato. Questo
suo atteggiamento ha un se-
guito, e in quäle misura, fra
gli scienziati di oggi?
E' noto che negli Ultimi an
ni della sua vita Einstein, che
aveva avuto una parte di pri
mo piano nello spingere il pre
siciente I^oosevelt a prendere
la deeisione di produrre le
prinie bombe atomiche (|uando
pareva che i nazisti poles.sero
giungere per primi al pos.ses-
so di queste armi. impegno
decisamente il suo grande pie
stigio nel nobile tentativo di
spingere ad un accordo fra i
governi delle nazioni in pos
sesso di armi nucleari. che
portasse ad una loro messa
al bando.
.Anche se tale tentativo. a
dieci anni di distanza dalla
morte di Einstein, e ben Ion
tano dal successo. e giusto ri
conoscere al movimento di opi
nione al quäle egli diede l'ap
porto della sua autoritä un
peso determinante nella con
clusione dell'accordo di Mosca
sulla interdizione degli espe
rimenti di armi nucleari.
Proprio in questi giorni. gli
scietr/iati del movimento di
Pugvvash. ispirato da Einstein
e da Russell, si riuniscono a
Venczia per il settimo conve
gno annuale. per diseutere, fra
I'altro. dei nuHorli po<sibili di
contiollo di evJMituali accordi
di disarnio nucleare e generale.
L'azione che questo gruppo
svolge e di notevole importan
za non solo ]x^r la particolare
competenza dei suoi componen
ti. ma anche per linfluenza
che essi esercitano sui gover
ni e sull'opinione pubblica dei
rispettiv i paesi. Essa deve ri
chiamare gli scienziati. dalla
cui opera direttamente o indi
rettamente deriva lo sviluppo
dei mezzi di distruzione di mas
sa che minacciano oggi l'uma
nitä. alla consapevolezza della
loro responsabilitä e alla ne
cessitä di un loro impegno con
tro l'uso di queste armi.
Sarebbe tuttavia ingenuo e
illusorio pensare che il pro
blema del disarmo si riduca
a un problema merametite tec
nico. dimenticando che si trat
ta di un problema essenzial
mente politico. la soluziotie del
quäle e legata in modo de
terminantc al succes.so della
lotta che i popoli di tntto il
mondo conducono per spezzare
il ricalto che l'equilibi'io del
terrore fa pesare su ogni moto
di cmancipazionc e di pro-
grcsso.
(Ire di (luelln rosa difficilc e
un tüfit'niü misterinsa che e la
teoria deJla relatirifä. ma non
molti sdnno rlie al cii fuori dei
la elaborazione della teoria
della relatirita l' opera scieniifi
ra di Einstein e di tale im
portanza da assicurarqH un po
sto eminente nella storia della
fisica: f(nidawen1ali sono i suoi
classiri lantri sidla teoria del
l'effetto fotoelettrico. sulla teo-
ria dei m()*i hrowniani. sui ca-
lori specifici.
Un'idea della portal a di que
sti lafori e data dal fatto che
quando la fama di Kinstein di-
venne rasti.'sima e parve una
stranezza che iin tale scienzia-
to non ai''es,>^.e ancor a riceimfo
ü Premw Uohel. l'Accademia
Svedese che non potexm osse-
anare il suo riconosciwento ad
Einstein per la teoria della re-
lativitä. a causa della limita-
zione del reqolamento del Pre
mio (che non prevedeva che
qualnino creasse daHe fonda-
nienta iina nuova fisica) e pro-
hahilmente timorosa di avalla-
re una teoria che accendera
violenfe polemiche nel mondo
scientifica e fuori di esso, non
trovo olcuna difficoltä a mo-
tivare ufficialnwnte Vasseqna-
zione del Premio Nobel per la
corretfa teoria delVeffetto fo-
toelettrico.
L'effetto fotoelettrico consi
sfe nel fatto che una snperfi
cie mctallica investita da una
radiazione luminosa di oppor-
tuna hinahezza d'onda o. reci-
procamente, di opportuna fre-
quenza emeite elettroni (inten
dendosi per lunqhezza d'onda
la distanza fra dne creste
d'onda successive e per fre-
quenza il numero di vibrazioni
al secondo) Questo effetto era
stato os.^ervato fin dalla fine
deU'Ottocento ma la fisica clas-
sica non era st ata in qrado di
formulare una corretta inter-
pretazione teorica nelTambito
della teoria ondulatoria della
luce. Date le caratleristiche
del fenomeno pareva loqico
concludere che la radiazione
cedesse enerqia apli elettroni.
imprimendo loro una certa ve
locita: se V enerqia acquistata
daqli elettroni e superiore al
V enerqia che li tiene leqati aqli
afonii, si ha espul sione di elet
troni.
Secondo la concezione delle
onde luminose della fisica das
sica. era loqico attendersi che
una radia:'ionr lum'niosa di
qualsiasi colore, purche di suf
ficiente intensitä — e cioe ca
pace di cedere la necessaria
quantitd di enerqia aqli elet
troni — potesse provocare l'ef-
fetto fotoelettrico. Inoltre, era
loqico aspeltarsi che auanto piii
qrande era l'intensita della ra
diazione impieqata. tanto maq
qiore doveva essere la velocita
deqli elettroni espulsi. Ma que
ste conclusioni che sembravano
loqiche e raqionevoli. cozzava
no contro i dati .^iperimentali.
Una luce ros.^a (che d quella
che ha maqqiore lunqhezza
d'onda e pertanto minore fre
quenza) per quanto inten.'^a non
provoca in qenere emissione di
elettroni. mentre una luce vio
letta (che ha la piü piccola
lunqhezza d'onda e pertanto la
maqqior frequenza). o meqlio
ultravioletta. anche dehole pro
voca l'effetto fotoelettrico. Ma
vi era di viü: irradiando un
dato meiallo con luce di una
data frequenza. tidti qli elet
troni emessi ai^evano la stessc
enerqia: se si aumentava l'in
tensita della radiazione inci
dente. crcsceva proporzional
mente il numero dcqli elettroni
emessi, ma la loro energia re-
L
Ben Shahn^ ritratto di Einstein
stava invariata. 1 risultati spe
rimentali erano dunque in net
to contra.'ito con le previsioni
teoriche.
A questo punto si inserisce
l' opera teorica di Einstein.
Con la spregiudicatezza e fori-
qinalitä che caratterizzano il
suo qenio. eqli propose una ra-
dicale trasformazione di tutte
le idee allora correnti sulla na-
tura della luce. Ehborando in
modo oriqitiale una idea aimn
zata da Planck nel 1900. se
condo la quäle l'energia e for-
mala da « qranulii» o quanti.
Einstein rii'olu:ionn le idee che
.s-i avevano sulla natura della
luce. Motto sommariamente,
l'idea di Eiji^tein fu di ritenere
che la luce anziehe essere for-
mala da onde continue e for-
wata da « granuli i> (o quanti)
di enerqia. detti fotoni, teuer
qia di ogni fotone e data da
E= hv
dove h e la costante di Planck
e \e la frequenza della radia-
zione. Da questa formula ri-
sulta chiaro che ad oqni fre-
quenza delle radiazioni corri-
spondono quanti (o fotoni) di
una ben definita enerqia e che
tale energia e tanto maqqiore,
quanto maqqiore e la fre(iuen-
za della radiazione. Risulta
perciö evidente che i fotoni di
luce rossa (ba.s.sa frequenza)
hanno energia minore di quelli
della luce violetta (elevata fre-
quenza). Partendo da questa
immagine della luce (e piü in
generale di tutte le radiazioni
elettromagnetiche), l'interpre-
tazione delVeffetto fotoelettri-
co diviene semplice ed elegante.
E' in primo luoqo evidente
che se l'enerqia dei fotoni del-
la radiazione incidente mm
raggiunqe un certo valore (va
lore soglia) caratttristico per
il metallo irradiato e per le
qraguuoia di palliue di baui-
baqia. Per ronrerso basta an-
che un solo fotone di suf fielen
te enerqm per provocare la
emissione di un elettrone. Inol-
tre. impiegando radiazioni di
una data frequenza, cio^ fo-
toni di una data energia. gli
elettroni emessi avranno la
medesima enerqia: aumentan-
do l'intensita della radiazione
incidente, aumentando cioe il
numero dei fotoni, non aumen-
terä l'energia deqli elettroni e-
messi, ma il loro numero. Per
aumentare l'energia degli elet-
troni emessi, occorre aumenta-
re l'energia dei fotoni incidenti,
cioi aumentare la frequenza
della radiazione impiegata (per
esempin. \iire ultravioletta ari-
zich^ luce violetta).
La teoria ein.^teiniana del-
Veffetto fotoelettrico permise
una coerente interpretazione
del fenomeno e diede un solido
fondamento /i.sico alVidea del-
la di.'icontinuitä delVenergia giä
prospettata da Planck, ma al
tempo stes.^o apri nuovi pro-
blemi derivanti dal fatto che
la luce in alcuni fenomeni (dif-
fusione, interferenza) si com-
portava come se fosse formal a
da onde, mentre in altri (ef-
fetto fotoelettrico) .si compor-
tava come .s-e fosse costituita
da corpuscoli. Questo dualismo
onda corpuscolo fu ri.solto nel-
Vambito della meccanica ondu-
latoria, e della meccanica
quanti.^tica che di essa co.'<ti-
tuisce una formulazione equi-
valente. ammettendo che
Vaspetto ondulatoria dei feno-
meni fosse il manife.'itarsi del
comportamento .'^tati.^tico di un
qran numero di corpuscoli. Per
quel che riguarda il singolo
corpuscolo, Vintensitä delVonda
indica la probabilita che esso
si trovi in un determinato pun
to dello .^pazio. Si tratta di una
interpretazione che per le sue
implieazioni /a.sciara Ein.^tein
insoddisfatto, pur essendo l'uni-
ca che consenta una soddisfa-
cente descrizione dei fenomeni
SU .sca/o atomica.
Dmo Piatone
SCIENTIFICO
II quadro « Ouattro personaggi )», dipinto da Renato Guttuso nel 1960, raffigura Albert Einstein
Ul primo a siiustra in alto), Sigmund Freud un alto a dcstra), Lenin (al centro; e Pablo Picasso
L
Non sono ccrto numerose
\c innovazioni scientifiche che
possono vantare una « po
polaritä » cüsl vasta come
quella goduia dallc teorie re-
lati vistiche di Einstein. Fin
dal loro sorgcre esse ebbcro
enormi ripercussioni anche in
ambiti assai diversi da quelli
dei fisici di mestiere. Per un
ccrti) perifKk) di tcmp<\ anzi,
si puo dire che le interpreta-
zioni e le estrapolazionni « ti-
losofiche » nel senso piü va-
go (e spesso anche squalifica-
to ) del tenmine pulluUrono.
ivloltc dl queste eränb do-«
vute a uomini che della teo-
ria della relativitä avevano
colto soprattutto la suggesti-
va denominazione e da que-
sta avevano dcdotto le piü
impensate conclusioni « rela-
tivistiche » nei piü diversi
settori della conoscenza e del-
l'attivitä umane. (Analogo
destino toccherä qualche an-
no piü tardi al principio di
indeterminazione di Heisen-
berg).
Le banalitä e i fraintendi-
mcnti non devono perö far
dimenticare la serietä e l'im-
pcgno di altri sforzi inter-
pretativi attraverso i quali le
teorie tisiche di Einstein con-
corsero. tra I'altro, in modo
determinante a provocare
quella trasformazione del pen-
siero scientifico contempora-
neo che ognuno puö con-
statare, sol che si dia la pe-
na, in un qualsivoglia ambi-
to, di istituire dei confronti.
Va detto che non di rado
queste intcrpretazioni giun-
sero a risultati tra loro con-
trastanti.
Una delle caratteristiche es-
scnzidli della relativitä ri-
stretta, ad escmpio e costitui-
ta da un ripcnsamento dei
concetti cinematici fondamen-
tali (spazio e tempo) in ter-
mini delle operazioni necessa-
ric alle loro delcrminazioni.
La nuova cinematica puo in
certo scnso venir interprctata
non tanto quäle opportuna
convcnzione astratta capace di
supcrarc le di/ficolta emerse
in particolare dallo sviluppo
dcirdettrodinamica, ma piut-
tosto quäle formulazione del-
le condizioni soddisfacibili
dalle misurazioni dei concetti
cinematici L'accentuazione di
di questo aspetto costitui la
base per quel ripcnsamento
of^erativistico della lisica al
quäle e imiissolubilmente le-
^ato il nome di P. \V. Bridg-
mann e che porto. tra I'altro,
a considcrare per ccrti versi il
successivo passo einsteiniano
e cioe il passaji^io alla relati-
vitä generale quäle un regres-
so almeno parziale.
La grandiosa sintesi teori-
ca della relativitä generale
fu invece il punto di arrivo
ideale per altre intcrpretazio-
ni; per esempio per quell.i
di 11 Reichenbach, che po-
trcbbe chiamarsi empirio -
convcnzionalista, la quäle soi-
lolineo la dimcnsione con
venzionalistica del punto di
vista einsteiniano in opposi
xione pero du un lato all'ec
cessiva arbitrarietä del con
ven/ionalismo che si ispira\a
a Poincarc (per il quäle al
limite la seometria d.\ mipor
re allespcrien/a era assolut.»
mente arbitraria e dall'altra
a quel tanto di soggcttivisti-
co e « privato » che caraticriz-
za al limite la posizione ope-
ralivistica.
Sarebbe crrato ritenere che
la diversiiä delle imerprcta-
zioni qui sfioratc c delle ti-
Ire che dobbiamo passare sot-
to silenzio sia sol tanto dovu-
ta allarbitraria acccntuazione
di aspetti che nellopera di
Einslein sono indubbiamcntc
comprescnti ma armonicamcn-
te fusi nelle superiori sinte-
si teoriche. La realtä h che
nel pensiero einsteiniano que-
sti diversi contrastanti aspet-
ti non vengono sempre effica-
cemente mediati e che cer-
ic tmln^ fiiä ül wi.Jo-noii «o-
no State veramente climinate.
Dicendo questo non si smi-
nuiscc in alcun modo la gran-
dezza e la profonditä delle
teorie einsteniane ma se nc
illumina un aspetto che h ca-
ratteristico del pensiero scien-
tifico cosi come proprio Ein-
stein ci ha insegnato con la
sua Opera a concepirlo: prov-
visorio, condizionato e capace
di ritrovare anche nel suo
stesso seno teoretico le rt-
gioni di ulteriore progresso.
Quest'ultimo aspetto va
sottolincato. La dialettica del
progresso scientifico ^ piü ar-
ticolata e complessa di quan-
to non lascino supporre cer-
tc semplificazioni — comodc
e utili per tanti versi — in
termini del « ciclo » teoria-
esperimento. Anche trascuran-
do le determinazioni storiche
piü generali il cui intervento
e spesso estremamente me-
diato resta come fattorc ai-
sai visibile in ogni trasforma-
zione di una certa consisten-
za l'intervento del momcnto
piü propriamente logico e fi-
iosofico,
Caduti — e in ci6 Topera
di Einstein ha avuto una
parte che h difficile sopravva-
lutare — i miti ottocenteschi
della «oggettivitä pura » del
sapere scientifico, il inomen-
to critico e metodologico nel
senso piü largo dei termini
riacquista un'imporianza vi-
tale e con esso, automatica-
mente, il problema dei pre-
supposti e delle implieazioni
generali della teoria.
Che questa fosse sostan-
zialmente anche la convinzio-
ne di Einstein puö constatarsi
rilcggcndo i numerosi scritti
che egli dedicö da un lato al-
la dilfusione delle sue c alirui
scoperte al di fuori della ri-
strctta cerchia degli speciali-
sti e dall'altro al tentativo
di enuclcare egli stesso dalla
sua teoria quella che Rei-
chcnbach chiamava la filoso-
lia implicita della fisica ein-
steiniana. Che questi ultimi
tentativi non possano sem-
pre considcrarsi come i piü
felici non ha evidentcmen-
te, da questo punto di vista,
particolare importanza. Quel-
le che invece nc ha h pro-
prio l'alta testimonianza che
ce ne viene intorno al modo
in cui debba essere inteso
il signiticaio oggctiivo e sog-
gcttivo delTuomo di scienza
veramente modcrno il quale
— anche a prcscinderc dal-
la dimensionc etica della que-
stione. la quale perö ebbe, co-
me e noto, un enorme peso
nella luminosa tigura di Ein-
stein — non puö. nellinteres-
se sicsso del pensiero seien ti-
lico, isolare se stes.so nelle
proprie tecniche icorithe c
spt-rimentali |
Eltore Casari i
I
7 •
i. \^ ^
etil ^iT)
M«)M \\\\h .Mhcrt I instc-in \x ilu- <.|Hiiiiiir nii;lu nt ( ii\ I :^h!^
HM..U \\inst<»n Cinirchill pn.|)«.sintr •» t...ist .u mx p.irrv atrcr tlic opc-n-
ine uf (.//> I t^hrs in I.oiuion
^/
^^/j/
ir.,)k.
W Y, I 1 ''^'^ ^- ^
y
nicoc \x 't^, >i ^*>
Topic: The Unreasonable Man'
By PHYLUS LEE LEVIN
Ffiday. January V 1965
Neujahrs-Indiskreiionen
Inimanuel Kan.t wurde ge-
fragt, wie er <X^ neue Janr
^^^Immer schlafend", erwiderte
Kant, "ich liebe es, mich uIxt-
raschpn zu laasen".
• • •
Albcrl Einstein war ein Feind
jeden Lärms.
"Das neue Jahr", sagte er e n-
mal ÄU einem Reporter, "was ist
das eigentlich? Bi<ne Oelegcniheit
für die Kaufleute und die Gast-
wirte. Für uns andere eine klei-
ne Be-triebestörumg.— Zum OducK
goht die Uhr weiter . . ."
Albert Einstein.
IWlH/riONAL SEOOND- EXPOSURE
Vi
AHovn With Albert rinsuin :U thc opcning night (»f ( /> v /./.i:/;M
HHoNv: Wtnston Churchill prc.jM.siiig a toast at my p.ury aftcr thc opciv
inp of (.*/>> liahts in London
(^
^c/d/
Topic: The Unreasonable Man'
By PHYLUS LEE LEVIN
Prirlay. January V 1965
Neuiahrs-Indiskretionen
Immanuel Kan*t wurde ge-
fragt, wie er das neue Janr
^^'^immer schlafend", erwiderte
Kant, "ich Uebe e&, mich über-
raschen au lassen".
• • •
Albert Eiostein war ein Feind
jeden Lärms.
"Das neue Jahr", sagte er ein-
mal zu einem Reporter ' was is<t
das eigentlich? BVne CHdegcr^eit
für die Kaufleute und dl« GäsC-
wirte. Für uns andere ^^"^^r^^
ne Bettriebßßtörun«.— Zum uiucx
geht die Uhr weiter . . ."
Aibert Einstein.
\
College fo Mark
Founder's Dream
A litlle moie ihati U) vt'ars
arro. fornuM- Siatc Altoincv
(>n<Mal Nathanicl L. C.oldstoin
Icd 10 mon to a mootinK with
tlv» latf* Alhpit Kinstciri.
Thp scioniisl had alrcady
a;:rood to holp Goldstoin ival-
i/i- a droairi ostablishmcnt of
tlu' fii'sl mcdical school In the
United Statos undcr Jewish
aqsDives.
Now, Ooldstrin wantc^d \)v.
Kinstein to nioet tlic first 10
foundpfs of what was to b(^-
com(- ilie Alboit ?:instpin Col-
le^'e of Modicino of Yeshiva
UniviMsity.
IMjin Tribute
On Sunday ni}^hi. thr Society
of Koundors now njrown lo
827 inon who havo contributcd
more than S20 million to tho
creation. giowth and devolop-
mont of tho collose 'at a
minimuin of $25,000 räch»
will pav trihutp to Goldstoin's
Icadrrship at a dinner al tho
iVValdorfAstoria.
l To ("»nldstoin, pstablishmpnt
of tiip Einst oin Colloge was
also thp fulfillmont of a life-
lontr interost in hplping youtn
-an intpiost ho devrlopod
workin.^ as an officc boy whiio
j/oin;; to law school.
C;old.st(Mn was busy with t ho
fiist ^tatp invosti^ation into
tho tcon-ago narcotics problom
in 1^51 whon tho foundprs,
askod him to bpcomo ohainnan
of t)ie colloKo's board of ovpi-
seers.
Narcotics Kxpprt
lip promisod to takr on tho
Job nftpr finishinp thp nar-
cotics inquirv. which Icd to
P.ctabli.^hmpnt of thp world's
fir'.t M'OPtmont contor for juvo-
•' nilc Hddicts on North Brothpr
' Island. Lalor, he became a
Natlianiel L. G-»Ulsteiii
Unitpd Statos dclp^ato to tlio
Unitod Nations Coi>iniission on
Narcotics Dru^zs.
After comploting: tho nar-
cotics inqiiiry. ho «qnpo/pd in
onouj^o timo botwopn olficial
du lies to travol Ihioushoiit thp
countiy, rallyin;;j suppon foi
Einstein Collo^f-
Many of the young mon and
woinpn who woro ablo to study
modicin^^ bocause of his pfforls
will bp at thP dinnpi- Sunda\
to join in the tribute.
^
AfM
s
79*»
6 Ft. Floor
to Celiins
OOITYOURSELF S57
6x8 Wardrobe $55
: ALBERT
W'' 2381 Wtitehittti' Av*.
TA 3-1850 • BRONX
^
worldfamo
,.. uniqiic atme
You're always sure to dine/
pleasantly in Kepn's. Tte mt
you a grnerou«; spirctioii . .^
course, the mitiated come wl'
tites unswervingly set for ont
noted spccialties . . . Iike
Chop, Roast Bcpf or Steak.
I
Campalgn for '*Ihe Physidsts"— 1964.
Pop (irt (lid nnt mnke the play populär
^\
<1
UV' \
- "^VS
M
10
m
iq
f
n\
C^mQk ^^ ^
!
I? d
\.
tf'^
"One of
\r^
the greatest
achievements
in the history
of human
thought"
In 1919, Britain's Royal
Astronomical society
haiied asoneof man-
kind'sgreatestachieve-
ments a newiy-proven
theory by the Professor
of Physics at the University of Prague.
Only one American newspaper, The
New York Times, reported this event
in a Story that was the public introduc-
tion in the United States of Dr. Albert
Einstein.
Long before the beginning of the
atomic age, The New York Times recog-
nized the value of science news as part
of the day-to-day history of the world.
Today, more than ever, the world of sci-
ence is covered more fully— and more
clearly— in The New York Timesthan in
eny other newspaper.
yy]^ ' fY^c^Uf
{
Ich bin ein von Zweifeln Hinundhergewortener. Ich glaube,
ich gehöre zu den Cilauben-Suchern, an die Tillich sich richtet.'
Er wendet sich ausdrücklich nicht an die mit einem wohlausge-
statteten, gebrauchsfertigen Cilauben, sondern an die Fragenden,
an die Aufgestörten, nicht an die Claubenssatten, an die Cileich-
gültigen, an die Allzu-Gewissen, die keine Frage mehr nach den
letzten Dingen haben. Mein erwachsenes Ich liest mit geistiger
Erregung und Altersergriffenheit, was Einstein darüber sagt.
Dieser Weltraumpionier und Durchforscher des Transzendenta-
len, der Arithmetiker des Kosmos und Geometer der Himmels-
sphären, lebte ohne Glaubensbekenntnis: aus dem jüdischen war
er ausgetreten und keinem hat er sich mehr angeschlossen. Am
Ende seines Lebens aber schrieb er : »Bei allem Tappen, Stolpern
und Suchen im Universum« folge er »der Spur einer Intelligenz
weit jenseits der Reichweite seiner eigenen«. Dazu gibt's keine
Musik. Das schrieb die allerhöchste Form Mensch am Ende sei-
ner Tage.
\ ^i C'V
t<
cd ^v^'
i^ G6
POST ON BULLETIN BOARD
8-CENT ALBERT EINSTEIN
REGULÄR POSTAGE STAMP
United States
The 8-cent stamp portraying Albert Einstein, the fourth in the "Pronninent Americans"
series of regulär stamps, will be first placed on sale on Morch 14, 1966, at Princeton, New
Jersey.
The Einstein stamp was designed by Frank Sebastiane of New York City, who used a
Portrait by Philippe Halsmon as the central subject. The picture of the famous physicist was
nnade at Princeton on May 10, 1947.
It is a vertical stamp measuring 0.75 by 0.87 of an inch. It will be printed on the Cot-
trell presses in purple and issued in panes of 100. The printing will be unlimited.
Collectors desiring first day concellations may send addressed envelopes, together with
remittance to cover the cost of the stamps to be affixed, to the Postmaster, Princeton, New
Jersey 08^40.
A close-fitting enclosure of postal card thickness should be placed in each envelope and
the flop either turned in or sealed. The envelope to the Postmaster should be endorsed
"First Day Covers 8C Einstein Stamp." Orders for covers must not include requests for un-
canceled stamps. Cover requests must be postmarked no later than March 14, 1966.
US COVERNMf NT PPINTINC OFFICf 1 966 OF - 799 -P6H
\ J^\ lA C ü ( 0
M
ler
iet
ne
In
•he
nd
len
be-
gen
>los
lie-
ind
tal-
än-
eise
md-
;ell-
rift-
luch
ung,
jnn-
•sten
jung
11er-
Volk
Und
?iTat
aller
mit
mpf
:hen
für
gäbe
»/» ?
Festvortrag aus dem Geigenkasten
Neue Nachrichten über Albert Einsteins Prager Jahre
IC
Albert Einsteins Aufenthalt in Prag, wo der
Schöpfer der Relativitätstheorie 1911 — 1912
ordentlicher Professor für theoretische Physik
an der deutschen Karl-Ferdinand-Universität
war, ist mehrfach durchforscht worden. Nirgends
aber wurde bislang korrekt vermerkt, wo Ein-
stein mit seiner Frau, der katholischen Serbin
Mileva, und seinen beiden in Bern geborenen
Söhnen Hans Albert und Eduard gewohnt
hatte. Kein einziges Prager Archiv, kein Denk-
malsamt und keine Polizeistation konnten Aus-
kunft geben, und die einzige Notiz darüber in
der Einstein-Biographie Karl Seligs aus dem
Jahre 1960 war unvollständig und inkorrekt:
Prag, Trebizsky-Str. 125.
Auf die Suche hat sich kürzlich der tsche-
chisch-jüdisdie Schriftsteller und Übersetzer
Frantisek Kafka gemacht, der in letzter Zeit
mehrfach als Förderer deutsch-tschechischer
Kulturkontakte hervortrat. Frantisek Kafka,
den schon Max Brod launig „Franz Kafka II*'
genannt hat, berichtet nun in der letzten Dezem-
berausgabe der Kulturni tvorha. Er wies nach,
daß Einstein in der heutigen Lesnicka-Straße
(Prag 5 — Smichov) wohnte.
Hier arbeitete der Physiker vor allem an der
Ausweitung seiner speziellen zur allgemeinen
Relativitätstheorie; er sandte diese Arbeiten
den Annalen der Physik, eine Studie auch der
Physikalischen Zeitschrift. Wie Einstein, der
anfangs im Clementinum, später im Institut für
theoretische Physik las, in dem von seiner Frau
recht bohemel^aft geführten Haushalt manch-
mal arbeitete, schildert Frantisek Kafka sehr
anschaulich: „Ein Dozent traf Einstein einmal
daheim bei der Arbeit an. Im Mund eine
Zigarre, auf dem linken Arm einen Sohn, in der
rechten Hand einen Bleistiftstummel, kritzelte er
auf ein Stück Papier die Formeln, über die er
gerade nachdachte." Zu einem Bankett, das für
Einstein in einem Luxushotel gegeben wurde,
erschien der Herr Professor im blauen Hemd,
so daß ihn der Portier für den kurz vorher be-
stellten Elektriker hielt. Einen zugesagten Fest-
vortrag ersetzte er einmal durch Geigenspiel,
und eine der öffentlichen Disputationen mit sei-
nem Widersacher Oskar Kraus, Professor für
Rechtsphilosophie, schloß er gleichfalls mit
Geige und Fidelbogen ab.
Der schwerfällige Betrieb in der Prager deut-
schen Universität behagte Einstein jedoch
nicht, er hielt die Tschechen für nicht eben
deutschfreundlich, und die Hygiene des seiner-
zeit noch ziemlich provinziellen Prags „erin-
nerte ihn an den Balkan". Im August 1912 ging
der Mann, mit dessen Namen der Beginn des
Atomzeitalters verbunden ist, an die Technische
Hochschule in Züridi. F. P Künzel
1
SUNDAY, JANLAR'i' 30, 1966.
Slamp»
\
Einstein a
By DAVID UDM.-VN j
THE deslpns of two '
forthcoming United
States stamps have
been released by Post^^^-
master General Lawrence F.
OBrien. ^
An 8-cent purple stamp,
bearinp a Portrait of Albert
Einstein, will be issued in
Princeton, N.J., on March 14
as the fourUi in the new de-
finitive "Prominent Ameri-
cans" series. The design, by
Frank Sebastian© of New
York, is based on a 1947
photograph by Philippe Hals-
man, also of New York.
The name, "Einstein,"
reads down ward along the
right side of the stamp. It is
In white capital Roman let-
ters. The words, "United
States," are at the top of the
desiprn. in Roman capital and
lower-case letters. They are
adjacent to the denomina-
tion, "8c," in purple.
V
il'nitLXJ State
''^MWM
Portrait of Albert Einstein, 1964 Woodcut by Antonio Frasconi
Einsteins Tlieorie wor
52 lolire umslritten
Ein Weltraumfahrer, der nahezu mit Lichtgeschwindigkeit (300.000 Kilo-
^^urj**'."^^*'""^'"^ «^urch da« AM rast, wü-de bei seiner Hückkrfir er-
heblich junger sein als sein daheimgebliebener Zwilling. Denn: die
zurückgebliebenen Erdbewohner altern schneller als der fast , licht-
schnelle" Weltraumfahrer.
t
Nahezu 52 Jahre war
diese scheinbar ver-
rückteste aller Theo-
rien des großen Physi-
kers Albert Einstein
umstritten. 1905 hatte
er sie, damals als
26jähriger Angestell-
ter des Züricher
Patentamtes, zum er-
: stenmal vorgetragen.
•Sein Leben lang ist es
:ihm nicht gelungen,
. den letzten Bew^eis für
seine Ansicht zu er-
bringen. Erst als er tot
war, vor genau zehn
Jahren, bestätigten
Wissenschaftler mit
Hilfe der neuerfunde-
nen Geigerzähler die
Lehre ihres großen
Vorbildes.
Einstein hatte in sei-
ner ersten Arbeit über
die „Spezielle Relativi-
tätstheorie" behaup-
tet, daß alle zeitlichen
Abläufe relativ seien.
Einem Beobachter auf
der Erde müßten Er-
eignisse auf einem
schnell durdi den
Raum rasenden Körper
(Rakete oder Stern
zum Beispiel) verlang-
lamt erscheinen. Seine
Lehre: Je mehr sich die
Geschwindigkeit des
Körpers der Licht-
geschwindigkeit nä-
hert, desto langsamer
würde der Zeitablauf
erscheinen.
Seine Gegner kon-
terten damals: Wenn
alle Geschwindigkeiten
dieser Relativität
unterliegen, dann gilt
das auch für Beobach-
ter auf diesem fast
„lichtschnellcn" Kör-
per. Von ihnen aus ge-
sehen wäre es die
Erde, die sich unerhört
schnell durch das All
bewegt, folglich müß-
ten ja die Zeitabläufe
auf der Erde um vieles
langsamer erscheinen
. . . und nicht die im
All.
Einstein verwarf
diese Einwände: Seine
Formeln für die Zeit-
verlan^samung dürften
nur angewendet wer-
den, solange der be-
troffene Körper mit
unverminderter Ge-
schwindigkeit durch
das All fliegt, lehrte er.
Wenn eine „licht-
schnelle" Rakete abge-
stoppt und zur Erde
zurückgeholt wird,
werde der Weltraum-
fahrer riesigen Be-
sdileunigungskräften
ausgesetzt, die seine
Berechnungen verfäl-
schen.
Es dauerte bis zum
Jahre 1957, ehe die
moderne Physik dem
inzwischen verstorbe-
nen Nobelpreisträger
recht geben konnte:
Der kalifornische
Atomforscher Frank S.
Crawford führte Ex-
perimente mit „Zwil-
lingen" durch, jedoch
nicht mit menschlichen,
sondern mit atomaren.
Er operierte mit soge-
nannten Mü-Mesonen,
Produkten der Wel-
raumstrahlung.
Experimente mit
dem Geigerzähler er-
gaben plötzlich: Wenn
man Mü-Mesonen mit
Lichtgeschwindigkeit
durch die irdische I^uft-
hiille ja^t, dann leben
sie rund /wan/igmal
länger. Ihre „Lebens-
uhr** läuft wegen der
hohen Geschwindigkeit
langsamer ab.
Einstein genügte es,
daß er — auf dem
Papier — recht hatte.
Aber ich stelle mir vor:
Gefreut hätte es ihn
doch, wenn er diesenBe-
weis noch erlebt hätte.
10 E
■; i/X/
yy-) d^s
Science
Physicists Muse on Question
Of Time Running Back ward
By WAI.TER SULLIVAN
Dop.n time flow only "forward?"
Will It »omeday reverse direction?
HoM Lli» future already cxist?
Thffs« were some of the qupstions,
philosophlcal and physical, dis-
cussed at the annual New York
meeting of the American Physical
Society which ended at the New
York Hllton yesterday.
To those brpd and ediuated In
a World of limited scope and tc;idi-
tional ideas, some of the questions
spomod very stränge. They weie
Ipss so to those schooled in the
peculiar relationship between time
and the spccd of light - a relation-
ship obviou» on the atomic level
and in astronomy, bat not in the
realm of our daily lives.
Tlie role of the speed of ii;::ht
In deflning the nature of time and
setting a limit on travel speed
was first »pelled out by Dr. Albert
Einstein In his Special Theory of
Relativity, published in 1905.
Light travcLs at 186.000 mlles a
Äpcond and this is the speed llmit
of the cosnios. Furthermore light
i.^ always obscrved at this speed,
rr^a rdicss of whether its source js
moving rapidly toward or away
from the observer.
Co^mic Speeds
If a bullet is fired forward from
a moving train, the speed of the
train Is added to that of the bullet.
If the gun is aimed to the rear,
the reverst Is true. Not so witn
Ught. It moves at a cosmic speed
that, so to «peak, is part of the
iinivcrse — a manifeslation of time
it5elf.
It wa.s Einstein'.s reooj^nitlon of
tlie relationship between time and
the sppcd of light that lay at the
base of his theory. He recognized
the deep significance of the fart
that our coni-ept of simultaneity
is an illusion, born of our limited
horizons. A star explosion, or
Supernova, may have bcen seen on
one planet ten year.s ago. It is a
past event there, but it will not
"occur" on anotiier planet, more
distant from the site, until irn
years hence. Furthermore, as
recognized by Einstein, there is
an addcd distortion of time whea
Ihe observer i.s moving at sp»eds
i'omparable to that of light -om-
parable. one might say, to the
speed of time itself.
These and other discoveries of
physics are beginning to influence
modern philosophy. In fact one of
those who addressed the physici »ts
last weex- who broke into thcr
reoondite rltual of equations and
Parameters — was Hilary W. Put-
nam, professor of philosophy at
Harvard.
What appears In the future to one
observer is in the pa.st for anoiher.
The future to us seems unreal, he
sald at a press briefing, because
we cannot remember it. But in the
conte.xt of combined space and
time the past and future are Just
*s jf';ii as up and down.
Theory Overthrown
If. as he say.^, tiie future i.^ a
preordained rcality. that cohnU-
tutes a sort of indeterminable do-
terminism. It was onie thought
that, if one knew the locit.oji.
molion and energy of eveiy par-
ticle in the universe, one coiild
prodiet all events of the future.
:Modern physics, in particular the
qua n tum theory, has outliwed
such determinism. It says there is
no way to find out the locat^on.
motion and energy of any siagls
atom. Furthermore there is no way
to predict when any atom will
radiate a particle or unit of energy
— a so-called quantum. We know
the average rates, but not when
any one atom will perform.
The determinism that Profes.sor
Putnam argues is quite dif.'^erent.
We cannot predict the futui-e, he
says, but it is there, as real today
as it will be after the fact.
A related subject of discussion
at the meeting was the evidence
that in certain reactions Involv-
ing atomic nuclei, time seexns to
flow only in one direction. To a
cieature in the parade from birth
to death, time seems to move only
in one direction, but pnysiclsts
have long been persuaded that any
process on the atonuc level sh>uld
run bacj;ward as well as for-
ward.
A mechanical analogy would be
the initial play of a pool ganie.
A white ball scatters a triangle
of oth«'r balls. In theory it should
be possible to reverse the proce.ss
- impart rever-^e momcntum to all
the .scattcrod balls so that they
return to the triangle and drive
the white ball back to its starLing *
pomt.
Direrlional Flow i
A breakdown in the symmeLrlcs
of certain nuclear reactions now
.suggests that even on the atoinio
level time may flow, to some ex- |
tont, in one direction. In the con-
stantly expanding universe energy
is constantly being lost into the
vastness of space. Thi.s, too, .^ecms
an Irreversible process.
Some believe the direction of
time i." linked to the current ex-
pansion of the univer.se. Dr. John
A. Wheeler, professor of phy.5ics
at Princeton and Incomlng pr?si-
dent of the Phvsical Socletv nned
Science,^->?,Sc>(^
Physicists Muse on Question
Of Time Running Backward
By WALTER
Dop.^ time flow only "fonvard?"
Will It Äomeday reverse dlrection?
I>oM Ui« fiiturt already cxlst?
Th^.s» wer» some of the quostions,
phllosophical and physical, dis-
ruÄ.^ed at the annual New York
meeting of the American Physical
Society which ended at the New
York Hilton yesterday.
To those brpd and educated In
a, World of limited .scope and ti;idi-
tional ideas, »ome of the questions
sermpd very stränge. They wore
loss so to those schoolcd in tiie
peculiar relationship between tinie
and the speed of lig:ht -a relation-
ship obvious on the atomic level
and in astrononiy, but not In the
rcalm of our daily lives.
The role of the speed of ii^ht
In deflning the nature of time and
setting a llmit on travel speed
was first »pelled out by Dr. Albert
Einstein In his Sperial Theory of
Relativity, published In 1905.
Light travels at 186.000 mlles a
»pcond and this Is the speed llmit
of the cosnios. Furtherniore light
Is always observed at this speed,
rr;;ardlcss of whether its source is
moving rapidly toward or away
from the observer.
Co«mlc Speeds
If a bullet is fired forward from
a moving train, the speed of the
tT'ain Is added to that of the bullet.
If th« gun is aimed to the rear,
the reverse Is true. Not so witn
llght. It moves at a cosmic speed
that, Bo to ßpeak, is part of the
univorse-a manifestation of time
it^elf.
It was Ein.stein'.H rerognitinn of
tlie relationship between time and
the sppcd of light that lay at the
base of his theory. He recogoized
the deep significance of the fact
that our concept of .simultanoity
i.« an illusion, born of our limit;.'d
horizons. A star exploslon, or
Supernova, may have been scen on
one planet ten yeais ago. It is a
past event tho!-e, but it will not
"occur" on anotiier planet, moie
distant from the site, until lon
years hence. Furthermore, as
recognizcd by Einstein, there is
an addcd distortion of time when
the observer is moving at sp»eds
fomparable to that of light--Cv)m-
parable, one might say, to the
speed of time itself.
These and other discoveries of
physics are beginning to influenae
modei-n philo.sophy. In fact one of
those who addressed the physici >ts
I last weex- who broke Into thcr
recondite rltual of equatlons and
Parameters — was Hilary W. Put-
I nam, professor of philosophy at
Harvard.
Aristotelean Theory
He addressed Mmself to a prob-
lem that men have pondered since
the days of anrient Greece: Are
only the things that exist at this
moment real? Aristotle .irgued
that this was the case. The si-ale-
ment; "The Persians will win the
Äca-fight tomorrow," would have
Jio truth-value on the day befora
the battle, .sald the philosopher
However Ulis seemingly seif-
evident argument has to be abaji-
rioned, Said Professor Putnajn, "if
one takes rrlativity serious'y."
SÜLLrVAX
What appears In the future to one
observer is in the past for another.
The future to us seems unreal, he
sald at a press briefing, because
we cannot remember it. But in the
context of combined space and
time the past and future are just
^s jcal as up and down.
Throry Overthrown
If. as he Kays, the future is a
prooidained n-aiity. that t-ons'a-
tutes a sort of indcteiininable de-
terminism. It was onre th(»uglit
that, if one knew the looit.oii,
motion and euergy of eveiy par-
ticle in the univer.se, one could
prodiel all evonts of the future.
Modern physics, in particular the
quantuni theory, has outliwed
such determlnism. It says there Is
no way to find out the locat'on,
motion and energy of any siagl«
atom. Furthermore there is no way
to predict when any atom will
radiale a particle or unit of energy
— a so-called quantum. We knovv
the average rates, but not when
any one atom will perform.
The determini.sm that Profes.sor
Putnam argues is quite differcnt.
We cannot predict the futUi-e, he
says, but it is there, as real tud.iy
8s it will be after the fact.
A related subject of discusslon
at the meeting was the evldvinre
that in certain reactions involv-
ing atomic nuclei, time seeixiz to
flow only in one direction. To a
creature in the parade from birth
to death, time seems to move only
in one direction, but pnysicists
have long been persuaded that any
process on the atomic level sh)uld
run bacKward as well as for-
ward.
A mechanical analogy would be
the initial play of a pool game.
A white ball scatters a triangle
of olh»'r balls. In theory it should
be possible to reverse the process
-im part reverse momcnlum to all
the .scattcrod balls so that they
jcturn to the triangle and drive
the white ball back to its starting
point. I
(
Directional Flow
A breakdown in the symmetrics
of certain nuclear reactions now
suggests that even on the atoinic
level time may flow, to some ex-
tont, in one direction. In the con-
stantly expanding universe energy
is constantly being lost into the
vastness of spare. This, too, .;ecms
an irreversible process.
Some believe the direction of
time l*^ linked to the current ex-
pansion of the universe. Dr. John
A. Wheeler, professor of phy.il es
at Princeton and incoming pr?s'
dent of the Physical SocieU. no'.ed
that this expansion may uitimately
reverse Itself. The universe would
then fall back together, drawn into
H ma.ss of incredible density bv
its own gravity.
Will time reverse its direction
of flow, once the expansion shifts
to contraction? Will biological
proccsses run in the other dir.v-
tion? Will the dissipation of
energy reverse itself? This, said
Professor Wheeler, Is "one of the
great mysteries." 'ITie problem Is
being much discus.sed, he addeä.
but not enough Is knovvn as yet
to even guess at the answer.
i^^
IUI
CVAM^ \\ S
l
^ ci
\.
%
\
\^
;'Tlu>re is/' said Albert
Einstein, '*no higher reli-
f^ion than human Service. To
work for the common good is the
freutest creed.^*
It's one ihing to pay lip Service to
an ideal, quite nnother to live it.
In oiir Union, the International
Ladies' Garment Workers'
' Union, there are no sec-
•^vrMBER h
The Greatest Greed
ond class Citizens; no special catego-
ries for people,
We seek to uniie people of all races
and creeds,
We live together and work together.
In the ILGWU all anybodg ever
xvants to see is gour membership card,
Not your pedigree.
This spirit has helped us to better
o^ir ownliving andtvorking conditions.
This spirit contrihutes towards achiev-
ing higher Standards for all people,
Our Signatur e is the small labet we
sew into women*s and children's ap-
pareL It is a symbol of progress niade
and more to come. Look for it.
Send for a handsome 64-page bro-
chnre containing historicphotographs.
$1 from ILGWU. Union Label Dent
275 7th Ave,, N, Y. ino^- - {
n^\Jm
MNION
MAOe
L6WU
\
^//^ ^^ ue4^'^q
«/
u
Frida/, Dftcet,^y ^5^ i967
Erfinder, Helfer und Poet dazu ^
^ Sechzig Privatbrie/e Alberi Einsleins wurden in London versteigert
Von EGON LARSEN
"Die obere Hälfte plant und
denkt / Derweil die unt-ere uns
lenkt ..." — wer käme auf den
Credanken, dass dieser resig-
nierte Vers ä la Wilhelm Busch
von derselben Hand stammt, die
das gewaltige Gebäude der Re-
lativitäl^stheorie errichtete? Es
.sind die Schlusszoilen eines Ge-
dichts, das Albert Einstein aus
Princeton an einen New Yorker
Freund richtet«, und in dem er
sich über die Magenschmerzen
beschwert, unter denen er in den
letzten zwei Jahrzehnten seines
Lebens litt.
.Der Freund war der Leipziger
Anst und Radiologe Dr. Gustav
Bucky. ein Altersgenosse Ein-
steins und sein Intimus in der
amcrikaniochen Emigration, in
die ihm Bucky vorausgegangen
war. Einstein flüchtete Anfang
1933 von Berlin nach Coq-sur-
mer in Belgien, dessen König ihn
unter seinen persönlichen Schutz
stellte; aber als der in die
T.schechrslowakei emigrierte Phi-
lasopli Theodor Lessing von ei-
nem Nazi-Mordkommando um-
gebracht worden war. fürchtete
Ein.stein für sein Leben. Mit
einem kleinen Fischerboot — er
war ja ein erfahrener Segler —
fuhr er über den Kanal nach
England. Hier war er ein paar
Wochen lang Gast der Familie
L/x-ker-Lampson auf deren Gut
bei Cromer in Norfolk, ehe er
dem Ruf nach Princeton folgte.
Mit dem Ehepaar Gustav und
Frieda Bucky waren die Ein-
steins in engster Verbindung.
afc>er wegen der Entfernung
Princeton— New York sah man
sich selten. Umso eifriger kor-
respondierte Einstein mit Bucky.
Einstein starb 1955, Bucky zehn
Jahre später; nun liess seine
Witwe die Briefe Einsteins an
ihren Mann — etwa sechzig —
bei Christies in London verstei-
gern. Sie brachten 36,000 Dollar;
Mr. Lew D. Feldman (vom 'House
of El Dieff" in New York) er-
warb sie für diese Summe, wahr-
a^iicinlich im Auftrag einer ame-
rikanine-hon Universität. Auch
Dr^ Buckys Sohn hatte mitgebo-
o..^^'?^"^*^ ^''^^^ i^r^ Rückreise
^nfr.T^n °'' "''^^ ^^^ Atlantik
antraten, ,.atte ich Gelegenheit,
sie eia^usenon. Es sind keine
grassou wissenschaftlichen Ent
Gustav Bucky
hüllungen, und wir erfahren
auch nicht daraus, wie weit Ein-
stein mit seiner Allgemeinen
Feldtheorie kam, die ihm so am
Herzen lag. Aber desto mehr er-
fahren wir über den Menschen
EiiisLeiri — Uiid nicht i&uletzt in
seiner Eigenschaft als Flücht-
ling.
Aus Le Coq schrieb er im Juli
1933 an Bucky in New York:
'•Ich glaube, dass jede Aktion.
die auf einen Verbleib von Ju-
den in Deutscliland abzielt, der
Vernichtung Vorschub leistet."
Ein Jahr später war er etwas
optimistischer; "Es mehren sich
die Anzeichen dafür, dass Hit-
lers Fundamente wackeln", doch
1938 schrieb er; "Hitlers Funda-
mente nwgen wackeln, aber lei-
der nicht genug!" Diesen einan-
der abwechselnden Stimmungen
der Hoffnung und Resignation
war Einstein nicht weniger un-
terworfen als wir alle in jener
Zeit.
Aber er gab sich nicht mit
blossen Betrachtungen über die
Weltlage zufrieden. Er war sich
der Durchschlagskraft seines
Namens bewusst und verwendete
sie immer wieder, um seinen Mit-
flüchtlingen zu helfen und Ge-
fäl\rdete dem Machtbereich Hit-
lers zu entreissen. Mehr als ein
Dutzend Briefe (und wie viele
wohl in Einsteins gesamter Kor-
respondenz?» wurden nur ge-
schrieben, um mit Buckys Hilfe
i
Refugees und denen, die es wer-
den wollten, Affidavits und Visa
zu verschaffen, die Behörden
wachzurütteln, Neuankömmlinge
an wichtigen Stellen einzufüh-
ren oder ihnen Pasten zu ver-
schaffen. Da finden wir die Na-
men Drs. Marietta Blau, Rotke,
Pordes, Wenger, Dinkin und die
Professoren Lazarus und Reiche.
Er hat zweifellos vielen Men-
schen dajs Leben gerettet oder
die Existenz in der neuen Heimat
ermöglicht. Die Frage nach der
Zukunft der jüdischen Emigra-
tion beschäftigte ihn; man
müsse für Roosevelt wirken, so
lange er den Juden "loyal" ge-
genüberstehe, meint er in einem
seiner Briefe. Es wäre gut, wenn
man die Juden zu einer poli-
tischen Einheit verschmelzen
könne, unter vernünftiger Lei-
tung — aber das sei eine Auf-
gabe, die selbst "dem Teufel und
seiner Grossmutter" Kopfzer-
brechen verursachen würde!
Recht überraschend ist, dass
der Mann, dem wir unser mo-
dernes Weltbild verdanken, sich
mit allerhand praktischen Erfin-
dungen abgab — teils aus Spass
an der Sache und teils, um
seinem erfinderisch begabten
Freund Bucky zu helfen; man
erwog sogar die Einrichtung
einer Werkstatt. Eines der Ge-
räte, an denen die beiden arbei-
teten, be2weckte die "proportio-
neile Aufzeichnung von Schall-
wellen auf magnetischem Wege"
— also ein Vorläufer des Ton-
bandgeräts. Eine andere Erfin-
dung, die inzwischen ebenfalls
verwirklicht wurde, war eine
•Einrichtung zur automatischen
Regulierung der Expositions-
Lichtmenge bei photographi-
schen Apparaten". Es war wohl
eine Art Rückkehr Einsteins in
seine Jugendzeit .als er beim
Berner Patentamt arbeitete und
den Erfindern half, ihre Patent-
schriften aufzusetzen.
Einmal experimentierte er mit
einem neuen, von Bucky erfun-
denen Röntgengerät. Die Sache
ging schief — es gab einen Knall
und viel Gestank. Einstein
brachte dem Freund die Sache
schonend bei: "Lieber Bucky!
Zitternd ergreife ich die Feder
— schreibt der Backfisch. Bei
mir ist es aber nicht minder so,"
Er nahm die Schuld am Versalien
des Gerätes auf sieh; "Ich erin-
nere mich, dass bei Lehmans
einmal alle Radioapparate ka-
putt gingen, wenn ich in die
Nähe kam, und von meinem Kol-
legen Pauli" — dem Nobelpreis-
träger Wolf gang Pauh -^ "gibt
es seit vielen Jahren ein ähn-
liches Gerücht, das sich auf alle
Dh".sikalischen Annnrah-.irpn iir>r^
^
^^C{c^4^^^^.
" I u
M^aulfZ
\
Die Handschrift des grossen Physikers )
Aus einem der versteigerten Briefe Einsteinjs an Gustav Bucky f*'
■ — .J
stellt, sich für gut schlafen ent-
schieden habe.
Zu Buckys Geburtstag reimte
er; "Zwar das Alter Würde
bringt. / I>och man freut sich
nur l:)edingt, / Wenn — wie der
Geburtstag sagt — / Man vom
Zahn der Zeit benagt . . ." Und
die Moral: *'Lasst uns für den
■ - ■ . I — »
Rest der Zeit / Pflegen der Ge-
mütlichkeit!" —
Nicht in meinen Versen, son-
dern irgei>4«^'o als Nebensatz in
einem dieser Briefe entdeckt
man ein Srückchen echter Ein-
steinscher Lebensweisheit: 'T<^ur
wer nichts sucht, i^t vor Irrtum
sicher."
NEW YORK POST. SATURDAY. DECEMBER 12. 1970
their orchestia and cnoi'Jl
commencement eve . . . Har-
rods, in London, is offering
for $1100. a 1930 letter by
Albert Einstein, in whlch he
urged a Peace Corps in Pale-
stine.
^'^^^lOmL SBOCXC^^EXPOSÜRE
i/^ Se4-7
^q
^tvf O^ h^ij^^/^
>/
=r:
u
Erfinder, Helfer und Poet dazu
Sechzig l*rivathriefe Albert Einsieins wurden in London versteigert
•"/
/
Von EGON LARSEN
"Die obere Hälfte plant und
denkt / Derweil die untere uns
lenkt ..." — wer käme auf den
Gedanken, dass dieser resig-
nierte Vers ä la Wilhelm Busch
von derselben Hand stammt, die
das gewaltige Gebäude der Re-
lativitätstheorie errichtete? Es
sind die Schlusszeilen eines Ge-
dichte, das Albert Einstein aus
Princeton an einen New Yorker
Freund richtete, und in dem er
sich über die Magenschmerzen
beschwert, unter denen er in den
letzten zwei Jahrzehnten seines
Lebens litt.
.Der Freund war der Leipziger
Arzt und Radiologe Dr. Gustav
Bucky. ein Altersgenosse Ein-
steins und sein Intimus in der
amerikanischen Emigration, in
die ihm Bucky vorausgegangen
war. Einstein flüchtete Anfang
1933 von Berhn nach Coq-sur-
mer in Belgien, dessen König ihn
unter seinen persönlichen Schutz
stellte; aber als der in die
Tschechrslowakei emigrierte Phi-
losoph Theodor Lessing von ei-
nem Nazi-Mordkommando um-
gebracht worden war, fürchtete
Einstein für sein Leben. Mit
einem kleinen Fischerboot — er
war ja ein erfahrener Segler —
fuhr er über den Kanal nach
England. Hier war er ein paar
Wochen lang Gast der Familie
l/x-ker-Lampson auf deren Gut
bei Cromer in Norfolk, ehe er
dem Ruf nach Princeton folgte.
Mit dem Ehepaar Gustav und
Frieda Bucky waren die Ein-
steins in engster Verbindung,
aber wegen der Entfernung
Princeton— New York sah man
sich selten. Umso eifriger kor-
respondierte Einstein mit Bucky.
Einstein starb 1955, Bucky zehn
Jahre später; nun liess seine
Witwe die Briefe Einsteins an
ihren Mann — etwa sechzig —
bei Christies in London verstei-
gern. Sie brachten 36,000 Dollar;
Mr. Lew D. Feldman (vom 'House
of El Dieff" in New York) er-
warb sie für diese Summe, wahr-
»chcinlich im Auftrag einer ame-
rikanuschen Universität. Auch
Dr^ Buckys Sohn hatte mitgebo-
.M^^'^nl!: ^''^^^ ^^^^ Rückreise
antr.^en ^'^ ''^^' ^^^ Atlantik
'- e n"usen''' ''^ Gelegenheit,
emzjusenen. Es sind keine
sie
gros.sca wissenschaftlichen Ent-
Gustav Bucky
hüllungen, und wir erfahren
auch nicht daraus, wie weit Ein-
stein mit seiner Allgemeinen
kam, die ihm so am
Aber dest-o mehr er-
über den Menschen
und nicVit ^^uletet in
Feldttieorie
Herzen lag.
fahren wir
Einstein —
seiner Eigenschaft als Flücht-
ling.
Aus Le Coq schrieb er im Juli
1933 an Bucky in New York;
**Icii glaube, dass jede Aktion,
die auf einen Verbleib von Ju-
den in Deutschland abzielt, der
Vernichtung Vorschuß leistet."
Ein Jahr später war er etwas
optimistischer: "Es mehren sich
die Anzeichen dafür, dass Hit-
lers Fundamente wackeln", doch
1938 schrieb er; "Hitlers Funda-
mente mögen wackeln, aber lei-
der nicht genug!" Diesen einan-
der abwechselnden Stimmungen
der Hoffnung und Resignation
war Einstein nicht weniger un-
terworfen aLs wir alle in jener
Zeit.
Aber er gab sich nicht mit
blossen Betrachtungen über die
Weltlage zufrieden. Er war sich
der Durchschlagskraft seines
Namens bewusst und verwendete j ging schief
sie immer wieder, um seinen Mit- 1 und viel
flüchtlingen zu helfen und Ge-
fährdete dem Machtbereich Hit-
lers zu entreissen. Mehr als ein
Dut7.end Briefe (und wie viele
wohl in Einsteins gesamter Kor-
respondenz? > wurden nur ge-
schrieben, um mit Buckys Hilfe
Refuigees und denen, die es wer-
den wollten, Affidavits und Visa
zu verschaffen, die Behörden
wachzurütteln, Neuankömmlinge
an wichtigen Stellen einzufüh-
ren oder ihnen Pasten zu ver-
schaffen. Da finden wir die Na-
men Drs. Marietta Blau, Rotke,
Pordes, Wenger, Dinkin und die
Professoren Lazarus und Reiche.
Er hat zweifellos vielen Men-
schen das Leben gerettet oder
die Existenz in der neuen Heimat
ermöglicht. Die Frage nach der
Zukunft der jüdischen Emigra-
tion beschäftigte ihn; man
müsse für Roosevelt wirken, so
lange er den Juden "loyal" ge-
genüberstehe, meint er in einem
seiner Briefe. Es wäre gut, wenn
man die Juden zu einer poli-
tischen Einheit verschmelzen
könne, unter vernünftiger Lei-
tung — aber das sei eine Aui-
gabe. die selbst "dem Teufel und
seiner Grossmutter" Kopfzer-
brechen verursachen würde!
Recht überraschend ist, dass
der Mann, dem wir unser mo-
dernes Weltbild verdanken, sich
mit allerhand praktischen Erfin-
dungen abgab — teils aus Spass
an der Sache und teils, um
seinem erfinderisch begabten
Freund Buclcy zu helfen; man
erwog sogar die Einrichtung
einer Werkstatt. Eines der Ge-
räte, an denen die beiden arbei-
teten, bezweckte die
nelle Aufzeichnung von Schall-
wellen auf magnetischem Wege"
— also ein Vorläufer des Ton-
bandgeräts. Eine andere Erfin-
dung, die inzwischen ebenfalls
verwirklicht wurde, war eine
"Einrichtung aur automatischen
Regulierung der Expositions-
Lichtmenge bei photographi-
schen Apparaten". Es war wohl
eine Art Rückkehr Einsteins in
seine Jugendzeit ,als er beim
Berner Patentamt arbeitete und
den Erfindern half, ihre Patent-
schriften aufzusetzen.
\^
Ffiday, Decet >er 15, 1967
ö^
j^A^-Jid^
UU^4)rC4 ^^>JUd^ UmU, ^UJ^^^MT- p\4^ ^Jtr^
Die Handschrift des grossen Physikers
Aus einem der versteigerten Briefe Einsteins an Gustav Bucky
\
I
stellt, sich fUr gut schiafen ent-
schieden habe.
Zu Buckys Geburtstag reimte
er: "Zwar das Alter Würde
bringt. / I>och man freut sich
nur bedingt. / Wenn — wie der
proportio- ; GeburUtag sagt — / Man vcwn
Zahn der Zeit benagt . . ." Und
die Moral: "Lasst uns für den I sicher "
/
Einmal experimentierte er mit
einem neuen, von Bucky erfun-
denen Röntgengerät. Die Sache
— es gab einen Knall
Gestank. Einstein
brachte dem Freund die Sache
schonend bei: "Lieber Bucky!
Zitternd ergreife ich die Feder
— schreibt der Backfisch. Bei
mir ist es aber nicht minder so."
Er nahm die Schuld am Versagen
des Gerätes auf sich: "ich erin-
nere mich, dass bei Lehmans
einmal alle Radioapparate ka-
putt gingen, wenn ich in die
Nähe kam, und von meinem Kol-
legen Pauli" — dem Nobelpreis-
träger Wolfgang Pauli — "gibt
es seit vielen Jahren ein ähn-
liches Gerücht, das sich auf alle
Dh"^ikalischpn Arfcnnmt/.irpn i.r>r?
Rest der Zeit / Pflegen der Ge-
mütlichkeit!"/" —
Nicht in meinen Versen, son-
dern irgendwo als Nebensatz in
einem dieser Briefe entdeckt
man ein Stückchen echter Ein-
steinsoher Lebensweisheit: '"Nur
wer nich^ sucht, ist vor Irrtum
NEW YORK POST. SATURDAY. DECEMßER I2. 1970
orchestia
• «^
their orcnesua and cnoiu^
commencement cve . . . Har-
rods, in London, is offering
for $1100. a 1930 lettcr by
Albert Einstein, in whlch he
urgcd a Peace Corps in Pale-
stine.
AblMi Eban »aid at Prlncoton last night tliat when Iie spoko
(furo lant Dr, Albert Eüistein wa;* in lli« front row. Khan askiMl
v\liy lie'd conie to listen to a diploniat from a §mall s<>at«. Kin-
Bt<^in replied: "The h\g state» don't need diplomats. They liav©
hatth'ships. It'a only ihe sniall stutes tliat have dlploniat« wlio
aro inCeresting."
"YoiCve iaught ine Relatliity in Dlplomacy," Ebrin mid to
Einafein. *'Th9 smaller the State, the more interesting ita dip-
lomat .
<3r-
^o
w
i
■ I ^.
« r.
T-l-1. --
THE
I
Recipient's Son Makes Vain
Bid — Widow Is Seiler
By ALVIN SHUSTER
Special to Thf .\>w York Ttm*«
LONDON Nov. 29— Th? son
of a woman who put 5R Iptters
from Albrrt Einstrin up for
sale tried anJ failcd today to
huy thom at auction.
The letters worc writtrn by
thp physicist to Dr. Gustav
Bucky. a closp friond, who
lived in New York. Dr. Bu( ky
(iied in I0fi5. The collection
was put up for sale by his
widow, Frida, at Christie's to-
day.
Dr. Peter A. Burky of New
York and his wife appeared
this morning to bid on thei
letters. Dr. Bucky raised the
bidding to $35,280 but gavej
up whrn ^^'David Irldman.
a New York book and manu-
script dealer, went to $36.000.
Hemingway Retters Taken
Mr. Feldman, ownor of the
House of Kl p\eft also pur-
chased the n^xt'^ffering — 65
letters sent by Ernest Heming-
way to Adriana Ivanich, a
dose friend from Venice. whom
many regard as the model for
Rrnata. the young Venetian
woman in "Across the River
and Into the Trees."
Mr. Feldman, whn has pur-
cha.sed thnu.sands of dollars
worth of manuscripts and books
here in the last two weeks,
paid $16.800 for the Heming-
way correspondence.
Christie's said the collection
reprcsented the largest group
of letters by the author to ap-
pcar at auction since he died
in .luly, 1961.
Dr. Bucky .said his mother's
decision to seil the letters had
"come as a surprise to me."
He said he rushed over to try
to huy them bccause he was
writing a book on his family's
relations with Dr. Einstein.
Dr. Bucky heads Bucky X-
Ray International at 30 East
81 st Street in New York.
The Einstein letters, written
over a period of 25 years, shed
no new light on the theorics
of the physicist. They do pro-
vide some insights into his dis-
trust of tnedicine and his .sad-
ness over the plight of Jews
in Germany undcr Nazism. Thfi^l
include a couple of poerp^
a light vein.
r
5»;
t
^
r
F
r
,1 former diplonuit, l.lihu IMilh is now
the President of ilw Hihrew University.
0
Cl, c{ Li
>
j^^^c- Ut
y
Abba Eban sald at Prliiceton Ia<tt night that when lie spokA
tliere la»t Dr. Albert Einst^^in waü in the front row. Eban askiMl
%vliy lie*d conie to listen to a diplonmt from a small state. Ein«
nU^ln replied: "The big: state» don't need diplomatn. They liave
hattleslüps. It's only tlie sniall »tates that have diploniatü who
are interesting/'
"You've taught me ReJativity in Diplomacy," Ehrin said to
Einstein. "Th9 ^maller the State, the mors interesting it$ dtp-
Joviat ..."
IWIENTIQNAL SBCO«' EXFOSÜRE
.1^.. .^ %r - T^-.U--
THE
\
EINSTEIN LEITERS
INLONDONAUCTION
Recipient's Son Makes Vain
Bid — Widow Is Seiler
By ALVIN SHUSTER
Special to Thf N>w York Tim«
LONDON Nov. 29— The son
of a woman who put 58 letters
from Albert Einstein up for
sale tried and failed today to
buy them at auction.
The letters werc written by
the physicist to Dr. Gustav
Bucky, a clo.se friend, who
lived in New York. Dr. Bucky
died in 1965. The collection
was put up for sale by his \
widow, Frida, at Christie's to
day.
Dr. Peter A. Bucky of Newi'j
York and his wife appeared'j'
this morning to bid on the
letters. Dr. Bucky raised the 1
bidding to $35.280 but gave '
up when ^ew David Feldman.
a New York book an? manu-
script dealer, went to $36,000.
Hemingway Letters Taken
Mr. Feldman, ownor of the
House of EJDieff, also pur-
chased the n^xfoffering — 65
letters sent by Ernest Heming-
way to Adriana Ivanich, a
close friend from Venice, whom
many regard as the model for
Renata, the young Venetian
woman in "Across the River
and Into the Trees."
Mr. Feldman, who has pur-
chased thousands of dollars
worth of manuscripts and books
here in the last two weeks,
paid $16.800 for the Heming-
way correspondence.
Christie's said the collection
reprcsented the largest group
of letters by the author to ap-
pear at auction since he diedN
in July, 1961.
Dr. Bucky said his mother's
decision to seil the letters had
"come as a surprise to me."
He said he rushed over to try
to buy them because he was
writing a book on his family's
relations with Dr. Einstein.
Dr. Bucky heads Bucky X-
Ray International at 30 East
81 st Street in New York.
The Einstein letters, written
over a period of 25 years, shed
no new light on the theories
of the physicist. They do pro-
vide some insights into his dis-
trust of medicine and his sad-
ness over the plight of Jews
in Germany under Nazism. The^L.
include a couple of poenj»*'^
a light vein.
i
I
fi
A former cUplomat, F.lihu IJath is now
the President of tlw Hehrew University.
H 0 1 u A 4
n
h
^^ NaO
1\\ ' -♦//li- ll^l/l^')
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 1967
EINSTEIN LETTERS
ON SÄLE IN LONDON
The Verse m Einstein's Universe
58 Notes to Doctor in U.S.
Include Melancholy Poem
LONDON (AP)-~Albert K'in- "Alas, I catviot m?>ie in hncn;
stein was a gieat physicist but 1 Skcptirism has got me down.
1
l;
By ALVIN SHUSTER
Special to The New York Time»
I
LONDON, Nov. 9— Fifty-eight; J
letters writtcn by Albert Ein- ^
stein to a fricnd in America will'(
be auctioncd hcre latcr this t
montb. \^
Tbe letters shcd no new^
light on thc theories of the
late physicist, but they provide
some insights into bis distrust
of medicine, bis sadness overj
the plight of the Jews in Nazi
Germany and bis efforts at
Doetrv.
They were writtcn to Dr.
Gustav Bucky of New York,
physician and radlologist, who
|Was a close friend for morc
jthan 25 years. Dr. Bucky diod
in 1963. The coilection of let-
ters is being seid through
Christie's bere by his widow.
The sale will "be beld Nov.'
29. the saine day that Christie's'
also sells 65 letters written byu
Ernest Hemingway to Adriana,
a poor poet.
lli.s play/ul ver.ses are re-
vealed in a coilection of his
private letters to be sold at
Christie's auction hou.*^e^Nov. 29.
He wrote them to Di\ Gustav
Just at the motnent I began
To think y<mr drugs tould eure
a man."
tific Problems on whicb the two
men vvorked.
Kinstein describe.s how wind
Bucky emigre doctor and radi- p.o.s.sure affects bul'lets in flight
ologist who d.ed m New York I pa,t of the correspondence
in 1965. Einstein died in 1955
at age 76.
The physicist Ruffered for
years with stomach pains and
wrote doggerei on his tondition
to Buckv.
One poem read:
doals with technical and scien-
I and a method of "obtaining a
proportional doscription of sound
vva\ es by magnetic means."
Tlie r^S letters, wriMen in Ger-
man in the professor's near,
slanting band, are illustrated
with sniall dravvings.
Einetein and Bucky fnvented
a Camera, later developed by
Hollywood. Some letters di.scuss
patenting and marketing it.
In one leiter, Ein.stein teils
humorously how a ray mach ine
faiJed to work: ''Trembling I
take up my pen . . ."
Einstein thinks he has the
"Pauli effect" and explains liow
Wolfgang Pauli could put hou.se-
hold appliances out of order
just by^oing near them.
When Einstein's «tomach
pains were diagnosed, Burky
prescribed a special died for the
Professor;
}Ie wrote to Bucky: "I am
grateful p><l now feel sincere
respect both for you and your
so pertinent art in general. If
there should be any relapi?
whatsoever on my part pleaj«
refer back to this testimonial."
Perhaps the most touching
document is a f ragment of notes
for an afterdinner spech which
ends: "As strangeis w« came,
as friends we depart."
The letters are being sold by
Bucky 's widow.
V
A'
a young Vcnetian
Ivancich,
woman
Wrote of Despair
AI! the Einstein letters were ,
writtcn in German, some by j
band and some by typewriter. =r==?^
They were signcd 'A.E.' The "" \ '
jletters in the coilection begin'viouslv a better phvsicist. Onc'then Elsa, hcr.self feil ill In
iwith one written in 1933 when^of the poems in the collectionlhis letters, Einstein told of bis.
.thc physicist was Iiving tem-'of letters. as translatcd by.nitial resistance to suPPP.tPH
■porarilv in Be ßium. He had de-v>u • , . * n n ^^uuLidi rcsisiance ro suggested
;cided Hot to return to bis native ?'''''' V^'^^"^'- "^^^ and the failure of
'jGermany because of the rise of| ^^^ Nathan, executor of the those agrced on.
'^ Nazism. From Bclgium, he was Einstein estate. said in New' "Last Saturday's courage has
to go to Britain for a shortYork that the translation was dcserted me," he wrote. "I
time and ihen to the United' poor.
States 1
i r ■ i • . 1 r I 'Alan l cannoi come to towri:
Linstcin s life was threatencd Sceptiusm has not me down,
in Belgiuni, allegedly because he J^^st at thc momcnt l be^an
'was aiding scholars fleeing Ger-j^o ^'""'^ y^^^ ^'""ß« cou/d help a
jmany. As a rcsult. the Bclgian, "^°"*
Government had placed a guard // uie pwn is sonetimes murder
around his house. Dr. Einstein /r does not drjvc one anv further
wrote: 1 Round thc bend that l am now — rc:««i 'T.,^ft'«i-,<^.- T,«!. ^'^"^^ '''^'
"The newsDaDcr artidcs and^''"ß-^ «'•« "ot guilty, anyhow. ^^^^J whethei her condition
o^»;l»,o i!; • ^.^ i^ r anaj fe ^ ^ j' ,^^gy ^^^ improve of itscif. She
actions again.st me do not makc j^ ^lie end the lauWs my ou-n noticed that I hesitated and is
tne sngntest impression on me|/f magRots eat me up so soon. now frightened, too " :
. . . Your belief that 1 am theiVoul/ swely unierstand and givei latpr hp tnlH hmv nno nh\r^\
fulcrum of organized activity MC your blessn, when / ^-ve-L^^^^f^'^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
[for help.ng the scholars] doesn'tl ^.^^^^.^ ^,^^, ^^^^^ ,^^ j^^ f^ion. ^
Bucky about various familyl "^ don't bclieve any reason-
health problems. indicating he ''»^Ic person could suggest such
did not alwav^ have much re-l'\ drastic measure in face of
the given circumstances," be
i>«^o««oi Tro««^j«. wrote. Einstein's wife died in
Personal Tragedies December, 1936.
In 1934, bis stepdaughterl The physicist, himself, at
Ilse became i!l in Paris and minies suffcrcd from stomach
Einstein's wife. EKsa, went to P^'"*^ .^^^^^^^ sa'd that he bc-
u -j T^ 1- * • . .j T^ longcd to the class of peop c
her side. Dr. Linstein told Dr.|..^,^^ .j^^ose to slecp well
Bucky: "Elsa writes that she rather than eat well."
would have myself suggested
that my wife should have ra-
diation treatment, which you
did not wish to undertake on
your own account. Now. how-
ever, 1 am getting frightened
of X-radiation and want to
wait for a ccrtain period to
fit ... I can only intervene in
a fcw special cases and only
as far as people will trust me.**
The letter, writtcn just a "" ". j^ "
few months after Hitler had ^P^^^ ^°' medicne
a.ssumed power, also spoke of
Einstein's fear of the eventual
"annihilation" of the Jews re-
maining in Germany.
"Obviously." he said. "it
would be a good thing if one
could grasp the Jews as a Sin-
gle political entity and unite
them under a reasonable iead-
ership. But this aim would con-
found the devil and his grand-
mother."
As a poet, Einstein was ob-
(Ilse] always has a tempera- Somc of Einstein's letters
iure, has becone very emaci- dealing with scientific matters.
ated and is difficult to feed. such as measuring altitude by
As for tbe diapnosis, no agree- means of gravitation, are com-
ment .seems to )e forthcoming." picte with equations and draw-
The stepdau;hter died, andjings.
l
Einstein Relativ ity Tbeory Challenged
nisJc
Spimfinq
with Znotvhes
\
Sunls interne
Atirror>^
at
-f
JlXsk
^
Scfiemattc cfrav^thn*
The New York Tlmei DIagrams by Daniel Brownileln Jan. 28. 1967
Instrument used by Dr. Robert H. Dicke to determine the
sun's shape was based on noiched spinninp; wheel, as shovvn P^*'^ wrong.
in Upper scheraatic diaffram. As the wheel spun, light of General relatlvity deals wlth
sun passins: throuRhnotx'he» variedwith sun's shape. Light ^^^^^Ity and its manlfestations
variations during each spin were detected by photoceli. Continued on Page 13, Coluinn 4
T %
Was Einstein Wrong?
-nay. dow-nri^ht foolish -
By WALTER SLLLIVAN
A leading physlcist reported
yesterday an obsorvatlon that,
if true and correctly Interpreted,
would invalidate Albert Ein-
stein's theory of rolativity.
Dr. Robert H. Dicke, profes-
sor of physics at Princeton Uni-
versity, told a Conference on
astrophysics here that bis ob-
servations of the sun last sum-
mer showed that Its shape was
flattened at the poles.
The effect of this flattening,
or oblateness, is sufficient, he
sald, to explain a significant
Portion of the orbital behavior
of Mercury, the planet dosest to
the sun, without recourse to rel-
atlvity. It was the precise con-
formity of Mercury's orbit to
Dr. Einstein's predictions that
was the Chief pillar of
his theory.
If Dr. Dicke Is correct, this
pillar has been undermined.
However, he Struck a cautious
note in his rcport to the as-
trophyslcal Conference. "It ,,. ,. ^,.r^ ^.
, 1/ .^ -. • M ^ ,^ '^^'t, rather that Dr. Einstein's
wouldnt surprise me." he sald. jthoory. as formulated in his
"if general relativity is just field equalions. may be incor-
rect.
Dr. Difko has himself played
m impnrtant rolo in exp.ioring
alternatives, which he describes
as tcnsor-scalar theories.
The week-lonp meetin^ had
;ibeon orpfanized by a group of
Ij American institutions to dis-
■jcu.ss rocont discoveries that in-
"volve relativity. It drcw lead-
ing: thoorists and experimenters
Irom as far as India, Japan'
and the Soviet Union
NEWVORK TIMES, SATL RDAY, JANUAR Y 28, 1967.
PHYSICIST DOUßTS
EINSTEIN THEORY;
I
Continued Froin Page 1, Cd. 4
jthrou^^hout the univcrsc. This!
theory accounts for the bcnding
üf lis:ht by gravity and the
"rcddcning" of light that
nmcrges from a vcry strong
gravitational field. Howver,
tosting the theory within thei
laboratory has bocn difl'icult. i
The earlier contribution of
Dr. Einstein, his special theory,
of relativity, deals with the
relations between energy, mat-
ter, timo and the speed of light.
Its validity has been demon-
strated many times. One of the,
theory's best known equations isl
E-MC2. energy equals mass
multipliod by the .square of the'
speed of light. \
Dr. Dicke did not argue that
the general principles of rela-
tivity do not apply to gravity.
but rather
SPMERJCAl^ SUfA
f/^trr/^ionofperi^el/ofj ^^
Jhri/ielzon
OBLiATE SUN
{Rotation oßperihelion ^ ^
zs faster) - ^
f
Schemattc cfraWrno'
in the dispute betw^^en
and so formidable a
It would be presumptuoiis
for nonspccialists to inlervene
the sliade of Albert Einstein , n i 1
contemporary physicist as Princeton's Prof. Robert
H. Dicke. • I
The theory of general relativity. for most ordinnry
mortals, is onr of Ihe more arcanc mystcries of Lhe afje
.. less comprchensible than the latest developmeiU in
China, more intricate than the income-tax code. \\c
must leave it to the expcrts to decide whether Ihr
sun is perfectly round or slij;htly flattened. and
therefore whether the march of the planet Morcury
throuj;h lhe heavens proves Einstein right or wrong.
But'^Professor Dicke's challenge of tho man rcgarded
as the grealest physicist since Isaac Newton perhaps
of all lime, is a iiseful reminder of lhe skepticism
basic to all science. Not evcn the authonly of an
Einstein suffices to make his theories dogma.
On the contrary. his work. like that of lessor fiffures,
is alwavs open to challenge based on new experiments
and new observations. The most carefully construrted
theory of the most august scientist can be demohshed
by a Single contradictory fact. All scientific explana-
tion is hvpothesis, accepted only so long as it fits the
experimenlal evidence^-and not a moment longer.
It was not always so. of course. Thcre were many
cenUiries during which men lonkcd to lhe wnling.^
of Aristotje, Ptolcmy and similnr greats for tho
"truth" But those were centuries of scientific Stag-
nation." Now we have "progressed" to an era in which
we are told it is the sun, not lhe earth, that is flat.
1
The New York Tlmci Dlasianu by John I^iiunz jan. 2». 1
ROTATION of low point, or perihelion, of Mercurj
orbit is shown above. If sun were spherical, as in upp
diagrarn, this rotation would be caused only by grav=
of other planets and relativity cffects. A flattened,
Oblate, sun, shown in lower diagram, uould add to tl
motion. In both, movement shown above is exagg«rat
movement of 5556.68 seconds ! varies with sunspot acti
Dr. Dicke's findings becamejof arc per Century is to be ex-! and its equator is slightly 1
novvn to physicists in re-pected, without any contribu-!ter and brighter than its pc
Icent days and their reactions|tion from relativity. | Dr. Dicke belleves that,
have been lelated. to some ex-j 3,600 Seronds in Deeree «Pinning his wheel from 9 >.
-^rnt. to their commitment to _,. 'to 3 P.M. cvery .sunny day fr
general relativity. The more| There are 3.600 seconds of early June to late Septem
iskeptical pointed out that Dr. f^^ ^^ ^ degree and 360 degreesilast year. he was able to av
iHjDicke. as author of a rival the- ^° ^ ^"^^ circle. jage out or otherwise elimin.
iory, had a stake in proving Long before Dr. Einstein has all of tho.se effects. He fou
Dr. Einstein wrong. formulated his theory it wasja flattening of the sun .suffici^
His supporters argued that K^^own that the perihelion mo- to give the orbit of Mercurv
he was a cautious and conserv-l^ion of Mercury's orbit was slight yank each Urne the pla*
[ative r.xperimenter. Thev were'ffr^^ter, by 43 seconds per cen-'pas.se.s through perihelion.
narticulaiiy impressod by the ^"'T. ^han it should be in terms TTiis is bccause a flattei
act that his results were sen- of conventional physics. >un would produce a gravi
Isitive enough to .show the ef- Dr. Einstein noted that Mer-jtional field. in nearby spa
t>ct of the earth's motion cury is close to the sun and that is not pertectly uniform
at'ound the siin. jthus within a strong field of ^^H direction.«^. it would
I Bccause the .-^un's spin axis^^^'^vity. Using the field equa- enough. Dr. Dicke said. to a
is tiltcd 7 de?:recs to the *-'<^"s of his theory he calculated t'ount for 8 por cent ' of t
earth's orbit, the extent to^hat relativity should give the'"i<^vemont of Mercury's y^\^
which we can see any flatten- P^^'^helion an extra .shove. that had previously been h
inp: of the sun at 'its poles ^"^o^^nting to 43.03 seconds of tributed to relativity.
varies during the year. When^^'c a Century. , In other words the moveme
one pole of the sun is tilted to-I '^his was so close to the ac-ito be accountod for by relat
f.wards us, the observed flat-^"*l Observation that his theory | ity is 39 seconds of arc — not
Itcning would be at a minimum.P^"^6d to be dramatically con-M^ seconds generated by
When both poles are visible,|f^""^d. His theory also pre- Einstein's equations.
in Profile, the effect would be|^ic^^^ ^hat the light of a star,! The reason the sun is f
at a maximum. skirtlng the sun, should be bent tened, Dr. Dicke said, is th:
This effect shows up clearly 1-745 seconds of arc by the^^PP^ars to have a rapidly .'
in last summer's observations, l^un's gravity. Such a star could^^^g core. The surface of
y
Dr
\
only be observed during a solar ^^^ does not rotate as a i
eclipse. body, but it takes roughly
Such an eclipse occurred in^^ys for a Single revolut
. . « - -" ^^.. ,1919 and two British expedi-l^he core. according to
terday a huge photograph ofitions went into the field to see'Dicke's calculations. spins c
Dr. Ein.stein hun?: on the wallif stars were displaced fromi^very 1.8 days.
behind the lectem at the New their normal positions by this^ The surface region of tha«
Yorker Hotel. It was one of effect. One came home with a^ he believe.s. spins slowlv beca
those sold in the Times Square; displacement of 1.98 seconds; jit is coupled magneticallv
area alonc with giant picturesithe other with 1.61 seconds. i^louds of gas within the
of Jean Harlow and W. C.i The two observations feil on .^art of the solar sv»
Fields. It had been hung by " '
parties unknown and before
the cinsinnr .spcs'ion in th*» «ftpr-
Dicke said.
Picture Disappeared
At the morning session yes-
both sides of Dr. Einstein's
prediction. They have been re-
n*^^tpd mopv t'rrioc Q<r»r»Ä n*-
1
i^ÄnTTW*^*^
ScAemat/c e/nav^irff
The New York Timts
Dlagrams by Daniel Brownileln
Jan. 28, 1M7
Instrument used by Dr. Robert H. Dicke to determine the
sun's shape was based on noiched spinning wheel, as shown
in Upper schematic diagjara. A» the wheel spun, light of
sun passing through notchc» varied withsun*A8hape. Light
variations daring each spin were detected by photocell.
tuiimty Ol iMurcury's orbit to
Dr. Einstein's predictions that
was the chief pillar of
his theory.
If Dr. Dicke Is correct, this
pillar has been undermined.
However, he Struck a cautiou.3
note In his rcport to the as-
trophyslcal Conference. "It
wouldn't surprise me," he sald,
"if general relativity is just
piain wrong."
General relativity deals with
gravity and Its manifestations
Continued on Page 13, Coluum 4
Was Einstein Wrong?
IL would be prcsumptuous nay, downrisl't t'>oHsl' -
f„r nonspocialists to intervene in the dispute hetw.en
,he shade of Albert Kinstein and so formul^ib e .
contcmporary physicist as Princeton s Prof. Uoljc. l
Tj Dicke. •
The Ui'oory of gcncral relativity. for most ordinary
moitals, is one of the more arcane mystenes of the a?:e
... less comprehonsihle than the latest development in
China, more intricate than the income-tax c()de. \ e
•ts to decide whother tho
must leave it to the exi)ei
sli^htly flattcncd, and
sun is perfectly round or sli^htly flattcnea. anu
therefore whether the maroh of the planet Morcury
throush the heavens proves Einstein right or wrong.
But Professor Dicke's challcnge of the man rcgardcd
s the greatcst physicist since Isaar Newton, perhaps
of all time, is a useful reminder of the skepticism
basic to all science. Not even the authonty of an
Einstein suffices to make his theories dogma.
On the contrary. his work. like that of lesser fi^ures.
is alwavs open to challenge based on new expenments
and new observations. The most carefully constructed
theory of the most august scientist can be demolished
by a Single contradictory fact. Ml scientific explana-
tion is hvpothesis, accepted only so long as it fits the
cxperimental evidence^-^and not a momcnt longer.
It was not always so, of course. Thcre were mnny
whicli men lonkcd to the wnlings
ilnr grcats for the
ct-nturies during
of Aristotje, Ptolcmy and sini
centuries of scientific stag
'•iruth." But those were .
nation. Now we have ''progressed" to an era in vvhich
we are told it is the sun, not the earth, that is flat.
^^riMion
Scriematic c/narW/nt^
ter, time and the spoed of light.
Its validity has been demon-
strated niany tmie.s. One of the
theory's best known equations is
E-MCli. energy equals mass
niiiitipliod by the square of the
speed of light.
Dr. Dicke did not argue that
the general principles of rela-
tivity do not apply to gravity.
but rather that Dr. Einstem's
theory, as formulated in his
field equations, may be incor-
rcct.
Dr. Dicke has himself played
an iniptirtant role in exploring
alternatives, which he describes
as tensor-.scalar theories.
The weok-long meeting had
bcon organizcd by a group of
American institu'tions to dis-
euss reccnt discoveries that In-
yolve relativity. It drew lead-
insf theorists and experimenters
(from as far as India, Japan
and the Soviet Union. ; movement of 5556.68 seconds
. Dr. Dicke's findins:s became|of arc per Century Is to be ex-
known to physicists in re-|pected, without any contrlbu-
cent days anti theu- reactionsjtion from relativity.
have been related, to some ex- 3,600 Seconds in Degree
The New York Timei Dlagrama by John Leinun« Jan. 2t, 1
ROTATION of low point, or perihelion, of Mercurj
orbit is shown above. If sun were spherical, as in upp
diagram, this rotation would be cau.sed only by gra.V'
of other planets and relativity cffects. A flattened,
oblate, sun, shown in Iower diagram, would add to t}
motion. In both, movement shown above is exaggerat?
tent. to their commitment to
general relativity. The more
skeptical pointed out that Dr.
Dicke, as author of a rival the-
ory, had a stake in proving
Dr. Ein.stein wronsr.
varies with sunspot acti
and its equator i.<; slightly 1
ter and brighter than its pc
Dr. Dicke belleves that,
spinn ing his wheel from 9 /
, to 3 P.M. cvery .sunny day, fr
There are 3,600 seconds ofjearly June to late Septem
arc to a degree and 360 degrees I last year. he was able to av
to a füll circle. läge out or othenvise elimin;
Long before Dr. Einstein has all of the.se effects. He fou
formulated his theory it was | a flattening of the sun .suf fiele
His .supporters argued that l^^^wn that the perihelion mo-'to give the orbit of Mercury
he was a cautious and conserv- ^ion of Mercury's orbit was 1 sligh t yank each time the pla
ative experimenter. Tliey were 8^^^^ ter, by 43 seconds per cen-'pas.ses through perihelion.
particularly impressed by the ^^^X than it should be in terms, This is bocause a flattei
fact that his results were sen- of conventional physics. >un would produce a gravi
sitive enou;::h to show the ef-j Dr. Einstein noted that Mer-|tional field, in ncarby spa
fect of tJio earth's motion'C"''y is close to the sun and ' that is not pei-fectly uniform
aroiind the sun. thus within a strong field of ^H directions. It would
BrcHuse the siin's .spin axis S^'^^'ity. Using the field equa- enough, Dr. Dicke said, to a
is tilted 7 degrees to theitions of his theory he calculatediCount for 8 por cent of t
earth's orbit. the extent to that relativity should give thelmovement of Mercury's orl-
vvhich we can see any flatten- perihelion an extra shove.'that had previously been h
ing of the sun at 'its poles amounting to 43.03 seconds of tributed to relativity.
varies during the year. When ^^*^ ^ Century. | In other words the moveme
one pole of the sun is tilted to-, This was so close to the ac-|to be accounted for by rela-
wards us. the observed flat-jt^a-l Observation that his theory ity is 39 seconds of arc — not
tening would be at a minimum iseemed to be dramatically con- ^^ seconds generated by
When both poles are visible fii'med. His theory also pre- Einstein's equations.
in Profile, the effect would be dicted that the light of a sUr, The reason the sun Is f
at a maximum. Iskirting the sun, should be bent tened, Dr. Dicke said. is thr
This effect shows up clearly 1-745 seconds of arc by the'a-ppears to have a rapidly .^
in last summer's observations, l^un's gravity. Such a star could^^^^g ^^^^e. The surface of
Dr. Dicke said. only be observed during a solar ^^^ does not rotate as a s
„. . ^. , eclip.se. body, but it takes roughly
Picture Disapppared such an eclipse occurred im days for a Single revolut
At the morning se.ssion yes- 1919 and two British expedi-^he core, according to
terday a huge photograph of tions went into the field to see' Dicke's calculations, spins c
Dr. Ein.stein hung on the wall if stars were displaced from ^very 1.8 days.
behind the lectem at the New their normal positions by this
Yorker Hotel. It was one of effect. One came home with a "*■"-'-'— "k^*- •-'"^'.>' ■j"-''
those sold in the Times Square di.splacement of 1.98 seconds; ;it is couplfd magneticallv
area. along with giant pictures the other with 1.61 seconds. ielouds of gas wiLhin the
of Jean Harlow and W. c' The two obsei-vations feil onl^^^t of the solar sv-'
The surface region of tha ?
he believe.s. spins slowly beca
Fields. It had been hung by
parties unknown and before
the cl'^sing -- • ^u in the after^
noon, it vai-- .i_d.
At the Start of his talk Dr
both sides of Dr. Einstein's
prediction. They have been re-
pp^ted many iiy.c^s sinc«r- D'
Dicke pointed out, but the pre
cision has never been compara
Dicke .said with a grin that hclble to that of the Mercury or
was not trying to put special-|bit as a test of the theory.
i.sts in gcnernl relativity out of
busine.ss. He was interruptcd
by Dr. Georgo Gamow. the
Vertlcal Telescope l »»ed
Dr. Dicke is widely known
noted rosniologist now at thel^or his experiments in gravita
University of Colorado: ition. The one described yester-
•Then Ivhat happened toEin-'^ay is the fruit of several
steiji's picture?" he cried, to|y^^^' preparation. It was per-
general lau gh ter. formed with a vertical tele
As noted by Dr. Dicke, the
assumed effect of relativity on
the motion of Mercury has been
the one precise piece of data
supporting the gravitational , . „ . ^
theory of Dr. Einstein. It con- ^"t out all of the sun's Image
scope that, through a System
of mirrors, threw the image of
the sun onto the experiraental
apparatus.
This consisted of a dlsk that
except a narrow rim around its
edge. Below this disk was a
_ cerns the manner in which the
^jpoint at which the planet c 1 ■ .",".' ^
^'makes its dosest approach to JY^^^^' •'^P^^^ing at high speed,
the sun — the perihelion — mi-'^^^t cut otf all light from the
grates .slowly around the .sun. ^^^'" except for notches on op-
The Situation can be likened P^^'^h^ ^'^^^ ^^ ^^^ ^'^^^^- ^
At any one momcnt in the
to tho behavior of hula-hoop.s. ^,,,^^ *"> . T.*^ »k r 'v, ". "^'
which were the fad a fovv vears ^^'^^^ ^ rotation the light from
ago. As one wie-les the noint^'"" oppo.site regions of th(
at whilh the "^ hoop tou'^che ! '^'^ ,^1" V;:'-^ ^^ \l P^^^^ratc
moves .slowlv ArounH^f>,o hnHv ^^^ ,i>}^tem._ via the wheel
moves slowly around the body.
In the ca.se of Mercury the
notches, and fall on a light-
intcnsity recorder, or photocell.
,,hoop represents its orbit. Mcr- ThP ^ sk xT..r^nun^\lTT..l.
cury move., rapidly within thatj J^f^^. too' w^^rS t^im^oi^
orbit, taking only 88 days for of light penetrating the System
^nt^nn T; f V, ''^ w^^ hula-hoop ^.,,„d have remained constant.
^n rnf.Hl^^'''^'^•'''^^''^'^"! Howcvcr, if the sun bulged
ln?,c.M^9rnnn^ ''"'"^ ^'^''^ - around its equator and vvas
It^^l^Jt^^^ ^""^^ ^""^ one^flattened slightly at the poles.
Circuit of the sun. the light intensity would varj;
This motion is cau.sed chiefly as the wheel spun, producing
by the gravitational tugging of'a flicker. '- f &
t
four planets: Venus, the earth.
Jupiter and Saturn. They move
Mercury's perihelion some 529
Such an apparatus was nec-
essary, Dr. Dicke explained in
an interview, because of formt
seconds of arc per Century and; dable difficulties in observing
the motions of the earth also the sun's shape. Its edge is
Impart a large apparent mo- made ragged by a variety of
tlon.
gaseous upwellings and enip-
The rrsult is that an apparent üons. The brighüiess of its rim
]
?:.
fr-' •
■JßV-»;;-.-- ■
Newton
Kepler
Oppenheimer
Einstein
f
AM
j*
\
To be sure . . . science has to establish a
connection betwecn the facts of experience,
of such a kind that wc arc able to predict
further occurrences from those ilready ex-
perienced. Indeed, according to the opinion
of many positivists the completest possible
Solution of this task is the only goal of
science.
I do not believe, however, that so primi-
tive an ideal would actually be able to
kindle in a high degree the investigator's
passion, from which really great achieve-
ments have arisen. There hides behind the
tireless efforts of the investigator a strong-
cr but also a more mysterious drive: It is
existence and reality that one wishes to
comprehend. ... all knowledge of reality
Starts with experience and ends with it.
Propositions arrived at by purely logical
means are completely empty as regards
reality. Because Galileo saw this, and par-
ticularly because he dmmmed it into the
scientific world, he is the father of modern
physics — indeed, of modern science alto-
gether. Albert Einstein
th4
ight. :•
-and .
ncrge ti
aft and »
1
ight,
and^
norge U
ift and
Newton
Kepler
Oppenheimer
Au
Jtl
f I
To be sure . . . science has to establish a
connection bctwccn the facts of expericncc,
of such a kind that we are able to predict
further occurrences from those already ex-
perienced. Indeed, according to the opinion
of many positivists the completest possible
Solution of this task is the only goal of
science.
I do not bclieve, however, that so primi-
tive an ideal would actually be able to
kindle in a high degree the investigator's
passion, from which really great achieve-
monts have arisen. There hides behind the
tireless efForts of the investigator a streng-
er but also a more mystcrious drive: It is
existence and reality that one wishes to
comprehend. ... all knowledge of reality
Starts with experience and ends with it.
Projwsitions arrived at by purely logical
means are completely empty as rcgards
reality. Because Galileo saw this, and par-
ticularly because he dnimmed it into the
scientific world, he is the father of modern
physics — indeed, of modern science alto-
gether. Albert Einstein
^A 36-^
Einstein
♦•nm.«...
1
■ I _« in ^.
Wf
/
An Inventive Physicist
Robert Henry Dicke
Man
in the
News
NEARLY every morning
!ast sumnier, Dr. Robert
Henry Dicke would shut the
door of a little shack on the
Princeton campus, slide open
the roof to aim p spinning-
disk Instrument at the sun^
and dircct a calculated chal-
lenge at none other than
Albert Einstein.
If the sun is not a
perfect sphere, Dr.
Dicke reasoned,
this would pre-sum-
ably up.set one im-
portant pioce of
evidence supporting the va-
lidity of Einstein's general
theory of relativity. Dr. Dicke
reported yesterday the results
of his long hours of ob.serva-
tions and analysis. The .sun,
he .Said, appears to be flat-
tened at its pole.s.
Though scientists were un-
settled by a possibility of a
basic fiaw in Ein.stein'.s
theory, they wcro not sur-
prised that br. Dicke wa.s the
man who rai.sed the qucstion.
He has done it bcfore.
The 50-year-old Dr. Dicke,
Cyru.s Fogg Brackett Profes-
sor of Physics at Princeton,
is known by his colleagues as
a quiet scientist who mixes an
inventive flare with a ques-
tioning theoretical brilliance.
Takes Issue With Newton
He made major design con-
tributions to radar during
World War II and developed
the first microwave radio-
meter. He suspects that, con-
trary to Isaac Newton, gravi-
tation may be weakening
with the passagc of time, and
he is trv'ing to prove it.
In 1965 he led a group of
Princeton scientists who had
detected radio waves from
a dimini.shing "fireball." sug-
gosting that the universe wa.s
fnrmcd billions of years ago
by a cataclysmic explosion
(the "big bang" theory).
"He'srathor unusual among
scientists today." observed
Dr. Henry A. Hill, a fornicr
collaborator and now as.so-
ciate Professor of physics at
Weslcyan University.
*'He is both a thcoretician
and an experimentalist. Most
physicists can't cross the
gap."
"When you decide what is
Important and interesting,"
Dr. Dicke says, explaining the
methods of an experimental-
ist in physics, "you have to
work out all the possible ap-
proaches, and that often
mcans you have to design
your own Instruments to test
out your theorics."
For example. he designed
his own spinning disk device
that he used to hclp answcr
his questions about Einstein's
theory on gravity and its
manifestations.
Professors Auiazeti
The man who challcnged
Einstein was born May 6,
1916, in St. Louis. It was the
year that Einstein publi.shed
the complcte discourse on his
thetiry of general relativity,
establishing the basis for
most thinkmg and experi-
monting in physics evcr since.
Young Dicke, the .son of a
Government patent examiner,
grew up in Rochester, where
as a high school student, he
won his first recogniüon as a
^udding scientists, a Bausch
-* ^.lomb Tience med^l.
The New York Times
Challenged Einstein's theory
As a freshman at the Uni-
versity of Rochester, he
amazed his professors by
being the only one of 10,000
College students in the coun-
try to turn in a perfect paper
in a national physics test.
Most Professors, it was said,
could not have done the
samc.
After two years at ' -
ehester, he won a fello\ .*p
and transferred to Princcion,
being graduatcd with honors
in 1939. He retumed to
Rochcstor to rarn his doc-
tnrate in nuclear phy.sics in
1941.
The experimentalist in Dr.
Dicke came out during the
war years when he worked
with a radar research team at
the Massachusetts Institute
of Technology. He considers
his most important inven-
tion— he holds some 50
Patents, about 35 of them in
radar— to be the radiometer,
an electronic amplifier sensi-
tive to weak radio Signals.
He used it in 1945 to re-
ceive the first radio waves
from the moon and Signals
from the sun. by which he
established that the sun's
heat was 10.000 degrees cen-
tigrade instead of 6.000, the
proviously accepted estimatc.
Dr. Dicke has since aban-
donod most of his inventing.
"Ifs a bad habit to gel
into," he says. "It takes too
much of your time.'»
Dr. Dicke, a short man with
dark hair, has little time or
mclination for anything other
than the academic life.
He livcs in Princeton with
his wifo. the former Annie
Curric, and threo children. He
plays che.ss, plays classical
music on the piano and reads
history, especially äccounts of
World War 11.
He occasionally invites fac-
ulty associates and graduate
students for a.chlcken cock*
out in the bacK^ard. He ' '^
I
^
IU1
r
t
1
i
I
I
t
HENRY J. TAYLOR
We Think We Ve Smart
And We Know So Little
MODEST, roly-poly genius Albert Einstein's theory
of relativity Is notably challenged now by Prince-
ton physicist Robert H. Dickte. A new look at the sun
opens the way to the startling contention.
How little we blinking little mortals really know in a day
when we think we know so much.
On March 28. 1727, England lald Sir Isaac Newton'«
body to rest in Westminster Abbey with all the pomp and
ceremony the kingdom could muster. Newton'« physlc« were ■
true. ÄO far as they wcnt, for 300 years— until Einstein'«
intuitive leap to a new truth left «everal Newtonian law«
largely obsolete.
Czechoslovakian Iron-fisted Red President Antoniil
Novotny appointed a renegade priest, defrocked by tht
Vatican, the Minister of Educatlon. He told me in Pragrh«
not too long ago that Einstein first made the intuitive leap
at Prague's ancient Charles University, and a plaque there
now seizes the credit. Hokus, hokey, hokum.
/ German-Swiss Einstein was in Prague only a year and
was very migiatory in his scholarship: a cantonal school In
Aaru, Switzerland. the University of Zürich. Charles Univer-
sity, the Kaiser Wilhelm Physical Irustitute in Berlin, and
finally, of course, the Institute for Advanced Study at
Princeton for the 22 years from 1933 until the day he dled.
* * •
NOR TS IT TRUE that this great thlnker's special theory
of relativity is unfathomable except by a few. It deals by
formula with the relations between energy. matter, time and
the speed of light. Einstein observed the unique orbital
behavior of Mercury. the planet nearest the sun. and turned
to the sun for one great confirmation of hLs formula.
There are an estimated 150 billion stars in our own one
galaxy. Our stin is a small star. 93 mlllion mlles away. But
its mass 1« 332.000 times that of our earth. And there are
other Stars further on that are millions of times bigger.
Life scems to be built Into the chemistry of the univerǤ
Just as gravi .y Is built into the physics of the universe. The
bigger the «tar the shorter the life it has. Our sun 1& probably
about flve bill<o") year« old and the earth about 4' 2 billion.
At this present «ta«e the sun is 3,000 times hotter inside
than on it« surf are In fact, were the surface ^ 6.000 degrce«
Centigrade) as 1' )t a« the center db million degrees) the
heat would vaporize our earth Instantly and scorch us to
oblivlon. Nevertheless, in changing hydrogen to hellum. our
«un gives off energy at the incredible rate of 564 million ton«
per second. This is roughly seven million times the generating
rate of all electric power plant« in the United States.
• • •
BUT OUR heavenly eyesight constantly Improves. And
now an Improved look at the sun shows iU shape flattened
at the poles. The implications apparently contradlct a chlef
pillar of Einstein's «eneral theory demonstrated by Mercury'«
orbital behavior, thus throwlng the scientific world into an
uproar.
I remember meeting Dr. Einstein on the openlng night
of New york> 1939 World'« Fair. Beforc an audience massed
on the Mall, he pressed a button activating a cosmic ray -i
contact that lit the great fah-'s lights. I remarked how mar-
velous it must be to be able to understand the cosmic ray. f
The savant winked a jolly eye. the soul of friendline«
and good cheer "Perhaps many others understand cvery-
thing about it." Dr. Einstein answered. "But I sometimei 1
wonder whether I really know anything about it at all."
If this modest genius were still alive and newcomer Dr.
Dickie's improved sun-look finally disproves him. Einstein
would be the first to admit he was wrong— a rare quality,
surely. and practlcally non-exlstent in political life. but a
quality that in any walk oX IU« separates the men ifOBi
boy». /\
■^^^^. 1% J'/u/^tej'
yAf\- iö. J^4]
f
Challenging Einstein
Einstein's monumental general theory
of relativitv, wliich descTil>es bow ßrav-
ity acts as the universal forc^e linkinß
galaxies and solar Systems, rests on two
major piec-es of evidence. Last week
Princeton physicist Robert H. Dicke
seemed to knock one prop away.
The evidence involves the observed
migration of the planet Mercury's peri-
helion. Astronomers have observed that
the perihelion, or near point to the sun,
of Mercur\'s orhit slowh shifts at the
rate of 5,599 seconds of arc each cen-
turv; that is, though Mercury's orbit re-
mains the same oval shape, the dosest
orbital point to the sun is always chang-
ing, somewhat like a Hula Hoop
whirled around a child's waist. Before
Ei istein, the migration was attributed to
tlk- combined gravitational effects of the
4 planets Venus, Jupiter, Barth and Sat-
urn. But there was a discrepancy: the
. ct)mbined pull of these planets would
account for a motion of only 5,556 sec-
onds-leaving a deficit of 43 seconds.
Then Einstein showed bow that extra
43 seconds could be a consequence of
bis theorv. Until recently that idea
uent unchallenged, and so did general
relativity. The special theory of rela-
tivity, describing the relations between
energy and matter, is unaffected by
Newgweek. February 13, 1967
^
ii
SCIENCE I^NO SP4CE
II
I
k
I
l PI
Einstein: Totterinj: tiieory?
ke's theor\ and recent observations.
)icke holds tbat the sun itself niay
tribute to Mercury's perihelion ini-
tion. At a meeting of the American
sical SocietN last week the 5()-year-
Dicke tokl bow he and a colleague,
k Cioldenber^, liad used a special
tronic telescope to discover tbat the
is actualK an oblate sphere with a
ge around the middle. Tbc distorted
vitational field generatcd by the
ge. Dicke arj^ues, pulls Mercurx's per-
lion around fast enongb to account tor
tour seconds of arc per Century. Dicke
calculates tberefore that tbc discrep-
ancy attributable to a relativi.stic elfect
can tben be onl\ 39 seconds.
Stars: Dicke's tbinking bas excited
otber pliNsicists hut no one is abandon-
ing Einstein (juite \et. Some, bowever,
are looking iiito general relati\ity's sec-
ond major support. According to Ein-
stein, gravitational fields sbould IkmkI
beams of ligbt and otber radiation pass-
ing tbrougb tbeni, and the general tbeo-
r> of relativitN makes ver\ preci.se pre-
dictions of bow severe the bending
sbould be. And, indeed, during a 1919
solar eclipse British astronomers con-
firnied general relativitv b\ obser\ ing
tbat iip to 50 Stars close to the smi .ip-
pcarcd to l>e niosed awa\ froni tbcir
real positions as njcasured against otber
Stars— jn.st as Einstein predicted.
Now there are new wass to test iIm-
tbeor\. MIT s Lincoln Laboratorx , (or
exaniplc. plans to bonnce radai pniscs
oH tbc inner planets near the sun. 11 tbc
sun's gravitational field slows down tbc
cHectixe speed of light as general rela-
ti\it\ predicts, tln^ pulses sbould travel
inorc slowK tban it thev were travcling
tbrougb enipty space.
Tbc test of general iclali\il\ (b.it
Dicke niost cagerK awaits is on<* de-
signed b\ William M. Fairbank, a Stan-
iord liiivcrsit) pbysicist, wbicb ex.tni-
ines bow a gravitational field .tifects a
bod\ nio\ing in it. Soinetime in the earl\
197()s NASA plans to r)rbit a ( \ l'nfbir ,il
!Newsu«M'k. Irbruarx 1.'^. I*>f»7
SCIENCE ANÜ SPACE
I'ti.\-if- Tucl.iy
Dicke: A matter of *ecoiids
satcllite designed by Fairbank contain-
ing four gvroscopes, floating in a wcak
electrical field and isolated from stra\
niagiictic forces by protecting magnets.
Tbns free of all fiiction. tbe g\ roscopt^s
will be able to respond to subtic gravita-
tional eliects predicted bv general rela-
tivity. Dicke's theorv predicts a cbaiige
of orientation ecjual to about six seconds
of arc. Relativitv predicts a cbange oi
seveii seconds. Einstein s theorv mav yet
conie off a second best.
t
TODAY
IN HISTORY
OCTOBER 17, 1967
TcHlay'« hiRhlijfht: In
Brtiish General John
.surrendered hls forces
1777,
Burgoyne
to tbo
Americans at Saratoga, N. Y. It
was one of the great turning
points oX the American Revo-
lution.
On this date In:
1849, Polish composer Fred-
eric Chopin died.
1912, Serbia and Greece de-
clared war against Turkey.
1919, the U. S. consular agent
at Puebla, Mexico, William Jen-
kins, was kidnapped, touclüng
off an international incident.
1931, racketeor AI Capone wns
canvicted in Chicago of income
tax evasion.
J033, mathematician ^ yjjto;!
Einstein arrived
Bi_yetu£ee ii; om
1957, hundreds of Thou.sands
turned out in Washington,
D. C. to greet Queen Elizabeth
of Britain.
Today*s birthdays: American
diplomat U. Alexis Johnson, 59;
actress Rita Hayworth, 49.
Albert Einstein was oncc askcd wby
it was tbat mankind, having hcen
clever cnougb to achicvc the grand-
scale rclcase of nuclear cncrgy, was ap-
parcntly unable to avcrt its usc in the t
dcstruction of mankind. '*That's vcry '
simple," Einstein replicd. "It's bccause
politics is far mcjre complicated than
physicS." —Sir Ro\<n Wauon-Watt,
Mam's Means to His Ena (Polier)
,^j cycs, aiiu 1 was all joy.
rSuch moments lift us from the
busincss of living to the mcaning of
lifc. Einstein spokc for all self-actu-
\ aUzers when he wrotc: "Tbc faircst
thing WC can cxpcrience is the mys-
tcrious. It is the fundamental emo-
tion which Stands at the cradlc of
true art and scicncc."
For information on reprints
of this articie, se€ page 32
IIIIIIL^
(
(XmaIJ<>
(KA\^
VV e6neiday, September 14 1^6f
BRIEFMARKEN-ECKE
ke|
Zeichen der Freundschaft
Immer wieder lesen wir. da££
M. Shamir, ein Bürger Israel*,
der In Tel Aviv lebt, Briefmarken
Xür den Staat Ghana entwirft.
So ergfibt sioh fast selb^tverstand-
Uch, dasß er auch die Marke die-
ses afrikanischen Staates, die
ein Porträt Einsteins tragt, ent-
worfen hat. Damit wurde Ghana
zum ersten afrikanischen Staat,
der einen Juden auf Briefmar-
ken ehrte.
Das Wappen Israels, der Sit-
benarmige Lieuchter. erschien auf
staimmen die Entwürfe der Mar-
ken Togos nicht nur von dem
israelischen Künstler O. Hdex,
sondern werden auch in der Re-
SPIE&El SERtr ^
Bnetschreiber Einstein: Warnung vor der deutschen Atombombe
THE KKW :
7^
^^' AUGUST, i
'•947
I
Books of The Times
The Critic as Metaphysician
Bj 1 HOMAS LAI^K
i
m _^ . '^ioV*'^'^'" **
1
WJLL/AM TROY: SELECTED ESSAYS Edited by
Stanley Edgar Hvrvan WiLh o Memoir by
Alien Tale. 300 pages Rutgers. $9.
IN coiJecUng and editing these Iiterary
essays by William Troy, Stanley Edgar
H\'man, a teacher and critic and author
of 'The Armed Vision," among other studies,
has performed an act of piety. For his book
will resiore and, Im surc. maintain the repu-
tatjon of a man whose work was in danger
of falling into obiivion.
Readers of the Iiterary quarterlies and the
liberal weeklies of the twenties and thirties
will recall the name of William Troy. They
will also wonder what happened to him. For
he was the kind of critic. as these essays
show, from whom a serious work of syn-
thesis was to be expected, the exploration
of a Iiterary territor\' that would alwavs
have been associated with his name. That
such a work was never written was due to
a vanety of reasons, a pood manv personal.
Troy himself died in 1961. Mr. Hyman's coi-
Jection is no Substitute for the one big work.
but it has made up someihing solid and
lasting from fragments
CarefulJy Wrouj?ht Essays
The volume is far more, however, than an
act of respectful c Tatton. It prov;dcs
a group of unusuaiiy r.La, carefully wrought
essays marked by learning, judgment and
senous. thoughtful concem for the work at
band. It is obvious today that Troy's critical
siance must have been i'^rmnniar three dec-
ades ago. especially u:.^. _: in a critic
working out of New York. He was not nar-
rowly doctrinaire.
He wa.s leer}', for example. of the practice
of readmg into the author the qualities of
the hero of his book, as iQ the case of Joyce
and Stephen Dedalus. N' . when he
thought that the iife oi i>unar.al was in
some way a key to the noxeJs, he referred
to its unashamedly. He had very little use
for socio-economic determmants as Control-
ling a work of art. Vet he tries to give due
weight (not enough I think) to D. H. Law-
rence's early Iife as a miner's son and to the
industrial environment from which he came.
By and larpe. however, Troy believed that
art was a separate. whoUy integrated and
( ous function, no matter how many un-
( ous elements eventually worked them-
S-. ^w-, into the finished product. A wnter
vas a supreme maker. That is why he ar-
;^.rs that in the case of Lawrence — for
whom the act of writing was more like a
prophetic utterance. who was impatient of
revision. who would rather rewrite a work
than alter it — his letters were his master-
piece. He goes so far as to say that Law-
^' ' ''ce lies outside' the bounds
f!i liuTäiure aiiogether; it lies rather in the
fiel'l of r^' "'m.
That ti . v^as more than a shrewd
c-n hP <;pen from E. H. Nehls's three-\ e
^ . ^rn. produced long after 'ii'jss
words were written, showmg the pow^rf;,!
impact that Lavvrence's personality e d
on all those who came in contact with him.
T'roy put so much em- s yn 1
Lot« Jacobi
Albert Einstein Sir Isaac Newton
James. His essay. 'The Lesson of the Mas-
ter." remains one of the finest and most
prrceptive study of that man. It replies to
Van W\ck Brooks's Charge that James was
permanentJy flawed by his estrangement
from Ar \. Troy cannily asks what would
have h. -d if James had remained in
America, lac SL-r^ *s that he would have
been tru]^ --'" ti.^.ed and unproductivc.
"James" rc p in England," he v^riits,
"was an :• Je condition of fulfill-
ment." And he remarks that what to Brooks
was a serious weakness in James — his inter-
' : not in the personality of his people but
in their relationship to each other—was pre-
cisely James's strength and uniqueness.
Nolion of Reaiily
He writr«: ♦hat i^^^es believed in the
truths his , ed in But he adds
that it isn't m ry for the reader to share
those beliefs. only to undersund their shap-
ing power in those li.'es. It is one of those
self-evidcnt observations that should help a
a more confident entry into
u.t woTi^ Ol J 's novels.
Since the \ • is a ' ' ' ,$
maker. h? cor ' ,• artiiuidic^ a Gennite
View of the w. i.^., i.^' sets down his notion
of reaiity. To Troy a wnter is a metaphysi-
cian and Mr. Hyman rightJy F^'-^^^^es Troy's
metaphysical approach to cn: . .-i. Art, to
dare to say something that is also seif-
evident, is a way of apprehending the world.
Troy saw the great works of literature as
reflecting the metaphysical assumptjons of
the age. He e^ s the influence of New-
tonian notions ui liine on 18th-century forms
in fiction and — -v. He traces the findings
of Vico and £.;... v.n on "Finnegans Wake."
Troy pnssessed one quaiity that set him
f-pan from so rrarv nthpr academic critics.
For him. to an ^ not necv^aniy to*
adr-iTe. His reservations about . : Fitz-
;-.(rald or Virginia Woolf underline th^ -
weai • es as well as their endunng quali-
ties. Noifiing does more to indicate his stat-
ure than the fact that these essays are still
so fresh, > 'iy gjnce the • " :ts have
been writitu duuut to the death.
j
*
Rm^Ad
Wednesday, September 14, 1966
\ BRIEFMARKEN-ECKE
Zeichen der Freundschaft
Immer wieder lesen wir, dass
M. Shamir, ein Bürger Israels,
der In Tel Aviv lebt, Briefmarken
Xür den Staat Ghana entwirft,
ßo ergibt sioh fast selbstverständ-
lich, dass er auch die Marke die-
ses afrikanischen Staates, die
ein Porträt Einsteins trägt, ent-
worfen hat. Damit wurde Ghana
zum ersten afrikanischen Staat,
der einen Juden auf Briefmar-
ken ehrte.
Das Wappen Israels, der sle-
benarmige Leuchter, erschien auf
stammen die Entwürfe der Mar-
ken Togos nicht nur von dem
israelischen Künstler O. Uder,
sondern werden auch In der Re-
SPIEGEl-SERIE
\
Briefschreiber Einstein: Warnung vor der deutschen Atombombe
. — - ▼^ioK'»^'^»* *»''^*
'^^iCmL SEXX^-H«^^
Jf
THE NEW YORK Tl . TVESDA Y, AUGUST. \
.»
Books of The Times
The Critic as Metaphysician
/9C7
By THOMAS LASK
WILLIAM TROY: SELECTED ESSAYS. Ediied by
Stanley Edgar Hvman. With a Memoir by
Allen Täte. 300 pages. Rutgers. $9.
IN collectjng and editing these literary
essays by William Troy. Stanley Edgar
Hyman, a teacher and critic and author
of "The Armed Vision," among other studies,
has performed an act of piety. For his book
will restore and, I'm sure, maintain the repu-
tation of a man whose work was in danger
of falling into oblivion.
Readers of the literary quarterlies and the
liberal weeklies of the twenties and thirties
will recail the name of William Troy. They
will also wonder what happened to him. For
he was the kind of critic, as these essays
show, from whom a serious work of syn-
thesis was to be expected, the exploration
of a literary territory that would always
have been associated with his name. That
such a work was never written was due to
a variety of reasons, a ^ood many personal.
Troy himself died in 1961. Mr. Hyman's col-
lection is no Substitute for the one big work,
but it has made up something solid and
lasting from fragments.
CarefulJy Wrought Essays
The volume Is far more, however, than an
act of respectful comniemoratjon. It providcs
a group of unusually rieh, carefully wrought
essays marked by learning, judgment and
serious, thoughtful concern for the work at
band. It is obvious today that Troy's critical
stance must have been unpopulär three dec-
ades ago, especially unpopulär in a critic
working out of New York. He was not nar-
rowly doctrinaire.
He was leery, for example, of the practice
of reading into the author the qualities of
the hero of his book, as in the case of Joyce
and Stephen Dedalus. Nevertheiess, when he
thought that the life of Stendhal was in
some way a key to the novels, he referred
to its unashamedly. He had very little use
for socio-economic determinants as Control-
ling a work of art. Yet he tries to give due
weight (not enough 1 think) to D. H. Law-
rence's early life as a miner's son and to the
industrial environment from which he came.
By and large, however, Troy believed that
art was a separate, wholly integrated and
conscious function, no matter how many un-
conscious Clements eventually worked them-
selves into the finished product. A writer
was a supreme maker. That is why he ar-
gues that in the case of Lawrence — for
whom the act of writing was more like a
prophetic utterance, who was impatient of
revision, who would rather rewrite a work
than alter it — his letters were his master-
piece. He goes so far as to say that Law-
rence's sipnificance lies outside the bounds
nf literature altogether; it lies rather in the
fieM of reügion.
That this was more than a shrewd r-^-^
can be seen from E. H. Nehls's three.vo....,e
compendium, produced long after Troy's
words were written, showing the powerfui
impact that Lawrence's personal ity exerted
on all those who came in contact with him.
^;^.. Troy put so much emphasis m f
Lott« Jacobl
Albert Einstein Sir Isaac Newton
James. His essay. 'The Lesson of the Mas-
ter," remains one of the finest and most
perceptive study of that man. It replies to
Van Wyck Brooks's Charge that James was
permanently flawed by his estrangement
from America. Troy cannily asks what would
have happened if James had remained m
America. He suggests that he would have
been truly alienated and unproductive.
**James" residence in England," he wriits,
"was an indispensable condition of fulfill-
ment." And he remarks that what to Brooks
was a serious weakness in James — his inter-
est not in the personality of his people but
in their relationship to each other — was pre-
cisely James's strength and uniquencss.
Nolion of Realily
He writes that James believed in the
truths his people believed in. But he adds
that it isn't necessary for the reader to share
those beliefs. only to undersUnd their shap-
ing power in those lives. It is one of those
self-evident observations that should help a
Student make a more confident entry into
the World of James's novels.
Since the writer is a hiphly conscious
maker, he consciously articulates a defmite
View of the world; he sets down his notion
of reality. To Troy a writer is a metaphysi-
cian and Mr. Hyman rightly Stresses Troy's
metaphysical approach to criticism. Art, to
dare to say something that is also self-
evident, is a way of apprehending the world.
Troy saw the great works of literature as
reflecting the meUphysical assumptjons of
the age. He explores the influence of New-
tonian notions of time on 18th-century forms
in fiction and poetry. He traces the findings
of Vico and Einstein on "Finnegans Wake."
Troy p( .ed one quality that set him
apart from so many other academic critics.
For him, to analyze was not necessarily to
admire. His reservations about Scott Fitz-
gerald or Virginia Woolf underline their
weaknesses as well as their enduring quali-
ties. Nothing does more to indicate his stat-
ure than the fact that these essays are still
'^o fresh, especially since the su1t)jects have
üuen written about tr> the death. .-'
\
^^
^^^4:>.
hP >^o? • ^
<i>^>
<<^>
1
der Mar-
von dem
Ilder,
der Re-
istituts für Physik in Berlin. .
Geschäftsmann Alexander Sachs cnt
.^'"■fen hatte. Aaressat war der P?ä
Am"'.,*^^ Vereinigten Staaten v<m
Amerika, Franklin D. Roosevelt J
te;?"d=^r R fiemahnte den Präsiden- J
len, daß Bomben, die Energie ausl^
^4«"!'°"'«'" nutzten, jewe Is ganxe '
AmertkrT''*'^"" ''"""^*-'" " ""^ d"^
rtmtriKd, im Gegensatz zum Konuc.
nu'r ]^f^;t-^«--kei und zu^^KanaT'
men verfü^e""'"'''"^^^ Uranvcrkom-
aus dpn^l^'^1^7*'^"^ ^«" Uraner
aus den tschechoslowakischen Berc
werken bereits eingestellt hat " ^
ein^er'^'BL.r^'""'^^ ^^ ^'•"«"nt
Uran" .Vifn ^^'''Vl^'' Ausschuß ft
Uran . und im November 1939 emp
iiilen die Ausschußmitglieder der Re-
3rjng die Beschaffung von Uran und
•iwendig werdende Messungen
lanziell zu unterstützen.
Doch das Interesse an dem Projekt
lahmte, und so richtete Einstein —
1 7. März 1940 — einen weiteren
lef an Roosevelt; er warnte aber-
mals dnngend vor der Gefahr die
aus Deutschland drohe. Einstein
schrieb:
„Seit Ausbruch des Krieges hat sich
das Interesse an Uran in Deutschland
verstärkt. Ich habe jetzt erfahren, daß
die Forschung dort unter großer Ge- ,
heimhaltung betrieben wird und auf
ein weiteres der Kaiser-Wilhelm-In-
stitute, das für Physik, ausgedehnt
worden ist. Letzteres ist von der Re-
gierung und einer Gruppe von Physi-
kern übernommen worden, unter Lei-
tung von C. F. von Weizsäcker, der
^etzt dort im Zusammenwirken mit
dem Institut für Chemie an Uran
arbeitet . , ."
Nachrichten über die deutsche Uran-
forschung waren mittlerweile auch in
Großbritannien eingegangen.
^
THE NEW YOÜK TIMco, i utSüAY, AUuUST- t
'y
Books of The Times
The Critic as Metaphysician
By THOMAS LASK
WILLIAM TROY: SELECTED ESSAYS. Edited by
Stanley Edgar Hvman. V/ith a Memoir by
Allen Täte. 300 pages. Rutgers. $9.
IN collectjng and editing these literary
essays by William Troy, Stanley Edgar
Hyman, a teacher and critic and aulhor
of *The Armed Vision," among other studies,
has performed an act of piety. For his bock
will restore and, I'm sure, maintain the repu-
tation of a man whose werk was in danger
of falling into oblivion.
Readers of the literary quarterlies and the
liberal weeklies of the twenties and thirties
will recail the name of William Troy. They
will also wonder what happened to him. For
he was the kind of critic, as these essays
show, from whom a serious work of syn-
thesis was to be expected, the exploration
of a literary territory that would always
have been associated with his name. That
such a work was never written was due to
a variety of reasons, a good many personal.
Troy himself died in 1961. Mr. Hyman's col-
lection is no Substitute for the one big work,
but it has made up something solid and
lasting from fragments.
Carefully Wrought Essays
The volume Is far more, however, than an
act of respectful commemoration. It provides
a group of unusuaily rieh, carefully wrought
essays marked by learning, judgment and
serious, thoughtful concern for the work at
band. It is obvious today that Troy's critical
stance must have been unpopulär three dec-
ades ago, especially unpopulär in a critic
working out of New York. He was not nar-
rowly doctrinaire.
He was leery, for example, of the practica
of reading into the author the qualities of
the hero of his book, as ia the case of Joyce
and Stephen Dedalus. Nevertheless, when he
thought that the life of Stendhal was in
some way a key to the novels, he referred
to its unashamedly. He had very little use
for socio-economic determinants as Control-
ling a würk of art. Yet he tries to give due
weight (not enough I think) to D. H. Law-
rence's early life as a miner's son and to the
industrial environment from which he came.
By and large, however, Troy believed that
art was a separate, wholly integrated and
conscious function, no matter how many un-
conscious elements eventually worked them-
selves into the finished product. A writer
was a supreme maker. That is why he ar-
gues that in the case of Lawrence — for
whom the act of writing was more like a
prophetic utterance, who was impatient of
revision, who would rather rewrite a work
than alter it — his letters were his master-
picce. He goes so far as to say that Law-
ronce's significance lies outside the bounds
nf literature altogether; it lies rather in the
ficH of religion.
That this was more than a shrewd guess
can be seen from E. H. Nehls's three-volume
compendium, produced long after Troy's
words were written, showing the powerful
impact that Lawrence's personality exerted
on all those who came in contact with him.
S-— Troy put so much emphasis on t'
iHU
W
Lottt Jtcobl
Albert Einstein Sir Isaac Newton
James. His essay, "The Lesson of the Mas-
ter," remains one of the finest and most
perceptive study of that man. It replies to
Van Wyck Brooks's Charge that James was
permanently flawed by his estrangement
from America. Troy cannily asks what would
have happened if James had remained in
America. He suggests that he would have
been truly alienated and unproductive.
"James' residence in England." he vvrilts,
"was an indispensable condition of fulfill-
ment." And he remarks that what to Brooks
was a serious weakness in James — his inter-
est not in the personality of his people but
in their relationship to each other — was pre-
cisely James's strength and uniqueness.
Nolion of Reality
He writes that James believed in the
truths his people believed in. But he adds
that it isn't necessary for the reader to share
those beliefs, only to understand their shap-
ing power in those lives. It is one of those
self-evident observations that should help a
Student make a more confident entry into
the World of James's novels.
Since the writer is a highly conscious
maker, he consciously articulates a definite
view of the world; he sets down his notion
of reality. To Troy a writer is a metaphysi-
cian and Mr. Hyman rightly stresses Tro/s
metaphysical approach to criticism. Art, to
dare to say something that is also self-
evident, is a way of apprehending the world.
Troy saw the great works of literature as
reflecting the metaphysical assumptions of
the age. He explores the influence of New-
tonian notions of time on 18th-century forms
in fiction and poetry. He traces the findings
of Vico and Einstein on "Finnegans Wake."
Troy possessed one quality that set him
apart from so many other academic critics.
For him, to analyze was not necessarily to
admirc. His reservations about Scott Fitz-
perald or Virginia Woolf underline their
weaknesses as well as their enduring quali-
ties. Nothing does more to indicate his stat-
ure than the fact that the.se essays are still
so fresh, especially since the subjects have
been written about to ^he death/
FUMED IN TOO SBCnCNS
NEUE ZÜRCHER ZEITUNG
WISSENS^ HAFTEN
Fernafusgabe Nr. :i69 Bhtt 21
Samstag, 1, Oktober 1966
Das sowjetische Einstein-Bild
Von Siegfried Müller- Markus
dip: kinsteinschk wende
Außor Ho^pI Kil)t (^ wolil upüi^e niclii marxi-
stische Dcnkor, dir auf die sowjctisclio Gcsollsclialt
pinon so starken Kinnuß ausülx-n wie Einstein.
S<-lum in (\vn zwanziger Jahren kain os zu einem
erbittertem Hinj^en um die Walirlieit seiner Theorie.
Xaturgemäß sj)iegellen sicli liier znnäehst westhehe
Diskussionen. Kur wnrde Einsteins Theorie in der
sowjetischen Diskussion sofort zum Politikum:
Xioiit Pliysik contra Physik, sornh'ni Dianiat ecmtra
Einstein war von nnn an das Problem. Unter
«Diamat» wurde dabei V(m den einen, den Meclip-
nizisten unter der EiihnmtC dtvs Physikers Timir ja-
zow, da.s Weltbild der Mechanik vei-standen, von
(Wn AnhänK(M-n Deborins indessen die Heß:(-1-Ij(niin-
sche Dialektik. So wurde die llelativitätsthwric
un^'ewoUt zum Katalysator l'ür das Selbstvei-stünd-
nis der sowjetischen Philosophie. In der Tat ist di^
Kelativitätstheorie bereits in ihrem sclum klassisch
gewordenen s])eziellen Teil — im folj?enden als
«sRT» bezeichnet — eine llerauslorderunti: an
Donkpowohnheiten, die so alt sind wie die Mensch-
heit selbst. Wir brauchen nur daran zu erinnern,
daß das Aufflammen zweier Supernovae im Welt-
all von einem Krdbeobachter aus als gleichzeitig
beurteilt wird, wenn die entsprechenden l^icht-
signale gleichzeitig zwei synchronisierte Filme be-
lichten, daß aber von einem noch hypothetischen
superschnellen Sputnik aas diese f>eignisse nicht
mehr gleichzeitig sind, da die Signale von den
Kovae-Ausbrüehen zu vei-schiedenen Zeit^m an-
kommen. Nun sind aber P.rde und Sputnik gleich-
berechtigte Standpunkte, sofern sich der Sputnik
angenähert gleichfönnig-geradlinig b(;wegt; wir
haben also keine Möglichkeit, zu entscheiden, wel-
ches die ^vfütre Beurteilung der genannten Ereig-
ni.sse ist. Vielmehr: Es gibt überhaui)t keine wahre
P>curteilung des zeitlichen Ablaufs physikalischer
Prozesse, alle Keurteilungen von gleichföi*mig und
geradlinig bewegten Heobachtom aus sind gleich
walir, obwohl sie zu verschiedenen Resultaten für
die Dauer von Prozessen führen. Das gleiclie gilt
für lüngenvergleiche und die Mas.se eines Kiir-
j)ers. Auch das elektromagnetische Feld einer be-
w(»gten i^duns ist relativ. Für einen als ruhend
angenommenen l-ieobachter präsentiert es sich mit
einer elektrischen un<l magnetischen Komponente,
für einen mitbewegten nur mit einer elektrischen
Das Ergebnis: Die Konz(i)tion eines «Haiims an
sich», unabhängig vom Standpunkt des Beobach-
ters, ebenso wie einer Zeit, ]M as.se, liiinge, Energie,
eines Impulses und elektrischen und mjignetisidien
P'eldes «an sich» haben überha\ij>t keinen ])hysika-
lisclien Sinn.
Obwohl es glünzende mathematische und legi-,
.sehe Eiasichten in die Gründe für diesen Sachver-
halt gibt — man denke etwa an Reichenbachs
logische un<l Hermann Weyls, Eddin^'tons und
Focks mathematische Dai-stelhmg der sllT — und
obwohl alle Teilchenbeschleuniger der Welt längst
mit den Effekten der sRT rechnen müssen, sei mit
aller Entschiedenheit festgestellt, daß wir von
einem eigentlich philnsophisrhen Verständnis der
sRT noch weit entfernt sind. Die durch Einsteins
Theorie in das moderne Denken gebrachte Unnilu^
ist berechtigt; man erinnere sich nur des aristx^te-
liscli-schola.stisclien Schemas von der Substanz und
ihren EipeiLSchnften: Was soll eine angeblich sun-
sistentc Afaterie mit ihren «Eigenschaften» Ma.s.se,
Energie, Bcwegiingsznstand, wenn die Beurteilung
dieser Eigenschaften ohne die Angabe des Bezugs-
.systems sinnlos ist? Ein und da.sselbe Materiestück
hat ebensoviele Längen, zeitliche Abläufe, Massen-
werte usw., als es gleichförmig geradlinig bewegte
Bezugssysteme gibt, das heißt im Grenzfall unend-
lich viele. P^i^t mit Einstein wurde eigentlich das
substantialistisi'he Denken des Mittelalters durch
ein relationistisches Denken ersetzt. Das Jahr 190o,
die Aufstellung der sRT, brachte damit im eigent
/u^deich extrem <Iogmatiscli, sul)stantialistisch,
monistisch und .scnsualistisch. Die .sRT impliziert
das Gegenteil: Sie setzte die dogmatisch übernom-
mene Ncwtonsche Raum-Zeit-Lt^hre außer Kraft,
sie verbietest die Annahme von Wirklichkeitsklötz-
chen mit eindeutig bestimmbaren Eigenschaften, sie
läßt «materielle» Prozesse durch eine nichtmato-
rielle, geometrische Struktur der Raum-Zeit deter-
miniert sein, und dies alles, indem sie vierdimen-
sionale Welt-Geometrie betreibt, also der Physik
eine weitg(»hend erl'ahrungs freie Wissenschaft zu-
grunde legt. Der Konflikt zwi.schen sRT imd kom-
munistischer Ideologie war nur vermeidbar, wemi
sich die Sowjetphilosophen auf das Hegelsche
Erbe beziehungsweise das des späten Ijenin (Philo-
sophische Hefte) besonnen hätten. Die sogenannte
dialektische Konipcment^* des Diamat mit ihrer
These vom allgemeinen Zusammenhang aller Dinge
liefert unter rmstäiiden einen Zugang zur konstitu- p
tiven Rolle raum-zeitlicher Relationen zwi.schen
Gbjekt und Bezugs.system für die Beschaffenheit
von Sein und Erkenntnis.
Der jahrzehntelange Kampf der sowjetischen
Philosophen ge^'cn Einstein beruht tatsächlich
neben einer ecditen Konfliktsituation Diamat-sRT
auf einer Reihe von Mißverständnissen. Dieser
ganze Kampf i.st deshalb so außerordentlich kenn-
zeichnend, weil er die geistige Misere einer Welt-
macht aufdeckt, die sich anheischig macht, die
Menschheit von ihrer intellektuellen XTeberlegenheit
zu üb(»rzeugen. Wenn die sowjetischen Wissen-
schafter den Wettlauf um die techni.sche Welt
bewältigung je gewinnen sollten, dann nur deshalb,
weil sie nicht ihren Meistern Marx, Engels \m<"
Lenin folgen, sondern den Urhebern eines Wel
bildes der freien Mens<diheit: Newton, Maxw(
Bohr, Heisenberg und Einstein. Lenin hatte f
gehütet, Einstein zu verdammen, obwohl er de
geistigen lichrer Mach in Grund und Boden JL
sierte. «Machist» ist noch heute ein philoso^^
sches Schimpfwort. Aber was taten I^enins N
folgert Noch in ]>enins letzten Lebensjahren '
nahm es aasgerechnet ein russischer P'
Timir jazew, <lie sRT im Namen des D
verurteilen. Es kam zu heftigen Aiiseinand
gen, brillant «largestellt von Joraws^
Philosophen spalteten sich, und die sRT ■.
schließli<*h mit der Gruppe Deborins, de- ,
testen sowjetisidien Denkers jener Jahre, V
Siege. Ilauptverteidiger Einsteins wm* «i
noch junge Philosoph und Physik
W^elch eine Inmie: Tiniirjazew, eijp
Rang, verurteilte Einstein im Name^
sehen Weltbildes, das er mit dem
setzte, ob-wohl dort der Mtwjiiaiii
lieh /uriickgewiesen wird, und
Partei])hilos()]d», bewies die Vereinb
und Diamat. Derselbe ]\laksimow s
später zum Wortführer der vehemc
ken gegen das «reaktionäre EinsteiUi^ier,
den.
DER P1U)ZESS EINSTEIN
Am 13. Juni 1952 veröfTent lichte M'
nach zwei Jahrzehnten der Kampfpause
Zeitschrift «Rote Flotte» den zweiten sow>
Feldzug gegen Einstein. Kein Wunder: l^
der Schwiegersohn Stalins, Schdanow, die i^
phen zum Angrilf gegen die «kantianischen
renkungen der Atomphysiker» und gegen
«Kriecherei vor dem Ausland» anfgenifen.
mittelbar danach setzte die Verurteilungs>
westlicher Theorien ein. Schließlich lagen auf (
Schlachtfeld hingemäht die bedeutendsten Einsii
teil des modernen Weltbildes: Genetik, Kompi
mentaritüt, expandierendes Weltall, Kybemetii
Resonanztheorie, mathematische Logik, Mengen
theorie. Daß sich ausgerechnet Einsteins seinerzei-
tiger Verteidiger, der inzwischen zum Akademie-
mitglied aufgerückte MaksimAw, bereit fand, als
1
(
ALBERT EINSTEIN
spezielle Relativitätstheorie, auf der die
e ruht, bezieht sich auf alle physikali-
•gänge mit Ausscliluß der Gmvitation;
'ine Relativitätstheorie lieiert das Ge-
\ i. ;iiion und deren Relationen zu den
uralten.
iechischen Altertum ist es wohl \w-
zur Beschreibung der Bewegung
les zweiten Korpers bedarf, auf
iguB9 ^« «F«k*n b«M>«eii wird.
lies W^agens wird auf den Er<i-
die eines Planeten auf die Total i-
•cn Fixsterne. In der Physik nennt
per, auf den man die Vorgänge
vlit, Koordinatensystem.
iewegungszustand des Koordinaten-
arf aber nicht willküHich gewählt wer-
n die Gesetze der Mechanik gelten sollen
(er muß „drehungsfrei'* und „beschleuniguugsf rei**
sein). Man nennt ein in der Mechanik zugelas.senes
Koordinatensystem ein „Inertialsystem''. Der Bc-
wegungszustand eines Inert ialsystems ist aber nach
der Mechanik kein durch die Natur eindeutig be-
stimmter. Es gilt vielmehr der Satz: Ein relativ
zu einem Inert ialsystem geradlinig und gleich-
förmig bewegtes Koordinatensystem ist ebenfalls
(in Inertialsvstem. Unter dem speziellen Rclativi-
tätsprin/.i) verlieht mfttt nun. die Vorallgomeine-
mng die«»s Satzes auf beliebige Katurvorgange . . .
Das zweite Prinzip, auf dem die spezielle Rela-
tivitätstheorie beruht, ist das „Prinzip von der
Konstanz der Vakuumlichtgeschwindigkeit". Dieses
sagt: Das Li«dit hat im Vakuum steta eine be-
stimmte Ausbreitungsgeschwindigkeit, unabhängig
\om Bewegungsziis-tand und von der Lichtquelle.»
Aus einem <^TimesT>- Artikel (1918)
^V Genetiker durch dvn Scharlatan Lysenko
rmochtx'. Es ging um nicht mehr und nichl
,ger als die Gnindlagen der ganzen modernen
sik. Man denke nur an die Konstniktion von
ijeunigungsgeräten, wo die relativistische Mas-
unahme hochenergetischcr Teilchen einkalku-
c werden muß. Auf der Einstcinschen Formel
• Ae^iuivalenz von Ma.sse und Enei-gie beniht zü-
rn die ganze Umsetzung vcm Masse in Atomener-
ie in Atommeilern, Atombomben und im kosmi-
,chen Prozeß der Stemenergie. Wie Kapica zu
lecht schrieb, wird die Einsteinsche Theorie nicht
Lautstärke forderten die radikalsten Philosophen
Maksimow, Kuznekow, Suworow im Namen der
Partei, die sRT übertiaupt abzuschalTen und durch
eine eigene «materialistische» Theorie zu ersetzen.
Einstein wurde zum Apologeten des verfaulenden
Bürgertums erklärt, dessen machistische I^hre die
W^issenschaft in eine Sackgiussc führe und auf den
Abfallhaufen der Geschichte zu werfen sei (Filo-
sofskie W^iprosy Sowremeniioj Fiziki, 1952). lud
dies alles im Namen eines mißverstandenen Dia-
mat und einer mißverstandenen Physik. Man warl
Einstein philosophischen Relativismus, subjektiven
Idealismus, ja Solipsismus vor. In der Relativität
ftiKiiale \^iviv\i/An{i^ /.wvi syiM'liroiusiorU» Kiimo be-
lichten, (IhB aber von einem noeli bypothetiseJien
siipers<linellen Sputnik aiLs diese Ereij?nisse niehl
mehr gleiehzeitig sind, da die Signale von den
Xovae-Au.sbrUelien zu vei-sihiedenen Zeit<'n an-
kommen. Nun sind aber Erde und Sputnik jflei^'h-
iHTecbtigtc Standpunkte, solern sieh der S])utnik
iingfenähert jrleiebtönni^j-j^eradlinijir bewegt; wir
bähen also keine Möj^lichkeit, zu entselieiden, wel-
ches die vahre Heurteilun^ der genannten Ereig-
nisse ist. Vielmehr: Es gibt üherhaujit keine walire
Beurteilung des zeitliehen Ablaufs physikalLselier
Prozesse, alle Heurtoilungen von gleiehförmig und
geradlinig bewegten Beobachtern ans sind gleich
walir, obwohl sie zu verscliiedenen Resultaten für
die Dauer von Prozessen führen. Das gleiche g-ili
für I^ngenvergleiche und die Masse eines Kör-
pers. Au<'h das elektromagnetisclie Feld einer be-
wegten J^adung ist relativ. P'ür einen als ruhend
angenummenen Beobachter prilsentiert es sich mit
einer elektrischen und maffnelisehen Komponente,
für einen mitbewegten nur mit einer elektrischen.
Das Ergebnis: Die Konzeption eines «Raums an
sich», unabhängig vom Standpunkt des Beoba<'h-
ters, ebenso wie einer Zeit, Masse, Länge, PiUerg-ie,
eines Impulses und elektrischen und magnetischen
PVldes «an sich» haben überhaupt keinen physika-
lischen Sinn.
Obwolil es glänzende mathematische und logi-,
sehe Eiasichten in die Gründe für diesen Sachver-
halt gibt — man denke etwa an Reichenbachs
logische und Hermann Weyls, Eddingtons und
Focks mathematische Darstellung der sRT — und
obwohl alle Teilchenbeschleuniger der Welt längst
mit den Effekten der sRT rechnen müssen, sei mit
aller Entschiedenheit festgestellt, daß wir von
einem eigentlich philosophischen Verständnis der
sRT noch weit entfernt sind. Die durch Einsteins
Theorie in das moderne Denken gebraclite Unnihe
ist berechtigt; man erinnere sich nur des aristote-
lisch-scholastischen Sehemas von der Substanz und
ihren Eigenschaften: Was soll eine angeblieh sun-
sistentc Materie mit ihren «Eigenschaften» Mas.se,
Energie, Bewegungszustand, wenn die Beurteilung
dieser P]igenscliaften ohne die Angabe des Bezugs-
.systems .sinnlos ist? Ein und dasselbe Materiestück
hat ebensoviele Längen, zeitliche Abläufe, iSIassen-
werte usw., als es gleichförmig geradlinig bewegte
Bezugssysteme gibt, das heißt im (irenzfall unend-
li<*h viele. Erst mit Einstein wurde eigentlich das
substantialistis<']ie Denken des Mittelaltei-s dun-h
ein relationistisches Denken ei-setzt. Das Jahr JOOf),
die Aufstellung der sRT, brachte damit im eigent-
lichen Sinn eine feinst einsehe Wende des wissen-
schaftlichen Weltbilds.
KONFLIKT MIT DEM Dl AM AT
Damit war der Konflikt mit dem Dianuit un-
vermeidbar. Seine nuücrial istische, hauptsächlich
von Engels und I^enin herrührende Komponente ist
ganze Kampf ist deshalb so außerordentlich kenn-
zeichnend, weil er die geistige Misere einer Welt-
ma<ht aufdeckt, die sich anheischig matdit, die
Menschheit von ihrer intellektuellen Ueberlegenheit
zu überzeugen. Wenn die sowjetischen Wissen-
schafter den WVttlauf um die technische Welt
bewältigung je gewinnen sollten, dann nur deshalb,
weil sie nicht ihren Meistem Marx, Engels unr'
Lenin folgen, sondern (h'n Urhebern e^nes Wel
bildes der freien Menschheit: Newton, Max\^<
Bohr, Heisenberg und Einstein. Lenin hatte ^
gehütet, Einstein zu verdanunen, obwohl er de
geistigen Ti<'hrer Afach in Gnmd und Boden I.
sierte. «Machist» ist noch heute ein philoso»
sches Schimpfwort. Aber was taten Ijenins N
folgerf Koch in 1^'nins letzten Lebensjahren '
nahm es ausgerechnet ein russischer P'
Timirjaz<>w, die sRT im Namen des D.
verurteilen. Es kam zu heftigen Auseinand
gen, brillant dargestellt von Jorawst-
Pliih)sophen spaltet^-n sich, und die sRT
schließlich mit <ler Gruppe Deborins, de- ,
testen sowjetischen Denkers jener Jahre, V
Siege. }Iaui)tverteidiger P]insteins w^- .j
noch junge Philosoph und Physik
Welch eine Ironie: Timirjazew, eij^
Rang, verurteilte Einstein im Name
sehen Weltbildes, das er mit dem
setzte, obwohl <lort der Meohani
lieh zurückgewiesen wird, und
Parteiphilosoph, bewies die Vereinb
imd Diamat. Derselbe ^laksimow s
später zum Wortführer der vehemc
ken gegen das «reaktionäre Einstein »Äier
den.
DER PROZESS EINSTEIN
Am l.'LJuni 1952 veröffentlichte M^
nach zwei Jahrzehnten der Kampfpause
Zeitschrift «Rote Flotte» den zweiten .sow>
Feldzug gegen Einstein. Kein Wunder: !!•
der Schwiegersohn Stalins, Schdanow, die !•
phen zum Angriff gegen die «kantianischen
renkungen der Atomphysiker» und gegen ^
«Krie<'herei vor dem Ausland» aufgenifen. 1
mittelbar danach setzte die Verurteilungsi>
westlicher Theorien ein. Schließlich lagen auf (
Schlachtfeld hingemäht die bedeutendsten Einsii
teil des modernen W\'ltbildcs: Genetik, Kompi
mentarität, expandierendes Weltall, Kybemetii
Resonanztheorie, mathematische Logik, Mengen
theorie. Daß sich ausgerechnet Einsteins seinerzei-
tiger Verteidiger, der inzwischen zum Akademie-
mitglied aufgerückte Maksim#w, bereit fand, als
ölTentlicher Ankläger gegen Einstein aufzutreten, ,.
ist dem Historiker bis heute unverständlich, ebenso, ^
weshalb er sich zunächst an die Matrosen statt an
die Phvsiker wandte.
Es kam 'zu einem regelre<*hten Prozeß. Er er-
faßte die ganze sowjetische Wissenschaft, viel i?
tensiver und verhängnisvoller, als es die Verurtei- |
m
■ ' :i^ /:
ALBERT EINSTEIN
spezielle Relativitätstheorie, auf der die
•e ndit, bezieht sich auf alle physikali-
•gänge mit Ausschluß der (Jravitation;
^ine Relativitätstheorie liefert das Ge-
vyation und deren Relationen zu den
vräften.
iechischen Alteilum ist es wohl Ix?-
znr Beschreibung der Bewegung
les zweiten Kürpers bedarf, auf
lyoifcg <U<a 'Wwtwf'bitofgen wir«L
ines W^agens wird auf den Erd-
die eines Planeten auf die Totali-
en Fixsterne. In <ler Phvsik nennt
«
per, auf den man die Vorgänge
iht, Koordinatensystem. *
iewegungszustand des Koordinaten-
arf aber nicht willkürlich gewählt wer-
ri die Gesetze der Mechanik gelten sollen
(er nuiß „<lreluuigsfrei*' und „bes<'hleunigungsfrei**
sein). Man nennt ein in der Mechanik zugelas-senes
Kcx)rdinatensystem ein „Inei-tialsystem*'. Der Be-
wegungszustand eines Inertialsystems ist aber nach
der Mechanik kein durch die Natur eindeutig be-
stimmter. Es gilt vielmehr der Satz: Ein relativ
zu einem Inertialsystem geradlinig und gleich-
f (innig bewegtes Koordimitensystem ist ebenfalls
ein Inertialsystem. Unter dem speziellen Relativi-
tätsprin/.ip versteht luaa nun die Verallgemeine-
rung dies(»s Satzcis auf f)eliebige Natui'vorgänge . . .
Das zweite Prinzip, auf dem die spezielle Rela-
tivitätstheorie beruht, ist das „Prinzip von der
Konstanz der Vakuunilichtgeschwindigkeit". Dieses
sagt: Das Licht hat im Vakuum stets eine be-
stimmte Ausbreitungsge.schwindigkeit, unabhängig
\om Bewegimgszustand und von der Lichtquelle.»
Aus einem <'Time^- Artikel (1918)
Physikalische Chemie
Zu dem Einführungsbuche von Robert Wolff
Di(» Zahl der Physik- und Chemielehrbücher, die
zum Gebrauch an deutschsprachigen Maluritäts-
schulen bestinunt sind, ist heute unübersehbar groß.
Im (legensat-z dazu sind bisher Ijchrbücher der
physikalischen Chemie fast ausschließlich im Hin-
bli<*k auf die Venvendung auf der Hochschulstufe
verfaßt worden. Das ist weiter nicht erstaunlieh;
denn die ]diysikalische Chemie, die übrigens auch
an den Hochschulen erst etwa seit der letzten Jahr-
hundei-t wende mit eigenen Lehrstühlen vertreten
ist, tritt an den ^Mittelschulen nicht als eigenstän-
diges Each in Ers<*heinung". Gleichwohl ist das
Fehlen einer elementaren Darstellung dieses in
neuester Zeit so wichtigen und fruchtbaren Zwei-
ges der Naturwissenschaften ein wirklicher Mangel,
und es ist deshalb sehr zu begrüßen, daß Robert
Wolff versucht, mit seinem Buch diese Lücke zu
schließen.* Dabei konnte es sich für den Verfasser
allerdings nicht darum handeln, ein eigentliches
Schullehrbuch, zugeschnitten auf die Verwendung
im Unterricht, zu k()nzi])ieren. Das Werk will viel
eher zum Selbststudium anregen und wendet sich
* Robert Wolff: Physikalischo Chemie, Eine Ein-
führung für Lehrer und Studierende. Dümmler-Verlag,
Bonn.
1 an Physik- und Chemielehrer, an Studenten unterer
Semester aller naturwissenschaftlichen Studienrich-^
tungen und auch an besonders begabte und inter-
essierte Mittelschüler der obersten Klassen.
Die Schwierigkeiten, die sich bei einer gegen-
seitigen Abgrenziuig von Physik und Chemie er-
geben, stellen sich auch beim Versuch einer Defi-
nition der physikalischen Chemie ein. Wolff be-
zeichnet sie etwas allgemein als «zentrales Binde-
glied zwischen Chemie und Physik, von denen die
erstere die Stoffe, die Stoff ändern ngen und deren
Gesetzmäßigkeiten untersucht, die andere die Zu-
stände (zum Beispiel den elektrischen, den magne-
tischen, den Ruhe- und Bewegnmgszustand ) , die
Zustandsänderungen und wiederum deren Gesetz-
mäßigkeiten». Zu einer etwas konkreteren Defini-
tion wird man gelangen, wenn man den systema-
tischen uiul klaren Aufbau des Bnches, der ganz
auf das eigentliche Ziel der physikalischen Chemie
hingerichtet ist, analysiert: die physikalische
Chemie untersucht den Einfluß physikalischer
Faktoren wie zum Beispiel Temperatur, Dnick,
Elektrizität, Licht usw. auf die reagierenden Sub-
stanzen und auf die chemischen Reaktionen selbst.
Erster Schritt auf dem Weg zu diesem Ziel ist
in Wolffs Buch die Untersuchung der reagierenden
Stoffe in einem Abschnitt über «Die diskontinuier-
liche Stniktur der Materie». Neben einer Rekapi-
tulation der Grundlagen der allgemeinen Chemie
werden in diesem ersten Teil Kenntnisse über
Atome und Moleküle, deren Massei^ Größe und
^V Genetiker durch den Scharlatan Lysenku
,rmocht4\ Es ginj? um nicht mehr und nicht
iger als die Gnmd lagen der ganzen modernen
sik. Man denke nur an die Konstniktion von
.deunigungsgeräten, wo die relativistische Mas-
unahme hochenergetischcr Teilchen einkalku-
ü werden muß. Auf der Einst^inschen Formel
• Aequivalcnz von Ma.sse und Energie bendit zu-
.m die ganze Umsetzung von Masse in Atomener-
ie in Atommeilern, Atombomben und im kosmi-
chen Prozeß der Sternenergie. Wie Kapica zu
iecht schrieb, wird die Einsteinsche Theorie nicht
lur im Ausmaß von Laboratoriumsex])erimenten,
sondern von W{usserstoff})omben demonstriert.
Noch zur Zeit Stalins, Ja in der Endphase sei-
nes Terrors, kam es zum Bruch zwischen Anklägern
^.'\ Verteidigern Einsteins. Damit erwies sich die»
auptung vom monolithischen Charakter der so-
vvjetischen Weltanschauung als Illusion. Mit voller
Lautstärke fordert(m die radikalsten Philosophen
Maksimow, Kuznekow, Suworow im Namen der
Partei, die sRT überhaupt abzuschaffen und durch
eine eigene «materialistische» Tlieorie zu ersetzen.
Einstein wurde zum Apologeten des verfaulenden
P>ürgertinns erklärt, dessen machistische I^hre die
Wissenschaft in eine Sackgasse führe und auf den
AbfallliHufen der Geschichte zu werfen sei (Filo-
sofskie Woprosy Sowremennoj Fiziki, 1052). Und
di(>s alles im Namen eines mißverstandenen Dia-
mat und einer mißvei-standenen Physik. Man warf
Einstein philosophischen Relativisnms, subjektiven
Idealismus, ja S()lij)sismus vor. In der Relativität
der Eigenschaften Masse, Länge, Dauer, Energie
vermutete nuui eine Philosophie, welche die Wirk-
lichkeit zum Produkt des menschlichen Beobachters
macht. Daß ein Automat dieselben Effekte regi-
striert und nicht der Wille des Beobachters, son-
dern s«'ine objektive Geschwindigkeit zum gemesse-
nen Körper die Meßwerte erzeugt, koiuite man nicht
Ausdehnung vermittelt, die im Prinzip nicht von
f 'ViU abweichen, was üblicherweise Physik- und
I eraielehrbücher darüber aussagen. Neu sind je-
doch die klare, physikalische und chemische Aspekte
zusammenfas.sende Darstellung und eine <len nor-
malen Mittelschidlehi-stoff übersteigende Fülle von
jEinz'^lheiten. Ein zweiter Teil — «Die makroskoj)i-
schen Erscheinungsfonnen der Matche» — bewegt
sich noch deutlicher im Rahmen «lessen, was die
|klassische Schulphysik lehrt. Doch werden auch
hier, dem besonderen Anliegen d(»s Werkes ent-
ijsprechend, wesentlich tiefere Einblicke in die
Kapitel über Gase, Flüssigkeiten, Festkörper und
Ijösungen gegeben, als das nonnalerweise im Phy-
sikunterricht möglich ist. Das gilt auch für den
dritten Teil des Buches, der recht ausl'ührlich den
lAtombau — Kern luid Hülle — uiul die chemische
Bindung behandelt. Der vierte, letzte Abschnitt des
Ruches dringt .schließlich zum Kern der physika-
lischen Chemie vor, wenn unter d(Mn Titel «Die
Umwandlungen der Materie» die Energetik che-
mischer Reaktionen, das chemische Gleichgewicht,
Reaktionskinetik, Photo- und Elektrochemie zur
Darstellung gelangen. Dabei stehen nun im Gegen-
satz zu den ersten drei Teilen d(»s Buches die che-
mischen Gesetzmäßigkeiten eindeutig im Vorder-
grund, während den variablen physikalischen l in-
tänden nur sekundäre Bedeutung zukommt. Dem-
entsprechend liegen diese Kapitel ganz außer-
''>db dessen, was zum Stoffgebiet der Physik ge-
t; sie übersteigen jedoch auch den Umfang eines
I Chemielehrganges der Mittelschule in mancher Be-
zfehung.
(lesainthaft betrachtet, zeichnet sich WoHTs Buch
durch einen übersichtlichen, nu>thodisch geglieder-
ten Au! bau aus, der in klarer Dai-stellung \uid vor-
bildlicher Konzentration Wissensgebiete i)rä.sen-
tiert, «lie sonst mühsam aus Ran(lka|)iieln von Che-
mie- und Physikbüchern zusanuneugesucht werden
müssen. Die saubere graphische Gestaltung des
Bandes mit vielen Figuren und einigen Photogra-
phien hilft mit, diesen Eindruck zu verstärken. Der
Autor hat zugunsten des klaren Aufbaus den
Nachteil gewisser Wiederholiuigen in Kauf genom-
men und gelegentlich Gesetze und Resultate vorweg-
nehmen müssen, <lie ei'st weiter hinten geiumer be-
sprochen werden. Die mathenuitischen lliitsmittel
sind in dem Umttuig eingesetzt, wie sie einem Ab-
solventen einer Matnritiitsschule zur Verliigung
stehen sollten. Wertvoll sind die beigefügten
T'cbungsaufgaben, die jedoch in einem zum Selbst-
studium bestimmten Buch mit kurzen Uisungs-
angaben versehen sein müßten. Einige wenige Feh-
ler, die sich eingeschlichen haben, sind im Hinblick
auf das Ganze nicht als allzu wesentlich zu taxie-
ren, auch wenn es zum Beisjnel den physikalisch
bewanderten 1^'ser befremdet, wenn im gleichen
Atemzug von Flic'likraft, Zentralbeschleunigung
und stahl ie?n (Jlcichgewicht eines P^lektrons ge-
sprochen wird.
Es lohnt sich, der Besprechung von Wolffs
Physikahscher Chemie einige prinzipielle Gedanken
FTUmy IN wo SEX^nONS
I
vorstohcn, vvojI koinor der Kufer im Streit dip sRT
jemals studiert hatte. «Wenn man schon ein Werk
kritisiert, so muß man es weniprstens ^'eh-sen liahen •
aueh das ist Di.-deklik», sa^'te der Rektor <lor Um-
versitat J.emiij?rnd, Aleksandrow, nuf der Unions-
konlerenz iiher philosoj)hisclie ProhJeme der Xatur-
wisseiLschai't M)')H.
Aber die Anklaj^-cr liatleii ihren eiiu'enen Lenin
nicht begfiitren. Sonst würden sie nicht im Kamen
<Ier von Lenin prokhimierten ahsohiten Wahrheit
«he physikalische Relativität venvorfen haben. Daß
die sRT eine wahre Theorie darstellt — wenn auch
kerne endj?iiltigc und in diesem Sinne absoluta — ,
ja daß (he Wahrheit einer physikalischen Theorie
nicht an ihren philosophischen Folgen zu messen
ist, war den terribles simpliiicateurs nicht dureh-
schaubar.
Es zählt zu den eindrucksvollsten Phänomenen
der Sowjetgesellschatt, daß im Ge^^ensatz zu last
allen anderen Wisseascbafts])rozessen jener Zeit
noch unter Stalin sieh kein einzierer Naturwissen-
schaPler fand, der P^instein verurteilte. Im Gegen-
teil, Pliysiker von Raiij,^ wie Fock, Tamm, l>andau,
Naan, Spolskij, Fris und der Mathematiker Alek-
sandrow setzten sich mutig: für Einstein ein. Noch
weni^'e I\f(mate vor Stalins Tod venifTent lichte
Fock, seihst einer der scliöpferisehcn Nachfolger
Einsteins, in der Zeitschrift «Woprosy Filosofii^
eine brillante Verteidigung: der sRT* ge^en di?
«ig:norjintenhafte Kritik an modernen i)hysikali-
schen Theorien». Ein Jahr nach Stalins Tod, 1954,
prallten die Auffassungen auf einer Konferenz in
Kiew in voller Schärfe aufeinander. Die Philoso-
phen, s(|lbst untereinander uneins, sahen sich iso-
bert. Wie lautstark sie im Namen des Diamat ein*
dies trägt das Siegel rein menselilic,
und des menschliehen Genius. Dies tat ein Dt
der einer der größten Physiker seiner Zeit
und einer der menschlichsten Mensehen seiiu^s
schlechts.» (H. G. Kuznekow, P:jnstejn, 2.Aufh„.
Hi()3.) Der Verfasser ist derzeit Präsident deä
Intenij.tionalen Einstein-Komitees, das PJti.'J voil
Leopold iiifeld, J^(>rtrand Russell und Robert
Oppenheimer ins Tx?ben gerufen wurde. Zum (iO
Jahrestag der sRT wurde 1965 an der Akademie
der Wissenschaften in Moskau unter Nobelpreis l
träger Igor Tamm ein 8owjetis<dies Einstein-Komi-^
tee geschatfen. Zweck ist die F
Einsteinschen Erbes. Das erste
Steins erscheint auf russisch in vier Händen-
Handl erschien ]9()5. Ferner wird in der Sowjet
Union jährlich ein Saramelband über Einsteins Wir-
ken und Grundlagen Probleme der Physik ei-schei-i
nen; an Handl wirkten Heisenberg, Infeld und
^rax Horu mit (1962). Die sowjetische Gesellschaft
ist stärker iiir Ileldenverehrung empfänglich als
die meisten westlichen Völker. Sie blickt mit Ver-
zückung zu den Wundern unserer Natureinsid .
empor. Hier ist die Magie des Wissens noch nicht
vom Zweifel zernagt, man welirt sieh instinktiv
gegen alles Irrationale in Welt und Menschheit,
hierin folgt man bewußt dem I^eninschen Glauben
an die restlose Erkennbarkeit des Seins. Daß g(
rade dieser Glaube ein mystischer Wahn ist, emp-
findet der im teehnisehen Uebersehwang befangene
Sowj(?tmensch als Drosselung seines Erkenntnis-
elans.
« maLf einen Fahrstuhl frei fallen, so bleibt
ein darin fallengebissener Körper in seiner Aus-
gangslage, weil er unabhängig von seiner schweren
Masse die gleiche Besi-hleunigung er,''ährt wie der
Fahrstuhl: Schwere und träge Masse sind, wie man
seit Galilei weiß, gleich. Man kann also in einem
frei fallenden l^ezugssystem die Schwerkraft künst-
lich ausschalten, geometrisch ges|)rochen, wegtraiis-
formieren. E})cnso kann man sie, etwa in einem
gebremsten RaumschifT, durch Hrems. oder An-
triebswirkung künstlich erzeugen: Innerhalb der
selbst wenn sie keine technische Verwendbarkeit
besitzt. Der angeblich rein utilitäre Charakter der
sowjetischen Forschung ist ein Älythos, an dem
freilich die olli/iellen Proklamationen von der
Verklainmerung zwischen Forschung und Industrie
selbst schuld sind.
VIFLSCHTCHTIGL HKrTIGL SITUATION
Revision <ler sKT forderten, die Physiker, allen
voran Sinelnokow, Lifsic, Tolpygo, überschütteten
die «Philosophen» mit Holm und Spott. Diese hat-
ten eine eigene «Theorie s<dineller Hewegungenv
entwi<'kelt und präsentierten sie als einzig mit dem
Diamat vereinbare Physik. Rozencwejg bezeichnete
sie in Kiew als «jammervolle Hettelbrühe». Das
P>gebnis war die volle und offizielle Anerkennung
der Eebre Einsteins 19.55. Zwar wurde Einsteins
phil()soj)liische Haltung — man rechnete ihn noch
damals zu den Positivisten — nadi wie vor abge-
lehnt, aber seine Theorie wurde ein für allemal als
wahr bestiitigt.
Die Folgen dieses Sieges der Vernunft über die
Parteidoktrin sind außerordentlich. Wohl kein Er-
eignis Jiat das sowjetische Geistesleben so beein-
llußt wie diase Wende. Zunächst mußte Maksimow
das Feld räumen; er liat seitdem keine Zeile mehr
geschrieben. Sein nicht minder kompromittierter
Mit.streiter Kuznekow vollzog eine radikale Kehrt-
wendung: Als der weißrussische «Philosoph» Mn-
neew J9(i() in einer Monographie Einstein erneut,
und zwar mit Kuznekows eigenen Argumenten an-
gritr, wurde sein Huch auf einer Sitzung des In-
stituts für Philosophie in Moskau von Kuznekow
selbst feierlich verurteilt. Die Akademie der Wis-
senschaften in Minsk wurde angewiesen, künftig
keine pliilosophi.sche Veröirentlichung über die
Physik passieren zu lassen, die nicht zuvor von
einem Physiker eingesehen Avurde. Ein nachahmens-
wertes Heispiel auch für westliche philosophische
Praktiken. Kuznekow ist übrigens lieutc Direktor
des Zentralkomitees aller naturphilosophischen
(«methodologischen») Seminnre der Akademie der
Wissenscliaften, Iwit also eine org.'inisatorischo
Schlüsselstellung i\vr sowjetischen AVissenschafLs-
philosophie inne.
EINSTEIN IN DKR GLORIK
Es gibt wohl kein I^nd, in dem Einstein eine
solche fast magische Verehrung genießt, wie die
Sowjetunion. Hier gilt das Wort von denen, die
heute anbeten, was sie gestern verbrannten. Damit
wurde der Prozeß Einsteins zum Wendepunkt des
sowjetischen Geisteslebens, soweit es nicht von oben
manipuliert ist. ^lan vergleiche etwa folgende I^eur-
teilungen Einsteins 1952: «Das Einsteinianertum . . .
ist eine der aktivsten und militantesten Formen
des „physikalischen" Idealismus . . . Das Scliluß-
resultat aller Attacken der Einsteinianer go^on die
Wissenschaft ist die Wiederbolung des greisenhaf-
ten Mythus von der „Welterschairung" aus dem
phantastischen „Uratom", das durch den „Finger
Gottes" in Gang gesetzt wurde . . . P'instein selbst
steht nidit abseits von den schändlichen Taten der
Einsteinianer. . .» (Kuznekow im berühmten «Grü-
nen Buch» der Akademie der Wissens^'haften.)
1963 schließt sein Namensvetter, der Wissenschaf ts-
Hier scheinen die tiefsten W^irzeln für
sowjetische Einstein-Verehrung zu liegen. Einsu..n
vermeinte ja selbst, letztlich aus einem einzigen
Prinzip, dem Relativitätsprinzip, die gesamte Phy-
sik ableiten zu können. Daß ihm dies für die
Mechanik, die P^lektrodynamik, Gravitation
Kosmologie formal gelang, vermochte selbst
über den grundsätzlich pluralen Charakter de
physischen Verhalteas zu täuschen. Seine Versuche,
zu einer einheitlichen Feldtheorie zu gelangen, die'
alle Phänomene umfassen sollte, seheiterten. Jn
sein Glaube an die rationale Durehschaubarkei
des Seins, den er mit seinen großen Vorgänger
Spinoza, Leibniz und Descartes teilte, verführte il
zur Behauptung eines durchgängigen Detennini
mus auch in der Atomphysik. Die Gigantomacl
zwischen Einstein und Bohr um die Vollständig!
der Quantenmechanik — zu der Einstein p;
doxen\Ti.se entscheidend beigetragen hatte
sich bis zu Einsteins Ix'bensende liin, oline dp
die prinzipielle Unbestimmtheit atomaren Vt-x
tens je völlig akzeptierte. «Der liehe Gott wü
nicht», lautete eine seiner tiefsten l'eberzei
gen.
Hier liegt nun tatsächlich eine Alliiiit-'
sehen der Einsteinschen (Jrundhaltung i
prärationalen Motivation der Sowjetges'
vor. Hier wie dort der (Jlaube an die \'
rationale l^eheri-schbarkcit der WVlt, an d
ferkraft der Vernunft und {\vn detenr
Ablauf der Dinge. Einsteins Determii
kenntnisoptimismus und Realismus ♦
den Augen der heutigen sowjetischen
einem Materialisten. Welche Iron
mißverstandenen Diamat bis 1955
er heutx^ zum P>ann erträger des ?
Sensehaftspathos, der psychologi>
nicht logischen Grundlage des gan
DenkeiLs.
Dieser E/Tekt wird noch versti»
Trauma der durcli den Prozeß Ei
mittiei-ten Philosophen. Tlnennüdlicl* '
ihnen die sowjetischen Physiker ihre S
Geist und Ruchstaben der modernen .>.
genießen ihren Sieg, für den sie noch zi
Zeit Ansehen und Existenz einsetzten. Di
sophen, soweit sie sieb schuldig wissen,
nichts P>esseres tun, als ebenso unermüdt
Schuld zu gestehen und zu versprechen, in Z
die S[)ielregeln der Wissenschaft zu beachteri.
Eifer stürzen sie sieh heute in philoso])hische i
lysen der Einsteinschen Theorie. Dazu fehlt ih '
jedoch weithin das methodische Rüstzeug: i»
matische l^ogik, Semantik und Hartmannsch/o
logie. So haben sie noch einen weiten Weg bis
Reiehenbach, Margcnau oder gar Whitehead
rückzulegen. Aber verbissen lernt die junge Phi.
sophengeneration, was ihr gegenüber westliche
Kollegen noch fehlt. Hier wird durch das Traumi
der Niederinge im Prozeß Einstein und den Wett
bcwerb mit dem Welt-Maßstab eine Entwickln
-« M..,.«.. ^-. wpjtipui.-^ I -y~ '^•••^, .»tili -.im II «i/A-iif.;!-!!. -iinieiuaio uer
s<'hes Einstein-Komi-y Kapsel vermag der Pilot ni<'lit zu beurteilen, ob
Popularisierung dejjj <'»ne plötzlich einsetzende Schwerkraft oder' die
ite Gesamtwerk Eiii-T| Bremswirkung ihn an die Wand der Kapsel j)reßt
(vorausgesetzt, er weiß nichts von den l^remsrake-
ten). Einstein schloß daraus, daß die Gravitation
nicht, wie Newton meinte, eine Kraft, sondern ein
geometrischer Transfonnationseffekt sei, den man
durch IJebergang zu gekrümmten Koordinaten er-
zeugen und durch Entkrümmung der Koordinaten
vernichten kann. Wenn nun der Fahrstuhl entzwei
gellt, so liegt das daran, daß sich diese Entkrüm-
mung nicht beliebig lange und weitreichend durch-
führen läßt. Daraus kann man auf eine «Krümmung
des Raums» schließen. Die Geometrie der Vmge-
bung schwerer Ma.ssen ist also nicht mehr eukli-
disch.
Hier setzte nun eine interessante sowjetische
Diskussion um die Natur der Schwerkraft ein.
Tatsächlich: Wenn die Gravitation, also eine der
Grundtatsa<'hen des Kosmos, der Koordinatenwahl
entspringt, dann wird die Ent.scheidung, ob etwa
auf eine Weltraumkapsel ein plötzlich einsetzendes
.^chwerefeld oder ein BreuLsellekt wirkt, vom Be-
lieben des Beobachters abhängig. Daraus folgert
ein Teil der Sowjetphilosoi)!ieii (Kuznekow, Kur-
sanow, Uemow) einen Subjektivismus der Einstein-
schon GravitatiünsthcH)rie. F(H'k, einer der bedeu-
tendsten Physiker unserer Zeit, der die aRT selbst
schöpferisch weiterführte, schloß sich dieser Auf-
fassung an, und zwar nicht aus explizit philosophi-
schen, sondern mathematisch-physikalischen Grün-
den. Im gleichen Jahr, als die sRT otTiziell aner-
kannt wurde, ei-schien sein klassisches Werk «Theo-
rie von Haum, Zeit und Gravitation», Afoskau 1955.
Derselbe Fock, der unter Stniin Einstein rückhalt-
los verteidigte, bezichtigt ihn nun, er habe seine
igene Theorie nie verstanden. Die von Einstein
ifgestellten Prinzipien der aRT seien falsch, und
m müsse sie durch andere ersetzen. F^x'k führt
4em in Publikationen und auf internationalen
'ferenzen — so auf der .lubiliiumstagung zum
ährigon Restehen der Relativitätstheorie in
n 1955 — einen erbitterten Kampf ^vv^on die
^einsehe Ableitung der aRT. Seine Haltung
der These, es gebe überhaupt keine all-
Relativität als die spezielle und daher
der Name «allgemeine Relativitätstheorie»
in
i
Ks Standpunkt ist zum Teil berechtigt. Tat-
bedeutet «Relativität» ja zunä<dist die
'ische Gleichberechtigung aller Raum-Zeit -
(fi^^ Jgnijs.se), aller Relativgeschwindig-
er Richtungen. Ihr entspricht aber
klidische Geometrie. In der für die
erantwortlichen nichteuklidischen,
Geometrie liegt aUo überhaupt
voi;, Focks sowjetische Kollegen
odskij und B. G. Kuznekow ver-
i zu zeigen, daß die Einsteinschen
•h wie vor gültig sind. Insbescmdere
aRT eine Theorie der Relativität,
a %*sen Ausdruck entsprechend verall-
t.
Ol
bl Focks Standpunkt in der sowjetischen
'»haft nahezu isoliert da.stelit, tnig er do<'h
cb zur begritTlichen Klännig der Einstein-
'SNcorie bei. Er löste eine reichhaltige Dis-
,<\'€r (irundlagen der aRT in der heutigen
^^{^yratur aus. Sie zeichnet sich dundi hohe
^ov^^'i^ ""<^ zunehmenden philosophischen
, ^ rt-tng aus ; ideologische Momente s])iolen prak-
^ h keine Rolle mehr. Dieser Zweig der Wissen-
i tsdiskussion hat sich nahezu völlig versach-
^ Hinzu tritt ein weiteres: Seit etwa zehn Jahren
im auch im Wehsten eine zunehmende Diskussion
icr Grundlagen der aRT in Gang. Ihr Haupt-
bemühen gilt den sogenannten Gravitationswellen,
deren Existenz mathematisch schon Einstein vor-
aussage. John Weber, üniversity of Maryland,
und D. D. Iwanenko an der üniversitä
Al)er die Sowjetunion wurde, soweit bekannt,
auch ei-stmalig zum Schauplatz «Muer ])hilosophi-
schen Konferenz, die ausschließlich der aRT ge-
widmet war. Sie fand 19()4 in Kiew statt, der ge-
<lnickte Bericlit ist vor kurzem ci-schienen. Hier
wurden nun tatsächlich die sogenannten Fronti)ro-
bleme der aRT i)bil<)S()pliisch analysiert, wie sie in
den letzten Jähren durch die westlichen Arbeiten
aufgeworfen wurden. Das Feld beherrs<hten ein-
deutig die Natunvissenschafter; es sind die Philo-
so])hen, die sich von ihnen belehren lassen müssen.
Ein Beispiel: Zu iX^n Kenitlnsen des Diamat
zählt die angeblicdie Fnendlichkeit der Welt nach
Raum und Zeit. Afit den Einsteinschen Feld-
gleichnngen Ist aber eine exj)andierende Welt ver-
träglich, <lie einen zeitlichen Beginn besitzt, falls
der Expansion keine Kontraktion vorausging. Im
Falle einer positiven Krümmungskonstante i.st sie
zu<lem räumlich geschlossen. Bier geht es in der
Tat um Sein und Nichtsein der materialistischen
Weltanschauung. Der Natun)hilosoi)h Swiderskij
(l.eningrad) versucht den Diamat zu retten, indem
er typisch hegelianisch spekulative Postniate an die
Natur richtet. So verbiete die Dialektik, daß die
Gravitation ebenso wie irgend ein anderer ^Faterie-
zustand absolut ist, es müsse also auch niclitgravi-
tierende Materiezustiinde geben, und die materielle
Welt könne nur aus einer endlichen Menge gravi-
tierender Afassen bestehen. Das rnendliclikcitspro-
blem läßt sich nach Swiderskij überhaupt nur
])hilosophisch klären: Die reale rnendlichkeit ist
die Transzendierung jedes konkreten Endlichen.
Die.se nebelhaften Sy)ekul.Mtionen übergoß der est-
nisclie Astmphysiker Naan mit beißendem Hohn:
«Die y)hilosopliiscben Systeme der Vergangenheit
ma(diten sich gelegentlich anlieischig, vorzuschrei-
ben, woraus die Welt bestehen dnrf und woraus
nicht . . . Einzelnen Vertretern des Diamat sind sol-
che Versuche keineswegs fremd.» «Die BegritTe und
Schlüsse der Philosophie wie jeder anderen Wis-
senschaft stützen sich letztlich auf die Ertah-
rung . . . Der Versuch, die Eigenschaften der Raum-
Zeit aus irgendwelchen ,, evidenten" allgemein-
philosopliischen E^^^ägungen abzuleiten, bedeutet
fakti.sch nur, daß diese Schlüsse si<-h nicht auf dsus
moderne physikalische Afaterinl, sondern auf das
Afaterial des — sagen wir — vorigen Jahrhunderis
stützen und auf dieser Basis der Natur bestimmte
,,Rosttilate" und „Verbote'* auferhgt werden.»
Nach Naan i.st die Gravitation universal; dies lie-
fert die Berechtigung zur Aufstellung kosmologi-
M'her Weltmodelle auf Gnind der aRT. Die jüng-
sten astnmomischen Daten lassen auf einen ge-
s<-hl()ssenen und in diesem Sinn endlichen Raum
schließen. Die von Sandage 1905 entde<'kten fpiasi-
stellaren Galaxien sind mögliclienveise die Kerne
späterer (lalaxien im Anfangszustand unserer
AfetagalaxLS. Sie sind .so weit entfernt, daß wir
sie in einem Zustand beobachten, wie er vor neun
Zehnteln der ganzen Zeit unseres Kosmos herrschte.
Naan unterscheidet zwischen praktischer, extensio-
naler, metrischer und mengentheoretischer Unend-
lichkeit. Vennutlich liefert erst die mathematische
I^)gik den abstraktesten Zugang zum T^nendlich-
keit.sproblem. Von diesen Einsichten kenne die
Philo.s()phic bi.sher nur den Begritf der unendlichen
riiumlichen Ausdehnung. Hier verweist Naan die
Klassiker des Diamat und ihre Nachfolger schlicht
in das vorige Jahrhundert..
Spuren der Adaptionsraethode, der Anpassung
<ler Pliysik an den Diamat, sind zwar noch lebendig,
aber von einer apologeti.schen Verurteilung moder-
ner Physik im Namen des Diamat kann keine Rede
sein. Es ist die Ideologie, die sich heute der Wi.ssen-
schaft anpaßt. Wie weit andere Gebiete ebenfalls
von dieser Versachlichung eiigriffen sind, wird von
Fall zu Fall verschieden sein; es läßt sich aber
zeigen, daß bisher nirgends so enei^iseh mit ideo-
logi.schen Vorurteilen aufgeräumt wird wie in
Einsteins unsterblicher Theorie.
•chluB d*t redaktlonelUn T*iU
Dianmt vereinbare Pliysik. Kozeiicwojj? bczeichnrte
sie in Kiew als «janiincrvolle Hottclhrülir». iJas
Ergebnis \\ar die volle und ofliziclle Anerkcnnunji:
drr Lcliro Einsteins 3955. Zwar wurde EirLsteius
philosopliische Haltung — nuin rrchnete ihn noch
damals zu den Positivisten — nach wie vor abge-
lehnt, aber seine Theorie wurde ein für allemal als
walir bestätigt.
Die Folgen dieMi Sieges der Vernunft über die
Partcidoktrin sind außerordentlich. Wohl kein Er-
eignis hat das sowjetische Geisteslehen so beein-
flußt wie diese Wende. Zunächst mußte Maksimow
das Feld räumen; er hat seitdem keine Zeile melir
gesclirieben. Sein nicht minder kom])romittierter
Mitstreiter Kuznekow vollzog eine radikale Kehrt-
w('n<luiig: Als der weiüiussische «l^liilosopli» M;i-
neew 19(i0 in einer Monogjnpliie JOinstein erneut,
und zwar mit Kuznekows eigenen Argum(»nten an-
grilli', wurde sein l^uch auf einer Sitzung des In-
stituts für Philosophie in Moskau von Kuznekow
selbst feierlich verurteilt. J)ie Akademie der Wis-
senschaften in Minsk wurde angewiesen, künftig
keine philosophische VeröH'entlichung über die
Physik passieren zu lassen, die nicht zuvor von
einem Physiker eingesehen Avurde. Ein nachahmens-
wertes Beispiel auch für westliche ]>hiloso])hische
Praktiken. Kuznekow ist übrigens heute Direktor
des Zentralkomitees aller naturphilosophischen
(«methodologischen») Seminare der Akademie der
Wissenschaften, hat also eine organisatorische
Schlüsselstellung der sowjetischen WisseiLschafto-
philosophie inne.
EINSTEIN TN DER GLORIE
Es gibt wohl kein Land, in dem Einstein eine
solche fast magische Verehrung genießt, wie die
Sowjetunion. Hier gilt das Wort von denen, die
lieute anbeten, was sie gestern verbrannten. Damit
wurde der Prozeß Einsteins zum Wendepunkt i\os
sowjetischen Geisteslebens, soweit es nicht von oben
manipuliert ist. Man vergleiche etwa folgende l^eur-
teilungen Einsteins 1952: «Das Einsteinianertum . . .
ist eine der aktivsten und militantesten Formen
des „physikalischen" Idealismus . . . Das Schluß-
resultat aller Attacken der Einsteinianer gcfi^cn die
Wissen-schaft ist die Wiederholung des greisenhaf-
ten Mythus von der „Weltei-schalTung" aus dem
phantastischen ,,Uralom", das durch den ,, Finger
Gottes'* in Gang gesetzt wiirde . . . Einstein selbst
stellt nicht abseits von den schändlichen Taten der
Einsteinianer...» (Kuznekow im berühmten «(irü-
nen Buch» der Akademie der Wissens<'haften.)
19G3 scliließt sein Namensvetter, der Wissenschafts-
historiker B. G. Kuznekow, seine Einstein-Biogra-
phie mit den Worten: «Hier steht er vor uns, un-
endlich gütig und in .seine (Jedanken vertieft . . .
Vom Licht, das Newton entfachte, zur immer kla-
reren Erhellung des Alls aufzusteigen und dennoch
das da')ei entstehende Bild niemals für endgültig
zu erachten, niemals das Au (hören der frülieren
Erhellung dem Versinken in Nacht gleichzusetzen,
zum Physik- und Chemieunterricht anzufügen. Der
Verfasser weist in Vorbemerkungen zu seinem
Buch darauf hin, daß die (iefahr einer Entfrem-
dung zwischen der Gliemie und der Physik, wie sie
an unsern höhern Schulen gelehrt werden, bestehe.
Diese Bemerkung hat auch für unsere schweize-
rischen Verhältnisse volle Gültigkeit, nicht zuletzt
deshalb, weil auch bei uns, beeintlußt zum Beispiel
durch den Studieugang an der Eidgenössischen
Technischen Hochschule, die Fächerkombinationen
Mathematik-Physik und (/hemie-l-Jiologie jene in
Ghemie-Physik bei weit(»m überwiegen. Es ist auch
nicht von der Hand zu weisen, daß Wohls Band
dieser (Jefalir entgegenzutreten vernmg und zum
Beispiel dem Physiklelirer interessante Kennt Fiisse
darüber verniit((»lt, wie das chemische Sein \ind (ie-
schelien von den Gesetzen seines Faches beherrscht
wird. Ob es aber, um nüt den Worten Wolffs zu
sprechen, «dem Chemielehrer mijglich ist, von der
physikalischen Gliemie aus die ])hysikalischen
Gnindlagen seines Faches in einem Umfang zu
gewinnen, der von ihm bewältigt werden kann»,
möchten wir füglich bezweifeln. Es wird doch in
jedem Kapitel des Buches offenkundig, daß man
nicht an die physikalische ('hemie herantreten kaiui,
ohne sichere Gnindlagen in Chemie und Physik zu
l>esitzen. So werden zum Beis])iel schon auf den
ersten Seiten des Buches bei der Erklärung des
Atomstrahlversuches von Stern die liesultatc der
kinetischen Gastheorie sowie die Kinematik gcrad-
physi.schen Verhaltens zu täuschen. Seme \ ersuclie,
zu einer einheitlichen Feldtheorie zu gelangen, die
alle Phänomene umfassen sollte, scheitert (Ji. Ja
sein Glaube an die rationale I)ur<hscliaul)arkei
des Seins, den er mit seinen großen V()i*gänger
Spinoza, I^'ibniz und Descartes teilte, verliihrte il
zur Behau j)tung eines durchgängigen Detennini,
mus auch in der Atomphysik. Die Gigantomacl
zwischen Einstein und Bohr um die Vollständig!
der Quantenmechanik — zu der Einstein pj
doxcrwei.se ent.s<;heidend beigetragen hatte —
sich bis zu Einsteins licbensende hin, oline dr
die prinzipielle Unbestimmtheit atomaren v ei
tens je völlig akzeptierte. «Der liebe Gott wii
nicht», lautete eine seiner tiefsten Ueberzei
gen.
Hier liegt nun tatsächlich eine Atfiiiiti'
sehen der Einsteinschen (irundhaltung »
prärationalen Motivation der Sowjetges»
vor. Hier wie dort der Glaube an die t^
rationale Ik'heii'schbarkeit der Welt, an d
ferkraft der Vernunft und den detern^
Ablauf der Dinge. Einsteins Detcrnüj
kenntnisoptimismus und Realismus *
den Augen der heutigen sowjetischen
einem Materialisten. Welche Iron
mißverstandenen Diamat bis 1955
er hente zum l^»ann erträger des f
senschaftspathos, der psycllologi^
nicht logi.schen Grundlage des gan
Denkens.
Dieser Effekt wird noch verstii
Trauma der durch den Prozeß Ei
mittierten Philosoplien. Unermüdlich '
ihnen die sowjetischen Physiker ihre >
Geist und Buchstaben der modernen ^>
genießen ihren Sieg, für den sie noch zi
Zeit Ansehen und Existenz einsetzten. Di
so])hen, soweit sie sich schuldig wissen,
nichts ]*es.seres tun, als ebenso unermüdl
Schuld zu gestehen \ind zu versprechen, in Z
die Spielregeln der Wissenschaft zu heachten.
Eifer stürzen sie sich heute in philosophische j
lysen der Einsteinsehen Theorie. Dazu fehlt ih
jedoch weithin das methodische Rüstzeug: ^i
malische 1 «ogik, Semantik und Hartmann.scho' G
logie. So haben sie noch einen weiten Weg bis
Reichenbach, Margenau oder gar Whitehead
rückzulegen. Aber verbissen lernt die junge Phi.
sophengeneration, was ihr gegenüber westliche
Kollegen noch fehlt. Hier wird durch das Traumi
der Niederlage im Prozeß Einstein und den Wett
bewerb mit <lem Welt-Maßstab eine Entwicklung
induziert, die uns eines Tages durch ihre Synthese
von (jeistes- und Naturwi.ssenschaft überrascht. ,
ALLCJEMEJNE KKLATIVITÄTSTIIEOBIE
In einem scheinen die sowjetischen Philosoph '-'"
ihre westlichen Kollegen zu überrunden: der Du:
denkung <ler allgemeinen Relativitätstheorie (in.
folgenden aRT). Ihr Gnnidgedanke Ist einfach:
liniger und kreisförmiger Bewegungen als bekan^^t
vorausgesetzt. Damit ist auch klar gesagt, daß
wie bisher Aufgabe der Mittelschule ist, die nötigen
Grundlagen chemischer, physikali.seher und nicht
zuletzt auch mathematischer Art bereitzustellen,
daß jedoch die physikalische Chemie ihren Platz
nach wie vor an der Ilochficlnile hat. Der Gefahr
der Entfremdung zwischen Chemie und Physik
wird wohl besser als durch ein neues Mittelschul-
fnch während der Ausbildung der angehenden Che-
mie- und Physiklelirer entgegengewirkt, nicht in
dem Sinn allenlings, daß man zum Beispiel die
Fächerkombination Mathematik-Physik zugunsten
der Verbindung Physik-Chemie aufgibt, sondern
daß man dem Physiker neben fundiertem Wissen
in seiner eigenen Diszi[)lin möglichst viele mathe-
matische und chemische Kenntnisse mitgibt, was
umgekehrt mit dem Schwergewicht Chemie und
den Nebengewichten Mathematik und Physik aucli
tiir den (/liemiker Gültigkeit hat. W^eit problema-
tischer als die möglichst breite Ausbildung: der
Physik- und Chemielehrer ist die Frage der zeit-
lichen und stofflichen Koordiniening der beiden
Fächer an den Mittelschulen, vor allem für den
Physiklelirer, der es auch mit dem besten W^illen
im Rahmen des Lehrplanes nicht immer fertigbrin-
gen wird, dem Chemiker für seinen Unterricht die
benötigten physikalischen Grundlagen rechtzeitig
bereitzustellen. p^-^^ ^^^^
fa.ssung an, un<l zwar ni<'ht aus explizit ])hilosoplii-
.schen, somlern mathematisch-physikalischen Grün-
I den. Im gleichen Jahr, als die sRT offiziell aner-
kannt wurde, ei*schicn sein klassisches Werk «Theo.
rie von Kaum, Zeit und GiJivitationx>, Moskau ID-'^f).
Derselbe Fo<^k, der unter Stalin Einstein rückhalt-
los verteidigte, bezichtigt ihn nun, er habe seine
igene Theorie nie verstanden. Die von Einstein
ifgestellten Prinzi])ieii der aRT seien falsch, und
m müsse sie durch andere ersetzen. Fo<»k führt
dem in Publikationen und auf inteniationalen
•ferenzen — so auf der Jubiläumstagung zum
ährigen Bestehen der Relativitätstheorie in
n 1955 — einen erbitterten Kampf gegen die
h'insche Ableitung der aHT. Seine Haltung
"- in der These, es gebe überhaupt keine all-
(j Relativität als die spezielle und daher
der Name «allgemeine Relativitätstheorie:?>
ics Standpunkt ist zum Teil berechtigt. Tat-
bedeutet «Relativität» ja zunächst die
Hscho Gleichberechtigung aller Raum-Zeit-
(E^ 'gnis.se), aller Relativgcschwindig-
er Richtungen. Ihr entspricht aber
klidische Geometrie. In der für die
erantwort liehen nichteuklidischen,
(ieometrie liegt also überhaupt
voj;, Fockü sowjetische Kollegen
odskij und B. G. Kuznekow ver-
i zu zeigen, daß die Einsteinschen
•h wie vor gültig sind. Insbesondere
, aRT eine Theorie der Relativität,
.1 #t»8en Ausdruck entsprechend verall-
t.
ohl Focks Standpunkt in der sowjetischen
r'haft nahezu Isoliert dasteht, trug er doch
ch zur begrifTlichen Klärung der Einstein-
'VNeorie bei. Er löste eine reichhaltige Dis-
,v\.'er (jrundlagen der aRT in der heutigen
J<^€ratur aus. Sie zeichnet sich durch hohe
ov,.Keit und zunehmenden philosophischen
, p^ ftxng aus; ideologische Momente si>ielen prak-
;h keine Rolle mehr. Dieser Zweig der Wissen-
itsdiskussion hat sich nahezu völlig versach-
t.
Hinzu tritt ein weiteres: Reit etwa zehn Jahren
im auch im Westen eine zunehmende Diskussion
ler Grundlagen der aRT in Gang. Ihr Haupt-
bemühen gilt den sogenannten (iravitationswellen,
deren Existenz mathematisch schon Einstein vor-
aussage. John Weber, University of Mar>dand,
und D. D. Iwanenko an der Universität Moskau
gehören zu deren überzeugten Verfechtenu Quan-
tisiert man das Gravitationswellenfeld, so lassen
sich besondere Elementarteihhen, die Gravito-
nen, voraussagen, ebenso wie man die Lichtteilchen,
die Photonen, als Quanten des elektronflagnetischen
'eldas beschreibt. Solche Gravitonen lassen sich
möglicherweise ebenso wie Photonen in konven-
tionelle Teilchen umwandeln. Dann aber kommt es
zu einer Art Materialisierung der Geometrie des
Raums! In diesem Fall ist aber ein materialisti-
scher Monismus kaum haltbar, für den der Raum
nur eine Daseinsform der Materie ist. l^emow^
bestreitet denn auch die Mr)glichkeit von Gravi-
tonen, w^omit er das Schicksal des Diamat an eine
neue Teilchensorte bindet.
Femer ist fraglich, ob man überhaupt die
GravitatioiLsenergio genau definieren kann, läßt
sich doch ein Schwerefeld im fallenden Fahrstuhl
wegtraas formieren. Diese und andere, zum Teil
sehr subtilen Probleme enegcn heute die Geister
in der vordersten Front der physikalischen For-
schung. Hier hat nun die sowjetische Physik und
^Vstronomie beachtliche eigene Leistungen aufzu-
v\ eisen, die sie zu vollwertigen Gcftprächsj)artnern
der westlichen Forschung macht. Neben (len Zen-
tren in Ijondon, Princeton, Dublin, Hamburg,
Paris und Warschau bestehen heute hervorragende
sowjetische Teams in I^eningrad «Kazan», Kiew,
im estnischen Tartu. 1001 fand in Moskau die
erste sowjetische Gravitationskon f(»renz st^tt 1065
in Tiflis die zweite. Hier wurde Einsteins Theorie,
ebenso wie dies im Westen geschielit, völlig ideo-
logiefrei weiterentwickelt, wobei sich ein reiches
Spektrum an Meinungen ergibt. Daß sich das
sowjetische Denken einer zunächst so spekulativen
Theorie bemächtigte, die technisch kaum relevant
ist, zeugt von dem hohen Stand der Gnindlagen-
forschung und dem Vertrauen, das die politischen
Instanzen einer Gedankenarbeit entgegenbringen,
Diese nebelhat len Spekulationen übergoß der est-
nische Astn)physiker Naan mit }>eißendem Hohn:
«Die philosophischen Systeme der Vergangenheit
marhten sich gelegentlich anheischig, vorzux'hrei-
ben, woraus die Welt bestehen darf und woraus
nicht . . . Einzelnen Vertretern des Diamat sind sol-
che Versuche keineswegs fremd.» «Die Begriffe und
S<'hlilsse der Philosophie wie jeder anderen Wis-
senschaft stützen sich letztli<'h auf die Erfah-
rung . . . Der Versuch, die Eigenschaften der Raum-
Zeit aiLs irgendwelchen , .evidenten** allgemein-
philosophischen Erwägungen abzuleiten, bedeutet
faktisch nur, daß diese Schlüsse sich nicht auf djis
moderne physikalische Material, sondeni auf das
Material des — sagen wir — vorigen Jahrhunderts
stützen un«l auf dieser Basis der Natur bestimmte
,,Postulate*' und „Verbote'* auferlegt werden.»
Nach Naan ist die Gravitation univei-sal; dies lie-
fert die Berechtigung zur Aufstellung kosmologi-
scdier Weltmodelle auf Gnind der aRT. Die jüng-
sten a.stronomischen Daten lassen auf einen gc-
s<'hlossenen und in diesem Sinn endlichen Raum
schließen. Die von Sandage 1905 entdeckten quasi-
stellaren Galaxien sind möglicherweise die Kerne
späterer Galaxien im Anfangs/ustand unserer
Metagalaxis. Sie sind so weit entfernt, daß wir
sie in einem Zustand be()}>achten, wie er vor neun
Zehnteln der ganzen Zeit unseres Kosmos herrschte.
Naan unterscheidet zwischen praktischer, extensio-
naler, metrischer und mengentheoretisclier Unend-
lichkeit. Vermutlich liefert erst die mathematische
Ijogik den abstraktesten Zugang zum ITnendlich-
keitsproblem. Von diesen Einsichten kenne die
Philosophie bisher nur den Begriff der unendlichen
riiumlichen Ausdehnung. Hier verweist Naan die
Klassiker des Diamat und ihre Nachfolger schlicht
in das vorige Jahrhundert.
Spuren der Adaptionsraethode, der Anpassung
der Physik an den Diamat, sind zwar noch lebendig,
aber von einer apologetischen Verurteilung moder-
ner Physik im Namen des Diamat kann keine Rede
.sein. Es ist die Ideologie, die sich heute der Wissen-
schaft anpaßt. Wie weit andere Gebiete ebenfalls
von dieser Versachlichung ergriffen sind, wird von
Fall zu Fall verschieden sein; es läßt sich aber
zweigen, daß bisher nirgends so energisch mit ideo-
K)gischen Vonirteilen aufgeräumt wird wie in
Einsteins uasterb Lieber Theorie.
SchluB d— r«daktionell«n T«ilt
Manesse
eniphchlt im Scptt^mbcr
C^arl J. Burckhardt, von dem in der Manesse-
Bibliothek die drei Essaybände «Begegnungen»,
«Gestalten und Mächte» und «Betrachtungen
und Berichte» erschienen sind, nimmt im deut-
schen Sprachraum eine unumstrittene Sonder-
stellung ein. Der Literatur als Historiker,
Essayist und Erzähler zugehörig, der Politik
als Diplomat, hat ihn allein schon die Vielfalt
seiner Wirkungs- wie Ausdrucksformen zu
einem Begriff gemacht. Was den Zauber der
bewunderungswürdigen Schriften Burckhardts
ausmacht, ist ihre Lebensnähe, ihre schlichte
und zugleich geistig sublime Haltung, ihre
sprachlich einfache und zugleich stilvoll ge-
steigerte Fassung. Die von Burckhardt ge-
zeichneten Bildnisse, seine Reden und auch
seine historischen Darstellungen handeln nie
von abstrakten Dingen, sie kreisen vor allem
am den Menschen, sie beruhen auf dem per-
sönlichen Erlebnis und auf der geistvoll ge
tönten Erinnerung. In BurckharcUs Welt herr
>chen Ausgewogenheit und Gleichgewicht
Gerechtigkeit und Maß. Tugenden, die er m
unserer aus Gleichgewicht und Maß gefalle-
nen Zeit behauptet und verteidigt.
^y. Tc
iAAA^l^
(U
^ 19, /f ^^
FAILURES? — Einftein, abovc at a prcst Conference in 1934,
and Freud, below m bis study, would both have fared badiy
with today's academic pkilosophers. The candidates' ideas ol
**space-time" and **the unconscious" would have been **simply
exduded by ihe ordinary usase" of those terms.
>Yiy^
K
\ v^\t\
v^.^vLaKMrv.vTsa,
i ^ icO
Albi;rt EiNsTi in was intcr-
cstcd in almost cvcrylliing,
and gavc cvcry topic and
visitor his inulividctl at-
/ ' tcntion. Hut soiiictimcs
lic would risc abruptly —
cvcn in thc inidtllc ot a scn-
icnce — and say apologet'-
cally, "I havc to work now."
Whcrcupon hc would rctirc
to his study, Icaving it to his
>wilc and sccrctary to cntcr-
tain thc gucst a whilc longcr.
Thcrc was not hing oflcnsivc ahout
this; it was ohvious that Einstcin's
hrain had startcd to spin, and that hc
"had to work." It sccnicd as though
hc had rcccivcd ordcrs trom clscwhcre,
and hc followcd thcm good-naturcdly,
cxpccting good-naturcd undcrstand-
ing iroin thosc around hiin.
— Konrad Kellen in The \'irginiu Quarlerly Review
^eii
e^ o
"^'y/A^
X
^v^Q>i
/
-^« ji M^
LiTERARY LION— At the height of his fame. Welk
meets Einstein in Berlin in 1929. In center, Dr. Karl Hein-
rich Becker, then German Minister of Education.
/
8TJU1.£D OL«» -,. w. ^„^ John
d by Bishop Jamet Pike in hit California ' dAgt .-. Paa, J21 >„>,«
\ »■**• "'• "J ■ AUGUST 14. 196S • SECi.
^^t"
••An intellcctual hotel" was director
J. Robert Oppcnheimer's dcscription of
thc Institute for Advanced Study at
Princeton (above, new library and Fuld
Hall). For scholars watched over in Hs
library by a bust of Einstein, one of
its many resident greats, it is *>st a vcry
90od place to get on with your work."
50
1
EiRsWS5
BIG NAME — Albert Ein-
stein, lecturing (right) at the
institute in the ihirties, was
thc first faculty appoint-
ment. Einstein Drive is one of
two Princeton streets honor*
ing institute menfibers.
TMf HIW YOR« TIMES MACAXINI, MAY 15, H*4
I
«
l'i
\
Ka
0 d(A
ir'T
•0
00
PORTRÄT DER WOCHE:
Der Arzt als Künstler
oc
<
»—I
PC
Dr. Helmuth Nathan
Aus einem Brief der Bildhau-
erin Margot Einstein, Albert Ein-
.steins Tochter: " . . .der Kopf
von Vater Einstein, den Sie ge-
schaffen haben. Es war eine
grosse Überraschung für mich.
Ich wüstste nicht, dass Sie Skulp-
turen machen. I>er Kopf ist un-
glaublich plastisch und was Ih-
nen besonders gelungen ist, ist
sein Blick. Das scheint mir sehr
schwierig zu sein — und die mei-
sten Bildhauer haben hier ver-
sagt. Ich finde es sehr schön,
dass der Kopf nach unten
schaut . . ."
Der Brief war gerichtet an
Helmuth Nathan, M. D. und
Clinical Professor of Surgery am
Albert Einstein College of Medi-
cine der Jeshiva University. Ei-
ner von ungezählten Briefen von
bedeutenden und unbekannten
Personen, die im Lauf vieler Jah-
re an die gleiche Adresse gelang-
ten.
Jemand sagte einmal, dass
Helmuth Nathan auf verschiede-
nen Ebenen lebt und auf allen
gleich schöpferisch und aktiv.
Da;s stimmt nicht. Er lebt auf ei-
ner Ebene, die er mit seltener
innerer Kraft selbst zu einem
gras.sen Reichtum erhoben hat.
Medizin (um genau zu sein: Chi-
rurgie) — Kunst »Malerei, Gra-
■^^S^.
'•>«»
* . V<«fW*:-
Die Einstein-Skulptur
Dr. Nathans
phik, Karikatur. Skulptur. Glas-
malerei» — Musik «jetzt nur
nocih aufnahmsmässig, nicht
mehr ausübend) — Schriftstel-
lertuim (fachwissenschaftliche
sowie kunstkritische Arbeiten ) —
Vortragsarbeit (Lehrtätigkeit in
Medizin und Kunst). Der Tag je-
des Menschen hat 24 Stunden
und nicht mehr, auch der Hel-
muth Nathans. Eine Kunst, de-
ren Meister er ist und die noch
der letzten Erforschung wartet,
Carrler
Ready-Mount
Room Air Conditioner
AU Models exceptionally low priced
ist die, alle seine Berufe in die
Begrenzung der Zeit einzuglie-
dern, ohne einen hintanzustellen
und ohne von einem einzigen das
Wesentliche zu nehmen, was ihn
aus dem Bereich des Berufs in
den der Berufung hebt.
Die Einheit au.s der Vielfalt in
Nathans Leben ist rein äusser-
licih sichtbar ;iuf jedem der
Schauplätze seines Wirkens: in
seinem Heim, in den Räumen
seiner ärztlichen Praxis., im Ein-
stein College of Medicine. über-
all seine Bilder --öl und Was-
serfarben, Feder und Bleistift,
Skulpturen. Di^' Themen sind
ebenso unbegrenzt wie das Le-
ben. Zu Hause hat er eine Biblio-
thek von 165 Binden, von ihm
selbst zusammrngestellt: Skiz-
zen von berühmten Ärzten und
von Landschaften, die er auf
seinen vielen Re;sen besucht und
mit dem Auge Ces Künstlers ge-
sehen hat; Juden in den Stras-
sen New Yorks; grosse Musiker;
und Staatsmänner, von Kennedy
und Johnson über Stevenson
und Mrs. Roosevelt zu Kerenski
und Khrushchtv. Daneben die
nicht weniger eindrucksvollen
Sammlungen von Blumenbildern,
zart und empfindungsstark.'
Manchmal an Dürer erinnernd
Und Skulpturer, ebenso reich-
haltig in der Thematik. Die be-
rühmte Büste rm Einstein, die
Dr. Nathan mit
einer seiner
Skulpturen
im Einstein ColV ge of Medicine
steht, und in den Praxisräumen,
zwischen unzähligen Karikatu-
ren an den Wanden, auf einem
Regal der Kopf des "Fiddler on
the Roof", bemerkenswert durch
die Vielfältigkeit des Ausdrucks-
ernst nachdenklich, leise lä-
chelnd und gleichzeitig doch leid-
voll.
Summer
sieep
Norge
•■^J^L^PiTrONER
Natihans schöpferische Ideen
sind nicht von heute und gestern
und nicht erst von hier. In Ham-
burg geboren, gehörte er schon
als Student zu einer Gruppe jun-
ger Expressionisten «er hat sich
im Laufe der Jahre mehr zoim
Impressionismus hin entwickelt).
Viele seiner Kunstwerke — und
Auszeichnungen— stammen noch
aus Europa, das er 1936 veriiess
Neben dem "1. Award of the
Sculpture Association of the
American Physicians* Art Asso-
ciation" hängt die "Professor
Deneke Medaille. Hamburg 1932"
und daneben wieder "Award of
Merit, Pen and Ink Exhibition.
194«".
• • •
Im Einstein College of Med-
icine ist ein Glasfenster von Na-
than, das den Ablauf des Lebens
in verschiedenen Stadien zeigt.
Dort wird die Einheit, zu der er
die einzelnen Berufungen seiner
Tage geformt hat, besonders
deutlich.
Durch .seinen Einsatz finden
seit dem Jahr 19^ Lehrkurse am
Einstein College statt unter dem
Motto: "Medizin und Kunst".
Der Enthusiasmus von Stude.
ten und Mitgliedern der Fakvi.
tat beweist die Anziehungskrafi
dieser Einrichtung, die in beider
Gebieten gleich stark begründe
ist. Diese Lehrkurse dienen da
zu, den Horizont des Arztes zu
erweitern durch das Verständnis
der Geschichte und Psychologie
der Kunst und ihre gegensei*^
gen Beziehungen; ebenso, .
Ärzten neuen Einblick zu ge'
in die Erscheinung von J
sehen in Gesundheit und K^
heit, in normalen und abnc
len Zuständen. Hervorragend«
Künstler unterstützen gelegent
lieh Helmuth Nathan in dieser
Vorlesungen; (Jacques Lipschit?
Salvador Dali. George Grosi
Eugene Spiro. Jose de Creef, B
F. I>olbin und andere wirkte»
mit). Im Einstein College sow
im Hospital finden regelmässif
Kunstausteilungen statt und
ne Auswahl von Kun.stwerken
dauernd ausgestellt. Hier isx eift
Verwirkliohung von Natliap
Idee, Kunst aus den Galerie
und Museen herauszuholen un
dem Leben der Gemeinschaft a?
gänglich zu machen.
liiJde Ufa
"Aufbau" Ist die melsfgel.
amerikanische Zeitschri.
in deutscher Sprache
Wer ein Jahresabonnemr
"Aufbau" verschenkt, bere
m«l im Jahr Freude.
I
JAHRGANG 21
Das Beste
nu^ K(Mtl(TS D\)IVS\
Artikel und Buchauszüge von bleibauJem Wert
(S) 1%8 Verlag DAS BESTE GmbH
MÄRZ 1968
l
I
\i
Unvergesslicher
Albert Einstein
Von Banesh Hoffmann
ER WAR einer der größten Wis-
senschaftler, doch wenn ich das
Wesen Albert Einsteins in ei-
nem einzigen Wort zusammenfassen
müßte, ich würde mich für Emjach-
hat entscheiden. Eine Anekdote mag
verdeutlichen, was damit gemeint ist.
Als Einstein einmal von einem Platz-
regen überrascht wurde, nahm er den
Hut ab und barg ihn unter seinem
Mantel. Nach dem Grund gefragt,
legte er mit bewundernswerter Logik
dar, daß sein Hut im Regen Schaden
nehmen würde, während seinem
Haar die Nässe nichts anhaben könne.
Diese Art, instinktiv stets zum Kern
einer Frage vorzustoßen, war das
Geheimnis seiner großen wissen-
schaftlichen Entdeckungen — sie und
sein Schönheitssinn.
Ich bin Albert Einstein 1935 zum
erstenmal begegnet, und zwar im
berühmten Institute for Advanced
Studies in der kleinen amerikanischen
Universitätsstadt Princeton. Einstein
hatte zu den ersten Wissenschaftlern
gehört, die an das Institut berufen
worden waren, und man hatte es ihm
selbst überlassen, sein Gehalt zu be-
stimmen. Zur Bestürzung des Direk-
tors nannte er eine unmögliche Sum-
me — sie war viel zu niedrig. Der
21
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22
DAS tu Sil: AUS RliADLk'S DKil.SI
März
196S
UNVIiRCliSSUCHUR ALBLR'I lilNSTIilN
23
Direktor mußte ihn iiuihsain dazu
überreden, ein höheres Gehalt zu
akzeptieren.
Ich hatte eine ehrfürchtige Scheu
vor Einstein und traute mich lange
nicht, einige Ideen, an denen ich ge-
arbeitet hatte, mit ihm zu besprechen.
Meine Bedenken erwiesen sich als
unbegründet. Als ich schließlich an
seine Tür klopfte, sagte eine freund-
liche Stimme „Herein**, und ihr me-
lodisches Ansteigen machte aus die-
sem einen Wort einen CIruB und
zugleich eine Frage. Ich trat in sein
Arbeitszimmer und sah ihn, rechnend
und Pfeife rauchend, an einem Tisch
sitzen, nachlässig gekleidet und mit
der charakteristischen abstehenden
Mähne. Er hieß mich mit einem herz-
lichen Lächeln willkommen, und seine
entwaffnende Natürlichkeit nahm
mir sogleich meine Hemmungen.
Als ich auf meine Ideen zu sprechen
kam, bat er mich, die Clleichungen an
die Tafel zu schreiben, damit er sehen
könne, wie sich eine aus der anderen
entwickle. Und dann kam die frap-
pierende — und gänzlich für ihn ein-
nehmende — Aufforderung: „Bitte
etwas langsamer. Ich begreife nicht
so schnell.** Das von Einstein! Er
sagte es leichthin, und ich lachte.
Auch die letzten Reste von Befan-
genheit waren nun geschwunden.
Ein Genie bricht hervor. Einstein
war 1879 in Ulm zur Welt gekom-
men. Er war kein Wunderkind ge-
wesen; ja er hatte so spät sprechen
k "v ■*
'\k
^
>
^■^
v^
\~&-
gelernt, daß seine Eltern fürchteten,
er habe einen Intelligenzdefekt. Auf
der Schule vermochten seine Lehrer
zwar keine besondere Begabung bei
ihm festzustellen, aber die Zeichen
waren doch schon da. So machte er
sich beispielsweise selbst mit der h(>-
heren Analysis vertraut, und er hat mir
erzählt, dal> seine Lehrer augenschein-
lich etwas Angst vor ihm gehabt
hätten, weil er oft Fragen stellte, die
sie nicht beantworten konnten. Als
Sechzehnjähriger fragte er sich, ob
eine Licht welle wohl stillzustehen
scheine, wenn man neben ihr her
laufe — eine scheinbar naive Frage,
doch zeigt sie die Art, in der Einstein
zum Kern eines Problems vorstieß.
Zehn Jahre später sollte aus ihr seine
Relativitätstheorie erwachsen.
Am Eidgenössischen Polytechni-
kum in Zürich versagte Einstein m
der Aufnahmeprüfung; erst ein Jahr
danach wurde er zugelassen. Neben
den vorgeschriebenen Studien be-
schäftigte er sich hier aus eigenem
Antrieb mit den Hauptwerken der
Physik. Später bewarb er sich um
verschiedene akademische Stellungen,
wurde aber abgelehnt. 19()2 fand
er endlich Beschäftigung als Patent-
prüfer in Bern, und hier entfaltete
Banesh Hoffmann. Professor der Mathe-
matik am Queens College der New Yorker
City-Univcrsität, ist weiteren Kreisen durch
ein populärwissenschaftliches Werk über die
Quantentheorie und eine kritische Auseinander-
setzung mit der Testpsychologie bekannt ge-
worden.
sich sein Genie im Jahre 19()5 plötz-
lich zu einzigartiger Blüte.
Zu den außergewöhnlichen Lei-
stungen, mit denen er in diesem
denkwürdigen Jahr hervortrat, gehö-
ren seine Relativitätstheorie mit ihrer
krönenden Formel E = mc^ (Energie
gleich Masse mal Quadrat der Licht-
geschwindigkeit) und seine Thei>rie
vom Licht, die auf Max Plancks
Quantentheorie basiert. Die beiden
Theorien waren nicht nur revolu-
tionär, sie schienen einander auch zu
widersprechen; denn während die
eine eng mit der Anschauung ver-
knüpft war, daß das Licht aus Wellen
bestehe, besagte die andere, es bestehe
irgendwie aus kleinen Teilchen. Den-
noch stellte dieser unbekannte junge
Mann verwegen beide zugleich auf
— und er hat in beiden Fällen recht be-
halten, wenn auch die Erklärung da-
für viel zu kompliziert ist, als daß sie
sich hier in Kürze wiedergeben liel^.
Geistige Zauberei. Die Zusam-
menarbeit mit Einstein war ein un-
vergeßliches Erlebnis. 1937 fragten
der polnische Physiker Leopold In-
feld und ich ihn, ob wir nicht ge-
meinsam arbeiten könnten. Er sagte
erfreut zu, denn er hatte eine Idee
zur Gravitation, die noch im einzel-
nen entwickelt werden mußte. So
lernten wir nicht nur den Menschen
und Freund, sondern auch den gei-
stigen Arbeiter Einstein kennen.
Seine Konzentrationsfähigkeit
grenzte ans Unglaubliche. Wenn er
1
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24
DAS bESTli AUS RliADHR'S DICl-ST
März
mit einem widerspenstigen Problem
rang, setzte er ihm zu, wie ein Raub-
tier seinem Opfer zusetzt. Oft, wenn
wir vor einer scheinbar unüberwind-
hchen Schwierigkeit standen, schritt
er, sich eine Strähne seines langen,
angegrauten Haars um den Zeige-
finger wickehid, im Zimmer auf und
ab. Seine Stirn lag nicht in Falten,
und auch sonst deutete nichts auf an-
gespanntes Nachdenken — es war
eher eine stille innere Einkehr. Minu-
ten vergingen. Dann blieb Einstein
plötzlich stehen, und ein freundliches
Lächeln ging über sein (Jesicht. Er
hatte die Lösung gefunden. Manch-
mal war sie so einfach, daß Infeld
und ich uns hätten ohrfeigen können,
daß wir nicht selbst darauf gekom-
men waren. Aber das Wunder war
in den Tiefen des Einsteinschcn Gei-
stes zustande gebracht worden, in
einem Prozeß, den wir nicht zu er-
gründen vermochten.
Als seine Frau starb, war er tief er-
schüttert, erklärte jedoch, daß es jetzt
mehr denn je hart zu arbeiten gelte.
Ich erinnere mich noch genau, wie
ich in sein Haus ging, um in diesen
traurigen Tagen mit ihm zu arbeiten.
Sein Gesicht war abgehärmt, vom
Schmerz gezeichnet, und es kostete
ihn viel Energie, sich zu konzentrie-
ren. Um ihm zu helfen, lenkte ich
von den Routineangelegenheiten ab
und brachte das Gespräch auf schwie-
rigere theoretische Probleme, und
mit der Zeit wurde Einstein ganz
von der Diskussion gefangengenom-
men. Zwei Stunden verweilten wir
bei unserem Thema, und am End^
blickten seine Augen nicht mehr trau-
rig. Als ich mich verabschiedete,
dankte er mir mit rührender Herz-
lichkeit, aber die Worte, die er fand,
klangen beinahe unangemessen. „Es
hat Spaß gemacht", sagte er. Er hatte
seinen Kummer für eine Weile ver-
gessen, und die unbeholfenen Worte
drückten tiefe innere Bewegung aus.
Ideen von Gott. Einstein trug kein
Verlangen nach religiösen Zeremo-
nien und gehörte keiner Religions-
gemeinschaft an. Und doch war er
ein tief religiöser Mensch. Einmal
sagte er zu mir : „Die Ideen konnnen
von Gott!'*, und aus der Art, wie er
das Wort „Gott'* aussprach, klang
Verehrung. Im mathematischen In-
stitut der Universität Princeton findet
man, in deutscher Sprache in den
Marmor des Kamins gemeißelt, einen
Ausspruch von ihm, den man als sein
wissenschaftliches Credo bezeichnen
könnte: „Raffiniert ist der Herrgott,
doch boshaft ist er nicht." Einstein
wollte damit sagen, die Wissenschaft-
ler könnten darauf vertrauen, daß
ihre Aufgabe zwar schwierig, aber
nicht hoffnungslos sei; denn das Uni-
versum sei ein Universum der Ge-
setzmäßigkeit, und Gott verwirre uns
nicht willkürlich mit Paradoxen und
Widersprüchen.
Einstein war ein vorzüglicher Ama-
tcurmusiker. Wir haben oft zusani-
196H
UNVHRGESSLICHHR ALBHRT EINSTEIN
25
I
men musiziert, er auf der Geige, ich
auf dem Klavier. Einmal überraschte
.er mich mit der Feststellung, daß
Mozart von allen Komponisten der
größte sei. Beethoven, sagte er, habe
seine Musik „geschaffen", die Musik
Mozarts dagegen sei von solcher Rein-
heit und Schönheit, daß man das Ge-
fühl habe, er hätte sie lediglich „gefun-
den"— daß sie immer dagewesen sei
als Teil der inneren Schönheit des
Universums und nur darauf gewartet
hätte, hörbar gemacht zu werden.
Eben diese mozartische Einfachheit
war das kennzeichnendste Merkmal
der Einsteinschcn Methoden. Seine
Relativitätstheorie vom Jahre 1905
beispielsweise baute auf zwei einfa-
chen Voraussetzungen auf: einmal
auf dem sogenannten Relativitäts-
prinzip, das etwa besagt, daß wir
nicht eindeutig feststellen können, ob
wir uns in Ruhe oder in gleichförmi-
ger Bewegung befinden; sodann auf
der Annahme, daß die Fortpflan-
zungsgeschwindigkeit des Lichtes im-
mer dieselbe ist, gleichgültig, welche
Geschwindigkeit der Körper hat, der
es hervorbringt. Wie naheliegend
diese Vorstellung ist, wird sogleich
ersichtlich, wenn man an einen Mann
denkt, der nut seinem Stock das
Wasser eines Sees aufrührt. Ob er
von einem festen Steg oder einem
dahinjagenden Motorboot aus ins
Wasser schlägt — einmal entstanden,
folgen die von ihm erzeugten Wellen
eigenen Gesetzen, und ihre Ge-
schwindigkeit hat nichts mit der des
Stockes zu tun.
Jede dieser beiden Hypothesen war,
für sich allein, so plausibel, daß sie
keiner Begründung zu bedürfen
schien. Nebeneinander gestellt aber
vertrugen sie sich so wenig, daß ein
Geringerer entweder die eine oder
die andere fallengelassen und ver-
zweifelt die Flinte ins Korn geworfen
hätte. Einstein erhielt kühn beide auf-
recht — und revolutionierte dadurch
die Physik. Denn er zeigte, daß sie
trotz allem friedlich nebeneinander
bestehen konnten, sofern wir uns nur
von den althergebrachten Vorstel-
lungen vom Wesen der Zeit trennten.
Die sogenannten exakten Wissen-
schaften gleichen einem Kartenhaus,
das über Begriffen wie Zeit und
Raum errichtet ist. Wurde der Zeit-
begriff angetastet, stürzte der größte
Teil des Hauses ein, und eben das
machte die Arbeit Einsteins so be-
deutsam — und so umstritten. Auf
einer Konferenz, die anläßlich seines
siebzigsten Geburtstags in Princeton
stattfand, versuchte einer der Redner,
ein Nobelpreisträger, das Unerhörte,
fast schon an Wunder grenzende der
großen Entdeckung des Jubilars zu
umschreiben. Ihm fehlten die Worte,
und mit einem hilflosen Achselzucken
wies er auf seine Armbanduhr und
sagte, ehrfürchtiges Staunen in der
Stimme: „Hier — damit hat alles
angefangen!" Eben die mangelnde
Beredtheit machte seine Worte zur
\
26
lyAS lil Sil. AlKS Rl ADI k S niiil.SI
SLir:
beredtesten Würdigung des Einstein-
sehen (lenies, die ich je gehört habe.
Das Sandrätsel. Von seiner Be-
rühmtheit ließ sich Einstein selbst
wenig beeinflussen, doch entrinnen
konnte er ihr nicht. Natürhch wurde
er überall sofort erkannt. Als wir an
einem schönen Herbstsanistag einmal
zusammen spazierengingen und über
fachliche Fragen diskutierten, begeg-
neten uns Eltern und ehemalige Stu-
denten, die, im Kopf nichts als das
bevorstehende Fußballspiel, aufgeregt
zum Stadion eilten. Kaum hatten sie
Einstein erblickt, als sie pK)tzlich ver-
stummten; und als wären sie an eine
vom Nervenkitzel des Fußballplatzes
meilenweit entfernte Welt erinnert
worden, überzogen sich ihre Ciesich-
ter für einen kurzen Augenblick mit
feierlichem Ernst. Einstein wiederum
schien von der Wirkung, die er auf
sie hatte, überhaupt nichts zu mer-
ken. Er fuhr mit der Erörterung fort,
als wären sie gar nicht da.
Meist glaubt man, Einstein habe
sich stets nur mit den schwierigsten
Fragen der Wissenschaft befaßt. Aber
er sah wissenschaftliche Prinzipien
auch in Alltagsphänomenen wirken,
über die die meisten kaum ernsthaft
nachdenken würden. Einmal fragte
er mich, ob ich mir je Gedanken dar-
über gemacht hätte, warum die Füße
eines Menschen sowohl in trockenem
als auch in völlig durchnäßtem Sand
einsinken, während Sand, der ledig-
lich feucht ist, eine feste Oberfläche
bietet. Als ich verneinte, gab er mir
eine einfache Erklärung.
Es häime, führte er aus, mit der
Oberflächenspannung zusammen,
dem ElastikhautefFekt der Oberfläche
einer Flüssigkeit. Er sei es, der einen
Tropfen zusammenhalte; auf ihn sei
es auch zurückzuführen, daß sich
zwei kleine Regentropfen an einer
Fensterscheibe zu einem großen zu-
sammenzögen, sobald sich ihre Ober-
flächen berührten.
Wenn Sand feucht ist, so setzte er
mir auseinander, befinden sich zwi-
schen den einzelnen Körnern winzige
Mengen Wasser. Die Oberflächen-
spannungen dieser winzigen Wasser-
mengen ziehen alle Sandkörner zu-
sammen, und die Reibung macht sie
dann schwer beweglich. Wenn der
Sand trocken ist, behndet sich natür-
lich kein Wasser zwischen den Kör-
nern. Wenn der Sand ganz überflutet
ist, befnidet sich zwischen den Ki'n-
nern zwar Wasser, aber keine Was-
seroberfläche, die sie zusammenziehen
könnte. Diese Entdeckung ist ge-
wiß nicht so weltbewegend wie die
Relativitätstheorie. Aber denken wir
nur an die Frage des jungen Einstein,
wie eine Lichtwelle wirke, wenn man
neben ihr herlaufe; sie hat gezeigt,
daß niemand wissen kann, welche
scheinbar bedeutungslose Beobach-
tung einen Einstein eines Tages zu
einer großen Entdeckung zu führen
vermag. Darüber hinaus gibt uns
das Rätsel des Sandes eine Ahnung
/V6.V
INi l:R(;i,SSLK:HliK AIMIIRI hINSIIJN
21
von der Dynamik und Eleganz des
Einsteinschcn I )enkens.
Kostnische Einfachheit. Die Ar-
beit, die Einstein still mit Bleistift
und Papier vollbrachte, schien dem
(Jetriebe des Alltags entrückt zu sein.
Doch seine Ideen waren so imistür-
zend, daß sie einen heftigen Mei-
nungsstreit und sinnlosen Zorn
entfachten. Um ihm einen verspä-
teten Nobelpreis zuerkennen zu kön-
nen, mußte die Schwedische Akade-
mie der Wissenschaften die Relativi-
tätstheorie sogar unerwähnt lassen
und vorgeben, der Preis wertie ihm
vor allem für seine Arbeiten auf dem
(lebiet der Quantentheorie verliehen.
Als Hitler zur Macht kam, wurden
seine Theorien in Deutschland offi-
ziell für falsch erklärt, weil ein Jude
sie formuliert hatte.
Als führende Wissenschaftler der
Vereinigten Staaten fürchteten, daß
Deutschland eine Atombombe ent-
wickeln könnte, und die amerikani-
schen Behörden vor dieser CJefahr zu
warnen versuchten, hörte kaum je-
mand auf sie. In ihrer Verzweiflung
setzten sie einen Brief auf, den Ein-
stein unterzeichnete, und schickten
ihn direkt an Präsident Roosevelt.
Es war dieser Brief, der zu der schick-
salhaften Entscheidung geführt hat,
mit aller Kraft an die Entwicklung
einer Atombombe zu gehen. Einstein
selbst hat sich an diesem Projekt nicht
aktiv beteiligt. Als er von dein Leid
und der Zerstörung hörte, die sein
E =^ mc- gezeitigt hatte, war er be-
stürzt, ja entsetzt, und seitdem hat in
seinem Blick immer eine unsägliche
Melancholie gelegen.
Einstein hatte auch eine eigentüm-
lich schrullige Seite. Eine Anekdote,
die ich besonders liebe, möge sie ver-
anschaulichen. In seinem ersten Jahr
in Princeton, so heißt es, sangen am
Heiligen Abend einige Kinder vor
seinem Haus Weihnachtslieder. Als
sie fertig waren, klopften sie an seine
Tür und setzten ihm auseinander,
daß sie (ield für Weihnachtsge-
schenke sammelten. Einstein ließ sie
ausreden. Dann sagte er: „Wartet
einen Augenblick!" Er hüllte sich in
Schal und Mantel und nahm seine
Cieige aus dem Kasten. Dann schloß
er sich ihnen an und begleitete sie auf
seinem Instrument, indes sie „Stille
Nacht, heilige Nacht*' sangen.
Wie soll ich in Kürze einen Be-
grifl^ davon geben, was es bedeutete,
Einstein, dem Menschen und For-
scher, nahezustehen ? (Jleich dem No-
belpreisträger, der hilflos auf seine
Uhr deutete, finde ich keine zurei-
chenden Worte. Es war der Ofli'en-
barung großer Kunst verwandt, die
einen schauen läßt, was vorher ver-
borgen war. Und wenn ich etwa über
den Sand eines einsamen Strandes
gehe, muß ich an sein unablässiges
Suchen nach kosmischer Einfachheit
denken — und der Strand gewinnt
eine tiefere, melancholischere Schön-
heit.
.»
l
)
%
In den Ict/tcn Jahren hat man
experimentell ermittelt, wodurch
ein Mensch /um schlechten
Schläfer wird und wieweit er etwas
gei;en dieses Ungemach tun kann
«
Neues über
die Schlaflosigkeit
Von Edwin Diamond
EINES der Grundübcl der Mensch- daß das allgemein als angemessen be-
heit von heute ist wohl die trachtete Schlaf maß von acht Stunden
Schlaflosigkeit. In ihren leich- weniger ein körperliches Erfordernis
tercn Formen (erschwertes Einschla- ist als vielmehr ein seit altersher be-
fen und zuwenig Schlaf) hat sie zu stehender Brauch. Der bekannte
einem enormen Schlaf mittel verbrauch Schlafforscher Dr. Nathaniel Kleit-
geführt. In ihren schweren Formen man von der Universität Chikago hat
(chronische Unfähigkeit, mehr als den Achtstundenmythos schon vor
drei oder vier Stunden Schlaf zu fin- Jahren zerstört. Der Säugling folgt,
den) führt sie den Psychotherapeuten wie Kleitman beobachtete, einem
stetig wachsende Patientenscharen zu. ganz anderen Rhythmus. Bei ihm
So verbreitet die Schlaflosigkeit aber wechseln vierzig Minuten Schlaf mit
auch ist, so wenig wissen die Men- zehn bis zwanzig Minuten Unruhe
sehen im allgememen über ihre und Schreien ab; wach ist er von vier-
Gründc. undzwanzig Stunden insgesamt nur
Wieviel Schlaf sollte man haben? etwa acht Stunden. Diesen physiologi-
Bci dem Versuch, diese Frage zu be- sehen Rhythmus ändert das Kind un-
antworten, ist man darauf gestoßen, ter den Einflüssen der Umwelt: Es
2S -^Mi der H'^ofhenschrifi Nfw York Tink's Magazine
lernt allmählich, bei Tag fortgesetzt
aktiv zu sein und nur noch nachts zu
schlafen. Der neue Rhythmus spiegelt
sich im täglichen wellenartigen Auf
und Ab der Körpertemperatur, das
bei der Mehrzahl der Erwachsenen zu
beobachten ist.
Kleitman folgerte, daß sich die mei-
sten Menschen mit ihren Schlaf ge-
wohnheiten den Erfordernissen des
Lebens anpassen. Sie wachen mor-
gens wie von selbst auf, ihr Gehirn
läuft sich rasch warm, ihre Tempera-
tur erreicht schon früh am Tag ihren
hc)chsten Stand (der, wie Experimente
gezeigt haben, mit dem höchsten
Leistungsstand zusammenfällt). Sie
arbeiten vormittags am besten. Und
sie gehen früh zu Bett.
Ihnen stehen die Menschen gegen-
über, die ihren körperlichen Ruhe-
Tätigkeit-Zyklus dem Umweltrhyth-
mus nicht anzupassen vermögen. Sie
stehen widerwillig auf, sind mürrisch,
bekommen die Augen nicht auf und
klagen überihreMüdigkeit. Nur lang-
sam läuft sich ihr Lebensmotor warm,
murrend gehen sie an die Arbeit, und
erst in den späten Nachmittags- oder
frühen Abendstunden erreichen sie
ihren Temperatur- und Leistungs-
höchststand. Noch um elf Uhr nachts
sind sie angekurbelt. Um einschlafen
Der Verfasser ist Redakteur an der Wo-
chenschrift Newsweek. Er hat das Buch The
Science of Dreams geschrieben, das deutsch
unter dem Titel Schlafeti — wissenschaftlich
als Taschenbuch erschienen ist.
zu können, müssen sie sich erst ab-
regen.
Nach Kleitmans Erkenntnissen ist
Schlaflosigkeit also vielfach als natur-
gegeben und unvermeidlich anzuse-
hen. Doch kann der andersartige
Temperaturrhythmus allein nicht für
alle Formen der Schlafstörung verant-
wortlich gemacht werden. Psycholo-
gen nehmen an, daß Tiefe und Dauer
des Schlafs auch vom Temperament
bestimmt werden. Physiologen ver-
muten, daß noch andere körperliche
Faktoren als die Körpertemperatur
mitwirken.
Erst in den vergangenen vier Jah-
ren aber hat man in systematischer
Forschung die seelischen und kör-
perlichen Merkmale des guten und
des schlechten Schläfers näher be-
stimmen können.
Ein junger Psychologe der Univer-
sität Chikago, Dr. Lawrence J. Mon-
roe, verpflichtete für Versuche zwei-
unddreißig Männer zwischen zwanzig
und zweiund vierzig Jahren. Davon
litten sechzehn nach eigener Aussage
an leichten Schlafstörungen — sie
brauchten eine Stunde zum Einschla-
fen und schliefen dann höchstens fünf
bis sechs Stunden. Die sechzehn der
zweiten Ciruppe hatte man nach Mög-
lichkeit so ausgewählt, daß sie den
ersten sechzehn nach Alter, Beruf und
Bildungsstand entsprachen. Die der
zweiten CJruppe waren nach ihren
Angaben gute Schläfer — sie schliefen
nach zehn bis fünfzehn Minuten ein
2v
I
\
Mf
DAS HHSTh AIS RIADLR' S DICkiSI
März
J
19^
und wachten nachts nur selten zwi-
schendurch auf.
Die Versuchspers(>nen fülhen emen
Fragebogen aus, der darauf berechnet
war, ein psychologisches Bild von
ihnen zu gehen. Sie erschienen um
elf Uhr nachts zum Schlafen. Man
legte jedem von ihnen Instrumente
an, die laufend Rektaltemperatur,
Körperbewegungen, Puls und Haut-
feuchtigkeit maüen. Aulk-rdem schloß
man jeden an einen Eicktrocnzcphalo-
graphen an, ein Gerät, das die Ak-
rionsströme des (iehirns aufzeichnet;
Monroe konnte damit die Ck-hirn-
tätigkeit der Versuchspersonen wäh-
rend der verschiedenen Schlafstadien
verfolgen.
Er lxx)hachtete jeden drei Nächte
lang. Nach sc inen Ermittlungen schlie-
fen diejenigen, die sich als schlechte
Schläfer bezeichnet hatten, tatsächlich
schlecht. Nur stiniinte es nicht, daß sie
fast eine Stunde zum Einschlafen
brauchten — durchschnittlich schlie-
fen sie schon nach etwa fünfzehn Mi-
nuten ein. Leute, die an Schlaflosig-
keit leiden, ohne sich dies etwa nur
einzubilden, können fast nie selber
verläßlich beurteilen, wie lange sie
tatsächlich geschlafen haben. Du-
sch lechten Schläfer wachten nachts
beinahe doppelt so oft auf wie die
guten und änderten auch häutiger ihre
Lage. Als Schlaf nuß waren bei den
Versuchen sieben Stunden vorgesehen.
Die guten Schläfer nutzten davon
durchschnittlich sechseinhalb Stunden
für den Schlaf aus, die schlechten aber
nur fünfdreivienel Stunden.
Sehr verschieden waren auch die
körperlichen Reaktionen der beiden
Schlaftypen. Die schlechten Schläfer
zeigten einen .schnelleren Puls und
höhere Temperatur. „Wie ein Motor,
dessen Leerlauf zu hochtoung isl'\
sagt Dr. Monroe.
Noch in zwei anderen Punkten
unterschieden sich die schlechten
Schläfer von den anderen: m der
Traumzeit und m der Schlaftiefe. Wie
die Elektroenzephalogramme lehren,
folgt der Schlaf bei allen Schläfern
einerBerg-und-Tal-Bahn-Kurve.Von
einem leichten Schlaf (Stadium I)
gleitet der Schläfer über Zwischen-
stadien bis in den Tiefschlaf (Stadium
IV) hinunter und kehrt dann wieder
zum Stadium I zurück*). Eine solche
Rundfahrt dauert sechzig bis neunzig
Minuten. Im Schlafstadium 1 )agen
die Augäpfel unter den geschlossenen
Lidern hin und her — der Schläfer
träumt.
Versuche haben erwiesen, daß so-
wohl der riefe Schlaf (Stadium IV) als
auch der durch Augenrollen gekenn-
zeichnete leichte Schlaf (Stadium I)
für die körperliche und seelische Ge-
sundheit am Tage wichtig sind. Den
tiefen Schlaf benutzen die Zellen dc*$
Körpers zum Energieumsatz für den
folgenden Tag. Nicht weniger wich-
♦) Siehe „Was pcht v<»r. wenn wir jichla-
f«i'*', I)a^ Beste aus Readers Oiirest, Okto-
ber l^rf..
NEUES CHER die SCHLAFLOSICKEIT
M
tig ist der leichte Traumschiaf. Holt
man den Schläfer einige Nächte hin-
tereinander aus diescin Schlaf heraus,
so kann das bei ihm am Tag zu einem
gestörten, ja neurotischen Verhalten
führen.
Normalerweise ist ein Viertel unse-
res Schlafs mit Träumen erfüllt. Bei
Monroes Versuchen verbrachten die
guten Schläfer 24 Prozent ihres Schlafs
im Stadium I, dem Traumstadium,
die schlechten aUr nur 16,9 Prozent.
Auch im Stadium IV, im tiefen
Schlaf, der wohl der erfrischendste ist,
unterschieden sich die beiden Tvpen
wesentlich voneinander. Die schlech-
ten Schläfer „verbrauchten*' den
Tiefschlafanteil bereits in der ersten
Hälfte der Nacht und wiesen in der
zweiten Hälfte ganz unregelmäßige
Schlafzyklen auf. Die guten Schläfer
dagegen verteilten ihren Tiefschlaf
über die ganze Nacht und hielten sich
dabei an den ruhigen, fallenden
und steigenden Berg-und-Tal-Bahn-
Rhvthmus.
Diese Unterschiede pwvchologischer
Art wurden durch Persönlichkeits-
tc^ts bestätigt. Die schlechten Schläfer
hatten dreimal soviel über Kopf-
schmerzen, Schwindel und ähnlichem
zu klagen; auch stellte man bei
ihnen weit öfter Hypochondrie,
Introvertiertheit und Angstzuuände
fest.
So zeichnet sich allmählich ein Bild
des schlechten Schläfers ab. Er leidet
wirklich an Schlaflosigkeit, bildet sich
das nicht etwa bloß ein. Er geht in
einem aufgedrehteren Zustand zu Bett,
schläft schwer ein, bekommt nur un-
genügenden Traumschlaf mit und
verzettelt semeSchlaftiefe. Kein Wun-
der, daß er morgens „unausgeschla-
fen** erwacht.
Wie kann man ihm sein Los er-
leichtern? Als erstes muß man ihm
raten, sich nicht wegen gelegentlichen
Schlafmangels zu beunruhigen. Beim
Ck.'^unden zeigen sich nach einer
schlaflos verbrachten Nacht kaum ir-
gendwelche meßbaren körperlichen
Folgen. Herzschlag, Atemrhythmus,
Mu$keltonus,Körpertemperatur, Ner-
venzellen, Blutbild, Koordination,
selbst Intelligenz und Lernfähigkeit
bleiben im wesentlichen unverändert.
Wirklich nachteilige Folgen treten
beim gesunden Menschen erst ein,
wenn er viel länger als nur eine Nacht
nicht geschlafen hat.
Der zweite Rat: zum Arzt gehen.
Eine junge Mutter erzählte ihrem
Hausarzt, sie habe seit drei Monaten
nachts nie mehr als vier Stunden
Schlaf gefunden. Der Arzt schickte
sie zu einem Psychiater, der bei
ihr eine Angstneurose feststellte:
Zur Schlafenszeit bekam sie Angst
vor ihren Nachtgedanken, vor der
Begegnung mit ihren innersten Ge-
fühlen. Eine psychotherapeutische Be-
handlung von zwei Monaten half
ihr, Ordnung in diesen Irrgarten
zu bringen; und schließlich gelang
es ihr wieder, aufgestaute seelische
I
\
32
DAS BESTE AUS RE^DEJi'S DIGEST
März
i
, Konflikte im Traumschlaf loszuwer-
den.
Mehr seelisch als biochemisch, mehr
* neurotisch als psychotisch erregt, un-
terlassen solche Menschen häufig den
Gang zum Arzt und greifen statt
dessen zu Drogen und Schlaftablet-
ten. Das kann sich sehr schädigend
auf die Nerven auswirken. Wenn die
Schlaflosigkeit das Grundübcl unse-
rer Zeit ist, so smd die Schlafmittel
fraglos eine Grundgefahr für die
Gesundheit geworden.
Schwere Schlafmittel, die Barbitur-
säurc enthalten, sind rezeptpflichtig.
Viele aber wissen sie sich irgendwie
zu verschaffen. Sie behaupten, diese
Mittel machten sie nicht süchtig. Und
doch müssen sie, um die erwünschte
Wirkung zu erzielen, immer höhere
Dosen nehmen. Bald greifen sie all-
abendlich zu mehr und mehr Tablet-
ten. (Zehn würden schon genügen,
um einen nichtsüchtigen Erwachsenen
zu töten.)
Nur wenige Menschen machen sich
klar, daß auch schon die rezeptpflich-
tigen Beruhigungsmittel süchtig ma-
chen können. Sie nehmen sie vielfach
abwechselnd mit Barbituraten. Das
kann aber dazu führen, daß ein Mittel
die Wirkung des andern steigert. ^
Kommt noch Alkohol dazu, so wird
die Sache sehr gefährlich.
Die milderen rezeptfreien Schlaf-
mittel wirken dämpfend auf das Zen-
tralnervensystem, speziell auf die Ge-
hirnzentren, die lebenswichtige Funk-
tionen wie Atmung und Blutkreislauf
steuern. Über das ganze Ausmaß ihrer
Wirkung auf den Organismus weiß
man noch zu wenig.
Als letztes ist dem schlechten Schlä-
fer zu raten, sich mit einem gewissen
Maß an Schlaflosigkeit abzufinden.
Wie Dr. Monroe festgestellt hat,
schlafen Verheiratete viel besser, wenn
sie beisammen, als wenn sie getrennt
schlafen. Danach scheint es eine Art
umweltbedingter Schlaflosigkeit - zu
geben, die jeden treffen kann — ein
Produkt von Essen, Trinken, Bettung,
ehelichen Bedingungen und zahlrei-
chen anderen häuslichen Faktoren,
über die man mit Humor hinweg-
gehen könnte, wenn die Betroffe-
nen nicht so erschöpft und reizbar
wären.
Wie war das gleich ?
Ein UNiVE»srrÄTsnEK.AN versuchte seine Professoren, die sich gegen eine
vom Ministerium gewünschte Ncucmführung ausgesprochen hatten, mit
folgenden Worten umzustimmen: ,>4eine Herren, die Regierung hat uns
niemals im geringsten in unserer akademischen Freiheit beschmtten, aber
wenn wir nicht machen, was sie will, kann sich das leicht ändern !*' R. c.
(Nl
Was (What
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By THOMAS O'TOOLE
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. A dia- 1
matic con f irma t ion of Ein-
stoin's theory of iclativity by
bouncing radai* sin:naLs into
outer Space has bc n acliievod
by a team of physicists at tho
Massachusetts Institute of Tech-
nology.
In an expcriment of unpr -
cedonted precision, the MIT
team confirmed the thooi-y's pio.
diction that light or i-adio wavcs
would be slowed down evcr so
slightly by the pull of gravily.
This they did by bouncing
ultra high-frequv?ncy ladar si.Li:-
nals off the planets Venus and
Mercury whcn each ali<?ned it-
self behind the sun, then by
measurlng the faintly peicfpti-
ble slowing of the echOing Sig-
nals as they passd through the
sun's gravitational fkld.
"In ? way," snid Dr. Irwin I.
Shapiro, the team's le:td'»r,
wo're disappointed in öür re-
sults. In a way, it's kind of
overy physicist's dream to prove
that Einstein was wron r."
In the 52 yea rs sinc-e Einstein
-proposod bis theory oi gen<''ral
lelativity, countless physiclsis
have indeed tried to dispiow» it
— but vvith scant success at host.
Thoso vvho have gone so far
as to suggest theories conr-tw
dicting Einsten have then-5selvv'\s
been quickly contiadioied in ex-
periments performed by other
physicists.
What Einsten theorizc?d was
that differences in time and
Space make every judgment am-
biguous, and thorefoie ix'la;ive.
In a series of brilliant and hor-
ribly complex equatioirs, Ein-
stein expressed the idea that
Ihis "relativity" is madc even
more ambiguous b\ th»» fact
that time and spaec aie curved
and that this curvatuie is fur-
ther altered by the forces of
gravity and motion.
A.s intricate and irrelevant as
it all might sound to a laynian,
Einstein's observations formed
the foundations of most of the
woik donc in physics and meta-
physics in the past 50 years.
Not only did Einstein provide
the Impetus for space travel
and atomic energy, for instance
—he also put up the philo-
sophical platlorms by which
they could be discussed and
justified.
Ways to Trove It
Whcn he proposed his theoiy
of relativity, Einstein also sug-
qested several methods to provo
it, such as by measuring the ir-
legularities in the orbit of
Mercury and by measuring the
ways gravity will bcnd and
alter the frequency of light
vvaves.
The best test devisej to verify
the theory has been to measure
the way starlight is bent as it
passes through the sun's fleld
of gravity. But after 50 years
of trying, sciv?ntists have only
obtained partial confirmation of
what Einstein prcdicted with
this test.
The MIT experiment with
radar Signals has gone just
about as far in one year to prove
Einstein's iheory. "In the next
few years,' said Dr. Shapiro,
"as WO! correct our mistakes and
improve our equipment, we
Jhink our experiment will be
almost 100 per cent accurate in
pioving Einstein's piedietion
about radio waves being slowed
up by the sun's gravity"
Shnprio has obtained this
accuracy u«^.i ng the vvorld's most
sensitive radio antenna, a 120-
foot aluminum dish namcd
''Hay Stack" for tlie Massachu-
setts hill where it Stands.
He lirst bounced Hay.stack
radar beams ofT Venus in Nov-
ember, 1966, wJtotI thi? planet
swung almost behind the Sun
iit its fui'thest point from Eaith.
Then, Shapiro repeated the ex-
peiiments when Mercui-y was
on it9 way behind the Sun in
January, May and JAugust of
last year. ;
In all, Shapiro fig^res he '»ot
4,000,000,000 diflerem echo s'g-
nals back fiom borh planet.--.,
from which he distiUed enough
measurements to dlaw a cum
re-
clusion about the theory of
lativity.
The theory predicts'that light
or radio waves from space
^speoding at 186,000 miles a scc-
ond) would slow down by as
much as one fiftythou^andth
of a second.
"This is ahat oui- b<^st
measurements show," Shapiro
said. "WeVe found a genial
slovvdown of precisejy that
when the radar waves echo back
past th? sun."
To get these results, Shapiro
and hts team have performed
one of the most piecise phvr,ical
experiment* ksi' htstory. The
echo Signal «lone Coming back
from Venus and Mercury was
27 times weaker than the signal
sent out. "The echo," Shapiro
said, "had about as much
strength as the energy exerted
by a housefly climbing a wall
at the rate of one micron föne
thousandth of an inch) a year."
The time spent to extract in-
foriTwation from this weak Sig-
nal alone came to the equivalent
of 100 man years, Shapiro said.
"Believe me," he concludcd, "fol-
lowing Einstein isn't easy."
Los Anqeles Times-Washingfon Post
LIGHT'S IS HIHTED
Physicist's Particie Theory
a Challenge to Einstein
\ ^
I
I
By WALTER SULLIVAN
A revolutionary liypothe-
sis, which says that the uni-
verse may be filled with par-
ticles traveling faster than
light and, in some cases, at al-
most infinite speed, is being
assessed by theoretical physi-
cists.
A search by a Princeton Uni-
versity team has failed to find
such particles. However the
originator of the theory, Dr.
Gerald Feinberg, professor of
physics at Columbia University,
believes this may mean only
that the particles are not elec-
trically charged.
His theory contradicts the
dictum stated by Einstein in
his first presentation of the
special theory of relativity in
1905 that velocities greater
than that of light "have no
possibility of existence."
Tailored to Equations
Nevertheless, Dr. Feinberg*s
formulation is tailored to the
equations forming the basis of
Einstein's theory. Hence, his
Views appear plausible to at
least some physicists and have
been presented at length in The
Physical Review, Journal of the
American Physical Society. |
The proposal calls to mind
onc made in the ninetpon-
twenties by P.A.M. Dirac that,
on the ground of mathematical
reasoning, the electron should
exist in states opposite, ener-
getically, to its usually observed
form.
In this way he anticipated
the discovery of the positron
and all the other particles of
"antimatter.*' Such particles re-
semble those of matter except
that they are opposite in elec-
tric Charge or other proper-
ties. .
The particles proposed by DrJ
Feinberg also behave to some
extent in a manner opposite to
that of ordinary particles. As
they gain speed, they loose en-
ergy, whereas ordinary matter
pains energy as it increases in
speed.
As the postulatcd particles
slow toward the speed of light
they gain rapidly in mass un-
til, if they rcachcd the speed
of light, their mass would be
infinite. The speed of light is
186,000 milcs a second.
Speed Increases Mass
Ordinary matter, approach-
ing the speed of light from
the opposite direction, likewise
gains mass at a rapid rate. The
proposed particles can exist on-
ly at spceds greater than that
of light, whereas the familiär
matter must remain below that
speed.
If confirmed, Dr. Feinberg's
theory would upset a basic
tenet of modern physics, name-
ly that thcre is no way to
transmit energy from one point
to anothcr at any speed faster
than that of light.
This is the great cosmic ob-
fitacle to communication or
travel between civilizations that
some bclieve exist on distant
worlds.
If such a civilization exists
on the far side of the Milky
Way Galaxy, or star System,
\
I
1
M-y. "^
J) vM C^
<X ^'\.
i£, i{4<f
Albert Einstein had bccn best man
at the wedding of a young friend, and
a fcw years later the couplc brought
their i8-month-old son to mcet him.
The child took one look and burst into
a screaming fit. The parents were
speechless with embarrassmcnt, bat
Einstein's eyes lighted up. He patted
the boy on the head and crooned,
"You're the first pcrson in years who
has told me what you really think of
mC. -Alan W. Richardi in Trenton, N.J., Times
u
')
His
to which this planet belongs,
it would be about 100,000
I light years away. That means
light — or aradiomessage — from
that World would take 100,000
years to reach this one. Travel-
,ers would take far longer.
I Dr. Feinberg's particles — he
I calls them tachyons, from the
Greek word for swif t — could of-
|fer a way to bypass such limita-
tions.
In fact, he explained in an
interview last week, it was his
feeling of being "hemmed in"
by Einstein's speed limit that
led him, some seven years ago,
Ito begin exploring its validity.
He finally found that, if the
tachyons have no mass — or
rather have a mass expressed
by what mathematicians call.a
jimaginary number — the Einsten
equations permit their existence
as faster-than-light particles.
All their other stränge prop-
erties likewise derive from
those equations.
Dr. Feinberg notcd that his
tachyons theoretically could
drive a spaceship at speeds far
greater than the maximum ve-
locities permitted by known
energy sources.
The Problem of proving the
existence of tachyons is form-
idable, he said. The Princeton
experiment sought the faintj
light, or "Cerenkov radiation,"'
emitted by a charged particie
traveling through a medium
fastcr than the speed of light;
in that medium. Light wavesj
are slightly slowed when tra-|
versing transparent material. In'
this case, however, a vacuum,
was used. '
It was thought that tachyons
might be produced, as electron I
pairs arp, by the interaction of
energetic light waves (such as
those of gamma rays) with an
atomic nucleus.
The resulting tachyons would
accelerate toward infinite speed
so fast that it would be neces-
sary to hold them back until
they produced observable radi-
ation.
This the Princeton group did
with an electric field, but the
tclltale radiation was not seen.
Michael Mr. Kreislcr, the
experimenter, said the results
were preliminary, but would
not comment further, pending
the publication of his report.
Dr. Feinberg said that if the
tachyons had no electric charge
there still might be ways to de-
tect them. In fact, he said, evi-
dence of their existence may
already be hiddcn in the Photo-
graphie plates of former atom
smashing experiments.
iA
i
\
1 uuo tJhKjMWh
LIGHT'S IS HINTED
Physicist's Particie Theory
a Challenge to Einstein
By WALTER SULLIVAN
A revolutionary hypothe-
sis, which says that the uni-
verse may be filled with par-
ticles traveling faster than
light and, in some cases, at al-
most infinite speed, is being
assessed by theoretical physi-
cists.
A search by a Princeton Uni-
versity team has failed to find
such particles. However the
originator of the theory, Dr.
Gerald Feinberg, professor of
physics at Columbia University,
believes this may mean only
that the particles are not elec-
trically charged.
His theory contradicts the
dictum stated by Einstein in
his first presentation of the
special theory of relativity in
1905 that velocities greater
than that of light "have no
possibility of existence."
Tailored to Equations
Nevertheless, Dr. Feinberg's
formulation is tailored to the
equations forming the basis of
Einstein's theory. Hence, his
Views appear plausible to at
Icast some physicists and have
been presented at length in The
Physical Review, Journal of the
American Physical Society.
The proposal calls to mind
one made in the nineteen-
twenties by P.A.M. Dirac that,
on the ground of mathematical
reasoning, the electron should|
exist in states opposite, ener-i
petically, to its usually observed
form.
In this way he anticipated
the discovery of the positron
and all the other particles of
••antimatter." Such particles re-*
semble those of matter except
that they are opposite in elec-j
tric Charge or other proper«
ties.
The particles proposed by Dr
Feinberg also behave to some
extent in a manner opposite to
that of ordinary particles. As
they gain speed, they loose en-
ergy, whereas ordinary matter
gains energy as it increases in
speed.
As the postulated particles
slow toward the speed of light
they gain rapidly in mass un-
til, if they reachcd the speed
of lijght, their mass would be
infinite. The speed of light is
186,000 milcs a second.
Speed Increases Mass
Ordinary matter, approach-
Ing the speed of light from
the opposite direction, likewise
gains mass at a rapid rate. The
proposed particles can exist on-
ly at speeds greater than that
of light, whereas the familiär
matter must remain below that
speed.
If confirmed, Dr. Feinberg's
theory would upset a basic
tenet of modern physics, name-
ly that thcre is no way to
transmit energy from one point
to another at any speed faster
than that of light.
This is the great cosmic ob-
Rtacle to communication or
travel between civilizations that
some believe exist on distant
worlds.
If such a civilization cxists
on the far side of the Milky
Way Galaxy, or star System,
\
Qi<^
^^^
l^, iu,f
\
jjjiHWiONAL SEßa»'
EXPOSUBE
\
Albürt Einstein had bccn best man
at the wedding of a young friend, and
a few years later the couple brought
their i8-month-old son to meet him.
The child took one look and burst mto
a screaming fit. The parents were
speechless with embarrassment, but
Einstein's eycs lightcd up. He patted
the boy on the head and crooned,
"You're the first pcrson in years who
has told me what you really think of
mC." -Alan W. Richardi in Trenton, N.J., Times
to which this planet belongs,
it would be about 100,000
light years away. That means
light— or a radio message — from
that World would take 100,000
years to reach this one. Travel-
ers would take far longer.
Dr. Feinberg's particles — he
j calls them tachyons, from the
Greek word for swift — could of-
jfer a way to bypass such limita-
itions.
! In fact, he explained in an
interview last week, it was his
feeling of being "hemmed in"
by Einstein's speed limit that
jled him, some seven years ago,
to begin exploring its validity.
He finally found that, if the
tachyons have no mass— or
rather have a mass expressed
by what mathematicians calKa
limaginary number — the Einsten
equations permit their existence
as faster-than-light particles.
All their other stränge prop-
erties likewise derive from
those equations.
Dr. Feinberg noted that his
tachyons theoretically could
drive a spaceship at speeds far
greater than the maximum ve-
locities permitted by known
energy sources.
The Problem of proving the
existence of tachyons is form-
idablc, he said. The Princeton
experiment sought the faint
light, or "Cercnkov radiation,*'
emitted by a charged particie
traveling through a medium
faster than the speed of light
in that medium. Light waves
are slightly slowed when tra-
versing transparent material. In
this case, however, a vacuum
was used.
It was thought that tachyons
might be produced, as electron
pairs arp, by the interaction of
energetic light waves (such as
those of gamma rays) with an
atomic nucleus.
The resulting tachyons would
accelerate toward infinite speed
so fast that it would be neces-
sary to hold them back until
they produced observable radi-
ation.
This the Princeton group did
with an electric field, but the
telltale radiation was not seen.
Michael Mr. Kreisler, the
experimenter, said the results
were preliminary, but would
not comment further, pending
the publication of his report.
Dr. Feinberg said that if the
tachyons had no electric Charge
there still might be ways to de-
tect them. In fact, he said, evi-
dence of their existence may
already be hiddcn in the Photo-
graphie plates of former atom-
smashing experiments.
I
. U-i^li^i-
}'
/(
» «
Unforgettable
Albert
Einstein
By Banesh Hoffmann
HE WAS one of the greatest
scientists the world has ever
known, yet if I had to con-
vey the essence of Albert Einstein
in a Single word, I would choose
simplicity. Perhaps an anecdote will
help. Once, caught in a downpour,
he took off his hat and held it under
his coat. Asked why, he explained,
with admirable logic, that the rain
would damage the hat, but his hair
would be none the worse for its wet-
ting. This knack for going instinc-
tively to the heart of a matter was
the secret of his major scientific dis-
coveries — this and his extraordinary
feeling for beauty.
I first met Albert Einstein in 1935,
at the famous Institute for Advanced
Study in Princeton, N.J. Einstein
had been among the first to be in-
vited to the Institute, and was of-
fered carte blanche as to salary. To
/07
1
LyL
Q 1 '
[ff-Sf
i i
C
5
1
;
io8
THE READERS DIGEST
Januarf
the director's dismay, Einstein asked
for an impossible sum : it was far too
small. The director had to plead
with him to accept a langer salary.
I was in awe of Einstein, and hesi-
tated before approachi ng him about
some ideas 1 had beeil working on.
My hesitation proved unwarranted.
When 1 finally knocked on bis door,
a gentle voice said, "Come'' — with a
rising inflection that made the single
word hoth a welcome and a ques-
tion. 1 entered bis olTice and fbund
him seated at a table, calculating and
smoking bis pipe. Dressed in ill-
fitting clothes, bis bair cbaracter-
istically awry, be smiled a warm
welcome. His utter naturalness at
once set me at ease.
As I began to explain my ideas, he
asked me to write the equations on
the hlackboard so that he could see
bow they developed. Then came the
staggering— and altogether endear-
ing— reqiiest: "Please go slowly. I
do not understand things quickly."
This (Vom Einstein! He said it gent-
ly, and I laughed. From then on, all
vestiges of fear were gone.
Burst of Genius. Einstein was
born in 1879 in the German city of
Ulm. He had been no infant prodi-
gy ; indeed, be was so late in learning
to speak that his parents feared he
was a dullard. In school, thougb his
teachers saw no special talent in him,
the signs were already there. He
Banesh Hoffmann, profcssor of mathc-
inalics at Queens Collcjjc of the C^ity Univcr-
sity of New York, is author of The Strange
Story of the Quantum and The Tyranny of
Testing.
taught himself calculus, for exam-
ple, and he told me that his teachers
seemed a little afraid of bim because
he asked questions tbey could not
ans wer. At the age of 16, be ask^d
himself whetber a ligbt wave would*
seem stationary if one ran abreast of
it. It seems an innocent question, but,
this shows Einstein going to the
heart of a problem. From it tbere
would arise, ten years later, his
theory of relativity.
Einstein failed bis entrance exam-
inations at tbe Swiss Federal Poly-
technic School, in Zürich, but was
admitted a year later. Tbere be went
beyond his regulär work to study
tbe masterworks of pbysics on his
own. Rejected wben be applied for
academic positions, be ultimately
found work, in 1902, as a patent
examiner in Berne, and tbere, in
1905, bis genius burst into fabulous
flower.
Among tbe extraordinary things
he produced in that memorable year
were bis theory of relativity, with its
famous ofTsboot, E=mc-' (energy
equals mass times the speed of ligbt
squared), and his quantum theory
of ligbt. These two theories were not
only revolutionary, but seemingly
self-contradictory as well: tbe form-
er was intimately linked to the
theory that light consists of waves,
whilc tbe latter said that it consists
somehow of particles. Yet this un-
known young man boldly proposed
both at once— and he was rigbt in
hoth cases, thougb bow be could
possibly have been is far too complex
a Story to teil here.
1968
UNFORGETTABLE
Mental Magic. Collaborating with
Einstein was an unforgettable ex-
perience. In 1937, ^^^ Polish physi-
cist Leopold Infeld and I asked if
<ye could work with him. He was
pleased with tbe proposal, since
be had an idea about gravitation
»waiting to be worked out in detail.
Tbus we got to know not merely the
man and tbe friend, but also the
professional.
The intensity and depth of his
concentration were fantastic. When
battling a recalcitrant problem, he
worried it as an animal worries its
prey. Often, wben we found our-
selves up against a seemingly in-
superable difficulty, be would stand
up, put his pipe on the table, and say
in his quaint Englisb, "I will a little
tink" (he could not pronounce
"th"). Then he would pace up and
down, twirling a lock of his long,
graying hair around his forefinger.
A dreamy, faraway and yet in-
ward look would come over his face.
There was no appearance of concen-
tration, no furrowing of the brow
— only a placid inner communion.
The minutes would pass, and then
suddenly Einstein would stop pac-
ing as bis face relaxed into a gentle
smile. He had found the Solution to
tbe problem. Sometimes it was so
simple that Infeld and I could have
kicked ourselves for not having
thought of it. But the magic had
been performed invisibly in the
depths of Einstein's mind, by a
process we could not fatbom.
When his wife died he was deeply
shaken, but insisted that now more
ALBERT EINSTEIN log
tban ever was the time to be work-
ing bard. I vividly remember going
to his house to work with him dur-
ing that sad time. His face was hag-
gard and grief-lined, but he put forth
a great effort to concentrate. Seeking
to help him, I steered the discussion
away from routine matters into
more difficult theoretical problems,
and Einstein gradually became ab-
sorbed in tbe discussion. We kept at
it for some two hours, and at the
end his eyes were no longer sad. As
I left, he thanked me with moving
sincerity, but the words he found
sounded almost incongruous. "It
was a fun," he said. He had had a
moment of surcease from grief, and
these groping words expressed a
deep emotion.
Ideas From God. Although Ein-
stein feit no need for religious ritual
and belonged to no formal religious
group, be was the most deeply re-
ligious man I have known. He once
said to me, "Ideas come from God,"
and one could hear the capital "G" in
tbe reverence with which be pro-
nounced tbe word. On the marble
fireplace in the mathematics build-
ing at Princeton University is
carved, in the original German,
wbat one might call his scientific
credo: "God is subtle, but he is not
malicious." Bv this Einstein meant
that scientists could expect to find
their task difficult, but not hope-
less: tbe Universe was a Universe
of law, and (rod was not confusing
US with deliberatc paradoxes and
contradictions.
Einstein was an accomplished
l
IIO
THE READERS DIGEST
Januar y
1968
UNFORGETTABLE ALBERT EINSTEIN
III
amateur musician. We used to play
duets, he on the violin, I at the piano.
One day he surprised me by saying
that Mozart was the greatest com-
poser of all. Beethoven, he said,
"created" his music, but the music
of Mozart was of such purity and
beauty that one feit he had merely
"found" it— that it had always
existed as part of the inner beauty of
the Universe, waiting to be revealed.
It was this very Mozartean sim-
plicity that most characterized Ein-
stein's methods. His 1905 theory of
relativity, for example, was built on
just two simple assumptions. One is
I the so-called principle of relativity,
/ which means, roughly speaking,
that we cannot teil whether we are
at rest or moving smoothly. The
other assumption is that the speed of
light is the same no matter what the
speed of the object that produces it.
You can see how reasonable this is
if you think of agitating a stick in a
lake to create waves. Whether you
wiggle the stick from a stationary
picr, or from a rushing speedboat,
the waves, once generated, are on
their own, and their speed has noth-
ing to do with that of the stick.
Each of these assumptions, by it-
self, was so plausible as to seem
primitively obvious. But together
they were in such violent conflict
that a Icsser man would have
dropped one or the other and fled
in panic. Einstein daringly kept both
—and by so doing he revolutionized
physics. For he demonstrated that
they could, after all, exist peacefully
sidc by side, provided we gave up
cherished beliefs about the nature of
time.
Science is like a house of cards,
with concepts like time and space
at the lowest level. Tampering v^i^h
time brought most of the house tum-
bling down, and it was this that
made Einstein's work so importafit
—and so controversial. At a Con-
ference in Princeton in honor of his
7oth birthday, one of the Speakers, a
Nobel Prize-winner, tried to convey
the magical quality of Einstein's
achievement. Words failed him, and
with a shrug of helplessness he
pointed to his wristwatch, and said
in tones of awed amazement, "It all
camc from this." His very inelo-
quence made this the most eloquent
tribute I have heard to Einstein's
genius.
Sand Sense. Although fame had
little efFect on Einstein as a person,
he could not escape it; he was, of
course, instantly recognizable. One
autumn Saturday, I was Walking
with him in Princeton discussing
some technical matters. Parents and
alumni were Streaming excitedly
toward the Stadium, their minds on
the Coming football game. As they
approached us, they paused in sud-
den recognition, and a momentary
air of solemnity came over them as
if they had been reminded of a
World far removed from the thrills
of football. Yet Einstein seemed to-
tally unaware of the effect he was
having on them, and went on with
the discussion as though they were
not there.
We think of Einstein as one con-
cerned only with the deepest aspects
of science. But he saw scientific
principles in everyday things to
which most of us would give barely
•a second thought. He once asked
nme if I had ever wondered why a
j man 's feet will sink into either dry
ior completely submerged sand,
while sand that is merely damp pro-
vides a firm surface. When I could
not answer, he oflered a simple
explanation.
It depends, he pointed out, on
surface tension, the elastic-skin
effect of a liquid surface. This is
what holds a drop together, or causes
two small raindrops on a window-
pane to pull into one big drop the
moment their surfaces touch.
When sand is damp, Einstein ex-
plained, there are tiny amounts of
water between grains. The surface
tensions of these tiny amounts of
water pull all the grains together,
and friction then makes them hard
to budge. When the sand is dry,
there is obviously no water between
grains. If the sand is fully immersed,
there is water between grains, but
there is no water surface between
them to pull them together. This is
not as important as relativity; yet, as
his youthful question about running
abrcast of a light wave showed, there
is no telling what seeming trifle will
lead an Einstein to a major discov-
ery. And the puzzle of the sand does
give US an inkling of the power and
clegance of Einstein's mind.
Cosmic Simplicity. Einstein's
work, performed quietly with pen-
cil and paper, seemed remote from
the turmoil of everyday life. But his
ideas were so revolutionary that they
caused violent controversy and ir-
rational anger. Indced, in ordcr to
be able to award him a belated No-
bel Prize, the selection committee
had to avoid mentioning relativity,
and pretend that the prize was
awarded primarily for his work on
the quantum theory. PoHticai events
upset the sercnity of his life cven
more. When the Nazis came to pow-
er in Gcrmany, his thcories were
officially dcclared false because they
had been formulated by a Jew. His
property was confiscated, and it is
said that a price was put on his head.
When scientists in the United
States, fearful that the Nazis might
develop an atomic bomb, sought to
alert American authorities to the
danger, they were scarcely hceded.
In desperation, they drafted a letter
which Einstein signcd and sent di-
rectly to President Rooscvelt. It was
this act that Icd to the fatcful deci-
sion to go all-out on the production
of an atomic bomb— an endeavor in
which Einstein took no activc part.
When he heard of the agony and de-
struction that his E=mc^ had
wrought, he was dismayed beyond
measure, and from then on there
was a look of ineffable sadness in his
eyes.
There was something clusively
whimsical about Einstein. It is il-
lustrated by my favorite anecdote
about him. In his first year in Prince-
ton, on Christmas Eve, so the story
goes, some children sang carols out-
side his house. Having finished, they
1
\
112
THE READERS DIGEST
I
knocked on his door and explained
that they were collecting money to
buy Christmas presents. Einstein
listened, then said, "Wait a mo-
mcnt." He put on his scarf and over-
coat, and took his vioHn from its
case. Then, joining the children, he
accompanied their singingof "Silent
Night" on his vioHn.
How shall I sum up what it meant
to have known Einstein and his
works? Like the Nobel Prize-win-
ner who pointed helplessly at his
watch, I can find no adequate words.
It was akin to the revelation of great
art that lets one see what was for-
merly hidden. And when, for exam-
ple, I walk on the sand o£ a lonely
beach, I am reminded of his ceaselesS
search for cosmic simplicity— and
the scene takes on a deeper, sadder
beauty.
,,,,,, ,,,
/
Cartoon Quips
Washington bureaucrat to colleagues: "All budget officers will report
to my Office at lo a.m. We're having a cry-in." -chapman in Washington News
Man eating TV dinner: "Maybe Tm an old fogy, but I liked the kind
of dinners that came with radio." -Lichty, Pubii$hcr$-Haii syndicatc
Woman eyeing für coat: *Tm allergic to mink. I gct sick every time I
see another woman Wearing one!" _Han» Quist. Register and Tnbune Syndicatc
One big-business man to another: "I save a lot of time by not un-
WmOing. _ Frascino in Los Angeles Magazine
Foreign Lcgionnaire: "I joined the Legion to forget my Zip Code
number, my Social Security number and my Area Code number."
— Dennis in Topper
Boy to teacher, before test: "Where can I plug in my electric eraser?"
— Buresch in The Instructor
WoMAN to cosmetics clerk: "I forget what the commercial announcer
called it, but you rub it all over you and suddenly you're in an evcning
gOWn with a Very handsome man." -Franklin Folger, Publishers-Hall Syndicate
ScoTSMAN to lawyer: "I can't pay the alimony this month. Can she
repOSSeSS mer — James SymlnKton, Register and Tribüne Syndicate
***
i^olution to Puzzle on Page gi. Winter, winner, wanner, wander,
warder, harder, harper, hamper, damper, damped,dammed,dimmed, dim-
mer, simmer, summer. Another possiblc Solution: winter, sinter, sinner,
sunner, sumner, summer.
1
1
/
m/lED IN TWO SEXinONS
r.-^* .-K. ;*ji J.« • — :i ~ i
THE NEW YORK TIMES, WEDNESDÄY, JANÜARY 17, 1968
\
LEOPOLD INFEID,
PHYSICISTJEAÜ
Pole Worked With Einstein —
Directed Warsaw Institute
WARSAW. Jan. 16 (Reuters)
— Dr. Leopold Infold, a physi-
cist who was a close collabo-
rator of Albert Einstein, died
here today at the age of 69.
Dr. Infeld, director of the
Theoretical Physics Institute of
Warsaw University, suffcred
from heart and circulatory
trouble, the Polish news agency
Said.
N
Developed Field Theories
A leading theoretical physi-
cist, Dr. Infeld worked in the
areas of field theory and espe-
cially on the theory of rela-
tivity. Field theory is a detailed
mathematical description of the
assumcd physical properties of
a region under some influence,
such as gravitation or magnet-
ism.
He collaborated with Max
Born, the German physicist, in
developing a field theory that
embraced modern quantum me-
chanics and the electromagnetic
wave experiments conducted in
the 19th Century.
He was also a prolific writer
and was, with Dr. Einstein, the
co-author of "The Evolution of
Physics: The Growth of Ideas
from Early Concepts to Rela-
tivity and Quanta," which be-
came a best-seller in 1938.
Dr. Infeld, a tall, thin man
with gray hair and giay eyes,
was outspoken in advocating
freedom in Poland, although he
was generally sympathetic with
the Communist regime there.
Writing in a Polish culture
magazine in 1961, Dr. Infeld
noted that censorship still ex-
isted in Poland and commented:
•'I agree to the present Situa-
tion on one rondition— -that for
our children freedom will be on
the increase rather than on the
decline.**
He was one of 34 leading
Polish intellectuals who sent a
ietter to Premier Josef Cyran-
kiewicz in 1964 appealing for
relaxation of censorship in Po-
land.
Dr. Infeld was born in the
ghetto of Crakow, on Aug. 20,
1898, the son of Salomon In-
feld, a prosperous merchant,
and the former Ernestyna
Kahane.
Sought Einstein's Aid
He entered the Jagiellonian
University in Crakow but soon
transferred to the University
of Berlin. He had sought and
obtained the aid of Einstein
in entering the university.
Dr. Infeld returned to Cra-
kow and in 1921 became the
first doctor of theoretical
I
l'JJO
Dr. Leopold Infeld
for Advanced Study at Prince-
ton, N. J., where Dr. Einstein
was then working.
In 1937, Dr. Infeld and Dr.
Einstein joined to write "The
Evolution of Physics," which
thrust Dr. Infeld into the front
rank of world physicists. Two
years after the book was writ-
ten, Dr. Infeld accepted a post
as lecturer at the University
of Toronto and a year later he
was nameü füll professor of ap-
plied mathematics there.
Prize for Autoblography
During World War II, Dr.
Infeld, whose two sisters died
at the hands of the Nazis in
Poland, wrote an introspective
autobiography entitled 'Quest:
The Evolution of a Scientist,"
which dealt in part with his life
in the Crakow ghetto. The book
was awarded the Anisfield-Wolf
Prize in 1942 as a major con-
tribution to the understanding
of race problems.
Dr. Infeld remained at To-
ronto until 1949, when he made
a Summer trip to Poland, his
first since he had left the coun-
try in 1934. Upon his return to
Canada, he announced that he
planned to take a one-year
leave from the University of
Toronto to lecture at the Uni-
versity of Warsaw.
The announcement brought
angry criticism from many, in-
cluding members of Parliament,
who demanded assurances that
Dr. Infeld was not carrying
atomic secrets back to Poland
with him. There were alleqa-
tions that Dr. Infeld had links
to a World War II atomic spy
ring in Canada, but whcn he
left Canada no attempt was
made to stop him. A short time
later, he informed authorities
at the University of Toronto
that he intended to remain in
Poland permanently.
Among Dr. Infeld's books
were a biography of Dr. Ein-
stein entitled "Professor Albert
Einstein: His Work and Its In-
i
Ein unveröffentlichter Brief
Albert Einsteins
Gedanken zur zwanzigsten Wiederkehr
des Todestages iwn Emil Bernhara
L08 Aneeles der «h«^'»^»'«« »""°*l^*^'JSiard als Drama-
hard Cohn. der ««*«' *«'».JitrzrifTlne h^orragende Rolle
tlker im geistigen »-«l»«" "'"*' fri* „^to Die Jagd Gottes,
spielte; seine Dramen (Der B^f' ^,™* ^^^ Todes (auf
The Marranos) »tod°nvergessen. Anlasslich semw ^^
stellte. Einstein schrieb: ^ 3 43
Sehr geehrte Frau Cohn: . j brachte, hat mich er-
Die traurige Nachricht «e mir Du »new«- ^^^ ^^
schüttert. Wie vmss das P]»*^'^*!« "jl^^'i^re wie hart dies Dasein
, ben? wenn jeder davon durch^un|en^a^^^ ^,^^
ohne das willkürliche Z"^"" ^^',?f*"Haltung und Gesinnung der
• freundUchere und verständn^oUere Haltung^raa ^^
Menschen gegen einander leben^g werden. Du« ^ ^^
SirÄr^Ä^^" erschÄ^'nt^^e« und Unrecht zu
r^i^lT'trrclLÄnnung Ihres^^^^^^^^^
Tt^fer hriaTf^rhi^dSÄÄ^^ Hun^or _
trotz allem, tt^^«« r^ac« <Mp Kraft finden mögen.
Ich wünsche Ihnen von Herzen, aa&s ?Jf ««I^trl oiPirheewlcht
Ifit unerheblich, wie es gewesen Ist. ^^
A. Einstein
I
Pole Worked With Einstein—
Directed Warsaw Institute
WARSAW. Jan. 16 (Reuters)
— Dr. Leopold Infeld, a physi-
cist who was a close collabo-
rator of Albert Einstein, died
here today at the age of 69.
Dr. Infeld, director of the
Theoretical Physics Institute of
Warsaw University, suffered
from heart and circulatory
trouble, the Polish news agency
Said.
Developed Field Theories
A leading theoretical physi-
cist, Dr. Infeld worked in the
areas of field theory and espe-
cially on the theory of rela-
tivity. Field theory is a detailed
mathematical description of the
assumed physical properties of
a region under some influenae,
such as gravitation or magnet-
ism.
He coiiaborated with Max
Born, the German physicist, in
developing a field theory that
embraced modern quantum me-
chanics and the electromagnetic
wave experiments conducted in
the 19th Century.
He was also a prolific writer
and was, with Dr. Einstein, the
co-author of "The Evolution of
Physics: The Growth of Ideas
from Eariy Concepts to Rela-
tivity and Quanta," which be-
came a best-seller in 1938.
Dr. Infeld, a tall, thin man
with gray hair and giay eyes,
was outspoken in advocating
freedom in Poland, although he
was generally sympathetic with
the Communist regime there.
Writing in a Polish culture
magazine in 1961, Dr. Infeld
noted that censorship still ex-
isted in Poland and commented:
•'I agree to the present Situa-
tion on one rondition — that for
our children freedom will be on
the increase rather than on the
decline."
He was one of 34 leading
Polish intellectuals who sent a
letter to Premier Josef Cyran-
kiewicz in 1964 appealing for
relaxation of censorship in Po-
land.
Dr. Infeld was born in the
ghetto of Crakow, on Aug. 20,
1898, the son of Salomon In-
feld, a prosperous merchant,
and the former Ernestyna
Kahane.
Sought Einstein's Aid
He entered the Jagiellonian
University in Crakow but soon
transferred to the University
of Berlin. He had sought and
obtained the aid of Einstein
in entering the university.
Dr. Infeld returned to Cra-
kow and in 1921 became the
first doctor of theoretical
physics in Poland when the
Jagiellonian University awarded
him a Ph.D. dgreee.
For the next eight years, Dr.
Infeld taught on the secondary
level in Jewish schools in the
Polish provinces and lost all
interest in scientific studies.
But in the late nineteen-twen-
ties, he rcsumed his scientific
career and began to publish
the results of his physical re-
search.
In 1934, after the publica-
tion of a book on matter, Dr.
Infeld was awarded a Rockefel-
1er Fellowship, which he used
for graduate work at Cam-
bridge University in England.
There he became Dr. Born's
assistant and did much of his
major work in field theory.
Two years later, Dr. Infeld
tarne to the United States on
a felk'vship to the Institute
lOJÜ
Dr. Leopold Infeld
for Advanced Study at Prince-
ton, N. J., where Dr. Einstein
was then working.
In 1937, Dr. Infeld and Dr.
Einstein joined to write "The
Evolution of Physics," which
thrust Dr. Infeld into the front
rank of world physicists. Two
years after the book was writ-
ten, Dr. Infeld accepted a post
as lecturer at the University
of Toronto and a year later he
was namea füll professor of ap-
plied mathematics there.
Prize for Autobiography
During World War II, Dr.
Infeld, whose two sisters died
at the hands of the Nazis in
Poland, wrote an introspective
autobiography entitied 'Quest:
The Evolution of a Scientist,"
which dealt in part with his life
in the Crakow ghetto. The book
was awarded the Anisfield-Wolf
Prize in 1942 as a major con-
tribution to the understanding
of race problems.
Dr. Infeld remained at To-
ronto until 1949, when he made
a summer trip to Poland, his
first since he had left the coun-
try in 1934. Upon his return to
Canada, he announced that he
planned to take a one-year
leave from the University of
Toronto to lecture at the Uni-
versity of Warsaw.
The announcement brought
angry criticism from many, in-
cluding members of Parliament,
who demanded assurances that
Dr. Infeld was not carrying
atomic secrets back to Poland
with him. There were alle^a-
tions that Dr. Infeld had links
to a World War II atomic spy
ring in Canada, but when he
left Canada no attempt was
made to stop him. A short time
later, he informed authorities
at the University of Toronto
that he intended to remain in
Poland permanently.
Among Dr. Infeld's books
were a biography of Dr. Ein-
stein entitied "Professor Albert
Einstein: His Work and Its In-
fluence on Our World," pub-
lished in 1950, and "Whom the
Gods Love: The Story of Evar-
iste Galois," a 19th-century
French mathematician, pub-
lished in 1948.
In addition, Dr. Infeld had
written more than 100 articles
for scientific Journals, several
of them Joint ventures with Dr.
Einstein and Dr. Born.
Dr. Infeld's first wife, Haiina,
died in 1933. Two other mar-
riages ended in divorce. In 1939,
he married Helen Schlauch, and
they had two children, Eryk
and Joan.
I
l
Ein unveröffentlichter Brief
Albert Einsteins
Gedanken zur ztmnzigUen Wiederkehr
des Todestages V4m Emd Bernhara
Vor genau «wan«s Jahren, am 28. f ebru" liMR. «|tarb to
hard Cohn. der unter dem N*«« fmü BemM a ^^^^
tlker im »elstigen 1*1»«" ^«'"" J"i *' „^ Die Jagd Gottes,
sptelt«: »eine Dramen (Der »ri«' *t?.YC Jeto« Todes (aut
The Marranos) »^d »nvergessen AnlassHch »em«i ^
sUUte. Einstein schneb: 23. 3. 4»
Sehr geehrte Frau Cohn: brachte, hat mich er-
Dle traurige Na«^'-'<^^*!^« Cr^iu^k eVst a«' Sie gewirkt ha-
schüttert. Wie tmss das P}ot«"«jl^,yjl^^"^ä * wie hart dies Dasein
ben? wenn jeder davon du«^^^ ^„^,^ ^,
ohne das wUll^urtlche f^^^r,««"- «altune und Gesinnung der
freundUchere und ^erständnl^onere HaUung imo ^^^^^^ ^^
Menschen Beg««^ «l"^^"^'*^ bleibt a^ßX^ unl mit Ergeben-
SerÄ'ÄÄrÄTunt^hme,;. und Unrecht zu
dadurch besser verstandlich, *» " "f.^" *f' '° l^^ Anschein hat
V^schiedenheiten sind nicht ««hebü^^^^^ ^„ ^^
Tbef eÄ^n dÄTa-ÄÄTd ein bisschen Humor -
^«'nc^^^n.che Ihnen von Herzen, d^a^ Sie KraU t^^, -^
SrÄ^B^^wV^irÄrvUscm sein, und es
Ut unerheblich, wie es gewesen ist. ^^
A. Einstein
LEOPOLD INFEID,
PHyS!ClST, DEAD
Pole Worked With Einstein—
Directed Warsaw Institute
WARSAW. Jan. 16 (Reuters)
i— Dr. I.eopold Infold, a physi-
jClst wlio was a ciose collabo-
'ator of Albert Einstein, died
here today at the ape of 69.
Dr. Infeld. director of tho
Theoretical Physics Institute of
Warsaw L-'niversJty, suffcred
from hrait and circuiatory
troubjc, Ihe Polish news agency
Said.
Developed Field Theories
THE^N^WjrORKJ^IAtES. WEDNESÜA Y. JANUARY 11.
1968
Dr. Leopold Infeld
mathenialical dcscription of the
assunu'd physica! properties of ^^^^ Advanced .Study
a region under some infiuence i^°"' ^- ^" vvhcre D
A leading theoretical physi-
cist, Dr. Infeld worked in the
areas of field theory and espe-|
cially on the theory of rela-|
tivity. Field theory is a dctaiied —
mathenialical description of the^
,-._, ^., .,. -. at Prin«^p.
a region under some infiuence. -^°"' ^- •^" whcre Dr. Einstein
such as gravitation or magnet- "^'^^ ^^^" workin^.
ism. j In 1937, Dr. Infeld and Dr.
He collaborated with Max'^'""^^^'" J^^ined to write "Thr
Born, the German physicist jn^J"'^^'^^" ^^^ Physics," which
dcveloping a field theorv that ^,^^ P'*- ^"^^^'^ »nto the front
embraced modern quantum nie- '"^"'^ *^^ vjoy\^ physicists. Two
chanics and theelectromagnetic'-^^^^^ ^^^^'* ^^^ ^^ok was writ-
wave expcriments conducted in^^"',^'*- ^"^^'^ accepted a post
the 19th Century. /*^ lecturer at the Universitv
of Toronto and a year later he i
[)-'{
i'.iv.« iiiauiciiictucs mere.
_ ^. .^,„^ Prize for Autobiography
from Early Concepts to Rela-'. Pj^f'^S W(jrld War 11,' Dr.
I He was also a prolific writer^ Toronto and a year later hi
jand was. with Dr. Einstein the'^^V^"^^^' ^"^" Profes.sor of ap
Ico-author of "The Evolution of "^ "^ mathematics therc. ,,
Physics: The Growth of Ideas **"^^ ^^^ Autobiography |j
from Early Concepts to Rela-' During Wcjrld War 11 ' Dr i
tivity and Quanta," which be- ^n^t-ld. whosc two sisters' died '
came a best-seller in 1938. ■'^^ ^lit" hands of the Nazis in,
Hr. Infeld, a tall. thin man P^Iand. wrcjte an introspectivei'
with gray hair and giav eyt'>.^'^^"^''*«^iiPhy entitied *Qucsf
was outspoken in advocating ^^^^ Evolution of a Scientist." '
frcedom in Poland. although he^^'*^''^ ^^^»'^ '" P^^'t with bis life
was gonerully sympathetic with '" ^'^^' Crakow ghetto. The book
the Communist regime there '^^^ ^^^''^^^ ^^^ Atjisfield-Wolf
Writing in a Polish culture ^'"'^^ '" '9^^- ''^^ » "i^J^r con-
niagazine in 1961. Dr Infeld ^'■'^"^'^^" ^'^ ihe understanding
noted that cen.sorship still ex-i^^ ^^^^ Problems,
istcd in Poland and commented- ^^^' ^"^^'^ remained at To-
"I agreo tn the present sjtua'i'"""^*^^ ""^'' ^^■*^' '^'^^'" '^^ "i'*de
tion on onc ronditlon— that for'? ^"'""ip'" trip fo Poland. his
our children freedom will be on^'^''^ ^'"^"^ ^^ '^^^ '^^^ the co-jn-
Itho increasc rather than on thevr^ '". ^^J"*" ^'P^" ^'^ '"^t^'" to
decline." "'^Xanada. he announced that he
^ He wa.s onc of 34 leadinn'P'^""^^ ^'^ ^^"^^^ ^ ono-vear
Polish intellpctuals whosenM^^''^ ^'^'" ^^^ Universitv of
^l^tter to Premier 'josef Cvran ^^'•^."to to lecture at the 'Uni-
kiewicz in 1964 appealing for^i^'^l'^^ ^^ ^■äv.^w. I
relaxation of censorship in Po i ^"^ announcement brought
land. ' jangry criticism from many. in-
Dr. Infeld was born in the'^'u^'"^ "^^"^^^'"•^ ^^ Pa'*''a"''^^nt,
ßhetto of Crakow, on Aue ''O l^"° demanded assurances that
I«^8. the son of «lainr.,^« T^'ID«'- Infeld was not carrving
atomic secrets back to Poland
with hini. Thcre were alle^a-
tions that Dr. Infeld had links!
tn a World War II atomic spy
ring in Canada, but whrn he
1X98. the son of Salomon In
«nH H rrosperous merchant.
Kahane'' ''''^'' ^'"^-^^^'"^
Sought Einstein'.s Aid
He entered the Jagiellonian If'ft Canada no altempt was
universitv m Crakow but .soon''nado to stop him. A short time
transferred to the University|l'»ter. he informed authorities
nhff;t,J!,"\u ^^^ ^""P^t andiat the Universitv of Toronto
ontained the aid of Einsteinithat he intended to remain in
n t'"'."" the university. Poland permanentiv.
kow and in !'q91'*"k'^ ^^ ^'?-' ^"'""^ ^'' ^"^^'^''^ book.s
fir^ A ^^^1 became the were a biography of Dr. Ein-
Phvsics in Pr if ^ theoretical;stein entitied "Professor Albert
'^ac^irlinni.n P^:'^"^ . ^'i^^n thelFinstein: His Work and Its In-
him I PI r/^"''"''''^^^^"'^"^'^ «" O"'' World." pub-
Knr f\t^.^F^''l ll'-'^^^d '■" J^'"^^. and "Whom the
infoH "v,?^ "^'^u^^ >'""'"'• Dr.iGods Love: The Storv of Evar-
leve in'j?wr'^'r""^'\^y|'^'^ ^^'^^'•^•' « 19th-centurv
it el m Jewish schools m thelprench mathematician pub-
Pohsh provinces and lost all lished in 1948 ^
R, f TnShT , T'"^"^''^"''' '''"'''■^''^•1 ^" addition. "Dr. Infold had
But in the late nmeteen-lwen-,written more than 100 articie-
ties. he resumed his scientificifor scientific Journals several
career and began to publishof them Joint ventureswi^hDr
the results of his physical re-l Einstein and Dr. Born
search
, In 1934. after the publica-
tion of a book on matter, Dr.
Infeld was awarded a Rockefel-
|ler Fcllowship, which he used
|for graduatc work at Cam-
[bridge University in England.
There hc became Dr. Born's
assistant and did much of his
major work in field theorv.
Two years later, Dr. Infold
came to the United States on,
a fellr wship to the Institute'
Dr. Infeld's first wife. Haiina
died in 1933. Two other mar-
riages ended indivorce. In 1939.
he married Helen Schlauch, and
they had two children, Ervk
and Joan.
«
Cl^\^
<^
Friday, Mirch 1, 1968
Ein unveröffentlichter Brief
Albert Einsteins
Gedanken zur zivansigsten Wiederkehr
des Todestages von Emil Bernhnnl
Vor genau zwanzig: Jahren, am 28. Februar 1948, starb In
Los Angeles der ehemalige Berliner Kabbiner Dr. Emil Bern-
hard Cohn, der unter dem Namen Emil Bernhard als Drama-
tiker im geistigen Leben seiner Zeit eine hervorragende Rolle
spielte; seine Dramen (Der Brief des Uria, Die Jagd Gottes,
The Marranos) sind unvergessen. Anlässlich seines Todes (auf
Grund eines Verkehrsunfalls) erhielt seine Witwe einen Bei-
leidsbrief von Albert Einstein, der bisher unveröffentlicht war
und den uns Emil Bernhards Sohn, Rabbiner Bemard N. Cohn
in New York, freundlicherweise lum Abdruck zur Verfügung
stellte. Einstein schrieb:
23. 3. tö
Sehr geehrte Frau Cohn:
Die traurige Nachricht, die mir Ihr Brief brachte, hat mich er-
schüttert. Wie muss das plötzliche Unglück erst auf Sie gewirkt ha-
ben? Wenn jeder davon durchdrungen wäre, wie hart dies Dasein
ohne das willkürliche Zutun der Menschen ist, dann würde eine
freundlichere und verständnisvollere Haltung und Gesinnung der
Menschen gegen einander lebendig werden. Dies aber scheint die
Natur nicht gewollt zu haben. So bleibt als Bestes, uns mit Ergeben-
heit ina Unvermeidliche zu schicken und Schmerz und Unrecht zu
mildern, wo wir können.
Die freundliche Gesinnung Ihres Mannes rührt mich und Ist
dadurch besser verständlich, da er mich wenig gekannt hat. Die
Verschiedenheiten sind nicht so erheblich, als es den Anschein hat
— die Mediziner wissen es mit besonderer Deutlichkeit. Was man
aber erstreben darf, ist Bescheidenheit und ein bisschen Humor —
trotz allem.
Ich wünsche Ihnen von Herzen, dass Sie Kraft finden mögen,
diesen schwersten Schlag zu tragen und das innere Gleichgewicht
wieder au finden. Bald wird ja unsere Spur verwischt sein, und es
ist unerheblich, wie es gewesen ist.
Ihr
A. Einstein
^
V
\ . 1
\
\
1
l
Cllc^
'VO
c^l^
,y^
A
Äl et
ff^/M^
f
•^
BETH HILLEL /p'^ ^"^6/
^ ? ??
PAGE THREE
EIN WORT AN UNSERE SOEHNE
ZUM GEDENKEN AN DIE KRISTALLNACHT
Du lebst! Dv atmest! schreitest frei daher,
Du kennst vicht Furcht noch angstverzerrtes Buecken
von roher Willkuer, keine Macht wird mehr
der Menschen Wuerde straflos nntrrdru ecken.
Du schaffst! Du erntest Deiner M\(chc Lohn,
denn Deine Welt ist nicht von Mass vergiftet.
Das Wort des Menschen traecjt der Guete Ton,
die Liebe kuendet und Frieden stiftet.
Du ireisst nicht mehr — nnd Du begreifst es kaum —
dass man uni^ Juden wie das Vieh behandelt.
Weit hinter Dir liegt — ein verblasster Traum —
das dicnkle Grauen, das die Zeit gewandelt.
Ein Schatten nur ist die Erinnerimg.
Laesst sich das Leid, mein Sohn, nach Jahren messen?
Dein Frvehling wartet. Du bist stark und jung,
Du blickst nach vorn — mr koennen nicht vergessen.
mm imim
Zun 90. Gebursfag, eine seiner Befrachfungen ueber die We/f/oge;
FUER VERNUNFT IST NUR NOCH WENIG ZEIT
Wir haben aus schmerzlicher Erfahrung Relernt, dass vernunftmaessiges
Denken zur Loesun^ der Probleme unseres sozialen Seins nicht prenuegt. Tief-
schuerfende Forschungsarbeit und hinpfebende wissenschatfliche Taeti^keit haben
fuer die Menschen oft tragische Folgen gehabt. Das Ergebnis waren Erfindungen,
die zwar dem Menschen ermuedende koerperliche Arbeit ersparten, andererseits
aber eine tiefe Unruhe in sein Leben trugen, ihn zum Sklaven der ihn umgebenden
Technik machten und- das war die groesste Katastrophe- die Mittel zu seiner
eigenen Vernichtung schufen; eine Tragoedie, die uns bis in unser Innerstes
aufwuehlen muss.
Was aber vielleicht noch tragischer ist; waehrend die Menschheit viele
Gelehrte hervorgebracht hat, die auf natui-\vissenschaftlichem und technischem
Gebiet ungemein erfolgreich waren, sind wir seit langem gaenzlich ausserstande,
die vielfachen politischen Konflikte und wirtschaftlichen Spannungen zu loesen,
unter denen wir leiden. Kein Zweifel: Der Widerstreit der wirtschaftlichen Inter-
essen der einzelnen und zwischen den verschiedenen Voelkern traegt an der
gafahrvoUen und bedrohlichen Weltlage von heute ein geruettelt Mass von Schuld.
Es ist dem Menschen bisher noch nicht gelungen, politische und wirtschaftliche
Organisationsformen zu finden, die den Voelkern dieser Erde ein friedliches Zu-
sammenleben gewaehrleisten wuerden, so wenig wie er es verstanden hat, ein
System zu schaffen, das die Moeglichkeit eines Krieges ausschalten und die Mord-
werkzeuge der Massenvernichtung fuer alle Zeiten bannen koennte.
Wir Naturwissenschaftler, deren tragisches Geschick es war, durch unsere
Mitarbeit die Mittel der Zerstoerung immer schrecklicher wirksam zu machen,
muessen es als unsere heilige Pflicht ansehen, mit Aufgebot unserer ganzen Kraft
zu verhindern, dass diese Waffen jemals zu dem Zweck vei-wendet werden, fuer
den sie erfunden worden sind.
Innerhalb der kleineren Gemeinschaften des Zusammenlebens hat der Mensch
in der Beseitigung antisozialer Machtpositionen gewisse Fortschritte gemacht.
Dies gilt zum Beispiel von dem Leben in den Staedten und bis zu einem bestimmten
Fortsetzung S. U
\
PAGE FOUR
i:>.
ALBERT EINSTEIN (Fortsetzung von S. 3)
Grade sogar von der Gesellschaft innerhalb einzelner Staaten. Hier haben Her
,nZr'^K"!i^ Erziehung einen maessigenden Einfluss ausgeuebt und fuer dTe'
innerhalb dieser Gemeinschaft lebenden Menschen ertraegliche Daseinsbedin
Rungen geschaffen. Aber in den wechselseitigen Beziehungen der verXdenen
in d n"le,X rr,' '"T'' ^•"•'^"~'' '^--'-- I'h glaube n ich,, ts wir
erzielt hnh!nKn"'"l'^''" ^"*^ '"^'■"^''"^ ^'^'^'^^ '^'■"^» wirklichen Fortschritt
erzielt haben. Nur allzu oft werden Konflikte zwischen einzelnen Voelkern noc'h
mmer durch brutale Gewalt, durch Krieg ent.^chieden. Das hemmungslo'" Ve,-^
angen nach immer groes.,erer Macht sucht sich in Angriffshandlung^", um"u'et.en
wann und wo immer sich eine physische Moeglichkoit hierzu bietet """'"''*''"•
In den l^zten JaliHiundenen hat ueberali der Staat mehr und mehr M-i.'ht
detTtXhen AH^ht^'v''''""/- v' "^"l ^''"^•^" '" L'""""--"- wo d.V luve, du, ^
der Staat IC hen Mac-ht von der Vernunft regiert wurde, wie in jenen wo man sie
zu brutaler Gewaltherrschaft mis.sbrauchte. Die Aufgabe des Staates frtdirhp
und geordnete Beziehungen zwi.schen seinen AngchoeWgen aufre ht^ue h^^^^^^^^^^^
ist immer komplizierter und umfangreicher gevv.>,-de . '" r ä l^nr'™
Zusammenbai ung u,,d Konzentration des industriellen Apn-a De "k lerne
;...^is;siS:tiS:^ gi^s:;^ -^ -^£ ^:;£;: ^i£-^L -z
Ä G^;t:z;-:^s -
Ä LZ ^di: tLSi? s^;-r-;tir.Szu :-^^^ -^
:".Jiir-emLf;s;"^rdrü^^^^^^^^^
nationalen Bindungen .so weit frei zu mMch.n m ll- -7"*. u ' ^'^^ ''°" '*''■'■"
\e,anlassen - und zwar zu einem Abgehen in der denkbar radikalsten Form"
Wir haben nur noch furchtbar wenig Zeit. Wenn wir n,herh<n.pt handeln
wollen, dann muessen wir jetzt handeln.
1
JEWISH NATIONAL FUND
Plant Trees in Israel on all family occasions. You mav order them
through Mrs. Hilde Neuburger who will anango for the Certificates to
be fonvaided with your te.xt. 1 Tree S2.50.
1
:M"
t
i
der" »- r H*cv<-*- •>.tij't'
EINSTEIN IS V PH ELD
BYRADIOTELESCOPE
PASADKNA. ».aiil . Juno 14
(AP)— Astronomors said today
that they had used radio tele-
scopos for thc first timo in a
succossful lest of Albert Kin-
stein's 55-year-old general
relalivitv theory.
His oquations infor thal lignt.
radio and other eloctromaj;net-
\c waves are doficctcd by the
gravitational field of the sun.
The predicted dislocatmg is
tiny: 1.75 seconds of arc —
about the width of a dime as
Seen froni a mile away.
Astrbnomers at the Cali-
fornia Institute of Technology
reported today that. using dish-
shaped radio antennas up to
210 feel across. they obtained
figures ciose to Einstein's pre-:
^ diction: 1.82 and 1.77.
Since 1919 astronomers have
used optical telescopes to look
for light waves from stars to
he "bent" as they pass near
the sun. The disadvantage is
that this can be done only
during a füll solar eclipse.
I Radio astronomy, a relacively
Inew scientific specialty. can do
!the Job any time.
Optica! mcasurements are
iconvincing. but they contain a
20 per cent uncertainty, Cal-
'tech's radio astronomers say.
They credit their radio measure-
ments with accuracy within 10
per cent.
I
autiin.
Bertrand Russell told her loy-
alty was a bad thing; Eiostfiill-
once warned_her,of lhe_ Coming
dearülof.water— hfi^saidjt^was _
a ^reateriJÜireat to bumanity^
than__._atßIDlc___ßOwer_ Tiny's
World— and Anne^s — is shown
as social, to have consisted pri-
marily of very direct, intelli-
gent, feeling people. Tiny and
Anne come through in the
dimension of what they believe
and feel, but it is what they
say they think and feel. The
continuity of past with present
holds — in that for instance both
loved their childhoods best, and
Tiny in particular has adven-
tures which today would be
psychoanalytic case studies —
but they are lightened and
made harmless by the social
context, and the habit of can-
did talk. No fantasies here. But
insight and fun. ■
'he New York Times Book Review
I
HE NEW YORK TIMES. SUNDAY. NOVEMBER 16. 1969
Arrhitoci
Souvenirs
Of a New Age
Vision into rcality: Eric Mendcl-
sohn's Einstein Tower, 1919 drawing,
at top; and exccuted Building, at right.
Genuine visions of the future
\
Cervin Robinsoo.,Tft
Vvelches ist der üinn inseres Lebens,
welches der Sinn des iebens aller Lebe-
wesen \:eberh8upt ? Eine intwoit auf
diese i*i*8f:^e wissen, heisst, relirioes
sein. Du f rarst: hat es Tieberhau t
e iien SAnn, diese x^rape zu stellen?
Ich entv^orte: wer sein e irnes Leben
und das seiner i..itraensc hen ßls s inn-
los emrfinäet, der ist nicht nur un-
f luec Idich, sondern auch kaum lebens-
faehif>
(.Grete, Kom, Tlezer.ber 1969 )
Zwei Gelehrte
Albert Einstiin
bei einem Be-
such von Chaim
Weizmann in Re-
liovot.
>
td
>
a
>
Hl
>
>
CO
o
1
• ^ '
1
''Generations to come,
it may be, will scarce
believethatsuchaone
as this ever in flesh
and blood walked
upon thisearth"
—Albert Einstein,
speaking of
Mahatma Gandhi
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Pholograph I)N KoIkm-I I luiit/JM»i:(M'
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A \-<L v-/ X t v^ \>
ui uravny W aves Reported
i
1
By WALTER SULLIVAN
Detectors 600 miles apart
are recording simultaneously
what appear to be gravita-
tional waves Impinging upoii
—and passing through — the
earth.
If the observations, an-
nounced yesterday by the
University of Maryland, have
been interpreted correctly, a
new chapter in man's Obser-
vation of the universe has
been opened.
In essence, the develop-
ment would enable man to
view the universe from a
fresh perspective. Among
Qther things, It may help him
t» determine whether the
ujhiverse is infinite or finite,
id denide which of two rival
theori ?s of gravity is correct
and tb explain why 90 per
Cent of the universe scems to
be "missing."
Present knowledge of phe-
nomena beyond the earth has
been derived almost entirely
from a Single kind of wave,
that of electromagnetic radi-
ation (embracing light waves,
radio waves and X-rays.)
A preliminary study of the
recordings by Dr. Joseph We-
ber at the University of Mary-
land, who designed and car-
ricd out the expcriment, has
persuaded him that a pre-
viously unobserved phcnom-
enon, which releases vast
quantities of energy, is tak-
ing place.
His detectors will have to
be rearranged before the lo-
cation can be narrowed
down. However, he believes
it to lie in the same general
region of the Milky Way
Galaxy, or star System, as the
sun and earth. The indicated
direction is away from the
turbulent core of the galaxy.
A different proposal is that
the observed gravitational
waves are lapping back and
forth through the universe as
an aftermath of its explosive
birth, more than 10 billion
years ago. A furthcr residue
of this primordial "big bang'!
is a glow that seems to per-
vade the universe, primarilyl
at radio wave lengths.
This glow figured in an-
other announcement, made
yesterday by the National
Radio Astronomy Observa-
tory [Page 48].
It reported that the glow
l
1
I
"^'^'^ .■
y
Continued on Page 48, Column 3
— i-A.
\969
Scientist Announces That He Has Made Recordings of Gravitational Waves
Continued From Page 1, Col. 6
was illuminating dust clouds in
distant space whose composi-j
tion seems suitable for the
synthesis of organic Com-
pounds.
The report suggested that
"primitive life forms" might
have evolved there.
The discovery of gravita-
tional waves would help com-
plete the parallelism between
the behavior of the two long-
range forces In nature: gravity
and electromagnetism. Dr. Al-
bert Einstein, in his General
Theory of Relativity published
in 1916, predicted the discovery
of gravitational waves analo-
gous to electromagnetic waves,
such as those of radio.
Gravitational waves would
be shed by an asymmetrical,
spinning object just as radio
waves can be generated by an
oscillating or spinning electric
Charge. However, physicists
had despaired of ever observing
gravitational waves because
they would be so weak.
A dozen years ago Dr. Weber
began developing a detection
System, even though calcula-
tions showed that it could only
detect waves generated by a
cataclysmic event, such as a
Supernova (the collapse and
death of a star).
Such events occur In this part
of the Milky Way only once
everyfewcenturies. Dr.Weber's
detectors, however, are seeing
what appear to be gravitational
shock waves at least once a
week. They are seen almost
daily if one accepts indications
of lesser magnitude.
If his observing technique can
be refined, according to theo-
rists, it should be possible to
illuminate some of the most
basic Problems in science.
Gravity wave recordings may
test the various theories ad-
vanced to explain pulsers and
quasars — two recently discov-
ered classes of celestial objects
both of which generate power-
ful radio and light emissions.
It should be possible to dis-
criminate between the two con-
tending theories of general rel-
ativity. That derived by Dr.
c^nctein depended on a form of
^maticj' known as tensor
Dr. Joseph Weber with
model of the device he used.
calculus, but a rival version also
makes use of scalar calculus.
So far, gravitational effects
that might discriminate between
them have been too subtle to
provide a clear answer.
The gravity pulses may pro-
vide a clue to the whereabouts
of the "missing matter" in the
universe. As noted by Dr. Gart
Westerhout, a noted Dutch as-
tronomer, in commenting on
Dr. Weber's observations, the
motions of stars within our
galaxy show that they are un-
der the gravitational influence
of 40 per cent more matter
than can be seen.
Furthermore, if the picture
of the entire universe derived
from Dr. Einstein's calcula-
tions is correct, more than 90
per cent of its matter is miss-
wl^. Some believe that part of
this may be in the form of
*'black holes."
These are hypothetical spots
in the sky where a very large
star has died. With no more
heat to Support its structure,
the Star has contracted,
crushe<[ together by Its own
enorm n*is "A^iith^ ^
•%
its atoms could not withstand
the pressure.
Such an object, theorists
say, would be so dense that
its gravity would not permit
the escape of any light to tes-
tify to its presenco. Nor could
the light of a star beyond it
pass through such an object.
The latter would be evident
only as a "black hole'* in the
sky.
One proposed explanation
for the gravity pulses being
observed is that massive ob-
jects are falling into such a
black hole somewhere near by.
The missing matter question
is of philosophical, as well as
of scientific, importance since
it bears on the nature and des-
tiny of the universe.
If the total amount of ma-
terial in the universe can be de-
termined, this should indicate
whether it is infinite or finite
and whether it is destined to
expand fcrever or fall back to-
gether.
The current expansion can be
likened to a stone thrown high
and slowing as gravity seeks to
pull it back to earth. Either the
stone has sufficient velocity to
escape the earth, despite its
slowing, or it is destined to
fall back.
The expansion of the universe
appears to be slowing, but it is
not clear whether it will ulti-
mately stop and fall back to-
gether again. Some cosmolo-
gists believe the universe has
no beginning and no end, but
oscillates between periods of
expansion and collapse.
Colleagues Skeptical
A year ago Dr. Weber re-
ported the possible detection of
gravitational waves. The ex-
pected strength of such waves
is so weak that skeptical col-
leagues suspected he might be
recording earthquakes or other
local phenomena.
The detectors In his work
were all in the vicinity of the
university campus at College
Park, Md. Elaborate arrays of
seismic detectors were in-
stalled and have shown that
earthquakes do not have any
effect on the gravity detectors.
Another fear was that some
sort ,of electric Impulses, as
-^ »««»^htning fl- h raighl
trofrtsc/uGers
To cimpfifrcr
'^lurnmum
cy/rneden
The New York Time» j^ne 15, 1969
Detector of gravity waves consists of solid aluminum
cylinder suspended from a bridge cushioned against earth
tremors. Cylinder oscillates when a gravity wave front
parallel to its long axis passes through it. Oscillation is
then amplified, and the electric Impulses are recorded.
^rot
■i«..«
imprinting simultaneous pulses
on all the detectors.
This possibility has been
eliminated because one de-
tector has a built-in lag of 11
seconds in recording a gravity
event, whereas it would re-
spond immediately to an elec-
tric event. The 11-second lag
is observed in a number of the
events.
However, to eliminate any
possibility of a local effect, Dr.
Weber six months ago began
operating another detector at
Argonne National Laboratory
near Chicago. Its readings are
carried into the Maryland
laboratory by telephone line.
The simultaneous recordings
600 miles apart have con-
vinced Dr. Weber that gravity
waves are, in fact, being seen.
In the June 16 issue of Physi-
cal Review Letters he reports
that during an 81-day period
there were more than 17 "sig-
nificant" two-detector coinci-
dences, five three-detector co-
incidences and three events that
showed up on all four detectors
(three in Maryland and one in
Illinois).
Controversy Expected
He said the probability of two
triple-detector coincidences seen
on March 20 being accidental
was such that this would occur
only once in 70 million years
of ohj^^rv^ation. ^A was thereforo
"" • "he f' *« • .f
CAXADA Quebec
V
Montrecil
ILL.
PA.
Cl«vcl«3rvsi
W^'^i OHIO }t / N. jjNe^
W.VA. ^D>DE|^
ARGONNE
LABORATORY
The New York Times Junt 15, 1969
Gravity wave observations
were made at Argonne Lab-
oratory and College Park.
the coincidences could not be
accidental.
However, the university, in
making its announcement, ac-
knowledged that his findings
would be challenged by some.
The results promise, it said, "to
open Wide a vigorous contro-
versy in modern physics."
Each detector consists of a
massive cylinder of solid alum-
inum, suspended inside a vac-
uum tank from a bridge that is
cushioned against local shocks.
The elastic properties and di-
mensions of the cylinder are
such that, according to calcu-
lations based on the Einstein
equations, it should respond to
gravitatinnp*' '••'^'"^'- "• _ <- • .
l
quency is about 1,660 cycles a
second.
If the wave front is roughly
parallel to the axis of the cylin-
der, the latter should oscillate.
The frequecy was chosen be-
cause the collapse of a spin-
ning Star should generate a
hurst of gravitational waves
sweeping past 1.660 cycles. Os-
cillations of the cylinder are
sensed by piezoelectric crystals
around its waist. The resulting
electric Impulses are amplified
and recorded.
As set forth in relativity
theory, the medium through
which the gravitational wave
moves at the speed of light is
the sea of Space and time that
fills the universe. The geome-
try of this space-time is curved
in a subtle way, and is dis-
torted briefly as the wave
passes by. It is this distor-
tion that sets the cylinder to
oscillating.
The detectors are all oriented
east and west. At any one time,
they Scan a pole-to-pole sej^-
ment of the heavens over the
meridian of the eastern United
States on this side of the earth
and India on the far side.
Assumption Noted
It is assumed that gravita-
tional waves pass easily through
the earth.
As the earth turns on its axis,
the observations sweep around
the entire heavens. The finding
that the gravity pulses occcur
primarily at certain times in
this sweep implies one or more
primary sources. By reorientjng
some of the detectors, Dr.
Weber explained a few days
ago, it should be possible to
narrow down these sources.
A comparison of arrival times
of each pulse in Illinois and
Maryland should give additional
clues to their direction.
Dr. Weber has been making
continuous, high-precision ob-
servations of the earth's gravity
in Maryland, looking for
changes that might indicate os-
cillations of the entire earth in
response to gravitational waves.
The results so far are nega-
tive, but he hopes gravity In-
struments of greater sensitivity
can be installed on the earth
and moon. These could be uie-
in tandem to provide far n*
precise i-^^nr ' ' -^r
I
SCIE
\
i« I
/
\
RELATIVITY
Gravitating Toward Einstein
The General Theory of Relativity that
Albert Einstein piiblished in 1916 pro-
posed nothing less than an all-embrac-
ing theory of gravity. Over the years,
as scientists devised increasingly subtie
cxperimenLs to test Einstein's predic-
tions, the General Theory withstood all
challenges. But no one was able to
check Einstein's conclusion that massive
celestial bodies accelerating in space or
imdergoing cataclysmic events should
give off gravitational radiation, a form
of energy similar to radio waves that
travels at the speed of light. This week,
after more than a decade of work, Uni-
versity of Maryland Physicist Joseph
Weber oflfered the first convincing phys-
ical evidence of that elusive gravitational
energy.
To make bis measurements, Weber
and his colleagues built a gravitational
wave detector of extraordinary sensi-
tivity that can record extremely small
Stresses and strains caused in its own
structure by the impact of gravity waves
from distant space. But, Weber had to
be able to difFerentiate gravity-wave pat-
terns from those caused by any ter-
restrial movements or electromagnetic
disturbances, to say nothing of the con-
stant activity of the deiector's own
atoms.
Similar Peaits. To make this delicate
distinction, Weber set up identical in-
struments at his headquarters in Col-
lege Park, Md., and at the Argonne
National Laboratory, outside Chicago,
nearly 700 miles away. As expected,
the wave patterns traced out were at
first randoni and dissimilar because the
readings were being taken so far apart.
Then, for a brief instant last December,
the waves suddenly jumped into re-
markably similar, simultaneous peaks.
During the next seven months, the par-
allel movements occurred about 40 more
times. The only possible explanation for
those multiple coincidences, wrote Web-
er in a report to Pliysicai Review Let-
ters, a publication of the American Phys-
ical Society, was that the Instruments
had actuaily recorded gravity waves
from far out in space.
Although he has not yet pinpointed
the origin of the waves, Weber thinks
that they may have come from some
massive object in the Milky Way. Web-
er says that by measuring gravity waves,
astronomers may be able to explore
still other fascinating mysteries of space.
By building larger detectors, for ex-
ample, astronomers could learn more
about pulsars. If they are actuaily spin-
ning neutron stars, as many astronomers
have come to believe, they could be pro-
ducing the kind of gravitational effect
postulated by Einstein. The detection
of gravity waves, Weber adds, gives
man "a new set of Windows for the
study of the universe.*'
TIME, JUNE 20, 1969
o
-/
I
i:7r45PIEQESd
R8
DO^
aergeBi
\
£ins*«1rt-Briefe weiden
versteigert
r^el Brielfolgen von AH)*r»
fa V tieori* sind die Ha.pV-
deutschen Autogr«i.p
Stargardt In Marburg. Auen Oic
Stargiii TJpmrich Mann«
TT-oohrift von neinuLii
r It 'l>er Weg der deutschen
^?'tt''^93rßeschrieben, ^ird
Arbeiter , UJ« ^ ^^^^
versteigert.
4W
-1
1
e
4
1
r
e
r
e
n
a
s
Einstein sagte aD
vor einiger Zeit -schien ; im V^^a« «e^-^^^^^ ^r"}".
Stuttgart) ein ^^^^J^^, ^^^^^^^^^ ^eund und KoUe-
wcchsel zwisclien Albert ^3^^^^^" » V-Wohziß Briefe auß dem gol-
gen Arnold Sommerfeld wiedergabt ^^^J^^^^^^^f^^^er sprechen sich
denen Zeitalter der Physik Die «^^^^^^^^li^i^e Probleme au«,
darin offen über '^^V^^^l^llf^'^^S Interesse.
Einige Briefe sind auch von he rvo ragendem po ^i, da.s
zu Ihnen gehört ein Schreiben Einsteins au. üem ^^^^.^^
eine Ablehnung, an der UnWerMtat Muncf^en ^^ /^^^.^tenschaXt
naehdem antisemitische Treibereien unter aer ö
offenbar geworden waren:
Berlin, 27. September 1921
Lieber Sornmerfeld!
Diesmal schreibe ich Ihiien
ynit schwerem Herzen. Das
Neinsagen ist sowieso nicht
VI eine starke Seite, am iventg-
sten aber, we7in es gilt, einem
gegebenen Versprechen untreu
zu werden. Kurz gesagt: ich
iverde den angekündigten Vor-
trag in München nicht halten.
Längst schwante mir nichts
Gutes, weil ich über die Mmi-
chener Studenten-Atmosphäre
schon gar vieles gehört habe,
was mir nicht gefallen konnte^
Längst schon warnen mich
meine Freunde, mich von die-
sem antisemitisch-reaktionären
Wespennest fernzuhalten.
Aber ich hatte versprochen
und betrachtete mich als ge-
bunden. Nun lese ich aber von
Besprechungen, die die Leitung
der Universität mit Vertretern
der Studentenschaft im Vorge-
fühl möglicher Schivierigkeiten
geführt hat. Schon der Um-
stand, dass man solche Vorbe-
sprechungen für nötig hielt, oe-
rceist mir, dass ein offizieller
Besuch in München nicht am
Platze ist. Die Art und Weise
aber, wie sich jene Vertreter
ru dem Falle stellten, entbin-
det mich moralisch von jeder
Verpflichtung.
Es hat jnich sehr gefreut, in
wie schöner Vi^eise Sie bei dieser
Gelegenheit für mich eingetre-
ten siiid, mid es tut mir doppelt
leid, dass nun aus dem Zusam-
mensein mit Ihnen und Herrn
Anschütz nichts wird, auf das
ich ynich sehr gefreut hatte.
Aber dies lässt sich bei anderer
Gelegenheit unter weniger
schwierigen Bedingungen nach-
holen. Jedenfalls weiss ich
mich frei von irgend welchen
Empfindlichkeiten; ich halte
mich einfach fern von Gelegen-
heiten,die ztvecklos menschliche
Schtcierigkeiten mit sich brin-
gen. . . , .. ^ -
Macheii Sie kein böses Ge-
sicht, sondern stellen Sie sicß
auf gütiges Verstehen ein und
seien Sie herzlich gegrüsst von
Ihrem A. Einstein
o
y
famous
American sayings
see page 2
Albert einstein's life date^March 14, 1879-
April 18, 1955) parallel man*s evolution from
a tlme of kings and horse-drawn carriages to a
modern age of rockets and powerful energy
Forces that can work for world ease or world an-
nihilation. His theory, in 1905, that matter could
be tumed into energy, had a fearsome demon-
stration 40 years later when atomic bombs burst
over Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
In the Atlantic Monthly magazine of Novem-
ber, 1945, Einstein took up the subject of atomic
war and what it would mean to the world. "I do
not believe,*' he wrote, **that civilization will
be wiped out in a war fought with the atomic
bomb. Perhaps two thirds of the people of the
earth might be killed, but enough men capable
of thinking, and enough books, would be left to
Start again, and civilization could be restored."
SY SCIOMAN COUfCTION
yHE NEW YORK TIMES, MONDAY, JUNE 2, 1969
Japanese Statesman
Kiichi Aichi
T»
Pf
Man
In the
New»
Bv TAKASHI OKA
5.p«»cial to The N«w York Times
'TX)KYO, June 1— The For-
A eign Minister of Japan
reccntiy rccallcd his first
meeting wilh Albert Einstein.
It was in the early nineteen-
twcntlcs and Kiichi Aichi was
then a chubby, sports-loving
junior high school lad in the
northern castle city of Sen-
dai, whcre his father taught
physics al Tohoku
Imperial Univer-
sity. "You patted
me on the head
and told me to be-
coine a scholar,"
Mr Aichi later told Dr. Ein-
stein, on a Visit to the United
States after World War II.
"But I became a politician in-
stead."
Dr. Einstein was not dis-
p]eased, according to Mr. Ai-
chi's recollection. "You have
done a fine thing," he^ said
"Of course it is meanmgful
to contribute to mankind
through the discovery of
principles, but I fear that in-
vcntions like the hydropon
bomb can he usod for war.
I want von to work as a
statesman to prcvcnt wars.
Today Kiichi Aichi (pro-
nounced kec-EE-chee ah-KE-
chcc) a Short, soft-spoken
man with the persuasive
manner of a family lawyer,
is back in the United States,
lüs mission in Washinjjton
involves, at least in part,
statesmanlike evaluation of
the role nuclear weapons
play in the Far East.
o *••
Albert Einstein als Erfinder und Poet /
..Die obere Hälfte pidnt und denkt/
Derweil die untere uns lenkt . . .'
wer keime dut den Geddjiken, daß die-
ser resiqnierte Vers ä Id Wilhelm
Rusch von derselben Hdnd stdmmt, die
dds qewditiqo Gebäude der Reldtivi-
fdtstheorie errichtete? Es sind die
Sdilußzeilen eines Poems, äus der
Universität Princeton dn einen New
Yorker Freund gerichtet, dds sich mit
Gdlqenhumor über die Mdqenschmer-
/en beschwert, unter denen Albert Ein-
stein in den letzten zwei Jahrzehnten
seines Lebens zu leiden hatte.
Es wurde mir qestdttet. diese bisher
unveröffentlichten und unbekdnnten
Dokumente einzusehen, ehe sie in Lon-
don unter den Hdmmer kdmen. Es sind
keine wissenschaftlichen Enthüllun-
gen, und wir erfahren auch nicht,
wie weit Einstein bis zu seinem
Lebensende mit seiner Arbeit an der
Zur Londoner Auktion seiner Briefe
Allgemeinen Feldtheorie kam, die ihm
so am Herzen laq. Aber um so mehr
erfdhren wir über den Menschen, der
sie teils tippte, teils in seiner kleinen,
klaren, altmodischen Handschrift
schrieb.
Redit überraschend ist z. B.. daß sich
der qroße Physiker und Schöpfer des
modernen Weltbildes mit allerhand
praktischen Erfindungen befaßte —
teils dus Spaß und teils, um seinem
erfinderisch begabten Freund ßucky zu
helfen; Einstein erwog sogar, mit ihm
zu diesem Zweck eine Werkstatt ein-
zurichten. Eines der Geräte, an denen
sie arbeiteten, bezweckte die „propor-
tionelle Aufzeichnung von Schallwel-
len auf magnetischem Wege" — also
ein Vorlauter des Tonbandgeräts (der
Briefwechsel, mit Einsteins techni-
schen Skizzen, fand 1936 statt).
Eine andere Erfindung — die eben-
falls inzwischen verwirklicht wurde
war eine ,, Einrichtung zur automati-
schen Regulierung der Expositions-
Lichtmenqe bei fotogrdfischen Appara-
ten". Es war wohl eine Art Rückkehr
in die Jugendzeit, als Einstein beim
Berner Patentamt arbeitete und den
Erfindern half, ihre Patentschriften
aufzusetzen.
Einmal experimentierte er mit einem
neuen, von Bucky erfundenen Rönt-
gengerät. Die Sache qinq schief — es
gab einen Knall und viel Gestank. Ein-
stein brachte dem Freund die Sache
schonend bei: „Lieber Bucky! Zitternd
ergreife idi die Feder — schreibt der
Backfisch. Bei mir ist es aber nicht min-
der so ... Ich erinnere mich, daß bei
Lehmanns einmal alle Radioapparate
kaputtgingen, wenn ich in die Nähe
kam, und von meinem Kollegen Pauli"
— dem Nobelpreisträger für Physik
Wolfqang Pauli — „gibt es seit vielen
Jahren ein ähnliches Geriicht, das sich
auf alle physikalischen Apparaturen
und auch profane Häushaltssadien be-
zieht . .
Die politischen Krisen und die Lage
der Juden in Deutsdiland beschäftig-
ten ihn sehr. „Ich glaube", schrieb er in
pessimistischer Voraussicht schon im
Juli 1933. „daß jede Aktion, die auf
einen Verbleib von Juden in Deutsch-
land abzielt, der Vernichtung Vor-
schub leistet." Aber Einstein begnügte
sich nicht mit dem Theoretisieren.
Mehr als ein Dutzend Briefe sind prak-
tische Versuche, Hilfe zu bringen — ge-
fährdeten Flüchtlingen Visa für die
USA zu verschaffen, ihnen dort Stel-
lungen zu besorgen, die Behörden
wachzurütteln. Zweifellos verdanken
unzähliqe Emigranten ihm ihr Leben,
ihre Existenzmöqlichkeit.
Trotz seiner Freundschaft mit dem
Arzt hielt er nicht viel von der Medi-
zin. 1934 starb seine Stieftochter Ilse in
Paris An einer nicht diaqnostizierten
Krankheit. Sfine eigenen Magen-
schmerzen wollen nicht vergehen,
und auch die Bestrahlungsbehandlung
seiner Frau — er nennt sie liebevoll
, , meine Alte" — hilft ihr nicht. Schließ-
hch bekennt er (1943): Er gehöre zu
jenen, die vor die Alternative ,,gut
essen oder gut schlafen" gestellt, sich
für .,gut schlafen" entscheiden.
Vier Gedichtctien — - zum Teil auf
Mdkulaturpapier voller mathema-
tischer Formeln (für Allgemeine Feld-
theorie?) geschrieben — zeigen den
großen Mann als humorvollen Ge-
legenheitspoeten; ein Goethe oder
Heine war er allerdings nicht. Da
reimte er zu Buckys Geburtstag: „Zwar
das Alter Würde bringt./Doch man
freut sich nur bedingt,/Wenn — wie
der Geburtstag sagt —/Man vom Zahn
derzeit benagt..." Und die Moral:
„Laßt uns für den Rest der Zeit/Pflenrn
der Gemütlichkeit!" Nicht in seinen
Versen, sondern irgendwo als Neben-
satz in einem dieser Briefe, entdeckt
man ein Stückchen Einsteinscher
Lebensweisheit: „Nur wer nichts
sucht, ist vor Irrtum sicher."
Egon Larsen
iv . ^j . i i^ Wy/y/'/
'^^M
\ Alhrrl Kiiistrin und Arnold Somnirrfrld
»> * 1 <^" 'l'Hw /u ihrem Brief Wechsel
i
V
Ks ist ci-stMunlivli, d;ili os hislicr keine Ausiruhcn
von Rricl'en Einsteins, \ies wolil hedeulendstcii
iVaturforsehers des Jnlirlinnderls, ^eji^elu'n lint. Die
Briele grol.^er ForseluM' sind, \\io ilire ()ri«irin:d-
l»nl)likMti<)nen, Knltnivlekumenie ersten lintitres;
sie rühren ol't nnniittell)nrer als die tiii- die Ver-
öl'tentlielinn^' /ui'eclitjJTi'macliten Arl)eiten /u den
Ui'sin'iinyen nener hjeen, TlK^orien und llntdecknn-
<ien nnd kfinnen Kunde ffeben von den Ariihen,
den Irrunjicn, die juicli i\v\\ ^riWiten (Jeisteni nicht
ers]):irt hh^hen, alier anclj von (U'U iMiiprinihni^en
(U'r Freude, (h*r (lemitrtuuiip:, \N('nn ein <zr()Ber
Wurf e:el untren ist.
Ks sind .jel/.t endlich Aiistrentrunp:en in (Jaiiü:
uekoinnien. die l^»riere Einsteins l'iir eijie spätere
()(»sanitediti()n zu sMunncIn. I'nd aul' den liinulei'l-
sten (Jel)iirtsta^ Arn()ld Soriunertelds ist, ;ds ein
AntauGT, dessen Hriot'wechsel mit Albert Kinstein
heraus<,'eknriunen*. 1 lenuisyoher ist A. Heiinaiwi.
Protcssor für (leschichte <h'r Nnturwissenschat'teii
in Stuttgart. Kr lud den l)riet'en als Kenner de!
Kntw icklunjr der Pliysik in diesem Jahrhundert
Krliiuterun*>"en und Konnnentare iH^ityepfehen ujhI
den in Gruppen ffeoidneten KorrTspondenzen Kin-
leitungren vorany:est(*llt, vehdie die Je'\\eilij;en Sitn:i
tionen stdiihh'rn iH\vv \\\ Ki-inncj'unji' i'ul'en.
Aus dem (hdeitwort, das Max Pxu'n heißesten
erl hat. seien zwei Siil/e zitiert, irnt d<uen ein
kiuippe> nher U'el'tcndes HWA der l*ei'sr>nliclikeilen
der beiden liriet'stellcM' utniissen ist. <\)vy pliiln
M)])hiselie IMiysdvcr Kinsteiii jjreht itrinic! ;iiir. di{
letzten Prinzif)ien zn!"ii<-k, betiacditet d.'is Zcu
Jj^esclielwn von dei' Wjute hoher- MiMischlitddseil,
kennt nicht den (.ietcensjitz \on Fr'eund und Feind
und !M'}^n'<i:net ihMU llassenliaß, der ihn tiilTl.
mit kühler Veracht un«;.» «Sonurierleld ist im
(irunde un]>liilo-ophiscli \\\u\ sich dessen l)e\vuüt,
ist, atK»r ein Meister der theoretischen MetlnMle de?
IMjysik und handhat>t sie mit jjriiditem Ki'l'ol<r;
politisch '\>i er ein Patriot, leidet mit sein<»m \'olke
uud haßt dessen P\'i?ide (die Kniente wühn-nd
-u«i. "^»«1 naeh dem lOrsten Weltkrietr), nii'd iediu-li
aoiji dadurch nicht von seiner F'reundstdnilt und Vev-
-uod («hrunja: liir Kinstein al>j?('b rächt.» Sonunerl'eld
di'ückte sich in einc^in «lor Priele so aus: «fch
kann nur die Technik der Qunmen iru'dern, Sie
müssen ihre Philosoplue machen.»
Die in dem Rand wiodoriareofehene Korrespon-
denz setzt sich zusammen aus <>0 z\vis(dien P)l-
und 1949 ji:eschri ebenen l^rieten; 1\) davon stam-
men von Kinstein. Die Kinst^in-Briet'e wurden
vom Sohne Sonuiierlelds «naeh maneherlei Kecher-
ehen» im viiierli<dien Haus in Mürudien-Schwahinti:
als ein Konvolnt aur^el'unden; die Geo:enstück(^
konnte die einsti<;e Sekretärin Kinsteins. Helene
Duka.s, ans dem «Estate of Albert Kinstein» bei-
bringen. KinisTo Briete sind auch in Faksimile
reproduziert. P»ei<le Handsehrilten zeichnen sich
dnreh prroße Schliehtheit ans, sie sind, trotz ver-
kleinerter Wiedergal)e, gut h'sbar.
\xoi
au
-\\
-\
II
V
\
■\
\
\
Kinstein nnd S(.)mmerteld be^fe^neten sich zum
erstennml im Jahr 1909 an der durch einen Vor-
trag: Einsteins nnd die dem Vortrag folgende
«Erwiderung» Plancks berühmt gewordenen
Naturlorscherversamnilung in Salzburg. Zu dieser
Begegnung schrieb Einstein in einem Briet' an
J. J. Laub, er hal>e Rommerteld «.stürmisch» in
sein Herz geschlossen; er sei cgnnz verliebt» in
ihn, denn «er ist ein praclitvoller Kerl». Sommer-
feld drückte seine Empfindungen mit den Worten
aus, daß er «fortan dn« rJnPt-.v.! j — t^
sid)tileren Teilen in meiner Ein lall liir puren
liUxus ansah! (Jegen dieses Problem ist <lie
uis])rüngli(die Helativitätstheorie <Mne Kin^lerei.»
Im Ilerl»st 1915 war Kinstein so weit; er
hatte die riditigen (ileichungen liir das (Iravita-
tionsfehl gewonnen. In einem Bi-iel \'om 28. No-
\ einher 1915 teilte^ (']• Sonunerl'eld das «endgültige
Ki-gebnis>> !nit. In der Kinleitung zu dem \\y\v\
entschuldigt er sicdi, daß er so Innge nicht aul
die letzten P>riere geantwortet habe: '<Aber ich
hatte im letzten Moiuit eine dei* aurr(»geiulsten.
ansti-engendsten Zeiten meines Lebens, allerdings
auch der erl'olgrei<hsten.» Vm] nach der Präsen-
tution d(M* neuen (ileichungen schreibt er: «Das
llerrli«die, was ich erlebte, wai' nun. daß sich
nicht niii- die Ni'wtonsche 'i'heorie als er>te Nähe-
ituig, Kondein au<di die» Perihelbewegung des Mer
ku!- ( 1')'' pro .lahrluuulert) als zweite Näherung
ergab. ^-> In den fnloonden l'rieten beschäftigt sich
Kinstein mit den Bemühungen um ex])erimentelle.
das heißt astron(unis<-lie Beweise der allgemeinen
i^elativitätstheoiie, wobei er den in unfairer Weise
angerempelten ANtr(»mimen Fi'emidlich — auch
gegenüber Sonunerlehl - in Schutz nahm:
vcFreundlich ist dei- einzige Faidigenosse, d<'r mich
bis jetzt in meinen l»(>stn'bungen auf dem (lebiete
(iei- Mllgemeiucn l\*elat ivitätstheorie wii'ksnm utitei-
>'üt/,te.^
Im Verlaul des .lalire^ 1!)|S Ijmd lOinstein end-
lich Zt'il, sich Ml zwei kurzen Briden zu den
Aibeiten Sonunei'lelds über die relativistjs<'he Kr-
weiterung i\v^ Bohischen Atommodells zu äußern.
Im ersten Piriel steht der Sjttz: <;'^lhre Mitteilung
iib(>r die Theorie der Spekt rjdlinien (hat mich)
entzückt. Kiue ()ffenbarung!>> Im zweiten Brief:
Ihre S]>ektral-l ntei'suchungen gehören zu meinen
schönsten physikalischen Krlebni>sen. Dui'ch sie
\\ird Bohrs M<»e erst vollends überzeugend. Weim
i<'h nur wüßte, welche Schräulx-hcMi {\vv Herrgott
dabei anwendet.- Kiiu» junlere Formulieriuig <les
grundieürenderi Problems, des «(^uanteurätM'ls» lau-
let : «Das Autlallende ist, wieviel nmn mit klassi-
M-her Mechanik befrie<ligend macheji kaiui. \V(MUi
es nur einnud gelänge, das Prin/,ipi<*lle jin den
(Quanten einigennaßen zu klären.»
Im Winter 1918/19 herrschten in Berlin chaoti-
sche Zustüiule und auch der Hunger. Kinstein
bedankt si<di in einem Brief für «die freundliche
Sendung, bestehend aus ieru'r selten gewordenen
Materi(\» Auf Grund seiner guten P»eziehungen
zu Zürich verm«)<dite ei- lür (mu paai Wodun
den üblen rmständen zu entfliehen. Ks kam zu
einer Vereinbarung mit der Krziehungsdirektion
über einen Vortragszyklus an der Universität
zum Thema «Relativitätstheorie». Wegen «Heiz-
ferien» zog sich die Veranstaltung in die liinge,
so daß Kinstein eine Einladung na<-h München
absagen mußte. In einer Nachschrift zum Brief
über den jd)schlägigen Bescheid berichtet Kinstein
über die unter Edgar Meyer durch den Privat-
dozenten Bär durchgeführten PiXperimeide zur
Bestimmung der elektrischen Elementarladung, die
<lringend notwendig geworden war, weil Ehrenhaft
in Wien glaubte, Bruchteile der Elektronenladung
nachgewiesen zu hab(»n. «Die Ganzzahligkeit der
Ladung.sverhältnis.se eines Teilchens ist bereits
vollkommen gesichert»; und weiter heißt es: «Ein
anderer hiesiger Physiker hat den magnetischen
Kreiseleffekt sorgfältig nachgemessen; er findet
nur die Hälfte des theoretischen Wertes.» Es
handelte sich um die DiccoWn4-:-~ — » ••
die ')rganisation von ^r(^(\m^ \r
sieh brachten - iLT 7 ^"^''^»•^^«^ Stangen mit
Hotze hafte schon um 1 An "''''''' """'^''K'». Dio
"n.l damals vür. o i . ^ ''■"'"""' ''°^ ^"^''^^1.
^^■'•i' «r don C?on,| " w \'""'"'''[''^'^ angegriffen
-n Einstein M t Ixi, ertr'"' r '"'''"'"' "^'^ t^""
''••>'>? nicht, nnr der „nil"' '':'"'■"■ ^"■'"'"rnen-
r^'.ysik-er betSt™ Z^l' *"";'' P'-'"ni"onto
«<-l>Uft, aMen voran < e J^ K " ^"'""'"^i?on Ge-
""d Aer.tc in Rad vS.eL n' l'" ^''^'"•^•"'•«•l'er
Sosetzt durch b-^sartf^o Ä^ "m raur.ges Denkmal
1-0 den Rori t in der Pl':" 'T- T'^'"'™- (^^»n
•Ier-2J. 1920, S.eloiVon^f '""*"'" ^'eits..hrift,
«nd Heisenberrals Seiße T"^', ''" «"'"'"«■•feld
f'lmft und Stfttha le hs F'in"""' t' ^'^■'^"-
". Douts,.hIand» bezoiHmoto T^^T "'•"'"'''
Nadonalsozialistisolien Af„„!,'< 'T « "•''^ ""■'* den
dor theoretische Formal«, T^*? "*"^-- «"nd
Geiste Kinsteins, so 'S r d, r'h^'^' ^^''' ^""'
ansgezcichnet werden.» "'"^ Berufung
Zu die.ser Berurnnr.. ;o<^ *
mtimsten Foin^" gL'^ ^i •■jv'^*.'' •'^''''^''^ '"einer
I^nanl), die mir Heit b^'' 2,'t' Tf , ^^''"'''"
sonnen «ollen, .„ingt mi^^ m,- ^T '"'^'"" "'^''t
versehen.... ' Die unaTtt'/f r,"'' "'"""'• ="'
unanta-stbare IlaUuag Eiri-
1
(i«'sjirnl(Mlitiori /w snmrnclii. Iiiid jiul' dvw liuiwlcrl-
stcii (l('l)iirlstM*i Aniohl SonnucilVMs isl, nl> ein
Aiiljniijr, <l('ss(Mi P>ri('r\\i'chs('l mit Alluil l'üiislcin
iHTaiisi^ckornmcMi*. llcr'jiusyi'hor isl A. Ilcimjiiui.
l'rolcssor für (loscliichlo der N.MtiirwisstMisclinrh'ii
in Sliilljj^Mil. Kl- lijil (Im liriclVii jils Kenner dci
]\iil\\ icklinijr der Physik in diesem .lidirlnniderl
Mr'liiiilei'iinj^cn und Kommentare» hei«»« 'jachen niid
(\vn in C}nip])en jrcundneten Korrespondenzen Kin
l(Mtunj;en voi-smiüfestellt, >\eh-he die jeMeili^en Sitini-
tioiien s«']iil(h'i-n «Mler in Kriiincninji' iMilen.
Aus dem (Jeleilwoit , das Max Uorii h('i*cesleii
eit hat, seien zwei Siil/.e /itici't, nnl denen ein
knappe^ ah<*r 1 reitendes |->i!d d<'r Peisönlirhkeiti'n
i\vr h(Mden Urielsteder nrurissen ist. «Der philo
sopliiselK' Pliysikei- Kinstei?i fj:#dit, idjniei anl. di(
h'tzien l*rin/,ipien /nriirk. het rächtet <las /.eil
};fes<-helw'n von <lei' Warte hoher Mensciirn-hkeil,
kennt nicht den (Jem'iisatz \on Freund und Feiu«!
und hej^eyiH'l dem Kassenhali, der ihn trilTl.
mit kühler Verjuhtuii^.» «Sonnnerteld ist im
(Ji'nnde unidiih»-opliisrh und sich dessen bewuül.
ist ahei- ein Meister iU'V tiienrelis<'lien M<4luMle der
Physik imd li!in<lliaht sie mit irrüBtem Kriolj:-.
politisch ist er ein Patrii)t, leidet mit seinem \'olke
und haut dessen Feinde («lie Kntente wiihr-errd
uml naeli dem Krsten Weltkrie^r), uird .jed»>«di
<ladui<'h nicht von senier 1^'rtMuidschatt und Ver-
ehrung für Einstein ahj^ehracht.» Somrrierleid
(li'ücktü sich in ein<Mn der Rriel'e so aus: «\r]\
kann nur die Tecduiik der Quanten ITu-dern, Sie
müssen ihre Philosophie maclien.»
Die in dem Rand \viederg:et?el)ene Korrespon-
denz setzt sicli zusammen aus tiO zwiselren H)12
und 1949 geschriebenen Hrielen; 29 davon stam-
men von Einstein. Die Einstein-Piriel'e wurden
vom Solme Sonunertelds «na(di mancherlei Heclier-
elien» im väterlicdien Haus in MünclHTi-Schwabinji:
als ein Konxolut auiVret'unden ; <lie Geofeustücke
konnte die einstigre Sekretärin Einsteins, Helene
Dukas, aus dem «Estate ot' Albert Einstein» bei-
bringen. Einisre Briefe sind auch in Faksimile
reproduziert. P»eide Handschrilt^n zeichnen sieh
durch prroBe Schlichtheit aus, sie sind, trotz ver-
kleinerter Wiedergalx», g:ut lesbar.
Einstein und Sommerfeld bej^egneten sich zum
erstenmal im Jahr 1909 an der durch einen Vor-
trag Einsteins urul die dem Vortrag folgende
«Erwiderung» Plancks berühmt gewordenen
Natur forseherversamnilung in Salzburg. Zu dieser
Begegnung sehrieb Einstein in einem Briet' an
J. J. Laub, er hal)C Sommerfeld «stürmisch» in
sein Herz geschlossen; er sei «ganz verliebt» in
ihn, denn «er ist ein prax^htvoller Kerl». Sommer-
feld dnickte seine Empfindungen mit den Worten
aus, daß er «fortan da-s Gefühl der Bewunderung
und Verehrung für Einstein» hege. — Volles
V(»rstiindnis und die üeberzeugung von der l^edeu-
timg der Quantentheorie und der speziellen Rela-
tivitätstheorie für eine Theorie der Atomstruktnr
erlangte Sommerfeld erst, nachdem er sich im
Sommer 1910 wiihrend einer Wcndie in Zürich
<lurch Einst-ein hatte unterrichten lassen. Der
<ie<lankenauslansch über diese Probleme be-
schränkter; sich nachher auf wenige P>riefe. Gründe
hiefiir waren einmal, «lafi Einstein damals während
mehrerer Jahre mit der Schaffung der allgcweinon
R(;lativität>theorie so tief b(t>^-liäftigt war, daß
er, nach (Um WorU'n Sommerfelds, «für alb's
Miniere tmib ist»; d;um auch, daß Einstein der
fesU'n Heberzengurrg war, daß die <'<diskontinuier-
iiche» Quantentheorie nicht die endgültige; Theorie
sein kÖTme, sondeni durch eine «Kontiniuuns-
theorie.^ abgehist werden müsse. Djjzu zwei Steihm
:ius einem P.rief Einstcirrs, von Zürich, *29. Oktolu^r
1912: «... i<-|i versichere Ihnen, daß ich in der
Quariteusache nichts N(Mie.s zu sagen weiß . . .», und:
^< Ich beschäftige mich .jetzt ausschließlich mit dem
<iravitalions|)roblem und glaube nun mit Hilfe
eines hiesigen befr-cMindeten Mathematikers (Marcel
Großrrrann) aller Schwierigkeiten Jlorr zu werden.
Aber das eine ist sicher, daß i<'h mich im Leben
TUH-h nicht arniähernd so geplagt habe, und daß
ich grc.ße Hochachtrmg für die Mathematik ein-
gelhißt bekommen habe, die ich bis jetzt in ihren
*An>ort Eiüstoiii - Arnold Sonuiierfcld. Hriefwoch
>el. Verlag BtMuio Scliwal»c, P.a.sel ll)ü8.
Im V'erlaul des .lalu'c^ IJ)IS fand l']instein end-
li(li Zeit, si(di in zwei kurzen Hrielen zu den
.\r-beiten Somnieilelds über die relativistische F]r-
ueiterurig des lM)hrs(dien Atommodells zu äußern.
Im ersten Brief steht der Satz: <;'^IIire xMitteilung
über- die Thenrie der Spektiallinien (hat mi«'h)
entzückt. Eine Offenbarung!» Im zweiten Brief:
s Ibj'c Spekiral-rntei'sucliungen gehören zu meinen
schönsten pliNsikalischen Erlebnissen. Dru'ch sie
wird P»olir*s Idee,' ei'st vollends über'zeugeird. Wenn
ich nur wüßte, welche Schräiibchen der- Herrgott
dabei anwendet. Eine andere» Formulierimg <les
grundlegendcMi Pi'oblems. des «Qnanteniiit.M'ls» lau-
let : «Das Auttallernle ist, wieviel num mit klassi-
scher Mechanik belriedigend machen kann. Wenn
es nur einmal gelänge, das Prinzipielle an den
Quanten einigennaßen zu klären.»
Im Winter 1918/19 herrschten in P.erlin <diaoti-
schc Zustände» und auch der Hunger. Einstein
bedankt sich in einem Brief liir «die freundliche
Sendung, bestehend aus jener selten gewordenen
Materie».» Auf Grund seiner guten IVzi(»liungon
zu Zürich vermochte er tür ein paar Wochen
den ül)len rinständen zu entlliehen. Es kjun zu
einer Vereinbarung mit der Erzieluuigsdirektion
über einen Vortragszyklus an der Universität
zum Thema «Relativitätstheoriev. Wegen «Heiz-
ferien» zog sich die Veran.staltung in die Länge,
so daß Einstein eine Einladung nach Mürndien
absagen mußte. In einer Nachschrift zum Brief
über den abschlägigen Bescheid berichtet Einstein
über die unter Eilgar Meyer durch den Privat-
dozenten Bär durchgeliihrten Experimente zur
Bestimnumg der elektrischen Elementarladung, die
dringend notwendig geworden war, weil Ehrenhaft
in Wien glaubte, Bruchteile der Elektronenladung
nachgewiesen zu haben. «Die Ganzzahligkeit der
Ladungsverhältni.sse eines Teilchens ist bereits
vollkommen gesichert»; und weiter heißt es: «Ein
anderer hiesiger Physiker hat den magnetischen
Kreiseleffekt sorgfältig nachgemessen; er findet
nur die Hälfte des theoretischen Wertes.» Es
handelte sich um die Dissertationsarbeit von
E. Beck an der KTU, dessen Ph-gebnis, zu jener
Zeit unverständlich, ein(>n ersten Hinweis auf
den Elektroncnspin bedeutx'te.
Die Schlußsätze dieser Nachschrift siiul arrch
erwähnenswert: «Hier wimmelt es von (hungr-igen)
Theoretikern. Abraham ist da, Laue kommt bald
her, auch Debye wollte kommen. Alle freuen sich
auf Ep.stein.» Bei der Aufzählung dieser Namen
leuchtet die Krinnerrmg auf an jene Jahre, die
Sommerfeld als «das golderre Zeitalter der Physik
unseres Jalirhund(»rts» bez(»ichnete. Den von Eiir-
stein gcnannU^n bedeutenden Physikern sind die
Namen damaliger prominenter Profe.ssoren unserer
Hochs<diulen beizufügen, die wichtige Beiträge zum
Ausbau der neuen Theorien leisteten, die man,
liehen den Vorh'sungen, an Veranstaltungen (hr
Zürcher Physikalischen Gesellschaft kennenzu-
lernen Gel(>gerdieit hatte: neben Debye die Mathe-
matiker Weyl und Zermelo; später SchrÖKlinger.
U(»ber (»ine solche Veranstaltung schrieb Sommer-
feld an Einstein nach Priiiceton: «Hier war eine
kleine Tagung über den festen Körper zum
nO. Jubiläum <hT Zürcher Physikalischen Gesell-
schaft. Bei den rückbli(»kenden Ansprachen wurde
Ihrer oft gedacht. Es herrscht ein guter Geist in
<lieser Stadt, die Sinn hat für die Würde der
Wissenschaft.»
Viele Briefe gewiihren Eird)licke in den dama-
ligen Betrieb an den deutschen Hochschulen, ins-
besondere über «Schiebvmgen». die bei Besetzun-
gen von Lehrstühlen praktiziert wurden, und an-
dere wieder geben Kunde von den Mühen, welche
ueut.v|,en l'li.vsik,il,.s,.|H.„ Üt..sells«.i,af/.
«•••il or ,hn Nu( Lis W. ,^"'"""''- ''''' »"STrsrif/c.,,
-•• Ei„st,.i„ l,iH :^i ;'' t'"'" ,'•'""'""" '""' t«^"
«■''"Ut, allen vorn j v , ' "'" ^'■'"'>'">^is«'n G.-
•""' Aorxto in I ",1 V .ui^fn?""'''""" Natnrfors<.l,er
""■t mivorlMilluT a^^l ,t,'.'*-7' '" r-"" '^i-sfi»
I '-so <lon Ron-,, t in ,0 7> " 'T- T""'"'"- '««"
«eiste Einstein«, «07^1;""^''*'' ^"'^^ ^''""
ausgezeicimet wcnlonl ^ "^ """' ßcniiung
'ntims«.„ Feinde" Gi^i-i;'-".^'"''^''^ "•«"er
Starck) vard Leonardo da ^IT" <J<''"»'nas
sonnen wollen, zuinrt S !, ^'f'^o^Ser nicht
1
1L^I
y
Süddeutsche Zeitung Nr. 64
^ijtttlkton
Samstag/Sonntag, 15./ 16. März 1969
HEDWIG BORN
Albert Einstein
ganz privat
Am 14. März wäre Albert Einstein 90 Jahre alt geworden. Die folgende Erinnerung an ihn wird in einem
Buch erscheinen, in dem der Physiker Max Born und seine Frau Hedwig — unter dem Titel „Der Luxus
des Gewissens" — „Erlebnisse und Einsichten im Atomzeitalter" schildern. Den Band bereitet die
Nymphenburger Verlagshandlung vor, die außerdem im Herbst den Briefwechsel zwischen den Nobel-
preisträgern Einstein und Born publiziert.
Wenn es uns vergönnt ist, Vollendung in
irgendeiner Form zu erleben, uns, die
wir uns, selbst unvollendet, im Unvoll-
endeten herumtreiben, so wird das unauslösch-
lich unserem ganzen Menschen eingeprägt blei-
ben. Wir werden nie wieder vergessen können,
daß es das gibt und daß es erreichbar ist. So
muß es jedem ergangen sein, der Einstein nahe-
kam. Fast dürfte man nicht solch große Worte
gebrauchen, wenn man von ihm spricht, und es
ist gut, daß er nicht seine Nachrufe lesen kann.
Ich habe oft mit ihm über seine Berühmtheit
gelacht, die die sonderbarsten Blüten trieb. Und
da möchte ich gleich das einzige Gedicht, das
ich von ihm kenne, hier abschreiben. Ich hatte
ihm öfters lustige Verse geschickt, und einmal
(Februar 1920) schrieb mir Frau Elsa: „Albert
macht Ihnen Konkurrenz, er hat kürzlich fol-
gendes Verslein unter ein Bild geschrieben, das
eine Dame sich zum Geburtstag kaufte und ihm
ins Haus sandte, damit er eine Widmung
schreibe:
,,V^o ich geh' und wo ich steh'
Stets ein Bild von mir ich seh'.
Auf dem Schreibtisch, an der Wand,
Um den Hals, an schwarzem Band.
Männlein, Weiblein wu7idersam
Holen sich ein Autogramm.
Jeder will ein Kritzel haben
Von dem hochgelehrten Knaben.
Manchmal denk' in all dem Glück
Ich im lichten Augenblick:
Bist verrückt du etwa selber,
Oder sind die andern Kälber?
Ich werde nie den ersten Besuch Einsteins bei
uns vergessen. Es wird etwa Anfang 1916 in
Berlin gewesen sein, als er mit der Geige zu
uns kam, um mit meinem Manne zu musizieren.
Wohlwollen ging von ihm aus, als er mir die
Hand schüttelte und sagte: „Ich höre, Sie haben
graS* ein Junges gekriegt?" Und dann stellte er
die Geige hin, zog seine ,Röllchen' ab — die
losen Manschetten des sparsanrien Mannes —
und schmiß sie in irgendeine Ecke. Dann wurde
Haydn gespielt, den er damals besonders liebte.
In jenen düsteren Kriegsjahren in Berlin hat
mir Einsteins völlige Unabhängigkeit von sei-
nem eigenen Ich und seine serene Schau, weit
über das Nächstliegende hinweg, innere Not in
befreiendes Glücksgefühl verwandelt. Einmal
wurde Einstein sterbenskrank, und hätte seine
Kusine Elsa, damals noch nicht seine Frau, ihn
nicht aufopferungsvoll gepflegt, so hätte es ihn
vielleicht sein Leben gekostet. Bei einem mei-
ner Besuche, als er mit heiterer Ruhe über den
Tod sprach, fragte ich ihn, ob er denn keine
Todesangst habe. „Nein", sagte er, „ich fühle
mich so solidarisch mit allem Lebenden, daß es
mir einerlei ist, wo der einzelne anfängt und
aufhört." Hier spricht sich die letzte Einheit im
Menschlichen aus, die er zeitlebens in den
Naturgesetzen suchte.
Es ist wohl nicht verwunderlich, daß gerade
er mir half, mich unter den ,objektiven' Natur-
wissenscliaftlern nicht mehr wie auf eine eisige
Mondlandschaft verschlagen zu fühlen. Um
mich herum stürmte die moderne Physik vor-
wärts — hier allein gab es »objektive Wahrheit',
die mir unglücklicherweise nichts bedeutete,
und alles Menschliche würde womöglich bald in
naturwissenschaftlichen Ausdrücken beschrie-
ben werden können. Da fragte ich Einstein ein-
mal: „Ja, glauben Sie denn, daß sich einfach
alles auf naturwissenschaftliche Weise wird
abbilden lassen können?" — „Ja*S meinte er.
„das ist denkbar, aber es hätte doch keinen
Sinn. Es wäre eine Abbildung mit inadäquaten
Mitteln, so als ob man eine Beethoven-Sympho-
nie als Luftdruckkurve darstellte." Das war
tröstlich.
Einige Male habe ich bei Einsteins gewohnt,
nachdem wir Berlin verlassen hatten. Einmal
war Einstein verreist, und ich wurde in seinem
Zimmer untergebracht. Während die übrige
Wohnung mit Frau Elsas schweren Möbeln
angefüllt war, gab es hier nur das Notwendig-
ste und dies von spartanischer Einfachheit:
Bett, Nachttisch, Tisch, Stuhl, ein Liegestuhl,
ein Bücherbrett, auf dem einige mit Bindfaden
verschnürte Bündel von Sonderdrucken lagen.
Keine Decke, kein Bild, kein Teppich. „Jeder
Besitz ist ein Stein am Bein", und: „Es gibt
nichts, auf das ich nicht jeden Augenblick ver-
zichten könnte." Viel später, 1949, fragte ich ihn
einmal brieflich, wie er zum Ideal des „einfa-
chen Lebens" stehe, wie es die Gesellschaft der
Freunde (Quäker), zu denen ich seit 1937 in
Edinburg gehörte, ihren Mitgliedern anemp-
fiehlt, weil sie in jeder Art von persönlichem
Luxus die Saat der Kriege erblickt. Er antwor-
tete: „Nun fragen Sie mich, wie ich es mit dem
einfachen Leben halte. Ich habe einfach mehr
Freude am Geben als am Empfangen in jeder
Beziehung und nehme mich nicht wichtig, auch
das Treiben des Haufens nicht, schäme mich
nicht meiner Schwächen und Laster und nehme
von Natur die Dinge mit ?Iumor und Gleichmut
hin. Viele sind ja so, und ich kann es absolut
nicht begreifen, daß man aus mir eine Art Idol
gemacht hat. Es ist wohl ebensowenig zu be-
greifen, als warum eine Lawine gerade mit
einem Stäubchen losgeht und einen bestimmten
Weg nimmt."
Wer sonst, außer Einstein, könnte sagen, daß
er „einfach mehr Freude am Geben als am
Empfangen habe", ohne ein peinliches Gefühl
zu erwecken. Er stellte fest, was „einfach" da
war. Und das tat er auch bei anderen, mit Milde
und Humor. Er hatte ungeheure Freude an Wit-
zen. Ja, einmal während des Ersten Weltkrie-
ges, als ich ihn um gute Lektüre für eine Reise !
bat, schickte er mir ein Buch der „Hundert be-
sten jüdischen Witze". Einmal hatte ich gegen
einen seiner Witze über die Weiber, als meiner
Meinung nach ungerecht, protestiert. Da
schrieb er: „Mein Witzchen dürfen Sie nicht zu
genau betrachten und nicht nach dem Prinzip
entweder-oder. Es ist weder so ganz ernst ge-
meint, noch macht es auf Eindeutigkeit der
beabsichtigten Behauptung Anspruch: man
schmunzelt und geht zur Tagesordnung über.
So wie mit den Witzen ist es wohl ein bißchen
auch mit den Bildern und Theaterstücken. Ich
denke, sie dürfen nicht nach logischem Schema
riechen, sondern nach einem deliziösen Stück
Leben, schillernd in verschiedenen Farbtönen je
nach der Lage des Betrachters. Wenn man sich ,
von dieser Verschwommenheit entfernen will, I
dann muß man eben Mathematik machen. Und
selbst diese erreicht ihr Ziel nur dadurch, daß
sie unter dem Seziermesser der Klarheit sub-
stanzlos wird. Lebendiger Inhalt und Klarheit
sind Antipoden, einer räumt das Feld vor dem
andern. Das erleben wir jetzt geradezu tragisch
in der Physik." (15. 1. 1927)
Die Unabhängigkeit Einsteins vom eigenen
Ich und v^on anderen, auch denen, die ihm nahe
waren, war nicht kalt. Er brauchte die Men-
schen nicht, aber er hatte innige Freude an
ihnen, und er litt mit ihnen. Wenn die breite
Öffentlichkeit, der es nur um die Berühmtheit
ging, nicht rücksichtslos in seine Zurückgezo-
genheit eingedrungen wäre, um den Widerstre-
benden herauszuzerren, so hätte sie von ihm
nur sein Eintreten gegen Ungerechtigkeit, Un-
terdrückung und Unrecht jeder Art erfahren.
Das Problem des Individuums und der Gemein-
schaft kehrte in unseren Gesprächen und Brie-
fen wieder. Auch er war dem Gesetz des Opti-
mismus der Jugend und der Resignation des
Alters unterworfen, wie zwei Stellen aus seinen
Briefen belegen mögen: „Ihr Brief, liebe Frau
Born, war wirklich vortrefflich. In der That
besteht das Wohlthuende an der japanischen
Gesellschaft und Kunst darin, daß das Indivi-
duum so harmonisch im großen Rahmen steht,
daß es in der Hauptsache nicht sich selbst, son-
dern seine Gemeinschaft erlebt. Jeder von uns
hat sich in der Jugend danach gesehnt ^nd hat
resignieren müssen. Denn von allen Gemein-
schaften, die für uns in Betracht kommen,
möchte ich mich keiner hingeben, es sei denn
die Gemeinschaft der Suchenden, welche jewei-
len nur wenig lebende Mitglieder zählt."
(29. 4. 1924)
Und 1949 schrieb er, In Antwort auf einen
Artikel von mir, in dem ich zu zeigen suchte,
daß die christliche Ethik sich nur an das Indivi-
duum wendet und die Masse sozusagen das
Endprodukt des Verbesserungsvorgangs ist und
daß man nicht mit der Masse anfangen kann
und beim Individuum enden, weil das Indivi-
duum inzwischen sein freies Verantwortungs-
gefühl und seine ethische Initiative eingebüßt
hat: „Ihre These, daß die Befreiung von der
Ich-Fessel den einzigen Weg zu einer befriedi-
genden Menschehwelt bildet, halte ich für
durchaus richtig. Es ist aber doch auch so, daß
man nicht alles auf das Individuum abstellen
kann, da in einer auf rücksichtslose Konkur-
renz eingestellten Gesellschaft (Institutionen)
die soziale Veranlagung des Individuums ver-
kümmern muß. Die Bemühung um Besserung
muß daher wohl beide Quellen des mensch-
lichen Verhaltens betreffen."
1
NEW WiKK POST. TUESDAY. JANUARV 28. 1969
,>
Mvrtjgtfim^,^
THE WILL TO LIVE
ARTICLE i;
WE CANNOT ALVVAYS avoid anxiety,
l)ut wo nopd not remain its doTcnse-
less victiins. Therc aro stop-; wo can take.
One is to tackle tho
fears thomselves and
soe whether they
have any basis in
reality At the on
slaught of anxiety
the most capablo
adult may be thrown backwaid in time,
into the state of panic of a frightened
child. Biit he can stop and reniember: he
is Tio longer a child and helpiess. He is
an adult with \X)\vev and judgment to
act in his own behalf.
Nor do \ve noed to be heroes and
manage all this by ourselves. It is not
an act of weakness to accept the doc
tor's help, and take the sedative or
sleoping pill that he prescril>es. Sleep
and rest restore tho energies to co{)e
with stiess.
The tranquilizer^; hclp to calm the
frantic, diiven feeling of anxiety, and
to relax tenslons so that one can carry
on one's everyday lifo at less cost (al-
thoLigh \ve nuist remomber that these
drugs nuist be used with caution, sinco
they may also deopon a dv^prcssion and
thus hindor rather than support the
will to liveK
By themselves thoso alds of mediclne
will not silence alto^'ethor the troubling
whispers froni within. But they do en-
able US to face a painful dilemma. They
buy US time so that we can gain some
objectivity toward a troubling Situa-
tion.
Th<\v grant a person a rospite during
which he can consolidate his physical
and emotional resources. With such aids
we como to manage our anxiety, and
turn its essential dcstructiveness to
positive purpose in tho cause of health.
For this positive purpose we need
to look more closoly at that destructive
force, of which our anxiety wams us.
• • •
THE P ATIKNT SAT ON THK EDGK OF
her chair. ready to run away. "Prob-
ably I shouldn't havc come at all," she
Said. "I've beon to so many doctors.
Maybo there's no help for me."
After a hesitant pause, she went on.
••First I was treated by our family
physician. After two years of trying, he
gave up. He said he had given me 'every-
thing in the book.' He sent me to a
specialist. '
Then the patient named specialist
DR. EINSTEIN
*The grand aim of ftcience . . /
In recent decades, the inedirctl pro-
fession hus inrreashirflfj embraced the
viev: that mlnd und bodi/ are indiris
ible and mn^t he treated as one; that
inayiif phijfiiccil disease^H are influenred
at Jeast in part by emotional faetors.
Dr. Arnold A. Hntschneeker is
especiaUjf well quaUfied in the field of
psychosomatic medkine. He hau been
a practi('in(j physician in New York
siyice 1f)S6 and a psyrhotherapint as
well for the past decade. He was in the
news shortlif after the last eleetian
whcn it became Inown that Richard
Nixon had been a patient of his dur-
ing the '5os.
''The Will to Live" is a study of the
emotioyial factor.s in illness.
one that doctors hear most offen: "I
have no energy." Many, liko the anxious
ones we have already seen. are conscious
of tensions, norvousness, inner fears.
But whethor or not they are aware of
their anxiety, most of them knovv that
they are always tired.
These tired peoplo often spoak with
envy of someone the\' knovv who soenia
to be tired, who moves and talks with
ine xhaust ible vigor. They wonder at
such an abundance of energy. They a
jealous of anyone who can eat a
digest, who can fall asleep and ar^
refreshed.
Resignedly they console themselves
with the thought that fate has favored
DR. FREUD
'Two basic instincts . . .'
A mental patient has surrendored not
his body but his mind to the enemy.
A Schizophrenie has givon up reality in
Order to survivo; this is his expression
of the will to lise.
Dr. Karl Monninfjor has reported
startling evidonce of this from his To-
I>eka, Kan., clinic. Ho find*^ that psv
chotics as a rulo onjoy the most robust
health. and that they do not liogin to
suffer physical illness until they are
on the way to regaining their mental
health. As they return to reality and
engage once more in the strugglo of
living, they l>ecome once more vulner-
able to illness of the body.
A man whose illness is of the l)odv
has not given up. Ho may surrender
oigan after organ to disease, as a re-
treating army surrenders town after
town. He may givo up. step by step,
his capacity for active living. Ho is
fighting, but it is a losing battle. Ho
turns to the physician for help. only
to find too often that the physician is
as helpiess as himsolf.
• • •
TO INDERSTANII THE WOMAN
whom we have left sitting on . the
edge of her chair in my Office, as well
a^ the millions of sufferers like H^
US investigate this potential eneu^k^
ithin each one of us.
Einstein once declared, "The grand
aim of all science is to cover the great- •*!
est number of empirical facts by loglcal
deductions from the smallest number
of hypotheses or anxioms.
1
»
A _ . 1
m» mh
i
BOOK
DIGEST
lY ARNOLD HUTSG(<N£CKEf^, r ^,
ARTICLE U
ITTE CANNOT ALVVAYS avoid anxioty,
"^ but wo noed not romain its dofcnse
less victiins. Thore aio sLops wo can take.
One is to tackle tho
foars thomselves and
soe whether they
have any basis in
loality. At the on
sla Light of anxiety
the most capable
adult may bo thiown backvvaid in timo,
into tho State of panic of a frightened
child. But he can stop and rememl>er: he
is no longer a child and helpless. He is
an adult with power and judgment to
act in his own behalf.
Nor do wo need to be heroes and
manage all this by ourselves. It is not
an act of weakness to accept the doc
tor's help, and take the sedative or
sleeping pill that hi^ iMescril)es. Sleep
and lest restore the energies to cope
with stiess.
The tranquilizers help to calm the
frantic, driven feeling of anxioty, and
to relax tonsions so that one can carry
on one's evoiyday lifo at less cost (al-
though wo must remember that these
drugs must be used with caution, since
they may also dtn^pen a depre;ssion and
thus hinder rather than support the
will to livcK
Ey thomselves theso aids of medicine
Will not silence altogother the troubling
whispers froni within. But they do en-
able US to face a painful dilemma. They
buy US time so that wo can gain some
objectivity towaid a troubling Situa-
tion.
They grant a person a respite during
which he can consolidate his physical
and emotional resources. With such aids
we come to manage our anxioty, and
turn its essential destructiveness to
positive purix).se in the cause of health.
DR. EINSTEIN
*The yrand aim of acience . . /
In recent decaden, the ruerilral pro-
fession ha.'i increashuflij embraced the
i'ieiv thut mtnd and bodi/ are indivin
ible and must be treated as one; that
manif phijsiccd diseases are inflnenced
at Jeast in part bif emotional factors.
Dr. Arnold A. Hut schnecker is
especiallij well quulified in the fieUi of
psi/chosomatic medicine. He hafi beey\
« practicimj physician in New York
siyiee /.O.lß and a psi/rhotherapist as
well für the punt decade. He loas in the
news Short hl after the Inst election
whcn it became knnwn that Richuni
Nixon had been a patient of his dur-
ing the '50s.
*'The Will to Lire" is u studij of the
emotioyiul faetors in illness.
one that doctors hear most often: **I
For this positive purpose we need have no energy." Many, like the anxious
to look more closely at that destructive ones we have already seen. are conscious
of tensions, nervousness, inner fears.
But whothei- or not they are aware of
force, of which our anxioty wams us.
• • •
THE P ATIKNT SAT ON THIO EDGK OF
her chair, ready to run away. "Prob-
ably I shouldn't have come at all," she
Said. "I've been to so many doctors.
Maybe there's no help for me."
After a hesitant pause, she went on.
"First I was treated bv our familv
physician. After two years of trying, he
gave up. He said he had given me 'every-
thing in the book.' He sent me to a
spocialist. *
their anxiety, most of them know that
they are always tired.
These tired people often speak with
envy of someone they know who seonis
to be tired. who moves and talks with
inexhaustible vigor. They wonder at
such an abundance of energy. They ar
jealous of anyone who can eat a
digest, who can fall asleep and ar^
i'ofreshed.
Resignedly they console thomselves
I
DR. FREUD
'Tivo basic instincts . . /
A mental patient has surrendered not
his body but his mind to the enemy.
A Schizophrenie has given up reality in
Order to survive; this »s his expression
of the will to live.
Dr. Karl Menning^r has reported
Start ling evidence of this from his To- i
jieka. Kan., clinic. He find*< that psy-
chotics as a lule enjoy the most robust
health. and that they do not l)egin to
suffer physical illness iintil they are
on the way to regaining their mental
health, As they return to reality and
engage once more in the struggle of
living. they l>ecome once more vulner-
able to illness of the l>ody.
A man whose illness is of the body
has not given up. He may surrender
« -ijan after organ to disease, as a re-
treating arniy surrenders town after
town. He may give up. step by step,
his capacity for active living. He is
fighting, but it is a losing battle. He
turns to the physician for help. only
to find too often that the physician is
as helpless as himself.
• • •
TO INDKliSTAN» THK WOM.VN
whom we have left sitting on.the
edge of her chair in my office, as well
as the millions of sufferers like Her,
[ US investigate this potential enen>^
ithin each one of us.
1
!
^\
Then the patient named speciali^t with the thought that fate has favored
Einstein once declared, *'The grand
aim of all science is to cover the great-
est number of empirical facts by logical
deductions from the smallest number
of hypotheses or anxioms.*
j
»»
gists, internists, surgeons and even a
chiroi)ractor. She had had two years of
Psychiatric treatment. Sho had under-
gone two Operations.
Each doctor made a different diagno-
sis. She was told she had low blood
sugar, an asthenic heart, an anemic con-
dition. One doctor susi>ected Cancer of
the pancreas and oj>erated on her; there
was no Cancer. Each time a doctor suc-
ceeded in rclieving one symptom, an-
other appeared. She had dizzy s{>ell3,
A —
j-.r:..:i :^ . x.^
.^:
grants some an elegant figure, a hand-
some face or an outstanding talent.
They are dashed to leain that the
vigorous man does not necesarily pro-
duce more energy, but only uses it
more effectively, that his energy is not
dissipated but channeled.
With these woary men and women.
energy seems to ooze away. It disap-
l>ears like a river which vanishes Under-
ground, leaviiig bareiy a trickle on the
surface. It is a liuv of physics that no
paipitations, headaches. stomach pairis. energy is lost. Where does it go then?
I asked her what troubled her now. A man in conflict is like a countiy in
'T feel terribly tired," she said. "My a State of civil war. He is battling des-
legs are heavy. I can bareiy get through perately against rebollious forces with-
the day. I can't stand noise. I can't in himself.
stand crowds. I have Indigestion no A man who commits suicide Is one
matter what I eat. I have no energy . . ." who has surrendeied to , this inner
Of the many Symptoms of which pa- enemy, and by his own band Completea,
tlents coniplain, this seems to be the his destruction. ^^ '
WO find just such a grand aim accom
plished. One man, almost at the end of
a long lifo of study, arrived at a Single
formula which seem to oxplain the
great and infinitely varied of man's
Symptoms of illness.
The man was Sigmund Freud; the
foiTnula, his theory of the instincts. The
thesis stated in his last papers is still a
subject of argument. Yet it has the
potency of an all embracing, master-key
conception. It seems to give the only
Single logical explanation for man'a
otherwise incomprehensiblo i n v o 1 v e •
ments and dilemmas.
Long l)efore Fieud, U was khuwa Xu7t\
man's strongest drives are instinctual;
that is, they are born within him an«i
constitute an essential part of his na-
tura, Tt is importarifc ;tt|Jie«noml>er ihatt
the instincts aie not conscious or re*r
\
1
l
/7^
/
I
J
I
^.*U,j$^.ri.
1
Carus Gallery 243 Hast 82nd Street New York, NY 10028 (212) TR 9 4660
JOSEF SCHARL (Munic 1896-1954 New York)
1
2
3
8
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
Portrgits of Albert Einstein
Oll Painting. Signed and dated. 19" x 15 1/2".
Oil Painting. 1954. Not completed. 32" x 25".
Pen and Ink drawing. Signed and dated. Princeton,
September 9, 1950. 14 3/8" x 11 1/2". Also signed
by Einstein.
Pen and Ink drawing. Signed and dated. Princeton,
September 22, 1951. Also signed by Einstein. 24" x 18".
Pen and Ink drawing. Signed and dated. Princeton,
September 22, 1951. Also signed by Einstein. 11 3/4" x 13".
Pen and Ink drawing. Signed and dated. Princeton,
April 16, 1952. Also signed by Einstein. 18" x 11 1/2".
Pen and Ink drawing. Signed and dated. Princeton,
September?, 1952. Also signed by Einstein. 11 1/2" x 16".
Pen and Ink drawing. Signed and dated. Princeton,
February9, 1950. 14 1/2" x 11 1/2".
Pen and Ink drawing. Signed and dated. Princeton,
February 14, 1951. 13" x 12".
Pen and Ink drawing. Signed and dated. October
24, 1952. 26" X 18".
Sketches of Einsteins Hands. Pencil Drawing. 1950.
Signed and dated. 12 3/4" x 19".
Tempera and Gouache Paintings
The Scholar. Tempera 1946. Signed and dated. 19" x 22".
Trees. Gouache. 1954. Signed and dated. 14 1/2" x 18".
Rond to the Beach. Gouache. 1954. Signed and dated.
14 1/4" X 18".
At the Shore. Cape Cod. Gouache, 1954. Signed and
dated. 19"x24".
At Wellfleet. Cape Cod. Gouache. 1954. Signed and
dated. 16 1/2x21".
Sunset at Cape Cod. Gouache. 1954. Signed and dated.
17" x22 1/2".
2500.00
NFS
550 . 00
650.00
480.00
550.00
700 . 00
375.00
375.00
375.00
375.00
875 . 00
480.00
650 . 00
650 . 00
650 . 00
650 . 00
1.
Carus Gallery 243 East 82nd Sfreet New York, NY 10028 (212) TR 9 4660
JOSEF SCHARL
Chronology
1896
1919-21
1925
1929
1930
1931
1932
1933
1934
1938
1939-40
1941
1943
1944
1945-53
1954
1955-62
1964
1967
1968
Munich, Germany
Studies at Munich Academy of Fine Arts
Exhibits at the "Neue Secession" Munich
Wins Albrecht Duerer Award. Numerous Shows.
City of Nueremberg purchases portrait of Albert
Einstein.
Wins the "Prix de Rome" award.
Exhibits et the Kestner Museum, Hannover, and
at Guenther Franke's Gallery in Munich.
Exhibitions in Rome and Munich.
Lives in Paris.
Exhibition at the Galerie Nierendorf, Berlin.
Last Exhibition in Germany at the Galerie Nierendorf, Berlin.
One Man Show in Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Leaves Europe for the United States.
Travels and lives in different parts of the United States.
First One Man Show at the Galerie Nierendorf, New York.
One Man Exhibition at The University of Louisville, KY.
One Man Shows in New York, San Francisco, Utica, NY.
Major Shows: Galerie St. Etienne, New York; Denver Art
Museum, Denver, Colorado; Princeton, New Jersey; Boston,
Massachusetts; Geneva, Switzerlcnd; Munich, Heidelberg,
Karlsruhe, Gemnany; Vienna, Austria.
Died New York.
Important retrospective Shows at the Galerie St. Etienne,
New York; Vienna, Austria; Barnard College, New York.
Retrospective Show at the Galerie Nierendorf, Berlin.
Exhibition at the Galerie Nierendorf, Berlin. This show
travelied to Wiesbaden and Hamm.
One Man Show at the Galerie Voemel . Duesseldorf.
M
li
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Cinl
^^ c
(
7 ri
6K,
(tn^
\
U < S t // « •* (^ f*'c Ü -K f w^
Ca**«^
u. .
^
40000 Mark für Einstein-Briefe / 4«a/.o,. .„ w,«^^
m^ '^^f^
Kndpp 13()0 Briefe. Manuskripte,
Notenblätter und Aui Zeichnungen gro-
ßer Europaer werden dm 9. und
10. Juni bei J. A. Stdrgardt in der
größten, diesjährigen Handsdirilten-
duktion in Europa in Märburg unter
den Hdmmer kommen. Dabei werden
erstmals seit vielen Jahren nicht die
großen Tonsc^öpter oder die Dichter-
fürsten, sondern die Wissenschaftler
den Ton angeben.
Mit dem Spitzen-Schätzpreis von je
40 000 Mark wurden zwei Brief-Kol-
leklionen von Albert Einstein und Sö-
ren Kierkegdard bewertet. Die Samm-
lung Einsteins aus den Jähren 1933 bis
1950 umfaßt u. a. auch mehrere Ge-
dichte und mathematische Berechnun-
gen, sie stammt aus dem Besitz des
1965 gestorbenen Röntgenologen Gu-
stav Buckv.
Die Briefe des großen dänischen
Philosophen, die 1843 bis 1850 an den
Lehrer und Pastor Emil Bösen gerich-
tet sind, steilen die ersten Schrift-
stücke von ihm dar. die jemals m ei-
nem Handschriften-Kätalog erschienen
sind. Die meisten seiner Aufzeichnun-
gen befinden sich heute im Kierke-
gadidarchlv in Kopenhagen.
Die kostbarsten Notenblätter der
diesjährigen Auktion, zu der Hand-
schriftensammler aus vielen Ländern
der Erde sowie Vertreter fast aller
großen Bibliotheken und Archive des
Bundesgebietes und der DDR in Mar-
burg erwartet werden, sind u. a.: Vier
Kanon-Kompositionen von Mozart
(Taxwert 25 000 Mark), die Skizze ei-
nes polnischen Volksliedes von Cho-
pin und drei Klavierstüc^ce von Igor
Strawinskv (jeweils 8000 Mark) sowie
eine Fantasie für das Pianoforte zu
vier Händen von Schubert (7500 Mark)
und das Lied „Manteau de Fleures"
von Maurice Ravel.
Unter den Dichterhandschriften neh-
men zwei Schreiben von Schiller und
Christian Gottfried Körner, m dem er
über den ersten Besuch Goethes in sei-
nem Haus vom Tag zuvor berichtet,
und an seinen Freund Ludwig Ferdi-
nand Huber in Dresden, die ersten
Plätze ein. Sie sollen für 15 000 und
12 000 Mark ausgeboten werden. Es
folgen ein Manuskript ..Deutsdie Lite-
ratur' von Goethe und eine Kollektion
von zehn Briefen Clemens Brentanos
an Apollonie Diepenbrock.
In der Abteilung Geschichte steht
Gin Briefwedisel Friedrichs des Großen
mit seinem Geheimkämmerer Michael
Gabriel Fredersdort aus den Jahren
1747 bis 1756 — 13 Briefe des Königs
und elf Briefe des Partners -- im Vor-
dergrund des Interesses. Er soll zu
dem für derartige Autographen ein-
maligen Spitzenpreis von 30 000 Mark
einen neuen Besitzer finden.
12 000 Mark soll in der Abteilung
Bildende Kunst ein Schriftstück
Michelangelos aus dem Jahre 1528 ko-
sten. Es ist dies eine Aufzeichnung
über die Auszahlung von Nachlaßgel-
dem seines verstorbenen Bruders
Buonarroti. Für 2000 bzw. 2500 Mark
werden Briefe- und Postkartensamm-
lungen von Alfred Kubin an den Pro-
kuristen des S.-Fischer-Verlages, Dr.
G. K. Schauer, und von Marc Chagell in
jiddischer Sprache an den Maler Her-
mann Struck in Haifa von dem Auktio-
nator ausgerufen.
1
- iv W^ ^^^^M
3 Tu
Inquest': Its Author
Speaks For It
By BEATRICE BERG
k T THE Music Box each
A night near the end of
r\ "Inquest," hot Hghts
flash from the stage,
blinding the eyes of the audi-
ence. Then the lights go dim
as Julius Rosenberg is pro-
nounced dead, electrocuted at
Sing Sing on June 19 19W.
A moment later his wife Eth-
el is electrocuted. The Rosen-
bergs had been convicted et
conspiring to steal atomic se-
crets for the Soviet Union.
The late Albert Einstein
Said "From the viewpoint ot
restoring sanity to our po-
litical climate, one must not
let this case rest." Donald
Freea, who was 21 years
old when the Rosenbergs were
executed. has brought the
case back to haulit m- in-
quest." his first Play takes.
the View that the Eosenberp.
were innocent.
L CyUMPSES
stood by my sidc. I Ic was a German
who had come to Oxford as a visiting
Professor. His name was Albert Ein-
stein.
Professor Einstein kncw no English
at that time, and I knew only two
words of German. I bcamcd at bim,
trying wordlcssly to convcy by my
Hearing all the affcction and rcspect
British novelist William Golding, au-
thor ot Lord of the Flies, teils about an
incident during his rtrst year at Oxford,
in 1931:
I was looking at a stream from a
small bridge in Magdalen Deer Park
when a mustachcd Hgurc came and
that the English feit for him. For pcr-
haps fivc minutes we stood together on
the bridge. With true greatness, Pro-
fessor Einstein realized that any con-
tact was bettcr than nonc. He pointcd
to a trout wavering in midstream. Hc
Said, "Fisch."
My brain reeled. Here I was, inin-
gling with the great, and yet helpless
to respond. Despcrately I soi'ght for
some sign by which I might convey
that I, to(j, revered pure reason. I nod-
ded vehemcntly. In a brilliant flash I
used up half my German vocabulary:
"Fisch. Ja. Ja."
For another five minutes we stcx)d
side by sidc. Thcn Professor Einstein,
his wholc figure still conveying g(X)d-
will and amiability, drifted away out
of sight. - Purty of Twenty. cditcd by Cliftun
Fadiman (Simon and Schuster)
Readers' contributions are solicited
for (his departmcnt. See bacl^ cover.
DRAWINO BEPWOOUCED BY CEBMISSION OF WILLIAM AUEdBACM-LEVr» S EXECUTOR
V,
(
i.
r
1
lf^n«Kl'l()r4Ah SI«3ND' b:XJX)SURFJ
/. (,L/\fi'Si:s
sinod 1)\ niy sidc. I Ic w.is a (icriiMM
wlio \\A(\ loiiu' i(» ( )\li >ril .IS .1 \ isitiHL;
|»r(»Uss(.r. llis ii.imc w.u Allnrl I-.in
sl( in.
I'roltssor I*'iiis!iiii knt u n<> I'riLilish
;U ih.it tiiiK', .iiiti I kiuu (>nl\ luo
uords dl (Icrni.iii. I Ih.imkJ .it him.
irviiiL! uofdlcsslv td coiucn 1>v div
iKMriiiL: '»ll tlu- .ifTcxtinn .inJ rcspur
1 ' ^ , -
\
V
/
^ J\\vv-"'
\
iVd
Inquest'-.ItsAullior
«
SpeaksForll
Bv BFATRICE BFRG
k T THE Music Box each
/\ night noar the enci of
r\ -Inquo^l." hol h^hts
flash from thc stag(\
blindinci the eyes of tho aiuii-
,.nro. Thon thc h^hts po dim
1. lulius Rosenhrr^ is pvo-
ndunood dead. oUn'irüCuti'd at
Sing Sing on June 19. 10.., •
A mnment lator his wif^ l'tn-
.1 is elecirocutod. Tho Kosen-
iHMgs had been convictod •»!
conspirinß lo st^al atomic se-
aets for Ihe Soviel üninn.
The laie Albert Einstein
said "From the viewpoinl ot
re^toring sanily to our po-
litical climaie, onc must no
lei this case resl.' Dona.d
rreect who was 21 years
old when the Rosenbergs were
executed. has brought the
case back to haunt us. In-
cuest." his first play. ukes
iheNiewthatlheRosenbe.gs
were innocent.
\
<
i
r
Kkminii ii(»\(list W'iHi.iiii ( ioldinL:, .m-
ihor t)t lj)}d of thc l'lit>. tills .ihoiit jii
iiKiilciii diiriiiL; hi^ tirst uar ,\\ ( )\lurJ.
1 w.js iookiiv' .11 a sirtaiii Iroin a
sinall brid^c in M.i^d.dc ri I)irr l'.irk
whcii a imisi.u hc'd timirf caine and
ih.it thi' i-.nulish Ich lor him. I'or pii
h.i[is ti\i- ininutcs wr sKkhI tu^ctlKT cn
tlu- hrid^c. W'ith triu- ^rr.uiRss, Pro
lissdr l'-instiin rtah/cii th.it aiiv c(iii-
tatt W.IS lutUT ih.in nonc. 1 U [lointKi
to .1 tr(tiu ua\(.rini: in nndstrtam. Il<
s.iid, "/•/.( /;."
M\ br.iin rctkil. licn I w.is. inin-
.Llhn^i; u!tli tlu- i;riMt, .ind \rt hclplrss
t(» nspond. 1 )cspe ratrly I soiiLiht |nr
voiiK- si^n by uhuh I nii;;hi nin\i\
th.it I. t(H), rcAtriil (uirc n.ison. I nod
ditl Mhrnitntlv. In .i hrilliant ll.ish I
iisrij up h.ili iny ( KTinan \ (><..ihular\
l'or anothcr ti\c iniiuitcs \\r sf<Mjd
siik> In sidt. llun IVi'fi-ssdr linst(ih.
his uhok- h^^urc- siill c<in\i'\in^ ^(«»d
Ulli and anii.ibdit\. driM(d .i\\.i\ lait
ol si^ht.
• Im-
RcJiitis' cf)Hlnhnti()i2< Lire .-ulitiUt!
jov tlu^ dl pdi tDunt. See l\u ^ ioi c) ,
Si
MONDAYFEBRUARY 9, 1970
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y-M/^/r-ÖT^-^VV
ORIGINAL AUTOGRAPHS
Signed Photographs^
Autograph Lettersand Documents
This is a collector's collection, with many handwritten memorabilia that may one day be of
even greater value. Itwill be of particular interestto statesmen, leaders in the professions,
heods of greot enterprises and well-known personalities in the orts, and to countless men
and women of modest means who share this fascinating hobby. Each signature, signed
photograph, letter and document has been studied for authenticity by a specialist with Wide
experience. Many are^decoratively framed. Come eorly for best selection. Gallery of auto-
graphs, f ine bindings and ort, eighth f loor, Fifth Avenue störe.
U.S. Supreme Court Justices: Butler, Recd, Roberts, Stone, Suthcr-
land. SiqnarurG cn impnnted court Cards. each 3.C0
Arthur Schnitzler. Autograph note on imprinted correspondence card
s'gned with initials, Jan. A, 1906. Traris. 5.00
Edgar Lee Masters. Letter signed in pencil Nov. 5, 19-H. Vi page
hvo. 7.50
Jules Chcref. Autograph note signed Mar. 7, 1890, by the towcrinq
figuie in postcr arl. 7.50
[J. F. Kenncdy-L, B. Johnson.] Formal invitation to ti)e Inaugural
BclUcnuary:.J, i9'ol. 7.50
Adm. J. A. Dahlgren. Perlion of Bureau of Ordnat.ce document
srjncdcsCiiir;. . 10.00
Edmund Randolph. S'gnature of the first U.S. attorney general, later
So- ,,fStafr ' lO.QfJ
Connic Mack. 'I-Iine lioloqraph Statement signed on Hotel Aster
stationery, n.d. 12.50
Wellington. Portion of fronked hoiograph address-Ieaf, dcted by him,
Lincoln, Apr. 2A, 1834, with "Free" and his signature. 15.00
Sir Richard F Burton. Autograph note signed, 1 pcge 12 mo., n.d. bv
tlie explorer, traiblotor cf Ihe Arabien Nights. 17.t/0
Alexandre Dumas. Curious autogroph letter signed, 1 page Bvo., n.d.,
b) tnc autiiur ur The Three Musketeers. Trans. 17.50
Giacomo Puccinl. Autograph note signed witli initlols on verso cc'>r,r~
fiii !< )i!!r' \'la V. th old autcmobilcs. Postmarkcd May 12, 1916. 22.:^0
Dr. M. J. B. Orfila. Importont autograph letter signed Apr. 26, 1837,
! j pxigc 8vo. in which the scientist withdraws his cofididacy for tho
Academie des Sciences. Trans. 22.50
Roald Amundscn. Large signature of the dibcuvercr of the South
Pietro Mascogni. Interestlng füll page receipt fordetailed sums re-
ceived for orchestral music furnished by him for Hall Caine's Eternal
City, signed Sept. 1, 1902. Framed with large photo. Trans. 100.00
Grover Clevcland. Signature on White House card elegant!/ framed
witn rnognificent photograph. 100.00
Picossa. Bold signature in pencif, framed with stunning portrait.
100.00
Clara Schumann. 4 manuscript bars of her husbond's music signed
cnd inscribed to tiic famous pianist Fanny Davies Oct. 26, 1888.
Framed with uncommon portrait. 100,00
William IV, King of Great Britain and jreland. Decorotlve. oblong
vellum docum.ent signed Dec. 31, 1830, the first yeor of his reign.
Entered in Office of Ordnance May 16, 1832. Elaborate'y* framed
with Portrait. 100.00
Sarah Bernhardt. Unüsual autograph note signed in 1900 on her
QuGfid Meine stationery stating she is in great need of her funds.
Etfectively framed with scorce Nadar cabinet photograph g$ Jeanne
d'Arc. lOO.OO
Brct Harte. 2-page autograph letter signed by the popu'ar American
Guthor Oct. 22, 1883, while U.S. consul in Glasgow. Framed with
Portrait. 115.00
Lord Kitchener. Significont letter signed as See. cf State for War,
June 7, [i9i-t-15], Witli holoqrcph sa'utaticn on War Office sta-
ibout Sir Ion
cn checK or /\mer. ru
"'oti'Pd to .show both
-0. issued to Chas. L. V/ebster, Att'y.
-''--. with iin'jsually expressive full-l^igth
l^'S.OO
1
O/^-i
>h
I
^h
l
Airborne Atomic Clocks to Test Einstein Time Theory
„ ..../^. r.ru cruiuprv ir 'scicntists who aPRued that thcrc
By HAROLD M. SCHMECK Jr. ^^ ^^^ „,^3^..
Special to Th* New York 'I imes wuuju u^ hu
WASHINGTON, Oct. l—Twouremcnt of time
scicntists and four atomic; Dr. Hafele's calculafons have
clocks will fly around thelpersuaded sc.ent.sts at tl e ob-
world next week to test one servatory to go ahead w.th he
„f the crucial impUcations , of experj^ent. They arejendm^
Einstein's theory of relativity.j^g^pgg^ auxiliary equipment
The purpose of the f hght is, ^^^ ^^^ sending an astronomer,
to test the so-called clock para-j .^^^^^^j Keating, along on the
ciüx, which hokls that a clocki^j. . ^
moving at high velocity willj ^^
lose time relative to a dock
Standing still. In effect the pas-
The Navy will pay the bill,
which amounts to about $3,700
sianuiii^ buii. iii^i.^v.. V..V, ^...^ j^ airline fares at the rate the
sage of time would be slowea. Government pays commercial
Because of this effect, it has : —
been argued that a space
traveler covering immense dis-
tances at extreme speeds would
return to the earth younger
than bis twin who stayed home.
At ordinary speeds the cf-
would be so small as to defy
measurement. However, Dr.
Joseph C. Hafele, an assistant
Professor of physics at Wash-
ington University in St. Louis,
has made some calculations
showing that the test is feasible
with commercial jet airliners
and the United States Naval
Observatory's highly sophisti-
cated cesium clocks.
The time consequences of
Einstein's theories have been
tested indirectly in the past by
astronomical observations and
by studies of the behavior of
subatomic particles moving at
cxtremely high velocities. All
these tests have confirmcd the
Einstein predictions.
First Direct Test
Dr. Hafele said there had not
bcon a previous experiment, to
bis Knowledge, that used a
clock, and therefore this could
be called a direct test of the
prediction. He expects the time
offects to be borne out, but the
carriers.
The expedition will leave
Dulles International Airport at'
7:45 P.M. Monday on Panj
American World Airways.l
Flight 106, a Boeing 747 bound
for London. Four seats will be
occupied in the tourist cabin—
two for the scientists and two
for the clocks.
In an interview by telephone
Dr. Hafele said the eastward
flight around the world would
be followed by a second trip
in the opposite direction.
On each flight the time read-
ings of the four clocks will be
averaged, and the average will
be compared with the Naval
Observatory's reference clock
A spokesman for the observ-
atory said the operating char-
acteristics of all the clocks
were known and that none of
the four to be used in the
flight gains or loses more than
26 billionths of a second a
day.
Furthermore, it was ex-
plaincd that the ratcs at which
they "driff from the theoreti-.
also known and could betaken
into account in the calcula-
tions.
The clocks mcasurc the pas
physicist said there were somc|jf ally pcrfect time-keeping were
"N^'Tvwe^ da ^^, cii (
sage of time by extremely
regulär pulses of electricity
emitted by o.scillating crystals.
These crystal oscillators are in
turn kept at an even more reg-
ulär rate by the radioactive
decay of cesium atoms.
These high-precision atomic
disintegrations act as a gov-
ernor, so to speak, on the os-
cillator. The clocks also have
small clock faces with conven-
tional hour, minute and second
hands, but these serve only to
give a rough approximation of
the time.
The calculations to test the
effects of velocity on time must
take into account not only the
measured time but also the
rotation of the earth and the
slight diminution of gravity at
the flight altitudes above 30,000
feet.
On the eastward trip, the
airplane's speed will be added
to the earth's rotational speed,
which is about 1.000 railes an
hour at the equator.
If this were the only effect,
the clocks should lose time
slightly relative to the obser-
vatory's reference clock. But
Dr. Hafele said today that bis
latest calculations show the
gravitational effect might off-
set this.
The relativity prediction
holds that time wouid pass
more slowly in a strong
gravitational field than in a
weak one. The stay-at-homc
clock in Washington will be
subject to strenger gravity
than the four airborne clocks
because of the altitude diffcr-
ence.
^ Dr. Hafele said bis calcula-
tions Show that the airborne
clocks should gain about 50
billionths of a second over the
reference clock during the trip
because of this factor.
On the westward global flight
later this month. the airplane
speed will have to be sub-
tracted fi<..m the earth's rota-
tion. Thus, to a hypothetically
neutral observcr in spaco. the
clock in Washington will be
moving at a higher velocity
than the four in flight. The ref-
erence clock on the ground,
therefore. will be losing time.
Dr. Hafele estimatcs the differ-
ence at about 300 one-billionths
of a second for the entire trip.
The flight will be the physi-
cist'sfirst trip around the world,
but it will hardly qualify as a
pleasure junket. He and his
collcague will change planes in
London, picking up another Pan
Am flight that will take them
to Frankfurt. Istanbul, Beirut.
Tehran, New Delhi. Bangkok,
Tokyo, Honolulu and Los
Angeles. They will take an
American Airlines flight on the
final leg back to Dulles.
The whole trip will take
about 60 hours. The longest
planned stop is two hours in
Honolulu.
1
@^e ^tMf ioti: €imt» §ook jKeHieUi
^^9 SEPTEMBER 5. 1971 SECTION 7
Einstein
The Life and Times,
By Ronald W, Clark.
718 pp. New York and Cleveland:
The World Publishing Company. $15.
By GERALD HOLTON
Today. 16 years after his death at the age of 76,
Albert Einstein is remarkably alive in contemporary
science. 1 am not speaking about his "practical" in-
fluence, those parts of his theories that come to be
incorporated into modern gadgets, from TV sets to
nuclear-power reactors. Rather, as a quick look at
current research Journals or at the Science Citation
Index can show, his work is still the acknowledged
base of new research results in an astonishing vari-
ety of Problems in physics. cosmology and to some
extent also in chemistry.
Because science grows cumulatively and moves
fast, scientists usually do not cite work done more
than a few years ago and are even less apt to look
back for reasons of sentimentality or hero worship.
So, when they keep referring to and using Einstein's
results, it is for good reasons. Indeed, during the
last decade it has turned out that some of the most
exciting frontiers lie exactly in that branch where
Einstein, with few followers but with the obstinacy
of a prophet, did his work in his last decades, name-
ly in general relativity theory.
A rapidly growing number of historians of science.
too, now work on Einstein and his influence. To-
day's theory of knowledge also carries his finger-
prints. partly because his early publications on rel-
ativity and Quantum physics helped shape the
modern style of doing science — moving ahead with
daring, free imagination, but keeping one's rope
anchored in a few places to the granite of basic
principle.
In Short, from this point of view Einstein's chief
importance today lies in the fact that his legacy still
provides much of the power and direction for mod
em science and epistemology. But a very different
image arises out of the new Einstein biography by
Ronald W. Clark, a correspondent during World
War II who since then has written several biog-
raphjes of British scientists (J. B. S. Haidane, the
Huxleys, Sir Henry Tizard). At first glance he seems
to be dealing with an entirely different person, "a
man." he teils us, **who can, without exaggeration,
be called one of the great tragic figures of our
time." not least for having become a scientific
"museum piece" (quoting one of Einstein's typically
self-derogatory remarks).
The paradox is not due to any lack of diligence.
Clark has evidently read (Continued on Page 18)
Gerald Holton is professor of physics, as well as
a member of the History of Science Department, at
Harvard. His "The Twcntieth-Century Sciences:
Studies in the Biography of Ideas*' will be published
this fall.
©1971, The New York Times Co. All rights reserved.
l
Cprnell^^
Üniversrty
Press
[reading
for the President
-and for you.
Americans
and Chinese
Communists
1927-1II4S tä
By Kenneth E. Sbewmaker
"A fascinating and instruc-
tive review of the once-
friendly relatlons between
some American writers. Jour-
nal ists. and miiftary observ-
ers and the Chinese Coin-
munists. . . . Shewmaker
discusses and analyzes what
he considers the sentimen-
tal and ur>critical impressions
^ and Views of Vincent Sheean,
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18
Einstein
Continued from Page I
and digested scores of other
biographical works and looked
at documents in many archives.
On the way to his conclusion,
he passes in considerable detail
through the chapters of the
now rather familiär story: Ein-
stein as the rebellious boy in
southem Germany; the Student
in Switzerland; the patent-of f ice
employe writing magnificent
scientific papers; the pacifist
and academician, who, after
moving back to Germany, be-
comes Charisma tic ovemight on
Nov. 7. 1919, when a prediction
within his general relativity
theory is bome out by measure-
ments of British scientists. Then,
the rise of the Nazis; Einstein
as refugee, settling in the Unit-
ed States and reaching the Sta-
tus of scientist-philosopher and
World Conscience who helped
launch the Pugwash movement
of scientists working toward
arms control.
Throughout, Clark also inter-
sperses his text with anecdotes
illustrating Einstein's lively wit
and independence. There is a
cast of thousands, kings and
commoners who happened to
interact with Einstein arui who
shared with him the elations
and horrors of the first half of
this Century.
There is also a special chap-
ter on Einstein's role in alert-
ing Roosevelt in August, 1939,
to the possibility — realistically
perceived, as it turned out —
that the Germans would com-
bine their scientific headstart
on nuclear fission work with
their access to uranium ore and
their ambitions for worlä con-
quest and so would be tempted
to make a nuclear weapon that,
on scientific principles, was
generally known to be a possi-
bility. Clark correctly points
out that the effect of Einstein's
letter is by no means clear even
now. Referring to research in
the United States and Britain,
Vannevar Bush noted progress:
"This show had been going on
long before Einstein's letter/'
and A. H. Compton held the In-
tervention may have slowed the
work down.
At any rate, as Clark says,
the World was going into a nu-
clear age whether or not Ein-
stein had signed the letter to
Roosevelt. Ironically, after De-
cember, 1941, Einstein was
carefully kept insulated from
research on the A-bomb — "in
view of the attitude of people
here in Washington who have
studied his whole history," as
Bush reported with regret. Ein-
stein got wind of what went
on, enough to worry greatly
about a postwar weapons race.
His plan was to inform and
rally scientists in the major
countries to press for the inter-
nationalization of military pow-
er. Niels Bohr himself hurried
to Princeton to swear Einstein
to silence in order not to "com-
plrcate the delicate task of the
statesmen.*'
There is a good deal more of
this throughout the book, il-
lustrating defeats of the public
and political Einstein. But there
is a curious quality to these
defeats which eamed him the
description "naive" or "tragic."
While the "statesmen" of our
time have largely failed be-
cause they so often imple-
mented fundamentally bad
ideas, Einstein failed in this
area because there seemed to
be no realistic way of imple-
menting his fundamentally good
ones.
One should add that Clark's
account is on the whole vivid
and readable. His encyclopedic
approach and spotty use of
scholarly advisers has caused
him to include some dubious
material, to give some poor
translations for the German
Originals, to get Interviews
mixed up and to err in such
factual matters as birth or
death dates for Einstein's wife,
sister and son. Flaws at this
level could easily be remedied,
and they do not explain the
paradox between Clark's tragic
Einstein as seen from the out-
side — ^which is the chief novelty
of this biography — and the
towering. creative figure of
Einstein seen from the inside of
science and history of science.
Understanding the deeper
reasons for the paradox will
teil a great deal both about
the book and about Einstein.
One might start with Einstein's
own profound and declared
disinterest in the very thing
that animates any biography:
the Whirlpool of transrient de-
tail. On a very few oc-
casions, autobiographical frag-
ments were squeezed out of
him.
One occasion came on re-
ceiving the Nobel Prize in 1922,
when he had to fumfish an au-
tobio£;raphical essay for offi-
cial publication. His was em-
barrassingly short — only 14
lines. In 1946 he was persuad-
ed to write his famous "Auto-
biographical Notes" — and de-
voted virtualiy all his space to
his conceptual development in
science and epistemology.
Therefore H is an autobiog-
raphy containing the names of
such intellectual ancestors as
Hume. Kant and Mach, New-
ton, Faraday and Maxwell —
but not of any of his family
relatives.
Nor could he bring himself
to read through the many biog-
raphies published about him,
unless they were so patently
outrageous and scurrilous that
he was persuaded, in one or
two cases, to try to prevent
their publication. There isgood
evidence that he read little, if
anything, even of the work of
three biographers he respected
— ^Anton Reiser (the Pseudo-
nym for his son-in-law, Rudolf
Kayser), Carl Seelig and his
successor to his chair in
Prague. Philipp Frank. The
book by Frank is still in print
and remains by far the most
sensitive and reliable of the
many biographies now avarl-
able.
Einstein's distaste for the
"merely personal" was not just
a peculiarity. Like other extra-
ordinary men he feit that the
personal, moment - to - moment
existence, dominated by ever-
changing wishes, hopes and
primitive feelings, is a chain
that one should try to cast off
in Order to free one for the
comtemplation of the world
"that Stands before us like a
great, etemal riddle." In the
simplified but lucid image of
the world that can thereby be
gained, he once said, a person
could hope to "place the cen-
ter of gravity of his emotional
life, in order to attain the
peace and security that one
cannot find within the narrow
confines of swirling personal
experience."
Even when he was eventual-
ly heaped with praise he feit
"the only way to escape the
personal corruption of praise is
to go on working. . . . Work.
There is nothing eise." That is
where his integrity Ues and
hence is the focus of his auto-
biography. And when asked
what he had to say about his
favorite composer, Bach, he re-
pHed in the same vein: *'Listen
to his work, play it, love it,
honor it . . . and otherwise
shut UD about it."
Now it is only fair that a
biographer must not be limited
by his subject's view on biog-
raphy. And in principle, an
"outsider's" view of a scientist
can only be welcomed. But,
once one has chosen him as
one's subject, Einstein obliges
his biographer to put his sci-
ence not too far from the cen-
ter of the work. Philipp Frank's
book shows that such a task
can be adequately handled for
nonscientific readers without
becoming a textbook. While
Einstein's science is proverbi-
ally difficult, the essence of
Einstein's discoveries is in fact
accessible without much math-
ematics. As Clark reports him
to have said about himself,
"My power, my particular abil-
ity. lies in visualizing the ef-
fects, consequences, and possi-
bilities. ... I grasp things in
a broad way easily. I cannot
do mathematical caiculations
easily. I do them not willingly
and not readily."
Clark's book does not give a
particularly skillful or accu-
rate presentation of Einstein's
Chief scientific contributions,
even qualitatively. Nor are mat-
ters much helped by eval-
uations of this kind: "Ein-
stein's new idea appeared to
have slipped a disc in the back-
bone of the universe." Under
the circumstances it comes
close to writing a "Hamlet" in
which the Prince of Denmark
is not only absent but is re-
placed by King Lear.
There is a second reason for
the paradox. To any extemal
observer. Einstein's character
was fuil of ambiguities, ten-
sions and pwlarities which
sometimes produced results
that now make amusing read-
ing. But if one digs deeper one
will find that these polarities
are essentially connected to his
scientific genius. Einstein's dis-
interest in making quite sure
he will not tum up incorrectly
dressed for some formal occa-
sion is not un related to his
ability to adopt an unconven-
tional point of view when it is
needed to expose the key fault
in some hoary old problem of
science.
The polarities in Einstein's
style of life and thought, of
which one does catch glimpses
in Clark's book, are quite ex-
traordinary, as even a brief list
will show. There is of course
the folkloric image itself — that
of the wisest of old men, who
even looked as if he had wit-
nessed Creation itself, but who
at the same time also is the
almost childlike person. As
Einstein himself once said, he
succeeded in good part be-
cause he kept asking himself
questions concerning space and
time which only children won-
der about. Then there is the
legendary, iron ability to con-
centrate, often for years. on a
Single basic problem, regard-
less of contemporary schools or
fashion; and, opposite to that,
is his ever-ready openness to
deai, after all, with the bar-
rage of requests for help and
personal involvements that ap-
pealed to his fundamental hu-
manity and vulnerability to
pity.
Einstein is the apostle of
rationality, characterized by
clarity of logical constniction;
The New York Times Book Review
f
and, on the other band, there
is his uivcompromising belief in
bis own esthetic sense in
science, his advocacy of not
looking in vain for *'logical
biidges" from experience to
the<vy, but of making the great
"leap" to basic principles. guid-
ed only by an Intuition that
rests on a sympathetic under-
Standing of experience. His
personal philosophy of Überafl
agnosttcism and tiis withering
contenopt for established re-
ligious authority of any sort
are well-known — and, at the
same time, he has also a clear
personal religiosity. As he says
in one of his letters: "I am a
deeply reltgious unbeliever."
And what is most significant,
such polarities go straight
througti bis scientific work
also. There is the well-known
contradiction between his de-
v(>tion to a fundamental ttieme
of the continuum, as expressed
in the field concept; and on
the other band he is also the
brrliiant contributor to the
physics based on a theme pre-
cisely opposrite to the con-
tinuum, namely the discrete
quantum. In his very first pa-
per on relativity theory in
1905, one can find just such a
poiahty: the positivism of the
operational variety, whtch Ein-
stein used for defining the con-
oepts, coexisÄs with a rational
realism inherent in putting the
two basic princtples of relativ-
ity a priori a* the base of the
paper.
To be able to see and use
such polar opposites lies close
to the very meaning of genius.
TTie seexningly ambivalent style
of thinking. acting and Hving
is therefore not merely good
"copy," but needs to be consid-
ered as one aspect of his un-
usual abiUity to deal with the
ambiguities inherent in the
chaef unresolved problems of
science. The key to his genius
nnay well Ue in this mutual cor-
respondence between his style
in thought and aot on one side
and the chief unresolved Puz-
zles of contennporary science
on the other.
Another such correspondence
exists between his life style
and bis search for the great
simplifications in soience by
which he sought, and usually
found, connections between
such previausly separate con-
cepts as matter and energy,
Space and time, niecha nies and
electrodynamics, and gravita-
tion and eiectrofnagnetic fiekis.
This instinctive desire to re-
move any unnecessary asym-
metry or excess pervaded his
behavior no less than his sci-
ence. At stake was nothing less
than finding the nnost econoni-
ical, simple, formal principles,
the barest bones of nature's
frame, cleansed of everything
that is ad hoc and redimdant.
To one of his assistants, Ein-
stein said: "What really inter-
ests me is whether God had
any choice in the creation of
the worid.'*
In fact, sensitivity to previ-
ousty unpercerved formal
asymmetries or to incongrui-
ties oi a predominantly esthet-
ic kind (rather than, for ex-
ample, a puzzle posed by un-
explained experimental facts)
— that is the way eadi of
Einstein's three basic papers of
1905 begin. In all these cases
the asymnietries are removed
by showing them to be unneces-
sary, the result of too special-
ized a point of view. Complex-
ities which do not appear to
be inherent in the phenomena
should be cast out. Nature does
not need them.
And Einstein does not need
them. In his own pensonal life,
the legendary simplicity of the
man was an integral part of
this reaching for the barest
minimum on which the worid
rests. Even people who knew
nothing eise about Einstein
knew that he preferred the
simplest possible clothing and
that he hated nothing more
tflian aitificial restraints of all
kinds. He was asked on<:e why
he persisted using ordinary
handsoap for shaving instead
of speciad shaving cream, de-
spite the fact tliat it was
clearly less comfortable to
shave that way. He answered,
in effect: 'Two soaps? That is
too compHcated!" Two con-
cepts, two equations, where
one would do? That is also too
complicated.
Other connections of this
sort may be found, but only
the raw material is in the biog-
raphy. For example, there is
constant reference to Ein-
stein's religious feelings. The
author indicates they devel-
oped in pre-war Berlin when,
as Clark puts it, *'the fact of
his Jewishness was brought
home" to him. We are told that
he is "the most famous Jew
in modern history," that he
had "the deep respect for
leaming which the Jewshares
.with the CeH," and so forth.
/hen Einstein writes to Hans
[uhsam, we are told — for"n5
reason — that he is
rriting to "an oid Jewish
^riend." Einstein's interest in
rudaism and his strong support
of Zionism are amply dis-
cussed. But Clark misses the
relationship between Einstein's
religiosity and his physics.
The Biblical God of Law.
whom Einstein constantly in-
voked in his letters. if only in
a self-mocking manner, was
not fundamentailly different
from the rational God of caus-
al laws, who does not play
dice with the worid. Quantum
mechanics in its later form, in
w<hk:h Chance reigned supreme.
filled him with a visceral re-
pugnance that is understood
best when one remembers he
referred to it as a (false) "re-
ligkMi." To See at firsthand the
coherence with which Einstein
lived and thought, both as a
scientist fighting for a causal
physics, and as a person pre-
occupied with questions of pol-
itics and morahty. one must
tum to the firsthand account
in the excellent new book,
"The Born - Einstein Letters,"
with commentaries by Max
Born.
Einstein's pacifism also
comes in for a good deal of
attention in Clark's bk>graphy.
The author's position is an-
nounced in the first paragraph:
In his view, Einstein "passion-
ately induHged in pacifism, and
as passionate^y tndulged out
when Hitler began to show
that he really meant what he
sakl about the Jews and the
master-race." It was not so
simple as that; Einstein's Posi-
tion has been carefully exam-
ined and documented in "Ein-
stein on Peace," by Otto Nathan
and Heinz Norden. More curi-
ous still is Clark's repeated ac-
cusation that a "near paranoia"
affeoted Einstein concerning
the Germans — sonwthing the
author, with consideraWe m-
accuracy and insensitivrty,
identifies as "an echo of the
cry that the only good German
is a dead one."
Einstein himself would of
course not have been greatly
bothered. As he said to Born
when informed about a mis-
evaihiation of his work, "After
all. I do not need to read the
thing." But now, nearly a Cen-
tury after Einstein's birth, the
time has come for balanced,
sound biography. Such an en-
terprise will be much easier
when the extensive archives of
Einstein's correspondence and
manuscripts at Princeton are
released for publication, as now
seems likely to happen at long
last. Then we shall see more
clearly Einstein's tragediesand
triumphs — for example, his fail-
ure to conveit Born and Bohr
from their heathen gods of
quantum mechanics, and the
triumph of a glorious two
weeks in Holland in 1916 in
the Company of H. A. Lorentz
and Paul Ehrenfest, fellow
physicists whom he truly
ioved.
Martin Klein, in his recent
book "Paul Ehrenfest," gives
an account of that visit. A
good deal of the time there
seems to have been devoted to
playing the piano and violin
duets. and Einstein was most
satisfied when he succeeded
in weaning Ehrenfest away
from a preference for Beetho-
ven. (Ehrenfest's notebooks
sAiow that for severafl months
afterwards he gave nK>re Cime
to Bach than to physics.) The
nest of the visit was füll of
joy, too. Ehrenfest described an
evening when Lorentz. in an
after-dinner conversation, pre-
sented a finely polished ques-
tion concerning Einstein's new
theory of general relativity:
"When Lorentz had fiirished,
Einstein sat bent over the slip
of paper on which Lorentz had
written mathematical formulas
to accompany his words as he
spoke. The cigar was out, and
Einstein pensively twisted his
finger in a lock of hair over
bis rigbt ear. Lorentz. however,
sat smiUng at an Einstein com-
pletely lost in meditation. ex-
aotiy the way a father looks
at a particularly beioved son —
fuU of secure confidence that
the youngster will crack the
nut he has given him. but eager
to see how. It took quite a
while. but suddenly Einstein's
head shot up joyfully; he *had
it.' StfM a bit of give and take.
interrupting one another, a
partial disagreement, very
quick clarification and a com-
plete mutual understanding,
and then both men with beam-
ing eyes skimming over the
shining riches of the new
theory." ■
August
Strindberg
Continued from Page 3
outwards from detail in the
work of literature to detail in
the life, though satisfying on
its own terms, produces critical
impotence. Symptomatically,
Lamm can manage only some
five pages on "The Ghost
Sonata," "Strindberg's most
enigmatic work," as he himself
c^Us it. It is easy to see why.
Lamm makes his customary
move: "Strindberg himself is
the central character, the Stu-
dent, who *is said to have come
into the worid in the midst of
bankruptcy proceedings.' " And
this is about that
What Lamm does rK>t do is
ask vdiy Strindberg, at the age
of 58. used the image of
a young Student for his Pro-
tagonist; and for his antago-
nist a very old man; why one
is endowed with idealistic sec-
ond sight and the other with a
brutal worklly wisdom; why
the whole play is a working
ouft of the student's account of
his attempt to rescue a young
innocent from the co^lapse of
a house; why, in Short, the play
is so ^apely and what the
implications of that poetic
structuring are. There are so
many questions to be asked,
about that play and about
Strindberg as an artist. It is
the artist who fmally matters.
Strindberg's successors have
responded more to the super-
ficial in his work than to the
essentials. O'Neill, Tennessee
WMHams, Osbome, Albee, Pin-
ter too, have exploited his
manner but little eise. Tlie
technique that we think of as
peculiarly Strindberg's own
technique of the later symbol-
ic plays, has been coarsened
by being used for Propaganda
— think of the Expressionists.
Even Strindberg's fellow-coun-
tryman, Ingmar Bergman, in
a recent production managed
to reduce the frantic honesty
of "A Dream Pkiy" to some-
thing very dose to the surrep-
titious dklacticism of "The
Good Woman of Sezuan."
Strindberg is too complex to
come to terms with easily. Per-
haps only Samuel Beckett has
managed it, and that brilliant-
ly. in "Waiting for Godot."
Mr. Carlson, of Queens Col-
lege, City University of New
York, whose translation it is.
will not, I hope, take offense
at his belated introductk)n into
this discussion. It is a sign of
a task well done. He has treat-
ed Lamm's book as it properiy
shouM be treated. as a monu-
ment of a certain kind of
scholarship and of a certain
period, not to be tampered
with. He has presented it in
its integrity, without any at-
tempt to update it. He has re-
nooved notes to the ends of
chapters (why, I wonder, is
that thought to be an improve-
ment?) and amplified them a
Httie; he has added a brief bio-
graphical sketch. He has not
managed to exciude a number
of misprints (there is a bad
nyix-up on page 278) nor to
persuade the Publicity man not
to call his bibliography "füll"
— it is far from that.
But these are minor blem-
ishes on bis very considerable
achievement. Lanrun's book, for
all its limätations, is of its kind
a brilliant survey of Strind-
berg's enormous Output, and
9hoUld have been tratislated
long ago; it has been shame-
fully neglected. Mr. Carison has
presented it to us with a self-
effacement all the more re-
markable considering the mag-
nitude of his feat, which only
those who have tried their
hands at transAating will fully
appreciate: He has succeeded
in making his translation not
read like one. Thanks to him,
there is no wall now between
Lamm and us. ■
20
l
The New York Times Book Review ^
I
Einstein s Holy Curiösity
By EDMITND FlLLKR
There is no measure to define absolute ge-
nius. That mysterious power or intensity of
giftedness is rarer than is suggested by the
too loose application of "genius" to persons
who simply possess outstanding talents (as if
even that were simple!). But by consensus,
one acknowledged genius of this Century and
of all time is Albert Einstein, whose concepts
in physics were so far from the grasp of the
general run of men that he became a myth in
bis lifetime.
Sometimes his reputed incomprehensibility
engendered jokes about him. But his formulas
had forecast the ter-
The
Eookshelf
I
rible forces of the atom
bomb, and he came
to be regarded with
awe by the populär
eye. To many that
awe was blended with
af f ection ; his white-
haloed head seemed benign, and his concern
about the consequences of what science had
set loose led some to call him, extravagantly,
"the conscience of the world.'^ In science he
has been called the greatest mind since Isaac
Newton.
The first comprehensivc study of Ein-
stein's life and work to be written since his
death in 1955 is "Einstein: The Life ^d
Times " by Ronald W. Clark (World, 718
pages,' illustrated, $15). Mr. Clark is an Eng-
lishman and a prolific writer on scientific
subjects; his "The Huxleys" (McGraw-Hil ,
1968) was reviewed here. In the Einstein book
he has produced a massive work, so but-
tressed with reference and documentation
that this layman's confidence in it is carried
into its more technical portions.
Coincidentally. another book, just appear-
ing in America but published some two years
ago in England, is a useful companion to Mr.
Clark's. It is titled "The Bom-Einstein Let-
ters- Correspondence Between Albert Em-
stein and Max and Hedwig Born, 1916-1955/'
translated by Irene Born (Walker & Co., 240
pages, illustrated, $8.50).
Max Born. Nobel-Prize-winning physicist,
and his wife. regarded Einstein as their
dearest friend. At 85 (he died soon after, in
1969) Born wrote the extensive commentaries
that knit these letters together. Werner Hei-
senberg, sometime collaborator with Born on
major work in physics, contributes an intro-
duction. (Mr. Heisenberg's "Physics and Be-
yond" was reviewed here recently.) The let-
ters and the comments of Born and Heisen-
berg corroborate many major points made by
Mr Clark in the biography. Most of the mat-
ter in the letters is accessible and intensely
interesting to the layman, but there are some
pages of technical discussion between the sci-
entists, in the formulae of physics, over which
the layman must pass regretfully, as if in the
presence of an untranslated poem in a lan-
guage unknown to him.
Both books illuminate the history of sci-
ence in this Century of traumatic expansion of
knowledge and technology. Their drama is
the quest for the secrets of how the universe
is made, a compulsive search by man, pursu-
able only by those with the most powerful sci-
entific minds.
Mr. Clark's biography makes us uncom-
fortably, or excitedly, aware of how little of
all that is perceived by our natural senses
alone-including our own "too, too solid
is not that Einstein invalidated Newton, he
perceived that at distances and speeds be-
yond those known to Newton, the Newton ian
laws are inadequate. In his Special Theory
(1905) and later his General Theory of Rela-
tivity (1915) Einstein went beyond Newton.
Now we have been carried beyond Einstein in
some respects, and will be carried further.
At the Start of this Century physics was
stuck in "a comfortable complacency." The
best minds knew that the whole subject was
due to blow wide open. One of many pictures
in the biography shows the "cream of Euro-
pean physicists" at the first Solvay Congress,
1911, in Brüssels. Einstein, Max Planck, and
H. A. Lorentz were among them.
These were "the real revolutionaries of the
20th Century," the men who changed drasti-
cally our view of what Einstein called the
way in which God made the world. (God, of
Whom he spoke much, was not to him a per-
sonal God but was the real though remote and
enigmatic creating force behind all that is.
His God "stood for an orderly system obeying
rules which could be discovered by those who
had the courage, the Imagination, and the
persistence to go on searching for them.")
Einstein's quest was for "a unity behind
disparate phenomena," with the acceptance
of a reality "apart from the direct visible
truth." In the world revealed by Einstein and
his peers, "All mass was merely congealed
energy; all energy merely liberated matter."
Einstein showed us that light has weight and
that its path is bent when it passes through a
strong gravitational field. He postulated the
curvature of the universe -a complex mathe-
matical concept not to be visualized literally.
Mr. Clark is excellent at explaining to non-
scientists as much of the abstruse complexi-
ties of relativity and quantum theory as we
could hope to grasp.
Ironically, Einstein first postulated the
duality of nature, that light and radiation
exist both as waves and as particles, predict-
able only statistically, not as the result of
causation. The ensuing conclusion. "that in
the subatomic world probabilities, rather than
events, were all that could be forecast from
any particular set of circumstances," was one
to which Einstein never could reconcile him-
self. In Einstein's lifetime his friend Max
Born called this "a tragedy for him, as he
gropes his way in loneliness, and for us who
miss our leader and Standard bearer."
hi7l
r
\
J. Robert Oppenheimer wrote of him: "He
did not like the abandonment of continuity or
of causality. . . . to see them lost, even
though he had put the dagger in the band of
their assassin by his own work, was very
hard on him ... he fought with the theory
which he had fathered but which he hated. It
was not the first time that this has happened
in science."
Thus Mr. Clark, supported by many of
Einstein's friends and peers, calls him "one
of the great tragic figures of our time . . . the
greatest physicist in three centuries, or possi-
bly of all time, found himself after middle age
pushed by the advance of quantum theory
into a backwater, 'a genuine old museum-
piece' as he described himself." He wrote to a
friend in 1948: "I still work indefatigably at
science but I have become an evil renegade
who does not wish physics to be based on
probabilities." To the end he believed that in
time some new discovery would supplant the
uncertainty principle, restoring an orderly
causality. Modem physicists do not hold that
expectation.
c
\
1
\
1
i
1
THE NEW YORK TIMES, MONDAY, AUGUST 23, 1971
...M >.«ok4<x*a
How Relativity Came
Froni "Einstein: The Life and Times" bv Konald W. Clark
(World, $15).
''How did It come that I was the one to dovelop the
theory of relativity? The reason, I think, is that a normal
adult never stops to think about problems of space and
time. These are things which he has thought of as a child.
But my intellectual development was retarded, as a result
of which I began to wonder about space and time only
when I had already growTi up. Naturally, I could go deeper
into the problem than a child with normal Äbilities."
'■' 'a
^ - t
Author's Query
I would be gratefui for Jet-
ters, reminiscences and other
material pertinent to a biogra-
phy of mathematical physicist
Albert Einstein (1879-1955),
which will deal with his influ-
enae on contemporary affairs
as well as his scientific werk.
Ronald W. Clark
10 Campden St.
Kensington, London, W.8.
C,rK^.I'^^^/;
Books of The Times
>
3
a
h
e
1
The Confusini Case of Einstein
By CHRISTOPHER LEHMANN-HAUPT
EINSTEIN. The Life and Times. By Ronald W.
Clark. 718 pases. lllustrated. Worl± $15.
Albert Einstein
In the year 1919, the Observation of a
solar eclipse by a team of British scien-
tists served to dramatize for a thunder-
struck World what has been widely ac-
counted one of the most extraordinary
intellectual feats in human history — Albert
Einstein's postulation of the General
Theory of Relativity, whereby he proved
that Sir Isaac
Newton's world of
mechanical abso-
lutes was merely
an illusion. Yet
for all the won-
der of Einstein's
revelations, it is
difficult to look
back upon his ca-
reer without feel-
ing twinges of
contempt for a
World that elevated
a theoretical phys-
icist to the role
of a messiah. For
has it not been the
sad lesson of the
20th Century — was
not Einstein's own
career sufficient demonstration — that to
master the subtleties of time, space, and
matter is not the same as comprehending
the vagaries of human affairs? Looking
back now, does it not seem absurd that
the world beat a path to the absent-minded
professor's door and thrust at him the
roles of political leader, moral arbiter,
and healer of the lame and the halt?
Einstein himself seems to have thought
so, which partly explains why he cul-
tivated the Einstein image of humble saint
in baggy clothes. And his present biog-
rapher, an Englishman respected for his
earlier books on J.B.S. Haidane, the Hux-
leys. and Sir Henry Tizard, also seems to
think so; indeed he attributes to the
phenomenon of Einstein's apotheosis re-
sponsibility for a tragic element in the
great physicist's life.
Radiant Charisma
And yet despite such reflection — de-
spite the scorn one may now feel for the
world's idolatry of Einstein, despite the
many years that have passed since his
revolutionary ideas first burst upon the
world, despite the fact that we ought to
know better — Einstein's charisma remains
as radiant as ever. At least it does so in
Mr. Clark's reconstruction of his life.
For how eise is one to account for the
appeal of this biography? How eise ex-
plain why one plows willingly through
700 pages devoted to an abstract thinker
whose ideas are still hard to grasp and
whose conduct when he wasn't thinking
sometimes bordered on the absurd? Ein-
stein's enduring charisma must be the
explanation.
Without it, Clark's account might
easily have proved a bore. For he dwells
excessively on trivia. He worries inordi-
nately about Einstein's debts to earlier
experiments. He devotes too much Space
to the politics of Einstein's institutional
affiliations, his Comings and goings to
lecture and think. He tends to overin-
dulge in the "were-it-not-for-this-incident-
history-might-have-been-altered"approach.
He gives disproportionate attention to
Einstein's impact on England (Doesn't one
even detect a sliver of disappyointment
that Einstein chose Princeton over Ox-
ford as his place of exile from Germany?).
More threatening to the soundness of
his book: Clark is guilty of the very hero
worship of Einstein for which he chides
the rabblement. By dwelling so extensively
on Einstein's inconsistencies; by forcing
into a tragic dimension the fact that
Einstein ended his days as a German
with an irrational hatred of Germany, a
pacifist who had endorsed the develop-
ment of nuclear weapons, and an inter-
nationalist who supported Zionism — Clark
merely pumps gas into his story. For the
simple truth that seems to emerge despite
Clark's strainings is that for all Ein-
stein's genius as a theoretician, he had
as much right to change his mind as the
next fellow.
Kidding the World
But such criticisms amount to quib-
bling when measured against the virtues
of this biography: its vivid portrayal of
Einstein's growth from an obscure rebel
who had trouble getting passing grades
and finding work, to the revered cid man
who seemed to be kidding the world with
his saintliness; its elegant treatment of
Einstein's theories (if one does not al-
ways grasp their detail, one is at least
aware of their significance; and inciden-
tally gratefui for Clark's point that such
catch-phrases as *'time, the fourth di-
mension," "the curve of space," and **re-
lativity" itself, were meant to be under-
stood mathematically and not by means
of common sense).
Moreover, there is a truly tragic di-
mension in Clark's portrayal of how Ein-
stein gradually changed from the brash
rebel who upset the Newtonian applecart
to the conservative who stubbornly re-
fused to accept a universe without cause
and effect ("God would not play dice with
the world," Einstein insisted to his dying
day). And as for Clark's sure-handed
building of the drama to the moment when
Sir Arthur Eddington, back from his suc-
cessful expedition to measure light as it
passed the sun, sat down at a dinner of
the Royal Astronomical Society and re-
cited a parody of "The Rubaiyat" ("Oh
leave the Wise our measures to collate./
One thing at least is certain, LIGHT has
WEICHT/ One thing is certain, and the
rest debate — / Light-rays, when near the
Sun, DO NOT GO STRAIGHT")— it is—
no other word for it — spine-tingling.
Thus the wonder of Einstein's achieve-
ment is made to seem fresh once again.
And thus, all logic notwithstanding. an
otherwise ordinary tale of human fallibil-
ity achieves the stature of Greek drama.
1
rUE NEW YORK / iMES. MONDAY. AUGUST 23, I
1 i
WTT Relaflvity Came
l roni "KJnst^in: Th«« IJf«' aiu) J inus" In Kor ■' » \V. Clark
• Wurld, Jj;!,*)).
"How i\U\ It como that I wos tho ono to dovolop thc
thoory of rciaiivity? Thc reason, I think, is ihat a normal
ad alt ncver stops to think about problcms of spacc and
tinic. These are things uhioh he has thought of as a chil-J,
But my intellcctual devclopmcnt was retardcd, as a result
of whlch I bogan to wonder aboiit space and time only
whon I had alrcady grown up. Xaturally, I could go deeper
into the i)robleni than a child with norinal Ebiiities."
Author's Query
I would be grateful for let-
ters, reminiscences and otlier
material pertinent to a biogra-
phy of mathematical physicist
Albert Einstein (1879-1955),
which will deal with bis influ-
enae on contemporary affairs
as well as bis scientific work.
Ronald W. Clark
10 Campden St
Kensington, London, W.8.
•\
i^
a
h
o
r.
The Literary Sccne
^,j JOHN BARKHAM
NEW YORK POST. SATUROAY. AUGUST 21. IfZC
m-f
EINSTEIN: The Life and Times. By Ronald W. Clark. World.
718 pp. $15.
To produco a sound populär l/iography of a man vvho
wen famo for his abstract ideas is no simple matter. It is
dofinitcly moro dilficult to do it for a physicist who revolu-
tionizod our conccpt of thc univcrsc with a seriös of coniplox
cquations iindorstandable only by thc congnoscenti.
This proba})ly cxplains why
strikcs a careful balanco be-
tween Einstein the scicntist
and Einstein tlic man. Thc
skcpticism which greeted his
generai theory of relativity,
the hostility ho aroused in
ccrtain academic circles for
replacing the ordcrly Newton-
ian universe with one in
which evcrything was rela-
tive- all this Clark spells out
in rieh detail. Ho cven cx-
plains the famous theorv it-
seif without resorting to in-
timidating cquations, which
jects, can do both, and bofore should reassure those readers
there has not vot bcen any
really good populär biogra-
phy of Albert Einstein —
rankod by ])hysicists with
Galileo and Newton -- al-
though 16 years have passed
since his dcath. Books about
Einstein therc have been
aplenty-by scientists who
couldn't write and by writ-
ers who coukln't explain
Einstein.
* * *
Roiiakl W. (lark, an Eng-
lish writer on scientific sub-
us today is a massive bieg
raphy which for the first
time docs justice to Einstein
the cosmic pathfinder and
the gentle conscience of hu-
manity. Einstein would have
loved nothing bettcr than to
have s])ent his life in a libraiy
surrounded by books and
manuscripts. but for a man
of peacc he chose the wrong
era to be born in.
Clark spends little time on
the boy's upbrlnging in the
old German town of Ulm or
his education at tho ITni\'er-
sitv of Munich. Einstein him-
seif rarely spoke of his early
years. We get moie detail
when young Einstein, by no
means a brilliant scholar,
began working as a clerk in
the Swiss Patent Office in
Berne. It was during this
period— 1902 to 1905— T hat ho
began Publishing the papers
which, though hardly read at
the time, were later to shake
the World of physics to ils
foundations.
The most graphic account
of those years I nave read
anywhere appeared, oddly
enough, in an unpublishci
novel by the late Mark Alda-
nov. Clark, I feel, misscs
some of the irony inherent in
a Situation which has man-
kind's notions of thc univorse
overturned by an obscurc
ex-patents clerk.
Thereaftei
one Clement
most abhorred — beg"an to
haunt Einstein. World War I
and later World War II
aroused his strengest feelings
of revoilsion. Renouncing his
German citizenship, he
adopted Swiss nationality and
began the long series of
escapes from violence which
brought him finally to the In-
for whom higher mathe-
matics is a closed book.
What emergo clearly from
this biography are the con-
tradictory strains in the
Einstein personality — the
kindly genius who gave only
passing attention to his
family, the pacifist whose
personal efforts hastened
the production of the atomic
bomb (thestory of Ein-
stoin's historic lettcr to
Probident Roosevelt is sot
out in füll), the Zionist who
had his doubts about God,
the physicist v ho was also
a philosopher, the man of
science who believed that
the mystic transcended the
materialist.
Fortunately he was ous-
tained by a dry sense of hu-
mor. Clark reminds us how
Einstein summed up the stir
caused by his theory in
these vvords: "In Germany
I am hailed as a man of
science, and in England I
am pleasantly represented
as a foreign Jew. But if ever
my theories are repudiated.
the Germans will condemn
me as a foreign Jew and the
English dismiss me as a Ger-
man."
* * *
Wars, exlle, the Bonil) — all
these hounded a man who
wanted only to be left alono
to read, to reflect, to play
violence -the Mozart. Einstein was a
this timid man thinker whose achievement
put him at the opposite pole
from the men of action who
shaped the world of his time.
In his biography Clark
sees him whole, and for this
we must be grateful. I would
add to it only what appears
to have been the guiding im-
pluse in Einstein's life. It can
be found in certain words of
stitute for Advanced Study Schopenhauer w^hich Einstein
at Princeton, vollere he died in memorizcd in his youth and
1955, by then an American never forgot: "A man can do
Citizen. as he will, but not will as he
All through the book Clark will."
.^:ä
. - \
ALBERT EINSTEIN
EINSTEINrTKE LIFE AND
TIMES. By Ronald W. Clark.
World. 718 pp.$ 15.
The National Observer
(M. D. Daniel): ". . . Albert
Einstein was the most fam-
ous scientist of the Twen-
tieth Century . . . whose
courage to challenge accepted
beliefs hclped him lay the
foundation for the rtoniic
**Yet the father of relativ-
ity was a mortal too, and so
Ronald Clark's (book) has
two sides. One of them deals
with such thinfjs as radiation
and quairtum mechanics . . .
the otlier rcflects a shy and
simple and dear old gentle-
man who couldn't drive a
car and didn't know hcw to
work a tyjjcwriter because
.such tasks were 'too compli-
cated.'
"It is this const?nt merg-
ing of Einstein the scienrtist
and Einstein the man that
makes Mr. Clark's biography
so readable ..."
Life (C. P. Snow): ". . . It
has majiy rnerits. The bio-
graphical facts, so far as I
can judge, have been thor-
oughly investigatcd. A num-
ber of minor mysteries have
bcen clcared up, A grcöt deal
of detcctive work neod never
be done again. That alone
justifics Mr. Clark's enter-
prise and the whole book is
serious, clearly written, and
carried out with a steady
sense of responsibility . . .
"Read the book. It is well
woilh it. But remember thaf,
to other eyes, Einstein
loomed larger and wiser than
this."
New York Times, daily
(Christopher Lehmann-
Haupt): ". . . aark is guilty
of the very hero worship of
Einstein for which he chides
the rabblement. By dwelling
so extensively on Einstein's
inconsistencies . . . Clark
mcrely pumps gas into his
story. For the simple truth
that seems to emerge despite
Clark's strainings is that for
all Einstein's genius as a
theoretician, he had as much
right to change his mind as
the next fellow . . ."
Wall Street Journal f Ed-
mund Füller): ". . . No re-
view can convey the wealth
of material in this massive
biography, or in the letters.
The man who was for part
of his life the most famous
if least comprehended man in
the world said, 'The impor-
tant thing is not to stop ques-
tioning . . . Never lose a holy
curiosity.' As for the peril of
corruption by praise: *One is
tempted to stop and listen to
lt. The only .thing is to turn
away and go on working.
Work. Thcre is nothing
eise.' "
(
t
r
t
V
h
I MAGAZINE PASE FIFTEEN )
The Critics Are Saying . . .
-!
Einstein— An Appraisal
To the Editor:
On Aug. 23 The Times published a
review by Christopher Lehmann-Haupt
of Ronald W. Clark's new book, "Ein-
stein." This review was completely
unworthy of The Times.
Mr. Lehmann-Haupt seems to have
taken Clark's book — about which I
have many serious resen'ations of
my own — merely as an excuse for
stating his own ideas about Einstein
and his significance. Unfortunately,
these ideas are inadequate, misleading
and even incorrect.
One would never guess from this
review that Albert Einstein did the
most profound work in physics since
Isaac Newton; that twentieth-century
physics is literally unthinkable without
his contributions, and that the strug-
gle to understand the principles under-
lying the natural world was the most
important thing in his life for sixty
years or more.
The Times reviewer prefers merely
to mention Einstein's science in pass-
ing, referring to wonderful "revela-
tions." the dispelling of Newtonian
"illusions." and the upsetting of the
••Newtonian apple cart." He concen-
trates instead on the public role
"thrusf* upon Einstein.
Mr. Lehmann-Haupt, for reasons
that are not clear perhaps even to
him, bitterly resents the fact that Ein-
stein acquired such a unique position.
He feels "twinges of contempt" and
"scorn" for a world that could be
"absurd" enough to care about Ein-
stein's Idcas on subjects other than
physics. . .. ...
He considers that Ernstem cultl-
vated an image." that he was "kidding
the world with his saintliness." One
wonders what and whom Mr. Leh-
mann-Haupt is talking about.
Was Einstein "absurd" to have re-
fused to accept German militarism in
1914, to have objected to blind anti-
German prejudice in the early 1920's,
to have recognized that the menace
of Hitler demanded a reaction stronger
than pacifism permitted?
Would the world have been "absurd"
had it shared (as it unfortunately did
not) Einstein's views that nuclear
weapons must be abandoned, or that
intellectuals must struggle against all
attacks on intellectual freedom? Is
Mr. Lehmann-Haupt aware of how
carefully Einstein weighed every polit-
ical use of the name that his scientific
work had made so significant?
By way of antidote to this review
It may be worth repeating Bertrand
Russell's words expressing a more
rational view of Einstein:
"He was not only a great scientist
but a great man, a man whom it is
Rood to have known and consoling to
contemplate.» Martin J.Klei n
Professor. History of Physics
Yale University
New Haven, Sept. 7, 1971
1
dliu Uiydlil^duuiio iivMi wi« ^ tverv Sianunm n.n r,«^.. ,.• ii .i-i luii IHH tnriiia-
the biography of the Century
about the scient ist of
the millennium
man himself, brjnging to life in bold
colorful strokes, not only Einstein the
phenomenal intellect, but Einstein the
quirky, even cranky personality, the
man with the gilt of charm, the very
human being.
The Book'Of-the-Month Club Selection With 16 pages of photographs $15.00
At the age of 50, in his Berlin home with his second
wife Elsa Einstein, and his stepdaughter, Margot.
In the 150-foot solar tower telescope at the Mount
Wilson Observatory. Pasadena, California, in 1930.
This is EINSTEIN, The Life and Times-
the biography that creates an extraor-
dinarilymoving,multi-dimensional view
of the man who was "one of the great-
est brains since Newton's", and a tow-
ering figure in the history of mankind.
\A/ORLD PUBUSHIIMG
TIMES MIRROR
July 25, 1971
Playing the violin, circa 1930,
"The Ijfe of Albert Einstein has a dra-
matic quality that does not rest exclu-
sively on his theory of relativity." So
reads the first sentence of EINSTEIN,
The Life and Times. Albert Einstein was
far more than the physicist who con-
fidently claimed that Space and time
were not what they seemed to be. He
was, in truih, one of the great contradic-
tions: the German who hated Germans;
the pacifist who contributed to war; the
indifferent Zionist who was asked to
head the Israeli State; the physicist who
believed in God.
All this and more is revealed in this de-
finitive biography of one of the most
fannous scientists who ever lived. A bi-
ography that lives and breathes with
compassion and significance. A biog-
raphy that is, according to Clifton Fadi-
man, "vast, controlled, scholarly, and
readaole."
As it should be, in a volume of this size
(over 700 pages) and scope, you will
With Ben-Gurion on the porch of his home In Princeton.
praised books (J.B.S., The Huxleys,
Tizard, and Birth of the Bomb) Mr. Clark
makes use of Caches of private letters
and personal Interviews to delineate
Einstein's life in Sharp detail.
This is a portralt as passionate as the
With his first wite, Mileva Marie, taken in 19
find an enormous quantity of prevlously
unpublished material. Such untapped
sources as the Weizmann Archives in
Israel and the Cherwell Archives In Ox-
ford are here used to their füllest, and
for the first time. And in the rieh, ele-
gant style that marked his other widely-
Entertaining a group of recently arrived young dis-
placed persons on his 70th birthday, March 14, 1949
14
The New York Times Book Review
1
l-lll
1
Bern als britischer Fernsehstar
DCrn aia " ,, u f+ RRC-Telev sion
^i,d demnächst m den Ga.stnBe ^^^^^
für einen DolcumenUi mm uot ^^^^ bis
Al'bert Einstein ^';h^";^t g "■' u!,d beim Eidge-
igno in der Bundtsslum gtA u
!-^'-^- ^rdrUrkfh'vcVer^e,- Stadt Bern
Zusammen mit dem VC TKen Schauplätze aus-
hat das Filmteam '^^^:'^^^^,^:^ benötigten Re-
gesucht und die für die Aufnanm ^^^. ^^eit
ouisiten - ^^^'^t^^MX- Der Film
vor dem Ersten Weltknc^g h ^^^^^ ^^^ ^.^
ist ein Teil ^f^'^^^^^^^^^: vom britischen und
V/ei degang dos ^^^"'^^^:.„„ Fernsehen ausge-
zum Teil vom amerikanischen ttii
strahlt wird.
•M*} ^SSQ ä 9 it^ ^4 tim 9 *W
edüorial 'Board: Clifton Fadiman • Gilbert Highet
Paul Morgan • John K. Hutchens
Photographs • Publisher's list price: $15
PRICETO MEMBERS: $795
"Back of the phenomenal intellect lodged a
most human being, quirky, even cranky, with
a füll complement of human weaknesses as
well as the gift of charm. To this very human
being the author does füll justice."
I
THERE will always be argument as to the definition of great-
ness. By certain relaxed criteria Roosevelt and Churchill,
though neither generated any ideas of permanent im-
portance, are great men. By more rigorous criteria Gandhi
is great, perhaps the only great politician of the Century. But few
would deny that, o{ all the towering figures of the last hundred years,
the pair that continue to be thought of, almost automatically, as truly
great are Freud and Einstein.
Though continued research will doubtless add to or in other ways
quahfy Ernest Jones^s three-volume life of Freud, it is fair to say that,
for all its shortcomings, that work will stand for some time as a
Standard and monumental biography of its subject. But, up to the
present, there has been available no life of Freud's peer, Albert
Einstein, that can confidently be recommended to the general reader.
Now comes Ronald W. Clark^s vast, controlled, scholarly and read-
REPORT BY Clifton Fadiman
12
©1971 by Book-of-the-Monlh Club. Inc.
1
ablc biography to fill the gap. While it lacks
the intimacy of Jones, it scores higher marks
for objectivity. In any case it has no present
rivals and may be recommended to any
reader who desires a füll acquaintance with
one of the half-dozen all-time titans of pure
thought.
That is one way, of course, to describe
Einstein ; but only one. Back of the phenom-
enal intellect lodged a most human being,
quirky, even cranky, with a füll comple-
ment of human weaknesses as well as the
gift of charm. To this very human being
Mr. Clark does füll justice. His first sen-
tence reads: "The life of Albert Einstein
has a dramatic quality that does not rest
exclusively on his theory of relativity."
This "dramatic quality" was born in part
of his basic personality, stubborn, humor-
ous, "simple'' only as Thoreau was simple.
But it derived also from Einstein's close
involvement with certain crucial historical
events of his time — especially, the rise of
Germany and Nazism; the making of The
Bomb; and the Zionist movement that
produced a new nation.
THESE involvements were more tangled
than they seem. His second renuncia-
tion of his native country, Germany, was
triggered by the German people's anti-
Semitism — yet Einstein, as he quite truly
told his friend Lord Samuel, was "not very
Jewish." His Zionism was never unquali-
fied, for the clarity of his mind prevented
him from espousing nationalism in any
form. The man who played so important a
part in making possible both the birth and
the murderous "success" of nuclear weap-
ons was an avowed pacifist. Finally, one of
the most pubhcized men of his time had a
genuine distaste for publicity, his unworld-
liness being in part responsible for his
manipulation by the "media."
One of the Services performed by Mr.
Clark is the quiet breaking down of certain
myths that, especially in his latter years,
grew up around Einstein as a consequence
of the labors of the publicity manufacturers
of the whole western world, but especially
of the United States. Einstein, while amiable
enough, was not the Dickensian benevolent
uncle, much less the lovable absent-minded
professor, that the Communications people
decided to make him. His benevolence was
general, not specific. Indeed — and this is
a point Mr. Clark himself glides over
lightly — he was a very poor and neglectful
father to the two children his first marriage
produced. In fact, Einstein — who lived al-
most entirely inside his own head — would,
in a sane society, have been prohibited
from entering two professions for which
he had absolutely no talent: marriage and
paternity. Mr. Clark does not State this
formally, but the picture he draws of
Einstein's domestic life permits a thought-
ful reader to draw such a conclusion.
Einstein was during his entire career —
as is perhaps true of any absolutely first-
class mind — an outsider. His passion for
discovering universal laws made irrelevant
and even irritating the pressures of fidelity
to such second-order institutions as the
family, the State, the church, conventional
Society and the academy. A thorough nat-
ural democrat, it was not that he was
snobbish. It is more correct to say that any
man who takes as a subject for life-long
reflection all time and all space simply
cannot assume the accepted stance toward
the trivialities and transiencies which com-
pose the obsessive life-interests of almost
the entire human race.
The first question Club members will
probably — and properly — ask is "Does the
3
1
I
author explain relativity so that it is com-
prehensible?" The answer is: if you've had
high school physics or somehow picked up
its equivalent, you will have no trouble
with Mr. Clark's painstaking, nearly equa-
tionless exposition. Not only does he ex-
plain the theory clearly, but he makes you
see why since Einstein we are all Citizens
of a new cosmos, the alteration in view-
point being even more fundamental than
that which Galileo and Newton brought
about. But while he does füll justice to
Einstein's titanic achievement, he also
makes clear the limitations of Einstein's
mind. Never quite able to accept Heisen-
berg's indeterminacy principle, Einstein
spent his latter years in greater and greater
alienaticn from the wonderful new physics
being created by younger men. Patiently,
even obstinately, he devoted himself to
what his later contemporaries considered
4
an impossible task: the discovery ("con-
struction" is perhaps the more precise
Word) of a universal field theory which
would condense all the basic physical
phenomena of the universe into one
formula.
The main virtue of this long but never
tedious biography, apart from its clarity,
is its thoroughness. There is no phase of
Einstein's long life, from his unpromising
childhood to his rather anticlimactic latter
years in Princeton, that is not explored in
füll detail. Little is slighted, whether it be
Einstein's unsuccessful first marriage, his
dully prac i'il second one, his years as a
Swiss patent office official, his relationships
with other luminaries (Planck, Hendrik
Lorentz, Ben-Gurion, Minkowski, FDR,
Madame Curie, Lord Samuel, Romain
Rolland, the Nazi physicist Lenard, Szi-
lard. Bohr, Broglie, Bergson, Freud, Milli-
kan, Weizmann, Tagore, Queen Elizabeth
of Belgium, Rabbi Wise), his hobbies
(sailing and music), his complex relation-
ship to the discovery and utilization of
nuclear fission (much new material here),
his trouble-filled Zionist period, his con-
troversies, the curious machinery that made
him a world figure, the growth of the
Einstein "legend," his rather simplistic in-
ternationalism and emotional socialism,
or, above all, the movement of his thought
— the changing intricate processes of in-
tellection that gave the world both the spe-
cial and the general theories of relativity.
WHILE Einstein remains the focus of
the leisurely narrative, Mr. Clark
is well aware that in no real sense was he,
for all his independence of mind, an iso-
lated figure. Einstein's real world was the
world of physics and later of cosmology,
as it had been built up in the 19th Century
and as it underwent radical transformations
in the first half of the 20th. Thus we are
given not merely a biography of a unique
mind but an introduction to the whole
progressive evolution of modern physics,
macroscopic, microscopic, subatomic. This
book illuminates for those of us untrained
in these arcane matters a mode of thought,
as well as an architecture of truths, that
expands our imaginations. Non-scientists
who read this book with care can then re-
read C. P. Snow's The Two Cultures with-
out feeling quite so humiliated and inferior.
On the whole, this is as satisfactory a
biography as anyone could ask of "one of
the greatest brains since Newton's.'' Of
this brain there is a family legend that Mr.
Clark recalls for us. When Einstein's father
"asked his young son's headmaster what
profession his son should adopt, the answer
was simply: 'It doesn't matter; he'U never
make a success of anything.
1 »»
\
Sde JfeUr Mark Slwejg; jBaok HetrieUi
^^^ TANIJARY 17 /07I QtrrTmAF ^
JANUARY 17, 1971 SECTION 7
Permi, Heisenberg, Schrödinger, Einstein, Planck and Bohr.
Expeniiicutd icu Keicii v^
believe that this energy was
reflected by nonorganic sub-
stances like metal and ab-
sorbed by organic substances
like wood. To collect this en-
ergy he therefore built ''or-
gone accumulators," which
were like telephone booths
with metal inside and wood or
other organic material added
on the outside. When any liv-
ing organism was placed in the
orgone box. its temperature
rose. Reich was so enthralled
with this discovery that he
wrote Einstein about it in
1940 and asked for an ap-
pointment. The two men met
on Jan. 13. 1941. Later, Ein-
stein wrote Reich and told
hm that he had replicated
Reich's findings regarding the
increased temperature in the
box, but that there was a
simpler explanation than that
of the accumuiation of orgone
energy. There was no fur-
therccrresponrience and Reich
thereafter referred to the in-
cident as the "Einstein affair."
1
^t<^^
1^11
V
0 jU
ftx
u
\
■1 X'f??.^,
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l
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 7, 1912
Wut Wms Jlork Wimu
rkf^:-
41
Einstein Letters Show the Physicist as Person
Vi Einstein, left, with his bearded "friend and colleague," Michele Besso, in Zürich
Bv ISRAEL SHENKER
Special to The Ntw York Times
PRINCETON, N. J. — Al-
bert Einstein's paper on Ihe
Special Theory of Relativity,
which was published in 1905
and may have been the most
important scientific publica-
tion of this centur>', was
the very model of an im-
personal scientific commu-
nication.
But it did mentlon a single
name, where Einstein wrote:
"I wish to say that in work-
ing at the problem here dealt
with I have had the loyal
assistance of my friend and
colleague M. Besso, and that
I am indebted to him for
several valuable sugges-
tions."
Had this becn the only
menticn of Michele Besso, it
may have been sufficient to
assure his particular renown.
But there was more to the
man. and thanks to him,
much more is now known
about Einstein.
Worked at Same Office
When they first met in
Zürich in 1897, Einstein was
17 years old and Besso 23.
From 1904 to 1908 both
worked at the Swiss Patent
Office. For 52 years they
corresponded with each oth-
er, and now these letters —
in a French translation and
in the original German — have
Most of the papers auctioned otl for
$1 2,500 at Manhattan's Sotheby Parke
Bcrnet Inc. were covered with complex
mathematical formulas. According to
the scientist who made the cataloguc,
the figures were comprehensible only to
about 250 people in the world. Still, for
those baffled by the scientific thoiights
of the latc Albert Einstein, there were
bits of less technical information to bc
gleaned: the author of E- nu' ate eggs
and drank tomato juice (he spilled somc
on his work) and bequeathed to history
an unexplained (and here freely trans-
lated) bit of verse:
l shant hv ahsent. Utile snookie,
Thou^h I am not a su^ar Cookie;
Wliat lifc has hrouf^ht you up to now
May sweetcn the fareweil somehow.
l
L Wa^
J.^
.\l\^^^ cv^
^
been published by Hermann
Editeurs des Sciences et des
Arts in Paris in a book en-
titled "Albert Einstein et Mi-
chele Besso, Correspondance
1903-1955," edited by Pierre
Speziali. English-language
publishers have expressed in-
terest in a translation into
English.
"This book is an absolute-
ly rare and beautiful record
of the friendship, as well as
of the scientific thought of
Einstein," said Gerald Hol-
ton, an Einstein specialist
who is prc-fessor of ^ysics
at Harvard. "Here we see
Einstein grow both scientifi-
cally and philosophically with
time, and we have an ex-
planation of what he did at
particular times."
History of Project
Prof. Martin Klein of Yale,
who is now working with
the Einstein papers at the
Institute for Advanced Study
here, said: "This correspond-
ence ran longer than any
other Einstein ever under-
took, and he discusses with
Besso things he didn't dis-
cuss with anyone eise. Besso
was the dosest thing he
had to a best friend.'*
Professor Speziali, who
teaches the history of sci-
ence at the University of
Geneva, met Besso in 1946,
and began collecting and
editing the letters in 1961
with the Cooperation of the
Besso family and of Ein-
stein's former secretary,
Helen Dukas.
Some of Einstein's letters
were in the cellar of Besso's
home near Geneva, and some
of the material stored in the
cellar had been nibbled by
rats. Altogether there were
110 letters from Einstein and
119 from Besso. Professor*
Speziali acquired copies of
Besso's letters to Einstein
from Miss Dukas in exchange
for copies of Einstein's let-
ters to Besso.
A Perpetual Student
The first Einstein-Besso
meeting was at the home of
a Zürich family of music
lovers where both young sci-
entists (Besso was a mechan-
ical engineer) played the
viclin.
Einstein, who was living
with the Jost Winteler fami-
ly in Aarau, near Zürich,
introduced Besso to Anna,
one of the Winteler children,
whom Besso married in 1898.
In 1910, Einstein's sister,
Maja, married Anna's broth-
er, Paul.
It was Einstein who rec-
ommended his friend Besso
for a Job at the patent Of-
fice and the two friends
worked alongside each other,
examining patent applica-
tions and talking about oth-
er things. Evenings, after
work, they walked home to-
cether.
Besso was the perpetual
Student, forever attending
courses. When Einstein gave
a course at the University
of Berne, in radiation theory,
Besso was one of the two
regulär students. Later, Bes-
so taught Patents at Zurich's
Federal Polytechnic, and Ein-
stein's son, Albert, took the
course. Besso never became
a physicist, but his Knowl-
edge of the science was such
that Einstein feit he could
discuss it with him.
When Besso was in dan-
ger of being dismissed from
his patent-office job (alleged-
ly for not tumlng out enough
work), Einstein wrcte a
strong letter of support, and
Besso was kept on.
Early in their correspond-
ence, Einstein wrote Besso:
"When I see your handwrit-
ing I rejoice in a very special
way, for no one is as dose to
me, ' no one knows me as
well, no one is as well-inten-
tioned as you are."
Most of the correspond-
ence is highly technical, with
Einstein the patient peda-
gogue informing Besso of his
latest scientific problems.
But a great deal is devoted
to the no less vexing diffi-
culties of family. of politics
and of a world evidently
bent on catastrophe.
cvtf
*'I could not have Touflf!
a better sounding board in
the whole of Europe," Ein-
stein said of his friend. "Ein-
stein the eagle took Besso
the sparrow under his wing,"
said Besso. "Then the spar-
row fluttered a little higher."
The Einstein who emerges
here is far from the idyllic
image of the unworldly man
of romantic fiction. Here he
is piain, Sharp, quick to un-
dcrstand when others woukl
use him for their purposes.
Einstein's first letter an-
nounces: "So now l'm a mar-
ried man and my wife [Mileva
Marie] and I lead a very
pleasant and comfortable
lifo."
Succeeding letters. written
from Berlin to Besso in Zü-
rich, chronicle the deteriora-
tion of Einstein's marriage
aiul the prcblems of Ein-
slein's older son. "My Albert
doesn't write me." Einstein
complained in 1916. "I think
his attitude toward me has
g'^ne down past Üie freezing
point. In his place, at his
a^e and in present circum-
stances. I would have re-
acted the same way."
•TU see to it that my
wife is no longer disturbed
by me," Eins^^in wrote short-
ly thereafter. "As to divorce,
I have definitely renounced
the idea."
öcjso wrote repeatcdly
about Mrs. Einstein's and
young Albert's problems.
"There can be no question
of my taking back Albert
a^ainst the will of Miza
[diminutive öl Mileva]."
Einstein replied. "Aft*»r all,
Em not completely irration-
al."
Einstc' 1 Ii?«'^ÄUJ
But Einstein asked wheth-
er he should rem^/ve Albert
from school and teach him
himself. "What makes me
hesitate . . . is only the fear
of depriving him of the nec-
essar>- contact with young-
sters* ff his own age . . ,
in view of his undeniable
tendency to withdraw into
himself. ... Do you think
my wife would agree?"
When he planned a visit
to Zürich, /here his wife
and children lived, Einstein
wrote: '"I will stay only a
few days . . . because the
stay is tco tiring for my
miserable carcass."
Ob.
JH
r
I
i
i
Most of the papers auctioned off for
$1 2,500 at Manhattan's Sotheby Parke
Bernet Inc. were covered with complex
mathematical formulas. According to
the scientist who made the catalogue,
the figures were comprehensible only to
aboul 250 people in the world. Still, for
those baffled by the scientific thoughts
of the late Albert Einstein, there were
bits of less technical information to be
gleaned: the author of £"- mc' ate eggs
and drank tomato juice (he spilled some
on his werk) and bequeathed to history
an unexplained (and here freely trans-
Iated)bitof verse:
Ishan't he ahsent, little snookie,
Though I am not a su^'ur Cookie;
What life has hrought you up to now
May sweeten the fareweii somehow.
U WA'A.
,y^\^^^^ <^vv
Ob;
J
JöötV»*»'^ *••.
tnrown uuL ui w»«- ..».—-
Punch leans out over the
row proscenium to wag-
minatory f'-^gor, or hoois
^\ee at having outwitte*
policeman.'*
lis la
f his,
lister
in \i
" de
,h uppci-imauie-ciass
,e half-world of Lon-
don. It won the praise of Henry
James, among other eminent
critics.
Argumentative and whimsical,
Sir Compton was also some-
thing of a television person-
ality. He cnjoyed being mter-
viewed, and his cr^ggy, hned
face, from which usually pro-
truded a pipe or a cigar, regis-
ipred a variety of emotions
from humor to shock to out-
rage.
Amone othcr causes, he es-
T
t',
d
'I
üvtf
• L
l
"ilDAY, DECEMBER 1, 1972
65
Binstein's Letters Reveal the Physicist as Persdti
Continued From Page 41
Besso that he was planning
to write a book on rela-
tivity, "but I have trouble
bogiiining, as is the case with
all things not dictated by
an ardent desire."
Whcn he was offered a
chair in Zürich in 1918, he
complaincd: *'I can't split
myself into separate pieces.
. . . How happy I would have
been 18 years ago with a
miserable little Job as an
assistant!"
Health Problems came —
and went. When doctors
pressed him to take the eure
at a spa, Einstein wrote
Besso: "I have difficulty
summoning the necessary
superstition for this."
"My health is satisfacto-
n>%" he wrote much later,
"although the cid crate al-
ready plainly shows that it's
about to come unglued com-
pletely, as it^ age demands."
In 1921 Einstein came to
the United States to help
raise money for the Hebrew
University. "I had to let my-
self be exhibited like a prize
bull, speak countless times
in small and large meetings,
and give countless scientific
iectures," Einstein wrote.
"It's a miracle that I held
up. But it's over now, and
I'm left with the good feel-
ing of having done some-
thing really good and having
mtervened with courage for
the Jewish cause, wilhout
taking account of the pro-
tests of Jews and non-Jews
— the majority of our people
are more clever than coura-
geous. That I could see
clearly."
Einstein settied in the
Manhattan
United States in 1933 and
five years latcr wrote from
Princeton: "In general, there
is little appreciation for the
finer things, especially be-
cause the businessman is the
national saint. I mean by
that, that a new style garter
wins out over a new Philo-
sophie theory. However, I en-
joy life here, and there is
rarely anyone who prefers to
return to that more refined
Europe.
"F know you have an in-
curable weakness for your
Italy, as most German Jews
have for Germany. This sort
of sentimental weakness is
explained by our nostalgia
for a fixed home on this
unstable earth, for we are
victims of the deceptive Illu-
sion that the goyim [non-
Jews] possess such a thing,
while we don't. But I think
that a home where a reason-
able man can't open his
mouth is not a real home."
Shortly thereafter, Besso
wrote that he had decided
to become a Christian, add-
ing: **May this act . . . not
cause estrangement, nor in
any way come between vis."
In a subsequent letter,
Einstein used a Yiddish word
— "nebbich," which is used
to express "a mixture of
compassion and scom" —
and referred to his friend's
flight from the faith: "Aa a
go.y, you're not required to
know the language of our
fathers, while I, *holy Jew,'
I should be ashamed to know
really nothing of it. 1 still
prefer to feel the shame,
rather than to learn it."
Often without a word of
transition, Einstein and Bes-
so interlarded scientific con-
cepts amid talk of religion,
politics, economics or famlly.
Asking Besso for news about
the first Mrs. Einstein, the
physicist husband noted: "I
beg you to keep me informed
of the Situation by postcards,
without bothering about any
continuity in your words. In
the age of quantum theory
that is perfectly admissihle."
Of Americans he wrote in
1951: "The populace is easy
to lead toward evil, and it
doesn't like to have reason
preached to it."
"Reason against passion!"
Einstein wrote his friend.
"The latter always wins if
there's any struggle at all . . ."
"Happy Destiny"
"It's after all a fine thing
that our individual life has
an end with all its problens
and its tension," he suggest-
ed.
Einstein called it "a happy
^ —
destiny" to be drowned .In
work up to his final bre^;
"In the opposite case one
would suffer too much from
the stupidity and madness^of
men, which are manifested
principally in politics." •
Besso died on March 15,
1955, and Einstein — who
was to die 34 days later —
wrote to Besso's son and
sister: ". . . What I admired
most in him as a man,,is
the fact of having been
capable of living so m^y
years with one wife, not ouly
in peace, but also in cön-
stant accord. . , . Now he's
gone slightly ahead of me
again, leaving this strande
World. That doesn't mean
anything. For us believ^ig
physicists this Separation be-
tween past present and fu-
ture has the value of mere
illusion, however tenacious."
.«.!..
1
o
c
WBF's float at (he Steuben Day Parade on N. Y/s 5th Avenue,
commemorating Albert Einstein*s genius.
,y Photo: A.Sadel
^
Sst^^^k ^a.\ ^-^'"^/i/u
-J". L
VL
Albert Einstein:
Science without religion is lanie; re-
ligion without science is blind.
I
WIJF's (loat at Iho SIciihcn Day Parade «n N. Y.'s 51h Avfiiiio,
commcnioralini; Albi-rl KinsU'in's (renius.
' y. l'hoto: A. Sudel
V
:-^
l 'i^^
xT. L
17L
Albert I'^instcin:
Scii'iur witliout rcliiiion is hiinc; rc
li;:i()n NMlhoiil siiciui- is Mind.
Rare Buy:
Einstein
Doodles
-<
0
s
m
O
z
m
*/»
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CO
<4>
By lOSH FRIKDMAN
Three young aiitograph
dcakTs have cornered the
market on Albert Einstein
meniorabilia.
The thrce, all in their late
20s, walked away from the
Sotheby Parke Bernet Gal-
leiy yesterday with 22Ö
scraps of paper on which
Einstein had doodled complex
mathcmatical equations from
! 1950 to 1954, the last years
j of his life.
Thoy had beaton out two
other bidders by offering
$12,500.
"This is something un-
dreaired of. We paid only a
fraction of what we were
prepared to pay," sald John
Jenkins, an Austin, Texas,
colle'lor.
$](HM) Apiece
Up until yesterday, there
had been a relatively small
niimber of such Einstein
doodles floating around the
collertors' \vorld, bringing
about $1000 apiece, accoid-
ing to the gallery.
"Nothing similar had ever
appeared before," said Felix
Oyens, a Parke Bernet rare
book expert. "We've really
flooded the market."
The three young dealers,
who banded together when
they realized they were
about to bld against each
other, ha^e not yet decided
whether to split up their pur-
chase or when to seil lt.
i First they will have the
equations studied by mathe-
matioians.
I "These are Einstein's final
I efforts to resolve problems
I that had been plaguing him
! all his life. We don't know
i ! yet what he had come up
i with," said Jenkins.
' The other two men—Ken-
neth W. Rendell and Paul
Richards from Massachusetts
— had previously acquired
about 100 Sheets of Einstein
calculations between them.
The 225 pieces had origin-
ally been gathered by one of
Einstein's friends, who had
noticed him constantly cal-
culating on envelopes, letters
and bits of scrap paper lylng
around his house.
They are covered with
German words
small, detailed
of calculations
the back of a
a Tuckahoe
figures and
written in a
band.
One sheet
is written on
letter from
woman.
"There is a mathematical
Problem which may greatly
affect my life but to which
no one I know seems to be
able to find the Solution,"
she wrote — asklng when the
"Piatonic Year" or "Great
Year" would arrlve.
^ >/ r^'-v c;
Einstein-Notizzettel
bringen 12,500 Dollar
Eine Sammluns von 452 unver-
öffentlichten Notizzetteln Albert
Einsteins, die im New Yorker
Auktionshaus Sotheby Parke
Bernet unter den Hammer kam,
erzielte 12.500 I>ollar. Die Ein-
stein-Notizen, zum Teil auf die
Rückseiten von Briefumschlagen
gekritzelt, stammten aus den
letzten Jahren des Physikers. Die
Sammlung, die auf sechs- bis
achttausend Dollar geschätzt
I worden war, wurde von drei
amerikanischen Handlern erwor-
ben.
WHF's float at Iho Stnibni Day raradr on \. Y.'s olh Avenii*',
tMmimcmoratiiiK Alberl KinsU'in's jjtMiius.
I'koto: A.Sadci
^/
Albert l'^instciii:
ScitiKf withoui rcli;;i()ii is l.iiin-; rr
li^ion wilhoiil scicrur is l)Iin(l.
U i^AU^
r
OD
•4>
memorabilia. 5
The thrce, all In thrir late '
20s, walked away from the 5
Sotheby Parke B( rnrt Gal- 1^
lei-y yesterday vvith 22Ö
scraps of paper on which
i Einstein had docxlled romplex
mathomr.tiral equations from
1950 to 1954, the last years
of his 11 fe
Thoy had beaten out two
other bidders by offering
$12,500.
"This Is something un-
diean"'ed of. We paid only a
fraction of what we were
prepared to pay," said John
Jenkins, an Austin, Texas,
colle'lor.
$10(K) Apieee
Up unt)l yesterday, there
had been a relatively small
nuniber of such Einstein
doodles float ing a round the
collectors' world, bringing
about $1000 apiece, accord-
ing to the gallery.
"Nothing similar had ever
appeared before," said Felix
Oyens, a Parke Bernet rare
book expfrt. "We've really
flooded the market."
The three young dcalers,
vvho banded together when
they realized they were
about to bid against each
other, have not yet decided
whether to split up their pur-
chase or when to seil lt.
First they will have the
equations studied by mathe-
maticians.
"These are Einstein's final
efforts to resolve problems
that had been plaguing him
all his lifo. We don't know
yet what he had come up
with," said Jenkins.
The other two men Ken-
neth W. Rendell and Paul
Richards from Massachusetts
— had previously acquired
about 100 Sheets of Einstein
calculations between them.
The 225 pieoes had origin-
ally been gathered by one of
Einstein's friends, who had
noticed hlm constantly cal-
culating on envelopes, letters
and bits of scrap paper lying
around his house.
They are covered wlth
figures and Ger man words
written in a small, detailed
band.
One sheet
Is written on
letter from
woman.
"There Is a mathematical
Problem which may greatly
affect my life but to which
no one I know seems to be
able to find the Solution,"
she wrote — asklng when the
"Piatonic Year" or "Great
Year" would arrive.
"Ts !t true that in that
vear the sun will rise In the
constellation of Aquarius?"
, she asked
I ^^^'o others are document-i
connected with the campaign
to save Julius and Ethel
Rosenberg, for whom Ein-
stein sought clemency after
they had been condemned to
death for espionage.
Another is a letter from a
Hollywood inventor, offering
Einstein a fre« model of a
Chord-0-Nator, a musical
devlce.
l
i(
of calculations
the back of a
a Tuckahoe
Einstein-Notizzettel
bringen 12,500 Dollar
Eine Sammlung von 452 unver-
öffentlichten Notizzetteln Albert
Ein.steins, die im New Yorker
Auktionshaus Sotheby Parke
Bernet unter den Hammer kam,
erzielte 12,500 Dollar. Dio Ein-
stein-Notizen, zum Teil auf die
Rückseiten von Briefumschlägen
gekritzelt, stammten aus den
letzten Jahren des Physiker.^ Die
Sammlung, die auf sech^- bis
achttausend Dollar geschätzt
worden war, wurde von drei
amerikanischen Handlern erwor-
ben.
'{'*
V
w
A passion to understand the order in the world
Je
U V\/\ <- <,
Albert
Einstein
Creator caid Rebei
By Banesh Hoffmann.
With the coUaboration of
Helen Duhas.
lUustrated. 272 pp. New York:
The Viking Press. $8.95.
By MARTIN /. KLEIN wd
ROBERT ÜC. MERTON
Albert Einstein had very definite
Views on what should and what
should not be emphasized in writing
the biography of a scientist. The es-
sential thing, as he once said, was
"to discuss and explain, in language
which will be generally understood.
the Problems and the Solutions which
have characterized his lifework." As
for the scientisfs human relation-
ships, emotions and public life, he
thought that ''the personal side must
'be taken account of, but it should
not be made the Chief thing." Ein-
stein had leamed only too well from
his own experience "how hateful and
ridiculous it is when a serious man,
absorbed in important endeavors, is
ignorantly lionized."
Banesh Hoffmann prints the pas-
sage from which we have just quot-
ed early in his book, and he has
evidently kept it firmly in mind
throughout his writing. In contrast to
most biographies of Einstein this one
does leave the reader convinced that
Einstein's lifelong efforts to under-
stand the Order in the natural world
were the center of his existence. One
way in which Hoffmann makes us
feel the importance of Einstein's sci-
entific work in his life is by a caref ul
and appropriate choice of passages
from his correspondence, a choice in
whioh he was surely aided by his col-
laborator Helen Dukas, Einstein*s
secj'etary for more than a quarter
Century.
In 1905, for example, the young
patent examiner in Bern writes to a
friend, offering to send him four of
the papers he has worked on in his
spare time. One of these contained
the special theory of relativity, but
it was another, introducing the light
quantum hypothesis that Einstein de-
scribed as "very revolutionary.** In
1916 the mature professor writes
from Berlin describing his joy in the
beauty of his new general theory of
relativity, achieved "after years of
anxious searching in the dark with
their intense longing, their altema-
tion of confkiencc and exhaustion":
"I was beside myself with ecstasy
for many days." And the old man in
Martin J. Klein, author of "Paul
Ehrenfest: The Making of a Theoreti-
cal Physicist" teaches the history of
science at Yale. Robert K. Merton,
author of "On the Shoulders of
Giants," teaches the sociology of
science at Columbia.
'<•'•- 5 «i;
*\^^^iViK*W*^)
A
■"^^»%^'|
Einstein' s last photograph, March 15, 1955, and the page of
his last calculations.
Princeton, very much alone in his
unfinished struggle to find a new
foundation for physics, expresses his
uncertainty that any "single concept
. . . will stand firm," or even that
he is "on the right track." He was
certain of one thing, however: "The
fascinating magic of that work will
continue to my last breath."
Hoffmann does more than convey
the emotional impact of Einstein's
science on Einstein. He tries to make
the general reader see the problems
that concemed Einstein and under-
stand the kinds of theories he con-
structed to solve them. He even tries
to suggest the particular features of
Einstein's approach to physics that
made him unique. This calls for sci-
entific popularization of a high order.
It is a difficult art, one that Einstein
himself believed in and practiced
well. Hoffmann, a former collabora-
tor of Einstein, professor of mathe-
matics at Queens College and an ex-
perienced author, does it very effec-
tively. His clear and graphic discus-
sions assume no specialized
knowledge but do demand careful
and patient reading, a circumstance
for which he sometimes apologizes
unnecessarily. One of the problems
in popularization is maintaining con-
sistency in the level of sophistication
required of the reader, and Hoff-
mann has done this for tihe mosi
part. Even where the reader may not
grasp the point, he should be car-
ried along by the author's enthusi-
asm and excitement.
Even many physicists do not realize
the significance of Einstein's work
outside of relativity. Yet Max Born
was quite correct when he wrote
that Einstein "would be one of the
greatest theoretical physicists of all
/TLn/. ^/n
times even if he had not written a
Single line on relativity." Hoffmann
discusses this work with due regard
for its importance and for the un-
paralleled insight expressed m it. He
does not, however, emphasize suffi-
ciently that for Einstein all his work
was interrelated, that his underlying
concem in writing on the quantum
theory was the same as his concem
in creating relativity — the lifelong
attempt to provide a foundation for
physics that could replace the
mechanical world view.
Although Hoffmann aims chiefly to
convey a sense of Einstein's thought,
he also manages to convey much eise.
Situating Einstein in his changing
times. Hoffmann touches upon the
institutionalization of science, exem-
plifies the often consequential inter-
play between science and society,
and at least intim ates how it is that
spontaneous and arranged interac-
tion among scientists strongly affects
the development of scientific knowl-
edge.
The Story of Einstein's life thus
becomes more than narrative. It teils
US a good deal about the drastically
changing role of scientists during the
first half of the Century, as they
moved from the tolerated periphery
of civil-and-military society towards
its Strategie center. Much is symbol-
ized, for example, in the action of the
dedicated pacifist bnnging himself,
under the special Hitlenan circum-
stances of 1939, to sign the letter in-
tended to alert the President to the
possibility of a uranium bomb. The
biography also reminds us that when
the extreme right or the extreme left
are in command, even the most
talented scientists are, like other peo-
ple, subject to severe vicissitudes re-
lated to their political orientation,
ethnicity. religion or style of life.
Another story testifies that, con-
trary to widespread belief, consensus
among scientists is far from auto-
matically achieved — at least in rapid-
ly developing fields of science. This
is the often-told but still instructive
account of the first Solvay Congress
in 1911, which brought together 21
leading physicists to confront the
crisis in theoretical physics resulting
from the quantum work of Planck
and Einstein.
And to take only one more instance
in which narrative exemplifies gen-
efal ideas, this book supplies a fortiori
evidence that it will not do to adopt
a heroic Interpretation of how sci-
ience develops, one which holds that
genius runs its course, unaffected by
contemporary currents of thought or
by interaction with scientists of less
exalted stature. For even then the
nonpareil Einstein, who described
himself as "a horse for Single har-
ness, not cut out for tandem or team-
work," often had occasion to express
his great debt to others, such as
the mathematician Marcel Grossmann
and the physicist Hendrik Lorentz.
No more than the distinguished
early biographies by Anton Reiser,
Carl Seelig or (Continued on Page 39)
1
/^
November 5, 1972
I
I
Albert
Einstein
Continued from Page 3
(Philipp Frank, to say noth-
ing of the recent book by
Ronald Clark, does Hoffmann's
biography succeed in explaining
what Einstein himself sadly de-
scribed as bis "peculiar popu-
larity." This was a mild way
for bim to describe the trans-
mutation of his scientific fame
into immense celebrity among
masses of people around the
World who did not, of course,
at all comprehend bis work.
There had never been anything
quite like this mass idolatry of
a scientist, not even two cen-
turies before when it could be
asked whether "the divine New-
ton" actually ate and slept like
mere mortals.
But if the causes of that vast
celebrity remain obscure, some
of its consequences do not. Ein-
stein was both its victim and
its beneficiary. As victim, he
was often denied the seclusion
he craved and, as in the **se-
cular cloister" of the patent
Office in Bern, occasionally
achieved. As ambivalent bene-
ficiary, he could convert his im-
mense Prestige into great in-
fluence (though little power) in
Support of causes he believed
in. Thus, as early as 1918, this
charismatic figure could con-
front, in the name of academic
freedom, the Student revolu-
tionaries at Berlin University
who had taken the rector cap-
tive just as later he could use
his influence to advance the
cause of a Jewish homeland and
to help scientists escaping from
Nazi Germany find sanctuary
and Jobs. But he never became
reconciled to the price of his
fame.
We can perhaps gauge the
depth of Einstein's feelings on
the matter by his decision to
ensure that at least in death
he would finally escape the
adulating mob. He would deny
pilgrims their shrine, whether
one like Newton's magnificent
monument in the Abbey or one
like Marx's weed-surrounded
monument in Highgate. Banesh
Hoffmann concludes his book
by telling of this ultimate sym-
bolic act: "Einstein had asked
that there be neither funeral
Service, nor grave, nor monu-
ment. Quietly, in the presence
of a few who had been close to
him, he was cremated in Tren-
ton, New Jersey. By his own
desire, the manner of disposal
of his ashes was kept secret
from the world so that there
would be no place, however
humble, that might become a
shrine."
Its iconography of more than
a hundred illustrations con-
tributes greatly to the value
of this slender book. ■
^
THE NEW YORK TIMES. S
Books of The Times
World ofthe Star and the A tom
By THOMAS LASK
ALBERT EINSTEIN. Creator and Rebel. By
Banesh Hoffmann. Witk the collaboration
of Helen Dukas. 272 pages. Vikmg. $8.95.
This new life of Einstein concentrates
on that aspect of Einstein that made him
renowned: the theoretical physicist. Un-
like so many other authors who neglect
the scientist for Einstein the quaint
character or the involved pacifist or the
victim of Nazism, Banesh Hoffmann and
his collaborator, Helen Dukas, Einstein's
former secretary, write about the original-
ity of his thought, his contribution to cur
conception of the universe, his place in
World science. The larger outlines of his
life are not missing and through judicious
quotation from letters and detailed inci-
dents, we are given a pretty good idea of
what sort of man Einstein was: modest,
unassuming, simple in everyday life.
But after all, other men have defended
pacifism, incurred the hostility of the
Nazis, resisted McCarthyism and urged the
control of atomic energy for nonmilitary
purposes. Had Einstein been known for
only these activities, he would still have
been a great-hearted spirit. But the special
greatness that derives from his creative
thinking in the field of theoretical physics
is his alone, and the authors were wise
enough to make that aspect of the man
their special province.
Mr. Hoffmann, professor of mathematics
at Queens College and one who worked
with Einstein at the Institute for Advanced
Study at Princeton, outlines for us each
of Einstein's major contributions: from
those of the miraculous year, 1905. when
he came to the attention of the scientific
World with the publication of four signifi-
cant papers to those of the last decades
in Princeton when, out of touch with the
latest work in physics, he toiled endlcssly
on his unificd field theory.
Appropriate Analogies
Obviously explaining the universe of
20th-century physics is no easy job, and
I will not pretend that everything in the
book was absolutely clear. But the fault
is certainly not Mr. Hoffmann's. It taxes
a man's imaginative resources to contin-
ually explain through modeis and analogies
what is best and most easily cxplained
through mathematical symbols. What is
clear, logical and beautiful in equations
becomes something eise again in a
schematic drawing. Nevertheless, his ex-
planations are clear and uncluttered, and
he suggests Einstein's originality again and
again by an appropriate analogy or com-
parison.
In fact, so lucid were his words that
this reader persuaded himself that he
understood very well the differences be-
tween Einstein and Bohr, Heisenberg and
their followers over Heisenberg's principle
of indeterminacy. Mr. Hoffmann is es-
pecially successful in conveying what it
is like to rethink one's view of the universe
and what it means to have that fresh view
confirmed. One can feel, almost share, the
excitement and deep satisfaction that must
have come to Einstein, Sir Arthur Edding-
ton and those who worked with him when
the results of the 1919 eclipse of the sun
confirmed Einstein's prediction of the
perihelion of Mercury. It is breathtaking
Ä?s>5 ■••.• r-v
Richard Le«
Banesh Hoffmann
Th«Ntw York Times
Helen Dukas
to think that an idea so vast and so
remote could prove out so accurately in
fact.
In spite of the originality of his ideas,
it is also true that Einstein was a product
of his time. It is surprising how often the
findings of others were at band when
Einstein needed them: the non-Euclidean
geometry of Riemann, the formulation of
the FitzGerald-Lorentz contraction, the
quantum theory of Planck, among others.
There is a kind of orderly progression in
the field of science that the layman misses
when he sees only the dramatic and spec-
tacular breakthrough. The fact that he
was sini^led out from among other eminent
scientists to be the darling of the populär
press and of the man in the street was a
source of comic despair to Einstein. Mr.
Hoffmann admires his subject, but his book
maintains a sensible perspective.
His study offers other food for rumin-
ation. The many instances of collaboration,
of intellectual interdependence cut across
national boundaries and language differ-
ences and raised the discourse to levels
seldom found in other human pursuits.
The generosity of these men and women
to each other, their respect for the achieve-
ment of their pcers is seen in the letters
from which the authors quote. Yet when
World War I broke out, too many lost
their vision and became part of the de-
structive dement of their own country.
Einstein was in Berlin in those weam and
though technically a Swiss Citizen, he
showed his horror at the senseless killings
and did his best after the war to re-
establish the sense of Community that had
existed among the scientists.
In this regard it is ironic that his most
famous equation, "E^^mc"* is associated
in the minds of the average Citizen with
the power of the atom bomb. And Mr.
Hoffmann mentions that one of his theories,
that of the stimulated emissions of pho-
tons, could become the basis of death-
dealing rays.
In concentrating as they have done on
the scientist, the authors have perhaps
gone a little too much to the other side.
More, surely, could have been said about
the family man, about his views on Israel,
music, pacifism. We are nOt told overly-
much how he actually lived in Berlin, '"
Princeton or what he was like as a teach '^''j
But the exciting scientist is there ia ^^''
mcÄsurp
y
lAHRGANG 25
Das Beste
aus Readers Digest
Artikel und Buchiuts^üge von hleibrndem Werl
© 1972 Verlag DAS bESTE GmbH
OKTOBER 1972
g^>>>>>>>>>§>^>>^>>>>>f^e!<<<<?C<^^
Albert Einstein
privat
Trotz Albert Einsteins (1879 — 1955) fast übermenschlicher Hingabe an
die Wissenschaft blieb sein persönliches Wesen nicht verborgen, das ihn
Millionen Menschen liebenswert machte, wenn sie auch von seiner das
menschliche Weltverständnis revolutionierenden Relativitätstheorie nur
eine vage Vorstellung hatten. In seiner kürzlich veröffentlichten Biogra-
phie Einstein, The Life and Times erklärt Ronald W . Clark: „In den
Augen des großen Mannes saß ständig der Schalk; eine tiefverwurzelte
Respektlosigkeit vor der Autorität war ihm eigen und ein überraschender
Sinn für das Lächerliche, der sich häufig in einem dröhnenden Lachen
Luft machte." Die folgenden Auszüge aus Clarks Buch und einigen ande-
ren Werken werfen ein bezeichnendes Licht auf den privaten Einstein.
ALS Einstein mit vier oder fünf
Jahren cnnnal krank im Bett
lag, brachte ihm sein Vater einen Ma-
gnetkompaß mit. Das Geschenk war
eine Sensation. Hier war eine Nadel,
vollkommen eingeschlossen und doch
von einem unsichtbaren Drang ge-
packt und gezwungen, sich nach
Norden auszurichten. Für den kleinen
Albert bedeutete die Nadel eine
OfTenbarung. Sie tanzte aus der
Reihe. Sic paßte nicht in sein kind-
liches Bild von einer geordneten
Welt. Helen Dukas uml Bancsh Hoff mann
Vom sechsten bis zum vierzehnten
Lebensjahr nahm ich Geigenunter-
richt, aber ich hatte wenig Cilück mit
meinen Lehrern, für die sich Musik
aut mechanisches Üben beschränkte.
25
II
26
DAS HliSlV. AVS RliADl:R\S DJCliST
Ohthi't
Ich fing erst richtig an zu lernen, als
ich mich in Mozarts Sonaten ver-
hebt hatte. Das Bestreben, ihre einzig-
artige Anmut wiederzugeben, zwang
mich, meine Technik zu verbessern.
Ich glaube, Liebe ist alles in allem
ein besserer Lehrer als Pflichtbewußt-
sein. Allxrrt Einstein, zitiert \on Hcicti Dukas
und Bancsh Hoffmann
Ich frac.e mich manchmal, warum
ausgerechnet ich die Relativitäts-
theorie aufgestellt habe. Der Grund
liegt, glaube ich, darin, daß ein
normaler Erwachsener nie aufhört,
über die Rätsel von Raum und Zeit
nachzudenken. Das sind Dinge, die
ihn schon als Kind beschäftigt haben.
Ich begann mir allerdings erst Ge-
danken über Raum und Zeit zu
machen, als ich schon erwachsen war.
Deshalb konnte ich natürlich tiefer
in das Problem eindringen als ein
Kind. Albert Einstein,
zitiert von Ronald W. Clark
Im Jahre 1916, nachdem Einstein ein
Jahrzehnt harter Arbeit mit seiner
allgemeinen Relativitätstheorie ge-
krönt hatte, fuhr er nach Holland,
um den dreiundscchzigjährigen Phy-
siker H. A. Lorentz zu besuchen, den
er einmal „den größten und edelsten
Menschen unserer Zeit** genannt hat.
Ein gemeinsamer Freund, Paul Ehren-
fest, beschrieb die Zusammenkunft
in Lorentz' Arbeitszimmer: ,,Dem
Gast wurde eine Zigarre angeboten;
erst dann stellte Lorentz eine ge-
schliffene Frage zu Einsteins Theorie.
Einstein beugte sich über das Blatt
Papier, auf dem Lorentz während des
e^
Sprechens mathematische Formeln
notiert hatte. Nachdenklich wickelt
er eine Haarlocke über seinem rech-
ten Ohr um den Finger. Lorentz sah
ihm lächelnd zu wie ein Vater einem
besonders geliebten Sohn — zuver-
sichtlich, daß der Junge die Nuß
knacken wird, die er ihm vorgelegt
hat, aber doch gespannt, wie er es
anstellt.
Plötzlich warf Einstein freudig den
Kopf zurück; er hatte es. Noch ein
kurzes Geplänkel, bei dem einer den
anderen unterbrach, eine kleine Mei-
nungsverschiedenheit, rasche Klärung
und beiderseitiges Einverständnis, und
dann gingen sie mit leuchtenden Au-
gen die Möglichkeiten der neuen
Theorie durch.** Martin J. Klein
Elsa (Einsteins zweite Frau) nahm
an seiner wissenschaftlichen Arbeit
keinen Anteil. Aber die Beziehung
der beiden zueinander bestimmte sein
Privatleben. Wenn er, an seiner
Pfeife ziehend, aus seinem Arbeits-
zimmer auftauchte, brachte Elsa ihn
langsam, wie man einen Schlafwand-
ler weckt, in die Wirklichkeit zurück.
Nach und nach lenkte sie seine Auf-
merksamkeit auf die Menschen um
ihn oder das Essen auf seinem Teller.
Eines Tages sagte sie zu ihm: „Alle
Leute reden über deine Arbeit. Ich
komme mir so dumm vor, wenn ich
sagen muß, daß ich nichts davon ver-
stehe. Könntest du mir nicht ein
wenig darüber erzählen?**
Einstein dachte einen Augenblick
nach. „Nun ...**, begami er mit
197^
I
I
sichtlicher Anstrengung. Dann hellte
^ sich seine Miene auf: ,,Wcnn die
Leute dich danach fragen, dann sagst
du ihnen am besten, daß du alles
genau weißt, aber nicht darüber spre-
chen darfst, weil es ein großes Ge-
heimnis ist
Al.Bl.R l l-.lNSllilN PRllAI 21
1920 die Berliner Philharmonie für
eine Kundgebung gegen Einstein und
r'
Antonina Vailcntin. Journalistin
und I rcundin cicr 1 aniilic
Die AMr.HiKANiscHK Ak.ulcnue der
Wissenschaften in Washington ehrte
einige berühmte Leute. Keiner der
Redner war umwerfend, und die
Ansprachen wollten kein Ende neh-
men. Ich langweilte mich sehr, doch
Einstein beugte sich lächelnd zu
einem neben ihm sitzenden Holländer
und flüsterte ihm etwas zu. Der wandte
sich rasch ab, um sein Lachen zu ver-
bergen. „Was hat Einstein gesagt?**
fragten wir später. ,,Er hat gesagt:
,Mir ist gerade eine neue Theorie
über die Ewigkeit aufgegangen.'"
Harlow Shapley, Astronom
Eitistein crwidertv 1921 üuJ dw Bitte i'oti
Jotmialistcn, die Relativitätstheorie tnit
cinij^vu weni^icii Sätzen zu erklären:
,,Wenn Sie meine Antwort nicht
allzu ernst nehmen, kann ich es Ihnen
so erklären: Früher glaubte man,
wenn die Materie aus dem Univer-
sum verschwinde, würden Zeit und
Raum bleiben. Nach der Relativitäts-
theorie verschwinden Zeit und Raum
mit der Materie.*' >*^ >Ronaid w. ciark
In Deutschland war eine Organi-
sation entstanden, die die Relativitäts-
theorie als Teil einer jüdischen Welt-
verschwörung anprangerte. Als sie
seine Relativitätstheorie mietete, nahm
Einstein an der Veranstaltung teil.
Er saß in einer Loge und amüsierte
sich offensichtlich großartig. Bei
ganz absurden Behauptungen sah
man ihn in Gelächter ausbrechen und
zum Spott kräftig applaudieren.
Ronald W . C:i.irk
Als die Monatsschrift Scientitic Ameri-
can ('///('/; Preis uon 5000 Dollar für die
beste Hrk'lärn}i\f der Relativitätstheorie
ifi 3000 IVörterii aussetzte, Iniuerkte
Einstein :
„Ich bin der einzige aus meinem
gesamten Freundeskreis, der nicht
teilnimmt. Ich glaube nicht, daß ich
es schaffen würde." Uonaia w. c:brk
Aus Einsteins Beziehung zur belgi-
schen Königsfamilie entwickelte sich
durch seine Besuche in Brüssel und
die gemeinsame Vorliebe für Musik
und Dichtung eine Freundschaft, die
für ihn jedoch nicht den Charakter
des Besonderen trug. Eines Tages sah
ich, wie er auf der Suche nach einem
Zettel seine Taschen leerte. Es waren
die Taschen eines Schuljungen: Ta-
schenmesser, Bindfadenenden, Keks-
krümel. Zum Schluß kam ein Blatt
Papier — ein Gedicht, das die belgi-
sche Königin ihm gewidmet hatte.
Am unteren Rand des elfenbein-
farbenen Bogens hatte Einstein in
seiner zierlichen, gleichmäßigen
Handschrift ein paar Wörter und
Zahlen notiert. Ich beugte mich vor,
1
2S
DAS BUSrii AVS RliADliR'S /)/G/:S7
um sie lesen zu können. Unsterbliche
Berechnungen Seite an Seite mit der
königlichen Signatur? Ich las: „Auto-
bus 50 Pfennig, Zeitung, Briefpapier
etc." Tägliche Ausgaben, sorgfältig
aufgeschrieben, verwoben mit der
Schleife des königlichen E !
Antoniii4 Vallcntin
Im Jahre 1933 wurde Einstein durch
Gerüchte über seine beabsichtigte
Ermordung zur Flucht nach England
veranlaßt. So kam es, daß er mir in
seinem Exilquartier eine Woche lang
Modell sitzen konnte. Er erschien im
Pullover, das wirre Haar flatterte im-
Wind. In seinem Blick lag eine
Mischung aus Menschlichkeit, Humor
und Tiefgründigkeit. Für einen guten
Witz hatte er stets etwas übrig und
lästerte gern über die Naziprofessoren,
von denen hundert soeben in einem
Buch seine Relativitätstheorie ver-
dammt hatten. „Wenn ich unrecht
hätte**, meinte Einstein, „dann hätte
auch citt Professor genügt.*'
jicöb Epstein. Bildhauer
Einen Tag, nachdem Einstein eine
bleibende Heimat an der Universität
Princcton in New Jersey gefunden
hatte, klingelte im Büro des Dekans
seiner Fakultät das Telephon. Eine
Stimme am anderen Ende der Leitung
fragte: „Könnte ich bitte Herrn
Dekan Eisenhart sprechen?'* Als die
Sekretärin erklärte, mein Vater sei
nicht da, fuhr die Stimme fort:
„Dann können Sie mir vielleicht
sagen, wo Dr. Einstein wolmt." Die
Ok^ohrr
Sekretärin erwiderte, das ginge leider
nicht, da Dr. Einstein Wert auf cin\
ungestörtes Privatleben lege. Die
Stimme am Telephon senkte sich bis
zum Flüsterton: „Sagen Sie es bitte
nicht weiter, aber ich bin Einstein.
Ich bin auf dem Heimweg und habe
vergessen, in welchem Haus ich
wohne.** Churchill Eisenhart,
zitiert von Rtmald W. Clark
In Einsteins Segelboot ging das Ge-
spräch hin und her zwischen tief-
sinnigen Betrachtungen über das
Wesen Gottes, das Universum und
den Menschen und anspruchsloseren
Themen. Plötzlich hob Einstein den
Kopf, sah zum Himmel empor und
sagte: „Wir wissen überhaupt nichts.
Unser Wissen gleicht dem von Schul-
kindern.'*
„Glauben Sie, daß wir jemals
hinter das Geheimnis kommen wer-
den?**
„Vielleicht wissen wir irgendwann
einmal ein bißchen mehr als jetzt**,
sagte Einstein achselzuckend. „Aber
die wahre Natur der Dinge werden
wir niemals ergründen, niemals.**
Chaim Tschernowitz. zitiert von Ronald W. Clark
Ich fragte Einstein: „Glauben Sie,
daß man wirklich alles wissenschaft-
lich ausdrücken kann ?**
„Ja**, antwortete er, ,,das wäre
möglich, aber es hätte wenig Sinn.
Es wäre, als wollte man eine Beet-
hovensymphonie auf eine Folge von
Schallwellen reduzieren."
Hedwig Born. Frau des Physikers Mnx Boni,
zitiert von Ronald W. Clark
1972,
ALlUiRT lilNSTIllN PRIVAT
29
Einsteins Arzt in Princcton kam zu
einem Hausbesuch mit Medizin in
Pillen- und in Tropfenform, weil
er nicht wußte, was der Patient be-
vorzugen würde. Einstein entschied
sich für die Tropfen. „Ich sehe den
Arzt noch vor mir**, erinnert sich
ein Kollege, „wie er die Tropfen in
ein Glas zählte. Einstein schluckte den
Inhalt auf einmal hinunter, wurde
grün im Gesicht und erbrach sich.
Dann wandte er sich an den Arzt und
fragte: ,Ist Ihnen jetzt wohler?***
Riwald W. Clark
Bei einem ofßzieWen lissvn wurde eine
Lohrede auf Einstein gehalten. Da be-
merkte er flüsternd:
„Dabei hat der Kerl nicht mal
Socken an !*' Roiiaid w. c:iark
Ein Rabbi schrieb an Einstein, er habe
vergeblich versucht, seine Tochter
über den Tod ihrer Schwester, „eines
unschuldigen Kindes**, hinwegzu-
trösten.
„Ein Mensch**, schrieb Einstein
zurück, „ist Teil eines Ganzen, das
wir Universum nennen, ein Teil, der
begrenzt ist in Raum und Zeit. Er
erfährt sich, seine Gedanken und
Gefühle als etwas, was ihn von allem
anderen trennt — eine Art optische
Täuschung seines Bewußtseins. Diese
Täuschung ist für uns wie ein Ge-
fängnis und beschränkt uns auf
unsere persönlichen Belange und auf
die Liebe zu ein paar Menschen in
unserer unmittelbaren Nähe. Aus
diesem Gefängnis müssen wir uns
befreien, indem wir in unser Mitge-
fühl alle lebendigen Wesen und die
ganze Natur in ihrer Schönheit ein-
schließen. Niemandem gelingt dies
vollkommen, aber das Streben da-
nach ist schon ein Teil der Befreiung
und eine Grundlage für unsere innere
Sicherheit.**
Einstein starb am 18. April 1955
im Alter von sechsundsiebzig Jahren.
Bis zuletzt wehrte er sich gegen
eine öflfentliche Aufbahrung und bat
darum, ohne Feierlichkeiten einge-
äschert zu werden. Seine Asche
wurde an einem unbekannten Ort in
alle Winde verstreut. Honaid w. cjark
QuELLENVBRMBWt: Ronald W. Clark, Einstein, The Life and Times • Copyright © 1971 by Ronald
W. Clark; Jacob Epstein, Ut TItere Be Sculpture. G. P. Putnam's Sons • Copyright © 1940 by
Jacob Epstein; Helen Dukas und Dancsh Hoffmann, Albert Einstein, Creator and Rehel,
The Viking Press, Inc. • Copyright © 1972 by Helen Dukas und Banesh Hoff mann; Martin
J. Klein, Paul Eltrenfest, Vol. 1: The Making of a Vieoretical Physicist • Copyright © 1970 by
North-Holland Publishing Co. (Amsterdam); Harlow Shaplcy, Through Rtigged Ways to tite
Stars • Copyright © 1%9 by Charles Scribner's Sons; Walter Sullivan, „The Einstein Papers:
Teil III", New York Times (29. März 1972) • © 1972 by The New York Times Co.;
Antonina VaUentin. The Drama of Albert Einstein • Copyright © 1954 by Antonia Vallentm.
n
ii
A uniQuely
vivid picture
ofEinsteinV-^ow^
It is almost impossible to separate the
name Albert Einstein from the word
science. But because of the complex-
ity of his work, most of the books
written about this genius have been,
at best, difficuh to understand. Now
we have Albert Einstein: Creator
and Rebel, written for anyone who
wants to discover the most extraordi-
nary man of our time. It was created
by Banesh Hoffmann, the gifted
writer and well-known scientist who
worked with Einstein at the Institute
for Advanced Study. He has collabo-
rated with Helen Dukas, Einstein 's
secretary for the last twenty-five years
of his life. Their book captures the
essence of the man and his science.
Filled with valuable personal papers
from the Princeton Archives, and
over 100 photos (many never before
published),it is a work you'll find, as
Isaac Asimov did, ''the greatest plea-
sure reading.'' It's being used by eight
book clubs, which we think may set
a record. $8.95
/'
VI ^
r^^.»^**'
>»»-'
Albert Einstein's nterary es-
tate is to be published by Prince-
ton University in the USA. The
huge amount of private letters,
notebooks and numerous un-
published scientific manuscripts
Einstein left are expected to fill
at least twenty volumes. The do-
cuments, which are mostly written
in German and which include
also Einstein' s correspondence
with statesmen, scholars and ait-
ists, are to be published in the
original language. The editorial
work involved will take at least
five years. Albert Einstein (1879-
1955) lived at Princeton from
1933 until his death.
c
I
k
G
a
u
V A
t
-^ c
Einstein:
The Man
Behind the Genius
Despite hts almost superhuman dedicatwn to saencc. Albert Einstein
( i^'/f)'i()S5} <^^>til(^ "^>/ hide the personahty thut endeared htm to mtlhons
it'ho only dinily understood how his theory of relatii'it\ had transformed
mans conception oj the universe. In his recent/y ptthlished htograph\,
Emstein^Jhe Life ^nd_Jirnes. Ronald W. Clarl{ declares. "Behind the
great man thcre lur^ed a perpetual glint in the eye, a fundamental irrever-
ence for authonty. and an unexpected sense of the ridiculous that eould
unlatch a deep helly laugh that shool{ the windotvs." Here, Condensed and
adapted from the Clar\ hool^ and several others, are revealtng glimpses oj
Einstein the man.
A LBFRT was no child prodigy. In-
^ j^ d^<:d. it was a long iime belore
he learned to speak. Hc was alwavs
taciiurn and never indincd to cnier
into gamcs,
Whcn soldiers marchcd through
the Street s of Munich accompanicd
bv the roll of drums and the shrill
of files. children enthusiastically
joined the parade and tried to keep
in stq\ Hut when little Albert passed
such a parade, he began to cry and
said to his parents, "When 1 grow
up, 1 don't want to bc one of those
1
f
24
EINSTEIN: THE MJ\ HEHIND TUE (iEMUS
[^coplc." He savv the parade as a
movement of people compellcd to
be machineS. -Philipp Frank, physidst and
fricnd of Finstcin
WuEX, as a child of four or five. Al-
bert was ill in bed, his father brought
him a magnetic compass 10 play
with. The elTect was dramatic. Here
was a needle, isolated and unreach-
able, totally enclosed, yet caught in
the grip of an invisible urge that
made it strive determinedly toward
the North. To young Albert the
magnetic needle came as a revela-
lion. It did not fit. It mocked his
earlv, simple picture of an orderly
World. — Hcirn Diikas and B.incsh Hoffmann
I TooK violin lessons from age C to
14, but had no kick with my teach-
ers, for whom music did not tran-
scend mechanical practicing. I really
began to learn only after 1 had fallen
in love with Mozart's sonatas. The
attempt to reproducc their singular
grace compelled me to improve mv
technique. I believe. on the whole,
that love is a better teacher than
sense of duty.
— Albert Finstrin, qiiotrd bv HdcD
I)ukas and Bancili Hofftnunn
I soMETiMES ask myself why I was
the one to develop the theory of rela-
tivitv. The reason, I think, is that a
normal adult never stops to think
about Problems of space and time.
These are things which he has
thought of as a child. l^ut I began to
wonder about space and time only
when I had grown up. Naturally, I
could go deepcr into the problcm
than a child.
— Albert Kinstein, quotfd by Ronald W. Clark
In TQ16, after his decade of struggle
had just culminated in the general
theory of relativity, Einstein went
to Holland to visit 63-year old phys-
icist H. A. Lorentz, whom Einstein
called "the greatest and noblest man
of our times." A nnitual Inend, Paul
Ehrenfest, dcscrihed the mceti ng in
Lorcntz's study: "A cigar was pro-
vided for the ^ucst, and onlv thcn
did Lorentz be^in to formulatc a
finely polished cjuestion concerning
Einstein's theory.
"When he had finished, Einstein
bent over the slip of paper on which
Lorentz had been writi ng mathe-
matical formulas as hc spoke. Ein-
stein pensively twistcd his finger in a
lock of hair over his right ear. Lo-
rentz sat smiling at him the way a
father looks ;it a pjrticularly belcjved
son— confident that the youngster
will crack the nut he had given him,
but eager to see how.
"Sucklenly Einstein's licad sh(jt up
joyfulK ; he 'had' it. Still a bit of give
and take, interruptingone another, a
partial disagreement, quick clarifica-
tion and mutual understanding, and
then hoth men with beamine eves
skimmi ng over the shining riches of
the new theory." -Manin j. Kidn
Elsa (Einstein's second wile) was
not a sharer in his scientific work.
But their relationship dominated his
private life. When he emcrged from
his study, pulling at his pipe, Elsa
i
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SAFE? EFFECTIVE?
t
26
August
would slowly bring him back to re-
ality as though awakeni ng a sleep-
walkcr. She would gradually bring
to his attention the peo[)le around
bim or the IcxkI on his plate.
One day shc said to him, "People
lalk a lot about your work. I appear
so stupid when 1 say I know noth-
ing. Couldn't you just teil me a Utile
about it.'^"
11c thought for a moment. "Well
. . . ," he began with a visible elTort.
Then his face lit up. "If j^ople ask
you, you can teil them that you know
all about it, but can't teil them, as it
is a great secret!"
— Antonina ValU-nlin, journalitt
and f.iiiüly Iricnd
Tue National Academv of Sciences
in Washington was honoring several
noted people. None were exciling
Speakers, and all droned on and
on. To me it was embarrassi ng, but
Einstein, smiling, leaned over to a
Dutchman alongside him and whis-
pered somethi ng. The Dutchman
turncd away quickly to hide his gul-
faw. "VVhat did Einstein say.^" we
asked afterward. "He said, *I have
just got a new theory of Eternity.'"
— Harlow Shaplcy, astronomer
Einstein s reply in i()2i to the re-
ijuest of Netv Yorl{ netvspaper re-
porters that he ex piain relativtty in
a fetv sentences:
"If you will not take the answer
too seriously, and consider it only as
a kind of joke, then 1 can explain it
as follows. It was iormerly l^elieved
that if all material things disap-
1
28
EINSTE1\': THK MAN BHHIND THli GENIUS
page were a few words and figures
in Einstein's small, regulär hand-
writing. I bent over to look. Immor-
tal calculations side by side with the
royal signature' l read: "Autobus
50 pfennigs, newspaper, stationery,
etc." Daily expenses, noted with
care, entangled with the loop of the
regal "E"! —Antonina Vallcntin
In 193^, rumors of the intended as-
sassination of Einstein led to his
flight to England. I arranged for a
week of sittings at his refugee camp.
Einstein appeared dressed in a puU-
over with his wild hair floating in
the wind. His glance contained a
mixture of the humane, the humor-
ous and the profound. He enioyed
a joke, and had many a gibe at
the Nazi professors, 100 of whom
in a book had condemned his the-
ory. "Were 1 wrong," he said, ''one
Professor vvould have been quite
enOUfifh." — Jacob Epstein, sculptor
OxE DAY after Einstein had moved
on to his final home at the histitute
for Advanced Study in Princeton,
N.J., the telephone rang in the ofTice
of the Dean of the Princeton Gradu-
ate School. The voice at the other
end inquired: "May I speak with
Dean Eisenhart, pleaser" Advised
that my father was not in, the voice
condnued: "Perhaps then you will
teil me where Dr. Einstein lives."
My father's secretary replied that she
could not do this, since Dr. Einstein
wished to have his privacy respected.
The voice on the telephone dropped
to a near whisper: "Please do not
teil anybody, but / am Dr. Einstein.
1 am on my way home, and have
forgotten where my house is!"
— Churchill Eisenhart, quotcd
by Ronald \V. Clark
The conversation (on Einstein's
sailboat) drifted back and forth from
profundities about the nature of
God, the universe and man, to light-
er questions. Suddenly, Einstein Üft-
ed his head, looked up at the skies
and said, "Wc know nothing about
it at all. Our knowledge is but the
knowledge of schoolchildren."
"Do you think that we shall ever
probe the secret?"
"Possibly," he said with a move-
ment of his Shoulders, "we shall
know a little more than we do now.
But the real nature of things — that
we shall never know, never."
— Chaim Tschcrnowitz, quotcd
by Ronald W. Clark
I ASKED Einstein, "Do you believe
that absolutely everything can be
expressed scientifically?"
"Yes," he replied, "it would be
possible, but it would make no sense.
It would be description without
meaning— as if you described a Bee-
thoven symphony as variations of
wave pressure."
— Hedwig Born, wifc of physicist
Max Born, quotcd by Ronald W. Clark
His DocTOR came to his Princeton
home with medicine in the form of
both pills and drops, not knowing
which the patient would prefer. Ein-
stein chose the drops. "I still remem-
30
EINSTEIN: THE MAN
ber," says a collcaguc, "the doctor
Standing thcre, coimting the drops
into a glass. Einstein swallowed the
whole thi ng down, thcn turned a
little green and started to throw up.
After that he turned to his doctor
and askcd, 'Do you feel better
-Ronald W. Clark
nowr
Einstein' s whispered remarl{ on
hearing himself latided at a formal
d inner:
"But the man doesn't wear socks."
-Ronald W. Clark
Onk of his neighbors, the mother of
a ten-ycar-old girl, noticed that the
child oticn visited Einstein's house.
The woman wondered at this, and
the child explained: "I had trouble
with mv homework in arithmetic.
Pcoplc said that at No. 112 there
lives a very big mathcmatician, who
is also a very good man. I asked him
to help me. He was very willing, and
explained everything very well. He
said I should come whenever I find
a problcm too diflicult."
Alarmed at the child's boldness,
the girl's mother went to Einstein to
apologizc. Einstein said, "You don't
have to excuse yourself. I have
learned more from the conversation s
BEHIND THE GENIUS
with the child than she has from
me." -Philipp Frank
A RABBI wrotc that hc had sought in
vain to comfort his daughter over the
death of her sister, "a sinless child."
"A human being," wrote Einstein
in reply, "is a part of the whole,
called by us 'Universe,' a part limited
in time and space. He cxpericnces
himself, his thoughts and feclings as
somcthing separated irom the rest —
a kind of optical delusion of his con-
sciousness. This delusion is a kind of
prison for us, restricting us to our
personal desires and to afTection for a
(ew persons nearest to us. Our task
must be to free ourselves from this
prison by widening our circle of
compassion to embrace all living
creatures and the whole nature in its
beauty. Nobody is able to achieve
this completely, but the striving for
such achievemcnt is in itself a part
of the liberation and a foundation
for inner securitv."
Einstein died on April 18, 1955, at
the age of 76. To the t\\^ he was
adamant against public display, ask-
ing that he be cremated without
ceremony. His ashes were scattered
at an undisclosed place.
— Walter Sullivan in New York Times
\
ArKNowLEDCMFNTs: Ronaltl W. Clark. Einstein, The Life and Times. The World Pub-
lishing Co., Copyright © igyi by Ronaltl W. Clark; Jacob Epstein, Let There Be Sculpttire,
G. P. Putnain's Sons, Copyright (r) 1040 by Jacob Epstein; Piiilipp Frank, translatcd by George
Rosen, Einstein: His Life and Times, coinright © I047' 105? by Alfred A. Kn«)pf, Inc.; Helen
Dukas antl Hanesh HofTniann. Alhert Einstein. Cirutor and Rehel. The Viking Press, Inc.,
Copyright © 1072 by Hi len Dukas and Ikinesh IIofTinann: Marlm J. Klein. Paitl Ehrenfest .
Vol. 1: The Makmg of a Thcoretual Physicist, Copyright © i<)7o by North-Holland Publish-
ing Co. (Amsterdam); Harlow Shaplcy, Throiigh Rii^ged W'ays to the Stars. Copyright ©
H)()i) by Charles Scribner's Sons; Walter Sullivan, "The Einstein Papers: Part III," New York
Times (March 2(). '72), © 1972 by The New York Times Co.; Antonma Vallentin, The
Drama of Alhert Einstein, Doubledav & Co., Inc., copNright © I0S4 l^y Antonina V'.illcntin.
\
1
^
'--^
i
^^
When Charlie Chaplin
met Albert Einstein, he
asked ihe scientist to dis-
cuss his theory of rela-
tivity. Einstein suggested
that it would not be
proper to try to explain
it just then. "It would
be," he said, "as if I
were to ask you to do
some acting for me right
now. You probably couldn't do it."
For the next hour, however, Chap-
lin expounded in mystical terms on
mathematical theories until the con-
fused Einstein was exhausted. The
next morning, a messenger brought
Einstein a photo of Chaplin, inscribed:
"To a great mathematician. I hope
you liked my acting." -Leonard Lyons
im
1 1
1
1
1
s
r
y
e
o
G
T
■3.
e
j
5
0
i
0
>— • Fl/A' /1\D GAMES
National
Pastime
»■•:.»
i
^;. LARRY MERCHilST ..J
Moe Berg once spent an afternoon with Albert Einslein
at Princeton.
"If you explaln the theory of relativity to me/* Berj:
Said to Einstein. "Fü explain basebaU to you."
Like a cigar-chomping general manager, Einstein swoetly
declined the trade. "You will learn the theory of relativity,"
the great man said, "much fasder than I will learn about
baseball."
Let's be modest about it. As a nunibers game basol>an
ts not that complex. It can be as simple as three-and-two-
what'll-he-do or as complicated as seeing-eye ground i)alli
divided into earned run average, but that's all. Many a
schoolboy has mastered saich formulas before he masteied
the multiplication tables.
Where baseball gets complex, as Einstein no do\tbt
intuited, is in the unknown factors that add up to a final
score and the many musings that make up a day at the lall-
park. As always, there was some of each at Shca Stadium
vesterday.
<f » ♦
The score was; 5-3. Reds over Mets. The unknown factorn
were why Tom Seaver gave up four runs in the first inning
and Struck out seven in the next t.hrco,
why Rusty Staub got three hits off
lefthanders and none off righthandors,
and more like that.
Einstein would have been as
baffled by these human equations as
the next fellow, and the musings
would have left him stupified.
For example, who are Craig Svvan,
Andy Replogle, Randy McGilberry.
Larry Ike, Clyde Lineberry and Ron
Diggle? Well, first, they are r^al
people. And, second, they are liv^iug
proof of the vitality of baseball. Bc-
cause they are young ballplayers and
young ballplayers with names like
that can't be all bad. The first five were on the Mets' draft
list. McGilberry has the advantage of coming from S?tra-
land, Ala.. too. Mark him and Replogle down in your futuro
book. Lineberry can't be overlooked either. and if he
falters as an outfielder he has a promising career ahead ot
him as a first base coach. Diggle is the boy to watch close-
ly. A Met farmhand. he is tearing up the California Lea^ue.
He'll have to be jumped to a higher league soon with a name
like Ron Diggle.
Next. attendanee. There was a paid crowd of more timn
35,000 on band, maklnff the total for a three-Rame mid-week
tetevised series some 100,000. That Is hardly typical of
anyplace eise, but It seenis usefiil to ask an aeademic qnes-
tion: how many three-game nild-week tele%ised football
series would draw that many fans?
Point belng tb-' ' ' ''' " ''"
EINSTEIN
1
J»
■'a^^
V
Ci v\
\, ^
V \
\\1 7
■ n
Einsteins Nachlass
wird veröffentlicht
Die princcton-Universität will
den gesamten litciarischen
Nachlass Albert E^^f ^''"'^.r'von
fentlichen. Der Umfang der von
Finstein hintcrlasscnen Puvai-
bdefe Notizhefte und wissen^
schaftlichen M^^^>^^^l!Pjf./'Je
auf rund zwanzig Bande ge-
schätzt. Die redaktionelle Bear-
beitung des Materials für die
ein Physik-Professor der Yaie
Universität in Aussicht genom-
men ist, soll mindestens fünf
Jahre in Anspruch nehmen.
Die Princeton University Press
hat mit Einsteins Nachlassver- 1
waltern, seiner ehemaligen Sek
Sin Helen ^-^^^ -^^^'^Z
langjährigen Freund Dr. Otto
Nathan, die Vereinbarung er-
zielt dass das zum gros.sten Teil
noch unpublizierte Material der
Snenthchkeit übergeben werden
qoll Die Dokumentensammlung
enthält seinen Briefwechsel mit
Staat^smännern, Gelehrten und
Künstlern zahlreiche unverof-
^entS' wissenschaftliche Ma^
nuskripte. Kollegbücher und
Entwürfe für Vorlesungen. Die
meist in Deutsch ^^l^^'^^'^l'^^
Dokumente sollen in ihrer Ori-
ginalsprache veröffentlicht wer-
den. _ . ^
Der Kern der Einstein-Papiere
wurde nach der Machtübernah-
me der Nationalsozialisten von
Einsteins Stieftochter Ilse m
Berlin sichergestellt und insge-
heim über Kurierpost der fran-
zösischen Botschaft dem Nobel-
preisträger, der sich damals in
Belgien aufhielt, zugestellt^
l-
1
88
**
DAILY NEWS, MONDAY, APRIL 10, 1972
THE MYSTERY OF SPACE
Reaching for the roots of the
ly EDWARD EDELSON
tci«nc» Wrlf«r
firsf ef o leries
Stran^i:e things aie happening
In the universe.
In the past few years, astron-
omers have made discoveries that
»tretch their established ideas
about the natura of the universe
and the basic law.s of nature to the
limit — and perhaps to the breaking
point.
The traces of awosonioly unusual cos-
inic bodies have beon recorded on Photo-
graphie piatos by giant Icnses. Signals
received by the hiige parabolic antennas
of radio telescopes and by instruments
•ont above the atniosphere on balloons,
rocketa and satellites have added equally
unusual, sometimes nnexplainable, data
from cur f^alaxy and far beyond.
**The universe has gfot some very
funny thinjifs in it," says astronomer
^arshall H. Cohen of the California In-
»titute of Technology.
There are the quasars — starlike ob-
Jects, brighter than a billion suns — that
radiate enornious energy.
Therc are the incredibly dense pul-
•ars. If the earth were as denso, it would
be squeezed into a space no bigger than
a baseball.
There are the black holos, objects
that are literally invisible because their
gravltational fields are so strong that
•ven light cannot escape their pull.
Thero are galaxies, "island univer-
■es" coniaining billions of stars, that
•eenis to be in the throes of violent
Upheaval.
Then there is the flotsam of the uni-
verse—douds of gas and dust, s o m e-
tiines containing earthlike molecules.
Some of these clouds were created by
the explosion of old stars. Some are
the birthplace of new stars.
Ouf of place
Most peculiar of all are scattered
observations indicating that some star-
like objects, and even entire galaxies,
nriay be grotosquely out of place, several
billions of light years away from the
locations predicted by accepted theories.
Together, these discoveries have
cbanged the face of astronomy — so much
flo that a few astronomors and physicists
beVeve the accepted rules of nature
Diight not be enough to explain every-
thing in the universe. For astronomers,
these are very exciting days.
These scientists believe that Ein-
■tein's laws of relativity niay have to
be rewritten by today's physicists, in
the same way that Newton 's laws of
physics were rewritten by Einstein.
It has all happened quickly. In 10
years or so, our picture of the universe
bas cbanged beyond recall.
wm////,<^''<m'W'9^.
"Our tncrease In understanding and
our reach into the universe in the last
decade has reached a level it rarely
had before," says astronomer Martin
Schwarzschild of Princeton University.
"You would have to go far back, prob-
ftbly to Newton, to find anything equiv-
alent."
Ultimately, »istronomers believe,
their investigations could have an impor-
tant effect on the way we live. At the
very least, comments A. G. W. Cameron,
Professor of space physics at Yeshiva
University, we will achieve "a better
understanding of what the universe is
like — the formation of stars, the crea-
tion of elements, the evolution of plan-
etary Systems."
DiHerenf mefhods
As often happens in science, this
astronomical revolution was touched off
by radically different mothods of observ-
Ing the World.
Until fairly recently, astronomers
were limited to e.ssentially the same tech-
nique used by Galileo in the 17th Cen-
tury: looking through telescopes at the
light emitted by stars. Astronomers sus-
pected that stars emitted other forms
of energy, too, but they couldn't prove
it— partly because they didn't have the
necessary instruments, and partly be-
cause the earth's atniosphere blocks al-
most all radiation.
Then, in 1931, a Bell Telephones Lab-
oratory engineer named Carl G. Jansky
accidentally discovered that radio f r e-
quency signals from Space did penetrate
the atmosphere and could be picked up.
That marked the birth of radio astron-
omy.
But it wasn't until after World War
II that radio astronomy began in ear-
nest, with construction of big dish-
shaped antennas designed specifically to
pick up radio waves from outer space.
At about the same time, astronomers
were working out ways of getting above
the overprotective atmosphere, with bal-
loons, rockets, satellites. Together, these
instruments have opened for a s t r o n-
omers a new world of cosmic radiation —
ultraviolet, infrared, X-ray, gamma ray.
With these observations, objects that
were literally invisible to conventional
telescopes have moved to stage center.
One fascinathig aspect of the new
astronomy is that it provides the first
real test for many theories outlined by
Albert Einstein a half-century or more
ago.
What Einstein said — in a hlghly over-
simplified form— is that the Newtonian
laws of physics apply only to the point
where one encounters enormous veloci-
ties and enormous masses. Under those
circumstances. a new set of rules, the
laws of relativity, had to be applied.
Relativity described how the gravita-
tional pull of huge masses and velocities
close to the speed of light the ultimate
»peed—caused changes in matter and
energy.
Because such great masses and veloc-
ities were required, physicists have been
able to run only a few tests of Ein-
Btem's key theories — enough to convince
them that the theories are correct, but
not nearly enough to check out their
every aspect. "The general theory of
relativity has not been tested at all in
strong gravitational fields," says astron-
omer Maarten Schmidt of Cal Tech.
The new astronomy is changing that
because it deals with objects that are
big enough and dense enough to generate
relativistic gravitational fields— that is,
nelds that must be analyzed entirely
by Emstein's laws. Some astronomers
believe that relativity will fall short of
explainin^r eveiything that is happening
In the universe.
Sir Fred Hoyle of Cambridge Uni-
versity in England, one of the most
respected and most original theoretical
astronomers, already is working on a
theory that would make general relativ-
ity a special case, "as general relativity
makes Newtonian physics a special
case."
Informafion gap
But Hoyle acknowledges that most
astronomers are reluctant to go beyond
relativity just yet. Other astronomers
are more emphatically conservative. Ac-
cording to Yeshiva's A. G. W. Cameron,
we have really tried very hard with con-
we have really tried with the methods of
conventional physics to understand these
new objects.*'
One reason for conservatism is the
iurprisingly slim amount of Information
availabie about the nature of the uni-
verse.
Cosmologist Engflebert Schucking of
NYU mockingly calls a cosmologist "a
man who knows nothing about every-
thing." He exphiins:
"We See these things that look like
flyspecks on a Photographie plate, and
Ihey are a clu.^ter of galaxies, each
containing 100 billion stars. We have
to study those galaxies by looking at
those little dots of light.
"You can't make much of that kind
of evidence unless you put in a fixed
set of assumptions — that the laws of
nature are the same everywhere in the
universe, that the laws of nature are
the same everywhere in time, that the
Chemical composition of matter is the
same everywhere. If we didn't make
these assumptions, we could explain al-
most anything— but what would the ex-
planations be vvorth?"
Next: The birth and death of the UniverMm
^^^^m
The 200-inch Have Telescope on Mounf
Palomar in California.
measuring stick
To meosure the vost ditfonces of
the universe, astronomers use o unit
ef measurement bosed on the ultimote
velocity. the ipeed of light. Movinq ot
186.000 miles per second, light trovtli
MOO.000.000.000 (six milllon million)
milet In one yeor. That distonce. the
light year, is the measuring stick
of ostronomy.
The sun is nine light minutes from
the eorth. That is. it takes nine minutot
for light to Cover the 93 million mllet
between the tun ond eorth.
firsf ef a i«riei
Stranjre things aie happening
In the universe.
In the past few years, astron-
omers have made discoveries that
Btretch their established ideas
aboiit the nature of the universe
ajid the basic laws of nature to the
limit — and perhaps to the breaking
point.
The traees of awosoriiely unusiml cos-
mic bodioH have hoon recorded on photo-
fraphic piatos by ^iant Icnses. Signals
teceived by the hiige parabolic antennas
of radio telescopes and by instrumenta
ient above the atmosphere on balloons,
rockets and satellites have added equally
Unusiial, sometinies nnexplainable, data
from our jralaxy and far beyond.
"The universe has pot some very
funny thinj^s in it," says astronomer
Marshall H. Cohen of the California In-
stitute of Technology.
There are the quasars — starlike ob-
Jects, brighter than a billion suns — that
tadiate enornious energy.
Then are the incredibly dense pul-
•ars. If the earth were as denso, it would
be squeezed into a space no bigger than
a baseball.
There are the black holes, objects
that are literally invisihle because their
fravitational fields are so strong that
•veii light cannot escape their pull.
There are galaxies, "island univer-
ies" containing billions of stars, that
•eenis to be in the throes of violent
Upheaval.
Then there is the flotsam of the uni-
verse— clouds of gas and dust, s o m e-
times containing earthlike molecules.
Some of these clouds were created by
the explosion of old stars. Some are
the birthplace of new stars.
Ouf of place
Most peculiar of all are scattered
observations indicating that some star-
like objects, and even entire galaxies,
inay be grotesquely out of place, several
billions of light years away from the
lofations predicted by accepted theories.
Together, tTiese discoveries have
changed the face of astronomy — so much
•o that a few astronomers and physicists
be'ieve the accepted rules of nature
might not be enough to explain every-
thing in the universe. For astronomers,
these are very exciting days.
These scientists believe that Ein-
•tein's laws of relativity may have to
be rewTitten by today's physicists, in
the same way that Newton's laws of
physics were rewritten by Einstein.
It has all happened quickly. In 10
iears or so, our picture of the universe
as changed beyond recall.
"Our tncrease In understanding and
our reach into the universe in the last
decade has reached a level it rarely
had before," aays astronomer Martin
Schwarzschild of Princeton University.
"You would have to go far back, prob-
ably to Newton, to find anything equiv-
alent."
Ultimately, ftstronomers believe,
their investigations could have an impor-
tant effect on the way we live. At the
very least, comments A. G. W. Cameron,
Professor of space physics at Yeshiva
University, we will achieve "a better
understanding of what the universe is
like — the formation of stars, the crea-
tion of elements, the evolution of plan-
etary Systems."
Differenf mefhods
As often happens in science, this
astronomical revolution was touched off
by radically different methods of observ-
ing the world.
Until fairly recently, astronomers
were limited to essentially the same tech-
nique used by Galileo in the 17th Cen-
tury: looking through telescopes at the
light emitted by stars. Astronomers sus-
pected that stars emitted other forms
of energy, too, but they couldn't prove
it — partly because they didn't have the
necessary instruments, and partly be-
cause the earth's atmosphere blocks al-
nnost all radiation.
Then, in 1931, a Bell Telephones Lab-
oratory engineer named ('arl G. Jansky
accidentally discovered that radio f r e-
quency signals from Space did penetrate
the atmosphere and could be picked up.
That marked the birth of radio astron-
omy.
But it wasn't until after World War
II that radio astronomy began in ear-
nest, with construction of big dish-
shaped antennas designed specifically to
pick up radio waves from outer space.
At about the same time. astronomers
were working out ways of getting above
the overprotective atmosphere, with bal-
loons, rockets, satellites. Together, these
instruments have opened for a s t r o n-
omers a new world of cosmic radiation —
ultraviolet, infrared, X-ray, gamma ray.
"With these observations, objects that
were literally invisible to conventional
telescopes have moved to stage center.
One fascinathig aspect of the new
astronomy is that it provides the first
real test for many theories outlined by
Albert Einstein a half-century or more
ago.
What Einstein said — in a highly over-
simplified form — is that the Newtonian
laws of physics apply only to the point
where one encounters enormous veloci-
ties and enormous masses. Under those
circumstances, a new set of rules, the
laws of relativity, had to be applied.
Relativity described how the gravita-
tional pull of huge masses and velocities
close to the speed of light the ultimate
»peed — caused changes in matter and
energy.
Because such great masses and veloc-
ities were required, physicists have been
able to run only a few tests of Ein-
Btein's key theories — enough to convince
them that the theories are correct, but
not nearly enough to check out their
every aspect. "The general theory of
relativity has not been tested at all in
streng gravitational fields," says astron-
omer Maarten Schmidt of Cal Tech.
The new astronomy is changing that,
because it deals with objects that are
big enough and dense enough to generate
relativistic gravitational fields— that is,
fields that must be analyzed entirely
by Einstein's laws. Some astronomers
believe that relativity will fall short of
explaining everything that is happening
in the universe.
Sir Fred Hoyle of Cambridge Uni-
versity in England, one of the most
respected and most original theoretical
astronomers, already is working on a
theory that would make general relativ-
ity a special case, "as general relativity
makes Newtonian physics a special
case."
Informafion gap
But Hoyle acknowledges that most
astronomers are reluctant to go beyond
relativity just yet. Other astronomers
are more emphatically conservative. Ac-
cording to Yeshiva's A. G. W. Cameron,
we have really tried very hard with con-
we have really tried with the methods of
conventional physics to understand these
new objects."
One reason for conservatism is the
»urprisingly slim amount of information
availabie about ihe nature of the uni-
verse.
Cosmologist Englebert Schucking of
NYU mockingly calls a cosmologist "a
man who knows nothing about every-
thing." He explains:
"We see these things that look like
flyspecks on a Photographie plate, and
they are a Cluster of galaxies, each
containing 100 billion stars. We have
to study those galaxies by looking at
those little dots of light.
"You can't make much of that kind
of evidence unless you put in a fixed
set of assumptions — that the laws of
nature are the same everywhere in the
universe, that the laws of nature are
the same everywhere in time, that the
Chemical composition of matter is the
same everywhere. If we didn't make
these assumptions, we could explain al-
most anything — but what would the ex-
planations be vvorth?"
Next : The birth and death of the Univerae
* "H ,#. i ^4
Albert Einsfein; It's possible that the new astrenomert coüld go beyond \\\% View of the universe, {uii «sMt ii/f^efseded New-ton's.
The 200-inch Have Telescope on Mount
Palomar in California.
TAe osfronomer's
meosuffiig stick
To measure the vast distonces o1
the universe, astronomers use o unif
of meosurement bosed on the ultimote
velocity, the speed of light. Moving of
186,000 milet per second, light trovelf
6,000,000.000.000 (six million million)
milei In one year. That distonce. the
light year, is the measuring stick
ef ostronomy.
The sun is nine light minutes from
the eorth. That is, it takes nine minutet
for light to cover the 93 million mllet
between the sun and eorth.
The stör nearest the sun. Alpha
Centourl, Is 4.3 light years oway—
obout 25.800.000,000,000 mlles.
Our golaxy, which contoins obout
100 billion stars. is a disk that is 10.000
light years thick at its center ond
has 0 diameter of 100,000 llqht years.
The suR is obout 33.000 light years from
the center.
The nearest nelghboring galaxies ore
the Clouds of Magellon, about 100,000
light years away.
The universe Is belleved to have a
radius of ot leost 10 billion light years.
But the furthest objects astronomers have
been oble to observ« ore bellt ved to be
8 billioR light yeors distant.
.^ . **^
ir^'i^ I tf^irfi<4f i"» ---JBi.^
.i-ii:. iyiu/-/ i UA/v xnA£:S, SU NDAY, APRIL 9, 1972
Relativity
In the
Kitchen
His public image is that of the greät
theorist. the dreamer — but Albert Ein-
stein had a keen interest in the world's
practica! problems, as well: the in-
vention of novel cameras and refrig-
erators, for example.
This little-known aspect of his ca-
reer has come forth as a sequel to the
recent announcement, by Princeton
University Press and the Einstein
Estate, of plans to publish his papers
in a series of some 20 volumes. From
a variety of sources has come infor-
mation on a number of patents taken
out by Einstein and his co-workers.
When he was doing his first great
theoretical work on relativity, Einstein
earned his living as a technical special-
ist in the Swiss Patent Office in Beme.
It was not a job that he relished, but
it gave him an early feel for the prac-
tical, as well as the abstract, uses of
science.
During the 1920*s, whiie he was
living in Berlin. Einstein undertook,
with Leo Szilard, to invent a new
kind of refrigerator. Szilard, who was
himself to become a leading physiclst,
was then a Student in his 20's who
became a close associate of Einstein,
Last week Dr. Gertrud Weiss Szilard,
his widow. told of efforts by the two
men to patent something that would
produce enough income so they could
pursue their research without financial
worries.
One of the problems, in those days.
was to produce a refrigerator quiet
enough to make a kitchen livable. In
the early 1920's two engineering stu-
dents in Sweden — Carl Munters and
Baltzar von Platen — had invented a
refrigerator that required no moving
parts. It was known as the Electrolux
absorption System. While it was con-
siderably Icss efficient than refrig-
erators in which the refrigerant is
circulated by pump, it was completely
silent.
Einstein and Szilard then patented
what they considered to be an im-
proved version of this system. But
it failed to make them rieh. For just
at that moment, others had found a
means to make refrigerators which
ran quietly. The Einstein-Szilard
patent was never put to use.
The two scientists also patented a
pump for circulating liquid metals,
using electromagnetic forces. At the
time its applications were limited, but
today its successors are widely used
in nuclear power plants.
Szilard's most famous patent was
one that he filed in 1934 concerning
the laws governing a chain reaction —
the process in which neutrons released
by the Splitting of one atom go on
to split another in an endless succes-
sion. Realizing that this could be
used to create a bomb of frightful
destructiveness, he assigned the patent
to the British Admiralty, thereby (he
hoped) assuring its secrecy. Szilard,
by then, had fled Germany to live in
Britain.
Although Einstein and Szilard took
out a number of patents in G^many
and Britain as well as one in the
United States, none proved lucrative.
Some of these patents will be pub-
lished, Mrs. Szilard said, in the first
volume of her husband's papers, to be
published by the Massachusetts Insti-
tute of Technology Press later this
year.
Last week Dr. Thomas Bucky of
Westport, Conn., told of a collabora-
tion between his father, Dr. Gustav
Bucky, and Einstein that suffered a
similar fate. The two men had known
each other in Berlin, he said, but it
was after Einstein settled in Princeton,
following the Nazi takeover in Ger-
many, that the collaboration began.
It included devclopment of a special
camera for medical use and another,
which was patented, in which a photo-
cell, or "electric eye." controlled the
lems aperture. This forerunner of the
modern camera with automatic con-
trol by built-in light meter was not,
however, adopted by any camera
maker.
—WALTER SUU '\N
PaUtited Nov. 11,1930
1,7W^1
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ÜNITEI) STATES PATEHl" OFFICE
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Einstein the dreamer» it was leamed last week, was also
Einstein the inventor. One of his projects: a quiet re-
frigerator, developed with fellow physicist Leo Szilard.
•r
1 ij y *■!
.«til^V'l \,s.^m w i
*k durchsetzen.
ten geschaffen werden.
A-Vi gV^i^ -
Der Physiker, der nicht in Worten dachte
Albert Einstein war als Kind jähzor-
nig. Im Alter von fünf Jahren warf
er einen Stuhl auf seine Violin-Lehre-
rin. Und seine zwei Jahre jüngere
Schwester Maja traktierte er einmal mit
einem Spielzeugspaten. Maja erinnerte
sich: „Albert wollte mir ein Loch in den
Kopf schlagen. Die Schwester eines
Denkers braucht eben einen dicken
Schädel."
Zum erstenmal wird das Leben des be-
rühmten Physikers (1879—1955) näher
beleuchtet. Der Universitätsverlag „Prin-
ceton University Press" will Tausende
von Dokumenten, Briefen, Notizen und
wissenschaftlichen Manuskripten veröf-
fentlichen. Kommentar der „New York
Times": „Eines der ehrgeizigsten
Druckprojekte dieses Jahrhunderts."
Die Einstein-Papiere sollen zwanzig
Bücher füllen. Die Arbeiten dauern
mindestens fünf Jahre und werden rund
1,6 Millionen Mark kosten.
Die „New York Times" hat von der
Princeton-Universität, Einsteins lang-
jährigem Wirkungsort, die Erlaubnis
erhalten, Auszüge aus den Dokumenten
zu drucken. Ein Artikel beschäftigt sich
mit den Kindheits- und Jugendjahren
des in Ulm geborenen Wissen-
schaftlers. Die meisten Informationen
über diese Zeit stammen von der
Schwester. Maja Winteler-Einstein hat-
te 1924 eine Biographie geschrieben, die
bisher nicht den Weg in die Öffentlich-
keit gefunden hat.
Nach Berichten der Schwester war die
Foto: DIE WELT
mathematische Begabung des Bruders
im Alter von sechs oder sieben Jahren
zum erstenmal zu erkennen. Sein Onkel
Jakob Einsteip, ein Ingenieur, habe dem
Jungen öfter mathematische Aufgaben
gestellt und ihn mit der Pythagoraslehre
vertraut gemacht. Einstein konnte den
Lehrsatz des Griechen durch eine ande-
re Rechenmethode bestätigen.
Albert Einstein, der nicht in Worten
denken konnte („Meine Gedanken
kommen in Konzeptionen. Sie werden
erst anschließend formuliert."), besuchte
die Volksschule und später das Gymna-
sum in München. Der lebenslange Pa-
zifist sollte nach Abschluß der Schul-
bildung zum Militär. Seine Schwester
konnte jedoch ein ärztliches Attest be-
sorgen, das Einstein den Waffendienst
ersparte.
Nach einem Aufenthalt in Mailand,
wo der Vater mit wenig Erfolg eine
Elektrofabrik gegründet hatte, wollte
Einstein am Bundesinstitut für Techno-
logie in Zürich studieren. Bei der ersten
Aufnahmeprüfung scheiterte er, ein
zweiter Versuch gelang nach einem Be-
such der Kantonsschule in Aarau.
Im Jahre 1902 begann der Physiker
seine Arbeit beim Patentamt in Bern,
ein Jahr später heiratete er seine Frau
Mileva Marie, die ihm zwei Söhne
schenkte. Während der Tätigkeit in
Bern entwickelte Einstein seine Relati-
vitätstheorie, die ihm 1921 den Nobel-
preis einbrachte.
Als junger Mann war Einstein oft
nicht mit sich, seiner Arbeit und der
Welt zufrieden. Im Alter von 19 Jahren
klagte er in einem Brief an Schwester
Maja: „Es verletzt mich zutiefst, daß ich
als Erwachsener vollkommen hilflos bin
und nicht das Geringste zustande bringe.
Ich bin lediglich eine Belastung für
meine Familie ... es wäre besser, ich
wäre nicht am Leben." (SAD)
^
1
J
c
c
I
S
DIRECTOR-Dr. Israel Zwerling in his offiee at Bronx State. Since he took orer in 1966,
th« ave^e leVof a patienVs ,tay has been reduced fcon, 15.3 months to 1.5 montKs.
/v\
rtv
s
' / h-'t
/Einstein, thc Poet \
• To the Editor:
Adding to your cxcellent articles on
Albert Einstein, here's a little-known
incident illustrating his warm human-
ity and his humility:
When Einstein came here in Decem-
ber 1930, a young German friend of
mine, a commercial artist, boarded the
ship and found him in the dining room.
SettHng quietly at the next table, the
artist sketched as the scientist chatted. j
Shyly, the young man then showed
the Sketch to Einstein and asked for
his autograph.
He laughed. "Yes, and I'll wnte a
little poem with my signature." Mrs.
Einstein interrupted, "But maybe the
young man won't like the poem."
"Then VW write it at the bottom," the
scientist said, "so he can tear it off
if he wishes." The poem. roughly
translated: "This fat little pig [Schwein]
. . . is Professor Einstein."
Samm Sinclair Bakfr
Mamaroneck, March 27, 1972
1
"All the News
That's Fit to Print"
LATE CITY EDITION
Weathcr : Sunny. cool today ; cloudy
tonight. Chance of rain tomorrow.
Tcmp. ränge: today 33-49; T»«sday
27-48. FuU U.S. report on Page 86.,
VOL.CXXI...NO.41J03
© 1972 Thf New York Time» Company
NEW YORK, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 29, 1972
15 CENTS
The Einstein Papers: A Man ofMany Parts
I
By WALTER SULLIVAN
On Feb. 27. 1939, six
months before ilie German
atlack on Poland, the great
German physicist Max von
Laue secretly wrote to Albert
Einstein in the United States
that certain German scien-
tists wanted to "cleanse" his
relativity theory of its "Jew-
ish taint."
Adolf Hitler was in his hey-
day, and it was a time of in-
lense anti-Semitism in Ger-
many. Because Einstein was a
Jew, German physicists who
supported his views were un-
able to find employment and
German students were unable
to come to grips with a
theory that had already rev-
olutionized physics and would
soon revolutionize warfare.
The efforts within the Nazi
State to misrepresent Ein-
stein's role as father of rela-
tivity and thus avoid having
to deny the truth of his think-
ing throw into sharp relief
the harshly repressive impact
that totalitarian policies were
having on the German science
of that day.
Refused Israeli Nomination
The von Laue letter is only
one of thousands of hitherto
unpublished documents on
file in the collection of Ein-
stein papers at the Institute
for Advanced Study in Prince-
ton, N. J.. many of them fur-
ther demonstrating Einstein's
long involvement with poli-
tics and world events.
For Einstein, in addition to
his scientific achievements,
was a man of many parts —
amateur but serious Violinist,
impassionedhumanitarian and
internationalist, affectionate
husband, father, brother and
friend, kind adviser and
Alan W. Richards
Albert Einstein being visited in Princeton by David Ben-Gurion, Israeli Premier, in
1951. Einstein papers teil of the scientist's efforts toward the creation of IsraeL
This is the last of three articles dealing with the
life and thought of Albert Einstein as revealed in the
collection of his manuscripts, letters and other papers
to be published by his estate.
teacher of strangers — and
each part is reflected in his
papers, which are to be pub-
lished by the Einstein estate
and Princeton University
Press.
The papers teil of his long
efforts in behalf of the crea-
tion of a Jewish national
State and of his sad refusal
when asked by the Israeli
government in 1952 to accept
nomination to the presidency
of that country as successor
to Chaim Weizmann.
In addition to correspond-
ence with a galaxy of lead-
ing physicists as well as
friends and family, the col-
lection includes Communica-
tions with sucli figures as
Sigmund Freud, Bertrand
Russell, Franklin D. Roose-
velt. Albert Schweitzer,
Thomas Mann and George
Bernard Shaw.. In the corre-
spondence wiLh Freud, Ein-
stein discusscd the possible
psychological roots of war
and aggression. With many
Continued on Page 20, Column 1
;iü
THE MEVi' YORK TIMES, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 29. 1972
\ The Einstein Papers : Man of Many Parts Was Long Involved in the Cause of Peace
Continued From Page 1, Col. 4
of the others he agitated for peace.
The letter from von Laue, who was
Einstein*« dosest friend among German
physicists, was hand-carried to Eng-
land and mailed there. It reported that
ft nkys.icist named W. Lenz had sub-
mitted an article to tihe Journal "Natur-
wissenchaften" (Natural Science) say-
ing that Einstein was not the only one
responsible for the "special" relativity
theory.
This wa» Einstein's first relativity
theory, which, ainong other things, es-
tablished the relationship between mass
and energy. Ironically, it was this theory
that lay behind the development of the
atomic bomb, which Germany ulti-
mately decided na* to build — reportedly
because the German physicists believed
it could not be done in time to figure
in the war.
Lenz contended m his article that the
French mathematician Henri Poincarö
was an "accomplice" in the development
of the theory. Von Laue said that in a
letter accompanying the copy of the
article Lenz had told him his purpose
was to cC mter the view that the theory
was only a product of the Jewish spirit.
Thus, Said von Laue with evident
disgust, his colleague hoped " — how
shall I put it? — to make it presentable
in the Third Reich."
The most unfortunate part of the
whole sorry business, von Laue added,
was that Lenz hoped thereby to win
"better treatment" for theoretical phys-
ics from the Nazi Party. Lenz had al-
ready made a deal with an official of
Hamburg University that after the ap-
pearance of his article a course in rela-
tivity theory would be — as von Laue
caustically put it — "graciously permit-
ted."
In particular, von Laue said, Lenz
hoped that his strategy would enable
Werner Heisenberg to obtain a faculty
post in Munich. Seven years earlier
Heisenberg had won a Nobel Prize in
physics, but now he was being de-
nounced as a "white Jew" because of
his Support for relativity.
Von Laue said that in a letter to Lenz
he had quoted passages from Poincar6
written several years after Einstein
published his paper on special relativity.
These, he said, showed that while
Poincarö knew the mathematics of the
theory and had cven contributed to it,
he had never gone on to take "the
really decisive Step."
Von Laue said that his effort to have
the paper withdrawn had failed and so
he was writing something he hoped the
Journal would run as a postscript to the
Lenz article. But if it was not published
he urged Einstein to see that a rebuttal
was submitted to the British Journal
"Nature," which, he asserted, some-
times spoke out "in delightfully vigor-
ous tones."
1 1»
Einstein was at liberty to use the in
formation in the letter, von Laue said,
"only my name should not be men-
tioned lest it happen to me, as in
Mozart's 'Abduction from the Seraglio*:
*Erst geköpft und dann gehangen
'Aufgespiesst auf glüh'nde Standen...
Rüughly translated, ihe lines say:
"First beheaded and then hanged,
"Spitted on a fiery stake . . ."
Von Laue ended his letter with a
warm reaffirmation of his good wishes
for Einstein's 60th birthday.
While Einstein is well known for his
internationalism and pacifism in later
life, he was no less opposed to national-
ism and wars of aggression as a young-
er man. He spoke out with particular
bitterness while living in Berlin during
World War L The episode is another of
those, previously unknown, that has
come to light through the collection of
the papers at Princeton.
At the height of the war Einstein
was asked by the Goethe Society of
Berlin to write an essay, apparently for
its publication. The resulting exchange
brought Einstein, the intemationalist,
face to face with German nationalism.
and finally forced him to make deletions
from his own article.
The request from the Goethe Society
had been sent on Oct. 23, 1915, and
Einstein replied: "Of course, I will not
be surprised, or even indignant, if you
do not make use of my remarks. How-
ever, in that case, I ask you to send
the essay back to me."
"I ask you in particular," he con-
tinued, "not to be angry at my words;
I assure you that what I say Is my
conviction."
What he submitted did, indeed, dis-
may the Goethe Society, for Einstein
equated patriotism with the worst of
aggressive animal instincts. After some
correspondence he agreed to delete one
passage and wrote, on Nov. 16, "I have
tried to meet your wishes without being
in any way dishonest and without
having to say anything direct about
patriotism."
However, he said in conclusion,
"should you, with the more sensitive
feeling that you have from your con-
tact with the local populace, still find
the altered Contents offensive, please
let me know."
The essay that so upset the members
of the Goethe Society began with an
assessment of the aggressive instinct:
"The psychological roots of war, in
my view, lie in a biologically based,
aggressive peculiarity of the human
being. We 'masters of creation' are not
the only ones who may claim the glory
of this gift; we are surpassed in this
respect by many animals, such as the
bull or rooster."
"Whenever human beings confront
one another, this aggressive tendency
becomes manifest," he said. "In a
tightly constricted society it comes out
in quarreis and even murder.**
^.
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Einstein playing the violin on ship that carried him to California in 1931. An
accomplished musician, he had started taking violin lessons at age of 5.
He said he would never forget "what
an open hatred" his classmates in
grade school had had for the students
of a neighboring school. Numerous
fights took place, with many a battered
head resulting.
"Who can doubt that blood revenge
and dueling spring from this feeling?
I cven think that the honor which we
so carefully nurture receives its chief
nourishment thence.
"The better philosophers of all ages
were united in the belief that war is
the bitterest enemy of human develop-
ment, that everything must be done
to prevent it. I am also convinced
that, despite the unspeakably sad Situa-
tion at present, there will be formed,
in the not-so-distant future, a Euro-
pean governmental Organization to
prevent European wars, just as the
German Reich now bars a war between
Bavaria and Württemberg."
It was, however, the next passage that
Einstein was asked to delete, for it de-
graded the concept of patriotism that
was the chief prop for the morale of the
German troops who were bogged down
in trenches along the various fronts.
Einstein wrote:
"One may ask oneself why is it that
in peacetime, when the social System
suppresses almost all expressions of
virile pugnaciousness, the attributes
and drives that during wars generale
mass murders do not disappear? In that
respect it seems to me as follows:
"When I look into the home of a
good, normal Citizen I see a softly
lighted room. In one corner Stands a
well-cared-for shrine, of which the man
of the house is very proud and to which
the attention of every visitor is drawn
with a loud voice. On it, in large letters,
the Word 'patriotism' is inscribed.
"However, opening this shrme is
normally forbidden. Yes, even the man
of the house knows hardly, or not at
all, that his shrine holds the moral
requisites of animal hatred and mass
murder that, in case of war, he obedi-
ently takes out for his service.
"this shrine, dear reader, you will
not find in my room, and I would re-
joice if you came to the viewpoint that
in that corner of your room a piano or
a small bookcase would be more ap-
propriate than such a piece of fumiture
which you only find tolerable because,
from your youth, you have become
used to it."
"It is beyond me to keep secret my
international orientation, to keep any-
thing secret," Einstein continued. He
said that the State, to which hebelonged
as a Citizen, "does not play the least
role in my spiritual life; I regard alle-
giance to a government as a business
matter, somewhat like the relationship
with a life insurance Company."
Thus ended the passage that Einstein
finally agreed to delete. He concluded
the essay, however, by saying: "But
why so many words, when I can say
everything in one sentence, and also in
a sentence that suits my being a Jew:
Honor vour master, Jesus Christ, not
only with words and hymns, but above
all through your deeds."
When the Nazis took power in Janu-
ary, 1933, Einstein was in the United
States on a lecture visit. Before he and
his wife left Germany, he may have had
a premonition of what was to come. For
he urged his wife to take a good long
look at their home, and observed sadly
that they might never see it again. And
they did not. Indeed, they never again
set foot in their native land.
Einstein had already accepted a Posi-
tion with the Institute for Advanced
Study in Princeton, and once settled
there, in his later years, he became fixed
in the role of sage.
Although he freited at the notoriety,
he carried on a heavy correspondence
covering a wide ränge of subjects, sci-
entific, personal and political. He al-
ways preferred to communicate in Ger-
man, but he spoke and wrote English
fluently.
While he exchanged views with the
great and the powerful, he otten an-
swered with special care letters from
ordinary Citizens— an Army private, for
example, who "wondered how the uni-
verse could be limited In size. What
would happen if you poked a finger
through the edge?
In a letter glowing with patcmal
humor Einstein responded to a very
young acquaintance who was com-
plaining that she had never seen her
Uncle Albert. That he had "a modest
paunch" and an "awkward walk" but
no "crooKed legs and warts" and so
was "quiie handsome." Although some-
what stooped, Einstein was taller than
average height.
His years in Princeton were marked
by a number of sadnesses. His wife,
Elsa, died in 1936, her daughter (Ein-
stein's stepdaughter) Ilse having died
in Paris two years earlier. His other
stepdaughter, Margot, has been living in
his Princeton home since 1934. (He pre-
ferred to refer to both girls as his own
daughters.)
Elsa was Einstein's second wife. The
first. Mileva, bore him two sons, Hans
Albert and Eduard, but the marriage
ended in divorce. In 1951 his family
circled dwindled further when his sis-
ter, Maja, passed away.
These were years when Einstein, fh
addition to his voluminous correspond-
ence, was trying to unify into a Single
comprehensive theory the laws govern-
ing both gravity and electromaenetism.
It was his deep conviction that such
a unity must exist in nature. but he was
never sure that he had it within his
grasp, and his frustration on this score
shines through his correspondence.
One of the most poignant exchanges
in his role as a philosopher came when
he was 70 and living in Princeton.
An ordained rabbi had written ex-
plaining that he had sought in vain to
comfort his 19-year-old daughter over
the death of her sister. "a sinless, beau-
tiful, 16-ycar-old child."
"A human being," wrote Einstein In
reply, "is a part of the whole, called
by US "Universe,* a part limited in time
and Space. He experiences himself, his
thoughts and feelings as something
separated from the rest — a kind of
optical delusion of his consciousness.
This delusion is a kind of prison for
US, restricting us to our personal desires
and to affection for a few persons near-
est to US. Our task must be to free
ourselves from this prison by widening
our circle of compassion to embrace
all living creatures and the whole
nature in its beauty. Nobody is able
to achieve this completely, but the striv-
ing for such achievement is in itself
a part of the liberation and t founda-
tion for inner security."
It was in Princeton that Einstein died
— on April 18, 1955, at the age of 76.
To the end he was adamant against pub-
lic display, asking that he be cremated
without any ceremony. His ashes were
scattered at an undisclosed place.
Einstein Ur^ed Physicists Help Bar Arms Race
In December, 1944, in the midst of
World War II and only seven months
before the first atomic explosion. Albert
Einstein proposed that the world's lead-
Aug. 2, 1939. In the letter he drew the
Presidenfs attention to some recent
developments in physics related to his
own special theory of rektivits^. This'
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Einstein loved little verses. On the f irst pag^e o£ his guest book
at Caputh, his country home ncar Berlin, ho drew a German
traff ic sign forbidding inscriptions in prose.
He bcgan with a verse of his own titled "Ordinancc*' and signed
**inthe name of the Caputh Estate Management." In translation,
it went:
Men, women and little children
Enter yourself in this little book
But not with clumsy words
The way people mumble everywhere,
Only with verses polite and t ender
As in the august poet*s manner.
Don't worry; simply exert yourself
And youll certainly be on the right track!.
The physicist Max von Laue, whose inscription is partially
•hown above, foUowed with a verse about being the first visitor
to obey the ordinance. But Rabindranath Tagore, the Bengali
poet, shown below with Einstein, restricted himself to signing
bis name in Bengali.
The last entry in the book was again by von Laue, on Nov. 29,
19S2, a f cw days bef orc Einstein lef t Germany never to return.
viiiio tiuguaciuubiiess, Uie aitriDuies matter, somewhat üRe tne relationstiip great and the powertul, he otlen an- without any ceremony. His ashes were
and drives that during wars generale with a life Insurance Company." swered with special care letters from scattered at an undisclosed place.
Einstein Ur^ed Physicists Help Bar Arms Race
In December, 1944, in the midst of
World War II and only seven months
before the first atomic explosion, Albert
Einstein proposed that the world's lead-
ing physicists — including two Russians
— be mobilized to prevent a postwar
weapons race.
He did so in a letter to his old friend,
Niels Bohr, the Danish physicist who
had himself been seeking to persuade
Prime Minister Winston Churchill and
President Franklin D. Roosevelt that a
nuclear weapons race between the
United States and Soviet Union would
be disastrous.
It was Bohr, in the winter of 1938-39.
who brought to the United States news
that the uranium atom had been split
in a German laboratory. This fission
had released vast amounts of energy —
considering the tiny scale of the reac-
tion — as predicted by Einstein's rela-
tivity theory of 33 years earlier.
Now Bohr was back in this country,
having escaped from German-occupied
Denmark in a small boat, and as soon
as he received Einstein's letter he
hastened to call on him in Princeton.
Bohr had been much closer than
Einstein to the atomic bomb project
then under way and possibly briefed him
on some of the behind-the-scenes ac-
tivities — including, presumably, those
relating to the post-war Situation. He
persuaded Einstein to maintain secrecy
and not make any moves on his .own.
This little-known eplsode has come
to light through study of documents in
the Einstein collection at Princeton. One
of them is a letter from Einstein to
TU» Bettmann Archivt
Einstein with J. Robert Oppenheimer, director of the Institute of Advanced
Study in Princeton. Dr. Oppenheimer led team that developed atomic bomb.
Bohr telling of Visits by the physicist,
Otto Stern, a Consultant to the bomb
project.
•*A little while ago," Einstein wrote,
"Stern came to see me, greatly alarmed,
and Said in effect that when the war
is over there will be in all countries the
pursuit of secret armaments with tech-
nological means that will inevitably
lead to preventive war . . ."
The politicians, Einstein said, seemed
unaware of the catastrophic implica-
tions of such an arms race. He therefore
proposed that scientists with political
influence be mobilized to prevent it.
Among those that he mentioned were
Peter Kapitza and A. F. Joffe, both in
the Soviet Union.
It is not clear, from the letter,
whether Einstein meant that this should
be done before the war ended, but
in any case the idea of bringing the
Russians into the effort would hardly
have been welcome in Washington at
that time, and Einstein in any case was
persuaded by Bohr to remain silent.
Einstein had played a role in setting
the bomb project in motion with his
famous letter to President Roosevelt of
Aug. 2, 1939. In the letter he drew the
President'! attention to some recent
developments in physics related to his
own special theory of relatlvlty. •'This
new phenomenon would also lead to
the construction of bombs," hc said. He
pointed to the alarming news that Ger-
many had suspended exports of urani-
um from the mines in Czechoslovakia.
In reply, the President wrote: "I found
this data of such Import that I have con-
vened a board consisting of the head of
the Bureau of Standards and a chosen
representative of the Army and Navy to
thoroughly investigate the possibilities
of your Suggestion . . ."
It was not until the eve of the Japa-
nese attack on Pearl Harbor that a
decision was made for an all-out effort
to develop an atomic bomb. Many phy-
sicists who were associated with the de-
velopment of the bomb became con-
cerned that they would have no Influ-
ence on how it was used.
A few months before the Hiroshima
blast Einstein wrote Mr. Roosevelt to
introduce Leo Szilard, who was seeking
a hearing for the scientists at the high-
est level of govemment. Roosevelt died
before taking any action on the letter.
It was referred to Harry S. Truman but
apparently had little effect on what fol-
lowed. ' ' ■
Still, Einstein never gave up. He de-
voted much of his time after the war
to an effort to achieve a ban on the
use of nuclear weapons. And he never
lost his sense of horror, his friends re-
call, at the prospect that the fruits of
his theoretical work should again be
used for mass destruction of human life.
Some of Einstein's Reflections, Aphorisms and Observations
(From a letter dated April 16, 1954,
to S. Flesch of Vienna):
I do not visualize God at all [in a
personal manner] but let it suffice for
me to admire the structure of the uni-
verse as far as it is revealed at all to
our weak powers of recognition.
(From a letter dated Feh. 12, 1945, to
a United States Army private \\^ho had
asked how the universe could be of
finite dimension):
Truth in physical matters can, of
course, never be founded on mathe-
matical and logical considerations alone.
This is, of course, also true concerning
the question: Is physical space (more
accurately, the space-like section of the
four-dimensional space-time continuum)
finite or not? The answer is still doubt-
ful but there are good arguments in fa-
vor of a finite space. However, the
answer can be given only on the basis
of empirical facts (value of the mean
density of stellar matter in space). You
are asking further whether it is possible
to give a perceptual interpretation
(Imagination) of a finite space. This can
be easily done but I have not time to
give it in a letter. The method is to
work out the three-dimensional anal-
ogon of the two-dimensional geometry
which holds on the surface of a sphere
of finite radius.
•
(From a letter dated Sept. 30, 1920,
to an S-year-old acquaintance):
I hear you are unhappy because you
did not get to see Uncle Einstein. There-
fore, I will teil you what he looks like:
Pale face, long hair, and a modest paunch.
In addition, an awkward walk, and a
cigar between jaws — ^when he has one
— and a pen in pocket or in band. How-
ever, crooked legs and warts he does not
have. nad so he is quite handsome, also
no hair on the hands, as many ugly
men have. So it is a pity, after all, that
you did not see me.
(In response to a request for a State-
ment suhmitted by a Berlin society for
aid to the Jewish elderly, late 192b, or
early 1927):
Through the lot of the elderly, one
can recognize the State of cultural de-
velopment of the young.
(From a letter dated March 30, 1950,
to an elderly cousin in which Einstein
discusses, among other things, his ef-
forts to merge his two relativity theo-
ries, dealing with gravity and electro-
magnetism, into a unified field theory):
It has been my fate that, for reasons
unknown, my achievements have been
immensely overrated. People need a
couple of romantic idols to serve as
spots of light in the colorless panorama
of their mortal lives. They have made
me into such a spot of light, but for me
their choice of the particular person is
inexplicable and irrelevant.
As a result of this, so many are ex-
erting pressure on me that I must live
like a prisoner who cannot move at lib-
erty lest he make the dust whirl, leading
to unpredictable complications. More-
over, I have acquired a guilty con-
science, since I cannot read nor answer
the countless manuscripts and queries
that are pelting me incessantly — an in-
sufficiency that only grows as the years
go by.
As my endeavors go, they are not so
very bright, as you may imagine. But
just don't believe everything irrespon-
sible newspaper scribes say. After years
and years of incessant effort I per-
fected the theory of relativity, but be-
cause of the enormous mathematical
difficulties am unable myself to judge
whether the completion of the theory
hit the mark correctly.
The present generation of my col-
leagues think not, so that I stand more
or less alone in my basic concepts, with-
out being sure whether I have come
upon the right track or not. Neverthe-
less my arguments are good. . . .
Enjoy your days in tranquillity and
don't be deluded by the outward appear-
ances of things. Rejoice that only a few
people concern themselves with you, and
believe me, it has many advantages. Bet-
ter to be an appreciative spectalor than
a flood-lit actor.
(From Einstein's last letter to his old
friend, Max von Laue, dated Feb. 3,
1955, declining an invitation from sci-
entific societies in West Berlin and Fast
Germany to a Joint celehration of the
SOth anniversary of his first papers on
relativity and quantum theory):
Above all, I am glad that in this un-
usual case I have been the cause
of brotherly Cooperation and not of
controversies.
Age and illness make it Impossible
for me to take any part in such
celebrations, and I must also confess
Excerpts from the Einstein manu-
scripts are published'with permission
from the estate of Albert Einstein,
which retains all rights thereto.
that this ordinance of providence has
something liberating for me. Because
everything connected somehow with the
cult of the person has always been
embarrassing to me. The more so in
this case because here a development
of thought is concemed in which many
took an essential part, a development
which is far from being completed. So
I decided not to take part in any way
in these commemorative celebrations,
several of which are planned at various
places.
If I have learned one thing In ponder-
ing throughout a long life it is this, that
we are much further from a deeper in-
sight into the elementary processes tnan
most of our contemporariei believe
(but you are not Included), so that
noisy celebrations are definitely not
very appropriate to the actual itata of
affairs.
(From a 1930 letter to Prof. Oswald
Vehlen granting Princeton University
permission to inscrihe on a mantlepiec9
his well-known saying, "God is suhtle,
but He is not malicious"):
Nature hides her secrets through her
intrinsic grandeur, but not through de-
ception. , . ^
•
(From a letter dated March 21, 1955,
less than a month hefore his death, to
the ßcsso family on the death of his
lifelong friend, Michelangelo Besso):
With the departure from this stränge
World, he now has gone a little ahead
of me. This is of no significance. For
US believing physicists, the Separation
between past, present and future has
only the meaning of an Illusion, albeit
a tenacious one.
\
f
"All the News '
That*s Fit to Print"
VOL.CXXI...No.41,702
t
I
3 Sie Jfciir Mark Sinie$
LATE CITY EDITION
Weither: Pirtly lunny, cool today;
fair, cold tonight. Fair tomorrovr.
Temp. ränge: todiy 28-47; Monday
31-46. Füll U.S. report on Pagt 85.
O l»7a Tht N«w York Tlmti Oompany
NEW YORK, TUESDAY.MARCH 28. 1972
The Einstein Papers: A Flash oflnsight
Game After Long Reflection on Relativity
15 CENTS
By WALTER
'*At that point," wrote Al-
bert Einstein, "there came to
me the happiest thought of
my life." It was a thought
that was to revolutionize
concepts of gravity, space
and time. and lead to the so-
called "general" theory of
relativity.
The step-by-slep process
whereby Einstein came to
this realization in 1907 is
described in a comparatively
simple, non-mathematical es-
»ay written in Einstein's own
meticulous hand about 12
years later. This as yet un-
published document is one
of many to be published un-
der an arrangement between
the trustees of the Einstein
estate and Princeton l'niver-
sity Press.
Some Views Incorrect
While scholars have only
worked through a fraction of
the collection, housed at the
Institute für Advanced Study
in Princeton, it is already evi-
dent that prevailing views as
to the immediate origins of
the theory of relativity are
incorrect.
Tha collection Includes
thousands of letters, scien-
tific articies (both published
and unpublished), notebooks
and other material document-
ing the development of both
of Einstein's relativity theo-
ries and much other theoreti-
cal work.
The first or "special" the-
ory of relativity, published in
i9ü5, dealt with light, time
and the relationship between
mass and energy. it thus set
the stage for release of the
SULLIVAN
vast energy stored in the
atom, leading to the atomic
bomb and nuclear power
plants.
The second or "general"
theory of relativity. published
in 1915, applied the princi-
ples at the basis of the spe-
cial theory to gravity. As
noted in Einstein's essay, it
was in 1907. when he was
writing an account of his
initial discovery, that he real-
ized its applicability to grav-
ity.
It was this, he recalled,
that constituted "the happi-
est thought of my life."
The general view is that
Einstein was primarily moti-
vated to attack the problem
that he resolved with his rev-
olutionar>' concept by the
puzzling results of certain
experiments with light con-
ducted by olhers. In particu-
lar, there was one carried out
in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1881
by Albert A. Michelson and
E. W. Morley.
Doubted He Knew of Test
A 1965 publication of the
American Optical Society,
for example, says Michelson,
"first American scientist to
win the Nobel Prize in Phys-
ics, made the measurements
on which are based Ein-
stein's special theory of rela-
tivity."
However, in the Einstein
archives there are a number
of documents to the contrary.
One of these is a letter from
Einstein to an American his-
tory teacher named Daven-
port explaining that. while
Continued on Page 32, Column 1
This is the second of three articies dealing with
the life and thought of Alhert Einstein as revealed in
the collection of his manuscripts, letters and other
papers to be published by his estate.
Albert Einstein in his studio In Berlin in the eariy 192fi's
1
32
L +
THE NEW YORK TIMES. TUESDA Y, MARCH 28. 1972
The Einstein Papers: A Flash of Insight Game After Long Reflection on Relativity
Continued From Page 1, Col. 2
Michelson's result was "an immortal
contribution to scientific Knowledge,"
Einstein doubted that he had even been
aware of it when he devised his rela-
tivity theory.
Michelson and Morley had demon-
strated with great precision a paradoxi-
cal phenomenon. This was that the
speed of light, when mcasurcd by an
observer, is always the same, regardless
of the observer's motion relative to the
light sourcc.
There was extensive evidence that
light is a wave phenomenon (although
it was later shown that light can also
be regarded as a stream of particles).
It had therefore been assumed that light
waves must travel through some kind of
medium, just as water waves are propa-
gated through water and sound waves
travel through air.
This led to the concept of a hypo-
thetical medium— the "ether"— filling
all of "space."
If such a medium cxists, it was rea-
soned, the carth must be sailing
through the medium while in its various
motions — the daily spin of the earth,
the earth's flight about the sun, the
sun's motion about the center of the
Milky Way Galaxy and the movement
of the galaxy itself. relative to the
universe.
With the ether constantly flowing
past the earth, light waves traveling in
the direction of this flow would presum-
ably be given a boost and travel faster
than light waves traveling in the oppo-
site direction. Testing this was difficult,
for the difference in speed would be
slight compared to the total speed of
light.
The velocity of the earth around the
sun is 20 miies a second whereas the
speed of light is 186,284 miles a sec-
ond. Thus, if there was an ether wind
blowing past the earth, light should
travel "downwind" at 186,304 miles a
second and "upwind" at 186,264 miles
a lecond. Michelson and Morley de-
vised an experiment capable of record-
ing the speed to within a fraction of a
mile per second. To their surprisc they
could detect no such difference.
What chiefly challenged Einstein,
however, was a related problem arising
from Maxwell's theory of electrical
phenomena and their relation to light
waves. It was a natural interest for the
young Einstein, for both his father,
Hermann, and his uncle, Jakob Ein-
stein, were in the business of electrical
engineering and manufacture.
From research carried out in the Ein-
stein archives Dr. Gerald Holton, pro-
fessor of physics at Harvard Univer-
sity, has concluded that Einstein'! for-
mulation of his original relativity
theory was «trongly influenced by an
almost forgotten treatise on MaxwelFi
theory.
The author of the treatise himself re-
membered today by on!y a few older
physicists, was a German named Au-
gust Föppl. His text was entitled **In-
troduction to Maxw«»irs Theory of
Electricity" and it stated in straight-
forward manner the dilemma that
gripped Einstein's imagination.
James Clerk Maxwell, some 35 years
earlier, had laid the foundations of
modern electrical theory with a series
of mathematical formulations. He postu-
lated an "ether" as the medium through
which electrical and magnetic phenom-
ena are transmitted.
Under Maxwell's formulation, light
waves are an electromagnetic phenom-
enon, as. it was discovered later, are
all the related waves, such ai those
of radio and X-ray, which also wert
thought to be carried by the ether.
Einstein saw in the contemporary
Interpretation of Maxwell's equations a
discordant note that ran counter to
his view of a basic symmetry and con-
sistency in nature. The discordance con-
cerned a phenomenon, discovered by
Michael Faraday, that is the basis
of the typical dynamo: When a magnet
moves, relative to wire windings or
some other material capable of conduct-
ing electricity, an electric current is
generated in that material.
In some dynamos It is the wire, in
the form of a rotating armature, that
moves within a stationary magnetic
field. In others it is the magnet that
rotates and the wire is fixed. In Max-
well's theory, firmly rooted in the hypo-
thetical existence of an ether, the
mathematical treatment of the two
processes was formulated in two quite
different ways.
As noted in Einstein's hitherto unpub-
lished essay, one formulation applied
Erich Salomon/Mafnum
At a reception given by the Reich Chancellor in Berlin in August of 1931. Einstein chatted with Ramsay MacDonald,
the British Prime Minister. Max Planclc, the physicist, is at Icft. Others are Hermann R. Dietrich, forcground, who was
German Finance Minister; Julius Curtius, right, the German Foreign Minister; Geheimrat Schmitz, a German industrialist.
to the Situation in which the conductor
is in motion. Another covered the re-
verse Situation, where the magnet
moves and the conductor is "motionless."
What caught Einstein's eye, however,
was the fact that the amount of cur-
rent produced was the same in both
cascs, given the same relative speed
between wire and magnet.
"The thought," Einstein wrote in his
essay, "that one is dealing here with
two fundamentally different cases was,
for me, unbearable. The difference be-
tween these two cases could be only a
difference in the choice of reference
point."
What troubled him most was the
thought that perhaps one formulatior.
could be applied where two were now
used. In this he appears to have been
guided in part by Föppl's approach.
The latter had drawn attention to the
fact that kinematics — the study of
motion — "usually rests on the axiom
that in the relationship of bodies to
one another only relative motion is of
importance."
In part Einstein was also influenced,
early in his work, by the Dutch physi-
cist Hendrik A. Lorentz. He had spelled
out the mathematical transformations
needed to relate time and distance.
recorded in a moving frame of refer-
ence, to time and distance in a sta-
tionary reference frame. Einstein recog-
nized, however, that there is no such
thing as a "stationary" frame in an
absolute sense.
That is, from the point of view of
formulating the laws of physics, any
observer has an equal right to regard
himself as at rest and the others in
motion.
While in our every day human cx-
perience we have learned to believe
that time flows equally for all, Einstein
saw that this also was not so. For ex-
ample, it would seem that two events
that occur simultaneously in one refer-
ence frame should also be simultaneous
if seen from another reference frame
in motion with respect to the first.
In a fundamental sense, however,
Einstein recognized that the concept of
simultaneity does not have the same
meaning to obser\'ers in relative motion.
Quantum Theory Posed Enigma ofFreedom in Causality
' Probably nothing in the scientific
developments of his lifetime so dis-
mayed Albert Einstein as the evi-
dence that individual atoms can emit
particles, light waves or other forms
of radiation at unpredictable times, in
unpredictablc directions, and with no
discernible, immediatc cause.
Such radiation, whose behavior can
»he dcfined only in terms of probabilities
(or in the average Performance of large
numbers of atoms), is basic to that
part of modern physics known as quan-
lum mechanics. According to quantum
iheory, atoms absorb or emit energy
in bundles rather than in a steady
stream.
While Einstein was, to a large extent,
the founder of quantum theory, he was
ncver able to accept that part of it
which allowed for the unpredictability
of such events. For more than a third
of a Century he debated this problem
*\^ith his contemporaries and, in the
view of some physicists, the problem
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The argument is often stated in terms
of two observers, one in a rapidly pass-
ing train and one alongside the track.
Assume that at just the moment
the man in the train is abreast of the
man alongside the track, two bolts of
lightning strike the track, one a mile in
front of the train and the other a mile
behind the train.
If the bolts seem simultaneous to the
man alongside the track. they will not
seem so to the train rider, assuming
the train is moving fast enough. The
reason the man on the track will give
is that, because of the train's motion,
light waves from the holt ahead of the
train will reach the train rider betöre
light waves that are pursuing him from
behind.
Einstein produced a Single formu-
lation of electromagnetic phenomena
applicable to all situations of relative
motion. And in doing so he also re-
solved the dilemma represented by the
Michelson-Morely experiment (even if
he was unaware of the experiment it-
self).
His papcr, entitled "On the Electro-
dynamics of Moving Bodies," was pub-
lished in a 1905 issue ^f Annalen der
Physik [Annais of Physics]. This formu-
lation of his special theory specified
that the speed of light has the same
value when measured in all uniformly
moving Systems, regardless of the rela-
tive speed between the Systems. It pro-
vided. as well, that the laws of nature
are the same in all such Systems.
But as a result — and it was this
that seemed most incredible — his equa-
tions stated that other measurable Cle-
ments — time intervals. distance and
mass — vary when observed from dif-
ferent reference frames. depending on
the relative motion.
Thus the speed of light looks tne
same to everyone in the universe, re-
gardless of their motion with respect to
one another. because their relative mo-
tion modifies the calibration of their
clocks and yardsticks to make the ligni
measurenicnt always come out the
same.
In his original 1905 work. Einstein
focused his attention on rewriting the
equations of physics so that they would
not change if one moves from one co-
ordinate System to another. But his
equations spelled out the other effects.
As stated in Einstein's 1919 essay. it
was while preparing an account of his
discovery that he realized that the
same relativity principle could be applied
to situations where the reference frames
were accelerating relative to one an-
other. In other words it could be applied
to situations involving gravity as well
as electromagnetism.
This thought developed into the "gen-
eral" theory of relativity, published in
1915, which had deep cosmological as
well as physical significance. It held
that in a universe permeated with
gravity. space was. in effect, curved—
that is. straight lines. on the grand
Scale of the universe. become cur\ed.
The theory also held that light and time
were subtly under gravitational control.
The first. dramatic confirmation came
in the 1919 observations of a solar
cclipse. It was shown, as Einstein had
predicted, that a star. visible alongside
the sun during the eclipse, would seem
out of place because its light had been
bent by solar gravity. The theory also
predicted that light waves cmitted from
within a streng gravity field would
lose energy, becoming "redder" — an
effect that subsequently was observed^
Einstein's theoretical achievement^
were not created full-blown. In the cor»
respondence. says Dr. Martin J. Klein,
Professor of the history of physics at
Yale. "You can see him picking up ideas
and rejecting them." Even, sometimes
on a day-to-day basis, the evolution of
his theories can be followed. Dr. Klein
himself has sought to trace the historic
debate between Einstein and his con-
temporaries conceming quantum theory
— the manner in which atoms absorb
and emit packets of energy. •
In the collection are 11 of Einstein'!
notebooks — two of them from his Stu-
dent days at the Federal Institute of
Technology in Zunch — several do/.en
unpublished manuscripts, a few travel
diaries and several folders of publishedt
articles. some of them in draft form, as
well as thousands of letters.
His lecture notes in Statistical me-
chanics, according to Dr. Klein, "show
his unifying grasp" in a way that is
lacking in the published papers.
With regard to the genesis of rela-
tivity theory, Dr. Holton has noted the
repeated remarks by Einstein that ma-
jor advances in science owe much to
..ifciu^ns, and vvilli nu
discernible, immediatc cause.
Such radiation, whose behavior can
-he defined only in terms of probabilities
(or in the average Performance of large
numbers of atoms), is basic lo that
part of modern physics known as quan-
tum mechanics. According to quantum
theury, atoms absorb or emit energy
in bundlcs rather than in a steady
strcam.
While Einstein was, to a large extent,
the founder of quantum theory, he was
ncver abie to accept that part of it
which allowed for the unpredictability
of such events. For more than a third
of a cer.tury he debated this problem
* wtth his contemporarics and, in the
\ iew of some physicists, the problem
rcmains unresolved.
This debate, which helps illuminate
[■instein's personal philosophy. runs
"Jil^e a thread throuph many letters in
*rhc Einstein collection at Princeton,
N.J. While some of these letters have
appeared in collections of his corrc-
spondence with individual scientists,
the bulk of the material is unpublished.
To Einstein the debate was an emo-
tional one, for his philosophy* was
strongly rooted in causality. It was
inconceivable to him that the timing of
events in nature, explainable on the
average, should be determined individ-
ually by whim. While most physicists
now accept quantum theory more or
less fuUy, there arc still those who
share Einstein's doubts.
Among those with whom Einstein
. debated this problem was Niels Bohr,
' the great Danish physicist. Dr. Martin
, J. Klein, professor of the history of
. physics at Yale University, has said:
* *The extraordinary personal and intel-
* lectual qualities of the two men and
the unprecedented difficulty and depth
of the issues they debated make these
* discussions unique in the history of
physics."
The late phases of this discussion
* have been known to science historians,
Dr. Klein points out, but the early part,
documented in the letters — many of
them to scientists other than Bohr —
remains to a considerablc degree un-
explored.
In a 1924 letter to Hedwig Born, wifc
of the German physicist Max Born,
Einstein noted that "Bohr's views on
radiation interest me very much." How-
ever, he continued, "I shouldn't let my-
self be pushed into renouncing strict
causality before it has been defended
altogether differently from anything
done up to now.**
"The idea that an electron ejected
hy a light ray can choose of its own
free will the moment and direction in
which it will fly off, is intolerable to
me," he said. "If it comes to that, I
would rather be a shoemaker or even an
employe in a gambling casino than a
physicist."
His attcmpts to explain such phenom-
ena, in a direct cause-and-effect manner,
"have failed again and again," he addcd.
"But I am far from giving up hope."
* The phenomenon to which he referred
in this instance was one that had led
, Einstein himself to help found the theory
whose implications so troubled him.
In 1900 Max Planck in Germany had
been able to describe mathematically
the relationship between the color and
' temperature of hot, glowing objects.
* wSpecifically, he had shown the relation-
ship between the wave length of "light
waves" and their energy. His formula-
tion seemed to depend on a peculiar new
assumption that energy could not be
emitted continuously but only in packets
consisting of definite amounts.
Planck himself considered this as-
sumption to be only a mathematical
convenience. Then Einstein, in 1905,
argucd that radiation itself really did
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Einstein in 1905, year he pubiished
his "special" theory of relativity.
At Carnegie Institute of Technology, in 1934, he delivered a lecture on that
"special" theorj', which deals with relationship between mass and energy.
tivcn Koiistautcii der Energien N und E abhängt. Wir kooncn
also setzen:
;/. - JT, - Ä. + c,
i/, - Ä, - A-, + c,
da C sich während der Lichtausseiidung nicht ändert. Wir
erliultci) alsu: '
l/H^F
1
Die kinetische Energie des Körpert in bezug auf (|,i;,f) nimmt
infolge der Lichtaussendung ab, und zwar um einen von den
Qualitäten des Körpers unabhängigen Betrag. Die Differenz
X^ - K^ hängt ferner von der Geschwindigkeit ebenso ab wie
die kinetische Energie des Elektrons (l. c. § 10).
Unter Vernachlässigung ton Größen ricrter und höherer
Ordnung können wir setzen: , .
Aus dieser Gleichung folgt unmittelbar:
Gibt ein Körper die Energie L in Form Ton Strahlung
Extract from Einstein's f ollow-up paper to his first on the "special" theory of
relativity, both pubiished in Annalen der Physik, Leipzig, in 1905. The
final equation above was later restated in the famous form E-Mc'.
behavc as though it consisted of par-
ticles of energy or light "quanta," as
he called them.
Although his relativity theory was
pubiished in the same year, it was still
so controversial in 1922 that, when he
was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics
for 1921, it was for his paper on
packets of radiation rather than his
revolutionary relativity concept.
In the radiation paper he explained
a recently discovered puzzle. When light
of a certain wave length or color falls
on a metal plate or other suitable sub-
stance, electrons are dislodged from the
plate and fly off. However, as one in-
creases the intensity (brightness) of the
light, there is no change in the energy
of the ejected electrons as long as the
color, or wave-length of the light re-
mains the same. More of them fly off,
but always with the same energy.
The explanation proposed by Einstein
was that light "waves" are really par-
ticles, or quanta, whose energy (related
to their color) is transmitted to the
electrons. But. as noted in his agonized
letter to Hedwig Born, the fact that
the time and direction for each electron
emission could not be predicted from
known laws deeply troubled him.
In any case it was 17 ycars before
the experiments of others provided clear
proof that Einstein's description of
light "waves" as quanta was correct.
He fought a lonely battle for his thesis.
Even fellow physicists who greatly ad-
mired his work, such as Planck and
Hendrik A. Lorentz, found the idea un-
acceptable.
The correspondence reflects Ein-
stein's deep affection and admiration
for Lorentz who, in 1911, invited him
to lecture at the University of Leiden
in Holland, where Lorentz was teach-
ing.
While he was looking forward to the
lecture, Einstein replied, his chief reason
for Coming was "the discussion with
you about the radiation problem."
He said Lorentz had been misled, if
he regarded Einstein as an "orthodox"
adherent of light quanta. But he said
he was "enormously curious" to hcar
Lorentz's reactions to some of his new
ideas on the subject. "In these unfin-
ished things," he added, people under-
stand one another with difficulty unless
talking face to face.
The Chief challenge to the concept of
quanta lay in the' evidence that light
does behave as though formed of waves.
For example, when light from a pinhole
source is split and then. by means of
mirrors. is brought together on a screen,
a banded pattern appears on the screen.
This, it was assumed. is because light
"waves" reinforce or interfere with one
another, producing bright and dark
bands.
In 1921 Einstein proposed a complex
experiment that he thought would set-
tle the matter. If, he said, the effect
predicted as a consequence of the wave
theory of light was not observed, then
that theory would be disproved.
On Jan. 11, 1922, according to Pro-
fessor Klein's reconstruction of the de-
bate from pubiished and unpublished
material, Einstein wrote to his close
friend, Paul Ehrenfest, that the exper-
iment had been performed by a Berlin
group and that the effect predicted
from the wave theory had not been
observed.
If this finding stood up. Ehrenfest
replied to Einstein, the latter would
have discovered "something completely
colossal."
Two days later Ehrenfest wrote sug-
gesting an alternate explanation for
the result. However, he prefaced his
comment by saying: "Of course you are
such a devil of a fellow that naturally
you will tum out to be right in the
end."
In his letter of reply. Einstein noted
that all of his colleagues were against
him in this argument. He said that he
and Max von Laue had had a "regulär
duel'* over the matter, arguing the va-
lidity of various aspects of the experi-
ment. Ehrenfest continued to ex-
press his doubts and finally Einstein
capitulated.
"You were absolutely right," he wrote
to Ehrenfest on Jan. 30. He had re-
worked his calculations and discovered
an error that invalidated his argument.
Two years later Einstein was partic-
ularly upset by a proposal by Bohr and
two others that, in order to preserve
the wave concept of light, it was neces-
sary to abandon causality and the class-
ical conservation laws of energy and
momentum, except in terms of Statis-
tical averages. It was this that pro-
voked Einstein's comment that, if this
were true, he would rather be a shoe-
maker or casino employe.
However. Professor Klein does not
think Einstein ever considered that his
concept of light simply as particles or
quanta was the whole truth. As early
as 1909. Einstein wrote that "the next
phase of the development of theoretical
physics will bring us a theory of light
that can be interpreted as a kind of
fusion of the wave and emission [par-
ticle] theories."
Such a fusion finally emerged in the
concept of light as quanta moving in
a wave-like manner. But Einstein never
feit the theory was adequate.
In 1937 he wrote to Ernst Cassirer at
the University of Goteberg in Sweden
that he considered the use of probabil-
ities "an incomplete description of the
'truth'."
It was a view still shared by some of
his survivors.
Excerpts jrom the Einstein manu-
scripts are pubiished with permis-
sion jrom the estate of Albert Ein-
stein, which retains all rights thereto.
that seemed most incredible — his equa-
tions stated that other measurable ele-
ments — time intervals, distance ?nd
mas.s — vary when observed from dif-
ferent reference frames, depending on
the relative motion.
Thus the speed of light looks tne
same to everyone in the universe, re-
gardless of their motion with respect to
one another, because their relative mo-
tion modifies the calibration of their
clocks and yardsticks to make the lignt
measurement always come out the
same.
In his original 1905 work. Einstein
focused his attention on rewriting the
equations of physics so that they would
not change if one moves from one co-
ordmate system to another. But his
equations spelled out the other effects.
For example, they showed that as ob-
jects acquire added energy. they also
increa.se in mass.
This was later stated in terms of the
famous equation E:--:Mc-, meaning that
energy released in the conversion of
matter to energy equals the original
mass multiplied by the speed of light
squared — an enormously large amount.
debate between Einstein and his con<.
temporaries conceming quantum theory
— the manner in which atoms absorb
and emit packets of energy.
In the collection are 11 of Einstein's
notebooks — two of them from his stu»
dent days at the Federal Institute of
Technology in Zürich — several dozen
unpublished manuscripts, a few travcl
diaries and several folders of pubiished^
articles. some of them in draft form, as
well as thousands of letters.
His lecture notes in Statistical me-
chanics, according to Dr. Klein, "show
his unifying grasp" in a way that is
lacking in the pubiished papers.
With regard to the genesis of rela-
tivity theory. Dr. Holton has noted the
repeated remarks by Einstein that ma-
jor advances in science owe much to
Intuition and to "being sympathetically
in touch with experience." Or. as Ein-
stein put it another time, he came to it
by continuing to ask himself questions
about Space and time that only children
ask.
Tomorrow: Einstein the Internationalist
and hwnanitarian.
i ■
Excerpt From Essay by Einstein
On 'Happiest Thought' in His Life
Following is an excerpt entitled, "The
Fundamental Idea of General Relativity
in Us Original Form," from an unpub-
lished essay written hy Albert Einstein
in longhand about 1919:
In the development of special rela-
tivity theory, a thought— not previous-
ly mentioned — concerning Faraday's
work on electromagnetic induction
played for me a leading role.
According to Faraday, when a mag-
net is in relative motion with respect
to a conducting circuit, an electric cur-
rent is induced in the latter. It is all
the same whether the magnet moves
or the conductor; only the relative mo-
tion counts, according to the Maxwcll-
Lorentz theory. However. the theoret-
ical Interpretation of the phenomenon
in these two cases is quite different:
If it is the magnet that moves. there
exists in space a magnetic field that
changes with time and which. accord-
ing to Maxwell, generates closed lines
of electric force— that is, a physically
real electric field; this electric field .sets
in motion movable electric masses [that
is, electronsl within the conductor.
However. if the magnet is at rest and
the conducting circuit moves, no elec-
tric field is generated; the current arises
in the conductor because the electric
bodies being carried along with the
conductor experience an clectromotive
force, as established hypothetically by
Lorentz, on account of their (mechan-
ically enforced) motion relative to the
magnetic field.
The thought that one is dealing here
with two fundamentally different cases
was, for me. unbearable. The difference
between these two cases could not be
a real difference, but rather, in my
conviction, could be only a difference
in the choice of reference point.
Judged from the mahnet there certain-
ly were no electric fields; judged from
the conducting, circuit there certainly
was one. Tiic -xistcnce of an electric
field was theretore a relative one, de-
pending on the State of motion of the
coordinate system being used. and a
kind of objective reality could be grant-
cd only to the electric and magnetic
field together, quite apart from the
State of relative motion of the observer
or the coordinate system. The phenom-
enon of the electromagnetic induction
forced me to postulate the (special)
relativity principle.
When. in the year 1907, I was work-
ing on a summary essay concerning
the special theor\' of relativity for the
Yearbook for Radioactivity and Elec-
tronics I tried to modify Newton's
theory of gravitation in such a way
that it would fit into the theory. At-
tempts in this direction showed the
possibility of carrying out this enter-
prise, but they did not satisfy me be-
cause they had to be supported by
hypotheses without physical basis. At
that point there came to me the hap-
piest thought of my life, in the follow-
ing form:
Just as in the case where an electric
field is produced by electromagnetic
induction, the gravitational field simi-
larly has only a relative existence.
Thiis, for an observer in free fall from
the roof of a house there exists, durinfi
h'.« fall, no gravitational field — at least
not in his immediate vicinity. If the
obser\er releases anv objects, they
will remain, relative to him. in a state
of rest. or in a State of uniform mo-
tion, independent of their particular
Chemical and physical nature.^ The
obsen'er is therefore justified in con-
sidering his State as one of "rest."
The extraordinarily curious, empiri-
cal law that all bodies in the same
gravitational field fall with the same
acceleration immediately took on,
through this consideration. a deep
physical meaning. For if there is even
one thing which falls differently in a
gravitational field than do the others,^
the observer would discern by means
of it that he is in a gravitational field.,
and that he is falling in it. But if such a
thing does not exist — as experience ha.*
confirmed with great precision — the ob-^
Server lacks any objective ground to
consider himself as falling in a gravita-
tional field. Rather. he has the right to
consider his State as that of rest, and"
his surroundinqs (with respect to gravi«
tation) as field-free.
The fact, known from experience,
that acceleration in free fall is inde-
pendent of the material is therefore a
mighty argument that the postulate of
relativity is to be extended to coordi-
nate Systems that are moving non-unt-
formly relative to one another. j^
*ln this consideration on« must naturally j^^
neglect air resistance.
■.„«
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Albert Einstein in studio of his home. Princetof( University will publish his papers.
The Einstein Papers: Childhood
Showed a Gift for the Abstract
By WALTER SULLIVAN
When a boy was bom in
Ulm, Germany, on March 14,
1879» his head was so largc
and angular that his mother
feared her child was dc-
fomied until she was reas-
surcd by her doctor that it
would grow nonnally. The
baby v/as given the name
Albert Einstein.
As recountfid latcr bv his
sister, "When Grandmama,
after some time, first saw
him she clapped her hands
over his head in astonish-
ment and cried: 'Much too
fal! Much too fat!'"
Thia account of the birth
of the man who became one
of tho world's greatest scien-
tists forms part of a coUec-
tion of thousands of private
papers, letters, notebooks and
scientific manuscripts that
the Princeton University Press
plans to publish under an
agreement with the Einstein
cstate.
While .some of the letters
have appeared in various col-
lections which are housed at
T/?is is the first of three articles dealing with the life
and thought of Albert Einstein as revealed in the collec-
tion of his manuscripts, letters and other papers to be
published by his estate.
the Institute for Advanced
Study in Princeton, N. J., and
a few scholars have had ac-
cess to the papers, the great
bulk of the material has
never been pubhshed.
It is evident from an cxam-
ination of repräsentative doc-
uments by this writer and
interviews with those who
have studied the whole col-
lection at length that the pa-
pers provide new insights
into one of the great con-
ceptual revolutions of all
time — the development of rel-
ativity theory.
Thcy include a vivid ac-
count of Einstein's childhood,
aswell as material document-
ing iome of the factors con-
tributing to the development
of a genius. There are hun-
dreds of letters exchanged
with World leaders in politics,
science, music and philoso-
phy, as well as far more
humble Citizens. Some let-
ters are humorous and some
poignant.
The documents spell out
Einstein's role in scientific
debates of the first half of
' this Century and his contri-
bution to the founding of Is-
rael and they bear witness
to his vehement dissent
against World War I while a
resident in Berlin, as well as
his pacifist efforts in later
years.
Above all, the papers teil
of a child whose inability —
or unwillingness — to speak
until the age of 3 led him
to develop an extraordinary
capacity for nonverbal con-
ceptualization. In the view
of Dr. Gerald Holton, Profes-
sor of physics at Harvard
University, who has worked
with the papers for several
Continued on Page 26, Column 1
' '^ I llf iif nmnf\
26
THE NEW YORK TIMES. MONDAY, MARCH 27. 1972
\
The Einstein Papers: The Childhood ofa Genius Displayed a Gift for the Abstract
Continued From Page 1» Col. S
years, tuoh us« of abstract concepts,
rather than words, persisted into Ein-
stein's adult life. ,
This no doubt made It easier for
Einstein to break free from the methods
of thought that prevented hJs con-
temporaries from recognizing the lim-
itation« of those concepts of tpace,
time, light, mass and energy that tre
rooted in the limited capabilitiet of di-
rect human experience.
Other fcicntista at the turn of th«
Century, such at Hendrik A. Lorentz
and Henri PolncarÄ, with roughly th«
same data in front of them, according
to Dr. Holton, "simply could not make
the Jump, although their own work
prepared the labors of Einstein and
others."
Why was Einstein able to make the
jump, whereas others could not? The
answer is one of importance to all who
seek to break new ground in science —
or to prepare others for doing so.
The Controlling factors, as Dr. Holton
has pointed out, include eariy training,
family influences, personality, phüo-
sophical outlook and placement among
colleagues. Seeking such clues to Ein-
stein's development will, it is expected,
keep generations of »cholars busy, once
the material has been published.
Unpublished Manuscrtpt
Probably tht most revealing docu-
ment conceming Elnstein's early child-
hood is an unpublished manuscript by
his sister, Dr. Maja Winteler Einstein.
It wa« written in 1924 when, as she put
it, she was the only person alive who
had direct knowledge of his early years.
Maja had been born two years after
her brother, when the family had moved
to Munich.
Why Maja's biography has never been
published is uncertain, but may be re-
lated to Elnstein's dislike of publicity.
There is a tendency among scientists
to lock with scom on those who pro-
mote themselves in the public eye, and
he may therefore have discouraged his
sister from Publishing the account dar-
ing his lifetime.
Elnstein's father, Hermann, operated
a small electrical and cngineering plant
while the family lived in Munich. It
was a time when home use of electricity
had begun its meteoric rise. Howevcr,
like virtually all of Hermann*! enter-
prises, this one was doomed to commer-
cial failure.
Elnstein's mother, Pauline Koch by
birth. was an accomplished planist and,
according to his sister, was responsible
for his taking up the violin.
While young Albert grew up to be
an adult of remarkable gentleness and
sensitivity, as a small boy, his sister
Said, he displayed a quick temper,
perhaps inherited from his matemal
grandfather, Julius Koch. The Kochs,
like the Einsteins, had long been resi-
dents of the Württemberg region of
Germany.
The young Einstein, as described by
his sister, tumed yellow in the face
when enraged — except for the tlp of
his nose, which tumed white — and
he lost control of himself.
Once, after he had begun home tutor-
ing and violin lessons at the age of
5. he became so furious at his teacher
(for reasons that Maja did not explain)
that he threw a chair at her. The
teacher, according to the account, '*re-
ceived such a fright that she fled in
terror and never allowed herseif to be
Seen again."
Huris Bowling Ball at Sister
In another childhood quarrel he
threw a heavy bowling ball at his sister
%mtiUt titü- «t«ff«»rtTir
With his sister» Maja. In a childhood
qiarrel» he threw a bowUng bau at
her. nt b doubtlesa evident,** ahe
wrote bter» nhat a heahhy skull is a
necessity for the sister of a tUnker.*
In a 1924 letter» Einstein reminded his
uncle Cäsar Koch of small steam angine
the uncle had glven him 30 years eariier.
'It looked like thls,*^ he wrote, and then
drew diagrara (above),
The f eometry book, right, which Ein«
stete seid te kter years had played a
special tesiiirationai nrie te his Bf e.
cult those Problems that were "dressed
up" in complex situations and ofteo«
when he reached the final calcuiation,
he made mistakes.
It was not until his uncle, Jakc* Ein-
stein, began challenging him with
mathematical puzzles, she said, that
he blossomed. Jakob Einstein, an en-
This letter is one of the less technical
items in the massive collection of the
Einstein papers. Another is one of the
two objects that, Einstein said in later
years, played a special inspirational
role in his life. Thif was a geometry
book that sent his mind racing off in
new directions as a boy.
n^ A
.U«
..^ J u -
>._: . j —
«krift« •
/|*M> A# rx«»»Vii^i<«»»</»^ «*••/<
.A U.
Ul.
He cites a comment by Einstein to
a friend when they were discussing the
genesis of his ideas. 'These thoughts,"
he said, "did not come in any verbal
formulation. I rarely think in words at
all. A thought comes, and I may try to
express it in words afterward/*
Elsewhere Einstein put it thus: 'The
play is sufficiently established and can
be reproduced at will."
Such laborious searching for words
was anticipated in his early use of
Speech, as recounted by his sister. After
each spoken sentence — "no matter how
commonplace," she said — the young
Einstein would silently repcat tht words
Purthermore, the school was nm (M
very strict lines, in part, to pntpare
the youngsters for the militany Service
that confronted them. Under German
law, Einstein would have had to submlt
to such Service — or be d^dareo an
evader— unless he emigrated oefofc tlie
end of his 16th year.
Hence, his sister said, he obtained a
medical excuse from his doctor and left
for Milan, where his father was em-
barked on another ill-fated atteftipt to
establish a solvent electrica! piant. After
spending about a year in Milan, the
young Einstein sought admission to the
Federal Institute of Technology, the
Swiss counterpart of the Massachusetts
Institute of Technology— but he failed
the entrance examination.
To prerpare for a second attempt at
entrance he went to the cantonal school
in Aarau and found himself in a liberal
teaching environment that allowed his
capabilities to flourish. It was there. at
the age of 16, that he performed a
"thought experiment" symptomatic of
his growing interest in the nature of
light.
In 1864 James Clerk Maxwell in Eng-
land had proposed a series of equations
to explain light waves in terms of
rapidly moving, oscillating magnetic
fields. In his "thought experiment"
Einstein Imagined himself to be riding
through Space, so to speak, astride a
lil^t wave and lookbig back at the
wave next to him.
What he should have seen, accord-
ing to the Maxwell formulation, was
"a spatially oscillating electromagnetic
field at rest," he wrote later. Yet. he
said. "there seems to be no such thing,
whether on the basis of experience or
according to Maxwell's equations."
Stubbom and prolonged pursuit oC
a Single problem was typical of Ein-
stein, he noted himself, and it was 10
years later, at the age of 26, that he
published his explanation of the para-
dox—embedded in the first of his rela-
tivity papers.
On his second attempt he was admit-
ted to the "Poly" in Zürich, but his stud-
ies there were clouded with dismay over
his father's misfortunes. For the third
time, despite advice to the contrary by
the eider Elnstein's "sensible but still
young son" (as Maja put it) he had sct
up an electric plant, only to have it fail.
Dlfficulties in Swltzerland
"What hits hardest, of course," wrott
the 19-year-old Einstein to his sister,
"is the misfortune of my poor parents,
who for so many years have not en-
joyed one minute of good fortune.
"Fürth ermore it hurts me deeply that
I, as a grownup man, must look on
helplessly without being able to do the
least thing. In fact I am nothing but a
bürden for my family. . . . It would be
a lot better if I were not alive at all."
After four years at the "Poly" he se-
cured a job at the Patent Office in
Beme as technical special ist and moved
to that City In 1902. A year later he
married Mileva Marie, who bore htm
two ions.
It was while at the Patent Office that
Einstein, in hli spart time, generated a
scientific revol'Jtion. His papers pub-
lished in a Single year— 1905, when ht
was 26 — not only set forth the special
theory of relativity but laid the founda-
tions of quantum theory as well.
Farne was slow in Coming, however.
The correspondence at Princeton teils
of Einstein's cfforts to obtain the equiv-
alent of a high school teaching post,
which he thought would give him more
time for his theoretical work. This was
three years after the publication of bis
first paper on relativity. He pointed out
inodestly that he was "also" qualified
den« of the V^'ürttemberg region at
Germany.
Thf young Einstein, ti described by
bis sistftr. tum«! yellow in the fice
wher. enraged — cxcept for th« tip of
bis nDse, which tumeil whitt — tnd
he lost control of himself.
Once. tfter he htd befun hom* tutor^
inp and violin lessona at the age of
5. he b^came so funoua at his teacher
(for rrasons that Maja did not explain)
that he threw a chair at her. The
teacher. according to the account, "re-
ceived such a tright that she fled in
terror and never allowed herseif to be
Seen apain."*
Huris Bowling Ball at SiflM*
In another chiidhood quarre! he
threw a hea\T howling ball at bis sister
and once, she reported, he tried with
a toy trowel to "laiocic a hole in her
he.ad.*' From this, she added» "it is
dc)ubtle.ss e\ident that a healthy slcull
is a necessiry for the sister of a
thinker."
However, she added, his bot temper
vanished when, at the age of 7, he
Started .school. He did not thrive in
the regimented educational System of
nineteenth- Century' Germany. Tht mul-
tipljcation table, hi» iister reported.
wa.<; taught by raps on the knuckles
and this did not inspire young Einstein
to become an arithmetic whiz.
In fact. she said. at this stage there
was no sign of any special ability in
mathematics. He had little facility at
sums, even though he w'as careful and
persevering Ht found parücuiarly diffi-
l
WIth hi» sister» Maja. In a chiidhood
quftrrei, b» threw a bowllng bidl at
IMT. 'at b doubtless «vldent,** um
wrote later, nhat a healthy skoD is m
Kity for the sister of a thinker.*
the undt had gtvea htm SO yeart eariier.
'1t looked like this," he wrote» and thea
drtw dhigram (ahoft)»
The geometry book« rffht» wMeh Efai*
stein said üi later yean had played a
special litspirational mit tai hit life.
«V w* »»I ■■»»!»» *m
cult those Problems that were "dressed
up" in complex situations and often»
when he reached the final calculation,
he made mistakes.
ll was not unti) his uncle, Jakob Ein-
Stern, began challenging bim with
mathematical puzzles, slie said, that
be blossomed. Jakob Einstein, an en-
gineer, was adept at mathematics and,
on one oocasion, sbowed the boy the
P\1ihagorean Theorem — ^that the sum of
the Squares on the two sides of a right
tnangle equals the Square on the hypot-
enuse.
Einstein then set about proving the
tbeorem by a metbod of his euTi, quite
different from the orthodox proof.
Another uncle, Cäsar Koch, a grain
merchant, also played a role in stimu-
lating the development of the young
Einstein. On his retum from a trip to
Pussia. he presented the lad with a
working model of a steam engin e. Its
chugging Operation made such a deep
impression on the boy that 30 years
later. in writing a nostaigic letter to his
Uncle Cäsar, be drew a remarkably pre-
cise diagram of the little engine.
This letter is one of the les$ technical
items in the massive collection of the
Einstein paper». Another is one of the
two objecis that. Einstein said in later
years, played a special inspirational
role in his life. This was a geometry
book tlbat sent his mind racing off m
new directions as a boy.
The book, with his marginal scrib^
bles, is in the filing cabinets st Prince-
ton, but the other inspirational object
— a compass given Ernstem by bis fa-
ther when be was 4 or 5— has vanished.
The mysterious, all-pen^ading "field"
of magnetic force that controlled the
compass needle faecinated tihe little
boy.
It was a fascination that ultimately
led him to challenge contemiporary con-
cepts of magnetk fields and to develop
an entirely new formulation of gravi-
tational fields. Dr. Hol ton, whose stud-
ies of the roots of relativity theory
have been coUected for publication by
Han^ard University Press this fall, be-
lieves Einstem's habit. from infancy, of
thinking in concepts rather than words
played a key role.
He cites a comment by Einstein to
a fnend when they were discussing the
genesis of his ideas. "These thoughts,"
he said, "did not come in any verbal
formulation. I rarely think in words at
all. A tbought comes. and I may try to
express it in words afterward."
Elsewhere Einstein put it thus: *The
words or the language, as they are
written or spoken. do not seem to play
any role in my mechanism of tbought."
He said that he formulated his ideas in
••physical entities . . . certain signs and
more or less clear Images which can be
Voluntarily* reproduced and combined."
This. he continued. "seems to be the
essential feature in productive thought
— before there ii any connection with
logical construction in words or other
kinds of signs which can be communi-
cated to others."
Would Repeat Words
"The above-mentioned elements are,
in my case, of Visual and some of
muscular typt'* he said. "Conventional
words or other signs have to be sought
for laboriously only in a secondary
stage when the mentioned associati\e
play is sufficiently established and can
be reproduced at will."
Such laborious searching for words
was anticipated in his eariy use of
Speech, as recounted by his sister. After
each spoken sentence — "no matter how
commonplace," she said — the young
Einstein would silently repeat the words
with his lips, a practice that he finally
gave up when he was 7.
This curious habit might have been a
mark of his thoroughness and precislon
— charactehstics also reflected in bis
construction of extraordinary pla>ing-
Card houses, some of them 14 itories
high.
Furthermore, his proclivity for com-
posing German limericks in later life
show^ that he was — at least after
chiidhood — not seriously handicapped
in the use of words
The school in Munich where he did
hit carly studies during the eighteen-
nineties was word-oriented. The teach-
ing was largely by rote and, according
to his sister, bis room teacher reported
that "nothing good" would ever come
of the young Einstein.
Beme as technical specialiit and moved
to that City in 1902. A year later he
married Mileva Mane. who bore him
two sons.
It was while st the Patent Office that
Einstein. In his spare tlme, fenersted a
scientific revolution, His papers pub-
lished in a Single yeai^— 1905, when he
was 26 — not only set forth the special
theory of relativity but laid the founda-
tions of quantum theory as well. ,
Fame was slow in Coming, howevef.
The correspondence st Princcton teils
of Einsteins cfforts to obtain the equiv-
alent of a high school teaching post«
which he thought would give him more
time for his theoretical work. This was
three years after the publication of his
first paper on relativity. He pointed out
modestly that he was "also" qualified
to teach physics. He was tumed down.
After he had obuined a post as un-
paid lecturer — according to the aca-
demic custom of those times — at the
University of Beme his sister came to
Visit him. At that time. she wrote, many
poor, ill-clothed— but often very intelli-
gent— Russian Jews were studying in
Beme.
However, the Swiss, in their "peace-
ful. clean, well-ordered" city. did not
think much of them, nor, apparently,
of Einstein, whose hair and clothes
were somewhat disheveled. When his
sister inquired after Einstein of a uni-
versity attendant, he replied with e
scomful epithet: "What, that . . . Rus-
sian is your brother!"
Tomorrow: Einstein and relativity.
To Gather Material, It Took Patience and a Ruse
The plan for publicatiori of Dr. Albert
Einstein'! pape-rs. assembled through
yean of search, negotiation — and, to
som« degree. a diplomatic nise— rep-
resents one of the more ambitioui Pub-
lishing ventures of the Century.
If the necessan' fundi ars forthconh
Ing. it IS assumcd that the series wcmöd
nxn to about 20 volumes. The editonaH
work of the proiect ixill take at ieast
fi\'e years and cost substantially more
than a half million dollars According to
Herbert S. Baiiey Jr.. head of Prlnceton
t'n^vÄTfity Press, potentiafl donors are
beint eppreiached for funds.
The agreement on publication is be-
tween the trustees of Emstem's literary
estate and Pnnceton University Press,
with the Institute for AdT'snced Study
in Pnnceton ser\ing as host to the
proiect Einstein was assodated with the
Institute for many yean and the collec*
tion is housed there.
The tniste« art Dr Otto Nathan, a
long-tiroe fnend of Einstein, and Miss
Helen Dukas. who was the physicians
aecrctary from 192S until his death in
1955. When the trust termmates, upon
death of Miss Dukas and Emstem'i step-
daughter. Margot the coUecoon will go
tcv Hebrew University in Israel. How-
ever. it is cxpected that microfilm
copies will be retamed in this coomtry.
Dr. Martin J. Klein, professor of the
history of physics at Yaie University,
has been in\ited to be general editor.
but final arrangements have not yet
been made.
The documents will be published in
the language used by Ernstem and those
•with whom he corresponded. In many
cases this was German. The reason.
according to the prospectus for the
proiect, is that ''papen of such slfnlf-
icanoe should be prcserved in print es-
aotly at the author had prepared them.'*
However, it is envisioned that "at least
a large selection" will also be translated
and published in English.
The history of the cölleotion, which
indludcs some of Einstein's Student
noteibooks, lecture drafts, numerous ar-
ticles (published and unpublished) and
volimiinous correspondenoe, has at
times been dramati^c. Its nucleus was
left in Berlin when Emstein paid his
annual visit to the United States in the
fall of 1932. During his absence the
Nazis came to power and he never re-
tumed.
Howevier. one of bis stepiMl^ers.
Ilse, and her husband were ablc to res-
cue his Berlin fiies, and the French
Embassy secretly shipped them to Paris
^1a diplomatic pouch From there
they were sent on to Einstein, who at
the' tbne was living at Le Coq-sur-Mer
in Belgium.
Smce Ernstem s death it has been his
former secretary. Miss Dukas. who has
been chiefly responsible for the day-to-
day work of coUecting. organizing and
cataloguing the papers. They now fill
28 file drawers at the Institute for Ad-
vanced Study.
In 1961 Dr. GeraJd Holton, professor
of physKTS at Harvard, obtained an in-
itiail grant from the Rockefeiler Foun-
dation to Cover the cost of this cata-
loguing, and he provided general super-
vision of the proiect.
Miss Dukas was taken on as Einstein' s
secretar>' while he lay recovering from
a heanattack in 1928. A rather self-
effacing young woman then (she still
abhors Publicity), she was overcome
with misgivings. she recalls. as she was
brought into the great scientist's bed-
room for an interview. Her misgi%Tngs
were partly the result of her ignorance
of physics but, as she teils it now,
Einstein held out a band, saying ''here
lfm Ntw YfKt Timw/WIMlMP S Sttrv
Helen Dukas, Einstein*! secretar>', with the pbysidst's pnpers In FrtBceton
lies an old corpse.** and Immediately
put her at her ease.
She now lives in the white clapboard
house on Mercer Street in Princeton
where Einstein Itved for many years,
sharing it with Etnsteln'e stepdaughter,
Margot.
Dr. Nathan, the other tnistee of the
collection, knew Einstein slightly dur-
ing the Berlin days and was on the
Princeton faculty as an economist when
Einstein came there in 1933. Within a
day or so of the arrival. Dr. Nathan
savs. he went to call on Einstein and
offer bis help "as a fellow refugee."
Dr. Nathan became one of Einsteln's
close fhends. shanng passionately in
his pacifist and general pohtical views.
When Einstein died. leaving him as his
sole executor, Dr. Nathan says. be coo-
sidcred it one of his most important
responsibilities to make the literary
estate acccssible through publication as
soon as possible. In the years that fol-
lowed he undertook a variety of ncgo-
tiations to that effect
Furthermore. he and Miss Dukas were
i^le to acquire a considerable amount
of additional Einstein material. which
was added to the archive. Meanwhilc.
Dr. Valentine Bargmann, professor of
mathematical physics at Pnnceton, as-
sumed the usk of editmg Emstein's
published scientific papers for publica-
tion in book form by Princeton Univer-
sity Press. These will form part of the
projected senes of volumes.
In his lifetime Einstein published 274
scier^tific papers and 333 papers of gen-
eral content; a part of this material has
not been easily accessible to the averafe
Student
Dr. Nathan himself drew from the
Einstein archivei thoee letters tnd
other documents reiattng to Um ;^ysi-
dst's peace sTfoits and published them
Vm nr» Yoffc T)m«/NMl Utna
Dr. Otto Nathan, a close friend of Einstein, Is a co-trustee of the papers
In a book entiüed, "Einstein on Peace.-
Miss Dukas has worked with Dr.
Banesh Hoffmann of Queens College, a
former associate of Einstein, on a popu-
lär book that drawi, to some extent.
on the archives. It is to be published
in August by Viking Press under the
title, "Albert Einstein — Creator and
Rebel-
Excerpti from the Einstein manu-
Bcripts are published with permission
from the estate of Albert Einstein,
which retains all rights thereto. Ex-
cerpts from the biography by Maja
W inteler -Einstein are published with
the permission of Mrs. Lydi« Besso.
who shares in ownership of its Copy-
right. The photograph of Einstein in
school «1971 World Publishing Com-
pany, is from *Xinstein: The Lif9 and
Times," by Konoid W. Clark, Ths
photograph of Eirtsttin and his sistar
is from Ths Bettnwnn Arohiv,
Dr. Klein, who It is hoped will be-*
come general editor of the pro)ect. hat •
studied the collection in an effort to <
document the debate between Einstein |
and Niels Bohr conceming quantum ,
theory. This argumenta of fundamental J
imporunce in the history of physics. -
continued for more than a third of s J
Century. He has also drawn on the Ein- 1
stein archive in prepanng a book on ij
Paul Ehrenfest, a close friend and seien- ^
tific colleague of Einstein. \
However, the bulk of the collected •
Einstein material has never been
studied and iu publication will open
it to all scholars.
According to the prospectus, Einstein
made it clear that, upon his death, there
should be no funeral, memorial Service,
or markcd grave, and that his name
should not be improperly exploited. It
has therefore been proposed by thoee^
responsible for the publication project«
that his writings would be the most;
fitting monumsQt for him.
• •
58
THE NEW YORK TIMES. SUNDA Y, MARCH 26, 1972
i '
. f^
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He didn't say his f irst word until he was 3
v^W««
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i
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•
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•
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*
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• ♦
f
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*
•
*
•
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s
•
•
«
•
I»
I
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*
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«
«
He didn't say his f irst word until he was 3.
At 7, his teacher said "nothing good" would ever become of him.
When he was 16, he left his homeiand to avoid the draft.
He couldn't get a job at 19 because of his long hair and wrinided clothes.
Before he was 30, he revolutionized man's understanding of nature.
The development of Albert Einstein's theory of
relativity was one of the great conceptual revolutions of all time.
But what went into the development of a mind that could conceive
such a theory?
Tomorrow, Tuesday and Wednesday, exclusively in The
New York Times, Science Editor Walter Sullivan will guide you
through highlights of a massive collection of Einstein's private
papers, letters, notebooks and scientific manuscripts housed at the
Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton.
The collection, much of which has never before been
published, describes Albert Einstein as a man of many parts —
impassioned humanitarian and Internationalist, anti-war activist,
affectionate father, brother and f riend, kind adviser and teacher
of strangers. Each is reflected in this three-part series beginning in
tomorrow's Times.
The papers include a vivid account of Einstein's child-
hood, providing a special insight into the factors that contributed
to the development of his genius.
Although his lif e work dealt with abstract concepts
rather than words, Albert Einstein's words were sometimes
humorous, sometimes poignant. They say a lot about the
mind that revolutionized modern man's idea of his world.
And even more about the man himself . Read his words for
yourself in the collected papers of Albert Einstein...
A three-part series starting tomorrow
exclusively in
Sie JfeUf i|0rk mmc$
Ol
Halbmonats-Beilage des '"Aufbau'' für Unterhaltung und Wissen
No. 354
Erinnerungen eines Wiener Journalisten:
Begegnungen mit Albert Einstein
Von JAKOB ROSENTHAL
Charlie Chaplin stand auf
der Höhe seines Ruhmes. Im
Frühling 1931 wurde er von sei-
nen Publizitätsagenten durch
die europäischen Grosstädte ge-
jagt, um, laut Vertrag, höchst-
persönlich seine "Grosstadtlich-
ter" anzuzünden. Während sei-
nes Aufenthaltes in Berlin er-
eignete sich ein Vorfall, der nur
von wenigen registriert wurde:
Charlie lief seinen sämtlichen
Begleitern und Beschützern da-
von. Die Stunde der Abreise
rückte immer näher — von
Charlie war weit und breit kei-
ne Spur. Er war verschwunden.
Und blieb es einige Stunden
hindurch.
Und während seine Freunde
sich immer mehr ängstigten
sass Charlie in der Stille einer
Gelehrtenstube in einem Patri-
zierhause des Berliner Westens.
Er sprach mit Albert Einstein.
Draussen, in der Nähe der Ha-
berlandstrasse, um den Bayri-
schen Platz herum, brandete
der Grosstadtverkehr, und hoch
oben, im Dachstübchen, das der
Gelehrte sich als Studierzim-
mer ausgesucht hatte, sassen
der grösste Wissenschaftler des
Jahrhunderts und einer der
grössten Filmkünstler seiner
Zeit und unterhielten sich so
herzlich und angeregt, dass der
eine sogar seine Abreise ver-
gass.
• * •
Ich selbst sah und hörte Pro-
fessor Einstein zum ersten Male
in der Züricher Tonhalle. Es
war bei der feierlichen Eröff-
nungssitzung der erweiterten
Jewish Agency. Zweitausend
Personen füllten an jenem
Sonntag, 11. August 1929, bis
auf den letzten Platz die riesige
Tonhalle am Zürcher See, wäh-
rend weitere 1000 der Übertra-
gung seiner Worte im Gebäude
"Zur Kaufleuten" in der Peli-
kanstrasse folgten. Die 3000 wa-
ren ein recht buntes Publikum:
Orthodoxe und liberale Juden,
Zionisten und Nicht-Zionisten,
junge palästinensische Chalut-
zim und weissbärtige Rabbiner
aus Osteuropa und den orien-
talischen Ländern, Freidenker
und Mystiker — eine lebendige
Landkarte des jüdischen Volkes.
Sonderbar: alle kannten Ein-
stein und alle verstanden ihn.
Allerdings sprach Einstein nicht
über seine Relativitätstheorie,
die ihm wenige Jahre vorher
den Nobel-Preis gebracht hatte.
Der grosse Physiker sprach über
Steuer auf Kinder
In Japan hat man es so-
eit gebracht, dass es ge-
^ezu peinlich ist, eine
'se Familie zu haben.
e Verhaltensweisen
I
Theodor Herzl. Und über den
Sieg seiner Idee, über die Tra-
gik des modernen Juden, die in
seiner völligen Einsamkeit und
Isoliertheit bestehe, und über
das, was Herzl dem modernen
Juden wiedergegeben habe, den
Weg, den er ihm gewiesen, der
ins Freie führe . . .
Zu der Tagung hatte sich die
Elite des zeitgenössischen Ju-
dentums eingefunden: Leon
Blum, Frankreichs Sozialisten-
führer und mehrmaliger Mini-
sterpräsident; Louis Marshall,
der anerkannte Sprecher des
amerikanischen Judentums;
Felix M. Warburg, der Bankier;
Chaim Nachman Bialik, der
hebräische Dichter; Schalom
Asch, der Meister des jiddi-
schen Schrifttums; Lord Mel-
chett, Englands führender Nik-
keimagnat; Oskar Wassermann,
der Direktor der Deutschen
Bank.
Aber die meistgefeierte Ge-
stalt dieser denkwürdigen Ver-
sammlung war (nach Dr.
Chaim Weizmann) Albert Ein-
stein. Alle huldigten ihm über-
schwenglich. Man schrie vor
Begeisterung, als er sich von
seinem Sitze erhob. Er dankte
für die überwältigende Ehrung
mit einer rührend bescheidenen
Bewegung, die etwa sagen soll-
te: "Warum jubelt ihr mir zu,
weil ich zu euch gekommen
bin? Ich gehöre doch zu euch!"
• • *
Damals in Zürich ahnte ich
kaum, dass ich 14 Monate spä-
ter als Zeitungskorrespondent
in Berlin von Albert Einstein in
seiner Villa in Caputh bei Pots-
dam empfangen würde. Das
war am 9. Oktober 1930.
Einen Tag vorher, als ich die
Wohnung des Gelehrten in der
vornehmen Haberlandstrasse im
Berliner Westen aufsuchte, traf
ich die liebenswürdige Gattin
des Professors. Sie war gerade
im Begriff nach Caputh zu fah-
ren, wo Einstein seinen Urlaub
verbrachte. Sie meinte zwar, es
wäre vielleicht besser, wenn ich
das Interview mit Dr. Einstein
bis zu dessen Rückkehr nach
Berlin aufschieben würde, gab
mir aber gleichzeitig Anweisun-
gen für die Fahrt nach Caputh:
"Vom Potsdamer Bahnhof neh-
men Sie einen Personenzug, der
diesseits der Havel hält Also,
morgen nachmittag, gegen drei
Uhr . . ."
Es war ein kühler, regneri-
scher Herbstnachmittag. Auf
einer Fähre setzte ich über die
damals hochgehende Havel
nach Caputh. Der Autobus führte
mich durch den kleinen Ort bis
nahe an die Gemeindegrenze.
"Einstein-Villa", rief mir der
Schaffner zu. Tief bewegt be-
trat ich das am Waldrand gele-
gene Haus. Kaum war ich ange-
meldet, als in der Tür die Ge-
stalt Einsteins erschien. Lä-
chelnd reichte er mir die Hand
und führte mich in sein Arbeits-
zimmer.
Das Thema für mein Inter-
view mit Einstein hatte folgen-
de politische Vorgeschichte:
Nach den blutigen Araber-Un-
ruhen im September 1929, in de-
nen hunderte von Juden aufs
brutalste niedergemetzelt wur-
den, hatte Einstein zwei Offene
Briefe in der arabischen Zei-
tung "Falastin" (Jaffa) veröf-
fentlicht. Sie enthielten gewisse
Vorschläge, wie nach Einsteins
Meinung die tragischen Diffe-
renzen zwischen Juden und
Arabern, die schon so viel Blut
gekostet hatten, aus der Welt
geschafft werden könnten. Hin-
ter dieser Aktion stand die hohe
Ethik des Pazifisten Einstein.
Er machte sich grosse Sorgen
um den Bestand und die fried-
liche Entwicklung des jüdi-
schen Aufbauwerkes, das ihm
sehr am Herzen lag.
Die Zweckmässigkeit dieser
Veröffentlichung war jedoch in
der zionistischen Öffentlichkeit
stark angezweifelt worden.
Manche waren besonders darü-
ber erbittert, dass der Gelehrte
sich mit seinen gutgemeinten
Ideen gerade an eine Zeitung
gewandt hatte, die als das
Hauptorgan des bekannten Je-
rusalemer Mufti galt. Das Blatt
hatte lange vor Ausbruch der
Unruhen im August eine wüste
Hetze gegen die Juden insze-
niert, die nicht ^enig zu dem
furchtbaren Blutbad in Hebron
beitrug und zur Ausrottung die-
ser biblischen Judengemeinde
führte.
Zu Beginn unserer Unterre-
dung knüpfte ich an diese Kor-
respondenz im "Falastin" an.
Ich sah ein helles Aufleuchten
in Einsteins gütigen Augen und
ein feines Lächeln um seinen
Mund. Er schien fast dankbar
dafür, dass sich ein junger Jour-
nalist für seine Ideen interes-
sierte, zu einer Zeit, da die gan-
ze Angelegenheit fast schon
vergessen schien.
"über diese Frage", rief er
freudig aus, "müssen wir uns
schon länger unterhalten.'*
Am selben Abend, nur wenige
Stunden nach meiner Begeg-
nung mit Einstein, trug der Ber-
liner Rundfunk seine Worte
über "jüdisch-arabische Ver-
ständigungsmöglichkeiten" in
die alte und die neue Welt
Leitmotiv seines Gesprächs
mit mir wie auch der Rund-
funksendung war Einsteins
Glaube, dass die Lösung des
Problems "nur durch direkte
Verhandlungen von Volk zu
Volk" kommen könne. Diese
Überzeugung hat auch heute,
41 Jahre nach jenem Herbst-
nachmittag, ihre Gültigkeit be-
wahrt.
>
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Einsteins Lieblings-Karlkatur
Sie erschien 1950 in dem holländischen Blatt "De Groene Amster-
damer" und trug die Unterschrift: "Unsere wissenschaftlichen
Häupter beim Studium eines Einstein-Problems".
1
1.
l<lli Ulf
i^ cC
¥y
If-
\
Einstein
By Jeremy Bernstein.
Edited by Frank Kermode.
242 pp. New York:
The Viking Press.
Cloth, $6.95. Paper, $1.95.
Einstein
The Man and his Achievement
Edited by G. J. Whitrow.
94 pp. New York:
Dover Publications.
Paper, $1 -50,
By JOHN ZINMAN
The traveler of independent
mind eventually discovers,
alas, that the populär sights —
the Grand Canyon, the Sistine
Chapel — deserve their reputa-
tion. It is well to be reminded
that the most f amous^cientist
Qf__QUr ^times merited equally
unstinteS admiration. These
unpretentious little books ex-
plain, in simple words but
with complete scientific accu-
racy, what Einstein did and
what sort of man he was.
Bernstein writes of him as
a "Modem Master*' in that ex-
cellent series, edited by Frank
Kermode, which has saved us
from actually having to read
many a great fat dull book of
philosophy, politics, or litera-
turer-G. J. Whitrow's work is
the text of a successful series
of B.B.C. radio prograiTis, in
which many people who Knew
Einstein personally spoke
about his scientific ideas and
private life Bernstein gives
more of the background of
physics, and carefully assesses
the degree of originality in
Einstein's major papers. The
book that Whitrow has edited
brings out more clearly the
jrhythm^,ot4ü&-4ife~and the im-
pa£t-^f his_ Personality 6n
his^riends and colleagues. I
canonly ~say that it was a
pleasure and an inspiration to
revisit this great intellectual
monument with such civilized
guides, to catch glimpses of
this gentle genius at his crea-
tive task.
What does Einstein mean to
US now? To the general public,
he is a magician who uttered
the formula by which matter
could be tumed into energy
and who conjured away the
reality of space and time. To
the physics graduate, he is the
most brilliant of all the pro-
fessional Star performers, con-
tributing to every branch of
modern physics — mechanics,
electromagnetism quantum
theory, cosmology, Statisti-
cal mechanics and the theory
of solids — abrief, lucid, modest-
John Ziman is Professor of
theoretical physics at the Uni-
versity of Bristol, England.
kft l'' 'r^'^
Einstein, c. 1921,
ly phrased papers that pierced
to the heart of the mystery
and made all things clear.
Only a few thousand experts
are familiär with his greatest
work, the general theory of
relativity, which showed that
gravitation could be represent-
ed as space-time geometry. It
is a work of such physical,
philosophical and mathematical
originality and depth that it is
doubtful whether anything like
it couhd ever have been pro-
duced by any other man who
has ever lived. Let us admit
it: he was the greatest.
We admire also the life style,
so simple and modest, so kind
and friendly, so courteous and
i
good humored, so liberal, wise
and humane. Newton as we
are now informed, was arro-
gant, vain, suspicious and
quarrelsome. It is difficult to
imagine the character defects
that will be discemed in our
Einstein, 300 years from now.
The failure of his first mar-
riage seems no more than a
mild accident of fortune. It was
nothing to be ashamed of that
he could not accqjt the proba-
bilistic interpretation of quan-
tum mechanics. Nor that he
lavished his efforts for the last
30 years of life, without ob-
vious success, on attempts to
unify elctromagnetism with
gravitation. Like many other
T
! let u^'h^L"^ ""l^*"^ ashamed of shabby clothes and shoddy furniture,
öe more ashamed of shabby ideas and shoddy philosophies.
— Albert Einstein
7
i-'
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• ■w.^■-5a
^
great artists. he had moved far
beyorrd the tastes and style he
had created for his contempo-
raries, and worked to satisfy
only his own Standards.
It is sad, nevertheless, that
the **age of Einstein" ended
long before his death in 1955.
Nazi persecution and exile in
America broke into his life
when he was 50, but were not
so personally tragic for him as
for several miJlion other Euro-
pean Jews. He continued to
the end as he had begun, ded-
icated to research, clear and
concentrated in mind, undis-
tracted by the world. But sci-
ence itself moved away from
Einstein.
Is he now, in Herbert Dingle's
words, "the populär idea of the
typical scientist"? Can one
honestly aüvise anyone to fol-
low his example? How foolish
not to take school seriously.
not to strive to get a good
degree! What scientific job
will there be for the man who
despises the lecture programs
and thesis advisers of graduate
school, who fails to get a
Ph.D.? How will he obtain ac-
cess to the reprint exchanges,
Computer programs and scien-
tific Conferences as an assistant
in a Patent Office? Will his
papers be acceptable — without
citations to all the current lit-
erature and unaccompanied by
a bank draft to cover the page
charges? How long will his pro-
motion be deferred, as he fails
for 10 years to solve an appar-
ently crazy problem?
Where will he get the re-
search grants to maintain his
scientific reputation — if he
c^nnot teil the research Council
what he will discover? What
will they think of him in the
nation*s capital if he refuses,
1 as a pacifist, to advise the
Pentagon secretly on new
weapon Systems? Of, if he
happens to be a Russian, will
he be permitted to go to Israel
even if he has done no secret
work? One can even say that
physics no longer has need of
such intellects. That all the big
Problems have been solved
That all we are doing now is
•'normal science," filling in the
I details, exercising our minds
with little Puzzles, and devis-
ing more and more frivoloois
or destructive gadgets.
And yet, one day, who
knows, there may arrive on
my desk a scruffy handwritten
manuscript, from a forgotten
Student, who got a Third and
went off to become a light-
' house keeper (Einstein's ideal
occupation!), expiaining the
mass spectrum of the elemen-
tary particles, or the nature of
quasars, or the connection be-
tween electromagnetism and
gravitation. I shall be wise
(and the world will be lucky)
rf I take a second look at it,
and consider whether, beneath
the fantastic notions, there may
not lie a universe of truth. ■
)
September 23, 1973
3 / 1 »
EINSTEIN COLLEGE
TOMARK20YEÄRS
Officials Recall Scientist's
Modesty About Name
By IRVING SPIEGEL
In keeping with the character
of the world-renowned scientist
for whom the Institution was
named, the Albert Einstein Col-
lege of Medicine of Yeshiva
University will observe its 20th
anniversary on Thursday.
The archives teil a vivid
itory of how on a rainy day on
March 15, 1953, Dr. Samuel
Belkin, President of Yeshiva
University, and other Jewish
leaders visited the noted scien-
tist on his 74th birthday at
Princeton, N. J.
Einstein expressed his con-
cern ovcr the need for more
doctors, and over the use of
quotas in the selection of stu-
dents and faculty mcmbcrs in
the country's medical schools.
He first dcmurred at the plan
to name the school in his hon-
or and proposed the name of
Maimonides, the 13th-century
Jewish physician and philoso-
pher, but finally consented, and
Said, "This undertaking repre-
sents a great effort of a sniall
fraction of the American peo-
ple to help make possible addi-
tional opportunities for gifted
young people of all races and
creeds to develop their inborn
faculties in behalf of all peo-
ple."
A Medical City New
From a small shack on its
present site in the northeast-
ern part of the borough, the
Albert Einstein College of Med-
icine has in 20 years become
the heart of a medical city,
covering 200 acres and rcpre-
se/iting an Investment of $300-
million in private and public
funds.
In the ensuing years, the Col-
lege has graduated 14 classcs
for a total of 1.350 physicians.
It has also trained several
thousand others as medical
scientists, specialists and edu-
cators. It has steadily increased
its enrollment in response to
the shortage of physicians. Last
year, it had an entering class
of 176.
In an interview, Dr. Ernst
R. Jaffc, acting doan of the
.school, Said that "within fivo
years we will graduate almost
twice as many doctors," and
addcd, *'This is equivalent to
cstablishing a new medical
school at a fraction of the
usual time and cost. Thirty-
four women are in the eurrent
freshman class. There are 2,000
faculty members. some füll
time and some part-timo, and
others serving in a voluntary
capacity."
■i«^
(
mg
•I.
Einstein sprach
auf der Funkausstellung
Anlüsalich der am 31. August bis
9, September stattfindenden Inter-
nationalen Funkausstellung in Ber-
lin bringen wir die Rede, die Albert
Einstein bei der Eröffnung der
Funkausstellung 1930 hielt.
"Sehr geehrte An- und Abwe-
sende!
Wenn ihr den Rundfunk hört,
so denkt auch daran, wie die
Menschen in den Besitz dieses
wunderbaren Werkzeugs gekom-
men sind. Denkt an Oestedt, der
zuerst die magnetische Wirkung
elektrischer Ströme benutzte, an
Reis, der diese Wirkung zuerst
benutzte, um auf elektromagneti-
schem Wege Schall zu erzeugen,
an Bell, der unter Benutzung
empfindlicher Kontakte mit sei-
nem Mikrofon zuerst Schall.
Schwingungen in elektrische
Ströme verwandelte. Denkt auch
an Maxwell, der die Existenz
elektrischer WeUen auf mathe-
mati.schem Wege aufzeichnete,
an Hertz, der sie zuerst mit Hilfe
des Funks erzeugte und nach-
wies. Gedenket besonders auch
Liebens, der in der Kathodeairöh.
re ein unvergleichliches Organ
für elektrische Schwingungen er-
dachte.
Gedenket dankbar des Heeres
namenloser Techniker, welche
die Instrumente des Funkver-
kehrs vereinfachten und der
Massenfabrikation anpassten, so
dass sie für jedermann zugäng-
lich geworden sind. Schämen soll,
ten sich die Menschen, die ge-dan.
kenlos sich der Wunder der Wis-
senschaft und Technik bedienen
und nicht mehr geistig davon er.
fasst haben, als die Kuh von der
Botanik der Pflanzen, die sie mit
Wohlbehagen frisst. Denkt auch
daran, dass die Techniker es
sind, die erst wahre Demokratie
möglich machen. Sie erleichtern
nicht nur des Menschen Tage-
werk, sondern machen auch die
Werke der feinsten Denker und
Künstler, deren Genuss noch bis
vor kurzem ein Privileg bevor-
zugter Klassen war, der Gesamt-
heit zugänglich.
Was nun den Rundfunk an-
langt, so hat er eine einzige Auf-
gabe zu erfüllen im Sinne der
Völkerversöhnung. Bis auf unsere
Tage lernten die Völker einander
fast ausschliesslich durch den
verzerrenden Spiegel der eigenen
Tagespresse kennen.
Der Rundfunk zeigt sie einan-
der in lebendigster Form und in
der Hauptsache von der lieben.s.
würdigsten Seite. Er kann so da-
zu beitragen, das Gefühl gegen-
seitiger Fremdheit zu tilgen, das
so leicht in Misstrauen und
Feindseligkeiten umschlägt . . .''
Entnommen der Broschüre "Was kiä«h/t
denn da?" von Karin von Faber. Heraus-
gegeben im Rahmen der Serie "Berliner
Forum" vom Presse- und In/ormationsamt
des Landes Berlin.
fO
MIPSUMMER
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PORTRÄT DER WOCHE;
Banesh Hoffmann und sein
Einstein-Buch
Er .siusjs ruhig an einem kleinen
Ti.sch im Buclüaden des New
Yorker Queen.s Ck)llege. um wäh-
rend der Mittagjspause Exemplare
seine.s Buches zu autographieren.
"Creator and Rebel — Albert
Ein.stein" (Viking Pre.ss, New
York, 1972). Ein Buch über Ein-
Mein, kein billige^s Buch, und die
neue Generation? Von den Skep-
tikern unerwartet: die "kid.s" ka-
men in Mengen. Er lächelte, wid-
mete, unterzeichnete, bedankte
sich. Junge Männer und Frauen
ergriffen die Gelegenheit, mit ih-
rem Professor ein paar Worte zu
wechseln. Rs waren freundliche
und gelegentlich bedeutsame Un-
terhaltungen.
Dr. Banesh Hoffmann ist ein
mild und weise aussehender
»Mann mit grauen Haaren und ei-
nem offenen Gesicht. Professor
der Mathematik am Queens Ck)l-
]egp und Verfasser eines Buches,
das 1947 erschien, und das zu ei-
ner Art klassischen Beispiels ei-
nes zugänglichen wissenschaftli-
chen Werkes wurde: "The
Strange Story of the Quantum".
Mit .seinem Buch "The Tyranny
of Testing" hat er eine stürmi-
sche Kontroverse In der Anschau-
wngswelt der Emeher entfacht.
Und jetzt das Einstein-Buch.
Dr. Hoff mann ist qualifiziert
wie wenige, eine solche Biogra-
phie zu Schreibern. Er hat als
Mitglied des Institute for Ad-
Tanced Studies in Prlnceton mit
Albert Einstein und Leopold In-
feld an den Grundsätzen der Re-
lativitätstheorie zusammengear-
beitet, ein persönliches Erlebnis
für ihn, da^s im Jahr 1936 be-
gann. Er bringt zur Behandlung
dieses beinahe unfasslichen The-
ma,s nicht nur sein eigenes Wis-
sen, sondern da.s Begreifen der
überragenden Persönlichkeit Ein-
steins. "We Sketch in this book
the story of a profoundly simple
man. The essence of Einstein'.s
profundity lay in his simplicity
and the essence of his sclencc
lay in hi^ artistry — his pheno-
menal sense of beauty." So be-
ginnt das Buch, zu dessen Ver-
vollkommnung er sich die Mitar-
beit von Einsteins langjähriger
Sekretärin Helen Dukas sicherte:
sie trug nicht nur viel Persön-
liches über den grossen Mann bei,
sondern einen Reichtum an Bil-
dern aus Familienalben und Do-
kumenten, die das Buch schmük-
ken.
"Mein persönlicher Eindruck
von Einstein? Ich kann ihn
schwer in Worte fassen. Ebenso
könnte man einen Blinden um
eine Beschreibung von rot und
grün bitten." In welcher Sprache
haben sich die beiden Gelehrten
unterhalten — der geborene
I>eutsche mit dem geborenen
Engländer? "Auf englisch: sein
Englisch war viel besser aLs mein
Schuldeutsch. Ausserdem war er
25U höflich, dem Partner Schwie-
/<X
Nationalism is an infantile disease. It is the measlcs of mankind.
— Albert Einstein
141
%^ ^A ',0 7) {^ '^ ^t~
/^'^'l.vA^ Ifl l
rigkeiten zuzumuten." Es war
aber nicht Höflichkeit, sondern
seine Menschlichkeit, die ihn je-
den Kollegen wie einen brüderli-
chen Freund behandeln liess, oh-
ne je seine eigene Ü"berlegenheit
fühlen zu lassen. "In diesem
Mann war kein Fäserchen von
Kleinlichkeit, nur Grösse. Ich
empfand immer, er war einer
von uns, ein Jude wie wir."
Trotz des slawisch klingenden
Vornamens ist Dr. Hoffmann ge-
borener Engländer. Er genoss s^l-
ne Ausbildung in Oxford, wo er
sich selbst die Grundlagen der
Relativität beibrachte. Seine Zu-
sajnmenarbeit mit den Grossen
dieser Wissenschaft brachte ihm
die Berufung nax^h Princeton. wo
er sein Doktorat erhielt. Eine Rei-
he wissenschaftlicher Veröffent-
lichoingen und Bücher machten
ihn weltbekannt. Zur Feier von
Einsteias zehntem Todestag bat
ihn BBC, in einem Fernsehpro-
gramm die Relativitätstheorie ei-
nem Laienpublikum zu erklären.
Obwohl ein solche« Unterfangen
ein Widerspruch in sich ist, war
Dr. Hoffmann erfolgreich.
Dieser Erfolg ist es, der das
neue Buch zu einem besonderen
Erlebnis macht. Dr. Hoffmann
hat es schwarz auf weiss, von den
berühmtesten Kritikern und von
neun Buch^emeinschaften, die
.sein Buch ausgewählt haben: er
bringt es fertig, auch dem un-
wissendsten Laien klarzuma-
chen, worum r.s geht — mehr, als
bisher jemand fertig gebracht
hat. Er vermittelt eine Erfah-
rung, eine Erregung, eine Ah- '
nung des gewöhnlich Unfass-
lichen, die das Leben jedes Le-
sers bereichern muss. "Man kann
über Einstein nicht schreiben,
ohne seine Wissenschaft einzu-
schliessen; es wäre leeres Geplau-
der; der Mann war die Einheit
seiner Menschlichkeit und seiner
Wissenschaft", sagt der Autor.
Vor dem eindrucksvollen Na-
mensre^ister am Ende des Bu-
ches, als letztes der unzähligen
Bilder, hat Dr. Hoffmann die Re
Produktion einer Zeichnung von
Horblook gewählt: ein Ausschnitt
einer Galaxie — unter den übri
gen Himmelskörpern schwebt die
Erde — und an sie geheftet ist
ein Schild "Albert Einstein Lived
Here". Diese Auswahl ist viel-
leicht die beste Antwort auf die
Frage naeh dem persönlichen
Eindruck des Autors von Einstein.
Hilde Marx
fl-
1
Albert Einstein
With only a pen, a paper and
a Single assunnption,
he revolutionized scientific thinking
By Isaac Asimov
[On Sunday. May 20. NBC presents the
play "Dr. Einstein Before Lunch."
To add to'your en}öyrn&7?rdr tfw s/jec/ar;
we are providing this background in-
formation. (See Sports and Speciats
column in the program section ior time
and Channels.) — Ed.]
In 1905. Albert Ein-
stein, a junior official
et the Patent Office at
Bern. Switzerland.
published scientific
papers on three sep-
arate subjects. Ein-
stein had gotten
through school only
with difficulty. He had
tried to find a teach-
ing Position and
failed. Now. at the age
of 26. he had no aca-
demic connection. no
laboratory. no scien-
tific instruments — only
pen. paper and his
mind.
One of his papers
explained what was
calied the "photoelectric effect." To do
that he made use of the quantum
theory that had been advanced by Max
Planck only five years earlier. The
quantunn theory had first been greeted
with thorough skepticism. but Ein-
stein's use of it made it seem so con-
vincing that it had to be accepted. This
revolutionized physics and earned
Einstein a Nobel prize 16 years later
TV QUIOE MAY 19. 1973
Another paper worked out a mathe-
nnatical analysis of "Brownian motion"
that had first been noted 80 years
earlier. By using Einstein's equations,
it was possible to work out the size ol
atoms for the first time
You would think that this was enough
for a young patent-office official — but
also in that year, Ein-
stein published his first
papers on what came
to be known as "the
theory of relativity."
Einstein had begun
by wondering what
would happen if he
were traveling at the
Speed of light and
looked at a light wave
that was traveling (na-
turally) at the same
speed. The results
seemed so paradoxi-
cal that Einstein de-
cided it couldn't hap-
pen. To avoid the par-
adoxes, he assumed
that whenever one
looked at a light
wave. it would seem to be traveling at
the same fixed speed. no matter how
fast the obsen/er was moving, and no
matter how fast the object that gave
off the light was moving. The speed of
light (186.282 4 miles per second. we
now know) was. in his view. one of the
basic constants of the Universe.
What Einstein then did was to work
out, mathematically, the kind of — >
27
continued
universe that would have to exist if the
speed of light was a constant. It tumed
out that over small distances. where
nothing was moving very quickly, the
universe was the one we were used to.
the one Isaac Newton had worked out
two centuries before. But over vast
distances. and at great speeds. certain
differences from the usual nnounted up.
Lengths decreased, nnass increased.
the rate of passage of time slowed. It
was a weird and apparently ridiculous
World that Einstein described. yet it
hung together mathematically— provid-
ed the speed of light was a constant.
There was no way of checking Ein-
stein's theory in the ordinary world.
Nothing went fast enough to show
"relativistic effects" large enough to be
detected. In 1905, however. scientists
were already working with subatonnic
particies shot out by radioactive atoms
such as those of uranium. These were
indeed moving at respectable fractions
of the speed of light, and when they
were studied, they showed the relativis-
tic effects exactiy.
Ever since 1905, physicists working
with subatomic particies have found
that Einstein's theory describes sub-
atomic events perfectiy. Einstein's
theory showed. for instance, that mass
had to be a form of energy and that the
relationship could be expressed by an
equation e=mc~. This meant that a very
small quantity of mass could be con-
verted into a very large quantity of en-
ergy Physicists studying subatomic
particies found this was indeed true
In 1945. the first atomic bomb ex-
ploded near Alamogordo. N. M.. was a
monument to Einste-n's vision (though
one that dismayed him), for it was de-
signed by scientists who worked on it
because they knew that e = mc-.
But Emstein's first papers on the
theory of relativity dealt only with cer-
tain special objects. those moving at
constant velocity It was a "special
theory of relativity." Einstein tried to ex-
tend it to objects moving at changing
velocities and he finally worked out a
"general theory of relativity" in 1915.
General relativity gives a grand pic-
ture of the universe. in which gravita-
tion was explained by imagining Space
to be curved. with objects following the
slope of the curve in their motions. The
more massive and dense an object, the
more sharply space curved in its neigh-
borhood.
Light rays would have to follow the
curve, too. If light from a star passed
near the sun on its way to us. that
light ray would curve and we would
See the star a little farther from the
sun than it ought to be. The trouble is
that any star near the sun is blanked
out by sunlight, so we can't teil. But
what happens during an^eclipse?
On May 29. 1919. an eclipse was
going to take place at a time when
a number of bright stars would be in
the neighborhood of the sun The
positiops of the stars near the sun were
measured. Six months later. the posi-
tions of the same stars were measured
when the sun was shining in the op-
posite half of the sky.
Einstein proved to be right and the
general theory was backed Ever since.
scientists have been seeking further
tests of all kinds that would help assure
them that Einstein's general theory of
relativity was right — or wrong. So far.
though, Einstein's vision has held firm.
In 1967, Joseph Weber finally de-
tected gravitational waves in the uni-
verse. Their existence had been pre-
dicted by Einstein. In 1972, atomic
clocks were flown around the world.
and the change in their time-rate
proved to be what Einstein said it
would be Right now, astronomers spec-
ulate about "black holes. " which are
the ultimate end of matter, and those
black holes fit Einstein's theory.
The universe, as we see it in 1973. is.
as nearly as we can teil, the same uni-
verse that Einstein envisioned in 1905
and 1915 with nothing more than pen.
paper. and a Single assumption to start
with. @
28
TV GUIDE MAY 19. 1973
- 2 -
371
373
374
375
376
377
378
379
380
540.-
690,-
520.-
360.-
460.-
180.-
190.-
840.-
435
436
437
75.-
190.-
9Qn -
505
506
cr\n
700.-
200.-
— 1 QH -
579
580'
SRI
140.-
45.-
42.-
1
y. a . £taf<.yu^, ^««^
.A
II. Wissenschaft
371 EHRLICH, Paul, Pathologe, Nobelpreisträger; Begründer der Chemotherapie, mit dem Japaner
Sahachiro Hata Erfinder des Syphilisheilmittels Salvarsan, 1854-1915. E.Br.m.U. „E" . O.O.uJ. 1 S.
gr.-8". Auf gelblichem, karton-artigem Papier. (500. )
An seinen Assistenten Carl Browning, später Professor an der Universität Glasgow, eine Blutunter-
suchung betreffend.
„... Ich möchte bitten, die zweite hemolyse von 396? — ich glaube, es ist 400? — die freie Vaccine — daratif
zu prüfen, ob die injection wiederholt werden kann, da das für die behandlung vielleicht wichtig sein kann.
Dann wollen wir bei [?] 398 doch die dosis für Kaninchen nach oben limitiren" .
Beiliegend Porträt in Photogravüre mit faksimilierter Unterschrift.
372 EHRMANN, Johann Christian, Arzt, mit Goethe in Beziehung, 1749-1827. E.Br.m.U. Frankfurt
a.M. 4.x. 1818. V2S. 4". (80.--)
An den Naturforscher Samuel Thomas von S ö m m e r r i n g. „. . . Ich habe . . . Ihre Abhandlung über die
Veredlung der Weine erhalten, wofür ich herzlich dancke: und schlage die Suplique an Ihro Koenigl: Majestät
bei, um dieselbe nach Absprache durch Ihren Leibarzt einhändigen zu lassen . . ."
Beiliegend Fragment eines weiteren e.Br.m.U., Sanssouci 24. VIII. 1791, an denselben.
I
„für die Andern arbeiten"
373 EINSTEIN, Albert, Phvsiker, Nobelpreisträger; der Schöpfer der Relativitätstheorie, 1879-1955.
Br.m.U. Berlin 24. XII. 1929. V2 S. gr.-4". Gelocht. (500.— )
An einen Schriftsteller. „. . . Es ist wahr, dass ich nicht glaube, dass Sie auf einem fruchtbaren Wege sind.
Wenn ich Ihnen jenen Rat gegeben habe, so kann ich mich damit rechtfertigen, dass ich selber in meinen
jungen Jahren sieben Jahre lang einen praktischen beruf ausgeübt und dabei erfolgreich wissenschaftlich
gearbeitet habe, jeder verlangt von der Allgemeinheit Arbeit als Wohnung, Nahrung und Kleidung und
muss also auch das für die Andern arbeiten, was verlangt wird ..."
Beiliegend eine Postkarte Frau Elsa Einsteins vom 7. I. 1930 an denselben Adressaten, der offenbar, durch
den Brief des Gelehrten aufgebracht, die Rücksendung seines Manuskriptes in unpassendem Ton verlangt
hatte.
374 _ Br.m.U. Princeton 27. I. 1944. ^hi S. 4". Mit Umschlag.
(400.—)
An Mrs. Betty Neumann in New York, nach dem Tode des Malers und Radierers Hermann Struck.
,,. . Es ist sehr lieb von Ihnen, dass Sie mir über Hans Mühsam berichtet haben . . . Die Nachricht vom Tode
"des gemeinsamen Freundes Hermann Struck hat mich sehr betrübt. Ich schätzte ihn sehr als eine begabte und
menschlich wertvolle Persönlichkeit ..."
375 Porträt-Photographie mit e. Widmung, Namenszug und Datum auf dem weißen Bildrand. Prin-
ceton 17. VII. 1950. Gr.-8" (16,5 x 22,6 cm). (250.— )
Jo George Wambach". — Der Kopf des Siebzigjährigen, von vorn.
376 _ Br.m.U. Princeton 5. HI. 1952. V2 S. gr.-4". Mit Umschlag.
An eine Dame in Hamburg, der er für ein „hübsches Spielzeug" (einen Kreisel) dankt. „.
dass ich nicht verpflichtet bin, eine mathematische Theorie dieses Vorgangs zu entwickeln . . ."
— Siehe audi Nr. 426.
(400.— )
Ich bin froh,
93
II. Wissenschaft
I
377 ERICSSON, John, schwedisch-amerikanischer Ingenieur; erfand die fahrbare Dampfspritze und eine
Heißluftmaschine, verbesserte die Schiffsschraube und baute, als der Sezessionskrieg ausbrach, 1861
das Panzerschiff „Monitor", 1803-1889. E.Br.m.U. New York 28. IV. 1868. 1 S. 4". ( 120.— )»
An Kapitän A. Adlersparre in Stockholm. „...I am informed that the military Committee will in all pro-
bability not report on major Whittling's plan, as it contains some »very objectionable features«. What
these are, I am not informed . . ."
378 EULER-CHELPIN, Hans, Chemiker, Nobelpreisträger; entwickelte neue Methoden zur Unter-
suchung der Enzyme und Vitamine, 1873-1964. 6 Br.m.U. Stockholm 1922, 1923 (je 2), 1929 und
1931. 6 S. folio. Gelocht oder am Rande beschnitten. (250.— )
An Kasimir F a j a n s , Professor für physikalische Chemie in München, den Austausdi von Stipendiaten
und Vorträge in Stockholm betreffend.
Beiliegend ein weiterer Br.m.U. und eine e. Postkarte m.U. von Euler an Fajans, 1947 und 1957.
379 FICHTE, Johann Gottlieb, Philosoph, 1762-1814. E. Albumblatt m.U. O.O. 12. VIII. 1812. V2 S.
quer-80. (500.-)
O
/% l/y^/'/ ; y r// t^e .
I
„Non videri, sed esse. I ]. G. Fichte, a. d. XII. August. 1812."
380 FISCHER, Kuno, Philosoph, 1824-1907. E.Br.m.U. Heidelberg 20. II. 1877. 3 S. gr.-8«. (80.-)
An H. Hanau in Frankfurt a. M., den er, dorthin zu einer Vorlesung über „Entstehung und Ausbildung des
Goetheschen Faust" geladen, aus Zeitmangel nur flüchtig besudien könne.
381 FOREL Auguste, Schweizer Psychiater und Entomologe, 1858-1931. Typoskript m.U. und zahl-
reichen e. Korrekturen. 2V4 S. 4°. Yverne 9. I. 1911. 2'V4 S. 4«. ( 150.— )
Ein Diskussionsbeitrag zum „Gothenburger System" der Einschränkung des Alkohol Verbrauchs. . . das
Gothenburger System scheint mir eine ausschließlich für Nord- und Schnapsländer tm Beginn des Kampfes
brauchbare Emrichtung, und zwar.. . erst dann zu sein, wenn sie mit den strengsten . . Restriktivgesetzen
verbunden ist . . . Unsere Staaten sind viel zu geldgierig, um aus Monopolen etwas Anderes als eine Gelu-
quelle zu machen . . .'
382 FREUD, Sigmund, Neuropathologe; Begründer der Psychoanalyse, 1856-1939. E.Br.m.U. Wien
8. VII. 1931. IV4 S. gr.-8«. (2500.— )
An einen Kollegen. „Sie wissen, wie zuwider mir persönlich alle diese Kongreße mit ihrem Öffentlichkeits-
betrieb sind. Wie immer unsere Beteiligung an diesem Kongreß ausfällt, seien Sie sicher, daß ich niemand
bei mir sehen und Huldigungen wallos ablehnen werde.
Wenn Sie meinen daß Sie ...das Ärgste vermeiden können u. bei Eitingon kein Gutachten einzuholen
brauchen — ich glaube doch, daß Sie ihm darüber schreiben sollen, es gehört in sein Bereich — so thuen Sie,
was Sie für notwendig halten, u. fragen Sie mich nicht weiter. Ich bin überzeugt, daß etwas Unerwünschtes
dabei herauskommen wird .. . aii xk
Wenn der Kongreß nicht in Wien tagte, wäre es das Beste . . ." (Der mit Freud befreundete Analytiker Max
Eitingon, 1881-1943, gründete 1920 die Berliner Psychoanalytische Poliklinik.)
— Siehe auch Nr. 426.
94
i
■*
l.
fd. f^ib
Years ago Albert Einstein expressed the view that "conccrn for man
and his fatc must form the chief interest of all technical endeavors.*'
The Readcr's Digest perfected the art of condensation— a technical feat of
considerable value, as proved by the magazine's success worldwide. Biit
behind this success lies "a concern for man and his fate" that stamps the
Digest as one of the outstanding humanistic multi-national endeavors
üf our time.
Readers Digest®
Trademark Heg.
U. 8. I'at. Off.
hlnrca liegi$trada
Vol. I02. Xo. fiio, Fehrtiavy i<j7^. Piihlished monthly by The
Readcr's Digest Association. Inc., Plcasanti'Hle, WY . losyo.
Rates: 60 cents a copy, $4.(j7 a year. Second-tlass postage paid at
Pleasantiille, N.Y., and at additional mailing otficcs.
\\
\
iNG ISLAND
RQM
59
Albert Einstein, vacationing In Southold. with David Rothman in the summer of 1939
A North Fork Remembrance
By ALDEN ^HTTMAN
Spea^ ic The New York Tim»
SOim^OLD, L.l. — A com-
mon ear for music and a com-
mon delight inplaymgitgave
David Rothman of this North
Fork village an mtimate iin-
ßight into Albert Einstein,
who padded about here in
$1.25 sandals. a Sport Shirt
and Shorts one summer more
than three decades ago.
This ru'bbing of Shoulders
i$ just as vivid today to Mr.
Rothman as the summer of
1939 when his fnendship
with the physicist began. He
was then 43 years oid and
Emsteir.. who was to die in
1955, wLs 60. Their associa-
tion was such a high point
for Mr Rothman that he has
vTn-glly memonzed ever>'
rr, .t of it.
Remin;5cing the other day
in his ho^e, Mr. Rothman re-
latec that one day in June,
1939. Margot Einstein, the
scientist's daughter. came
into his Main Street störe in
search for a sculptor's tool,
wh)ch he was able to pro-
vide.
"Having made a hobby of
Einstein for many years, I
recognized her," the 76-year-
old Mr. Rothman recalled, "so
I asked her to convey my
respects to her father.
•*The next day, Dr. Ein-
stein walked into the störe
looking for a pair of sandals.
My Phonograph was playing
Mozart's great 'S>'mphony
No. 40/ and I offered to
turn it off.
" "No, don't do that; I like
music because 1 am an ama-
teur Violinist mvself.' Ein-
stein replied in his German-
accented English."
The two men teil into con-
versation, Mr. Rothman re-
membered. when he, too, con-
fided that he played the ^^o-
lin. The result was an invi-
tation to Einstein's summer
cottage at nearby Nassau
Point to play Bach's "E>ou-
ble Concerto." "We must
play together," Einstein said.
The followlng e%'enmg Mr.
Rothman showed up with his
viohn. *"We played for a bit,
but I was cleariy outclassed.
so we went out on the porch
to Chat," the retired mer-
chant said. He explained that
he was a self-uught vioLn-
Continued on Page 62
lAMCm
1
62
ei^Li
THE NEW YORK TIMES, SUNDAY. JANUARY 28. 19}
At home, Mr. Rothman caught Einstein on the violin
A North Fork Remembrance
Continued from Page 59
pres-
ist and nenous in the
ence of a great man.
"However." Mr. Rothman
went on. *'Dr. Einstein want-
ed lo make music thai Sum-
mer, and I got up a group
that played together."
These, in addition to him-
self and Einstein, were How-
ard Cook, a Cellist; Milton
Samuel, a viola player; and
Robert Lyon, also a cellist.
*'We piayed together once
or twice a week all through
September — Bach, Mozart,
Beethoven. To his fellow en-
semblists, Dr. Einstein was
usually 'Doc' a nickname he
seemed to like. For our jam
sessions, he dressed up a lit-
tle. wearing a white suit but
no tie," Mr. Rothman said,
adding:
"Dr. Einstem especially de-
lighted in playing Haydn.
'Let's play one Hadyn num-
ber,' he would say. and his
face would light up By the
way. when he made a mis-
take in playing. he would
wink. He was a very merry
man.
Rothman Self-Educated
"When the group played
at my house, which is set
off from the street by a lawn,
we always collected a crowd
of about a hundred people.
They'd just stand there and
listen and hope for a glimpse
of the Professor."
All Summer, according to
Mr. Rothman, he chauffeured
Einstein around the North
Fork in his Du ran t sedan,
walked with him and helped
him with his sailboat.
"Although I, of course,
could not talk with Dr. Ein-
stein on professional terms,
I could converse on general
scientific matters," Mr. Roth-
man recalled. "1 had only a
grade school education in
Bayonne, N. J., and had
worked as a railroad teiegra-
pher before I came to South-
oid in 1919 Lo open a störe
But luckily I had schooled
myself by reading in science
and philosophy."
Fortunately, too. Einstein
had a great talent for eluci-
dating the complex in terms
understandable to many lay-
men. One evening the father
of the theorj' of relativity
tried to show Mr. Rothman
why a metal rod contracts in
the direction of its spin. He
drew diagrams and equa-
tions. but the mathematics
"was beyond me," Mr. Roth-
man remarked.
He did appreciate the no-
tion. however, that centrifu-
gal force tends to create a
minuscule bulge in a rotating
rod, thus shortening ever so
slightly its ends.
During that summer Ein-
stein was worried by the
possibility of war in Europe
and even more concerned to
alert President Franklin D.
Roosevelt of the need for a
United States atomic bomb
project. His historic letter to
the President was written at
Nassau Cove. Its return ad-
dress was "Old Grove Road,"
an Einstein error, for he ac-
tually lived on Old Cove
Road.
Although Mr. Rothman
does not recall Einstein hav-
ing told him about the jener,
he does remember question-
ing him about pacificism.
" 'Hitler is out to destroy the
World, and in this instance I
am not a pacifist.' Dr. Ein-
stein told me," Mr. Rothman
said.
Fhendship Maintained
"When the summer was
over," Mr. Rothman contin-
ued. "Dr. Einstein told me,
This was the best summer
of my whole life.'"
Later the two men kept
up a correspondence. and
Mr. Rothman was invited to
Einstein's home in Princeton,
N. J., for dinner. Over the
years Mr. Rothman sent the
scientLst an annual gift of
sandals. After receiving one
such pair, Einstein wrote, "It
was very kind of you to send
me a pair of my favorite san-
dals. I cannot wear them
yet because those you have
given me last year are still
of kingly elegance."
On another occasion. after
Mr. Rothman had inquired
about Einstein's first paper
on relativity, the physicist
wrote back:
"My first manuscnpi . . .
was not burned b\ the Nazis.
I myself threw it into the
wastebasket after it was
printed, judging it good for
nothing."
To Mr. Rothman, Einstein
remains a living presence.
"He lighted up my hfe, for
he was a very sincere and
devoted human bemg," he
said. "He was truly modest,
never wanting any fuss made
over him (and in fact resent-
ing adulation) and he was
outgoing. Friendship to him
was not based on intellectu-
al snobber>', but on human
qualities."
TV: Father of Reiativity
1.
*Dr. Einstein Before Lunch," Drama on n
N.B.C., Is a Stereotype Portrayal
By HOWARD THOMPSON
Ono of ihe morc fascinat-
ing figures of the Century,
surely, was Albert Einstein,
about whom most of us know
as little as \ve do of bis
theopy' of reiativity. Tbc
preat, visionary scientist was
rcportcdly a simple man.
I
Wh.y not a simple, factual
documentary? Surely fibn
footape nnd pictures are
available. And wbat about
reminiscen'^es by Princelon
associates of bis final ycars?
Quito the opposite hap-
pcned yestcrday afternoon
over the National Broadcast-
ing Company in a long, long-
winded dramatic hour titled
'*Dr. Einstein Before Lunch"
that had a lottering actor, as
the scientist, exchanging a
torrent of rhetoric witb a
natty. ghostly Interviewer. A
tut-tuling housekeeper [Mar-
ian Seldes] fretted about bis
Smoking and bis lunch com-
pounding a stereotype of the
kindly, old, absent-minded
Professor.
At least George Voskovec,
: kcen-e>ed actor, did not
pceo Dver or c^ en wear spec-
tacles. although bis white
i.ianc Jtcn ^uggested Mark
Tv;ain. As the babbling inter-
vievver, Joseph Wiseman was
so bland and arch that the
real Dr. Einstein probably
would have bounced bim
after five minutes.
It was a well-meant pro-
gram, just cluttered, obtuse
and exasperating. As the sub-
ject provucatively skimmed
bis formative years, for in-
stance, the viewer wanted
to learn more than "wben I
was young I was not a fam-
ily man." There are impres-
sive passages in Ernest Kin-
oy's thoughtful Script, such
as: "Thcre conies a point
whcre the mind takes a
!iij;her plane of knowledge
but cnn never prove how it
got there. All grcat discov.
orics har e involved such a
Icap." Again: "I will not be-
lieve in a God [the kind of
Godl who plays dice with the
World."
•
Impressive, too, was Dr.
Einstein's comment that bis
letter to President Franklin
D. Roosevelt recommending
a project to harness atomic
energy was "one of the
great mistakes in my life."
When the conversation
shifted to scientific termin-
ology, the home watcher
could only clutcb at one
simple formula on mass and
energy — Dr. Einstein's.
A final, incisive, eight-min-
ute summary by the net-
wor!;*s Edwin Newman on the
lifc. career and achievements
of Dr. Einstein was the best
part of the program. Pro-
duced and directed by Martin
Hoade, in association witb
the Jewish Theological Sem-
inary of America, it was part
of the "Eternal Light" series.
12
6
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■ I ■
*<aB^A • Si.«*-#.
M DOCTOR EINSTEIN BkhUHE
LUNCH— Drama
Special: The most beautifui Ihing we
can experience is the mysterious It is
the source of all true art and science '
—Albert Einstein, subject of this fanta-
sy-drama Einstein Before Lunch"
takes place in the innagination of the
great physicist during the last days of
his life In a series of flashbacks. he is
confronted by a Mephistophelean
character and a stern Prussian
schoolmaster. enigmatic strangers
with whom Einstein Sketches his life
and feelings. (Einsteins scientific the-
ories are described in a Background
articie on page 27.) George Voskovec
plays Albert Einstein. Supporting Gast
. . Visitor: Joseph Wiseman. Miss
Dukas: Marian Beides. (60 min.)
■ %t /»,«• *•
This afternoon:
EINSTEIM
LUNCr
Playwright Ernest Kinoy
has written a memorable
drama in which Albert 8
Einstein - in the last (days
of his life- talks reveal-
ingly with "a visitor." *
A series of flashbacks
offers fresh insights into
the very human qualities
of one of the most creative '
geniusesofourtime.
4:30 PNI
INGOLOR
NBC4
1
MtW YORK POST. SATU^tAT. JANUARY 13. W7I
The Criticf Are Saying . . .
ALBERT EINSTEIN: Creaior
ind ReiMJ. By Banesh Hoff-
mann. Wifh fhe collabora-
flon of Helen Dukas. 272
pp. Viking. $8.95.
New York Times, daily
(Thomas LaskJ: "This new
)ife of Rinstein concentrates
on that aspect of Einstein
that made him renovvned:
the theoretica) physicist. Un-
llke so many other authors
who neglect the sclentist for
Einstein the qualnt charac-
1er or the involved paclfist
or the victim of Nazism,
Banesh Hoffmann and his
cöWaborator, Helen Dukas,
Einstein's fonner secretary,
■ — • — r-^tiyrfiiMMtfnfn-nra— I
ALBERT EINSTEIN
write about the oaiginality
of thought, his contrlbution
to our conceptlon of the unl-
verse, his place in world scl-
ence, The larger outllnes of
his Hfe are not missing and
through judicious Quotation
from letters and detailed In-
eidents, we are glven a pret-
ty good idea of what sort of
man Einstein was: Modest,
unassuming, simple Inevery-
day life."
New York Times Book Re-
view, Sunday (Martin J.
Kelin and Robert K. Met-
ton): "Hotfmann does more
than convey the emotional
inipact of Einstein's ecience
on Ednstein. He tries to make
the general reader see the
Problems that concerned Edn-
stein and understand the
künds of theories he con-
structed to solve them. He
even tries to suggest the
particular features of Ein-
etein's approach to physics
that made him unlque. Thia
calls for scientific populai'iza-
tion of a high oader. It i« a
F
bl<
lifficult art, one that Ein-
feteln himself believed In and
Ipracticed well Hoff mann does
|it very effectively His clear
•and graphic discusslons as-
.•kume no spedalized knowl-
edge but do demand careful
»nd patient reading."
Chicago Tribüne Book World
(Earl Ubell): "Why was this
biography written? It Is not
a first biography, so there is
no freshness of discoveiy as
one gets from fIrst looking
Into a Ufe hitherto hldden.
Nor Is It the most scholarly
of biographies, a mark that
belongs to 'Einstein: His Life
and Times' wrltten In 1948
by Philipp Frank, himself a
renowned physicist. Nor is it
the most detailed. On that
score a volume published last
year wins: 'Einstein: The
Life and Times' by Ronald
W. Clark.
' *'The flavor of the science
also lacks depth. To be sure,
Dr. Hoff mann Is a master
teacher . . .. But while Hoff-
mann teaches better than
Frank and understands bet-
ter than Clark, we miss the
depth of Frank and the de-
lails of Clark."
4
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1
Albert Einstein - Leben und Werk
Sehr viele Artikel und Biographien hat
„man" schon über den großen Physiker gele-
sen, so daß „man" gar nicht neugierig auf
diese neue Lebensgeschichte war. Dennoch
sollte man nicht glauben, daß wir genügend
über Leben und Werk dieses Mannes infor-
miert waren: Dies Buch beweist es. Und es
ist trotz aller Wissenschaft ein sehr lesbares
Buch. Neben dem Wissenschafter kommt der
Politiker nicht zu kurz — und viele von uns
haben wie er zwischen beiden Kriegen dem
Pazifismus und dem gewaltlosen Zionismus
gehuldigt, bevor wir alle eines anderen be-
lehrt wurden.
Der Autor ist ein Engländer, geboren 1916.
Drei Jahre lang hat er das Material zur vor-
liegenden Biographie gesammelt. Er läßt sidi
nicht durch Begeisterung von d-er Objektivität
wegreißen, und er bietet neben der Lebens-
geschichte auch eine Einführung in die Rela-
tivitätstheorie.
Juden waren i-m Geburtsort des Vaters Ein-
steins, im schwäbischen Budiau, von 1577 bis
1968 ansässig, in weldiem Jahr der leizte
Buchauer Jude, sein Verwandter Siegbert
Einstein starb. Einsteins Mutter stammte aus
Canstatt bei Stuttgart, war eine geborene
Koch; Verwandte von ihr lebten in Göi^pingen
und Bebenhausen. Die Eltern Alberts spra-
dien zu Hause schwäbisdi. Musikliebe und
viele andere Qualitäten hat der Sohn von sei-
ner Mutter geerbt. Eine diesbezügliche „Erb-
schaft" leugnete er aber, er nannte sidi nur
neugierig. Ein besonders talentierter Schüler
war er in Ulm und in anderen Schulstädten
nicht. Ein Lehrer, um Rat für die Berufswahl
gefragt, antwortete: „Das ist ganz egal, der
wird nirgends erfolgreich sein!" Religions-
unterricht interessierte ihn nidit. In Jugend-
jahren sagte er über Gott: „Raffiniert ist der
Herrgott, aber boshaft ist er nicht." Später
über Religion befragt: „Etwas muß hinter der
Energie stecken!"
Mit 15 Jahren trat er „freiwillig" aus dem
Gymnasium ohne Abschluß aus. Zum Glüdc
verlangte die Eidgenössische Technisdie Hoch-
sdiule kein Abitur, aber der 16jährige Kandi-
dat fiel bei der Aufnahmeprüfung durch. Nur
in Mathematik war er gut, und so wurde er
in die Kantonalschule (Gymnasium)) in
Aarau geschickt. Dort fühlte er sidi wohl, und
das hat dazu beigetragen, daß er seinen Vater
bedrängte, an die württembergischen Behör-
den zu schreiben, daß Albert seine deutsche
Staatsbürgerschaft abgeben wolle. Genehmigt
wurde dies am 28. Jänner 1896. Im Herbst ließ
sich Einstein in Zürich nieder, und im Juni
1900 beschloß er seine Studien mit dem Di-
plom eines Fachlehrers für Mathematik und
Physik, vier Jahre dauerte sein Studium an
der ETH. Als er sidi bei dieser nun um eine
Assistentenstelle bewarb, wurde er abgewie-
sen, trotzdem er im Vorjahr die Schweizer
Staatsbürgerschaft beantragt hatte. Am
21. Februar 1901 wurde er Schweizer, und
nach vielen Gesuchen kam er im folgenden
Jahr mit Protektion beim Patentamt in Bern
unter. Aber bleiben wollte er hier nicht. Bei
Kollegen wurde er als arrogant verschrien,
sein Gehalt war klein, und demgemäß ge-
.stalteten sich auch seine etwas traurigen
Wohnverhältnisse, nachdem er seine Zürdier
Studienkollegin Mileva Marie (1903) geheira-
tet hatte. (Sie verließ Einstein mit Kindern
1914, willigte 1919 in eine Scheidung ein und
starb 1948.) Die Heirat hätte ihn von Alltags-
sorgen befreien sollen, aber der Kindersegen
vergrößerte sie. Trotzdem schrieb er während
der Anstellung beim Patentamt mehrere Ab-
handlungen, unter anderem die berühmten
Aufsätze vom Jahr 1905; so konnte er Anfang
1905 seine Dissertation bei der Zürcher Uni-
versität einreichen.
Jetzt war Einstein bereits in Europa sehr
bekannt, da Max Plandc die Wichtigkeit sei-
ner Arbeiten erkannt hatte. Mit 30 Jahren
(1909) begann Einstein als außerordentlicher
Professor für theoretisdie Physik in Zürich
seine akademisdie Laufbahn. Aber schon
schielte Einstein zu einer anderen Universi-
tät, der Deutschen Uni in Prag, wo er im
März 1911 rasch festen Fuß faßte. Die Stadt
war interessant durch ihre vielschichtige Ge-
schichte, dem Nebeneinander von Nationen
und Religionen. Prag war es, wo sidi sein
jüdisches Gefühl zu regen begann. Das kann
zurückgeführt werden auf den Gegensatz der
deutschnationalen und jüdischen Professoren
und auch in den Gesellschaftsschichten.
Besondere Freundschaft schloß er mit dem
Geisteswissenschaftler Georg Pick, mit dem er
seine mathematischen und musikali.sdien In-
teressen teilte. (Mit diesem blieb er durch
Korrespondenz fast bis zu dessen Deportic-
rung nach Theresienstadt verbunden, wo Pick
im Alter von 80 Jahren starb.)
Als Professor einer Universität in der alten
Donaumonarchie erhielt er automatisch auch
die österreichische Staatsbürgerschaft.
Hier muß ich als ein mit der Prager Lokali-
tät Vertrauter ein Intermezzo einschalten, das
nicht notwendig gewesen wäre, wenn Über-
setzer und Lektor bes.ser aufgepaßt hätten.
Rabbi Low hat nie Loede geheißen, der Alte
Jüdische Friedhof .stammt nicht aus dem 5.,
sondern 14. Jahrhundert, das Grabmal des
Astronomen Tydio Brahe befindet sich in der
Theinkirdie (die verballhornte tschechische
Bezeichnung „Svato-Tynsky-Chram" wirkt im
deutsdien Text komisdi!) — wurde anschei-
nend aus einem englischen Zitat gedankenlos
übernommen. Die Behauptung, daß Max Brod
in seinem Brahe-Roman Einsteins Züge in
Keplers Figur hineingeheimnist hat (Profes-
sor Buchs zu Einstein: „Dieser Kenler, das
sind Sie!**), wird durdi Ma?^ Brods eigene
(siehe „Streitbares Leben") Aussage vollkom-
men abgeschwächt: „In Wahrheit hat, wie
schon angedeutet, zur Figur mein Freund
Werfel viel Wesentlicheres und Schmerzliche-
res beigetragen als Einstein, der doch nur ein
flüchtiger Gast auf meinem Schidcsalswege
war."
Doch Einsteins Frau fühlte sidi in Prag
nicht wohl, außerdem mußte er Vorlesungen
über experimentelle Physik, die ihm nidit lag,
halten und war heilfroh, wenn alles gutging.
Ein Ordinariat wurde ihm in Utrecht ange-
boten, doch er zog es vor, an die Zürdier
Universität zurückzukehren, was er im
August 1912 tat. Doch auch die Schweiz fes-
.selte ihn nicht allzulange. Im April 1914 er-
folgte die Übersiedlung nach Berlin, wo er
unter glanzvollen Bedingungen von Vor-
lesungspflichten vollkommen frei gehalten
werden sollte, um sich ganz der Forschung zu
widmen. (Diese Berufung ist sdiicksalschwer
geworden: Wäre er in der Schweiz geblieben,
wäre 1933 kein Grund zur Emigration ge-
wesen, und er hätte nicht 1939 die Entwick-
lung der Atombombe betreiben können —
Zufall in der Weltgeschichte?) In Berlin hei-
ratete er seine verwitwete Kusine Elsa nach
Scheidung der ersten Ehe.
Der 1914 au.sgebrochene Weltkrieg ver-
zögerte die experimentelle Prüfung der all-
gemeinen Relativitätstheorie um fünf Jahre.
Wie der Wissenschaftler und Jude Einstein
den Ersten Weltkrieg erlobt, die Zeit bis 1933
durdigemadit hat, emigrierte und die Folge-
jahre in den USA verlebte, das wird mit einer
au.sgezeichneten Detailkenntnis gesdiildert,
wobei viel Licht auf die Wandlungen des
Pazifisten und anfänglich lauen Juden gewor-
fen wird, der sich zu einem Propagator des
Zionismus entwickelte. Da ihm sogar die Prä-
sidentschaft des neuen Staates Israel ange-
tragen wurde, hat ihn die Ablehnung davor
bewahrt, wieder einen Wechsel seiner Staats-
bürgersdiaft vorzunehmen. Er starb als
Amerikaner am 18. April 1955.
Ahnentafel, unbekannte Illustrationen,
Quellennachweis und Bibliographie machen
dieses neueste Einstein-Buch zur bisher
besten Darstellung dieses bewegten Lebens.
L. B.
Ronald W. Clark: Albert Einstein. Leben
und Werk. Aus dem Englischen von Monika
Raeithel-Thaler, Beditle- Verlag, Esslingen
1974» 507 Seiten.
N
an lernt nicht für die Schule,
spndern für das LebenT -
Mit diesem Schlagwort werden
Schüler von Eltern und Lehrern
angespornt. Aber wer kennt nicht
die Legende von den Genies,
die in der Schule allesamt große
Versager gewesen sein sollen?
Von Schülergeneration zu
Schülergeneration wird diese
Legende weitergegeben.
Dr. Gerhard Prause* - bei
.Kronen-Zeitung"-Lesern durch
seine historischen Artikel als
„Tratschke" beliebt- hat
Anekdoten über die Kindheit und
Schulzeit von mehr als 100
berühmten Persönlichkeiten aus
Kultur, Wissenschaft, Wirtschaft
und Politik zusammengestellt.
Der Autor untersucht dabei die
Frage nach einem Zusammenhang
von Erfolgen in der Schule und
Erfolgen im Leben.
Die „Kronen-Zeitung"
veröffentlicht ab heute täglich
in einer großen Fortsetzungsserie
die „Schulgeschichten" von
Kissinger, Einstein, Schubert,
Wagner, Hitler, Churchill, Grillpar-
zer, Adenauer, Marx, Stalin, Lenin,
Napoleon, Hemingway, Brandt,
Alexander der Große, Cäsar,
Freud, Lincoln, Schiller, Nietzsche,
Bismarck, Kant, Stifter,
Schopenhauer, Brecht, Jaspers,
um nur einige aus einer langen
Reihe von Denkern, Dichtern,
Künstlern, Wissenschaftern,
Staatsmännern, Feldherren und
Erfindern zu nennen.
Gerhard Prause hat dabei die
unterschiedlichsten Entdeckungen
gemacht und auch ausge-
sprochene Versager in der Schule
.entlarvt". Zum Ausgleich aber
wurden andere, die fast gar keine
. Schulbildung hatten, berühmt
und erfolgreich, was beweist,
Genialität setzt sich immer
wieder durch.
Dieser reizvolle Führer durch
die Schulzeit der Großen unserer
Welt ist gleich interessant für
Eltern und Kinder, für Lehrer und
Schulpflichtige. Ihn täglich in der
„Kronen-Zeitung" zu lesen,
bedeutet eine Entdeckungsreise in
das Reich der Begabungen
zu machen.
_egende und Wahrheit über den Erfolg im Leben
EMSTEM
haBte
den
Zwang
* Genies In der Schule. Gerhard Prause. 312 Sei-
Im, 49 Abb., Leinen, Econ-Verlaf, DQsseldorf-
Wien. DM 25,-.
Einstein war in der Schule
wirklich schlecht. Allerdings
nicht aus Mangel an Intelli-
genz. Er wollte lediglich - wie
so viele Schüler aller Zeiten und
in aller Welt - nicht einsehen, daß
er auch solche Dinge lernen sollte,
die ihn nicht Interessierten. Und
da er sich einfach nicht anpaßte,
geriet er mit dem Schulsystem In
Konflikt, wobei er schließlich den
Kürzeren zog.
Geniale Züge ließen sich bei
dem kleinen Albert übrigens kei-
neswegs erkennen. Einstein war
sogar ein Spätentwickler. Es
dauerte jedenfalls ziemlich lange,
bis er sprechen lernte, so daß
seine Eltern schon fürchteten, er
sei nicht normal. Als er es dann
doch konnte, sprach er schwer-
fällig und blieb - zumindest als
Kind - recht einsilbig. Seine Gou-
vernante, der man ihn zur Erzie-
hung anvertraut hatte, nannte Ihn
deshalb .Pater Langweil", was
sich Indessen nicht nur aufs
Sprechen bezog, sondern über-
haupt auf seine unübersehbare
Anlage zur Bequemlichkeit. Alles
was Ihn körperlich anstrengte,
gefiel ihm nicht, und er ließ es
deswegen bleiben.
Von Ulm, wo Albert Einstein
am 14. März 1879 auf die Welt
gekommen war - der Vater hatte
dort kurz zuvor ein kleines Elek-
trogeschäft eröffnet, das aber
nicht genug einbrachte -, zog die
Familie nach München. Dort
stellte der Vater zusammen mit
seinem Bruder Dynamos, Meß-
instrumente und Bogenlampen
her, für die sich aber kaum Ab-
nehmer fanden. Und Albert ging
In München zunächst In eine
katholische Elementarschule; In
seiner Klasse war er der einzige
Jude, worunter er jedoch nicht zu
leiden hatte. Und dann, von sei-
nem elften Lebensjahr an, be-
suchte er das Luitpoldgymnasium.
Von Anfang an empfand er die
Schule als Zwang:
.Die Lehrer In der Elementar-
schule kamen mir wie Feldwebel
vor, und die Lehrer Im Gymna-
sium wie Leutnants", sagte er
später. Die Methode der Angst
und der Gewalt habe Ihm jede
Freude an der Schule genommen.
Man habe dort, so sagt er, .die
Freude, die heilige Neugier des
Forschens" erdrosselt; es sei ein
großer Irrtum zu glauben, daß
Freude am Schauen und Suchen
durch Zwang und Pflichtgefühl
gefördert würden: .Ich denke,
daß man selbst einem gesunden
Raubtier seine Freßgier wegneh-
men könnte, wenn es gelänge, es
mit Hilfe der Peitsche fortgesetzt
zum Fressen zu zwingen, wenn
es keinen Hunger hat, besonders
wenn man die unter solchem
Zwang verabreichten Speisen ent-
sprechend auswählte."
In Literatur und Arithmetik,
später Mathematik, war er von
Anfang an gut, da ihn diese
Fächer interessierten. Sprachen
und Geschichte lagen ihm weni-
ger, was sich dementsprechend
in seinem Fleiß und seinen Lei-
stungen niederschlug. Er gab sich
nicht einmal die Mühe, wenig-
stens nach außen hin den An-
schein zu erwecken, als beschäf-
tigte er sich mit diesen Fächern.
Das vor allem ärgerte seine auf
Ordnung und Disziplin bedachter.
Lehrer. Einer sagte ihm einmal: „E'
wäre nett, wenn du uns eine
Tages verlassen könntest." Ur
als Einstein antwortete: ,Ab
ich habe doch nichts Unrechtes
getan", drohte der Leh.'-er:
.Nichts, was schlimm genug
wäre, dich von der Schule zu ent-
fernen; dennoch könnte es so-
weit kommen. Deine Anwesenheit
und deine träumerische und
gleichgültige Haltung gegenüber
allem, was wir hier zu lehren ver-
suchen, untergräbt den Respekt
der Klasse."
Was da als Respekt bezeichnet
wurde, bedeutete in den Augen
Einsteins Zerstörung von Freiheit.
.Es ist schlecht", sagte er später,
„wenn eine Schule mit Methoden
des Zwanges und der künstlichen
Autorität arbeitet. Sie zerstören
die Aufrichtigkeit und das Selbst-
vertrauen der Schüler. Sie erzeu-
gen unterwürfige Menschen."
Die Kasernenhofatmosphäre sei-
1
SERIE
Seite 2!
▲ Professor Albsrt Einstein: Wo er als IBjähriger in
der Schule durchgefallen war, wurde er mit 34 Jahren
Professor . . .
M Der sechsjährige Einstein mit seiner Schwester.
ncr Schule, die er Im Sportunter-
richt und In der Gymnastik als
besonders penetrant empfand,
hat er gehaßt. Zeitlebens lehnte
er jede Form von militärischem
Drill ab, ja er machte sich dar-
über lustig: „Wenn einer mit Ver-
gnügen in Reih und Glied zu einer
Musik marschieren kann, dann
verachte ich ihn schon; er hat
sein großes Gehirn nur aus Irrtum
bekommen, da für ihn das Rük-
kenmark schon völlig genügen
würde."
Eine der schlimmsten Vorstel-
lungen des jungen Einstein lag
darin, eines Tages Soldat werden
zu müssen. Das gab er schon als
kleiner Junge deutlich zu erken-
nen. Angesichts einer mit Musik
durch die Straßen marschierenden
militärischen Einheit erklärten ihm
einmal seine Eltern: „Wenn du er-
wachsen bist, darfst du auch mit-
marschieren." Er aber anwortete:
„Wenn ich einmal groß bin,
dann will ich nicht zu diesen
armen Leuten gehören." Und so
schien es nur folgerichtig, daß der
Fünfzehnjährige ganz froh war,
als der Vater ihm eines Tages
ziemlich überraschend mitteilte,
wirtschaftliche Mißerfolge zwän-
gen ihn zur Aufgabe seines Ge-
schäfts und zur Übersiedlung zu
Verwandten nach Mailand. Der
Junge sah darin die Rettung vor
der gehaßten Schule und zugleich
vor den drohenden Militärdienst.
Aber es traf dann doch nicht
ein, was Einstein sich erhofft
hatte. Der Vater erklärte ihm
nämlich, bei den Mailänder Ver-
wandten sei nur für die Eltern
und Alberts jüngere Schwester
Maja Platz: „Du wirst mindestens
noch ein Jahr in München blei-
ben müssen - bis du deine
Matura hast/
Tatsächlich blieb Albert allein
in München zurück. Wie ein Stu-
dent wohnte er zur Untermiete
auf einem kleinen Zimmer. Aber
weil er die Notwendigkeit, sich
weiterhin mit der Schule quälen
zu müssen, nicht einsah - eigent-
lich Interessierte ihn nur noch
Mathematik -, arbeitete er einen
regelrechten Plan aus, der seinen
Weggang von München und von
der Schule erzwingen sollte. Ober
einen etwas älteren Freund, Sohn
eines Arztes, beschaffte er sich
ein ärztliches Attest, in dem ihm
bestätigt wurde, er brauche
wegen einer Nervenzerrüttung
einen halbjährigen Erholungs-
urlaub von der Schule bei seinen
Eltern in Italien.
Das Luitpoldgymnasium ließ
Ihn ohne weiteres ziehen, und
Einstein fuhr zu seinen Eltern nach
Mailand. Der Abschied von der
Schule war endgültig. Einstein
fühlte sich zum erstenmal frei.
Gleichwohl hatte er bei seinem
Schritt in die Freiheit die Zukunft
nicht gänzlich außer acht gelas-
Springen, laufen - fast alles, was ihn körperlich aQilrengte. haßte Einstein. Nur das Segeln machte ihm große Freude . . .
Fortsetzung umseitig
»ette 26
Fortsetzung von der
vorhergehenden Seite
sen. Bevor er die Schule verließ,
hatte er sich von seinem Mathe-
matiklehrer ein Zeugnis ausstel-
len lassen, das ihm seine außer-
gewöhnlichen Kenntnisse in der
Mathematik bestätigte.
In Mailand dachte Einstein Je-
doch nicht daran, wieder eine
Schule zu besuchen. Jedenfalls
zunächst nicht. Erst nach gewu-
mer Zeit und auf Drängen des
Vaters entschloß er sich, seine
abgebrochene Ausbildung auf dem
Eidgenössischen Polytechnikum In
Zürich fortzusetzen. Das Polytech-
nikum galt damals als berühmte-
ste höhere technische Schule In
Mitteleuropa außerhalb Deutsch-
lands. Und - was für Einstein
entscheidend war - man konnte
dort ohne Matura studieren. Aller-
dings wurde dann eine Aufnahme-
prüfung verlangt. Einstein hat sie
nicht bestanden.
Immerhin: Seine hervorragenden
mathematischen Kenntnisse hat-
ten Eindruck gemacht. Der Leiter
des Polytechnikums riet ihm, an
einer Schweizer Schule nachzu-
holen, was er in München ver-
säumt hatte, und dann wiederzu-
kommen. Er empfahl ihm die
Kantonschule in Aarau. Nur wider-
; strebend folgte Einstein seinem
Rat, erlebte dann aber eine an-
genehme Überraschung: Die
Schule in Aarau wurde sehr liberal
geführt, und Einstein fühlte sich
da sehr wohl. Nach einem Jahr
erwarb er das Reifezeugnis der
Kantonalschule, mit der er ohne
wettere Prüfung vom Polytechni-
kum In Zürich zum Studium zu-
gelassen wurde. Und wo er als
Sechzehnjähriger durchgefallen
war, wurde er schließlich als
Vierunddreißigjähriger Professor.
Als Zweiundvierzigjähriger erhielt
er (für die Entdeckung der Licht-
quanten) den Nobelpreis für
Physik.
Legende und Wahrheit über den Erfolg im Leben
KISSINGER:MittelmäBlg
Natürlich entscheiden Noten In
Schulzeugnissen nicht schon über
spätere Erfolge oder Mißerfolge.
Ein berühmtes Beispiel, das all
jenen, die in der Schule nicht so
recht mitkommen, zum Tfost
dient, ist Henry Kissinger.
Die Familie Kissinger konnte
den Nazis rechtzeitig entkommen,
und zwar noch vor der Kristall-
nacht vom 9. November 1938.
Von Fürth, wo Henry A. Kissinger,
der Fricdensnobeipreisträger von
1973, am 27. Mai 1923 geboren
wurde und die Namen Heinz
Alfred erhielt, flohen Vater, Mut-
ter und drei Söhne nach New
York, wo der Name Heinz in
Henry geändert wurde. In Fürth
- der Vater arbeitete dort als
Gymnasiallehrer, wurde aber schon
1933 zwangspensioniert - galt der
junge Kissinger als ein durchaus
mittelmäßiger Schüler. Wie er
selber sagt, Interessierte er sich
eigentlich nur für Fußball. Gute
Leistungen zeigte er in Sport, be-
sonders schwer fiel Ihm Englisch.
In seinem letzten Fürther Zeug-
nis, datiert vom 12. 4. 1938, heißt
es: .Der Schüler Kissinger
Heinz . . ., der seit dem 2. Mai 1933
die private jüdische Realschule
in Fürth besucht, hat sich als
Schüler der fünften Klasse am
Schlüsse des Schuljahres 1937/38
der Schlußprüfung unterzogen
und diese bestanden." Und weiter
wurden Ihm da in Physik und
Chemie „gute Kenntnisse* be-
scheinigt; insgesamt habe er
„wohl befriedigende" Leistungen
gezeigt.
In Geschichte aber hatte sich
der junge Kissinger von Jahr zu
Jahr verbessert, und In diesem
Fach promovierte er 1954 an der
Harvarduniversität, nachdem er in
der neuen Heimat von Anfang an
eingesehen hatte, daß man nicht
Mittelmaß bleiben darf, sondern
besser sein muß als alle anderen,
wenn man es zu etwas bringen
wilL
▲ Der Schüler Heinz Kissinger:
Besonders schwer fiel ihm Eng-
lisch
A Der Außenminister Henry Kis-
singer: Heute sind seine geschlif-
fenen Reden, natürlich in Englisch,
eine Ohrenweide . . .
SCHUBERT: Uriaub von der Schul
Schubert: ^om Schulurlaub nie
zurückgekehrt ...
Franz Schubert hätte In der
Schule wenig gelernt, wäre nicht
der Druck seines Vaters gewesen,
der in Wien-Lichtental die Ge-
meindeschule leitete. Er wollte,
daß der Sohn ebenfalls Lehrer
werde. Zwar erkannte er die ge-
niale musikalische Begabung des
Jungen, unterrichtete ihn sogar
selbst im Geigenspiel und war
stolz darauf, daß der Franz auch
ausgezeichnet Klavier spielte und
selber komponierte, aber daß er
die Schule bald völlig vernachläs-
sigte, gefiel Ihm ganz und gar
nicht. So kam es zu einem väter-
lichen .Komponierverbot". Und
zugleich mußte der Sohn ver-
sprechen, sich In der Schule mehr
anzustrengen und ein Lehrersemi-
nar zu absolvieren.
Franz hatte trotz des Verbots
neben seinem Seminarstudium
komponiert, aber heimlich. Mit
viel Mühe erreichte der Siebzehn-
jährige eine Zulassung als „Lehrer-
gehilfe" an der Schule seines
Vaters. Aber auch in dieser Funk-
tion interessierte ihn die Schule
nicht; was die Kinder während
des Unterrichts trieben, war Ihm
gleich. Er dachte immer nur an
seine Musik.
Der Vater sah schließlich ein,
daß es so nicht weiterging. Er
verschaffte seinem Sohn einen
einjährigen Urlaub vom Scf
dienst. Franz Schubert Ist
Lehramt nie zurückgekehrt. A
es waren nur zehn Jahre, die ci
noch zu leben hatte, in denen er
sein erstaunlich umfangreiches
und vielfältiges musikalisches
Werk vollenden konnte: darunter
sind 8 Symphonien (Nr. 8, h-Moll,
die „Unvollendete"), 15 Streich-
quartette, 22 Sonaten, 6 Orche-
stermessen, dazu Opern und
Singspiele und viele Lieder und
Gesänge.
Morgen lesen Sie: Wie gut
lernte eigentlich Adolf Hit-
ler In der Schule?
•IM
1
^rä^Iinykc ^ttio^L'cJ^
ii/\
^
^
c
1
1
Albert Einstein unter Hei ligenf ifuren einer
New Yorker Kirche:
Der einzii^e Lebende unter den Figuren von Heiligen und
großen Wissenschaftlern im Torbogen der New Yorker
Riverside -Kirche ist Albert Einstein. Unser Pfeil leigt ihn
im »weiten Bogen von außen unter den Monumenten von
Hippokrates, Euklid, Archimedes. Galilei, Kepler, Newton,
Pasteur und Lister. Das Portal ziert den Haupteingang der
Riverside-Kirche in New York.
Ein anderes Mal hat sich Professor
Einstein den Spaß geleistet, den zuweilen
über seinen Aufzug spottenden hollän-
dischen Dozenten zu beweisen, daß es
ihm ein leichtes wäre, sie wie ein Pfau
auszustechen. Das war anläßlich der Ver-
leihung des Ehrendoktorates an die Kö-
nigin Wilhelmine kurz nach dem Ersten
Weltkrieg. In feierlicher Prozession zo-
gen die in schwarzer Toga mit schwar-
zem Samtbarett erschienenen Professo-
ren und Lektoren von der Universität
durch die alte Stadt zur Hauptfeier in die
Petrikirche und zurück zur Universität,
wo der Empfang durch den Senat vor-
gesehen war. Mitten unter ihnen, phan-
tastisch ausstaffiert, Einstein. In reicher
Goldstickerei hing eine lange, himmel-
blaue Pelerine aus glänzendem Atlas tief
über seine Schultern. Den buschigen
Kopf zierte ein blaues Barett, auf dem
einige schlanke, weiße Straußfedern
wippten. Amüsiert erklärte Einstein
seinen Freunden: „Diese Herrlichkeit
stammt aus Madrid. Sind meine Herren
Kollegen mit dem Effekt nun zufrieden ?"
Die Abendzeitungen aber meldeten, die
Jugend von Leiden habe an dieser Pro-
zession ihre besondere Freude gehabt,
weil ihr, ganz gegen allen Brauch, der
prunkvollste der „Hoogeleerden", Pro-
fessor Einstein, lachend mit der Hand
zugewinkt habe.
Einstein in Amerika
Nach Vereinbarung mit dem Preußi-
schen Kultusministerium sollte Professor
Einstein zukünftig die Sommersemester
an der Preußischen Akademie der Wis-
senschaften in Berlin verbringen, wäh-
auf seinen Kopf glaub-
ten ihn die national -
soziahstischen Macht-
crgrcifer strafen zu
können. Sie haben sich
damit am meisten
selbst gestraft. Ah-
nungsvoll schrieb Al-
bert Einstein 1953 aus
LeO)q : „Meine Angst
ist,da(5 diese Haß- und
Gewaltscuche sich
überall ausbreiten
wird. Das kommt wie
eine Ueberschwcm- ^
mung von unten nach
oben, bis die Oberen
isoliert, verängstigt
und demoralisiert sind
und auch in der Flut
versinken. Solangemir
eine Möglichkeit of-
fensteht, werde ich
mich nur in einem
Lande aufhalten, in
dem politische Frei-
heit, Toleranz und
Gleichheit aller Bür-
ger vor dem Gesetz
herrschen."
Daß er als neues
Wirkungsfeld die Ver-
einigten Staaten wähl-
te, hat er nie zu be-
reuen gehabt. Er reiste
dorthin mit scinerFrau
Elsa, deren jüngerer
Tochter Margot (aus
ihrer ersten Ehe) und
seiner in Freiburg i.
Br. aufgewachsenen
Sekretärin Helene Du-
kas, deren Takt, Witte-
rung für alles Echte
und kluge Sachlichkeit
ihm seit einem Viertel-
jahrhundert unschätzbare Dienste leistet.
Margot, die als Bildhauerin für sich selbst
wenig Ehrgeiz besitzt, und Helene Dukas
bilden seit Jahren die nächste Umgebung
des Forschers, dt 1 1940 amerikanischer
Staatsbürger geworden ist.
Sein Ruhm hat bereits einen legen-
dären Schimmer angenommen, so daß
ihm kürzlich ein Schulmädchen aus
einem abgelegenen Winkel von British-
Columbia einen Brief geschrieben hat,
der mit den Worten beginnt: „l am writ-
ing to you to find out whether you really
exist" („Ich schreibe Ihnen, um heraus-
zubekommen, ob Sie wirklich existie-
ren").
Der Mann, den keiner versteht
Als Einstein 1951 in Hollywood Sta-
tion machte, lud ihn Chadie Chaplin mit
seiner Frau, seiner Sekretärin Helene
Dukas und dem 1948 gestorbenen Assi-
stenten Walter Mayer ein, das Abend-
essen in seiner Villa einzunehmen, um
hernach der Uraufführung des Films
„City Lights" beizuwohnen. Während
der Fahrt zur Stadt wurden sie von der
Menge erkannt und begeistert gegrüßt.
Heiter bemerkte Chaplin zu seinem Gast:
„Ihnen applaudieren die Leute, weil sie
keiner versteht, und mir, weil mich jeder
versteht."
Im übrigen kann man sagen, daß viele
Einstein- Anekdoten völlig erfunden sind.
Ihre Hersteller haben sie, um ein Bild von
Roda-Roda zu gebrauchen, aus der aller-
nächsten Quelle bezogen, nämlich, indem
sie sie aus ihren Fingern sogen. Zu den
nicht umzubringenden Vorstellungen
gehört auch die Mrimma Fin«t*.io *^i
1
Albert Einstein unter Heiligenfiguren einer
New Yorker Kirche:
Der einzige Lebende unter den Figuren von Heiligen und
großen Wissenschaftlern im Torbogen der New Yorker
Riverside -Kirche ist Albert Einstein. Unser Pfeil zeigt ihn
im zweiten Bogen von außen unter den Monumenten von
Hippokrates, Euklid, Archimedes, Galilei, Kepler, Newton,
Pasteur und Lister. Das Portal ziert den Haupteingang der
Riverside-Kircfae in New York.
Ein anderes Mal hat sich Professor
Einstein den Spaß geleistet, den zuweilen
über seinen Aufzug spottenden hollän-
dischen Dozenten zu beweisen, daß es
ihm ein leichtes wäre, sie wie ein Pfau
auszustechen. Das war anläßlich der Ver-
leihung des Ehrendoktorates an die Kö-
nigin Wilhelmine kurz nach dem Ersten
Weltkrieg. In feierlicher Prozession zo-
gen die in schwarzer Toga mit schwar-
zem Samtbarett erschienenen Professo-
ren und Lektoren von der Universität
durch die alte Stadt zur Hauptfeier in die
Petrikirche und zurück zur Universität,
wo der Empfang durch den Senat vor-
gesehen war. Mitten unter ihnen, phan-
tastisch ausstaffiert, Einstein. In reicher
Goldstickerei hing eine lange, himmel-
blaue Pelerine aus glänzendem Atlas tief
über seine Schultern. Den buschigen
Kopf zierte ein blaues Barett, auf dem
einige schlanke, weiße Straußfedern
wippten. Amüsiert erklärte Einstein
seinen Freunden: „Diese Herrlichkeit
stammt aus Madrid. Sind meine Herren
Kollegen mit dem Effekt nun zufrieden ?"
Die Abendzeitungen aber meldeten, die
Jugend von Leiden habe an dieser Pro-
zession ihre besondere Freude gehabt,
weil ihr, ganz gegen allen Brauch, der
prunkvollste der „Hoogelecrdcn", Pro-
fessor Einstein, lachend mit der Hand
zugewinkt habe.
Einstein in Amerika
Nach Vereinbarung mit dem Preußi-
schen Kultusministerium sollte Professor
Einstein zukünftig die Sommersemester
an der Preußischen Akademie der Wis-
senschaften in Berlin verbringen, wäh-
auf seinen Kopf glaub-
ten ihn die national-
sozialistischen Macht-
crgreifer strafen zu
können. Sie haben sich
damit am meisten
selbst gestraft. Ah-
nungsvoll schrieb Al-
bert Einstein 1955 aus
Le Qxj : „Meine Angst
ist, daß diese Haß- und
Gewaltseuche sich
überall ausbreiten
wird. Das kommt wie
eine Uebcrschwcm-
mung von unten nach
oben, bis die Oberen
isoliert, verängstigt
und demoralisiert sind
und auch in der Flut
versinken. Solangcmir
eine Möglichkeit of-
fensteht, werde ich
mich nur in einem
Lande aufhalten, in
dem politische Frei-
heit, Toleranz und
Gleichheit aller Bür-
ger vor dem Gesetz
herrschen.**
Daß er als neues
Wirkungsfeld die Ver-
einigten Staaten wähl-
te, hat er nie zu be-
reuen gehabt. Er reiste
dorthin mit seinerFrau
Elsa, deren jüngerer
Tochter Margot (aus
ihrer ersten Ehe) und
seiner in Freiburg i.
Br. aufgewachsenen
Sekretärin Helene Du-
kas, deren Takt, Witte-
rung für alles Echte
und kluge Sachlichkeit
ihm seit einem Vicrtel-
jahrhundert unschätzbare Dienste leistet.
Margot, die als Bildhauerin für sich selbst
wenig Ehrgeiz besitzt, und Helene Dukas
bilden seit Jahren die nächste Umgebung
des Forschers, dei 1940 amerikanischer
Staatsbürger geworden ist.
Sein Ruhm hat bereits einen legen-
dären Schimmer angenommen, so daß
ihm kürzlich ein Schulmädchen aus
einem abgelegenen Winkel von British-
Columbia einen Brief geschrieben hat,
der mit den Worten beginnt: „I am writ-
ing to you to find out whether you really
cxist** („Ich schreibe Ihnen, um heraus-
zubekommen, ob Sie wirklich existie-
ren**).
Der Mann, den keiner versteht
Als Einstein 1931 m Hollywood Sta-
tion machte, lud ihn Charlie Chaplin mit
seiner Frau, seiner Sekretärin Helene
Dukas und dem 1948 gestorbenen Assi-
stenten Walter Mayer ein, das Abend-
essen in seiner Villa einzunehmen, um
hernach der Uraufführung des Films
„City Lights** beizuwohnen. Während
der Fahrt zur Stadt wurden sie von der
Menge erkannt und begeistert gegrüßt.
Heiter bemerkte Chaplin zu seinem Gast:
„Ihnen applaudieren die Leute, weil sie
keiner versteht, und mir, weil mich jeder
versteht.**
Im übrigen kann man sagen, daß viele
Einstein- Anekdoten völlig erfunden sind.
Ihre Hersteller haben sie, um ein Bild von
Roda-Roda zu gebrauchen, aus der aller-
nächsten Quelle bezogen, nämlich, indem
sie sie aus ihren Fingern sogen. Zu den
nicht umzubringenden Vorstellungen
{gehört auch dir Mrimma Pir»««-j»in c^i
^- *
'\
^•'— «-»*
mi'jm
■Ma-
\[ \
' ri
T.
Mm
te
Albert Einstein unter Heiligenfiguren einer
New Yorker Kirche:
Der einiire Lebende unter den Figuren von Heiligen und
großen Wissenschaftlern im Torbogen der New Yorker
Riverside -Kirche ist Albert Einstein. Unser Pfeil leigt ihn
im iweiten Bogen von außen unter den Monumenten von
Hippokrates. Euklid. Archimedes. Galilei. Kepler, Newton.
Pasteur und Lister. Das Portal liert den Haupteingang der
Riversidc- Kirche in New York.
Ein anderes Mal hat sich Professor
Einstein den Spaß geleistet, den zuweilen
über seinen Aufzug spottenden hollan-
dischen Dozenten zu beweisen, daß es
ihm ein leichtes wäre, sie wie ein Pfau
auszustechen. Das war anläßhch der Ver-
leihung des Ehrendoktorates an die Kö-
nigin ^"ilhelmine kurz nach dem Ersten
Weltkrieg. In feierlicher Prozession zo-
gen die in schw^arzer Toga mit schwar-
zem Samtbarett erschienenen Professo-
ren und Lektoren von der Universität
durch die alte Stadt zur Hauptfeier in die
Pctrikirchc und zurück zur Universität,
wo der Empfang durch den Senat vor-
gesehen war. Mitten unter ihnen, phan-
tastisch ausstaffiert, Einstein. In reicher
Goldstickerei hing eine lange, himmel-
blaue Pelerine aus glänzendem Atlas tief
über seine Schultern. Den buschigen
Kopf zierte em blaues Barett, auf dem
einige schlanke, weiße Straußfedem
uippten. Amüsiert erklärte Einstein
seinen Freunden: „Diese Hertbchkeit
stammt aus Madrid. Sind meine Herren
Kollegen mit dem Effekt nun zufrieden ?"
Die Abendzatungen aber meldeten, die
Jugend von Leiden habe an dieser Pro-
zession ihre besondere Freude gehabt,
weil ihr, ganz gegen allen Brauch, der
prunkvollste der „Hooeeleerden", Pro-
fessor Einstein, lachend mit der Hand
zugewinkt habe.
Einstein in Amerika
Nach Verembarung mit dem Preußi-
schen Kultusmmisterium sollte Professor
Einstein zukünftig die Sommersemester
an der Preußischen Akademie der Wis-
senschaften in Berlin verbrmgen, wäh-
rend er sich für die >X intermonatc dem
amcrikamschen „Institute for Advanced
Study" in Prmceton verpflichtete.
Ajifanes 1933 kehrte Einstein noch-
mals nach Europa zurück und blieb bis
zum Herbst im belgischen Badeort Coq
ba Ostende. Deutschen Boden hat er nie
mehr betreten. Mit dem Entzug des ihm
1 9 1 4 verhehcnen Ehrcnbü rgerrcchtes ,
der Konfiskation des Vermögens und
seines südwestlich von Potsdam an der
Havel gelegenen Hauses in Caputh, so-
wie mit einer Prämie von 50 000 Mark
ist, dal] diese HaiV und
Gcwaltscuche sich
überall ausbreiten
wird. Das kommt wie
eine Ucberschwem-
mung von unten nach
oben, bis die Oberen
isoliert, verängstigt
und demoralisiert sind
und auch in der Flut
versinken. Solangemir
eine Möglichkeit of-
fensteht, werde ich
mich nur in einem
Lande aufhalten, m
dem poliüschc Frei-
heit, Toleranz und
Gleichheit aller Bür-
ger vor dem Gesetz
herrschen."
E>aß er als neues ^
>X'irkungsfeld die Ver-
einigten Staaten wähl-
te, hat er nie zu be-
reuen gehabt. Er reiste
dorthin mit seinerFrau
Elsa, deren jüngerer
Tochter Margot (aus
ihrer ersten Ehe) und
seiner in Freiburg i.
Br. aufgewachsenen
Sekretärin Helene Du-
kas, deren Takt, >X itte-
rung für alles Echte
und kluge Sachlichkeit
ihm seit einem Viertel-
jahrhundert unschätzbare Dienste leistet.
Margot, die als Bildhauerin für sich selbst
wenig Ehrgeiz besitzt, und Helene Dukas
bilden seit Jahren die nächste Umgebung
de» Forschers, dci 1940 amenkanischer
Staatsbürger geworden ist.
Sein Ruhm hat bereits einen legen-
dären Schimmer angenommen, so daß
ihm kürzhch ein Schulmädchen aus
einem abgelegenen Winkel von Briush-
Columbia einen Brief geschneben hat,
der mit den Worten beginnt: „1 am writ-
ing to you to find out whether you really
exist" („Ich schreibe Ihnen, um heraus-
zubekommen, ob Sic wirklich existie-
ren").
Der Mann, den keiner versteht
Als Einstein 1931 in Hollywood Su-
rion machte, lud ihn Charhc Chaplin mit
seiner Frau, seiner Sekretärin Helene
Dukas und dem 1948 gestorbenen Assi-
stenten Walter Mayer ein, das Abend-
essen in seiner Villa einzunehmen, um
hernach der Uraufführung des Films
„Qt}' Lights" beizuwohnen. Während
der Fahrt zur Stadt u-urden sie von der
Menge erkannt und begeistert gegrüßt.
Heiter bemerkte Chaplin zu seinem Gast :
„Ihnen applaudieren die Leute, weil sie
keiner versteht, und mir, weil mich jeder
versteht."
Im übrigen kann man sagen, daß viele
Einstein- Anekdoten völlig erfunden sind.
Ihre Hersteller haben sie, um ein Bild von
Roda-Roda zu gebrauchen, aus der aller-
nächsten Quelle bezogen, nämhch, mdem
sie sie aus ihren Fingern sogen. Zu den
nicht umzubnngenden Vorstellungen
gehört auch die Meinune, Einstein sei
der Vater „der Atombombe**.
Die unerträglich werdende Erfahrung,
daß er auch an endegenen Orten wie ein
Wunderwesen angegafft und belästigt
wird, hat Emstein immer mehr auf sein
mit zwei Veranden und einem großen
Garten versehenes Haus zurückgedrängt.
Wohl wandert er noch oft am Vornruttag
nach dem etwa drei Kilometer außerhalb
von Prmceton liegenden „Institute for
Advanced Study**, in dem er von 1955
bis 1945 ohne Vorlcsungsverpflichtun-
gcn Professor für theoretische Physik
ftniOitiirtrt jJJ[][2]^23
war, um nun als
„Professor Emeritus"
allein mit Assistenten
oder Assistentinnen in
einem für ihn reser-
vierten großen Büro,
ohne Zwang, an den
ihm lästigen Fakultäts-
sitzungen teilnehmen
zu müssen, weiterzu-
arbeiten. Einige Club-
fauteuils und eine
Schiefertafel stehen
wie eigenbrötlerische
Eremiten in diesem
Raum. Laboratorien
und Maschinensäle be-
finden sich in diesem
Haus der Gelehrsam-
keit nicht. Auch keine
burschikosen Studen-
tenscharen. Eine fast
klösterliche Ruhe liegt
über ihm und in ihm.
Gelegentlich macht
Professor Einstein mit
Freunden auch einen
Ausflug an das kaum
eine Stunde weit ent-
fernte Meer. Aber aller
Kult mit seiner Person
ist ihm derart zuwider,
daß er sich nur noch
selten in der Oeffent-
lichkeit zeigt. „Ich
bin", scherzt er, „so
etwas wie ein König
Midsa geworden.
1^-
doch mit dem Unter-
schied, daß sich bei mir alles in einen
Zirkus statt in Gold verwandelt."
Vereinsamung
Seine einzige Schwester, Maja, wurde
ihm nach langem Leiden in Pnnceton
durch den Tod entrissen. „Mir persön-
lich", teilte Einstein 19U in einem Brief
mit, „geht es verhälmismäßig gut, wenn
auch die alte Maschinerie ziemlich
lotterig geworden ist. Sogar das Geigen
habe ich vor ein paar Jahren aufgesteckt."
Einstein ist nicht nur ein führender
Forscher, sondern auch ein Mann von
großartiger Charakterstärke. Er läßt es
sich nicht verdrießen, fünfzehn Jahre
auf eine Arbeit zu verwenden, die sich
schließlich als unfruchtbar erweist. Genau
Immer ist ein hilfsbedürftiges Wesen um ihn:
Einstein's heutiger „Hausrat** in Princeton besteht aus
einem einfachen Holzbungalow mit kleinem Garten, seiner
lang jähri gen Sekretärin Helene Dukas. die aus Freiburg 1. Br.
stammt und dem blinden und tauben Foxterrier Chico- denn
immer ist irgendein hilfbedürftiges Wesen um Einstein, dem
er durch seine Zuneigung entgelten will, wsis das Leben ihm
vorenthielt. Aufnahm« Carl Seelig
moralische Ebene erlebt hat, die ein
menschliches Wesen zu erreichen vermag.
Sein irdisches Dasein ist voll Ironie
des Schicksals und auch voll äußerer
Widersprüche. Seine wichtigste wissen-
schaftliche Arbeit erledigte er, als er als
kleiner Beamter auf dem schweizeri-
schen Patentbüro in Bern war. Er wurde
berühmter als irgendein anderer Wissen-
schaftler, obwohl keiner dem Ruhm so
gleichgültig gegenübersteht und keiner
die Publicitv so unbehaglich empfindet
wie er. Oft hat er mir zu verstehen ge-
geben, daß er eher ein Philosoph als ein
Physiker sei. Seine physikalischen Ar-
beiten sind durchaus abstrakter Natur.
Sein wissenschaftliches Werk ist weit
mehr mit dem Experiment als mit der
scmieDUcnaisunirucmuiiiciwti»L.v^v.i*«i4 mi^ii* lAxa.. ^^^.^ ^", ;;: T 1 l*
so heiter, wie er am Anfang von ihrem .Technik verbunden Dabei glaubt je-
•-> 1- "1 *. :^4. ironn *»r om /4*.«-rr»Qnn y\\ Mf\K*^e^n. daß Einsteins Kela-
Gelingcn überzeugt ist, kann er am
Schluß sagen: „Ich bin nun doch wieder
davon abgekommen.**
In Eine- Hall, dem mathematischen
Institut der Universität Princeton, steht
über dem Kamin des sogenannten
„Commonroom" Einsteins Ausspruch
eingemeißelt: „God is slick but He
ain't mcan'* - „Gott ist raffimert - aber
boshaft ist er nicht".
„Ich kenne", so hat Professor Infeld,
der jahrelang mit Professor Einstein
zusammenarbeitete, über ihn gesagt
„niemanden, der so einsam und isoliert
iebt, wie er. Seine große Güte, seine
absolute Anständigkeit und seine sozia-
len Ideen sind trotz allem gegenteiligen
Anschein durchaus unpersönlich ge-
artet und wie von einem anderen Stern
kommend. Sein Herz blutet nicht. Seine
Augen weinen nicht. Aber seine Taten
sind diejenigen eines Mannes, dem das
Herz blutet und dessen Augen weinen.
Vielleicht ermöglichen es gerade dieses
Ferngerücktsein und diese Loslösung
von der Mitwelt, daß Einstein die höchste
dermann zu wissen, daß Einsteins Rela-
tivitätstheorie irgend etwas mit der Atom-
bombe zu tun hat. Das ist vielleicht in
seinem Leben die schneidendste Ironie.
Dieser gewollt einsame Mensch, dieses
Gerne auf dem Gebiet des abstrakten
Denkens, dieser Mann, der die rohe Ge-
walt verachtet, gilt als ,Vater der Atom-
bombe*!"
So wie er in seinen Wissenschaft- |
liehen Arbeiten immer danach drängt, 1
zum Einfachen und Fundamentalen
vorzustoßen, hält er es auch im täglichen
Leben. Mit der gleichen Seife, mit der
er sich wäscht, rasiert er sich auch.
„Zwei Seifen sind mir zu kompliziert!**
wehrt er ab. Und derselbe Mann, auf
den während Jahrzehnten die neugieri-
gen Augen der Welt nur zu oft gerichtet
waren, geht als Fünfundsiebzigjähriger
noch immer barhäuptig und ohne Socken
zu"! Fuß zu seinem Arbeitsplatz, in
einen alten, unscheinbaren Mantel und
Pullover, eine faltenlose „Korkzieher-
hose'* und in derbe Sandalen gekleidet. . .
Copyright by Europa- Vtriag. Zürich
1
Am nächstr '//?e s/^Hte ich im Festzug
durch die ^uJJen Genfs marschieren.
Ich hatte aber nur einen Strohhut und
den Siraßenanzug bei mir. Mein Vor-
schlag, mich davor zu drücken, wurde
mit aller Hntschiedcnheit abgelehnt, und
die Feier verlief ertsprechend drollig,
was meine Mitwirkung anlangte."
Nicht weniger als 210 Delegierte von
Hochschulen und gelehrten Körper-
schafren aus allen Hrdteilen nahmen an
der Teier teil.
Das Wetter war gerade an diesen beiden
Tagen von sintflutartigem Regen beglei-
tet. In der allgemeinen triefenden Atmo-
sphäre, in der die goldgestickten Fräcke
der französischen Akademie-Zelebritä-
ten, die mittelalterlichen Talare der Eng-
länder und die violettseidenen Hüte der
japanischen Professoren zu nassen Lap-
pen wurden, hat Einsteins Strohhut viel
zur Erhellung der Stimmung beigetra-
gen. Es war der erste „Ehrendoktor'*,
den er erhielt. Später folgten anderthalb
Dutzend andere.
Im Spätsommer 1909 sammelte Ein-
stein seine bescheidene Habe in Bern und
übersiedelte mit Frau und Kind nach
Zürich. 191 1 folgte er einem Ruf an die
Deutsche Universität Prag. 191 2 kehrte
er nach Zürich zurück und übernahm an
der Eidgenössischen Technischen Hoch-
schule den neugeschaffenen Lehrstuhl
für mathematische Physik.
Vorlesungen - ohne Manuskript
Einstein, dessen Name bereits NX'eltruf
genoß, nahm mit seinen 53 Jahren eine
führende Stellung im Lehrkörper der
Technischen Hochschule ein. Seine Vor-
lesungen waren überlaufen. Selten brach-
te er geordnete Manuskripte in die Vor-
lesung mit. Unter Verzicht auf rhetori-
schen Glanz hinterließ sein Vortrag den-
noch den Eindruck souveräner Stoff-
beherrschung. Manches Scherzwort be-
gleitete die Darstellung der sachlichen
Materie. Immer wieder erkundigte er
sich, ob er auch verstanden wurde. Die
Studenten durften ihn, sobald etwas un-
klar geblieben w^ar, unterbrechen. Zu-
meist bestand sein Manuskript nur aus
einem Zettel in der Größe einer Visiten-
karte, auf dem Stichwörter skizziert
waren. So konnten die Studenten mit-
erleben, wie auf eigenartigen Denk-
wegen ein wissenschaftliches Resultat
zustande kommt.
Einmal blieb Einstein in einer Vor-
lesung stecken. Es handelte sich um die
Quantenmechanik von Planck. Plötzlich
hielt er mitten im Satz mne und sagte:
„Hier muß es eine blode mathematische
Umformung geben, die ich momentan
einfach nicht sehe. Findet sie vielleicht
einer der Herren ?" Die Studenten fanden
sie natürlich nicht. „Dann lassen Sie eine
Viertelseite aus. Wir wollen keine Zeit
verlieren." Zehn Minuten später rief
Einstein, mitten in einer anderen mathe-
matischen Entwicklung: „Ich hab's!"
Während der neuen komplizierten ma-
thematischen Aufgabe hatte er noch Zeit
gefunden, nachzudenken, wie wohl die
erste Umformung lauten könnte. Das |
war typisch für ihn.
Auch abends nahm er zuweilen, nach-
*^r mit seinen Studenten bis zur
Es ist so weit. Die Verlosung der Frei
Preisausschreiben ist vorgenommen
8 500 000 Einsender auf das Ergebt
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31 -
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strc
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1
—• *N <
r>. Ci
1
die Feier verlief er tsprechend drollig,
was meine Mitwirkung anlangte."
Nicht weniger als 210 Delegierte von
Flochschulcn und gelehrten Kcirper-
schaftcn aus allen Hrdteilen nahmen an
der Teier teil.
Das Wetter war gerade an diesen beiden
Tagen von sintflutartigem Regen beglei-
tet. In der allgemeinen triefenden Atmo-
sphäre, in der die goldgestickten Fräcke
der französischen Akademie-Zelebritä-
tcn, die mittelalterlichen Talare der Eng-
länder und die violettseidenen Hüte der
japanischen Professoren zu nassen Lap-
pen wurden, hat Einsteins Strohhut viel
zur Erhellung der Stimmung beigetra-
gen. Es war der erste „F.hrendoktor",
den er erhielt. Später folgten anderthalb
Dutzend andere.
Im Spätsommer 1909 sammelte Ein-
stein seine bescheidene [labe in Bern und
übersiedelte mit Frau und Kind nach
Zürich. 1911 folgte er einem Ruf an die
Deutsche Universität Prag. 191 2 kehrte
er nach Zürich zurück und übernahm an
der FLidgenössischen Technischen Hoch-
schule den neugeschaffenen Lehrstuhl
für mathematische Physik.
Vorlesungen - ohne Manuskript
Einstein, dessen Name bereits Weltruf
genoß, nahm mit seinen 53 Jahren eine
führende Stellung im Lehrkörper der
Technischen Hochschule ein. Seine Vor-
lesungen waren überlaufen. Selten brach-
te er geordnete Manuskripte in die Vor-
lesung mit. Unter Verzicht auf rhetori-
schen Glanz hinterließ sein Vortrag den-
noch den Eindruck souveräner Stoff-
beherrschung. Manches Scherzwort be-
gleitete die Darstellung der sachlichen
Materie. Immer wieder erkundigte er
sich, ob er auch verstanden wurde. Die
Studenten durften ihn, sobald etwas un-
klar geblieben war, unterbrechen. Zu-
meist bestand sein Manuskript nur aus
einem Zettel in der Größe einer Visiten-
karte, auf dem Stichwörter skizziert
waren. So konnten die Studenten mit-
erleben, wie auf eigenartigen Denk-
wegen ein wissenschaftliches Resultat
zustande kommt.
Einmal blieb Einstein in einer Vor-
lesung stecken. Es handelte sich um die
Quantenmechanik von Planck. Plötzlich
hielt er mitten im Satz mne und sagte:
„Hier muß es eine blöde mathematische
Umformung geben, die ich momentan
einfach nicht sehe. Findet sie vielleicht
einer der Herren ?" Die Studenten fanden
sie natürlich nicht. „Dann lassen Sie eine
Viertelseite aus. Wir wollen keine Zeit
verlieren." Zehn Minuten später rief
Einstein, mitten in einer anderen mathe-
matischen Entwicklung: „Ich hab's!"
Während der neuen komplizierten ma-
thematischen Aufgabe hatte er noch Zeit
gefunden, nachzudenken, wie wohl die
erste Umformung lauten könnte. Das
war typisch für ihn.
Auen abends nahm er zuweilen, nach-
dem er mit seinen Studenten bis zur
Polizeistunde ir einem Zürcher CaCc
zusammengesessen hatte, einige von
ihnen in seine Wohnung mit: „Kommt
noch jemand mit zu mir?" fragte er.
„Heute früh habe ich eine Arbeit von
Planck erhalten, in der ein Fehler stecken
muß. Wir können sie noch zusammen
lesen." In seiner Wohnung angekommen,
sagte er dann: „Sucht inzwischen den
Fehler, während ich den Kaffee braue."
Und nach einer Viertelstunde rückte er
mit dem dampfenden Mokka an.
Neben den wissenschaftlichen Arbei-
ten, die während Einsteins Zürcher Uni-
versitätsjahre entstanden, fand er noch
Zeit, Englischstunden zu nehmen und
in einem Amateurquartett als erster Gei-
ger oder Bratschist mitzuwirken.
Aus Prag hatte Einstein ein merkwür-
diges Kleidungsstück mitgebracht. Beim
Amtsantritt an der Prager Universität
hatte er in einem besonderen Gewand
lllll«TBII»Tf I
Es ist $0 weit. Die Verlosung der Prel
Preisausschreiben ist vorgenommen
8 500 000 Einsender auf dos Ergebi
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kotten über Weltsöden 2 (Westf.).
10.-12. Pr«U: kompl. Schlafzimmer mit
Herrenkommode: Jonocha, Fntz, (22c)
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Hermine, (14a) Schwaikheim, Ludwigsburger
Straße 30; Robenstein, Hans, Wiesbaden-Dotz-
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13. Prel»; PHILIPS Ferneeh-Projektions-
ffühe: Naser, Egon, (13a) Würzburg, Monch-
bergsfraße 23
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Strich, Wilhelm, (22c) Wurselen, Bardenberger
Straße 46.
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Kreis Hameln
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31
NU
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che'
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ME
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moc
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hol
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Mo
46
Me
Strc
bei
48
Kle
strc
Seh
Zef
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53
lur
Do
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Bur
56
tO!
fei'
f16
58
Da
DAS WAR DIE RICHTIGE LOS
Name des Artikels
Preis DM
1
PHILIPS „Uranus 54"
588-
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_i
erscheinen müssen, das der Unitorni
ineadmirals nicht unähnlich ist.
*^ ^^^MA^'.^fbedeckung war ein Dreispitz.
' 'arze Rock und die Hose trui'en
V , L* goldene Streiten. Dazu gehorte
ein prächtiger Mantel und ein Degen.
Sein damals achtjähriger Sohn llans-
Albert bat ihn: „Papa, bevor du die
l'niForm weggibst, mußt du einmal darin
mit mir über die Straßen von Zürich
gehen." Und Einstein tat seinem Sohn
den Gefallen. „Das macht ja nichts",
sagte er zu seiner Frau Mileva, „höch-
stens hält man mich für einen brasiliani-
schen Admiral."
Schöpfer des neuen Universums
Dem akademischen Nachwuchs gab
Einstein von Zeit zu Zeit den Rat:
„Stellen Sie sich nicht zu leichte Auf-
gaben, meine Herren!"
Freimütig ließ er seine Studenten auch
an seinen Forschungsbemühungen teil-
nehmen. „Kommen Sie", rief er ihnen
zu, „ich muß Ihnen erzählen, wie ich die
Lösung für die (iravitationstheorie ge-
funden habe!"
„Ist es nicht tjuälend für Sie, Herr Pro-
fessor", fragte einmal einer seiner Stu-
denten, „daß Sie acht Jahre lang warten
müssen, bis sich durch die nächste Son-
nenfinsternis nachweisen läßt, ob Ihre
Gravitationstheorie in der Praxis stimmt
oder nicht?"
„Ach, wissen Sie, wer wie ich soviel
von dem, an dem er herumgegrübelt hat,
in den Papierkorb wirft, ist nicht mehr
so sehr versessen darauf, ob er nun recht
behalten wird oder nicht."
Als er im Frühjahr 19 14 eine Berufung
nach Berlin, an die Kaiser-NX'ilhelm-
Gesellschaft zur Fcbrderung der Wissen-
schaften, annahm, trauerte ihm nicht nur
eine große Zahl anhänglicher Studenten
nach; denn damit endete nicht nur die
Zeit seines dauernden Aufenthaltes in
der Schweiz, der 18 Jahre umfaßt hatte,
sondern auch seine F^he mit Mileva Marie,
aus der inzwischen zwei Söhne hervor-
gegangen waren. Formell erfolgt die
Scheidung allerdings erst im Februar
1919.
Mileva und die beiden Knaben blieben
im bürgerlichen Frieden Zürichs zurück.
Die Ehe war seit Jahren brüchig, was vor
allem auf Milevas herbe Abgeschlossen-
heit aller Welt gegenüber, ferner auf eine
k()rperliche Behinderung, an cier sie litt,
zurückzuführen war und an ihrer Nei-
gung zu Schwermut, einem Wesenszug
ihrer slaw'ischen Natur. Die Zeit, welche
die zwei charakterlich so verschiedenen
Ehepartner in enger Schicksalsgemein-
schaft miteinander verbrachten, war in
mehrfacher Hinsicht unglücklich, hatte
jedoch das eine gute, daß sie in der ent-
scheidenden Etappe seines Durchbruches
dem jungen Cielehrten, dank Milevas
häuslicher Zurückgezogenheit, ruhige
Arbeitsbedingungen geboten hatte.
In Berlin
Schlichtheit, mit der Albert Ein-
i-^.^ ' Preußischen Akademie der Wis-
'^♦^en am 7. Dezember 1915 von
»cht nur
'iltc:
Zürich aus die Annahn k v
mitteilte, beweist, daß er ^
auf dem Papier als Demokrv
„Ich danke 11 nen herzlich dafür, daß
Sie mich zum außerordenilichen Mit-
glied Ihrer Körperschaft gewählt haben,
und erkläre hiermit, daß ich diese Wahl
annehme. Nicht minder bin ich Ihnen
dafür dankbar, daß Sie mir eine Stellung
in Ihrer Mitte anbieten, in der ich mich
frei von Berufspflichten wissenschaft-
lichen Arbeiten widmen kann. Wie ich
daran denke, daß mir jeder Arbeitstag
die Schwäche meines Denkens dartut,
kann ich die hohe, mir zugedachte Aus-
zeichnung nur mit einer gewissen Ban-
gigkeit hinnehmen, lis, hat mich aber der
Gedanke zur Annahme der V\ ahl ermu-
tigt, daß von einem Menschen nichts
anderes erwartet werden kann, als daß
er seine ganze Kraft einer guten Sache
widmet, und dazu fühle ich mich wirklich
befähigt."
Noch dachte niemand an den Aus-
bruch eines Weltkrieg-Brandes. Aber auf
dem nächtlichen Heimweg vom kleinen
Abschiedsfest, das zu seinen Ehren in
Zürich veranstaltet wurde, meinte Albert
Einstein zu seinem Freunde Louis Koll-
ros: „Die Deutschen spekulieren mit mir
wie mit einem prämierten Leghuhn. Da-
bei weiß ich selber nicht, ob ich über-
haupt noch Fjer legen kann."
Kaum hatte Professor Einstein seine
Tätigkeit in Berlin begonnen, als die
Höllenmaschinerie des Fürsten Welt-
krieges zu donnern begann. Was
Kriege angeht, so teilt er zweifellos
die Ansicht des Satirikers Karl Kraus:
„Krieg ist zuerst die Hoffnung, daß es
einem besser gehen wird, hierauf die
F^rwartung, daß es dem andern schlechter
gehen wird, dann die Genugtuung, daß
es den andern auch nicht besser geht, und
hernach die L'eberraschung, daß es bei-
den schlechter geht."
Die zunehmende Mangelwirtschaft
machte sich in einer Schwächung seiner
Gesundheit bemerkbar. Der Magen so-
wie die Leber revoltierten und verurteil-
ten ihn zu einem ruhigen Diät- und Phili-
sterleben. Als ihn damals die Quäkerin
Hedwig Born am Krankenbett besuchte,
verwunderte sie sich über seine immer
gleichbleibende Heiterkeit und Gemüts-
ruhe. Sie fragte ihn, ob er denn keine
Todesfurcht empfinde? Er antwortete:
„Weshalb auch? Ich fühle mich so soli-
darisch mit allen Leidenden, daß es mir
einerlei ist, wo der einzelne anfängt und
wo er aufhört."
Lieber den eigenen Tod hat Mch VAn-
stein auch später keine düsteren Gedan-
ken gemacht. In den dreißiger Jahren be-
merkte er zu seinem Mitarbeiter, Profes-
sor Leopold lnfeld,inPrinceton: „Gewäß,
das Leben ist eine aufregende Angelegen-
heit. Ich genieße es. Es kann wundervoll
sein. Aber wenn ich wüßte, daß ich in-
nerhalb drei Stunden sterben würde, wäre
ich davon wenig beeindruckt. Ich würde
mir überlegen, wie ich diese drei letzten
Stunden am besten verwerten könnte.
1
' ' '
Albert bat ihn: „Papa, bevor du die
Uniform weggibst, mußt du einmal darin
mit mir über die Straßen von Zürich
gehen." Und Einstein tat seinem Sohn
den Gefallen. „Das macht ja nichts",
sagte er zu seiner IVau Mileva, „höch-
stens hält man mich für einen brasiliani-
schen Admiral."
Schöpfer des neuen Universums
Dem akademischen Nachwuchs gal>
Einstein von Zeit zu Zeit den Rat:
„Stellen Sie sich nicht zu leichte Auf-
gaben, meine Herren!"
Freimütig ließ er seine Studenten auch
an seinen Forschungshemühungen teil-
nehmen. „Kommen Sie", rief er ihnen
zu, „ich muß Ihnen erzählen, wie ich die
L()sung für die Gravitationstheorie ge-
funden habe!"
„Ist es nicht cjuälend für Sie, 1 lerr Pro-
fessor", fragte einmal einer seiner Stu-
denten, „daß Sie acht Jahre lang warten
müssen, bis sich durch die nächste Son-
nenfinsternis nachweisen läßt, ob Ihre
Gravitationstheorie in der Praxis stimmt
oder nicht?"
„Ach, wissen Sie, wer wie ich soviel
von dem, an dem er herumgegrübelt hat,
in den Papierkorb wirft, ist nicht mehr
so sehr versessen darauf, ob er nun recht
behalten wird oder nicht."
Als er im Frühjahr 19 14 eme Berufung
nach Berlin, an die Kaiser-Wilhelm-
Gesellschaft zur Förderung der Wissen-
schaften, annahm, trauerte ihm nicht nur
eine große Zahl anhänglicher Studenten
nach; denn damit endete nicht nur die
Zeit seines dauernden Aufenthaltes in
der Schweiz, der iH Jahre umfaßt hatte,
sondern auch seine F^he mit Mileva Marie,
aus der inzwischen zwei Sohne hervor-
gegangen waren. Formell erfolgt die
Scheidung allerdings erst im Februar
1919.
Mileva und die beiden Knaben blieben
im bürgerlichen Frieden Zürichs zurück.
Die Ehe war seit Jahren brüchig, was vor
allem auf Milevas herbe Abgeschlossen-
heit aller Welt gegenüber, ferner auf eine
körperliche Behinderung, an der sie litt,
zurückzuführen war und an ihrer Nei-
gung zu Schwermut, einem Wesenszug
ihrer slawischen Natur. Die Zeit, welche
die zwei charakterlich so verschiedenen
Ehepartner in enger Schicksalsgemein-
schaft miteinander verbrachten, war in
mehrfacher Hinsicht unglücklich, hatte
jedoch das eine gute, daß sie in der ent-
scheidenden Etappe seines Durchbruches
dem jungen Cielehrten, dank Milevas
häuslicher Zurückgezogenheit, ruhige
Arbeitsbedingungen geboten hatte.
In Berlin
Schlichtheit, mit der Albert Ein-
-;/f " ' Preußischen Akademie der Wis-
'>en am 7. Dezember 1915 von
annehme. Nicht minder bin ith ihnen
dafür dankbar, daß Sie mir eine Stellung
in ihrer Mitte anbieten, in der ich mich
frei von Berufspflichten wissenschaft-
lichen Arbeiten widmen kann. Wie ich
daran denke, daß mir jeder Arbeitstag
die Schwäche meines Denkens dartut,
kann ich die hohe, mir zugedachte Aus-
zeichnung nur mit einer gewissen Ban-
gigkeit hinnehmen, l^s hat mich aber der
Gedanke zur Annahme der Wahl ermu-
tigt, daß von einem Menschen nichts
anderes erwartet werden kann, als dafi
er seine ganze Kraft einer guten Sache
widmet, und dazu fühle ich mich wirklich
befähigt.'*
Noch dachte niemand an den Aus-
bruch eines Weltkrieg-Brandes. Aber auf
dem nächtlichen Heimweg vom kleinen
Abschiedsfest, das zu seinen Ehren in
Zürich veranstaltet wurde, meinte Albert
Einstein zu seinem Freunde Eouis Koll-
ros: „Die Deutschen spekulieren mit mir
wie mit einem prämierten Eeghuhn. Da-
bei weiß ich selber nicht, ob ich über-
haupt noch Fjer legen kann.''
Kaum hatte Professor Einstein seine
Tätigkeit in Berlin begonnen, als die
Hollenmaschinerie des Ersten Welt-
krieges zu donnern begann. \X as
Kriege angeht, so teilt er zweifellos
die Ansicht des Satirikers Karl Kraus:
„Krieg ist zuerst die Hoffnung, daß es
einem besser gehen wird, hierauf die
Erwartung, daß es dem andern schlechter
gehen wird, dann die Genugtuung, daß
es den andern auch nicht besser geht, und
hernach die Ueberraschung, dai5 es bei-
den schlechter geht."
Die zunehmende Mangel Wirtschaft
machte sich in einer Schwächung seiner
Gesundheit bemerkbar. Der Magen so-
wie die Eeber revoltierten und verurteil-
ten ihn zu einem ruhigen Diät- und Phili-
sterleben. Als ihn damals die C)uäkerin
Hedwig Born am Krankenbett besuchte,
verwunderte sie sich über seine immer
gleichbleibende Heiterkeit und Gemüts-
ruhe. Sie fragte ihn, ob er denn keine
Todesfurcht empfinde? Er antwortete:
„Weshalb auch? Ich fühle mich so soli-
darisch mit allen Leidenden, daß es mir
einerlei ist, wo der einzelne anfängt und
wo er aufh()rt."
Ueber den eigenen Tod hat .sich F^in-
stein auch später keine düsteren Gedan-
ken gemacht. In den dreißiger Jahren be-
merkte er zu seinem Mitarbeiter, Profes-
sor Leopold infeld, in Princeton : „Gewiß,
das Leben ist eine aufregende Angelegen-
heit, ich genieße es. Es kann wundervoll
sein. Aber wenn ich wüßte, daß ich in-
nerhalb drei Stunden sterben würde, wäre
ich davon wenig beeindruckt, ich würde
mir überlegen, wie ich diese drei letzten
Stunden am besten verwerten könnte.
'Vi
ci
odi^
ImQ
ine
^
f U)k<'
^h 4
i
'^^
Uli l I
J
Ul
\
Die Tragik des g
SDrach Einstein selbst in seiner ersten Fernsehsendung im Februar 1950 aus: die
Atoi^raf" die der Geist der Wissenschaft ergründete, wird zur Zerstörung und
roßen Forschers
Vernichtung ausgenützt. „Wettrüsten beschwört Vernichtung herauf!** "cf Einstein
aus und kritisierte heftig den Rüstungswcttkampf zwischen Rußland und den U^A.
Aufnahme dpa
Vernunft". Als künftiges Forschungs-
gebiet hatte er sich bereits die theo-
retische Physik erwählt.
Einstein hat einmal von sich selbst
gesagt: „Im Alter von 12 bis 16 Jahren
machte ich mich mit den Elementen
der Mathematik vertraut, inklusive der
Prinzipien der Differential- und Integral-
rechnung. Ich erinnere mich ferner, daß
ich etwa mit 1 3 Jahren Ludwig Büchners
,Kraft und Stoff* mit Begeisterung ge-
lesen habe, das mir später aber etwas
kindlich vorkam in seinem naiven Rea-
lismus."
Derlei geistige Erlebnisse hatten den
jungen Mann, der damals fast krankhaft
schüchtern, langsam und ein in sich
versponnener Träumer war, zum eigen-
willigen Gymnasiasten geformt. Durch
Sporttüchtigkeit hat er sich niemals aus-
gezeichnet. Als die Schulklasse einmal
eine dreitägige Bergtour auf den Säntis
unternahm, kam Einstein in gewöhn-
lichen Straßenschuhen daher. Wahr-
scheinlich besaß er damals nur dieses
Paar. Nachdem starker Regen eingesetzt
hatte, glitt er auf einem steilen Hang aus
und kam ins Rutschen. Der schnell hin-
gestreckte Bergstock eines Kameraden,
an dem man ihn wieder heraufzog,
rettete >:on vor dem Tod. ^
* --.
1
Hingebung Schumann-Lieder, „Der Nuß-
baum", „Die Lotosblüte" und wie sie
alle heißen, die „Air" und „Chaconne"
von Bach und Kompositionen von
Händel, Mozart und Nardini, sowie als
kühnen Vorstoß ins Virtuose Tartinis
„Teufelstriller". Der junge Spötter, der
im Gespräch mit seinen Kameraden
stets der Gebende war und manchen auch
durch seinen Sarkasmus vor den Kopt
stieß, zählte schon damals zu jenen
Doppelnaturen, die durch eine stachlige
Hülle das zarte Reich ihres intensiven
Gefühlslebens zu schützen wissen. Bei
einem öffentlichen Konzert in der Kirche
Aarau teilte der Musikdirektor für die
„Air" von Bach, die er für mehrere In-
strumente arrangiert hatte, den ersten
Geigenpart Albert Einstein zu. Der
volle Geigenton und die rhythmische
Unfehlbarkeit Einsteins erregten die Be-
wunderung des zweiten Geigers, der ihn
fragte: „Zählst du eigentlich?"
„1 wo", lachte Einstein, „das liegt
mir hah im Blut!"
Es gab gewisse Lehrfächer, die Ein-
stein weniger anzogen, ja, von seinen
physikalischen Interessen abzulenken
schienen. So etwa die Geologie. Als bei
einem Ausflug in den schweizerischen
Jura der Lehrer den unaufmerksamen
Einstein etwas spitz fra^^te: „Einstein,
Technischen Hoch-
T. H. genannt, be-
Eidgenössischen
schule, kurz E.
rechtigte.
Armui - und Liebe!
Im Oktober 1896 schrieb sich Albert
Einstein an der Abteilung 6 a der
Zürcher E. T. H. für das Studium des
mathematisch-physikalischen Fachlehrer-
Berufes ein.
Zürich war damals eine Stadt von
120000 Einwohnern. Dem jungen Mann,
der in München aufgewachsen war,
mußte sie provinziell erscheinen. Aber
die Eidgenössische Technische Hoch-
schule war schon damals eine geachtete
Forschungs- und Unterrichtsstätte.
Die finanziellen Verhältnisse zwangen
den jungen Einstein, äußerst bescheiden
zu leben. Eine Tante schickte dem
„kleinen Professor", wie sie ihn nannte,
monatlich 100 Schweizerfranken aus
Genua. Aber von den Eltern, die selber
in prekären Schwierigkeiten waren,
konnte er nichts erwarten, so daß der
Siebzehnjährige seine chronische Geld-
not durch Erteilung von Nachhilfe-
stunden zu bessern versuchte.
Die Besitzlosigkeit übte jedoch auf
das Barometer seines Behagens an der
Welt nie den geringsten Einfluß aus.
, TT-TrJ- ^-»sitz und Luxus scheinen
sagte er.
folgender Dialog: „Sind Sie erkältet,
Herr Einstein ?"
„Ja, so ziemlich."
„Was haben Sie denn da um den Hals
gebunden?"
„O, den Läufer von unserer Kom-
mode!"
In jede der vier Studentenbuden, die
Einstein während seiner Zürcher Studien-
jahre bewohnte, nahm er als wertvollsten
Besitz seine geliebte Geige mit. In der
Begeisterung für die Musik teilte er sich
mit seiner Schwester Maja, die eine
begabte Pianistin war. Mit seinen Stu-
dienfreunden pflegte sich Einstein ge-
legentlich im Cafd „Metropol" zu
treffen. Als er einmal nicht zur verab-
redeten Zeit eintraf, fragte ihn ein
Kamerad nach dem Grund. „Das kann
ich dir genau sagen", meinte Einstein,
„die Plätterin, bei der ich wohne, hat
'mir gestanden, sie könne gerade noch
einmal so gut bügeln, wenn ich Violine
spiele. Da habe ich eben noch eine Weile
weitergespieit!"
Mileva aus Serbien
Schon während der ersten Semester
trat Albert Einstein in enge Beziehung
zu einer Studentin, die das Studium der
Mathematik und Physik im gleiche-
Semester wie er begonnen hattf
' Jahr nach \ihm, im Jul*
4<c^
a
lau'^ für Unterhaltung und Wissen
No. 167
Begegnung mit Einstein
Von Bruno Eisner
Der bedeutende Konzert-Pianist und Musik-Pädagoge Bruno
Eisner. der zur Zeit eine Professur an der Indiana Universiiy
in Bloomington innehat, hat seine Memoiren geschrieben, aus
denen wir im folgenden einen kurzen Auszug bringen, näm-
lich Eisners Erinnerungen an Albert Einslein.
Der Versuch das aussergewöhn-
lichc Mass eines grossen Mannes
auf das Normal-Alltäfiliche zu
reduzieren, ist beinahe anmas-
send. Man versucht, die Distanz,
die zwischen Genie und Durch-
schnittsmenschen besteht, aufzu-
heben. Da war ein Mann so kon-
zessionslos ehrlich in seinen An-
sichten, im Aussprechen dersel-
ben von solcher Natürlichkeit,
dass seine "Ewigkeit" und sein
"Alltag" eine vollkommene Ein-
heit bildeten. Und dieser Mann,
dessen Denken sich auf astro-
nomischen Höhen bewegte und
von dem man annehmen musste.
dass Namen und Leistungen An-
derer ihn nicht beeindrucken
würden, war immer bescheiden
und bereit, das Tun Anderer zu
würdigen — und dies mit Enthu-
siasmus. Man vergass oft voll-
kommen den Mann, der die
Menschheit dem Universum so
viel näher gebracht hatte. Er war
eben nur ein Mensch wie alle an-
deren, wenn auch mit Augen, in
denen ein fast übernatürlicher
Glanz leuchtete, mit Augen voll
von Dankbarkeit für die Wunder
dieser Welt, mit Augen, die mehr
als viele andere gesehen hatten,
und der eine Erklärunc für viele
dieser Wunder wusste. auf die
kein anderer gekommen war.
Die erste Begegnung mit Ein-
stein fand im Jahre 1928 statt.
Ich erinnere mich an dieses Da-
tum, weil ich im Jahre 1929 auf
eine Konzertreise nach Palästina
ging, mit einem Empfehlungsbrief
Einsteins in der Tasche. Und
dort, und ebenso Jahre später im
Jahre 1936 — als ich von Havana
mit seinem Affidavit nach den
Staaten einwanderte — konnte
ich mich von seiner ungeheuren
Popularität überzeugen. Der Kon-
sul in Havana sprach mit mir
kein Wort über mich, er sprach
nur über Einstein. Einstein selbst
machte sich oft über diese Be-
rühmtheit lustig. Einmal sagte er
zu meiner Frau: "Wissen Sie, die
Quelle meiner Berühmtheit \ieuX
darin, dass niemand wirklich
weiss, was ich eigentlich getan
habe."
Einstein war, wie wanrschein-
lich jedes Genie, ein Träumer.
Wenige wussten, dass er Stun-
den, improvisierend, am Klavier
verbrachte. Es hat ihn kaum ie-
mand gehört. Wir wissen es von
Frau Einstein. Vielleicht kamen
ihm in diesen Stunden die gros-
sen Ideen. Nach einer Segelfahrt
am Wannsee, beim Nachhause-
fahren in der Stadtbahn, bestä-
tigte er diese meine Annahme,
indem er sagte: "Ich habe alles
intuitiv gefunden. Der Beweis,
das Rechnen, kommt nachher."
Wissenschaft und Kunst sind
wohl im Grundlegenden Zwil-
linge.
t^t*
Die "Feldtheorie
Einmal sah ich eine Beweis-
formel auf einem kleinen Tisch-
chen neben Einsteins Bett. Ich
hatte ihm einen Krankenbesuch
gemacht und konnte es nicht ver-
meiden, einen Seitenblick auf
Bruno Eisner
dem "Nathan" entstand
Wolfenbüttel
^schl SS I Haus
— erschüttert stehe ich in
''' ^a ua^ip^wn das geschah
"ng am 10. Ja-
T^nKrM^, und
1er
das kleine Stück Papier zu wer-
fen. Mit Augenzwinkern sagte
er: "Ja, das ist meine 'Feldtheo-
rie'." Ein Stückchen Papier, auf
dem 2 oder 3 kleine mathemati-
sche Formeln standen.
Zwei Worte standen nicht in
seinem Wörterbuch: KompromLss
und Pomp. Er war die Natürlich-
keit selbst. Nicht ein Funken von
Diplomatie war in ihm. Ich nehme
an, viele Menschen wissen, wie
er zu der Stellung als Leiter
des Institute of Advanced Stu-
dies in Princeton, New Jersey,
kam. Als Abraham Flexner mit
10 Millionen Dollar in seiner Ta-
sche, die Herr Bambereer, Inha-
ber des grossen Kaufhauses in
Newark hinterlassen hatte — mit
dem Auftrag an Flexner, die be-
ste Verwendung für wissen-
schaftliche Zwecke für dieses
Geld zu finden — in Europa um-
herreiste, um das Institut
vorzubereiten, kam er auch zu
Einstein nach Berlin, um heraus-
zufinden, unter welchen Bedin-
gungen dieser nach Princeton
kommen würde. Einstein sagte:
"Das wird kaum möglich sein, da
ich zu viel Geld verlange." Flex-
ner: "An welche Summe denken
Sie?" Einstein: "4000 Dollar".
Worauf Flexner in ein unbändi-
ges Gelächter ausbrach und
sagte: **Ich werde das mit Ihrer
Frau erledigen". Einstein ging
nach Princeton, und sein erstes
Gehalt dort war 10,000 Dollar.
Eine seiner Leidenschaften war
das Segeln. Erst Musik, dann Se-
geln, und dann die geliebte
Pfeife. Diese drei Dinee beglei-
teten ihn stets. Er war manuell
sehr geschickt. An einem Abend
in seinem Haus, spielte Einstein
mit einer Hand mit einem leeren
Stuhl. Plötzlich stand der Stuhl
auf seinen Vorderbeinen und
blieb in dieser Lage stehen.
Wahrscheinlich war dieser Trick
möglich dank Einsteins Geschick-
lichkeit und seiner Kenntnis der
Gesetze des Gleichgewichts. Seit
drei Jahrzehnten versuche ich
dieses Experiment vergeblich. Ich
fand auch niemanden anderen.
der es zustande brachte.
Innere Gegensätze
■Ich möchte aber nicht nur den
"Helden" verherrlichen. Ich niu.ss
auch über Gegensätze in ihm
sprechen, die da waren, wie in
jedem anderen Menschen auch.
Es ist so viel zu verherrlichen — <
und es ist leicht das "andere"
auszulassen. Dieses grosse Kind
mit den fragenden, naiv drein-
schauenden und schwarz glän-
zenden Augen konnte sehr unan-
genehm und aggressiv sein. Dr -
war eben dir ' "«'-- --.unsal^
/5
\
A Readers Digest $2$oo "First Person'' Award
(See note on page 214)
The Night I Met Einstein
By Jerome Wcidman
Author of "I Can Get It for Von Wholesale,"
"\otir Datighter Iris," etc.
y^TT HEN I was a very young man,
VV justbeginningtomakemy way,
I was invitftd to dine at the home of a
distinguished New York philanthro-
pist. After dinner our hostess led us to
an enormous drawing rooin. Othcr
guests were pouring in, and my eyes be-
held two unnerving sights: servants
were arranging small gilt chairs in
long, neat rovvs; and up front, leaning
against the wall, were musical instru-
ments. Apparently I was in for an eve-
ning of Chamber music.
I use the phrase "in for" because mu-
sic meant nothing to me. I am almost
tone deaf. Only with great effort can I
carry the simplest tune, and serious
music was to me no more than an ar-
rangement of noises. So I did what I
always did vvhen trapped: I sat down
and when the music started I fixed my
face in what I hoped was an expression
of intelligent appreciation, closed my
ears from the inside and submerged
myself in my own completely irrele-
vant thoughts.
6/
1
62
THE RKADER'S DIGEST
s'f
Hf>4/ember
\
After a whilc, bccoming avvare
ihat the people around me were ap-
plauding, I concluded it was safe to
unplug my ears. At once 1 heard a
geiitle but surprisingly penctrating
voice on my right.
"You are fond of Bach?" the voice
Said.
I knew as much about Bach as I
know about nuclear fission. But 1
did know one of the most famous
faces in the world, with the re-
nowncd shock of untidy white hair
and the evcr-present pipe Ix^tween
the teeth. I was sitting next to Al-
bert Einstein.
"Well," I Said uncomfortably, and
hesitated. I had been asked a casual
question. All I had to do was be
equally casual in my reply. But I
could scc from the look in my
neighbor's extraordinary eyes that
their owner was not mcrcly going
through the perfunctory duties of
elemcntary politeness. Regardless of
what value I placed on my part in
the verbal exchange, to this man his
part in it mattered very much.
Above all, I could fecl that this was
a man to whom you did not teil a
lie, however small.
"I don't know anything about
Bach," I said awkwardly. "I've never
heard any of his music."
A look of perplexed astonishment
washed across Einstein's mobile face.
"You have never heard Bach?"
He made it sound as though I
had said I'd never taken a bath.
"It isn't that I don't want to Uke
Bach," I replied hastily. "It's just
that Tm tone deaf, or almost tone
deaf, and I've never really heard
anyhody's music."
A look of concern came into the
old man's face. "Please," he said ah-
rupdy. "You will come with me?"
He stood up and took my arm. I
stood up. As he led me across that
crowded room I kcpt my embar-
rassed glance fixcd on the carpet. A
rising murmur of puzzled specula-
tion followed us out into the hall.
Einstein paid no attention to it.
Resolutely he led me upstairs. He
obviously knew the house well. On
the floor above he opened the door
into a book-lined study, drew mc
in and shut the door.
"Now," he said with a small, trou
bled smile. "You will teil me, please
how long you have feit this wa^
about music?"
"All my life," I said, feeling awful
"I wish you would go back down
stairs and listen, Dr. Einstein. Th
fact that 1 don't enjoy it doesn
matter."
He shook his head and scowlec
as thotigh I had introduced an ii
relevance.
"Teil me, please," he said. "Is ther
any kind of music that you do like?
"Well," I answered, "I like son^
that have words, and the kind c
music where I can follow the tune.
He smiled and nodded, obviousl
pleased. "You can give me an e)
ample, perhaps?"
"Well," I ventured, "almost an;
thing by Bing Crosby."
He nodded again, briskly. "Good
He went to a corner of the roor
opened a phonograph and starte
t955
THE NIGHT I MET EINSTEIN
63
pulling out records. I watched him
uneasily. At last he beamed. "Ah!"
he said.
He put the record on and in a
moment the study was filled with
the relaxed, lilting strains of Bing
Crosbv's "When the Blue of the
Night Meets the Gold of the Day."
Einstein beamed at me and kept
time with the stem of his pipe. After
three or four phrases he stoppcd the
phonograph.
"Now," he said. "Will you teil me,
please, what you have just heard?"
The simplcst answer seemed to bc
10 sing the lines. I did just that, try-
ing desperately to stay on tune and
keep my voice from Cracking. The
expression on Einstein 's face was
like the sunrise.
"You seel" he cried with delight
when I finished. "You cIo have an
ear!"
I mumbled something about this
being one of my favorite songs,
something I had heard hundreds of
times, so that it didn't really provc
anything.
"Nonsense!" said Einstein. "It
proves e very thing! Do you remem-
t)er your first arithmetic lesson in
school? Suppose, at your very first
contact with numbers, vour teacher
had ordered you to work out a prob-
lem in, say, long division or frac-
tions. Could you have done so?"
"No, of course not."
"Precisely!" Einstein made a iri-
.imphant wave with his pipestem.
'It would have been impossible and
/ou would have reacted in panic.
Vou would have closed your mind
to long division and fractions. As a
result, becausc of that one small mis-
take by your teacher, it is possiblc
vour whole life vou would be denicd
the beauty of long division and frac-
tions."
The pipestem went up and out in
another wave.
"But on your first day no teacher
would be so foolish. He would start
you with elemcntary things— then,
when you had acquired skill with
the simplest problems, he would
lead you up to long division and to
fractions.
"So it is with music." Einstein
picked up the Bing Crosby record.
"This simple, charming little song
is like simple addition or subtrac-
tion. You have mastered it. Now
we go on to something more com-
plicated "
He found another record and set
it going. The golden voice of John
McCormack singing "The Trum-
peter" filled the room. After a few
lines Einstein stopped the record.
"So!" he said. "You will sing that
back to me, please?"
I did — with a good deal of self-
consciousness but with, for me, a
surprising degree of accuracy. Ein-
stein stared at me with a look on
his face that I had seen only once
beiore in mv life: on the face of mv
father as he listened to me delivcr
the valedictory address at my high-
school graduation.
"Excellent!" Einstein remarked
when I finished. "Wonderful! Now
this!"
"This" proved to be Caruso in
lAi^
f
>
64
THE READERS DIGEST
what was to me a completely un-
recognizable fragment from "Caval-
leria Rusticana.'* Nevertheless, I
managed to reproduce an approxi-
mation of the sounds the famous
tenor had made. Einstein beamed
his approval.
Caruso was followed by at least a
dozen othcrs. I could not sbake my
feeling o£ avve over tbe way this
great man, into whose Company I
had becn thrown by chance, was
completely preoccupied by what we
were doing, as though 1 were his
sole concern.
We came at last to recordings of
music without words, which I was
instructed to reproduce by hum-
ming. When I reached for a high
note, Einstein's mouth opcned and
his head wcnt back as if to help me
attain what seemed unattainable.
Evidently I came close enough, for
he suddenly turned ofT the phono-
**Now, young man," he said, put-
ting his arm through mine. ''We are
ready for Bach!"
As we returned to our seats in the
drawing room, the players were tun-
ing up for a new selection. Einstein
smiled and gave me a reassuring pat
on the knee.
"Just allow yourself to listen," he
whispered. "That is all."
It wasn't rcally all, of course. With-
out the effort he had just poured out
for a total stranger I would never
have heard, as I did that night for
the first time in my hfe. Bach*s
"Sheep May Safely Graze." I havc
heard it many times since. I don'i
think I shall ever tire of it. Becaifsc
I never listen to it alone. I am sil-
ting beside a small, round man with
a shock of untidy white hair, a dead
pipe damped betwcen his teeth, and
cyes that contain in their extraor-
dinary warmth all the wonder of the
World.
When the concert was finished I
added my genuine applause to that
of the others.
Suddenly our hostess confronted
US. "I'm so sorry, Dr. Einstein," sh(
said with an icy glare at me, '*tha'
you missed so much of the perform
ance."
Einstein and I came hastily to ou
feet. "I am sorry, too," he said. '*M'
young friend here and I, howevei
were engaged in the greatest activit
of which man is capable."
She looked puzzled. "Really ?" sh
said. "And what is that.''"
Einstein smiled and put his arn
across my Shoulders. And he utterei
ten words that — for at least one per
son who is in his endless debt— ar«
his epitaph:
*'Opening up yct another frag
mcnt of the fronticr of beauty."
X^HERE ARE two kinds of mothers: those who place a child's bou-
quct in a milk bottle on top of the refrigerator, and those who
enthrone it in a Vase on the piano. -Marcdcnc Cox in Udi^s' Home Joumal
\
5d In The Great Ideas Today
NEW YORK POST, FRIDAY. APRIL
Portrait of Greatness
ALBERT EINSTEIN
^
Post Photo bv Engel
.Robert Kennedy »tiidies photogrmpli of Albert Einstein at exhlbition at Gallery of iviodern Art.
(vri foto)
Hey, Barry,
She Says
'Go Lefr
Libby Miller (n>ht).
(laughter of the GOP
Vice Presidential candi-
date, Points to her left
to direct visitors at the
F'air. Libby, 20, a senior
at Newton College,
speaks French, German
and Russian, which is a
help in her job at the
Fair — she's a gruide.
— Story on page 10
7,
Theoryx
In Action
Sailors on the flijrht deck
of the nuclear-powered
carrier Enterprise spell
out Einstein'a famous
equation, which brought
the atomic age, as ship
cruises in the Mediter-
ranean Sea with nucle:^r-
powered missile crniser^
Long Beac'h and missile
f rigate Bainbridge (top).
Ships will make two-
month World criiise as
first nuclear task force in
''Operation Sea Orbit"
starting today.
(Associated l'rcM l/Vlrffoto)
Julie Newmar,
EVEHKOHES LIVIN6 DOLI
turns out to be an essentially shy girl
whose one-time pin-up boy
was Albert Ein^le'^^'^
V^hen she was 3 years old
shc painted her whole face
with her mother's lipstick.
In high school she had a
pin-up picture of Albert
Einstein on the wall of her
tolrm>ni, m . ■ , ...n. -.^
Five minutes after she
meets you she may uncere-
I
\
INL-mnomL SBCü^D•EXFOSURE
Julie Newmar,
EyEHYflNES IIVING DOLI.
turns out to be an essentially shy girl
vvhosc cne time pin up böy
w'-^s A'bprt Fmstein-r'».
//
Whcn she was 3 ycars old
slu pijintfd her wholt- face
witli hci rnothcr's lipstick.
In hi^h scliool she had a
pin-iip picturi' of Albt-j t
Einstein on the wall of h<i
i^iiruL>ni, ^ ^. ■ ■■■ -...■, —
Five tninules after s>U'
nieels you she may uncere-
DIE BÜHNE
^er bekannte
deutsdie
Porträtist
John Philipp
set!(t die letzten
Pinselstridie
an das Porträt
Professor
Alb ertEinst eins
Vhoio ide World
"Israel is the only place on earth where
Jews have the possibility to shape public
life according to their traditional Ideals.
I think we all are greatly concerned that
its final shape will be worthy and grati-
fying. To what extent this goal will be
reached depends significantly on the growth
and development of the University."
•j
/y, ^%X-u,.^tÄ-*^
. >. V>A kJ<A<*
Otjiyerispieler Einstein
Durch Musik . ..
I
und Zionismus decken. Auf der anderen Seite haben die beiden gross-
ten iroistiRen Führer jüdischer Herkunft in unserer Zeit, Freud und
Einstein, die sich selbst zum Judentum und Zionismus bekennen,
öffentlich den Be-riff des persönlichen (lottes für sich abgelehnt, w.m
sie vom SUndpunkt des religriösen Judentums au scrhalb der Genier
Schaft stellen müsste. Es gibt zahlreiche Me>.schen judischer Y
kunft, die an jüdischen Fraj?en sehr interessiert sind, ohne Zion-
oder religiöse Juden sein zu wollen!
:i.*. ,-
■ -v^ •« VX >«
I
imiENTIONAL SBOOMD* EXPOSURE
DIE BÜHNE
\j
^er bekannte
deutsdie
Porträtist
John Philipp
set(t die leiden ^
Pinselstridie
an das Porträt
Professor
Albert Einsteins
Fhoto ide World
Geigenspieler Einstein
Durch Musik ...
ff
"Israel is the only place on earth where
Jews have the possibility to shape public
life according to their traditional Ideals.
I think we all are greatly concerned that
its final shape will be worthy and grati-
fying. To what extent this goal will be
reached depends significantly on the growth
and development of the University."
/7V ^^«x-L.t^'iÄu«^
"und Zionismus decken. Auf der anderen Seite haben die beiden gross-
ten geistigen Führer jüdischer Herkunft in unserer Zeit, Freud und
Einstein, die sich selbst zum Judentum und Zionismus bekennen,
öffentlich den Betriff des persönlichen Gottes für sich abgelehnt, w» *
sie vom Standpunkt des religriösen Judentums ausserhalb der Gcniei
Schaft stellen müsstc. Es gibt zahlreiche Me>.schen jüdischer F
kiinft, die an jüdischen Fragen sehr interessiert sind, ohne Zion-
oder religiöse Juden sein zu wollen!
n.i.
-- — T»
^KACHMANNh^
ufi jfuim —
UriiJafin'cfieLaCicAe Gtsprachz
Jeder liat Leute einen 5;uten Rat nötig. Er well^ nur nlJit immer, Lei vem er ilin siJi
iiolen solL Die Letten Anregungen liolt man sidi Lei dem Padimann, audi wenn er
aiii einer ganr andern Fakultät kommt. Das ist nur Blutauffriidiung! Nur keine Angst
vor dem L ngevöljnlidien! Wie sagt unser Goetliejalir-Diditer? — »Ein Komödiant
kann einen Piarrtr leLren".
41
Wie den Wein der Weinstein,
Arfert Lärm den Einstein/
Darum er beftif frollte
Der Frau, die »cfiicOen wollte.
/eise war nyii noch ein-
*xier in diesem Hause wurde
iT als ''Bestochener'*, als "Frei-
geist", als ''Juden kriecht" be-
;chimpft und von den Nachbarn
gehöhnt. Bewegt stehe ich in dem
Arbeitszimmer, wo "Nathan'' ge-
:chriehen wurde.
"Um geschwind fertig zu wer-
len", so schreibt Lessine im Ok-
über 1778 an Elise Reimarus.
'mache ich ihn in Versen. Frei-
lich nicht in gereimten, denn das
wäre gar zu ungereimt."
Ich stehe vor dem Spieltisch,
auf dem sich Lessing mit den
wenigen Freunden abends beim
Brettspiel die trübe Zeit vertrieb.
Ich sehe an den Wänden faksi-
milierte Briefe Lessincs an den
freuen, den letzten Freund
Ischenburg. Das Lessinß-Archiv
st in die Bibliothek verbracht.
iber es soll wieder ins Museum
imziehen, sobald es eines geben |
vird. Lessings Sterbehaus in !
/r«
'^•t^etrur»'? »u* ?••*• ??)
promisslosigkeit.
Einstein hatte meine Fra'^ ^^^^
gern. Er liebte sie als MensJ.^^"
und als Sängerin. Zu einem gros '
sen, hoch offiziellen Dinner, an
dem 200 Gäste teilnahmen, nahm
er die Einladung für sich und
seine Frau nur an, falls er neben
meiner Frau sitzen könnte. Es
war alles arrangiert, als im letz-
ten Moment die Trägerin eines
berühmten Namens in Berlin er-
schien und auf ihr dringendes
Ansuchen hin neben Einstein ge-
setzt wurde. Einstein sprach mit
seiner Nachbarin während des
Dinners kein einziges Wort. Cha-
rakteristisch wieder, wie er Sno-
bismus über alles hasste. Er hatte
anscheinend noch andere Gründe
für sein Benehmen an diesem
Abend. Nach dem Dinner ergab
sich ein Gespräch zwischen Ein-
stein und dem Sohne Sigmund <
Freuds, in dem er Freud als einen
der grossen Männer unserer Zeit
pries, gleichzeitig aber die hef-
ffesungei^ habe, dass viel mehr;
Probeni.,.-^ig seien, und dass sie
itatt df/gg^^ Lieder von Schubert'
s^^^en werde. Am nächsten Mor-
^n um halb-acht Uhr früh (das:
Konzert fand nachmittags um 5
Uhr statt) läutete das Telephon.
Frau Einstein sagte: "Albert Ic
(sie war Schwäbin) übt schon
seit 6 Uhr früh. Kommt doch ura
10 XU einer Probe!" In Eis und
Schnee gingen wir hin. Einstein
be^jTüsstc uns: **Macht mir nichts
vor. Ich weiss, ich habe sehr
schlecht gespielt. Versuchen wir
es noch einmal." Und wirklich
es ging diesmal gut. Bevor wir
den Konzertsaal betraten, klopfte
er meiner Frau zärtlich auf die
Schulter und sagte: "Ihr habt
mich alle hereingelegt, aber da-
bei gut zurechtgebogen."
Ich erwähnte schon seine ma-
nuelle Geschicklichkeit. Als
meine Frau einmal über Koof-
schmeizen klagte, nahm er ihren
Kopl zwischen seine Hände und
gab ihr eine wundervolle Mas-
%^rr<> J>\o<p EnisoHf f iUu te 7M
einem merkvltürdigen Re
Fünf Jahr ^ndurch arbcü.
Einstein mit einem Physiker
Goldschniidt zusammen an einem
Hörapparat. Hörmaschinen gab
es zu dieser Zeit in der heutigen
Form noch nicht. Darüber exi-
stiert ein Brief Einsteins an
meine Frau aus Holland; 'Litbe
Frau Olga, neulich in London
sprach ich Professor Goldschnüdt
holYend. Ihnen helfen zu können.
Sein neuer Weg ist sicher der
richtige. — Europa hat Her/klop-
fen Ab(*r uns Juden gehts :*m
ärgsten Herzliche Grüsse und
Wün.sche für Euch beide von Ih-
rem (Unaussprechlichen)*'. —
Die Arbeit an dem Apparat
wurde nie beendet weil Gold-
schmidt kurze Zeit später in Lon-
don staib.
Ich sah Einstein während der
letzten Jahre nur .selten. Er zoc
sich mehr und mehr von der Aus-
senwelt zurück und verliess seine
Ermitage in Princeton fa.'^t nie
nir*hr.
Equotion
jf third-class
ided him, say-
iportant a per-
that way. To
US wife, whom
nged his ways.
ass.
he made ono
excursions to
tend a formal
ly friend. Therc
ns, white tios,
s and all the
an affair. The
n looked com-
ice, but equally
ted stocking cap
mont farm boy
n^ Chores.
he LoUipop.
occasion, also in-
*; connections, he
ittle ;^irl who was
vn with arithmetic
The man whom
hard Shaw called "one
e great builders of the
universe" sharpened a pencil and
showed the child how to solve
the example.
In return for his aid he ac-
cepted from the child's hands a
ponny lollipop, and consumed it
down to the stick.
On one of his previous birth-
days a reporter for the local
Princeton papcr asked the Pro-
fessor how he was cclebratin^
the anni versa ry.
"Pshaw," he Said, 'T'm not
doing anything. Birthdays are
only for children."
A few close friends think, how«
cver, that his daughter Margot
and the housekecper-secretary,
Miss Helen Dukas, may outfox
him and have a cake on the table
for dinner.
Then he may put aside his tele-
scope and globe, his poncil and
päd of yeilow paper, pull on a
baggy sw'cater or a fadcd bath-
robe and sit down to a quiet meal.
After coffee he may even get
out his cid violin and play a few
tunes.
uj«^
Einstein Quoted
„ Rights at Probes
»oup He Snubbed Hands Ouf
.'is Views' on Civil Liberties
! to the World-TeJegram and Sun.
'RINCETON, March 13.—Prof. Albert Einstein was
d today as insisting an intellectual's duty is to refuse
ooperate in any undertaking that violates the constitu-
il rights of the individual."
jcording to the left-wing
up that quoted the world-
aed mathemetician, the duty
plies "in particular for all in-
isitions that are concerned with
^^. private life and the political
'iliations of the Citizens."
rho stateitient was to be the
^hlight today of a meeting here
the Emergency Civil Liberties
* ^'^^ee, Its announced pur-
V'.e^bservance of Dr.
'^ 'nrthday tomor-
steln replied that Intellectuals
must lead the way in combatting
suppression of opinions whicli
they hold to be true.
Dr. Einstein, the committee
Said, declared "the external dan-
ger to our country" has forced
people to conceal their opinions
for fear of "inquisitions." To
prevent this, Ihe ECLC quoted
Dr. Einstein, it is necessary for
intellectuals to refuse to "cooper-
^te" on the premise that "who-
vlfo, whom
npod his ways.
a
he made ono
excursions to
tend a formal
ly friend. Thorc
US, white ties,
s and all the
an affair. The
n looked com-
ice, but equally
tod stocking cap
mont farm boy
nf-t Chores.
he LoIIipop.
ocoasion, also in-
♦f' connections, he
iitle ßirl who was
vn with arithmetic
The man whom
nard Shawcalled "one
e great builders of the
penny h)llii)op, and consumcd it
down to the stick.
On one of his provious birth-
days a reporter for the k)cal
Princeton p'ipcr nskod the pro-
fossor how he was cclebrating
the anniversary.
"Pshaw," he said. 'Tm not
dolng anytJiin^. Birthdays are
only for childrcn."
A fcw close friends think, how-
evor, that his dau^htor Margot
and the housekecpcr-secretary,
Miss Helen Dukas, may outfox
h im and have a cake on the table
for dinner.
Then he may put aside his tele«
scope and globe, his pencil ancl
päd of yellow paper, pull on a
baggy sweater or a faded bath-
robe and sit down to a quiet meal.
After coffee he may even get
out his old violin and play a few
tunes.
Einstein Quoted
Rights at Probes
oup He Snubbed Hands Out
.is Views' on Civil LIberties
l to thp WorJd-TeJegrani and Sun.
•RINCETON, March 13.— Prof. Albert Einstein was
d today as insisting an intellectuars duty is to refuse
ooperate in any undertaking that violates the constitu-
al rights of the individual."
xording to the left-wing
up that quoted the world-
iied mathemetician, the duty
plies "in particular for all in-
isitions that are concerned with
» private lifo and the political
üiations of the Citizens."
rho Statement was to be the
;hUght today of a meeting here
the Emergency Civil Liberties
'^tee. Its announced pur-
^e observance of Dr.
)irthday tomor-
ut lies x>öi: Attendinff.
.8 words of the retin n.^
dthematical wizard had to suf-
:e, because Dr. Einstein re-
jted the ECLC's invitation to
ttend in person.
Other prominent persons also
«clined to attend the meeting,
'scribed by several civic groups
a "claque ol foUow travelers."
long those who backed out
:e Gov. Robort B. Meyner and
George Gaylord Simpson ot
American Museum of Nat-
' History.
Fine Questions.
. Einstein's Statements, to be
along with Speeches on civil
were reported to havc
ritten out for the ECLC in
ise to five questions put to
i writing:
/hat is the essential natura
t ac% demic f reedom and why Is
t netessary ior the Dursuit of
truth?
2. \Vhat thrents to academic
reedom do you see at this time?
3. Vfhat . . . are the particular
sibilities of a Citizen at
me in the defense of our
mal freedoms as expressed
Sill of Rights?
lat . . . are the special
^s of an intellectual in
vac Society?
. . . is the best way to
/ictims of political in-
ouls Are Guests.
C, whose observance
res three professors
efused to testify be-
'»sional investlgating
reported Dr. Ein-
stein replied that Intellectuals
must lead the way in combattiag
supprossion of opinions which
they hold to be true.
Dr. Einstein, the committee
said, declared "the external dan-
ger to our country" has forced
people to conceal their opinions
for fear of "inquisitions." To
prevent this, the ECLC quoted
Dr. Einstein, it is necessary for
intellectuals to refuse to "cooper-
ate" on the oremise that "who-
ever cooperates in such a case
becomes an accessory to acts of
violation or invalidation of the
Constitution."
Laniont Amonq: Speakers.
The three professors who will
be principal Speakers today are
Prof. Barrows Dunham. sus-
pended by Temple University last
year; Dr. Corliss Lamont, lec-
turer at Columbia University. and
Prof. Dirk .Struick of the Massa-
chusetts Institute of Technology.
They were among members of
the ECLC who vvcre donounced
last night in a Statement by Sol
Stein of New York, a spokesman
for the American Committee for
Cultural Frecdom. He declared:
*'The fact that dominant figures
in the ECLC have long— and still
unbroken — records of involve-
ment in Communist line causes
convinces me of their insincerity
when they talk about freedom,
academic or any other klnd."
Merited Medal
^ By INEZ ROBE. «.
The Gstablishment by Conpress of a per-
manent or standing award lor Dislinpjuished
Civilian AchievemenU a civilian counlcrpart
of the truly sublime Medal
of Honor for the military, is
Ions o V e r d u e. However,
whatcver form Ihis new civil-
ian award takes, it will gain
stature and reflected glory
Irom its first recipient, Dr.
Jonas Salk.
It is amazing that the
United States, dedicated to
peaceful civilian ways, has
not long since established
such""ä "medal. Democracy moves in slow
ways, its wonders to perform. Still, it is sur-
prising that until now we have been content
to let our great inventors and scientists
(artists, philosophers and peace-promoters,
too) be Singled out for well-earned acclaim
by the Nobel prizes of Swedish origin.
The Nobel prizes, established before most
of US were born, were set up "to encourage
werk in the cause of humanity," a fact most
of US may have overlooked. Prizes are award-
ed in five categories, advancing the cause of
humanity: (1) physics, (2) chemistry, (3)
medicine or physiology, (4) idealistic litera-
ture and (5) furtherance of universal peace.
Inez Robb
Distinguished Americans in all categories
have received Nobel prizes. (Such a prize en-
abled at least one world-famous scientist, the
late Enrico Fermi. to flee to the U.S. from
then Mussolini-ridden Italy, to become an
American Citizen and help build the atom
l>0"^^-^ . 1.,. t.
Now it seoms high time that we establish
a Distinguished Civilian Award to be given
as sparingly as the Medal of Honor, to our
own mcn and women who, in the tradition of
Dr. Salk, perform the most illustrious service
for the nation and the world, as well.
In recent days Americans have been ab-
sorbed in news of two of its eminent scientists
and Citizens, Dr. Salk and Dr. Albert Einstein.
» * *
♦
It was a letter written by Dr. Einstein to
President Franklin D. Roosevelt in the early
days of World War II that urged and set m
motion the vast Manhattan Project, out of
vvhich grew the atom and then the hydrogen
If Dr. Einstein deserved a medal for this
Service to his adopted country he also de-
served one because he believed— in the best
American tradition— in the sanctity of the
individual. , ^. .,.
Well, a medal for Distinguished Ciyihan
Achievement is now assured, and if it is too
late to crown Dr. Einstein's long list of laureis
it is nonetheless ready for future pioneers.
Now, one last anecdote about the great
mathematirian. Dr. Einstein was fond of
pl^ying violin duets with the late, great Amer-
ican Violinist, Albert Spalding. If Dr. Em-
stein excelled at mathematics, no one doubted
that .Mr. Spalding excelled at the violin.
Dr. Einstein, when he found it difficult to
keep perfect time with his old friend, was
always admonished by the exasperated Mr.
Spalding, "Albert! Albert! It's one-two, one-
two! Can't you count?"
Ehitcln Talks to Group
SpeclaJ to THt Ntw York Times.
PRINCETON, N. J., March 29—
The 113 members and gnests of
tlie Chinese Chiistian Fellowship
of New York City who ralied at
the home of Albert Einstein today
were led by the scientist on a Short
hike to Miller Chapel three blocks
away, wherp he talked to them
aboiit science and religion. Dr.
Einstein's brief talk was the rlimax
of a day of Sightseeing by the
group.
day physicists. on tne otner nanu,
Champion the quantum theory.
vvhich holds that the univcrse is
discontinuous, made up of particle
and quanta (atoms) of energy.
Accordin^ to the quantum the-
ory. the physical universe is dual
in nature. everythin^ in it being
both particle and wave. Thp quan-
tum theory, of whioh Dr. Einstein
himself was one of the principal
founders, has as one of its key-
stones the Heisenberg Uncertainty
Principle. according: to which it is
impossible to predict individual
«vents, so that all Knowledge is
the gigantic tasK er aenvnig tn*
atomic character of energy.
*'We are separated by an as yet
insurmountable barrier from the
possibility of confronting the the-
ory witli experiment. Ncverthe-
less, I considcr it unjustified to
assert, a priori, that such a theory
is unable to cope with the atom-
istic character of energv."
When Mr. Shaw in 1930 na med
Dr. Einstein as one of the eight
"makers of the universe" he liat-
!ed the other seven as Pythagoras,
Aristotle. Ptolemy, Coptrnicus,
Galileo, Kepler and Newton.
"^^
/
:u^ii#:^
^NiMli^''
ä
,7^
W
-- V.,
■,:■('.' »f?S,-
-5»9!ff^f
\
'Faces of Achievement" \
ALBERT EINSTEIN, ESQUIRE:^
I photograph hy
Scientist
. Yousuf Karsh
k /
Einstein s homv nt 112 Mvrccr Strvct in Prinrcton. V. J.
68
n Theory Uniües
: Loncepts of Universe
(
v».
= 0, r. = 0
Rik = 0, R^kA + Rkui + Ä/t.it = 0
Einstein's latest equations for a Unified Field Theory
By WILLIAM
Albert Einstein, named by
George Bernard Shaw as one of
the eight "Universe Builders" in
lecorded history, has returned
rom a three-year sojourn on the
Ol. *!y summit of his scientific
Sinai väth a new set of laws foi
the cosmos.
These laws, embodicd in a few
mathematical formulas. will, he be-l
lievcs, reduce the physical universe
in its totality to a few simple,
.undamental concepts that will
inify all its multifarious and seem-
.ngly unrelated manifestations into
)ne all-embracing intellectual syn-
'.hesis.
He calls this all-embracing con-
ept, which he has been seeking
^^ith the consecrated devotion of
i high priest of science for more
han half of his seventy-four yeai s,
Unified Field Theoiy. He hopes
väll providc the master key to
e many mansions of the physical
L. LAUEENCE
universe, and ultimately permlt ad- ;
mittance to its very sanctum sanc
torum.
Dr. Einstein's latest concepts of
the fundamental laws governing
the cosmos are publishcd today by
the Princeton University Press as
an appendix to the fourth edition
|of his famous book, "The Meaning
iof Relativity." originally published
'in 1922. The appendix. headed
!*'Generalization of Gravitation The-
ory," is a radically revised version
of an appendix to the third edition
of the book, published in 1950.
His concept of 1950, he says, left
one serious difficulty to be solved.
This "last step in the theory," he
adds, "has been fuUy overcomc in
the last few months."
In his quest for a new imder-
standing of the fundamental laws
governing the cosmos Dr. Einstein
\
\
Continucd on Page 15, Column % |
\
elNSTElN DEV18ES
A UNIFIED THEORK
Contlnued From Page 1
has searched for simple unifying
principles underlying the multi-
farious phenomena in which the
material universe manifests itself.
In his special and general theories
of relativity, published in 1905 and
1916. respectively, which brought
about the greatest intellectual rev-
olution since Newton, he united
i matter and energy, space and time,
gravitation and inertia, all consid-
ered as individual and unrelated
entities, into one all-embracing
cosmic concept.
This synthesis, wrote Bertrand
Russell in 1924, "is probably the
greatest synthetic achievement of
the human intellect up to the
present time."
•'It sums up the mathematical
and physical labors of more than
2,000 years," he continued. "Pure
geometry from Pythagoras to Rie-
mann. the dynamics and astron-
omy of Galileo and Newton, the
theory of electromagnetism as it
resulted from the researches of
Faraday. Maxwell and their suc-
cessors, all are absorbed with the
necessary modifications, in the
theories of Einstein."
However, Jiaving achieved the
intellectual sjTithesis of matter
and energv, space and time. gravi-
tation and inertia, Dr. Einstein
was confronted with two concepts
that defied unification. The ma-
terial universe, as the theory of
relativity conceives it, is composed
of two major fields— the field of
graviation and the electromag-
netic field.
Last Obstacles Overcome
It was this synthesis of the
gravitational field and the field of
electromagnetism that Dr. Ein-
stein has been seeking, a will-o'-
the-wisp that kept «luding: him.
Three years ago, he had it almost
within *his grasp, having overcome
all the obstacles but one. He now
is convinced that he finally has
overcome this last obstacle and
thus has attained the crowning
i achievement of his life's work.
1 "The Solution of the problem,"
Dr. Einstein writes, "appears to
me to be highly convincing. al-
though. due to mathematical diffi-
culties, I have not yet found a
practical way to confront the re-
sults of the theory with experi-
mental evidence."
It took more than forty years
before the Einstein synthesis of
matter and energy as fundamen-
tally two different manifestations
of a Single cosmic entity could be
demonstrated experimentally on a
large scale. This was done on the
desert of New Mexico in the early
morning of July «, 1945. when the
explosion of the first atomic bomb
converted one gram of matter into
the explosive energy equivalent to
20,000 tons of TNT. Similarly, it
took several years before the pre-
dictions of the general theory of
relativity could be verified by ob-
servations of a total eclipse of the
sun.
Behirid pr. Einstein's quest for
a Unified Field Theory. which most
of present-day pbysicists regard as
unattainable, lies one of the great-
est intellectual schisms In the his-
tory of science. Dr. Einstein be-
lieves the physicaU universe is one
continuous field, like an endless
stream. The majority of modern
based on probability and thus at
best can be only Statistical in na-
ture. The Uncertainty Principle
has led, furthermore, to the uni-
versal acceptance by present-da\
physicists (with the exception ol
Dr. Einstein) that there is no
causality or determinism innature.
Dr. Einstein alone has stood in
j .ajestic solitude agalnst all these
concepts of the quantum theory.
Admitting that it has had brilliant
successes in explaining many of
the mysteries of the atom and the
phenomena of radiation. which i»o
other theory has succeeded in ex-
plaining, he maintains that the
theory of discontinuity and uncer-
tainty, of the duality of particle
and wave. and of a universe not
governed by cause and effect, is an
incomplete theory, and that even-
tuallv laws will be found showing
a continuous, non-dualistic uni-
verse, governed by immutable laws,
in which individual events are pre-
dictable.
"I cannot believe." he says, that
God plays dice with the cosmos.
He admits ireely that his present
field theory does not find room in
the universe for the atom and its
component particles, which he de-
scribes as "singularities in the
field." But he is equally confident
that the field theory is the only
approach to a well-ordered uni-
verse and that eventually it will
find room for the "enfant terriblc"
of the cosmos— the atom and the
vast forces within it.
Dr. Einstein'» Explanation
"I must explain," he wiites,
"why I have gone to so much
trouble to arrive at this result.
"The contemporary physicist
cannot, without such an explana-
tion, appreciate this; for he la con-
vinced, as a result of the successes
of the probability-based quantum
mechanics, that one must abandon
the goal of complete descriptions
of real situations in a physical
theory.
"One cannot keep side by aide
the concepts of field and particle
as elements of the physical de-
scription. The field concept re-
quires freedom from singularities,
while the particle concept fof the
quantum theory, as elementary
concept). is a singularity in the
field. The field concept, however,
seems Inevitable. since it would
be impossible to formulate general
relativity without it. And general
relativity is the only means to
avoid the 'no-thing* inertial Sys-
tem.
*'For this reason I see in the
present Situation no possible way
other than a pure field theory,
which then, however, has before it
•'»rTliir-»
^ «« M •»
NORMAL BRAIN inade these waves.
Circles indicate pusitions of llie electrodes.
Ttiey are charted to learn how a genius thinks
Tlie world's mofit celebrated living geniiis lay on a small cot in Princeton
as tiny metal electrodes were attached to his scalp, up bis nostrils and
af'ain«^! his eardrums. Albert Einstein -»vct« c^.* ,u*ö «- « ©*** i o '' •.
ambitious experiments on the brain. What the experimenters wanted to
l.arn was what niechanism in the brain of a genius allows him to think
Ihioußh Problems too complex for an averagc man. To chart the bram
waves, they measured the electric currents that pulse tlirougb the brain,
rerorded ihem in tlic form of agraph. How the brain works is shown by the
frequency, height and grouping of the recorded waves. After compar.ng
Einsteins brain waves (riglu) with ihose of ordinary people {above), they
c.ffered iheir theory: thev believe that in the genius many separate groups
of brain cells work on a problem at once. Then his mind tunes in on one
yroupofcellsafteranotherinrapidsuccession,scanningthecntir.;l)raintor
the correct answers like a radar search antenna scaninng the sky lor planes.
j
GENIUS BRAIN of AIIkmI Kiiisiein pnKluced this chart when the scientist wa»
asked to think ahuut prohlems of rtdativity, then to relax and niake his mind Ic
come blank. Patterns of waves show how all porlions of his brain behaved dunng
period of concentrated thinkin-, tht-n how activity tapered oll into relaxat on.
1
ELECTRODE IS ATTACHED to Dr. Einstein's forehead by a brain special-
i«t in Order to pick up the brain's tinv electricaLblPulses, magnify and rccord
them for study. As many as 16 electrodes at a time are sometimes^sed logive
eight curves showing simultaneous action going on m various parts o^^|^
^
EDITORIAL
^ f
FIRMNESS GEIS RESULTS
Pnlilics, Said Riii>tciM (scc ri^ht), is a mii.^h
niorc (iidicull study ihan pliysics. lUil il does
yitdd a Irw clcar and simple lessons on (mmü-
sion, and tlic Hussiaii a^recrnent lo ^ive Aus-
tria hack its sovereigiily is one of them. For
a dccadc now the Soviel Union has beon im-
inovahly against such a treaty. Sudih'uly it
agreed. Why? Ohviously, hecause all its other
ellorts have l'ailed to shakc the West's deter-
niination to rcarrn Gerinany. Siirely, if auy
addilional evidence >\eie needed, tliis is proof
that lirmness is ihe only policy that will ever
make the Sovicts yieH a single inch.
The Soviets now h(>p<' lo inakc West Gcr-
nianv lose hearl in ils deterniinatioii to rearm.
TASS dispatches are hintin«jj to the Gernians
that Austrian-slyle neutralily is llie way t'or
ihem to get the uiiification they crave so much
— and more than a i'cw Gernians are credu!« js-
ly listening to this neu sireii sonj,^ from ihe
East. The West musl agree to the Big Four
nieeting asked by the Soviets to coniplete the
Austrian treatv, h>r ihis concession was pre-
eiselv the 'Clear and specific act" denianiied
by President Kisenhovser as one of the ^^signs
ol sincere intent" to precede any new lalk
with tbe Russians.
The West musl also slart prejiaring for ihc
possihilitv, unlikrly as it seems, that the So-
viets may ev<Mi olfci" free all-Gernian elections
if bv so doiiig lliev can stop the dreaded ic-
arnuuncnt. Such a unifuMl Gerniany vvmild not
be bound by tbe Paris accords, and Dr. Ade-
naner's laborious work with the West would
have to begin all over again.
Hut despite such dangers, roarmameiil has
})roved its(df lo be tbe free worlds biggesl Ik-Ic-
card in makiiig the Russians |)Iay poker uith-
out cbcaling. Thal bcing so, the obvious les^(^n
is lo inakc ihal ace as powerful as possible,
and never rclinquish it unless and unlil ihe
Soviets cease lo nuMiace tfic pcople (d Furope.
CAN WE PRODUCE AN EINSTEIN?,
I
Albert Finstein, tbe greatest scienlilic niind
of tbis and most earlier centuries, dml a
U.S. Citizen: but be was not a prodncl of
tbe U.S. He was a Furopcan: and so, at least
bclore World War IF liave becn niost of tbe
jcading scientists of bis pure, disinterested,
tbeoretical type. De ToccpicN illc long ago
noled that tbe spirit of America, though de-
votcd to practical science, "is avcrse to gen-
oral ideas; it does not seek tbeoretical dis-
coveries." That is still rclativcly true; one
niav even wondcr wbcthcr we a>//A/ produce
an Finstein.
Of tbe great U.S.-born pionocrs of sci-
ence. from Franklin througb Willard Gibbs
to ()p|)cnlicimcr, practically all studicd in
Eiiropc. (}radually ihev brongbt back to
these shores (as a recent FoKTUiNE article
puts il) ''tbe Standards of European j)hysi-
cal science: its rigor of though t, its soar-
ing iniagination, its terrific iccmocdasm about
the Newtonian modeis of tbe past." Then
came tbe refngees, like Einstein bimself,
who co?n|)lcte(l tbe process of hringing L.S.
science to rnaturity. Fhe U.S. is now world
beadfpiarlers of scientific activity of all
kinds. Yet most of it is concerned witb
tbe hotv and ir/iat (A tbings. rather than
the irhv. In tlu^ wby (le[)artrnent, whi(di
was Einstein's, Europe's best nien may still
be better than ours.
Tbe diirerence is not one of talent (for tbat
Sj)rings up evervwbere), nor in equipment or
nioncv (in tbese tbe U.S. is far abead), but
in training, "clirnate" and above all in moti-
vation. A pure scientist, though bis (lis(.,v-
eries may change tbe world, does not wo»k
for that j)nrpose: bis motive is jHircdv and
sinijdv to know. That was Einstein's ruiing
j)assion; even bappincss, he onee reniarkcd,
was a goal for pigs.
Applied science, on tbe other band, can be
recognized bv its baviiig a clearlv (h^fined
and usually usclnl (d)jective. Wbcn Ameri-
cans turn a *'task force" loose on such an
ol)jeclive, wbetber it be tbe Manhattan proj-
ect or tbe Salk Vaccine, victory is usually
just a maller of timc. Our cngineers pourcd
millions of man-bours into the successful
discovery of antiknock gas(dine, for exam-
ple — but wilbout a<lding to our knowledge
of ibc nalure of combuslion (a subjccl on
wbich we apparently still know less than
about luiclear fission).
riiese proj(M'ts could not even have been
dclincd had not tbeories hrst been workcd
out by [)in'e tbinkers wbo were not trying to
make anything or belp anybody. Einstein,
wbose E=mc opened tbe atomic era, needed
no laboratory equipment but paper and pcn-
cil and conducted almost no expcrimcnts.
riie European climate that encouraged bis
kind of cnriosity is not one we sbould wish
to transplant uncbanged. Flinojjean univer-
sity Professors, tbe stupiil as well as the able,
are all draped witb much more prestige and
titics than ours, and the dowrv sv^KöttL
also h(d[)ed free tbe young Fnröp^o sj
tist for ''prolitless*' pursuits. Hut thefei-l
and is, a hroader kind of iiospilate
tbougbt in the European atmosphere.^^
Einstein himself was no acadeinic career-
ist. He coubbTt get a inji\ ersitv Job aftcT bis
graduation; be was a lonelv, laugbing, de-
tached nonconlormist all bis life. After be
published bis first ther>ries in 1905, however,
he taugbt at leading universities in Eur(>pe.
The tbeories aroused great bostilitv; they
were daniricd as ''H(dsbevik physics" by
some scientists in tbe West, and in Soviet
Russiafortheirdecadent ''metaphvsical tend-
encies." But Furope's scientific connnuni-
ty did not wait unlil their conlirmation by
tbe eclipse of 1919 to accord tbese tbeories
its respect. Tbat was given for their claim
on abstract truth and their evident j)ower
of tbought.
American scientists can keep themselves
busy for many years just exploiting the dis-
coveries of Einst(M*n. How then can we best
discbarge our great debt to bim? \b(»ve all,
by keeping clear the social and inlellectual
*
Channels of new knowledge.
Tbc U.S. is incrc^asingly dc|)endcnt on "e-
searcb": we spend nearlv $4 billion a year
on il. But over 95% of tbis suni goes for
applied, not basic, research, and nearlv all
of it comes either from government or cor-
porations, wbo have to account to taxpay-
ers and stockholders for its ^'usefuhn^ss."
There is conse(]uently a mounting pr<^s-
sure on our linu'ted supply of vonng sci-
entists to get into these more ^'useful"
branches of science. This pressure is feit in
uni\ersities and even high s(dio(ds, whcre
*'the educational path'rn," as Dr. Alan W a-
terman says, "tends to respond by encour-
aging the premature study of the practical."
The result is that American science consists
less of thinking than of measuring: one
educator calls it '*a great hüstle and hüstle,
a rnshing hack and fortb to scientific Con-
ferences, a great pletbora of $5().()(K) grants
for S 100 ideas."
Allred P. Sloan Jr. recently called atten-
tion to this imhalance: ''We in this coun-
try are not doing tbe basic research in tbe
pbvsical sciem'cs we ought to do in snp|>ort
of our a|)plied res<'arch and our advanced
engineering." His Sloan Foundation is about
to estal)lisb a preliniinarv fnnd of S5 milb'on
in Support of the cause of l)asic research- -a
good (^xam[de for other foundati(His to fol-
low. But something more is needed: more
than nioney, facilities and talent. What is
recpn'red of our young scientists is a sacred
curiosity about nature's great unan^wt'rcd
riddles — not to conquer and exj»l<#il,>but
simply to understand. What is reqtiired of
the rest of us is a similar resp^cL lor ibe
power and beauty, not just the utilii, of
unrestricted human tbought.
I
I
if, V> '1 ii
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u
Uui^k
l^p. C4^A ^id
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A
4
«« •
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.- ,^ *er versteh i
ii Mir kwi.
äus Ihnen wird nie
9
WäS
99
Als 26jähriger schuf er ein neues Weltbild • Unbekanntes aus dem Leben
des klügsten Kopfes unserer Zeit • Ein Bericht für die Frankfurter Jllustrierte,
verfaßt von Carl Seelig, durchgesehen von Albert Einstein persönlich
Frühherbst 1895. Der Bummelzug
brachte den sechzehnjährigen
Schüler Albert Einstein aus Mün-
chen nach Zürich. Er wollte dort an der
Eidgenössischen Technischen Hoch-
schule studieren.
Da er jedoch von keiner Mittelschule
ein Reifezeugnis besaß, forderte man
ihn auf, an der Hochschule
eine Aufnahmeprüfung ab-
zulegen.
In dieser fiel Albert Ein-
stein durch. Seine Kennt-
nisse in den mathematischen
und physikalischen Fächern
waren zwar ungewöhnlich.
Aber in den modernen
Sprachen, in Zoologie und
Botanik wurden seine Lei-
stungen als ungenügend
taxiert. Rektor Albin Herzog
riet ihm deshalb, an der
AargauischenKantonsschule
in Aarau die oberste Klasse
zu absolvieren.
Das Elternhaus, in dem
Albert Einstein am 14. März
1879 in Ulm geboren wurde,
steht seit 1944 nicht mehr.
Es wurde durch Bomben
•zerstört. Aber die Straße,
an der es sich befand, heißt
neuerdings wieder „Ein-
steins traße".
Albert war kaum ein Jahr
alt, als seine Eltern, die beide
* aus Süddeutschland stam-
men - die Einsteins aus der
'ürttembcrgischen Klcin-
'tau am FMer-
Meßinstrumente und Bogenlampen her-
gestellt wurden, damals durchweg Neu-
heiten, die noch wenig entwickelt
waren. Das Unternehmen florierte je-
doch nicht, worauf ein ähnlicher Fabri-
kationsbetrieb in Italien, in Pavia, ver-
sucht wurde. Wiederum ohne Erfolg.
Der junge Albert hat deshalb
verschiedene geschäftliche Notzeiten mit-
erlebt. - Seine ersten Enttäuschungen
stammen jedoch von der Schule her.
Nach den obligaten Elementarklassen
war er 1889 ins Luitpoldgymnasium in
München eingetreten, dessen Drill ihm
so unerträglich wurde, daß er es auf
eigene Faust ohne Abschlußexamen
verließ und zu seinen Eltern nach
Italien fuhr.
„Ich bin nicht begabt - nur
neugierig!"
Es wird erzählt, daß der Vater dem
fünfjährigen Albert einen Taschenkom-
paß zeigte, der ihn geradezu verzauberte,
weil er hinter der Bewegung
der Nadel eine geheime
Macht spürte, die über alle
Menschenmacht hinaus
wirksam ist. Diese klare,
sichere Welt der Gesetze
imponierte dem frühreifen
Knaben weit mehr, als das
Auswendiglernen und Ein-
pauken von Schulaufgaben.
Als Mittelschüler gelang
es ihm, den pythagoräischen
Lehrsatz - das Schreckge-
spenst aller Mathematik-
schüler - durch eigene Denk-
kraft zu beweisen. Als ihn
ein Freund fragte, von wel-
chem Elternteil er seine
wissenschaftliche Begabung
geerbt habe, gab er zur
Antwort: „Ich habe keine
besondere Begabung, ich
bin nur neugierig.**
Albert Einstein, dem in
München der Lateinlehrer
prophezeit hatte : „Aus Ihnen
wird nie was Rechtes!**
war nun Kantonsschüler in ,
der schweizerischen Klein-
stadt Aarau.
-\
Einstein, aus Iilinen wird nie was Rechtes !"
/
MiMva, die im griechisch-orthodoxen
Glaul)cn aufgewachsen und voll Wiß-
begjv rde in die Schweiz gekommen war,
um an der E. T. H. das Fachlehrerinnen-
Zeugnis zu erwerben, brachte dazu die
n( lige Intelligenz mit. Aber ihre grüb-
lerische Schwerblütigkeit machten ihr
das Leben und das Studium oft schwer.
Auf ihre Umgebung wirkte sie leicht
düster, wortkarg und mißtrauisch. Wer
sie jedoch näher kannte, begann ihre
slawische Gastfreundschaft und unge-
zierte Bescheidenheit, mit der sie den
lebhaften Debatten im Hintergrund zu
folgen pflegte, zu schätzen.
Mileva schloß sich eng an den
zielbewußten, frohmütig - burschikosen
Kommilitonen Einstein an, und diese
Zeit gehörte zu den lichtesten Perioden
ihrer irdischen Existenz.
Die Mathematik liebte Einstein nicht
sehr. Er wich ihr aus, wo er konnte. Er
war froh, daß er in seinem Kommili-
tonen Marcel Grossmann einen Freund
besaß, auf dessen sauber geführte Kolleg-
hefte er sich felsenfest verlassen konnte.
Grossmann, dessen Vater in Zürich eine
Fabrik für landwirtschaftliche Maschinen
leitete, war von neidenswert leichter Auf-
fassungsgabe. Zweifellos war er einer
der ersten Zeitgenossen, die Einsteins
Fortsetzung unseres Artikels von Seite 4
geniale Begabung erkannten. Schon
wenige Tage nach der Bekanntschaft
sagte er zu seinen Eltern: „Dieser Ein-
stein wird einmal etwas ganz Großes'"
Sehnsudit nach dem Begreifen dc^r
Wehrätsel
Es war nun nicht so, daß Einstein die
großen Erkenntnisse der Physik einfach
zuflogen. Er hat sie sich alle schwer er-
arbeitet. Diese Arbeit machte ihn schon
als sehr jungen Menschen einsam. Ein-
mal äußerte er zu seinem Freund: „Jetzt
weiß ich, warum es so viele Leute gibt,
die gern Holz spalten. Da sieht man den
Erfolg nämlich immer sofort!" Dabei
spiegelte sich auf seinem Gesicht die
Mühsal der eigenen Forschungsarbeit,
die monate- und jahrelanges Suchen
nach der Lösung fundamentaler Schwie-
rigkeiten mit sich brachte.
Schon der junge Einstein war von
tiefem Glauben erfüllt. Er nannte seme
Glaubenslehre die „kosmische Reli-
giosität" und schrieb: „Die kosmische
Religiosität ist die stärkste und edelste
Triebfeder der wissenschaftlichen For-
schung. Nur wer die ungeheuren An-
strengungen und vor allem die Hingabe
ermessen kann, ohne die bahnbrechende
wissenschaftliche Gedankenschöpfungen
nicht zustande kommen, kann die Stärke
des Gefühls ermessen, aus dem allein
solche, dem praktischen Leben abge-
wandte Arbeit erwachsen kann. Welch
ein tiefer Glaube an die Vernunft des
Weltenbaues und welche Sehnsucht
nach dem Begreifen, wenn auch nur
eines geringen Abglanzes der in dieser
Welt geoffenbarten Vernunft, mußten in
Kepler und Newton lebendig sein, daß
diese den Mechanismus des Himmels in
der einsamen Arbeit vieler Jahre ent-
wirren konnten. Nur wer sein Leben
ähnlichen Zielen hingegeben, hat eine
lebendige Vorstellung davon, was die
Menschen beseelt und was ihnen die
Kraft gegeben hat, trotz unzähliger
Mißerfolge dem Ziel treu zu bleiben. Es
ist die kosmische Religiosität, die solche
Kräfte spendet. Die ernsthaften For-
scher in unserer im allgemeinen mate-
rialistisch eingestellten Zeit sind die
einzigen tiefreligiösen Menschen!"
Spannungen
Indessen gingen die Studienjahre an
der E. T. H. in Zürich nicht ganz ohne
Spannungen ab. Selbständig, wie Ein-
stein von Jugend an war, las er nicht die
vorgeschriebene Pflichtlektüre an Bü-
ehern, sondern bestimmte für sich und
die befreundete Kommilitonin Mileva
Marie eigenmächtig die Literatur, die
ihm ai.. ..»vecK
brachte den Do7^i.....
tcchnik gegen ihn auf, d
wies: „Einstein, Sie sii.
Scheiter Junge. Aber Sie haue», v
großen Fehler: Sie lassen sich nici
sagen!" v
Wie jeder andere Laborant hatte auc i ^
Einstein einen Zettel erhalten, auf dem
seine Aufgabe notiert war und die
Methode, die zu ihrer Lösung be-
nützt werden sollte. Der von starkem
Unabhängigkeitsdrang erfüllte Einstein
pflegte aber solche Zettel kurzerhand in
den Papierkorb zu werfen und die Auf-
gabe auf einem anderen Weg als dem
vorgeschriebenen zu lesen. Darüber
entrüstet, fragte Professor Pernet seinen
Assistenten: „Was denken Sie eigentlich
von Einstein? Der macht ja ganz
andere Sachen, als ich angeordnet habe!"
„Tatsächlich, Herr Professor", sagte
der Assistent, „aber seine Lösungen sind
richtig und die von ihm angewandten
Methoden immer interessant!"
Erst Jahrzehnte später begriff" man,
daß aus dem eigenmächtigen Studenten
ein Neugestalter des physikalischen Fun-
damentes geworden war.
im Vorsommer 1900 legte Einstein
nach vier Studienjahren in Zürich seine
Diplomprüfung in theoretischer und
praktischer Physik, Funktionstheorie <
und Astronomie mit Erfolg ab.
Ohne Stellung und ohne Geld
Seit Bestehen der Diplomprüfung
hatte die Tante in Genua die monatlichen
ri
FEIN UND LEICHTc
1
v^
eire
ütden Tag muh >*UtCJUcU« - -
ethe gute Qeu/chnhat!
\
hot seine Schrecken ver-
loben heute ein ousgezeichnetes
ismittel gegen nervöse Mogen-
n sowie gegen Druckgefuhl, Auf-
tcit, Eßunlust unci Sodbrennen.
A-SALZ. Mit diesem absolut
Mogenpuiver aus Minerol-
" utern können Sie sich sofort
Kterung verschafFen Wer
wi/d d<M bf^.totrc"
BALLENSCHMERZ
Rasche und sichere Beseitiqcng
durcfi die wellbekannter) und bev. iten
'/^hiung*.*n von loo Schweizcrfran <en
v'ingcstellt. Die hnanzielle Situation, vor
Her sich nun der lunundzwanzigjährige
fand, sah trübe aus. Dazu kam als
schwerer Schicksalsschlag der Verlust
des geliebten Vaters, der 1902 in Mai-
land starb. Die mittellose Mutter bezog
eine Stellung als Haushälterin in [leil-
bronn. Später, als Einstein nach Berlin
berufen wurde, nahm er sie zu sich.
Nur Einsteins stoischer Gleichgültig-
keit gegenüber jedem äußeren Besitz
war es zuzuschreiben, daß er sich in
Zürich bis zum Herbst 1901 durch-
bringen konnte. Unter allerbeschei-
densten Lebensansprüchen hielt er sich
durch die Erledigung rechnerischer Auf-
gaben, die ihm der damalige Direktor
der Zürcher Sternwarte zur Unter-
suchung des Sonnenfleckensystems und
anderer Forschungen anvertraute, über
Wasser.
Dann wurde er als Aushilfslehrer ans
Technikum nach Winterthur in die
Nordostschweiz engagiert. In seiner
Freizeit musizierte er in einem Laien-
orchester. Eine kalte Servelatwurst und
ein Stück Brot bildeten häufig seine
einzige Mahlzeit pro Tag.
Dank der Empfehlungen von Marcel
Grossmanns Vater, jenes Studienkame-
raden, der Einsteins Genie zuerst er-
kannte, erhielt Einstein am Schweize-
rischen Patentamt in Bern als techni-
scher Experte eine Anstellung, die er im
Juni 1902 antrat. Sein Jahresgehalt be-
trug 5500 Franken. Im Jahre 1906
wurde es auf 4500 erhöht. Als der
Direktor des Patentamtes ihm seine
Bezüge nannte, sagte Einstein: „Ja,
was soll ich denn mit dem vielen Geld
anfangen ?"
Ehesdiließung mit Mileva
Es fand sich ein Weg, wie Einstein
sein Einkommen unterbringen konnte.
Er ließ sich die Studienkameradin aus
Zürich, Mileva Marie, nach Bern kom-
men. Man mietete eine einfache Woh-
nung, von der sich ein beruhigender
Blick auf die Berner Alpen bot, und am
6. Januar 1905 heirateten Albert Ein-
stein und die Serbin Mileva Marie, die
inzwischen ihre Studien an der E. T. H.
abgeschlossen hatte.
Der vierundzwanzigjährige Ehemann
und die siebenundzwanzigjährige Ehe-
frau waren nicht gerade Muster schwei-
zerischer Häuslichkeit. Milevas Ehrgeiz
im Kampf gegen den Staub und die Mot-
ten war begrenzt. Aber sie war immer
bereit, mit den Besuchern das wenige,
das sie besaß, kameradschaftlich zu teilen.
Einstein selbst hat für ein zwangloses
Bohemeleben immer Verständnis gehabt.
Ein Jahr nach der Heirat schrieb
Einstein seinen Studienfreunden, die er
nach Bern eingeladen hatte: „Heda, Ihr
miserablen Faulpelze! Ich werde Euch
mit dem Rest meiner Gefühle und mit
guter Laune an der Kramgasse 49,
II. Stock, in Bern empfangen. Wir kriegen
in ein paar Wochen ein Junges. Die Be-
ziehung zwischen der Größe der Ele-
mentarquantader der Materie und den
Strahlungswellenlängen habe ich nun
auf höchst simple Weise gefunden!"
Immer mischte er Privates mit neuen
wissenschaftlichen Erkenntnissen. Mit
den Füßen auf Erden, mit dem Kopf im
Universum, so lebte er schon damals.
Schusterarbeit -
aber man lebt davon
Die Arbeit, die Einstein als Beamter
des Patentamtes zu erledigen hatte,
fiel ihm bei seiner ausgesprochenen Be-
gab'^ ng, sich in fremde Probleme hin-
einzudenken und sie auf das Wesent-
lich^ reduzieren, nicht schwer. Er
hat. zu so^^en. dfii die ausge ^
Er selbst fand die Arl^eit ni
anregend. Er nannte sie seine ,.
arbeit**, die ihn seinem eigen» :.
essenkreis entzog, wofür er aiK-rdh
anständig bezahlt wurde. Die \ Vcrlrö
stigung aus der Tüte hatte jeiirnfall:
ein Ende gefunden und das war auch
nicht gerade ein Nachteil.
Lehrmeister Max Planck
Schon früh läßt sich in Einste'ns
wissenschaftlicher Arbeit das Bemühen
erkennen, die Elementargesetze, aus
denen das Bild der Welt gewonnca
werden kann, aufzuspüren und auf
möglichst einfache Formeln zu bringen.
Er verbindet dabei nüchterne Logik mit
schöpferischer Kombinationsgabe und
scharfsinniger Vorstellungskraft. Dank
diesen Gaben ist es ihm gelungen, an
der Veränderung des klassischen Welt-^
bildes entscheidend mitzuhelfen. Nach
seinen eigenen Worten hat sich erst seit
dem Finde des 19. Jahrhunderts all-
mählich ein Umschwung der Grundan-
schauungen vollzogen, ein Hinaus-
wachsen der theoretischen Physik aus
dem Newtonschen Rahmen, welcher der
Wissenschaft fast zwei Jahrhunderte
lang Halt und gedankliche Führung gab.
Wenige Monate nachdem Einstein
in Zürich das Diplomexamen bestanden
hatte, erfuhr die wissenschaftliche Welt
aus Berlin ein Ereignis von großer Trag-
weite. Am 19. Oktober 1900 teilte dort
der damals 42jährige Max Planck den
Mitgliedern der deutschen ,, Physika-
lischen Gesellschaft'* seine Entdeckung
des Strahlungsgesetzes mit. Am 14. De-
zember desselben Jahres konnte er dann
der gleichen Gesellschaft die theore-
tische Ableitung dieses Gesetzes be-
kanntgeben; dieser Tag kann als Ge-
burtstag der Quantentheorie bezeichnet
werden. Wie Einstein, so war auch der
aus Kiel stammende Max Planck bereits
in seiner Jugend zu der Ueberzeugung
gelangt, daß sich durch reines Denken
absolute Gesetzmäßigkeiten aufstellen
lassen.
Das Leben dieses edlen, an Einsteins
Aufstieg mitbeteiligten Mannes, der
19 18 den Nobelpreis für Physik erhalten
hat, ist von einem Uebermaß an Tragik
umgeben. Im Ersten und Zweiten Welt-
krieg hat er zwei Söhne verloren. Bei der
Nachricht von der Verleihung des
Nobelpreises erkrankte seine zweite
Tochter t()dlich und starb wie die erste.
Sein Haus in Berlin wurde durch
Bomben vernichtet, seine BibÜothek ge-
stohlen und unersetzliche Dokumente
zerstört, darunter die Briefe von Ein-
stein. Schließlich lag Planck gegen Ende
des Zweiten Weltkrieges in Kassel
stundenlang im Keller eines Gutshauses
verschüttet. Inmitten einer chaotischen
Trümmerwelt ist er am 4. Oktober 1947
in Göttingen im Alter von nahezu 90
Jahren gestorben. Seiner Dankbarkeit
(
tlH'>K'lN
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Ctc&d
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........ m J91«». tue Ein.
;''^'"\.d'^;orced, and Bes"o
scnt his friend the divorce
Äs"'.ator. '°"""- f°"^
The scientific work harf
an imn.J^ ^'"'^''" ^'"'Shed
an important study of gravi,
tation he wrote Besso: 'The
islL/T""^ ^"^.^niprehensible
IS that I was obJiged to erone
sc? long before fhiding ffi
was at band." ^ ^^
*'How perfidious Naiure is
when cne want^ to aporoach
omplamed. "in mv old aee
mstem was tuen 35] /m
nring^^a passion for ex-
nex^yeav he informed
Column 5
l
V
Ari \36
/^/W £>^Ji
r/«-
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I'^'i'7 fJr^J.
C^T*^^Oyr
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1 998 CALENDAR
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1998CALENDAR
Catalog No. 98056
Publishcd by Pomcgranate Calendars &c ßooks,
Box 6099, Rohnert Park, California 94927
© 1997 The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel
Albert Einstein'^' licenscd by The Roger Richman Agency, Inc., Beverly Hills, CA
Available in Canada from Firefly Books Ltd.,
3680 Victoria Park Avenue, Willowdale, Ontario M2H 3K 1
Available in the U.K. and mainland Furope from Pomegranate Europe Ltd.,
Fullbridge House, Fullbridge, Maldon, Essex CM9 7LE, England
Available in Australia from Boobook Publications Pty. Ltd.,
P.O. Box 163 or Freepost 1, Tea dardens 2324
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Available in Asia (including the Middle Fast), Africa, and Latin America from
Pomegranate International Sales, 1 13 Babcombe Drive,
Thornhill, Ontario L3T 1 M9, Canada
Pomegranate also publishes Essential Einstein: A 36S-Dciy Calendar nf Quotcs fnr 1998, as
well as a book, a book of postcards, posters, bookmarks, and postcards featuring Albert
Einstein. Our full-color catalog showing 170 1998 calendars is available for one dollar. We
offer our other full-color catalogs (illustrating our notecards, boxed notes, notecard folios,
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Box 6099, Rohnert Park, California 94927.
A MAN FOR
ALL SEASONS
Cover design by Mark Koenig
s for the search for truth, I know from my
own painfui seorching, with its many blind
alleys, how hard it is to take a reliable step,
be it ever so smoll, toward the understanding
of that which is truly significant.
■LErnn. fEBRum 1 934
S U N D A Y
M O N D A Y
December
S M T W T F S
12 3 4 5 6
7 8 9 10 11 12 13
14 15 16 17 IS 19 20
21 22 23 24 25 26 27
28 29 30 31
bcbruary
S M T W
12 3 4
8 9 10 11
15 \b 17 18
22 U 24 25
T F
5 6
12 13
19 20
26 27
S
7
14
21
28
l^irst Quarter
11
hill Moo«
12
18
Martin Luther King
jr.'s Birthiiay
(Ohseri'ed)
19
T U E S 1) A Y
W H 1) N H S D A Y T H U R S D A Y
F R I D A Y
S A T U R D A Y
13
Last Quarter
20
25
26
27
New Year's Day
14
Martin Luther King
fr. 's Birthäay
15
21
22
New Moon
28
29
16
23
30
10
17
24
31
JANUARY
Albert Einstein, 1912
Photograph by J. F. Langhans, courtesy The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel
f
».
y
trite objects of human efforts — possessions,
outward
successes, luxury — have always
seemed to me contemptible
The WoäD as I See It, " ommiLY published in
fom AND Century. 1 93 1
S U N D A Y
M O N D A Y
T IJ E S D A Y
WEDNHSDAY THURSDAY
F R I i:) A Y
S A T U R i:) A Y
hirst Quarter
10
/-//// Moon
11
Lincoln 's Birthday
12
13
Valentine' s Day
14
15
Presidents' Day
16
17
18
Last Quarter
19
20
21
Washington 's
Birthday
22
23
24
<4i/; Wednesday
25
Nt'U' Moo«
26
27
28
jamtan'
s M r \x T
4
II
IS
25
12
|y
26
6
20
1-
7
14
21
28
S
IS
22
2*^
F
2
y
16
2;?
30
s
10
17
24
31
March
1
s
M
2
4
IS 16
11 23
24 30
T
3
10
r
24
31
W
4
II
IS
25
T F
S 6
12 13
S
7
14
X^i 20 21
26 27 28
FEBRUARY
A. E. and Elsa aboard thc Kitano Maru
Photograph courtesy The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel
t
( )
contemporary has said, not uniustly, that in this materialistic world of ours the serious scientific workers are the only profoundly religious peopli
■New York Times Magaiine, 1930
S U N D A Y
M C) N D A Y
15
22
29
T U H S D A Y
W H 1) N i: S I) A Y T H U R S D A Y
10
16
St. Patrick 's Dax
17
23
30
24
31
F R I D A Y
SATURDAY
First Quartcr
11
18
25
12
/•//// M
oon
13
14
19
Vernal Equinox
7:')S p,M.(CMT)
20
Lji7 (Quartcr
21
26
27
NfM' Moon
28
behruary
S M T W T
12^45
8 9 10 II 12
15 16 17 IS \^
11 23 24 25 26
F S
6 7
n 14
20 21
27 28
April
S M T W
1
5 6 7 8
i: 13 14 15
19 20 21 22
26 2^ 28 29
T F S
2 3 4
9 10 II
16 17 18
23 24 25
30
MARCH
A. E. and Marie Curie Walking near Lake Geneva after a meeting of the International
Committee on Intellectual Cooperation, c. 1930
Photograph courtesy AIP Niels Bohr Library
•
o
most beautifui experience we can bave is the mysterious
//
Jhe World as I See \i " mmm pubushed in Forum m Century. 1 93 1
S U N i:) A Y
M C) N 1) A Y
T U H S D A Y
Miirch
S
1
8
IS
11
19
M
2
9
16
U
30
T
II)
r
24
.^1
W T
4 S
II n
IK 19 20
25 26 27
S
7
14
21
28
May
S M T W T
3
10
r
24
4 5
I 1 12
18 19
25 26
6
13
20
7
14
21
2S
I S
1 2
8 9
15 16
22 23
29 ^0
/\j/m Sundüv
5
Raster Sumiay
12
(C.iinaäa)
13
Lj5f Quarter
19
20
New/ Müo«
26
27
W H D N i: S D A Y T H U R S D A Y
14
21
Earth Day
28
15
22
29
F R I n A Y
S A T U R 1) A Y
htrst Quarter
Good Friäay
Passover
(hegins at sundown)
10
bull Müon
16
23
30
17
24
11
18
25
APRIL
A. E. with Rabindranath Tagorc, Berlin
Photograph courtesy The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel
•
o
reat spirits have always encountered violent Opposition from mediocre minds,
■LEmR 10 Moms Raphael Coheu, Professor emeriws oe philosophy ät ehe College of the Cin oe New York,
DEEENDING JHE CONTROVERSIAL APPOlHimi OE BeRTRAND RuSSELL 10 A TEÄCHIN6 POSITION, MaRCH / 9, / 940
S 11 N n A Y
M C^ N n A Y
T U K S D A Y
W H n N K S n A Y T H U R S n A Y
1 R 1 n A Y
S A T II R n A Y
April
S M T Vi 7 \ s
5
12
19
2b
b
20
14
■> 1
Vi
I
s
15
■y-t
1^
z?,
\
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l(f
r
14
IS
28 2^ M)
junc
S M
14
:i
28
8
IS
■>■)
1^
1
\b
2.^
30
10
r
24
T
4
11
18
25
12
1^
26
S
b
\^
20
1—
First Quartcr
Cinco de Aljvf)
Mothcr's Dj\
10
hüll Moon
11
12
13
14
15
Armed Forces Dj\
16
17
VictdUJ Djy
iCanada)
18
Last ijujrtcr
19
20
21
22
23
31
Memorial L)j\
(Ohscri'cd)
New Moon
25
26
27
28
29
Memorial Day
30
MAY
Photograph courtesy Leo Baeck Institute, New York
@
Pi
ince sense perception only gives informotion of this externa! world or of "physical reality" indirectiy, . . . it follows from this thot
our notions of physical reality can never be final.
■ON M Hummw mimsm of m Bim of Scotjish phmist Jmfs Cm fkxmii
— .-...:i^ir--..'t^^i>i.AX:i...^.^^,^
m*»-'"-- '-.■>■.
.■>-^^^:^^^J.*J■ '>'.t^Kvj>.Mrio. <b.w..
S U N n A Y
M O N D A Y
hlag Day
14
Father's Day
Summer Solstice
2:03 P.M. (GMT)
21
28
JUNE
T ü K S i:) A Y
W I n N H S D A Y T H U K S D A Y
First (Juiirtcr
15
22
29
hu II Moofj
10
16
/.j>7 Qujrtcr
17
23
NfM' Mor^;;
24
30
11
18
25
10
r
24
31
F R I n A Y
S A T U K n A Y
12
19
26
Mt7V
S M I V( T F
25
12
26
6
n
20
27
14
21
28
S
15
29
s
2
Ih
23
30
12
19
26
6
n
20
27
A. E. at home in Caputh, Gcrmany, c. 1931
Photograph courtesy The Hehrew University of Jerusalem, Israel
13
20
27
Inh
S M T W
7
14
21
28
8
15
■) ^
29
T
2
16
23
30
F
10
r
24
31
S
4
11
18
25
^
(3
cience without religion is lame, religion without science is blind.
■SciENa, Philosophy and Religion: A Symposium, 1 94 1
-^=- ^ -'- — "■ — 'Ji.' imwMirf .K.^jkU...i.
r
S U N D A Y
Jurte
S M T W 1
7 8 4 10 II
14 15 Ih 17 18
21 12 li 24 25
28 29 30
F S
5 6
12 1^
19 20
26 27
12
19
26
M C) N I) A Y
August
S M T W 1 F S
2^45
9 10 II 12
16 17 18 19
23 24 25 26
30 31
6
1^
20
27
7
14
21
28
S
IS
22
29
13
20
27
T U E S 1) A Y
14
21
28
WHDNHSDAY THURSDAY
F R I D A Y
Canada Day
{CiVuda}
btrst Qiurter
15
22
29
hull Moon
Ljst Quarter
New Moort
16
23
30
hirst Quiirter
10
17
24
31
SATLJRDAY
hhicpenäeme Day
11
18
25
JULY
A. E.'s secretary, Helen Dukas, Albert Einstein, and Margot Einstein taking the U.S.
oath of allegiance, 1940
Photograph courtesy AIP Niels Bohr Library
^
Jffi.
o
istory shows . . . that each party believes,
1 or tries to make others believe, that God is
on its side [A] moral and enlightened
attitude is, in my opinion, the only way to a
happier life.
iEJTER, November 9. 1 953
"»':.WM"U.,l.,ll|i|W»
>Är.
S U N f) A Y
M O N n A Y
July
S M T
5
12
19
26
6
1^
T U H S D A Y
7
14
W
1
8
15
T
2
9
16
20 21 22 2^
27 28 29 30
F
10
17
24
^\
s
4
! I
IS
IS
September
S M
6
n
20
27
7
14
21
28
T
1
8
IS
22
29
w r I s
2^45
4 10 II 12
16 17 18 14
U 24 25 26
30
10
16
17
f/rsf Quarter
AUGUST
W i: 1) N K S 1) A Y T H U R S U A Y
11
18
25
5
12
19
26
F R 1 IJ A Y
S A T IJ R D A Y
13
Last Quarter
14
20
21
Nt'«' Moo«
27
28
A. E., Pasadena, California, c. 1930
Photograph courtesy The Hcbrew University of Jerusalem, Israel
hüll Moon
15
22
29
valuable can be actiieved except by the disinterested Cooperation of many individuals.
■ADDRESS PRECEOm A LECWRE OH PHYSICS Gm AT A RESORJ FOR MERCUIAR PAIIENIS, SwiTIERlAND / 928
S U N D A Y
M C) N I) A Y
T U H S n A Y
\X^ H n N E S D A Y T H LJ R S l> A Y
F K I O A Y
S A T U R I) A Y
hdl Moon
Lahor Djy
(U.S. and Catuda)
Last Quarter
13
14
Rosh Hashatiah
(bcgifis at sundown)
New Moon
20
21
27
First Quarter
28
15
16
22
Äutuntnal Lquinox
5:37 A.M. (GMT)
23
Yotn Kippur
(hegms at sundown)
29
30
SEPTEMBER
10
17
24
August
11
18
25
s M r w r F s
1
2 .^ 4 5 6 7 8
»^ 10 11 12 13 14 15
16 17 18 19 20 21 22
23 24 25 26 27 28 29
30 31
12
19
26
Octohcr
S M T W
4 5 6 7
11 12 13 14
18 19 20 21
25 26 27 28
T F S
1 2 3
8 9 10
15 16 17
22 li 24
29 30 31
A. E. with King Albert of Belgium, Laeken, 1933
Photograph hy Queen Ehsabeth of Belgium, courtesy The Hebrew University of
Jerusalem, Israel
Q
n
here exists a passion for comprehension,
just as there exists a passion for music.
That passion is rather common in children, but
gets lost in most people later on.
■Scmif IC American, 1950
S U N n A Y
M C) N n A Y
T U H S n A Y
W H n N K S n A Y T F^ LJ R S D A Y
l R I n A Y
Scf)tt'nthcr
S M T
6
13
20
27
7
14
21
2S
I
8
l>
22
24
W
16
23
^0
T
3
10
17
24
F S
4 5
1 I 12
IS h'
25 2h
November
S
1
s
IS
22
29
M
2
16
23
30
T
^
II)
p
24
W
4
I I
IS
25
hüll M
(um
11
18
25
5
12
14
26
F
6
1 ^
20
1-"
S
7
14
21
IH
(.oluinhiis l\i\
rihinks^ii •tti}> D(jy
Last Quarter
12
19
New Moon
26
OCTOBER
13
20
27
f/r5/ Q Harter
14
21
28
15
22
29
S A T U R n A Y
16
23
30
A. E., 1933
Photograph courtesy AIP Niels Bohr Library
®
10
17
Untted Nations Day
24
Halloween
31
o
reative work lifts man above personal
and selfish national goals.
■commiioN 10 h memorial wwme m m
Cermän Club for the Culmtion of Social
Am Scientific Relations, New York. / 920
Jt
SUN O A Y
M O N n A Y
15
22
19
16
23
30
T U E S n A Y
h.lectum l)j\
10
17
24
NOVEMBER
W K n NI K S I) A Y T H U R S H A Y
F R 1 O A Y
SATUROAY
hill Moon
Vetenms Djv
Rcmcmhramc Day
Ljst (Jturter
11
12
18
Neic Mt>i)n
19
25
Thanksgii'ing Day
16
First Quarter
4
II
IS
IS
A. E.
13
20
27
October
S M T W 1
5 6 7 8
12 1^ 14 15
1*^ 20 21 11
26 27 28 29
F
2
9
16
30
S
3
10
17
24
31
S M
6
I ^
20
7
14
21
Photograph courtesy AIP Niels Bohr Library
n
^
14
21
28
December
T
1
8
15
7 •>
27 28 29
W
9
16
23
30
T
3
10
r
24
31
18
25
S
5
12
19
26
®
et every man be respected as
am
ndividual and
noman
idolized,
//
Jhe World as I See ii
//
OmmiLY PUBLISHED IN
fom AND Cenjury. 1 93 1
S 11 N I) A Y
M C) N D A Y
Htinukkjh
(hc^ins At iundawii)
13
20
27
T U H S D A Y
14
21
28
w i: n N H s i:) A Y
15
\i'itUcr Solstice
22
29
DECEMBER
16
23
30
•
T H U R S l) A Y
F R I O A Y
S A T U R 1) A Y
hiill \ii>i)H
l.jst Qturtcr
10
17
24
31
New Mi um
Christmas Dax
November
1
8
1 1
M
2
9
10
24 ?()
11
12
18
19
25
B()xm}i Day iCanaJa)
hirst (Juarter
26
W
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A. E. at the home of Ben Meyer, trusree for rhe California Institute of Technology,
near Santa Barbara, February 1933
Photograph courtesy California Institute ot Technology Archives
ALBERT EINSTEIN^M
A Man for All Seasons
Albert Einstein (1879-1955), one of
the greatest theoretical physicists of all
time, revolutionized the world of mod-
ern physics. An individual of monumen-
tal intellectual achievemcnt, Einstein to
this day receives populär recognition
unprecedented for a scientist.
Yet his humanity — his humility, sim-
plicity, compassion, and humor — is as
important as his intellect. Einstein's rever-
ence for all creation; his deep concern with
the social impact of scientific discovery; his
belief in the grandeur, beauty, and sublim-
ity of the universe (the primary source of
inspiration in his science), and his feelings
of awe for the scheme manifested in the
material universe permeate his work and
philosophy.
This calendar features twelve photo-
graphs of Einstein, each accompanied by a
memorable quote from his writings,
Speeches, or recorded conversations.
Photograph courtesy The Hebrcw University ot
Jerusalem, Israel
Photograph by Queen Elisabeth of Belgium, courtesy
The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel
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13
14
_ 15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
- 28
29
30
31
JANUARY
Photograph by J. F. Langhans, courtesy The
Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel
Photograph courtesy AIP Niels Bohr Library
Photograph courtesy AIP Niels Bohr Library
Photograph courtesy The Hebrew University of
Jerusalem, Israel
Photograph courtesy AIP Niels Bohr Librarj
Photograph courtesy Leo Baeck Institute, New York
Photograph courtesy AIP Niels Bohr Library
Photograph courtesy The Hebrew University of
Jerusalem, Israel
Photograph courtesy The Hebrew University of
Jerusalem, Israel
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CATALOG NO. 98056
POMEGRANATE CALENDARS & BOOKS
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printed in korea
ISBN 0-7649-0148-6
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Photograph courtesy California Institute of
Technology Archives
© 1997 THE HEBREW UNIVERSITY OF JERUSALEM, ISRAEL
Albert Einstein^ licensed by The Roger Richman
Agency, Inc., Beverly Hills, CA
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ALBERT EINSTEIN
LBERT EINSTEIN has
come upon us like a new
planet. Copernicus, Galileo,
Newton, then came Einstein.
Old theories were overthrown, not de-
stroyed, but radically modified in the
interest of a simplified and unified truth.
Einstein invalidated not only Newton's
absolutes of time and Space, those
anchors to which we had clung, but the
broad conclusions of time honored
Born March 14, 1879, in Ulm, southern Germany,
Einstein spent most of bis young boyhood in Munich,
with a year in Italy. Then came more schooling in
Switzerland, culminating in four years at the Zürich
Technical Academy. Professorships in two Swiss
Universities, in Prague, and in the University of
Berlin mark bis progress. His theory of relativity was
worked out in ten years oj labor, 1903-1913. In 1921
he was accorded a Nobel prize. He has received hon-
orary degrees from the leading institutions of higher
learning throughout the world, the last one being a
doctorate of humane letters from the Yeshiva Col-
lege. A lecturer in the past at Oxford and the Uni-
versity of Leyden, he is to-day research professor in
thelnstitute for Advanced Study,PrincetonUniversity,
Euclid. Time and Space Einstein showed to be relative quantities. They exist not
independently, but only in reference to each other— thus time- Space. Light, too,
proves to be dependent for its velocity and direction upon gravitation.
Time, Space, light— any one who can change our views of these fundamental
conceptions must be a fundamental thinker.
With pen and paper Einstein sits down to his task, like the great musician or
the great dramatist. With him science is akin to the arts and philosophy, in which
intuition plays a commanding part. His is not the labor of proving his theories;
that is for lesser hands. His genius lies in his vision of universality, in the urge to
simplicity. For him Shakespeare is the greatest of our literary artists. He has a pas-
sion for pacifism. Like the far-seeing astronomer and the towering aviator, he has
the broad perspective. His social philosophy accords fair play to the weakest nation
and the humblest individual.
He is obsessed by a love of truth, but truth not viewed in a vacuum. Whatever
has human values is grist to his vast mill. His head is not in the clouds, but above
those of his fellow men. In his tours to the Orient and to South America he
exhibited an accurate and comprehensive understanding of these peoples— com-
ponents of the brotherhood of man in which he puts his faith. In the United
States, in these tempestuous times, he has found a congenial home.
Einstein is a Citizen of the world. To-day a man without a country, he is hon-
ored in every country where love of greatness is free to express itself
The gravure is a reproduction from the original painting presented by Mr. & Mrs. Frederick
Brown of New York City to the Einstein Institute of Physics, Hebrew University, in Jerusalem.
Bernhard Godwin, the artist, was privileged to study and paint Professor Einstein while at work
in his laboratory at Princeton University.
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ALBERT EINSTEIN
LBERT EINSTEIN has
come upon us like a new
planet. Copernicus, Galileo,
Newton, then came Einstein.
Old theories were overthrown, not de-
stroyed, but radically modified in the
interest of a simplified and unified truth.
Einstein invalidated not only Newton's
absolutes of time and Space, those
anchors to which we had clung, but the
broad conclusions of time honored
Bom March 14, 1879, in Ulm, southeryi Germany,
Einstein spent most of bis young boyhood in Munich,
with a year in Italy. Then came more schooling in
Switzerland, culminating in four years at the Zürich
Technical Academy. Professorships in two Swiss
Universities, in Prague, and in the University of
Berlin mark bis progress. His theory of relativity was
worked out in ten years of labor, 1903-1913. In 1921
he was accorded a Nobel prize. He has received hon-
orary degrees from the leading institutions of higher
learning throughout the world, the last one heing a
doctorate of humane letters from the Yeshiva Col-
lege. A lecturer in the past at Oxford and the Uni-
versity of Leyden, he is to-day research professor in
the Institute for Ad vancedStudy,PrincetonUniversity.
Euclid. Time and space Einstein showed to be relative quantities. They exist not
independently, but only in reference to each other— thus time-space. Light, too,
proves to be dependent for its velocity and direction upon gravitation.
Time, Space, light— any one who can change our views of these fundamental
conceptions must be a fundamental thinker.
With pen and paper Einstein sits down to his task, like the great musician or
the great dramatist. With him science is akin to the arts and philosophy. In which
Intuition plays a commanding part. His is not the labor of proving his theories;
that is for lesser hands. His genius lies in his vision of universality, in the urge to
simplicity. For him Shakespeare is the greatest of our llterary artlsts. He has a pas-
sion for pacifism. Like the far-seeing astronomer and the towering aviator, he has
the broad perspective. His social philosophy accords fair play to the weakest nation
and the humblest individual.
He is obsessed by a love of truth, but truth not viewed In a vacuum. Whatever
has human values is grist to his vast mill. His head is not in the clouds, but above
those of his fellow men. In his tours to the Orient and to South America he
exhibited an accurate and comprehensive understanding of these peoples— com-
ponents of the brotherhood of man in which he puts his faith. In the United
States, in these tempestuous times, he has found a congenial home.
Einstein is a Citizen of the world. To-day a man without a country, he is hon-
ored in every country where love of greatness is free to express Itself
The gravure is a reproduction from the original painting presented by Mr. & Mrs. Frederick
Brown of New York City to the Einstein Institute of Physics, Hebrew University, in Jerusalem.
Bernhard Godwin, the artist, was privilegeJ to study and paint Professor Einstein while at work
in his laboratory at Princeton University.
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Einstein, Albert -
No.37
Betty Newman
Collection
AR- A. 1652
4988
ALBERT EINSTEIN
A Centenary Celebration
Exhibit:
Books, manuscrtpts, photographs, and art objects from
the collcctions of the Humanities Research Center will
be on display at the Harry Ransom Center huilding
from 5 February through 31 March 1979. An exhihit
catalogue is available at $6. 75 ($7.08 for Texas residents).
Public Lectures."
LOYD S. SWENSOHJr.
University of Houston
author of The Ethereal Aether and Genesis of Relativity
R. L. Moore Hall 4.102
27 March, 8 p.m.
C. P. SNOW
HOWARD STEIN
ILYA PRIGOGINE
University Presidential Lecture Series
author of The Two Cultures and the Scientific Revolution
Academic Center Auditorium
29 March, 8 p.m.
Columbia University
author of works on philosophical aspects of
relativity theory and quantum theory
R. L. Moore Hall 4.102
30 March, 3 p.m.
University of Texas and Free University, Brüssels
1977 Nobel Laureate for work in thermodynamics
R. L. Moore Hall 4.102
(date to be arranged in first week of April)
Speakers othcr than Lord Snow arc sponsorcd by the College of Liberal Arts, and Departments of History and Physics,
the History and Philosophy of Science and Technology Group, and the Public Lectures Committee.
Organizing Committee: A. C. Lewis, Robert Palter, Lawrence Shepley, John A. Wheeler
The University of Texas at Austin
INFORMATION: Albert C. Lewis, Humanities Research Center, Box 7219, Austin, TX 78712 (512) 471-1833