182
DOCS.
257-259
FEBRUARY-MARCH
1911
257. To
Richard
Swinne
Zurich,
26
February
1911
Very
esteemed
Colleague:
I
find
your
idea of
treating
the oscillation
frequency
v as an
intensity
factor
very
nice,[1]
chiefly
in view
of
the
molecular
constitution[2]
of
the
corresponding quantity
factor
n.h.
I
consider
your
representation
to be
as
justified,
and
of
course
also
as
superfluous,
as
the
other
representations
of
energy
forms
by energetics. By
"superfluous"
I
mean
that
this kind
of
representation
does
not
signify
a
new insight
nor
does
it
lead
to
new
questions.
But
on
the other
hand,
it
grants
an
overview
that
is
convenient
in
many cases,
because it establishes
a
connection between
formally
analogous
matters in
different
areas.
As
far
as
I
can
see,
this view
is
only very loosely
connected
with
the
implications
of
the
theory
of
light
quanta. I
was
not able
to
understand
your
intimation
to
the
effect
that the
extensity
factors of
the mechanical
and
thermal
energy
could also be conceived
as having
a
molecular constitution.
Respectfully
yours,
A.
Einstein
258. To Lucien and
Jeanne
Chavan-Perrin
[Zurich,
10
March
1911]
My
dear
friends,
Please
do
come
and
visit
us
before
we
leave
(at
the
end of this
month),
and do it
as
soon as
possible.
Send
only a
postcard
to
anounce your
arrival.
We
can no
longer
come
to
Bern
to visit
you,
for
this would be too
complicated
because of
our youngest son.
But
I
am asking you
most
emphatically
not
to
bring
us
any
gifts!
Our
only
wish
is
to
spend
a
few
days
with
you.
Cordially,
your
A. Einstein
[...][1]
259. To Hans
Schinz
Zurich, 10
March
1911
Highly
esteemed Dean
Schinz:[1]
In
accordance
with
the
decision
made
at
our
meeting
yesterday,
I
contacted
Mr.
Weiss this
morning
and
inquired
about
Messrs. Kuntz and
Dufour.[2]