DOCS.
495-497
DECEMBER
1913 371
Because that
epistemological argument
is
the
only thing
that
I
can
thus far
advance in
favor
of
my new
theory.
It
seems
to
me
absurd
to ascribe
physical
properties
to
"space."
The
totality
of
masses
produces
the
gv
-field
(gravitational
field),
which in turn
governs
the
course
of
all
processes,
including
the
propagation
of
light
rays
and
the behavior of
measuring
rods
and clocks.
First of
all,
everything
that
happens is
referred
to
four
completely arbitrary
space-time
variables. If the
principles
of
momentum
and
energy
conservation
are
to be
satisfied,
these variables
must
then
be
specialized
in such
a
way
that
only
(completely)
linear
substitutions
shall
lead
from
one
justified
reference
system
to
another.[6]
The reference
system is, so
to
speak,
tailored
to
the
existing
world with
the
help
of the
energy principle,
and loses its
nebulous
aprioristic
existence.
In
the
near
future
I will send
you
several
presentations
of the
topic
in which
the
formal element
is
kept
to
a
minimum,
the essential
content
being emphasized as
much
as possible.[7]
But
I
am
not
very
successful in
separating
the substance from the
form in
these abstract
things.
With
best
wishes
for the
New
Year,
your
devoted
A.
Einstein
496. From Pauline Einstein
[Heilbronn]
12
December
1913
My
dear
ones,
Yesterday I
sent
you
a
Christmas
package,
which I
hope
will
soon
be in
your
hands.
Each
child
gets a toy,
& I
made the
pillow
for the
two of
you;
I
hope you'll
like it.
Now,
take
a
good
look
at
it,
Albert-I
too
have
perseverance![1]
I wish
you
happy
holidays
&
am
sending
my
warmest
greetings
to all.
Mama
497. To
Elsa Löwenthal
[Zurich,
after
21
December
1913][1]
Dear
Else,
I've
already
come
to
regret
my cursing,
and
am
beside
myself
with
joy
that
you
replied
so amicably.
So,
for that
reason,
the
incorrigible filthy
slob
gives you a
hand
kiss
from
a
hygienic
distance.[2]
So it
is
settled that
we
will
brighten up
each other's
lives and
dispel
all
sorrow.
My
wife whines
incessantly
to
me
about Berlin
and
her fear
of
the relatives.
She
feels
persecuted
and
is
afraid that the end of March
will
see
her
last
peaceful
days.[3]
Well,
there
is
some
truth
in this.
My
mother
is
otherwise
good-natured,
but she
is
a