1 4 8 D O C . 1 7 5 N O V E M B E R 1 9 1 9 nest “start to learn to fly earlier than usual” (maybe a symbol for doctoral theses and “premature” communications).—Even the squirrel is more fidgety than usu- al.—I hope the picture amuses you—(see also, by the way, the draft on the reverse of the sheet). Lorentz had to write a very long article about your theory for the Nieuwe Rotterdamer.[5] And now the Algem. Handelsblad (the other big newspaper) asked me to give a sketch of your theory for their readers. I agonized over it in vain and now am lying in bed with a nervously upset stomach. First of all, I absolutely can- not write in a popular style (just speak it), and second, I made myself really sick in an attempt to link your 1905 standpoint, the 1907 standpoint, and the current state in such a way that I could write about it to people who are bound to misunderstand everything right off anyway.[6] See where I run aground: Einstein 1905: All laboratories moving uniformly, relative to one another, are equivalent because they have no reason at all not to be equivalent, since they are moving against nix. Motion against “nix,” however, can have no physical meaning. Einstein 1907—Heavens above! that’s pretty: Then, of course, accelerated mo- tion also means nothing against the nix. Everything at rest unto itself—at most with a gravitational field which, in last resort, dances a czardas in the laboratory.[7] (Likewise, the body demonstrates that I am on the right path.) Einstein “1916.” This gravitational field in my laboratory must have its sources somewhere out there that generate it in total: it will hopefully be the immense com- plex of hyperstars, far away out there. Hey!! We now ask the Einstein of 1905 again: But why are all uniformly moving laboratories equivalent, like this one, where one sees the fixed stars with a 12″ ab- erration, and this one, where it’s at 12°. One really cannot now say anymore “they are obviously moving against nix,” since they are now moving against an enor- mous—ix![8] Einstein, my sick stomach hates your theory—it almost hates you personally! What should I say to my students? How should I reply to philosophers? Onnes, Lorentz, and the others of any importance have arranged it all very nice- ly. In fact, for the upcoming few years, your annual excursion to Leyden is guaran- teed now (as far as we are concerned, I mean—so long as you don’t suddenly say no—but you won’t do that). Officially it could still take considerable time, for pure- ly formal reasons (specific firmly scheduled meetings have to be waited for).[9] In later letters you will learn all the precise details. For the moment, just this much: you will have to expend so little time on us, and also the manner in which you come
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