2 7 2 D O C U M E N T 1 4 9 S E P T E M B E R 1 9 2 0
be perceived as a lost battle. It will be damnably difficult for me to summon the
requisite hardness of heart, even when it does become necessary. I also think that,
in an emergency, they will always drum up the necessary money. The tragedy of
my situation is that I cannot muster even the tiniest fraction of self-esteem to play
my role, which was allotted to me through no fault of my own, with “dignity.”
I am deeply pleased that your wife is completely healthy and happy
again[10]
and
that, generally, everything is going according to your wishes. It pleases me just as
much that our boys are classmates, like we
were.[11]
Let’s hope we can soon see
each other again. This year I am having my boys come (in October) to Germany,
because a trip to Switzerland is too costly for
me.[12]
Cordial regards, yours,
Einstein.
For the
Archives.[13]
In the past few years Mr. E. Guillaume has repeatedly stated his position about
the theory of relativity in this journal and, specifically, attempted to introduce a new
concept (universal time) into this theory. At the repeated prompting of the author
himself as well as of other colleagues in the field, I consider it necessary to declare
the following:
Despite taking the [greatest] trouble, I have not been able to attach any kind of
clear sense to Guillaume’s explications. Even by a lengthy exchange of correspon-
dence conducted with utmost patience, I could come no closer to this goal. In par-
ticular, it has remained completely unclear to me what the author means by
“universal time.” My ability to understand does not even go far enough to be capa-
ble of a substantive rebuttal. I can only state my conviction that no clear chain of
reasoning underlies Guillaume’s explications.
—————
Dear Grossmann, please ask the Archives to send the proofs to
Guillaume.[14]
The statement is hard, but I can find no other way; this nonsense has gone too far!
149. To Elsa Einstein
Kiel, Tuesday. [14 September
1920][1]
Dear Else,
Arrived after a successful, comfortable trip, was awaited by Mr. Anschütz at the
platform.[2]
I’ve rarely had it so nice—I say so not to magnify the tribulations of
your trip but only to let you enjoy it with me in your
imagination.[3]
So we puttered
away from the train station in Anschütz’s motorboat up to a pier that belongs to the
Anschützes’ villa. It is set right near the water on a small knoll in the middle of a
splendid garden. I was then led up to the attic of the villa, where there is an attrac-
tive little apartment to lodge visitors; it consists of two small, most tastefully fur-