2 8 6 D O C U M E N T 1 7 0 O C T O B E R 1 9 2 0
I am writing you all I know about this case and told Geiger that stopping you
from a lecture would be much easier than motivating you to give a talk. I now pro-
ceed pertaining to the latter:
You know that, at the first suggestion from you, you will always be received with
open arms here as a speaker, for example, at the local chapter of the Physical Soci-
ety. I have the funds from the Anschütz Foundation to reimburse you properly for
the trip,
etc.[5]
I would very much like to invite a broader range of students, i.e.,
have your lecture take place in the main auditorium. I do not believe that the Berlin
scenes could repeat themselves
here[6]
and will employ all means to try to prevent
it by limiting the ticket distribution to certain categories of students.
But I do not want to bother you with this invitation. You should not reply to me
now, either, rather only when you deem the point in time has come when you feel
inclined toward a Munich talk. What I would like to achieve with this letter is mere-
ly the following: if you speak in Munich, then speak under our auspices and not be-
fore the literary “Working Association 1920.”
With cordial greetings, yours,
A. Sommerfeld
169. From Erich Wende[1]
Berlin W 8, Wilhelmstreet, 8 October 1920
[Not selected for translation.]
170. To Elsa Einstein
[Benzingen,] Saturday [9 October 1920]
Dear Else,
It’s very nice
here.[1]
We even managed to get hold of a violin and played from
Haydn’s
“Creation.”[2]
The priest is somewhat overworked and his heart is not quite
in order; his official business in Sigmaringen took an additional toll on
him.[3]
But
I think the change we are bringing him is doing him quite a lot of good.
Fidelia’s[4]
roof is now finally being fixed, so there’ll be an end to her being in the trenches.
The Borns now also want me to recommend him to America so that he can earn the
money from my theory for a house in
Göttingen.[5]
That seems a bit unconsciona-
ble [ausgeschämt] even to me. Stay in Hechingen until the 20th so that you can re-
cover
thoroughly.[6]
Greetings & kisses from your
Albert.