I N T R O D U C T I O N T O V O L U M E 1 2 l i i i
of a consequence of relativity that contradicted the observed behavior of double
stars (Docs. 178, 187), but he soon realized that the argument was erroneous
(Doc. 197,
229).[57]
While still in Princeton, Einstein had learned about prelimi-
nary experiments undertaken at Mount Wilson by Dayton C. Miller of Case Insti-
tute who claimed to have found a non-zero ether drift. As overheard by Oswald
Veblen, Einstein is said to have responded: “Subtle is the Lord, but malicious He is
not” (“Raffiniert ist der Herrgott, aber boshaft ist er nicht,” see Calendar entry
of 9 May).
Similarly, Einstein followed with great interest the progress in observational
attempts to verify the prediction of relativistic gravitational redshift. His satisfac-
tion at the favorable verdicts issued by a string of Continental European experi-
menters, expressed to his friend Besso (Doc. 141), was perhaps heightened by the
increasing likelihood that the previously skeptical community of astronomers in
Britain and America were coming around to his way of thinking. The American
public and scientists showed keen interest in the gravitational redshift, the only one
of the theory’s three tests that had not yet been experimentally confirmed. Solar
spectroscopists still doubted whether the predicted effect was consistently present
in their data. The tide, already perceived by Einstein to be turning in 1920 (see, e.g.,
Vol. 10, Docs. 76 and 98), began to come in more strongly in favor of relativity
during 1921. The New York Times reported on 8 September that astronomers in
America were now expecting the theory to be confirmed by the latest work of the
previously skeptical Charles Everard St. John. Einstein himself wrote to Eddington
in November (Doc. 295) to tell of rumors that St. John’s as-yet-unpublished work
showed strong signs of confirming his theory, given that rival proposals had been
eliminated
one-by-one.[58]
The year 1921 also witnessed a falling out between Einstein and his long-term
collaborator, the Berlin astronomer Erwin Freundlich. They had begun correspond-
ing in the fall of 1911, and since then had continuously explored possible
observational tests of the emerging relativistic theory of gravitation by investigat-
ing gravitational light bending in starlight grazing the limb of the Sun or Jupiter or
by stellar gravitational lensing. They also collaborated on the detection of the pre-
dicted gravitational redshift. Freundlich had been the first professional astronomer
to show sustained enthusiasm for such
tests.[59]
During 1920, Freundlich was one
of the main engines behind the establishment of the Einstein Donation Fund that
eventually supported the construction of the famed Einstein Tower Telescope,
inaugurated in summer 1921 during the annual Astronomical Society’s meeting in
Potsdam (see Illustration 22). In June 1921 we find both scientists as friendly