V O L U M E 8 , D O C U M E N T 4 9 3 a 1 7 Vol. 8, 177a. From Paul Ehrenfest Leyden, 1 January 1916 [Not selected for translation.] Vol. 8, 493a. To Heinrich Zangger [Berlin, after 26 March 1918][1] My dear friend Zangger, In greatest distress I gather from my Züricher Zeitung that you lost your beloved little daughter Trudi after a very brief illness.[2] My heartfelt condolences to you and your wife. It’s terrible how destiny treats the best of us. How much I regret, now more than ever, having annoyed you recently![3] I’ll try with all my might to make amends. I hope at least little Gina is well again,[4] so that you can regain your emo- tional balance somewhat. Politics has settled in my stomach and is grumbling there. The eye searches in vain for something to look at with joy. I seek refuge in the objective, in articles and proofs. Weyl wrote a brilliant book about the general theory of relativity [5] his departure from Zurich would be a great loss,[6] it seems to me. Albeit I did hear that his lectures were virtually incomprehensible to the students. In any event, he is out- standingly talented. My wife and I now have a quite satisfactory relationship, despite my wanting to divorce. I’m very satisfied that she, and as it seems, Tete[7] also are feeling reason- ably well. There’s a lively exchange of letters between me and her and now I believe that it works best if I discuss all matters openly with her. Dear Zangger! A person as valuable to others as you are should not abandon himself to grief. All the Swiss are your brothers and your children and you perhaps do not even know with how much joy and sympathy many of those in your nearer or farther surroundings look upon you and your work. Fond greetings from your Einstein.