4 7 4 D O C U M E N T 4 7 4 A P R I L 1 9 2 5
Health-wise I survived it all well. They are very good to me on all sides. The Ger-
man colony ignores me completely, which is the simplest for me; they seem to be
even more nationalistic and anti-Semitic than in Germany
proper.[4]
The German
envoy,[5]
however, was very solicitous toward me; he is being boycotted by the Ger-
mans here because he’s liberal. One generally laughs about the political silliness of
the Germans here.
I’m glad that all of you are properly on your feet again. I received your news
from 18 March yesterday upon my return from Cordoba. I spent a good amount of
time with Nicolai. He did not ask about his little son, and so I didn’t say anything
about it
either.[6]
He still wears a monocle, has aged quite a lot, still has a big mouth
and—fits very well in Cordoba. The more refined minds don’t take him seriously
here, either. Up to now I have 8 lectures and a vast number of official dinners be-
hind me. One time it affected my intestines, in La Plata after having eaten at the
“Jockey
Club.”[7]
Thereupon I said to the wise men of Buenos Aires that I must
have eaten some part of a race horse, because I had to run so much afterwards. This
neat joke earned me much sympathy because jokes are much loved over here. The
newspapers are as rude and intrusive as in North America. Overall there are, despite
the racial differences among the inhabitants, great similarities, which are explained
by the lumping together of the population, the natural wealth of the country. But
there are also indigenous things, a kind of folk music that interested me very much.
A horrendous amount of meat is devoured here, which is generally of very good
quality, and has lent my figure an undesirable ampleness. I do apply the brakes as
much as possible, though. I still have to endure almost four weeks; I dread it a little.
I was on Wassermann’s country estate in Llavajol for 3 days in complete tranquility,
and had an exceedingly valuable scientific idea there that, peculiarly enough, is
linked with what I found during the return trip from
Japan.[8]
All in all, I must admit
that traveling without a wife under such circumstances is simpler because there is
less socializing fuss.
Now it’s only about six weeks until I come home. I already sent off quite a few
picture postcards but not enough yet. I’m hoping to be able to get away with that,
too. I’m curious what Ehrmann says about
Palestine.[9]
You probably have already
heard about the large donation for a physics institute in
Jer[usalem].[10]
Heartfelt greetings from your
Albert.
Don’t part with that manuscript, dear
Else.[11]
Ehrmann is entirely right. It’s not a
good time for the sale. Better directly after my death. I received very fine payment
here,[12]
so from that point of view this business isn’t all for nothing.