216
DOC. 297 OCTOBER
1911
297. To
Heinrich
Zangger
[Prague] Sunday
[22
October
1911][1]
Dear
Mr.
Zangger:
Hearty congratulations to
you
and
your
wife. I
hope
that the
fever has subsided
a
long
time
ago,
so
that
your
delight
in
the
new
little
Zangger
is
unclouded.[2] This must
be
a
feast
for
the
little
Trude![3] I
remember
how
my youngster changed
upon
the
arrival
of
the
little
one-suddenly
something fatherly-motherly
came over
him.
I
asked
in
Utrecht for
a
few weeks
of
thinking
time, stating
explicitly
the
reason
for
it.[4]
I
promised to
inform them
in
a
few
days
about the
final
date
on
which
I
can give
them
my
final
answer.
The
telegram
which
Forrer
sent to
you
and
you
then
sent to
my
wife,
and
which I
dutifully
handed
to
my
wife
without
opening it,
has
made
me
really
happy.[5]
To
enjoy
the
friendly
attitude
and the trust of
a man
like
Forrer
is
a
great
pleasure
for
me,
even
if I
must
admit
to
myself
that this
trust is not
based
on anything
real.
If
only
it
does
not
take
too
long now
with
the
decision;
it
wouldn't
be
so
important
for
me
that the
thing
be done
fast,
but
the
Dutch
are
in
a
hurry.
And
now
to the Chavan
business.[6]
For the
time
being,
let the notebook that
you
got
from him rest
at
the bottom of
some
drawer.[7]
I believe it
is
a
duplicate
copy
anyway.
In
any
case,
he does
not
need
it.
Chavan
is
a very
likable
fellow.
Despite
all
the
harassment
he
is
subjected to,
he does
not
hate
anyone.
He
always
wants
to
do
only
what
he
deems
right
and correct.
I
believe
that the situation
can easily
be
improved.
Due
to
the
mounting
attacks
on
him,
Reding[8]
has
become
more
tractable,
and
Schild[9]
could be
given a
position
of
equal
rank, in which he would be able and
obliged
to
apply
his
capacity
for
work. Schild's
present position
could be left
vacant,
so
that
Chavan
would
get
a
free hand
in
organizing
his
department,
and
would have
to
communicate
directly
with
Reding.
I
asked Chavan what
position
there
might
be for
Schild,
and
I
received
the enclosed letter
in
reply.
I
believe
that the moral
advantage
that Chavan
would
gain
in
the
eyes
of the other
employees
if Schild
were
to be
transferred
would suffice
to
channel the
whole matter in
a more
sensible
direction.
I cannot
thank
you
enough
for
participating
so actively
in
these
matters
in
spite
of
your
own
work overload.
With
cordial
greetings, your
A.
Einstein