364
DOCS. 486-488
NOVEMBER-DECEMBER
1913
through diamonds;
how
then
should
my
teeth
be able
to
withstand them?
Nothing to
be
done
(once
a
boor,
always
a
boor).
I
am again enjoying my
work
very
much.
The
great
strain caused
by
the work
on
gravitation is
almost
past
and
forgotten.[5]
In
addition, I
am
pleased
that
my colleagues
are gradually
starting
to
understand
this
work.
I
am
glad
that
you
are
nice to
my
mother.
If
you
do
not
confide in
her,
you
will
by no means
have
to
regret
it.
Because of the
uncomfortable
situation, if for
nothing
else,
she
deserves that
you
not
show
any sign
of
bearing
a grudge
for her
old
sins.[6]
Next
year
I must
give a
few
lectures
at
the
College
de
France.[7]
This
will
again
produce
a
strange
agitation.
Even
so,
I
can't
turn it down.
If
only
I
could
take
you
there!
But dissimulation
is
always
the order of the
day; only
at
birth
and at
death
can one
behave
candidly.
So do
your
little
tight-rope
dance
well. Kisses from
your
Albert
Give
my
best
regards
also to
Uncle
and
Aunt,
and
especially
to
your
darling
children.
It
does
not
seem
likely
that
I will
come
to
Berlin
again
before
April.[8]
487. To Robert Gnehm
Zurich,
30 November 1913
To
the
Federal
School Council
Highly
esteemed
Mr. President:
Some time
ago
I
informed
you orally
that
an
offer from
the
Pruss.
Academy
of
Sciences
would
probably
come
my way.
On
that
occasion I
explained
to
you
the
reasons
that made
me
think
I should
accept
such
an
offer. Since
I
have
now
actually
received
this
offer,[1]
I
request
that
you
have
me
released, effective
1
April 1914.
I would like
to
use
this
opportunity to
thank
you
with all
my
heart for the kindness
and
cooperation
that
you
and
the
authorities have
always
shown
me.
Respectfully,
A.
Einstein
488. To
Elsa
Löwenthal
[Zurich,
before 2
December
1913][1]
Dear
Elsa,
You
pinch
me
with
your
letter but stroke
me
with
goose cracklings.
How
good
they
are!
Just
now
I have
one
in
my
beak
and
think
with
delight
of the dear
cook
who,
on