DOCS.
100,
101
JULY
1915 115
extremely precise, conscientious,
and
critical
of
his
own
work,
so
that the
results
of
his research
can
always
be
looked
upon
as
reliable and
deserving
of serious
consideration.
Furthermore,
Piccard
is
a man
of
exactitude and
integrity
who
does not
tolerate
obscure and
vague
statements.
Also
as a
person
I
consider him
highly
cultured,
fine,
and
disciplined.
He is
a man capable
and
worthy
of
the
post
you
have
to fill.
Now,
with all due
respect
and
sympathy,
the
obverse.
Piccard has not
yet
demonstrated that
he has
an
inquiring
mind.
He
has
as
yet assigned
himself
no new physical
problems,
has
thought
up no new approach
to research. His
accomplishment always lay
in the technical
perfection
of
already
existing
research
methods. The acute mind
that
inspired
Piccard’s research
is
easily
traced
to
P.
Weiss.[6]
With this
I
do not want to contend
that
Piccard lacks
the
ability
to find
new
paths
independently;
only,
until
now
he has
not
provided
the
proof,
and he
is
still
a
young
man.
Piccard
certainly
is
a
competent
researcher and
teacher,
but
I
am
unable
to
foretell whether
he
can
be
a
stimulating
and
invigorating
influence
on physical
research. In
any case, none
of
the other
young
Swiss
physicists can
come
under
consideration next
to
Piccard.
When
I
now
consider
the
younger physicists
of
Switzerland and
abroad,
I
come
to
the
conclusion,
completely disregarding
the
unfavorable conditions
brought on
by
the
deplorable
war:
If
a
Piccard is
among
one’s
number,
he must
be
given a
professorship.-
I
am
coming
shortly
to Zurich and shall
inquire by telephone
whether
you
want to
speak
with
me.
Very respectfully,
A.
Einstein.
101. To Heinrich
Zangger
[Sellin,
between
24 July
and
7 August
1915][1]
Dear friend
Zangger,
You
can
hardly
imagine
how
comforting
it
is to
me
that
you
are
attending
to
my
children
so
kindly.
I
am
also
very happy
to hear
that
you
have not
forgotten
me
completely.
Now I
leave
it
entirely
to
you
to
fix the
time for
my
trip
to Zurich
since,
as
you
know,
I
am
totally free.
My
youngest
has
unfortunately
turned
out
a
bit
weak;
it
is to
be
hoped
he
will
gradually develop
for
the better. But
nature
has endowed him
instead
with
a
kindhearted
and cheerful
disposition,
more
than
my
Albert,
who cannot
adapt
himself
so
easily
to
everything.