DOCS.
592,
593
AUGUST
1918 615
My suggested
correction to
the
end of
your
notice has
come
out
badly.
I
believe,
though,
that-even if
the
long
period
by
itself had
already
been
suggested
by
Martienssen-it
must nonetheless
assume
this
position,
because
(in my
view,
at
least) only
the
combination
{effective
damping
high
eigenfrequency[8]
made
success possible.
Who knows when
the
matter would have
come
about
without
Anschutz.-[9]
I also liked
Weyl’s paper[10] well, although
I
am
convinced
that the
underlying
assumption
cannot be
physically
correct.[11]
The book
is
brilliant;[12]
Weyl
is
a
highly
talented
and,
added to
that,
a
versatile
man, very
fine
and likable
as a
person
as
well. We
may expect great
things
from him
yet.
It
is
quite
natural
that
you
are even more
interested in
spectra;
it has
certainly
become
the
most
promising
field
today.
With
your work
on
fine structure,
you
first drew it
within
reach.[13]
It
certainly
is
a ruse
to be able to
live
to
see
such
a thing!
I
hope
we
shall be
seeing
each
other
here
again
soon.
Meanwhile,
cordial
greetings,
yours,
Einstein.
593. To
Hedwig
and
Max Born
Ahrenshoop, 2 August 1918
Dear
Borns,
The
closer
the
homeward
trip
approaches,
the
more
my
conscience
is stirred,
along
with the fear
of
being
scolded for
my
foul
habit
of not
writing.
But what
should
a
chap
write who loafs around all
day, sees no
one,
and
who,
at
most,
totters
about
barefoot for
a
half-hour
or
so?
If
only
we
could
bring
about the
latter
fine
custom
(voluntarily)
in
Berlin! I
really
relished
the
cloverleaf.
It
is
obvious
that
those
three, brought together
there
in
brotherly union,
are
inveterate
hobbyhorse-riders,
two
turned
in
upon
themselves,
one
staring
nonchalantly
into
space.-[1]
Recently
I
read
that the
population of
Europe grew
in
the last
century
from
118
million to almost
400
million
....
a
terrible
thought
that
could almost
reconcile
one
to
war!-
To
a happy
reunion!
Yours,
Einstein.
[...][2]