696 DOCS.
656,
657 NOVEMBER
1918
would
consequently
not
have,
but the
more so,
doubts about
an
unnecessary
and
possibly damaging fragmentation.
Respectfully.
657. From Hermann
Weyl
Zurich,
20
Schmelzberg St.,
16
November
1918
Dear
Colleague,
Here
now
follows
my
extensive
reply,[1]
which
I
hope
will arrive
in
your
hands
soon
despite
the
political upheavals
and demobilization.[2]
My own
faith
in
my
theory
was
also
shaken,
since
I
could
not straighten
out
the
problem
of
the
me-
chanical
equations
for
weeks
and
weeks
on
end.[3]
My present
certainty
was
thus
not
achieved
without
a struggle.
I
am
in
suspense
about
what
position you
will
take
now.
After all
the trouble that the
1st note has
given
you,[4]
can you
bring
yourself
to
present
this
2nd communication to
the
Academy
as
well? I
would be
very
grateful to
you
for it.
I chose
the
form of
a
letter
to
you because,
while writ-
ing
it, I actually
did
constantly
have
the
feeling
that
I
was speaking
to
you
and
was
presenting my opinion
to
you.
It
would be
preferable
to
me if,
for
simplic-
ity’s sake, you (or
whomever
you
could entrust it
to
in
Berlin)
read
the
correction
proofs
directly
as
well. I
hope
the
length
does
not exceed
1
printer’s
sheet!
Regarding
my
book
Space,
Time,
Matter,[5] Springer
informed
me
that
it
is
nearly
sold out
(if
there
are
people
beating
the
publicity
drum
so
very
much
in the
Naturwissenschaften
...
it
is
ultimately
no wonder);[6]
I
accepted
his
suggestion
of
arranging
for
another unaltered
printing
right away
in small volume
(600 copies),[7]
although
the last
chapter is
in dire need of
improvement
and
additions.[8] But
thereupon,
as
I
hope,
a
completely
revised edition will
follow
within
a
short
time.[9]
I
am
very
much
looking
forward
to
your coming
in
February!-[10]
As
far
as
can
be
judged
from
here,
the
signs
do look
good
that
Germany
will
be
spared
from chaos
and
terror.
May
it be
so!
Cordial
regards, yours,
Herm.
Weyl.