2 5 2 D O C . 3 0 3 F E B R U A R Y 1 9 2 0 The grand piano doesn’t stand around much uselessly—I and play it almost all day long.[3] My fingers are learning to master it better and better, but some fine- tuning is still needed and certainly an adjustment of the mechanics too, for there are still a few discontinuities in the function: Sound intensity = F (impact, height). The middle register and the treble are the prettiest. The bass is still obstinate and the lower discant as well. — • — We had a great laugh today about your brilliant miscalculation. You write the following, verbatim: “I have received the 10000 marks. The acct. looks like this: 16500 marks is what the grand piano costs, 239 marks is the cost of packing, delivery – – –. Remainder is 111 marks, which is consequently being applied toward the violins”[4] — God said, “Let Einstein be” and all was skew!—A nice non-Euclidicity in the series of numbers!!—After this exercise, I understand perfectly why destitution [Dallessicität] is your normal state![5] — • — — • — As regards the date of your inaugural lecture, I’ll inform you of a few details (va- cation, exam periods, etc.) in a subsequent letter, which may serve you as a guide in the selection, but I still have to ask Kuenen and Onnes about it first.[6] —But in any case, you remain absolutely free in that. As for the printing of the speech, please do take the following into consideration: 1. See that it does not get publicized (through some misunderstanding) before you have delivered it. 2. Provided you want to have the customary title page and the customary ad- dresses added to the publication for the presentation copies for distribution within this country (traditional obligation), then I must provide you with a bit more infor- mation, since you cannot follow the format of my speech exactly as a model, be- cause your chair is subordinated under a different board of overseers than mine.[7] —Of course, no one requires that you observe the traditional format strict- ly, but since, nestled in the local milieu (think of our old church building!!), there is such a unique charm for old-fash. formality, even you yourself will afterwards take aesthetic (indeed, perhaps even a halfway ethical) delight in it and, in any event, give the many people who like you so affectionately here an extra pleasure by it. Then I’m also going to let you know how many copies you must send here, in case you want to follow tradition in that as well. Provided you have nothing against it, I’ll find all this out for you and send you all the necessary information. May I? — • — As regards my wish for a complete edition of your publications, I’ll leave you in peace for the time being, even though I am absolutely not of your opinion.[8] But T′