Omaha daily bee., 1921-04-08
The Interest IN Elnsteiq.

Meeting a swarm OF reporters who seek to
interview him about his theory eof relatively,
Prof. Albert Einstein, OF the German University
of Prague, expresses great wonder at finding
his theory of the universe a matter of such ap-
parent interest in the United States of America.
This degree of interest should not surprise Prof.
Einstein i'll the least. Nothing piques the inter-
est OF Americans much as thing that they
cannot understand at all. The representative
American citizen long since ceased to take his
theory OF the universe from the regular and
orthodox solvers of mysteries. Even as long
ago as De Tocquevle visited America. we were
said to have seventy religions and only one
sauce. The relation between sauces and religions
proved the slightness of our concern about con-
diments and the fierce keenness of our interest
in theories of the universe-whici, owing to our
unconquerable tendency to dissent. we arc un-
able to accept at the lips of our constituted reli-
anyone comes along with new theory of the
universe we arc all after it. hot foot We may
not accept it; in fact, the chances arc altogether
against our earnest acceptance OF it-for always
there IS the new theory looming in the offng.
In this regard we are even as we are in the min
mig camp--always ready to stampede to new
diggings, to some new prospect Of shining grains
OF gold IN the dull gravel OF life's facts And
the more lncomprehensble is the new theory of
the III universe, the more it piques our curiosity.
he immediate hold of Einsteinism on the
pubic mind, or the public imagination. is un-
doubtedy due to what may be called the almost
ness OF its ncomprehensibility. Prof Einstein
deals in plain symbols He knocks his fist twice
on the taole-one, two, on the same spot-and
then convnces us that it was not at all the same
spot, because between the first rap and the Sec
ond rap the earth had turned miles on its axis.
and had been also moving around the sun. and
the solar system itself was moving through,
space; nothing was the same; everything was
relative to something else: nothing is stationary,
no two things can be simultaneous; and even
the relations that we conceive are unreal. All
things are dissolved, orc may say; space curves
back upon itself; and ii now we readily conceive
a fourth dimension, it is because the professor
mas succeeded III abolishing the other three
dlmensons. We are checrfully face to face with
the infinite, because the finite has been proved
to be infinite.
In other words Prof Einsten, like all the
rest OF the philosophical discoverers, brings us
Joy will continue until we discover that he is
bowing out at the same old door by which
we went in This, by the way. is not said to
discredit Mr.. Einstein's theory. 1t is perfectly
good theory as far as it goes The professor is
to be credited with claiming no more for it than
that it is a theory like any other. Happy is he,
however. If he can find in it the key that unlocks
the mystery OF the universe.
AT all events. Prof. Einstein finds himself the
center OF public interest, and is to be congratula
ted on that as means OF forwarding the cause
in behalf OF which he comes. If there is a thing
more uncertain about the professor than his
theory, it is his nationality. He is professor
in a university at Prague, but that university IS
the German university there. not the Czechish.
His famous lectures were delivered at Vienna,
which is i'll the Austrian republic. He is or
was, incidentally professor in the Polytechni-
cun-at Zurich, which is in Switzerland. Exist
ing nations with him fourth -dimensonal
Relatively to the facts OF life, Austria Switzer-
land Czecho- -Slovakia, Germany and the United
States are annihilated. The immediate object OF
interest is the establishment of Zion. That is
worthy and a notable object, which in the
whirl OF illusion presents firm ground tor the
feet of millions.-Boston Transcript.