Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-07-06
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thinking before he was exposed to the
academic stamp. Born at Ulm he was
moved from Munich to Milan and from
Milan to Zurich. He had long vaca-
tons from formal instruction. Finally
he was placed in the model school at
Aarau, where he was allowed to keep
his curiosity fresh.
Already the traits which he shows in
manhood rendered him especially diff
cult Ito educate" He was contem-
plative, deeply unsociable, tormented-
whenever subjected to schooling-by
the intrusions of his teachers and
schoolfellowS. His will was not strong.
He would not force himself to study.
Whenever he could he escaped from the
too real present into the abstract. He
played with figures and theories. 1t
was especially fortunate that he never
was compelled to see mathematics
other than as game. He pursued 1t
of his own accord. 1t was his belief,
his relaxation.
Mathematics for Spiritual Life.
been his spiritual tower room. where
Einstein could get away from the rest
of mankind and allow his fancy its full
freedom. Nowadays. when he climbs
up to his attic, there is a sort Of symbol
in the isolated room from which he can
look down over the great fat world of
Berlin as from a mountain top. In
this spreading mushroom city the sixth
floor is an altitude-a pinnacle of
retreat and security. Enter Einstein' S
retreat and look about you. You will
find all the close, intimate objects
which mark his inner life.
Against one wall, books in profusion.
yet in unloved paper covers, crowded
from foo rto ceiling. Upon raised plat
form stands a small brass telescope,
ridiculously inadequate to express the
grandeur of the Einsteinian concepts,
vet nevertheless a trifie larger than the
glass with which Calico revolutionized
coSmography. Beside the telescope
there is a globe and between them a
desk piled high with expressive, thick
tones What an admirable setting for
Faust" There is in the scene, how
ever, one unexpected element-the
grand piano standing there beyond the
telescope and the violin case lying open
beside it, bringing one abruptly back
from Einstein's work to Einstein him
self
Einstein has particularly 1eisurely
method of working. He believes that
his ideas work themselves out with no
other encouragement than his calcula-
tions to support them, while the essen
tial, the creative verb which opens new
while he muses., while he plays or while
he wanders. Often his music helps his
thoughts to form He has q passion
for the violin and the pianoforte.
In music, as in science. Einstein is a
creator. Like any composer, he turns
naturally to the piano after walk or
some inner experience has inspired him.
He plays for himself. BY his own wish
his improvisations are lost as soon as he
HN1rp 1oA Nnf
relish, and he feels Inundated when any
one suggests that the music which Is his
most personal solace might interest the
rest of the world. There is a peculiar
self-depreciation which runs all through
his life in grotesque counterpart with
his mistaken faith in every theory
which he proposes.
wouldn't you rather take me stand
ing on my head?" is his classic re-
ioinder to the man who wanted to
photograph him with his violin.
Alone or with his friends he plays
Bach, Haydn, Mozart and the Beethoven
chamber music His technique Is pure.
Music and mathematics are his religion,
and in their pursuit he Is ardent. The
art of architecture, which he under
stands and appreciates. appeals to him
because of its relation to them.
Remains Impressionable.
"The Gothic cathedral" he will ex-
claim, "is nothing else than Bach
crystallized."
Churches, cathedralS, rituals, in their
power and symbolism, have not lost
their effect upon Einstein. He Is still
as impressionable as boy.
THE scientist" he says, must see all
the fine and wise connections of the
universe and appreciate that they are
II fAnI
toward that what science has not yet
realized like a child trying to under
stand the works and wisdom of a
grown-up AS a consequence, every
really deep scientist must necessarily
have religious feeling"
Einstein, for all his revolutionary
theories, in life is no innovator. He
holds back against the spread of dis
belief among scientists. He holds back
against the broadening Of education to
include females and the rise Of woman
in the ranks Of mathematicians and
astronomers.
I'm Nine. Curie," he says, IT can
see no more than q brilliant exception.
Even If there were more women scien-
lists Of like caliber, they would serve as
no argument against the fundamental
weakness Of the feminine organization"
For Eirstein, woman's place is in the
AtOiItCs OIiQOuDISQLy IIllS COIlVlCUlO1
springs from his first, brief marriage
with a Jugoslav student-a union Of
scientists which ended in disaster. His
present wife Is his own cousin, q charm
ing, capable woman, admirably fitted
to be the wife Of genius. Under her
guidance his life is remarkably organ
lied. The little household consists but
of his wife and her two grown daugh-
tiers by a former husband. These
slight as 1t is. He dutifully presents
himself at mealtime, and even comes
down out Of the clouds" for them and
their guests. Indeed, his work, while it
may fascinate him, never becomes such
an obsession that he cannot shake it
of. Although, upstairs in his attic
study, anything may be brewing, he
shows on descending only the human
side OF his Enthusiastically, thought
full and domestic.
Entertain But Little.
The Einsteins entertain but little and
try to avoid the responsibilities which
they are simply en- fan1ille, yet since
the family of close relatives Is numerous
even their most casual meal may include
several cousins from some provincial
town or even from across the ocean
The perpetual boy in Einstein, the
being of impulse and wonder and senti-
ment, finds himself playing now, In his
turn. the role of Uncle Jake"
Following the meal, whoever MAY
ascend with him to his study discover.
the same rigorous routine prescribed
After q silence, during which Einsteir
win be rsmming and printing his pipe
conversation breaks out with the
scratching of his match. Einsteins
briar has low bowl and appears K
have no phenomenal capacity, yet tn,
quality of his weed is such that within
five Y1aipIikas after II has Sfartad r.