Albert Meets America: How Journalists Treated Genius during Einstein's 1921 Travels

12 Baffled in Chicago (May 2–8)

Monday, May 2 Dr. Einstein Here Today to Explain His “Relativity” Just what is the theory of relativity? At least one man knows—Dr. Albert Einstein, “the man who made it”—and he will be here today. University of Chicago and Northwestern university professors and other scientists of the city, many of whom at least privately confess to some uncertainty in their knowledge of the celebrated theory, will sit at Dr. Einstein’s feet through three lectures in Mandel hall, University of Chicago. The lectures, each starting at 4:30 o’clock and lasting one hour, will be given tomorrow afternoon, Wednesday and Thursday. Dr. Einstein, who is in Chicago in the interest of a drive for funds for the endowment of the Hebrew university in Jerusalem, now being erected on the Mount of Olives, maintains his conception of relativity cannot be properly expounded in less than three hours, and has steadfastly refused to undertake treatment of the subject in less time. The famous scientist will be the guest at a reception tonight at the home of Max Epstein, 4906 Greenwood avenue. Chicago Daily Tribune, May 2, p. 7. There is not much available information on Max Epstein, except that he was a business executive and a philanthropist. 12 Baffled in Chicago ) Einstein Here, Not Relatively, But in Flesh Says He Needs Five Days to Expound Theory The Tribune regrets to inform its readers that it will be unable to present to them Prof. Einstein’s theory of relativity. Yesterday a reporter was sent to interview Prof. Einstein and get a column story on the theory. After the professor, through an interpreter, had explained that the most incidental discussion of the question would take from three to four hours, and that a thorough discourse might be completed in five days, it was decided to confine the interview to other things. Prof. Albert Einstein, scientist and author of the theory of relativity, which has given the world a new scientific conception of space and time, arrived in Chicago yesterday to lecture on his theory at the University of Chicago. As he will give only three lectures here, however, he said he could not go deeply into the subject, expecting to do that at Princeton university, where he is to talk every day next week. His Theory? Simple! When asked regarding the statement that there were only twelve persons in the United States whose mentality was sufficient to grasp the principles of his theory, Prof. Einstein laughed. “Everywhere I go some one asks me that question,” he said. “It is absurd. Any one who has had sufficient training in science can readily understand the theory. There is nothing amazing or mysterious about it. It is simple to minds trained along that line and there are many such in the United States.” The primary object of his visit to America, he said, was in the interest of the proposed Hebrew University of Jerusalem, but he has taken advantage of the opportunity to get in touch with the American scientific world. He wished particularly to meet Prof. Michaelson of the University of Chicago and was sorry to learn he was in Europe. Prof. Michaelson’s experiments have done much to prove the truth of his theory, Prof. Einstein said. Seeks Help for School “The thing that led me to take such an active interest in the proposed university at Jerusalem,” said Prof. Einstein, “was the situation that developed among Jewish students in central Europe after the war. A great numBaf fled in Chicago (May 2–8) ) 147 148 ) Albert Meets America ber of young Jewish students had completed their preparatory courses, and were ready to enter colleges and universities, but were prohibited from doing so because the schools were overcrowded. Prejudice against my race also has something to do with the situation. As a result, it was difficult for a young Jew to complete his education. “The ultimate object of my visit is to raise funds with which to promote this great undertaking; but because of the shortness of the time I will spend in this country, I do not expect to raise the money myself. My mission is to arouse sympathy for the plan.” Prof. Einstein said he attached much importance to the establishment of the university, not only as a national Jewish institution, but also as a seat of Jewish culture. The proposed institution will be coeducational. It already...