Einstein Farewell

Albert Einstein ended two studious months at California Institute of Technology last week. At San Pedro, Los Angeles' harbor, he boarded the Hamburg-American San Francisco with Mrs. Einstein, put his pipe and violin in his stateroom with the luggage, and sought out the dining salon for "a German meal cooked as only Germans know how to cook it."

For farewell he gave--in good English --an interview to the Press, which the New York Times meticulously quoted. Dr. Richard Chace Tolman, his closest collaborator at Caltech, stood by while he delivered some observations and conclusions :

"I shall have to work the rest of my life upon further development of the unified field theory. I have changed the plan of attack, but the object is the same.

"It is scarcely possible to think that life on other planets does not exist.

"In the present opinion, curvature of space has not so much importance for cosmological questions as was previously believed. But this change has not modified the theory that space may be warped in the vicinity of large masses like the sun.

"I believe the apparent motions of nebulae away from the earth are real."

Regarding cultural problems he also had wisdom to impart:

"There is some danger of civilization breaking down, but I am too optimistic to believe disintegration will occur.

"I don't know if Hitler will be elected President in the German elections, but I think his fate will be better if he fails.

"American youth has the good fortune not to have its outlook troubled by outworn traditions, or by any imposed development which they resist.

"Taken as a whole the machine age has not been detrimental to the world; but just at the present moment it appears so. The problems of the moment may lead to their solutions.

"No one has the imagination to picture a new culture. If one had such imagination, he could create a new culture.

"Freedom from the necessity of servants due to mechanical household aids is the best feature of American life."

Reporter: Aren't you finding it easier to talk to reporters?

Dr. Einstein: There is a German proverb which says that any one can get used to being hanged.

Another Reporter: Should Prohibition be modified?

Dr. Einstein: That's your trouble, not mine.

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