The end of a stressful summer holiday.
The Einstein family are packing up after their summer holiday in the village of Mettmenstetten (near Zurich), and Einstein seizes the opportunity to write an affectionate letter to Pauline Winteler, thanking her for 'all the love that you have given me as always, in spite of the great trouble that I have already caused you'. At Mettmenstetten everything is 'in good order': instead of the expected lecture he received only 'a couple of maternal glances'. He finds his aunt [Julie Koch, who was holidaying with them] rather difficult, but her whims are really the result of being spoilt: 'One only has to deal rather roughly with such people, and then one can do what one likes if it doesn't cause them a headache'. Einstein writes rather mockingly of a discussion with Professor Otto Haab [a professor of Ophthalmology in Zurich], about a subject suggested by Pauline Winteler: 'In most praiseworthy modesty he took himself as an example & then spoke a great deal about pearls which were thrown before swine and thus found their way to oblivion'. His aunt is looking for a governess [for her seven-year old daughter]: two candidates have been recommended, one by a friend of the Wintelers – coincidentally both are named Martha Müller. Einstein apologises that his letter has been rather dry, but promises a better one from Milan. Pauline's son Paul [future husband of Maja Einstein] 'should not be angry about the card from my sister. She would not have allowed this teasing, if I hadn't been behind it'.
As the salutation 'Mamerl' ('Mummy') implies, Einstein treated Pauline Winteler as something of an adopted mother. He had lodged with the Wintelers during his year at the Aarau cantonal school from 1895-96, and became close to all members of the family: his first love affair was with one of the daughters, Marie (perhaps the subject of the 'great trouble' he refers to), whilst his sister Maja was later to marry one of the sons, Paul, and his closest friend, Michele Besso, another daughter, Anna. 1899 is the first year for which any significant quantity of Einstein's correspondence survives (15 letters). The 20-year old Einstein is here on the cusp of adulthood: he was already deeply involved in a love affair with his future wife, Mileva Marić; his graduation from the Zurich Polytechnic was a year away, and his first published scientific paper followed a few months later.
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