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Richards to Ostwald: Chemical Laboratory of Harvard College Cambridge, Mass., U.S. A. Mar. 18th 1905 Dear Professor Ostwald We are delighted at the good news that you may be
among us next autumn. The list has not yet been sent from the authorities at
Berlin, so I do not know how strongly other departments may urge their candidates;
but you may be sure that I shall do all I can to have you come. It would be a
great pleasure to us. Professors James and Royce, also, are very anxious to
have you here. The matter is of course decided by the President and Fellows.
They are very desirous of trying the experiment of exchanging Professors in a
gradual way, beginning one at a time in each direction. Therefore they have
approved but one choice (Professor Peabody) as the Harvard representative in
Berlin, and will choose but one German Professor to come in this direction.
If two had been decided upon, I should go to Berlin next winter, since I was
the second choice of the Unterrichtsverwaltung among the names submitted by
Harvard. I suppose you would prefer to lecture on the
philosophy of nature - a course which would attract many hearers from all the
scientific and philosophical departments. I am exceedingly sorry to hear that you are thinking
of giving up your professorship -as I am that you have deserted physical
chemistry. Of course, I shall tell no one until you give me leave. A few weeks ago I had the pleasure of recommending
to the Nobel Committee that they offer you one of their magnificent prizes,
for general influence upon the chemical thought of the last twenty years. I
hope very much that you may receive this prize. Would you be so good as to
send them a copy of your biography, which appeared in the Zeitschrift, as
well as some of your works, if you have not already sent them? With kindest regards to all Yours always T. W. Richards Mrs. Richards is somewhat stronges, and sends her
best regards. We await eagerly the Niagara picture you are good to have
remembered it. I sent you recently two papers of Lewis's, which I
hope you can publish. |
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Richards to Ostwald 15 Follen St. Cambridge March28th 1905 Dear Professor Ostwald Before this you have heard the news which brought us
so much pleasure and satisfaction - namely, that you are to be the
representative of Germany at Harvard next year. You will be glad to know that
this decision arose from a general desire from all departments - so that you
can rightfully feel yourself welcomed by all. So all in the Chemical
Department, as well as to all in the Physical Department, this decision was
especially welcome. There is so much desire on the part of men in many
different sciences to hear you, that I thought that some such subject as ,,the
Historical Development of Scientific Thought", or a history of natural
science and natural philosophy, would be an especially happy one; - and then
all the chemists and physicists wish to hear something from you on your own
subject - hence the titles which were mentioned in our official letter. But
of course we want you to give something which will interest you, so these are
only suggestions. Please let me know if I can do anything to help you,
in the way of looking up a house, or anything of that kind. Shall you bring
your whole family? l hope so. You know that nothing could give me more
pleasure than to do all I can lo help you in every way. Mrs. Richards joins
me in kindest regards, and in many expressions of pleasure that you are to be
one of us next autumn. Yours always T. W. Richards Please give our best regards to Frau Ostwald, also.
Welcome, all! [gap in the text] take them from Sept. 26th to about
the first of February. If I receive this cablegram „Rooms" then I shall definitely
engage them. I doubt if it is possible to do better in Cambridge. Besides
cabeling to me, it would be perhaps be well if you would write to the
landlady: Miss Frances du Relle Gage Jarvis Field House Everett Street Cambridge, Mass. USA so that you may thoroughly understand one another.
Miss Gage's food is said to be simple and good. I shall quite understand if
you decide that you should like to see the rooms before engaging them - but
of course if you wait, there is risk that Miss Gage will rent them. The
competition is so keen that no one seems to be willing to reserve rooms
conditionally - i.e. - without definite promise to come. With kindest regards from house lo house - and
pleasantest anticipations of your coming. Yours always T. W. R. There are several pleasant apartment houses in
Cambridge with „flats" - but these do not provide food and service. |
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Richards to Ostwald Chemical Laboratory of Harvard College Cambridge, Mass., U.S.A. Apr. 30th. 1905 My dear friend, Your pleasant letter of the 15th. came the other
day, and we were delighted with the assurance that you can really come, and
that Frau Ostwald and perhaps your daughters will come with you. It is good
news to know that Frau Ostwald is well again. We are anxious to know as soon as possible just what
we may announce as the subjects and times of your lectures. As you probably
know, a regular „course" contains three lectures a week, or if there are
less than three there is laboratory work or reading demanded in addition.
Courses with an amount of work less that this do not count for the degrees of
bachelor of arts or science. Please let me know if you care to have students
in research, and just what subjects you wish to offer as topics for original
investigation. We hope that you may feel inclined to take a few such
students, although of course the time is too short to accomplish much. I send
by this mail a pamphlet describing the chemical courses, and heg that you
will make as soon as possible [illegible] statements concerning the courses
which you propose to offer, for publication in our next pamphlet, to be
issued in June. With the pleasantest anticipations of our winters
companionship, and the kindest regards from house to house, I am, Yours always, T. W. Richards (over) Shall you lecture in German or English? Can you not
call here on your way to California in the summer? Recently I sent you
proofsheets of a paper which I hope you may be able to publish soon in the
Zeitschrift. I think it is an important contribution to calorimethry. |
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Richards to Ostwald (postcard) 2.V.05 I am writing about your courses. Please let us know
the previous knowledge required of students who are to study them, so that
this too may be announced. Yours ever T. W. R. |
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Richards to Ostwald Chemical Laboratory of Harvard College Cambridge, Mass., U.S.A. May 9th 1905 My dear Friend President Eliot asks me to tell you how pleased we
are that you are to lecture on such interesting subjects. Enclosed you will
find a slip of paper giving the preliminary announcement of your lectures -
which are just as you named them in your letter to Mr. Greene except for one
small change. Because we have already a course called the
Philosophy of Nature, (Philosophy 3, page 49 of the new elective pamphlet the
Philosophical Department and the Committee on Instruction took the liberty of
calling your course „The Philosophy of Natural Science." This title was
suggested by your letter, for you said „Über ein naturwissenschaftlich -
philosophisches Thema". If it does not please you, the title is easily
altered, because this slip is only a preliminary announcement, and the second
edition of the Announcement of Courses of Instruction is not printed until
late in June. Please let us know your wishes with regard to this matter. I hope that the hours named will suit your
convenience. The semester opens on Thursday, Sept. 28th, and closes about the
middle of February. With very best of good wishes, and kindest regards Yours always T. W. R. |
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Richards to Ostwald June 2, 1905 Dear Friend: - Your letter of May 9th has just come and your
cablegram came almost a week ago. First with regard to the times of the
lectures. I put one on Saturday morning, in order that the school-teachers
and other instructors of chemistry in the neighbourhood might he able to
attend; for most of these are free on Saturday mornings. With regard to the
half-course in the philosophy of natural science the time has to come on
Monday, Wednesday and Friday to fit in with our examination System. All our
lectures are given in that way on three alternate days in the week. If one of
these hours were shifted, it would make a conflict with some other group of
courses given at that hour and would therefore make the attendance much smaller.
I think that l see a way out of the difficulty, however. It is our custom
more and more her to give occasional written tests or
„hour-examinations". These can perfectly well be put in charge of your
assistant, with which of course we shall provide you. We can arrange always
to have these on Monday; and if you have Catalysis (Chemistry 18) on
Thursday, you can have free the time from Saturday at twelve to Wednesday at
ten o'clock. This could happen every fortnight, if you wished, and
accordingly you would have plenty of time for the excursions which you have
in mind. It would hardly be possible to put 17 and 18 on one day from ten to
twelve o'clock, because this would conflict with two groups and therefore
diminish the attendance. I am sorry that it is probable that you will he a
little late, because the students will be very eager to know whether or not
you will admit them into your courses. They always like to talk with the
professor beforehand, but it is not very serious because l will take your place
and give them as best I may an idea of what is expected of them and whether
they are fitted to take each of the courses. With regard to the matter of the rooms, immediately
upon the receipt of your cablegram I went to Miss Gage and definitely engaged
the three rooms for a month, from the 26th of September to the 26th of
October. lf, however, you are not able to change to the „Hamburg", that
can easily be put off, so as to stand from the 1st of October to the 1st of
November. I hesitated about engaging the rooms for the whole four months,
because the responsibility seemed to be so great. I should be extremely sorry
to get you into a place which you might not like; and one does not know
always the exact taste of one's friends. I looked over the rooms myself
carefully and it seemed to me, that while extremely simple and plain, they
are pleasant. I hear nothing but good reports about the food and the
restaurant has a great advantage in that you four could have a little table
by yourselves, not a general mixed table, which is apt to be uncomfortable.
One of the rooms has a set-basin with hot and cold water in it. Just south of
the rooms is a large gymnasium for women, with a swimming tank. This cuts off
some of the sunlight from the south Windows and the girls going to and from
under your Windows may make some noise, but they will he perennially amusing,
and as the gymnasium has a nice swimming tank your daughters may find it a
great resource on rainy days, so perhaps that is more of an advantage than a
disadvantage. At any rate on the whole it seems to be a most suitable place
in Cambridge. Miss Gage will practically reserve the rooms for you until
Febr. 1st, because before renting the rooms to anyone else after November
1st, she will Iet me know; and there is plenty of time to decide about that.
Indeed perhaps you might prefer to take your chances and make your own
choice, after you get here. By November 1st there are usually plenty of rooms
for rent; the troublesome time is the first month. Let me know again what you
think after this further description. May I add that Professor Münsterberg
thinks me extremely bold to attempt to engage rooms for anyone else for even
a month! l truly hope that you will like them. We are looking forward with the greatest of pleasure
to your visit and our students are highly pleased that you are coming. With kindest regards to all. Yours always, T. W. R. If you still feel sure that you would like to have the
rooms definitely engaged for four months, a word on a postcard would
accomplish this. But I am inclined to advise you to engage them only until
November. 1st. If my plan about your hours is not convenient, you
could give Chem. 17 on Tuesday, Chem. 18 on Thursday at 11, and give the
written tests in Phil. 3a on Fridays. When you would have from Thursday at 12
until Monday at 10 free, every fortnight, for an excursion. But that would
cut out the Saturday attendance of teachers from Chem. 17 |
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Richards to Ostwald Chemical Laboratory of Harvard College Cambridge, Mass., U.S.A. June 13, 1905 My dear Friend:- Your letter of May 26th came safely a few days ago.
We are very pleased that you should be satisfied with the outlook in regard
to the rooms. With regard to the matter of a translator in your
lectures, Dr. Harry Morse says that he will be delighted and honored to
perform this pious task, as you call it. I wish that my own knowledge of
German was fresh enough to make it possible for me to act in this capacity
for you. There are examinations alter your lectures, as well
as during their progress now and then, but I trust that we shall be able to
take the greater part of the burden off you by means of assistants. With best regards from house to house, Yours always, T.
W. Richards You speak of Fräulein Elsbeth's assisting my wife.
It is very good of her to think of such a thing, but we both hope that she
will find pleasanter things than that to do in Cambridge. Mrs. Richards
unusual delicacy makes a heavy demand of all around her. July 1st Alas! I have just found this letter, written more
than three weeks ago. It was mislaid instead of being posted. I hope you will
pardon this apparent neglect, which I greatly regret. |
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Richards to Ostwald Falmouth, Mass. July 16th 1905 Dear Friend, Your pleasant note of June 27th carne a few days
ago. I am glad that you are satisfied with our arrangements. By the way,
would it not he expedient to let Miss Gage know just when to expect you, as
soon as possible? I engaged the rooms from Sept. 26th, the [last] day before
College opens, - not having heard of your possible later arrival at that
time. If you cannot come until Oct. 3rd you might save a whole week's board
by notifying Miss Gage in time to allow her to rent the rooms to some one
else! I should like very much to know just when to expect you, also, as soon
as it is definitely decided. If Miss Gage gets an offer from some one else for
the time from Nov. 1st to Feb. 1st, what shall I do about your rooms? With regard to the matter of Dr. Morse's assisting
you in the lectures in Philosophy, it seems to me that you have as much to
say as Münsterberg. It is quite true that he is the head of the
department - but heads of departments are not Czars! At least I have never
considered myself as an absolute monarch, and I am the Chairman of the
Chemical department. But as you say, this can easily be arranged after you
arrive. The „Interpreter" in the lectures need not be the same person as
the assistant who reads the examination books. We are pleasantly settled for the summer in a nice
house on the shore of Buzzards Bay, and the children are enjoying the sand
and boats. My wife was much pleased by Frau Ostwald's pleasant
letter. We congratulate you both on your unusually excellent English. With
best regards from house to house. Yours always T. W. R. |
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Richards to Ostwald Chemical Laboratory of Harvard College WestFalmouth, Mass. Augl5th 1905 My dear Friend This note is enclosed with a letter from my friend
Professor Lowell, which explains itself The „Lowell Institute” of which he
speaks, is a Boston Institution that provides for lectures on a great variety
of subjects, usually in the evening. The Lowell Institute is a very dignified
and respectable affair, and it is an honor to be asked to lecture before it.
Many eminent men have done this, both Americans and Europeans. The lectures
are often published in book and pamphlet form, afterwards. I hope (hat you may
he able to accept Professor Lowell's proposition, for these lectures would
bring you before an audience different from your others. The lectures would
be of a popular character, as Professor Lowell intimates, but not addressed
to an ignorant audience. Many of the best people of Boston attend them, and
school teachers form a very enthusiastic part of the hearers. With best
regards from house to house. Yours always T. W. R. I suggest „The Fundamental Principles of
Chemistry", or perhaps even better „Modern Physical Chemistry" as
your topic. Many people want to know what Phys[ical] Chem[istry] is! |
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Richards to Ostwald Chemical Laboratory of Harvard College W. Falmouth, Mass., U.S.A. Aug. 31st 1905 My dear friend Your pleasant letter of Aug. 21st has just come,
with its greatly regrettable news that your wife has given up her idea of
coming. Sorry as we are that this must be, we cannot but think that this is
the part of wisdom and prudence. My own experience in travelling with an invalid,
nine years ago, has convinced me that home is the best place for an ill
person. We hope however that Mrs. Ostwald may be able to corne later, as you
suggest. I will write at once to Miss Gage about the rooms. I am glad that you can give the Lowell lectures.
This Institute was founded by an ancestor of the present Professor Lowell, -
a relative of the poet James Russell Lowell, - and of one of Boston's best
families. I have just had a letter from Professor Wright, Dean
of the Graduate School, begging that you would make a few remarks to the
Graduate School on their opening evening meeting on Oct. 5th . Ten minutes
will answer - the subject being perhaps „Scientific Research". Could you
do us this great favour? If so, please write to me, at Cambridge, for we
leave here about Sept. 15th. With renewed regrets that Mrs. Ostwald cannot come,
and much sympathy, as well as best regards, Yours always T. W. R. |
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Richards to Ostwald 15 Follen St. Cambridge Sept. 29th1905 Dear Friends Welcome, welcome lo America! May your visit be in
every way a happy one, and may health and good fortune attend you throughout
your stay here. We await your coming with warm friendship and the pleasantest
anticipations. If you are tired by your voyage, the easiest method of
reaching the Grand Central Railway Station in New York (although not the
cheapest) is to take a cab at Hoboken and drive across. You had better take
with you on the cab the luggage which you will need immediately - for
sometimes there is delay in forwarding luggage across the river. But the
Captain or Purser will undoubtedly advise you better in these matters than I
can. If you telegraph me what train you expect to take, I shall be delighted
to meet you in Boston and guide you lo your lodging in Cambridge. Mrs.
Richards joins me in kindest regards and best wishes. Yours most sincerely Theodore Wm. Richards Once more,
Welcome! |
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Richards to Ostwald Mar. 13th 1906 Dear Friend Many thanks for your steamship letter. I am glad to
know that you are all safe – but very sorry to hear you had so bad a voyage.
I am sending two papers for publication in the Zeitschrift if you care to
publish them. With best regards Yours always T. W. R |
