The second volume is full of glory and splendor in the capital, and the spirit is full of vitality in the foggy city. Chapter 168: Orator
Subtitle of this chapter: If you want to be a great speaker, you must first be a comedian.
Tuesday morning, April 20, 1921.
The Grey Knight followed the Grand Mage and his entourage into Princeton University's park-like campus.
Einstein did not know that he would spend his last twelve years, from 1935 to 1955, here.
However, during that time he was not working for Princeton University, but for the Institute for Advanced Study (IAS) in Princeton.
This leading American academic institution was founded in 1930. The Institute for Advanced Study is not part of Princeton University. Aside from some of the Institute's early offices being located at Princeton University, the two institutions have virtually no connection.
Renowned educator Abraham Flexner founded the IAS in the 1930s and served as its first president. His goal was to create a Platonic academy of pure academic research. The institute would not award degrees; all members were doctoral researchers.
In addition to the School of Mathematics and the School of Natural Sciences, the institute also has two liberal arts schools, the School of Historical Studies and the School of Social Sciences.
The most famous member among them is naturally Einstein. Later, there were Oppenheimer, von Neumann, Yang Zhenning and many other winners of the Nobel Prize, Fields Medal, Nevanlinna Prize (the highest award in computer science) and Wolf Prize (arts and humanities award).
Thinking of this, our Master Yuan couldn't help but have an idea. He could also build such a research institute.
Of course, it's too early to say this now. In about ten years, when I've become successful and wealthy, then it will be almost done.
Although such a college will have huge expenses and the input and output will be completely disproportionate at the beginning, this is because it is a purely academic research institution that is not subject to any teaching tasks, scientific research funding or sponsor pressure.
But with this research institute, wouldn't he be a global academic leader? By then, being called "the master of masters" wouldn't just be an exaggeration, it would be the truth.
"Gentlemen, we're here."
The leader was Princeton University President John Grier Hibbern, who succeeded Wilson as president from 1912 until 1932.
This man was an educator, philosopher, and historian. In fact, these three were not very separate in the early 20th century. For example, John Dewey was an educator and philosopher.
He is the author of works on philosophy and education, including Philosophy of the Age of Enlightenment and Higher Patriotism. The latter is quite interesting, arguing that teachers should integrate patriotic education into the entire process of Chinese language education and that they must improve their own qualities in order to effectively implement patriotic education in their teaching.
Principal Hepburn certainly could not have imagined that a hundred years later, the word "patriotism" would become so outrageous in America.
"Mr. Einstein, this way!"
"Neo, look here!"
“Snap! Snap! Snap!”
A large group of reporters had been waiting in front of this typical New England-style building. Master Yuan also benefited from the influence of "his friend Albert" and was able to make a small appearance in the evening editions of major newspapers today.
As a public figure, you must appear in the public eye frequently, otherwise you will easily be forgotten by everyone.
After the reporter finished taking pictures, he followed them into the auditorium...
As soon as Yuan Yan entered, she immediately felt the warmth of the American people. This auditorium, which could accommodate several hundred people, was now packed with people. Not only were all the seats full, but there were also many people standing around.
In fact, in the original timeline, wherever Einstein went, he was always abuzz. He gave more than a dozen lectures in New York, Princeton, Washington, and Boston, all to packed houses. So, he had a very positive impression of the United States and Americans.
The Grand Magister was unfazed, waving cordially to the audience. This was Princeton University, after all, and the audience were mostly intellectuals, not the eccentric NC fans of later generations. So, no unexpected incidents occurred.
In this way, the group slowly squeezed through the crowd and came to the podium.
"Ladies and gentlemen..." As the host, Principal Hepburn was the first to go on stage and give a speech, "Ladies and gentlemen!"
"We are honored to have Mr. Albert Einstein here with us today. He is..."
In Master Yuan's opinion, the Princeton president had good eloquence and could be considered an orator.
In fact, most Western elites at this time were skilled in public speaking, and some even specialized in it. For example, when Mark Twain was at his poorest, he gave public speeches to earn money.
For politicians, public speaking is an essential skill.
Although Harding was a loser, his speeches were actually quite popular. Coolidge, nicknamed "Silent Cal," was also a highly skilled speaker.
There is no need to mention Lenin, Temperance, the Hanged Man, Churchill, and Roosevelt.
Later, Hollywood made a movie called "The King's Speech", which even elevated George V's speech to the point that the British Empire would have perished without this speech... Well, with this speech, the British Empire actually did perish.
Our Master Yuan had given two public speeches before this, one at NYU's Big Gambling Night and the other at a Christmas Eve gathering of overseas Chinese, but neither of these two events showcased his true speaking ability.
As his reputation grows, more and more people will invite him to give speeches. And when he returns to China, he will definitely make a living by giving speeches.
"Ladies and gentlemen, let us first invite Mr. Neo Yuan, a young writer highly regarded by Mr. Einstein, who hails from the East, thousands of miles away, but has become famous on our East Coast!"
Principal Hepburn turned to Master Yuan at the side of the stage and said, "Mr. Yuan, please say a few words for everyone!"
After hearing this, Yuan Yanshu naturally understood what was going on. As a warm-up guest, he could only say "a few words"... Well, actually, it was just a joke.
“Pah…Pah…Pah…”
There was some polite applause from the audience, not enthusiastic at all .
It’s not that everyone doesn’t give face to this Chinese man, it’s just that these listeners came to listen to Einstein explain the theory of relativity.
It’s not that this Chinese man doesn’t give everyone face, but he thinks it’s pretty good if one-third of the people here can understand it.
Yuan Yan suddenly stood up, tugged at her lapel and smoothed her hair, shook hands with Einstein first, then shook hands with Principal Hepburn, and then walked behind the wooden podium.
He did not speak, but looked around the venue with a charming smile, and even waved to the Chinese students and reporters he knew in the audience.
However, he was not going to give an oppressive speech like Lord Temperance, so he did not deliberately drag out the time, but simply attracted everyone's attention.
After he finished showing his face, he cleared his throat and said, "Ladies and gentlemen!"
The Grey Knight pointed at the Grand Magister and said loudly, "My friend Mr. Albert Einstein is a good man!"
