Part 1 - The Institute Libraries - Institute for Advanced Study

often, and the ansver is, as I see it, that he is just a
huuan being before he is a fine scientist.38
Undoubtedly reassured by whatever Ben Flexner wrote, Mr. Frank-
furter replied to the Director's letter after a pleasurable vacation in
Palestine, thereby bringing a fine philosophical detachment to the troubled
atmosphere. His tone was placatory, friendly, informal. But he yielded
no ground, and in defining his own idea of the Institute he was eloquent.
It was precisely because
I care about ... scholarship and learning so passionately that
I want to see it prm.oted unier condit.ions that are not self-
lefeating. And I must say that I derive much more direction
by characterizing our aim as the creation of a 'society of
scholars.' Only god (sic) can create a paradise for anybody.
hut by pooling their efforts, their disinterestedness, their
ccnfidence in one another, unirpeded by obstructive conditions,
of which financial differentiation is one of the most potent
in the world, a group of equals can, in course of time, evolve
themselves into a society of scholars...
The basis of remuneration and the procedure, including objec-
tive clzssification, by which salaries are fixed, are ratters
vhich I deem central for a self-respecting society of scholars
and therefore central for the realization of the ideal of
learning which you and I share...Your...reply...leaves the
central point of the comnunication unattended.. ..39
Individually-detemined salaries thanselves constituted decisions of
policy; he wondered "whether the Board of Trustees adequately discussed
what is involved in those individual decisions."
The Director was not mollified. He did not respond. Corres-
pondence between the two languished. Mr. Frankfurter did not withdraw
from the Board.
In June 1934 Dr. Flexner and Mr. Stewart sailed for England in
the sane ship. In contrast to the contentious spirit prevailing between
hhself and Frankfurter. Plemer found Mr. Stewart's tactful guidance