254
12 Coda
Fig. 12.1 Hendrik Antoon Lorentz. This picture comes from the Album Amicorum, presented to H.G. van de Sande Bakhuyzen on the occasion of his retirement as professor
of astronomy and director of the Sterrewacht Leiden in 1908 [47]
vision, the discretion, the habit of self-criticism. Of you we had expected the first
step for the restoration of lacerated Europe. We call on you for cooperation in
order to prevent Science from becoming divided, for the first time and for an
indefinite period, into hostile political camps.
The physics department of the KNAW was chaired in that period by Lorentz
(Fig. 12.1). These were turbulent times and the decision that the Netherlands
would join will have resulted in deep differences of opinion among the members. Actually, Lorentz is praised by his contemporaries and historians for his
wisdom and tact (see for more [108]). Kapteyn did not give up his membership
of the KNAW as Henriette Hertzsprung–Kapteyn in her biography [1] seems
to imply; he did, however, discontinue his attendance to the meetings, which
must have been quite a sacrifice for an active member like him.
Kapteyn’s standpoint in these matters also placed him in a difficult position in relation to colleagues at home and abroad, many of whom were great
advocates of the exclusion of Germany, such as the British astronomer Herbert Turner of Oxford. But he also had supporters, such as Svante Strömgren
12 Coda
Fig. 12.1 Hendrik Antoon Lorentz. This picture comes from the Album Amicorum, presented to H.G. van de Sande Bakhuyzen on the occasion of his retirement as professor
of astronomy and director of the Sterrewacht Leiden in 1908 [47]
vision, the discretion, the habit of self-criticism. Of you we had expected the first
step for the restoration of lacerated Europe. We call on you for cooperation in
order to prevent Science from becoming divided, for the first time and for an
indefinite period, into hostile political camps.
The physics department of the KNAW was chaired in that period by Lorentz
(Fig. 12.1). These were turbulent times and the decision that the Netherlands
would join will have resulted in deep differences of opinion among the members. Actually, Lorentz is praised by his contemporaries and historians for his
wisdom and tact (see for more [108]). Kapteyn did not give up his membership
of the KNAW as Henriette Hertzsprung–Kapteyn in her biography [1] seems
to imply; he did, however, discontinue his attendance to the meetings, which
must have been quite a sacrifice for an active member like him.
Kapteyn’s standpoint in these matters also placed him in a difficult position in relation to colleagues at home and abroad, many of whom were great
advocates of the exclusion of Germany, such as the British astronomer Herbert Turner of Oxford. But he also had supporters, such as Svante Strömgren