Fermi's Gifts by Kate Fuglei

Author:Kate Fuglei
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Mentoris Project

January 3, 1939, dawned crisp and sunny. With his wife and children in tow, Enrico Fermi made his way to the Columbia University campus. They strolled down College Walk and took in the vast expanse of white snow that lay like a glistening carpet between two massive libraries, Butler and Low. On the steps of Low Library, Giulio and Nella ran up to touch the statue of the Columbia lion, which stood watch over the campus. It gave the entire area a sense of security and safety.

Enrico wished his children and Laura well. Nella was going to her first day at the Horace Mann School. Fermi made his way to his new office in Pupin Hall.

“America has great resources at its universities and great possibilities for funding research,” said Pegram in his welcoming interview with Fermi. His office looked out on the northern part of Manhattan. Fermi could see the brick buildings of Teachers College and the spires of Union Theological Seminary. It seemed to him that everything about America reached up and was full of possibility.

“Harold Urey, John Dunning, and Isidor Rabi will be joining us for lunch,” Pegram said. “They are the stalwarts, the backbone of our department. I know you have met them all during summers at Michigan.”

“I know Urey especially well,” Fermi replied, “as we have battled it out on the tennis court often during our summers in Michigan, and also at Solvay conferences. Dunning is from that mysterious state in the center of America, Nebraska.”

“They are all interested in the neutron, Dr. Fermi, no matter where they come from. And they are very happy to have you here.”

Fermi found his way to his own office, a simple space with high ceilings and a shiny hardwood floor. He missed, for a moment, the sounds of the sparrows that had sung outside his window on the Via Panisperna and thought longingly of his colleagues there. Then he heard something that sounded vaguely like a sparrow. It carried a tune, one that Fermi recognized from the radio Nella played constantly. Someone was whistling.

Soon a slight young man with reddish hair and a friendly, open face appeared at his door.

“What was that tune you were whistling?” asked Fermi immediately.

“I’ll give you a hint,” said the young man, without skipping a beat. “Louis Armstrong.”

“Who?” asked Fermi.

“Don’t tell me you don’t know Louis Armstrong? Maybe he hasn’t hit Italy yet.”

“Oh, no. The problem is, I don’t know anything about popular American music. I’m not usually a follower of music, but I do like that tune.”

“It’s called ‘When the Saints Go Marching In,’” the young man offered.

“Do saints march?” Fermi asked.

“It’s just a turn of phrase. I’m Herbert Anderson, Dr. Fermi,” said the young man, putting out his hand. “I’m a doctoral student. I was supposed to wait until the formal introduction tomorrow, but I couldn’t help stopping by. I’m so honored to meet you. I’m a New Yorker born and bred, and I can tell you anything you want to know about the city.

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