Bright Spark

When Albert Einstein was young, he was regularly invited to speak at various conferences. But he nearly always found himself wishing that he was back in his laboratory carrying out further pioneering work.

One day, Einstein said to his chauffeur, "Issy, I am getting so very tired of making these speeches, but what on earth can I do? ".

Issy replied, "I have an idea, sir. I've heard you give your presentation many times before and I'll bet I could quite easily give your talk for you. Why, I even look and speak like you." Einstein thought for a while, then laughed and replied, "What a good idea Issy, why not?

So for the next conference, they exchanged clothes. Einstein put on Issy’s uniform and peaked cap and then got behind the wheel of the car. When they arrived at the conference centre, Einstein went and sat at the back of the theatre and wondered how Issy would cope. He needn’t have worried. Issy gave an excellent speech and even answered the first few of the questions that followed. But then one of the other professors asked Issy an extremely awkward question about the speed of light in relation to the formation of anti-matter. Quick as a flash, Issy replied, "The answer to your question is easy. In fact it is so basic that I will ask my chauffeur, who is sitting at the back of the hall, to answer it for me."

[Posted 4/23/09]