Chapter 1 Summary

Walking his dog down Mercer Street on a cold winter morning, Einstein stops to greet another Princeton professor, the postman, and a young girl: She thanks him for last week's help with her long division, because she got a "100" on this week's test. She mentions her promise to pay Einstein an ice cream cone for his assistance. She promises to deliver that when she gets next week's allowance.

Before hurrying off to school, the girl notices that, once again, Einstein is not wearing his rubber boots. Another professor offers Einstein a ride, but he declines, saying he needs his walk. Between there and the railway station, he greets a milkman and a housewife. He decides to stop for a cup of coffee, and before he can do that, the newsboy accosts him. The boy is laughing, because someone had gotten off the train...