The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-01-17
ETERNAL LIGHT NAY BE
FOUND BY THE MODEST
DISCOVERER OF RADIUM

FOUND BY THE MODEST
DISCOVERER OF RADIUM
CONCLUDED FROM PAGE /, PART %
row of pins and that l might possibly end
in the foreign legion the gallows.
Eyes, / was a dreadful duffer when
boy; let it be repeated for the benefit of
parents blessed with children that can't
get ahead in school, 1 so backward and
gave my teachers so much trouble by rea-
of my incapacity for grasping the prob
lens I ought to have grasped, that my
father took me from college to forestaH my
discharge. After that l was educated at
home, and how I finally passed examina-
tons, the Lord alone knows. There was
great deal of luck in it on my side, and
besides, l had some powerful patrons.
My sense for acquiring knowledge did not
seem to awaken until entered the univer-
sity. but when l became professor at Sor-
bonnie | was quite successful, both as
teacher and experimentor.
MADAME CURE, INVENTOR.
The door opened and Madame Curie, who
was unaware of visitors presence, en-
tered, accompanied by her six-year-old
daughter Irene. This young woman is
famous professor at the Sevres Teachers
Seminary, the first institute of the kind in
France. At the same time she is a chem
list and inventor-Curie had already related
that she had as much to do with the dis
covery of radium he-yet with all her
learning and despite her many profess
wife and mother and-looks it. She is
pretty and vivaciOus, a charming CONVEX
satiOnalist, and dresses well.
II wish you would deny the silly re-
porters story that NJ Curie and 1 became
engaged at the moment when he handed me
my doctors diploma summa cum laude.
Neither of us, l assure you, belongs TO the
class of persons likely to fall in love at
sight.
go on z. honeymoon trip; instead, we spent
our vacation in the laboratory together.
Really. we never lost an hour with love-
Madame Curie refused to admit that she
played a decisive part in the discovery of
radium. Eve performed all our work to-
gether, one assisting the other, each sug-
costing, correcting; IL would be impossible
to separate ones portion in the result from
the others she insisted.
But, said your correspondent, the
professor has declared before the London
Royal Institute that you conducted i'm
portant Investigations alone and unaided,
for considerable time; believe he stated,
in particular, that you discovered the
weight of the atoms. Becquerel who par
ticipates with yourself and husband in the
Nobel Prize, was the scientist from whose
writings you drew inspiration, according to
Mr.. Curie'
A picture of smiling modesty, Madame
Curie would not answer directly. She only
said: mr.. Curie is too modest, 1 assure
you, but that both of us are very much in
debted to the great scientist named, is a
fact we gladly acknowledge"
To appreciate the surprising difficulties
of the above declaration, let ii be said
here that the theoretical and experimental
progress of the Investigations was inaugu-
rated with the finding of the atom-wei ght
only when that was ascertained, the profess
sor joined his wife in the search, where
upon both together made their epoch-mak-
ing discovery.
Your correspondent tried to persuade
Madame Curie to express herself on the
eternal light question, but the vivacious
woman would not make any definite state
fountain of heat and light of inexhaustible.
or seemingly inexhaustible strength, is all
we know, so far" she said.
WOMAN OF CHARACTER.
Madame. Curie consented, however, to
talk of her career, because 1 said that the
story of her success might be an inspiration
to others, particularly to ambitious Amer
lean girls.
IL was born in Poland and come from a
poor but intellectual family" she said. "Un-
| like NJ Curie-I suppose he has told you
of his only Weakness was good student,
quite famous for winning prizes. My ambi-
ton was 10 learn, and again to learn;
| never cared much for fine dresses and such
frippery. After exhausting the educational
| possibilities of my native land, / came to
| Paris and prepared for examination. / was
| only eighteen and French is not my mother
| tongue. But | succeeded, nevertheless.
had to- for my resources were at an end
| and there was no hope of replenishing
| them.
when I gained the professorship at the
Ecole Normale IN SevreS, L was in posi-
| ton TO marry. l did not care for a husband
who would support me, being decided that
| my earnings should go towards advancing
| me in my chosen profession, in science.
Our marriage preparations consisted
| mainly IN saving up for a laboratory, the
| workshop where our talents, If we had any,
| could develop. Well, a modern laboratory
| Is not at all like the place the comic papers
picture: a few glass tubes an alcohol lamp
| ana retort or spherical vessel. We needed
| no end OF scientific apparatus costing thou
sands and again thousands. The very recol-
! lection how it was all got, little by little
| fills me with terror and satisfaction to-
I day.
';Taking it all in all. we worked hard
for the birth of radium, although we did
| not have to go the lengths of Bernard
| Palsy, who sacrificed his bed and chair
| to maintain the fire necessary for his in
| vention. We renounced all social pleas.
| ures, L did without smart frocks and fash.
| lonable hats; seldom or never was any
! money in the house: many of our acquaint-
ances pitied us, dare say, but look at the
result. the gains to humanity"
| The result" repeated Professor Curie
| with a sad smile, to paraphrase the say
| ing of your great admiral the glory of the
| invention of radium is big enough for both
of us, besides allowing us to forget all oul
| past troubles, but it is not without penalty
| either. Jsut think of it: all sorts of sciep-
| tific bodies and societies are wanting TO in
| vite us to banquets and similar affairs
| Very Kind, admit, but think of the time
| to be jeOpardiZed. A night away from the
| laboratory means the loss of so many good
working hours; means the interruption OF
useful and necessary experiments"
| rose to go. Il am a thousand times
| obliged for the hint" l said.
|