The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-04-27
GREAT LOSS
To the Scientific World Is Caused By
 the Death of Professor Curie.

London Cor New York Sun.
 The stupendous tragedy in Western America which has held the world in awe for the past week has made such an absorbing claim on the public inter- est and imagination that the sudden end of the career of Pierre Curie, the co-dis- coverer, with his talented wife, of the wonderful element of radium, has been almost overlooked Yet the opinion may be hazarded without the least deroga- dlon from the claims of the San Fran cisco drama upon human sympathy that the premature death of the simple lived, retiring scientist who was killed by foolish break of fate in Paris street, was an event of greater actual import ancs to humanity than the terrors which convulsed a comparatively small section of the worlds population on the Pacihe coast.
 One need only to recall some of the pos sibilities to which the possession of the new element opened the way to realize the loss to the world of one of the pair of master minds which brought 1t to light. The potential aid of radium In combat ing cancer alone coneeivably compen- sates from the broad human viewpoint the tragedy of any war, earthquake or fife.
 Nothing is known at the moment Of the work on which pr Curie was actually en- gagged at the time of his death, but ms unremitting devotion to science and his despisal of all public distinction and social distractions had led the scientific world to look to him and his wife to lead the way to further epoch-malSing discoveries. Ia was characteristic of the man that he refused the decoration of the Legion or Honor as useless, that when he had ob- tained some few decigrammes or radium he reflected rich mans offer of half million francs for them because ne wanted the precious stuff to work upon and that he only accepted the Nobel prize and certain subventions so that he might consecrate the mony to further research. When he accepted the professors chair at the Sorbonne in 1905 1t was on condi- tion of having a laboratory furnished there where he could continue his labors in companv with his wife It Is a CO., incidence that the ministry of public in- struction issued official documents relative to the erection of this laboratory on the same day that Professor Curie was Killed.
 If Ia interesting to note that Professor Curie as a boy seemed so stupid al school that his parents withdrew him and put him under private tutor. All through his years of study, including the final preparations for the arts degree, he was hampered by the necessity of study ing uncongenal subjects. It was only when he was free to follow his natural her+ that his powers were manifested.
 It was not surprising to learn that Professor Curle was generally so absorbed mentally that he was unaware or happen- ings around him. There is no doubt that his untimely death can be ascribed to this.
 While crossing the street in front of cab which an ordinary map would have ma seed behind. he suddenly became aware of his danger and ran into pair of horses drawing a dray. which he apparently, did not see, and fell beneath the wheels of the dray. F
 Professor Curie's devoted laboratory as- sistant, on viewing the body at the police office. said tearfully: q knew my dear master would be killed some day. He was verv Innprudent and was constantly dreaming when walking the streets.'