Gilpin observer., 1914-03-05
SCIENCE OF RAD|UM
(By e. Zimmerman.)

| 1T Is doubtful whether in any 9TH
er field of human effort there are to
be found so many men of transcend
ent genius, magnificent training and
splendid balance of judgment as are
to be found in the science of radio
activity" says Duncan.
His statement is easily explained
on the ground that there has not re-
Gently been opened to scientists a
field so varied in it's seemingly ILL
mitable world, in fact, where the
seeker after truth may find wondrous
and strange revelations on which to
base scientific deductions. 1t has
upset the laws Of chemistry and al
tered the very theories Of the crea-
tion of the universe. Those men,
Crookes, Lodge, Curie and all those
who are foremost in the ranks of sci
entific attainments are the pride Of
their universities, have found in the
discovery of the new element a study
so fascinating, SO absorbingly allur-
mg, that it is a safe assumption TO
say that any one Of them would think
his life but poor tribute to give for
further research To the layman,
even, the interest attached to the
study of radio-activity possesses an
interest which makes the gray world
new place of mystery and allure
m ent.
Duncan says: There is something
peculiarly attractive about this bor-
der line between science and ignor-
/ ance-the fighting line, as it we're
struggle which the writer places be-
fore the reader, the cause of war be-
ing nothing more nor less than the
nature of the chemists atom.-the
atoms of matter are the bricks of
the universe, out of which you and
and the Dog Star and the Milky Way
are builded. What affects the atom
affects us. AS a matter of fact, there
is nothing esoteric about it and little
that is abstract. Locked up in the
atom is the cause of the heat of the
sun, the nature Of electricity, the
evolution of a universe and the birth
and decay of matter. There is also
held out to us the possibility of cures
for hitherto incurable diseases,
vast stores of energy hitherto unsus-
pected besides which the form of en-
ergies with which We are acquainted
are as nothing and a whole series of
radiations heretofore unknown from
matter in the natural state"
1t was but brief ten years ago
that a noted writer wrote lengthy
treatise on the Bankruptcy of Sci
ence", claiming that men knew all
there was to know.
AS though the Great God, in his
benign and tender generosity looked
down on the earth and pitied man
for his colossal ignorance in accept
ing such a hopeless ultimatum to FUR
/ ther research, there came the wond-
rous discoveries in rapid succession
by Hertz of electromagnetic waves,
Moissan's revolutionary work with
the electric furnace, Roentgen's X-ray
and Rayleighs and Ramsay's discov-
cry of the rare gases of the atmos-
phere, with Dewar's liquefaction of
hydrogen.
The last century began with the
atom and the result has been a won
1hderfully improved world, a greater
civilization than we have ever
known. Now this most inspiring of
all centuries begins with the atom
within the atom and before us
stretches some of our most marvel
Gus pathways, leading, all of them, to
a newer and greater world. Oftimes,
one pauses and stares and won
ders to hear people say: II am tired
of living. Life has lost interest"
1t was at a dinner party that an
aged Judge. silvery haired and silver
tongued. launched forth into a dis
sertation of the marvels of science. A
gentleman had remarked on his ex-
treme youth, despite his years and
the answer was his eloquent tribute
to the study of science or research
work. God gave US minds to dew.
elop and eyes to see. ears to hear
the call. No man is old who is inter
ested in this wonderful world. There
is SO much to do and so little DONE"
he said.
] learned at that dinner party q
great truth.
1t is this, no man is old who is a
student.
The world presents such an amaz.
ing interest to one inclined IN make