New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-05-21
Harding Hands
Gift of Radiu,r1
To Mime. Ctlrie
Pays High Tribute 10 Her
as He Presents $4,000
Token From u. S. Women
at White House Ceremony
Many Notables i'm Throng
Scientist Accepts Phial in
Hope That She May Use
Ii to Benefit Mankind


hands of the President of the United
States Nine. Curie, the French Polish
scientist, received in the White House
to-day gram of radium valued at
100000. The presentation was made
in the presence OF a brilliant company
which filled the East Room. The kind
~, mOtherly appearing woman, who
discovered radum but who never hoped
to own a particle, responded feelingly
to the Presidents address accompany
ing the presentation. Following the
presentation ceremonies, which took
less than a half hour, the President
and Mrs. Harding, Nine. Curie and her
two daughters, with the French Am
bassador and Nine. Jusserand, received
the guests in the Blue Room.
The radium, in small locked box,
was handed to President Harding by
Mrs. William Brown Meioney, of New
York, chairman of the Nine Curie Ra-
dunn Fund Committee, which collected
money to make the gift possible from
thousands of American women
Escorted by French Envoy
As Nine. Curie entered the East
Room on the arm of Ambassador Jusse-
rand the company rose in tribute
The French Ambassador in brief
presentation speech said that America
possessed a warmheartedness all its
own which it expended on occasion to
do good. He described briefly how
American women learned that the dis
coverer of radium possessed none for
herself and set about finding means to
supply her. The President spoke as
follows:
Nine Curie: 1t is with an especial
satisfaction that perform the pleas
ant duty which has been assigned to
me to-day. On behalf Of the American
nation I greet and welcome you to our
country, in which you will everywhere
find the most cordial reception. We
welcome you as an adopted daughter
OF France, our earliest supporter
among the great nations. We greet
you as native born daughter of
Poland-newest, as it is also among
the oldest of the great nations, and
always bound by ties of closest SYM
pathy to our own Republic In you we
see the representative CT Poland. re-
stored and reinstated to its rightful
place; of France, yaliantly maintained
in the high estate which has ever been
its right.
'As nation whose womanhood has
been exalted to fullest participation in
citizenship, we are proud to honor in
you woman whose work has earned
universal acclaim and attested woman's
equality in every intellectual and
spiritual activity.
I'VE greet you as foremost among
scientists in the age of science, as
leader among women in the generation
which sees woman come tardily into
her own. We greet you as an exemplar
of liberty's victories in the generation
wherein liberty has won her crown of
glory.
Refers TO National Friendship
"In doing honor to you we testify
anew our pride in the ancient friend
ships which have bound US to both the
country of your adoption and that of
your nativity We exalt anew our
pride that We have stood with them in
the struggle for civilization, and have
touched elbows with them in the march
of progress.
at has been your fortune, Nine.
Curie, to accomplish an immortal work
for humanity. We are not without un-
derstanding of the trials and sacrifices
which have been the price of your
achievement. We know something of
the fervid purpose and deep devotion
which inspired you. We bring to you
the need of honor which is due to
prominence in science, scholarship,
research and humanitarianism. But
with 1T all we bring something more.
We lay at your feet the testimny of
that love which all the generations of
men have been wont to bestow upon the
noble woman, the unseltsh wife, the
devoted mother. If, indeed, these
simpler and commoner relations of life
could not keep you from great attain
ments in the realms of science and
intellect, it is also true that the zeal,
ambition and answering purpose of
lofty career could not bar you from
splendidly doing all the plain but
worthy tasks which fall to every
woman's lot.
"A number of years ago a reader of
one of your earlier works on radio
active substances noted the observa~
ton that there was much divergence of
opinion as to whether the energy of
radioactive substances is created with
in those substances thems selves. or is
gathered to them from outside sources
and then diffused from them. The ques-
ton suggested an answer which is
doubtless hopelessly unscentifc. /
have liked to believe in an analogy be-
tween the spiritual and the physical
world. | have been very sure thai that
which [ may call the radioactive soul,
or spirit, or iHsellect-call it what YOU
choose-must first gather to itself, from
its surroundings, the power that it aft
erward radiates in beneticence to those
near it. believe it is the sum of many
inspirations, borne in on great souls,
which enables them to warm, to scintil-
late, to radiate, to illumine and serve
those about them. am so sure of this
explanation for the radioactive per-
sonality that l feel somehow a convic-
ton that science will one day establish
like explanation for rado-a activity
among inanimate substances.
Sees Need as Inspiration
Perhaps, in my innocence of science,
! am alrily rushing in where scientists
fear to tread. But | am trying to ex-
press to you my conviction that the
great things achieved by great minds
out the inspiration of an appealing
need for them. That appeal comes az
inspiration TO successful effort, and
success in turn enables the outgiving
Of benefits to millions whose only con-
tribution has been the power of their
united appeal.