Evening star., 1921-05-21
PRESENTING RADIUM,
LAUDS WORK OF MADAME CURIE
Famous Scientist Praised for Immortal
Task for Humanity, Receiving Gift
From American Women.

1t was a proud moment In the III
of Nine. Marie Curie, the World
famous scientist, discoverer of radl
um, as she faced the President OF tn
United States yesterday afternoon. II
the historic east room of the whit
House and heard from his lips tn
appreciation and affection of tn
American people.
1t was an impressive and 1nspirins
occasion. and there was assembled II
the big room at the time several nun
dred distinguished men and women
At the conclusion of his remarks
President Harding presented 10 IN
noted Polish Franco scientist on on,
gram of radium, valued at 100000
the gift of hundreds Of women il
America. The gram of this precious
mysterious metal force was contained
in d mahogany case. and as ne place(
it IN her hand. the President CAV
to her a small key of gold metal Il
unlock the container.
Inspiring Address.
President Hard;ng's remarks t.
Nine Curie follows:
Madame Curie: 1t is with an es-
pecial satisfaction that l perform
the pleasant duty which has been
the American nation I greet and
welcome you to our country. in
which you Will everywhere find the
most cordial possible reception. We
welcome you as an adopted daugh-
ter of France. our earliest sup
porter among the great nations.
We greet you as d native born
daughter of Poland; newest, as it
is also among the oldest. Of the
great nations. and always bound
by ties of closest sympathy to our
own republic. In you we see the
representative of Poland restored
and reinstated to it's rightful place.
of France valiantly maintained in
the high estate which has ever
been its right. -
AS a nation whose womanhood
has been exalted to fullest partici-
patton in citizenship, we are proud
to honor in you a woman whose
work has earned universal acclaim
and attested woman's equality in
every intellectual and spiritual ac-
tivity.
We greet you as foremost among
scientists in the age of science. as
leader among women in the gen
Grafton which sees woman come
tardily into her own. We greet
you as an exemplar of liberty's vic
tories in the generation wherein
liberty has won her crown of
glory.
In doing honor to you we testify
anew our pride in the ancient
friendships which have bound us
+ to both the country of your adop-
tion and that Of your nativity.
We exalt anew our pride that we
have stood with them in the strug =
gle for civilization, and have
touched elbows with them in the
march of progress.
Cnderstanda Sacrifices.
1t has been your fortune, Nine.
Curie, to accomplish an immortal
work for humanity We are not
without understanding 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 pre-eminence in science. schol-
arship. research and humani-
tariansm. But with it all we
bring something more. We lay at
your feet the testimony of that
love which all the generations of
men have been wont to bestow
upon noble woman. the unselfist
wife. the devoted mother If. in
deed, these simpler and commoner
relations of life could not keep
you from great attainments in the
realms of science and intellect, it
is also true that the zeal. ambi-
tion and answering purpose of a
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 read
er of one Of your earlier works on
radioactive substances noted the
oh ho< !,
divergence of opinion as to wheth-
er the energy of radioactive sub
stances is created within those
substances themselves, or is gath
cred to them from outside sources,
and then diffused from them. The
question suggested an answer
which is doubtless hopelessly un-
scientific. I have liked to believe
in an analogy between the spirit
ual and the physical world. l
have been very sure that that
which l may call the radioactive
soul. or spirit. or intellect-call
it what you may choose-must
surroundings. the power that it
afterward radiates in beneficence
to those near it. 1 believe it is the
sum Of many Inspirations, borne
in on great souls, which enables
them to warm, to scintillate. to
radiate.. to illumine and serve
those about them. I am so sure
of this explanation for the radio
active personality that feel some
how a conviction that science will
one day establish a like explana-
tion for radioactivity among in
animate substances.
Sees Analogy for World.
Perhaps, in my innocence of
science. 1 am airily rushing in
where scientists fear to tread. But
/ am trying to express to you my
conviction that the great things
achieved by great minds would
never have been wrought without
the inspiration OF an appealing
need for them. That appeal comes
and success IN turn enables the
outgiving of benefits to 1lRillions
whose only contribution has been