Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1921-05-21
Scientist Is
Praised By
President
Harding Presents Gift ofCram
OF Radium, Purchased by
American Women, To
Madame Curie.
ValuePla Placedat 100000

Washington. May 70. A gram oil
radium purchased by the contribu-
tons OF thousands OF American
women was presented by President
Harding to Madam Curie, the emil
nent Polish scientist, as token o.
the nations appreciation of her ac-
complishments and as an. earnest ex-
preston of American interest in the
advancement OF science and hu-
manitarianism.
At the same time the president
expressed fervent hope that the
scientific principle of radio activity
established by Nine. Curic in the
research work which led to her dis
covery of radium might be found t,
dominate also the relations of man
kind in the present world crisis, so
that the yearnings and aspirations OF
the many may radiate a new spirit
of service to the souls OF chosen
leaders.
Formal presentation of the gift t.
Nine. Curie. who came to this coun-
try expressly to receive ii, was made
at the White House at ceremon ;
attndcd by high officials of the
government and by a committee OF
those responsible for raising the
purchase fund of 100000. The
radium will be used to continue re-
search work for prevention of dis
case.
Pays Tribute.
President Harding paid tribute to
the personal attainments of the dis
t1ngulshed visitor, to the spirit of
womanhood typified by her and to
the national traditions which lie be-
hind her native Poland and her
adopted country, the French republic.
I'VE greet you as foremost among
scientists in the age of science, as
leader among women in the genera
ton which sees woman come tardily
into her own said the president. 1--WE
greet You AS an exemplar of liberty's
victories in the generation wherein
liberty has won her crown of glory.
In doing honor to you we testify
anew our pride i'll the ancient friend
ships which have bound us to both
the country of your adoption and
that of your nativity.
1t has been your fortune, Nine
Curie, to accomplish an immortal
work for humanity. We bring to you
the need of honor which is due to
pre-eminence in science, scholarship.
research and hunanitarianism 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 the noble woman. the ,inselfsh
wife, the devoted mother.
Source of Inspiration.
g \ number of years ago reader
of one of your earlier works on ra-
dlo-active substances noted the OBJ
servation that there was much diver
gcnce of opinion as to whether the
energy of radioactive substances is
created within those substances them
selves or is gathered to them from
outside sources and then diffused
from them. The question suggested
an answer which is doubtless hope
lessly unscientihc.
Il have liked to believe in analogy
between the spiritual and the physical
world. | have been very sure that
that which l may call the radio-ac-
tive soul, or spirit, or intellect-call
it what you choosc--1nust first gather
to itself from its surroundings, the
power that it afterwards radiates in
benehcence to those near it. l be-
lieve it is the sum of many inspira-
tions borne in ON great souls, which
enables them to warm, to scintillate,
to radiate, to illuminc and serve those
about them"