Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-10-31
NINE. CURE GETS
CHECK RAD|UM
Hoover Pays Tribute to
Noted Woman Scientist in
Presenting Americas Gift.

President Hoover, late yesterday after
noon, in the presence Of several hun
dred distinguished men and
assembled in the auditorium Of the
National Academy of Sciences, present.
ed a bank draft for $50, 900 to Nine.
Curie. the noted French scientist and
co-discoverer of radium.
AS the President handed the silver
case containing the draft, which was
donated by a group of American women,
and which is to be used by Nine. Curie
in carrying on her experiments and
research work in ~radiology, to the frail,
somberly dressed French scientist, he
made a brief speech, in which he
described her discovery Of radium as
one of the outstanding triumphs of
research IN the realm of pure science.
Tribute Touches Mime. Curie.
Mime. Curie appeared greatly touched
by the high tribute paid to her by the
President and by the evidence of esteem
in which she is held in this country.
In a, voice so low it could hardly be
heard she expressed her appreciation.
She concluded by saying. "I will like
to remember the American gifts of
radium to me as a symbol of enduring
friendship binding your country to
TAd11CC dllu W O1d1lO
DR.. William Welsh of Johns Hopkins
presided. He lauded the contributions
to science made by Nine. Curie. He
called attention to the fact that i'll
health almost prevented her coming to
this country at this time and that it
was impossible for her to attend public
demonstrations of any kind.
In his speech President Hoover said:
Il am sure that I represent the whole
American people when I express u
qualification to Nine. Curie that she
should have honored country by
coming here. We give to her the well
come of a people who are grateful for
the beneficent service she has given to
all mankind.
ut is not necessary for me to re-
count the great fundamental discovery
associated with the names Of her late
husband and herself. The discovery Of
radium was an outstanding triumph of
research in the realm Of pure science.
1t was, indeed, a great and successful
exploration into the unknown, from
which a new truth has brought to the
world a practical revolution in our con-
ception of substance. 1t has advanced
all thought on the constitution of mat
ter. And, like all great discoveries OF
fundamental substance and fact, 1t has
found application to human use. In
the treatment Of disease, especially of
cancer, it has brought relief of human
suffering to hundreds of thousands OF
men and women.
GAS an indication of the appreciation
and the respect which our people feel
for Mime. Curie, generous-minded men
and women under III leadership of
Mrs. William B. Meloney have pro-
vided the funds with which a gram
of radium is to be purchased and
presented to the hospita& and research
institute which bears her name in
Warsaw. The construction Of this hos
pital was q magnificent tribute by the
city of her birth and the Polish people.
in which the American people are glad
to have even this opportunity of modest
participation. The whole OF this oc-
caSion where we pay tribute to a great
scientist Is again a recognition of the
Importance of scientific re-
and a mark of public apprecia-
ton of those who have given their lives
to human service through its profession.
Nine. CURES response follows:
81 am conscious of my Indebtedness
to my friends in America, who. for the
second time, with great kindness and
understanding, have gratifled one of my
dear wishes. My work is very much my
life, and I have been made happy by
your generous support Of it. I feel
the Importance of what has been
said by the President of the United
States about the value of pure science;
this has been the creed of my life.
Scientific research has its great beauty
and its reward in itself; and SC I have
found happiness in my work. i
"It has been, however, an additional
as well as an unexpected happiness to
know that my work could be used for
relief in human suffering.
Values Friendly Feeling.
"I do not believe that I deserve all
the praise that has been given me; but
I highly value the friendly feeling ex-
by the President and by DR..
"Mr. President, in my native land
your name is reversd for having saved,
BY your humanitarian work, a large part
Of the young generation. Your kind
work Of today viii add to the gratitude
Of the Polish people toward you. In
accepting this precious gift, which viii
the opening of the radio insti-
tute in Warsaw, I offer youaand my
friends my most profound
My laboratory In Paris will
keep in close relation to the Warsaw in
and I will like to remember the
gifts of radium to me as a
Of enduring friendship binding
your country to France and to Poland"
During her overnight stay in WASH
Nine. Curie was a house guest at
the White House. Following a dinner In
her honor at the White House last
night, Nine. Curie left Washington for
New York. |