NOTES 



The International Distribution of the Nobel Prizes during Twelve Years 



It will be of interest to examine how the literary and 

 scientific Nobel Prizes have been distributed among the nations 

 since the inauguration of the prizes in 1901. The prizes were 

 rendered possible by the will of Alfred Nobel, who left a vast 

 sum of money, the interest of which provides the necessary 

 funds. The Peace Prize is given in Stockholm, and we do not 

 consider it here because it refers to a species of human effort 

 which is outside our immediate province. The literary and 

 scientific prizes are allotted and distributed by Sweden. 

 Workers are not allowed to ask for prizes ; but every year the 

 Nobel Committee issues an invitation to leading men asking for 

 nominations. These are then collected and carefully considered 

 during a whole year by the committees, on the report of 

 assessors who, we understand, make the most exhaustive study 

 of the literature connected with the nominations. Four prizes 

 are given every year by Sweden, each one consisting of a 

 medal, an illuminated album, and a cheque for between seven 

 and eight thousand pounds. Sometimes, however, one prize is 

 divided between two recipients. The presentation is usually 

 made by His Majesty the King of Sweden himself (on 

 December 10) in a very distinguished ceremony; and the 

 recipients are required to give lectures on their work, which 

 are published annually by the Nobel Committee. The four 

 prizes distributed by Sweden are for Literature, Physics, 

 Chemistry, and Medicine. It is obvious that the exceptional 

 and international nature of the prizes attaches very great 

 honour to them ; while the pecuniary addition constitutes the 

 first attempt ever made by mankind to give some suitable 

 recompense to their benefactors in great branches of work 

 which often receive no other reward. On the whole, therefore, 

 the title of Nobel Laureate, which is assumed by the recipients, 

 is perhaps the greatest of honours. The conditions of the 

 awards are such that there can be no possibility of the interplay 



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