322 POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



may be allowed), is to be expected from an hundred weight of the 

 quintessence of energy purified from interfering matter? And to what 

 uses is this light-generating material to be applied? Are our bicycles 

 tc be lighted with discs of radium in tiny lanterns? Are these sub- 

 stances to give us the 'cheapest form of light?' Are we about to 

 realize the chimerical dream of the alchemists? 



Seriously, in what direction is profound study of these substances 

 going to lead us? Will it not greatly extend our knowledge of physical 

 manifestations of energy and their correlation? In what corner of the 

 globe will be found the cheap and convenient supply of the raw material 

 yielding the radio-active bodies? Will not chemists be obliged to re- 

 examine much known material by laboratory methods conducted in 

 the dark? Many of us have worked up pounds of pitchblende to 

 extract the uranium oxids, and in so doing have poured down the 

 waste-pipe or thrown into the dust-bin the more interesting and precious 

 bodies. 



"Whatever the future may bring, scientists are deeply indebted to 

 Becquerel and to Mme. and M. Curie for placing in their hands new 

 methods of research and for furnishing a novel basis for speculation 

 destined to vield abundant fruits. 



