"Light Without Heat or Waste"

Editor with contributions from W. W. Karr

Under the above caption we published in the Sentinel of September 27, 1900, an article setting forth the wonderful discovery, by a woman, of a substance called "Radium."

It seems that the article, which was taken from the Enquirer of Cincinnati, Ohio, very considerably overdrew the picture, as inquiry at the Smithsonian Institution has revealed. Among those who made inquiry was Professor Hermann S. Hering of Baltimore, Md, He received in reply the following letter from W. W. Karr, Acting Aid in Charge:—

Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D. C.,

October 10, 1900.

Dear Sir:—In reply to your letter of October 6, I am authorized by the Secretary to inform you that the statements you refer to are much exaggerated. The substance, radium, while interesting, by no means emits light in any degree comparable with sunlight, or even with candlelight. The light is indeed more nearly of the intensity of that given by the firefly. Information regarding this substance has appeared at different times for several years in physical and chemical scientific periodicals; one having been printed in the Popular Science Monthly for July of the present year.

Very respectfully yours,
W. W. Karr,

Acting Aid in Charge.

Mr. Hermann S. Hering, The St. Paul, Mt. Royal Avenue, Baltimore, Maryland.

In further modification of the claims as published, we herewith republish the following from The Great Round World:—

"When this discovery was brought to our attention, we had our doubts of its full truth. It seemed incredible that a piece of radium the size of a half dollar could, without waste, light a room, 'even though left to itself for centuries.' Accordingly we wrote to the Smithsonian Institution at Washington, asking the government scientists whether the accounts were true.

[The reply received was very similar to the above letter to Professor Hering.]

"The scientific interest of radium is therefore great, but the practical interest is at present slight. The discovery of such unthought-of properties may, however, lead to ultimate further discoveries which will prove of definite value. Scientific discoveries must be judged dispassionately on their merits. No mere speculative enthusiasm should be permitted to carry away the sober thought of the student."

We are glad to publish the above corrections, and in doing so feel that we are not detracting in any degree from the real merit of the discovery, for it seems that, even according to the modified statements, it is an important one. As stated, it may yet develop into something very practical in the way of illumination.

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