pocket) “in radio-active-emanations which are already becoming” (we consulted our card again) “a household word”
The Professor raised his hand as if to check us.
“I would rather say,” he murmured, “helio-radio-active”
“So would we,” we admitted, “much rather”
“After all,” said the Great Scientist, “helium shares in the most intimate degree the properties of radium. So, too, for the matter of that,” he added in afterthought, “do thorium, and borium!”
“Even borium!” we exclaimed, delighted, and writing rapidly in our notebook. Already we saw ourselves writing up as our headline Borium Shares Properties of Thorium.
“Just what is it,” said the Great Scientist, “that you want to know?”
“Professor,” we answered, “what our journal wants is a plain and simple explanation, so clear that even our readers can understand it, of the new scientific discoveries in radium. We understand that you possess, more than any other man, the gift of clear and lucid thought”
The Professor nodded.
“And that you are able to express yourself with greater simplicity than any two men now lecturing.”
120
