that
the Academy of Paris has long debated whether she should not be made an
academician for her discoveries in connection with polonium and radium.

Study

Each one of us has her own destiny in her control, and has her own
personal problems in life to settle. Thus, we all need all the knowledge
and wisdom that we can secure. Each one of us should be a student, ever
growing in power of thought and in usefulness to others. Too many
people think that education consists in memorizing all kinds of
information exactly as it is put down in the books. What each one of us
really needs is to have a mind that can think definitely and
intelligently upon all the problems presented in life. It is possible
for us to train our minds for this kind of useful and independent
thought. In the first place we should select subjects for study that are
of real interest because they bear upon some problem that concerns us.
Whenever we begin to read a book, or undertake any topic of study, it
should be done with a definite purpose in mind. Propose to yourself some
question that you expect to be answered by this book, or by this
subject. Do not be satisfied with the statement of one author, but also
find out what other authors say, and what some of your friends think
upon this question. When you have done this, try to arrange the
different thoughts and statements according to a plan. Pick out the
largest truth in the whole matter and arrange other statements or
thoughts as they are related to this central one. Making an outline of a
book is an excellent plan. Do not commit yourself entirely to the
author's point of view, if it does not agree with your own. Each one of
us has a distinct individuality and is entitled to his own views, to a
certain extent. However, we should keep our minds open, ready to accept
new truths as they are brought to our attention. Science and knowledge
are constantly advancing, and what we believe now, we may find, some
years hence, to be only a part of the truth. Thus, it is not necessary
to memorize lessons and subjects until after we have thought out what
the real meaning is, and arranged the whole subject on a definite plan.
Then, we will usually find that we know the topic without having to
memorize it formally. Finally we should try to put to use the ideas we
have gained. The real value of ideas lies in making them serve us. When
you have actually put into practice some bit of knowledge, you may then
feel that