THE NOBEL PRIZES.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 54, 27 November 1907, Page 7

THE NOBEL PRIZES.

CROOKES AND KIPUKG.

AWARDS FOR CHEMISTRY AND FOR

LITERATURE.

BY fELEGRirH— ritESS ASSOCIATION—COPTOIGHT,

London, November 25.

The Nobel Prize for chemistry has been awarded to Sir William Crookes, the eminent scientist, and for literature to Mr. ltudyard Kipling, tho well-known novelist.

The Nobel Foundation is based upon the will of Br. Alfred Burn hard Nobel, the Swedish engineer and chemist, and inventor of dynamite, who died in IS9G, and left part of his great fortune to constitute a fund, the interest of which he directed to be awarded annually in prizes to those persons who shall have conferred the greatest benefit 011 mankind during the preceding year. There are (ivo prizes, each worth about .£BOOO, to be awarded for the most important discoveries or improvements in (1) Physics, (2) Chemistry, and (3) Physiology or Medicmo; for (4) the most distinguished work of an idealistic tendency in the field 1 of literature, and (5) for the best ellort towards the fraternity of nations and the promotion of peace. No consideration is paid to the nationality of the candidates, but it is essential that overy candidate shall be proposed in writing by 6omo qualified representative of scieuco, literature, etc., in the chief countries of the civilised world, such proposals to reach the Committee before February 1 in each year, the awards being made 011 the following December 10. The Nobel Foundation is administered by a Board of Control at Stockholm, consisting of five members, with a president appointed by the King of Sweden. The prizes up to and including 1005 were awarded as follow: — Peacc— . 1901. MM. Dunant and Passy. 1902. MM. Ducommnn and Gobat (Switzerland). 1903. Mr. W. R. Cromer, M.P. 19M. The Institute of International Law (q.v.). 1905. Baroness Bertha von Suttner. Medicine— 1901. Dr. Beh ring, of Marburg. 1!>02. Major Ronald Ross, of Liverpool, 1903. Prof. Finsen, of Copenhagen. 1904. M. Pavloff, of St. Petersburg. 1995. Dr. Robert Koch. '

Chemistry— 1901. Prof. .T. H. van't Hoft", Berlin, 1902. Prof. Emil Fischer, Berlin. 15)03. Prof. Arrlienius, Stockholm. 19<M. Sir William Hamsay, London. 1805. Prof. Adolf von Bayer, Munich.

Physics— 1901. Prof. Rontgon. 1902. Profs. Lorentz and Zeeman, Holland. 1003. Prof. Becquerql and Prof, and junte. Curie. 1904. Lout RayleigH. 1905. Prof. PhilippOiLenard, Kiel Univ.

Literature— i 1901. M. Sully Pnidhommo. 1902. Prof. Momnisen. 1303. M. Bjornson., 1001. M. Mistral and Don Jose Echegaray. 1905. Henrylc Sienkiewicz.

The provision that the prize shall bo given for work done during '"the preceding year"' lias been disregarded by the committees, says the " Independent," and "the literary prize has always been given to men whose chief work was done years beforo the establishment of the fund, so, if Kipling has done nothing worth consideration for the last seven .years, as some peoplo think, ho would still oe eligible." -. Professor Sir William Crookes was born mi 1532. As to his long and brilliant caroir, it is sufficient to enumerate some of his discoveries, which include: Thallium, u new element, in 1861.; Repulsion resulting from Hadintion, 1873; tlio Radiometer, 1873; Illuminationof. Lines of .Molecular Pressure', 187S; Radiant Matter, 1879; Radiant Matter Spectroscopy, 1881; New Elomcnts in Ciadolinite, etc., 1S86; (johesis ot' Elements, 1S87; the Spinthariscope, 1803.