Marie Curie

Studying

At Bronya in Paris

At last! The autumn in 1891 she was in Paris where there were no russian spy, no censorship, where she could say what she wanted in what language she wanted and where she could learn what she wanted! When she was going to sign herself in at Sorbonne she remembered that Manya was a difficult name to pronounce for the Frenchman, so she wrote Marie Sklodowska instead.

Marie went to every lecture and absorbed the knowledge. To her horror, she discovered that her knowledge in French were not sufficient enough. And moreover she had gaps in mathematics as well as physics. The studies became an inspiring challenge and Marie caught up the other students lead rapidly. Marie was happy when she could listen for the capable professors that she adored. Everyone was wondering who this reserved, beautiful girl with the difficult surname was. Many students tried to get to know her, but she always moved aside. At Bronya and Casimir she was well taken care of. They often had guests and Marie was also enjoying that company. She also got a circle of friends by her own who were Polish students, but she was very careful with the Frenchmen.

The attic appartment

After a while Marie realized that she got too little time to study without interruptions at Bronya and Casimir, so therefore she rented an attic appartment quite near the university. There followed three years of intensive studying. Marie did not have time or money to cook food or light a fire in the heater. She was feeding on tea, sandwiches, eggs, radishes and cherries. She was reading until two in the nights. To economize on the coal and the paraffin oil she sat at the library until they closed up. During the coldest nights she put her chair on her quilt and thought that it made it warmer by its weight. In the laboratory at the school and on the lectures she was happy. Finally she started to faint, but she could not understand why. When Casimir figured out what was the matter, he forced Marie to be treated and fattened at their place.

The scholarship grant and the lookout for a laboratory

In 1893 she received her licentiate degree of physics as the best student. The next year she received the licentiate degree of mathematics as the second best. At this point she was out of money and Marie beleived that she could not continue to study. Her classmates then applied for the Alexandrowitch-scholarship award for her. 600 rubles! Marie returned to Paris to complete her studies. Now she got an assignment from the "Society for promotion of national industry" to examine the magnetic characteristics of different kinds of steel. For this job she would need a laboratory, but all the laboratories were occupied by the male scientists, who absolutely not wanted to share their space with a female colleague. She was seeking everywhere and finally professor Kowalski promised to present her to a certain Pierre Curie.

Meating Pierre

In the beginning of 1894 Marie and Pierre was invited to Mr Kowalski for tea to discuss her assignment and possibly access to Pierre´s laboratory. Pierre had done some researching and teaching at Sorbonne until he got an employment at the "School of physics and chemistry". His workingplace, the laboratory, was a small shed. He was totally dedicated to his work and had no interests in women and love. Until he met Marie. He was completely spellbound by her intelligence and her affection for the science. Besides she was very beautiful. He really wanted to help her with the laboratory.

Marriage

Pierre started to call on to Marie and help her in the laboratory. They often had conversations about intricate scientific theories and they always had a very good time together. Pierre proposed to her, but she declined his offer of marriage. She thought it would be a treachery towards Poland, but she still wanted them to be friends and when she went home to Poland during the summer vacation they had intensive correspondence. Pierre offered Marie to enter into a camaraderie instead of a marriage or he could move to Poland if she only wanted to marry him. He even asked Bronya to help him persuade Marie. At last she decided to choose love, even if it did hurt to abandon Poland and in 1895 on july 26 Marie Sklodowska became Mrs Curie. The bridal gown was a gift from Casimir´s mother, but the white laces and flounces was nothing for Marie. She ordered a simple navy blue wool dress, because it would be practical to wear at her work later on. The wedding became unlike anything else. No white bridal gown, no ring, no wedding reception and no religious ceremony. To Marie and Pierre it was a wonderful wedding. For the wedding gifts in cash they bought one bicycle each and moved in to a small appartment. The furniture was a bookcase, a table and two chairs. Bronya had to teach Marie how to cook. The honeymoon was a cycling holiday with some expeditions by foot in the forests of Limièr. One year after their wedding Marie graduated to be qualified for teaching in the upper secondary school. She was the best graduate. The married couple celebrated this with a cycling holiday in the nature, similar to the honeymoon they made the year before.

Author: Katrin Nilsson