居里夫人自傳 第36章 青年時期的夢想 (2)
    Pierrereceivedhislicentiateinphysicalsciencesattheageofeighteen.DuringhisstudieshehadattractedtheattentionofDesains,directoroftheUniversitylaboratory,andofMouton,assistantdirectorofthesamelaboratory.Thankstotheirappreciationhewasappointed,whenonlynineteenyearsold,preparatorforDesainsandplacedinchargeofthestudents'laboratoryworkinphysics.Heheldthispositionfiveyears,anditwasduringthistimethathebeganhisexperimentalresearch.

    ItistoberegrettedthatbecauseofhisfinancialsituationPierrewasobliged,atthisearlyageofnineteen,toacceptthepostofpreparatorinsteadofbeingabletogivehiswholetimefortwoorthreeyearslongertohisUniversitystudies.Withhistimethusabsorbedbyhisprofessionaldutiesandhisinvestigationshehadtogiveupfollowingthelecturesinhighermathematics,andhethereforepassednofurtherexaminations.Incompensation,however,hewasreleasedfrommilitaryserviceinconformitywiththeprivilegesatthattimeaccordedyoungmenwhoundertooktoserveasteachersinthepublic-schoolsystem.

    Hewasbythistimeatallandslenderyoungmanwithchestnut-coloredhairandashyandreservedexpression.Atthesametimehisyouthfulfacemirroredaprofoundinnerlife.OnehassuchanimpressionofhimasheappearsinagoodgroupphotographofDoctorCurie'sfamily.Hisheadisrestingonhishandinaposeofabstractionandreverie,andonecannotbutbestruckbytheexpressionofthelarge,limpideyesthatseemtobefollowingsomeinnervision.Besidehimthebrown-hairedbrotheroffersastrikingcontrast,hisvivaciouseyesandwholeappearancesuggestingdecision.

    Thetwobrotherslovedeachothertenderlyandlivedasgoodcomrades,beingaccustomedtoworktogetherinthelaboratoryandwalktogetherintheirfreehours.Theyalsokeptupaffectionaterelationswithafewoftheirchildhoodfriends:LouisDepouilly,theircousin,whobecameaphysician;LouisVauthier,alsolateraphysician;andAlbertBazille,whobecameanengineerinthepostandtelegraphservice.

    PierreusedtotellmeofthevividmemorieshehadofthevacationspassedatDraveilontheSeine,where,withhisbrotherJacques,hetooklongwalksbesidetheriver,agreeablyinterruptedbyswimminganddivinginthestream.Bothbrotherswereexcellentswimmers.Sometimestheytrampedforentiredays.Theyhad,atanearlyage,acquiredthehabitofvisitingthesuburbsofParisonfoot.AttimesalsoPierremadesolitaryexcursionswhichwellsuitedhismeditativespirit.Ontheseoccasionshelostallsenseoftime,andwenttotheextremelimitofhisphysicalforces.Absorbedindelightfulcontemplationofthethingsabouthim,hewasnotconsciousofmaterialdifficulties.

    Onthepagesofadiarywrittenin,hethusexpressedthesalutaryinfluenceofthecountryuponhim:"Oh,whatagoodtimeIhavepassedthereinthatgracioussolitude,sofarfromthethousandlittleworryingthingsthattormentmeinParis.No,Idonotregretmynightspassedinthewoods,andmysolitarydays.IfIhadthetimeIwouldletmyselfrecountallmymusings.Iwouldalsodescribemydeliciousvalley,filledwiththeperfumeofaromaticplants,thebeautifulmassoffoliage,sofreshandsohumid,thathungovertheBievre,thefairypalacewithitscolonnadesofhops,thestonyhills,redwithheather,whereitwassogoodtobe.Oh,IshallrememberalwayswithgratitudetheforestoftheMiniere;ofallthewoodsIhaveseen,itisthisonethatIhavelovedmostandwhereIhavebeenhappiest.OftenintheeveningIwouldstartoutandascendagainthisvalley,andIwouldreturnwithtwentyideasinmyhead."

    Thus,forPierreCurie,thesensationofwell-beingheexperiencedinthecountrywasderivedfromtheopportunityfortranquilreflection.DailylifeinPariswithitsnumerousinterruptionsdidnotpermitofundisturbedconcentration,andthiswastohimacauseofinquietudeandsuffering.Hefelthimselfdestinedforscientificresearch;forhimthenecessitywasimperativeofcomprehendingthephenomenaofNatureinordertoformasatisfactorytheorytoexplainthem.Butwhentryingtofixhismindonsomeproblemhehadfrequentlytoturnasidebecauseofthemultiplicityoffutilethingsthatdisturbedhisreflectionsandplungedhimintodiscouragement.

    Undertheheading,"Adayliketoomanyothers,"heenumeratedinhisdiaryalistofthepuerilehappeningsthathadcompletelyfilledoneofhisdays,leavingnotimeforusefulwork.Hethenconcluded:"Thereismyday,andIhaveaccomplishednothing.Why?"FurtheronhereturnstothesamethemeunderatitleborrowedfromVictorHugo's"LeRoiS'Amuse":

    "Todeafenwithlittlebellsthespiritthatwouldthink."

    "Inorderthat,weakonethatIam,Ishallnotletmyheadturnwithallthewinds,yieldingtotheleastbreaththattouchesit,itisnecessarythatallshouldbeimmobileaboutme,orthat,likeaspinningtop,movementaloneshouldrendermeinsensibletoexternalobjects."
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