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."