Page:Popular Science Monthly Volume 73.djvu/560

556 above, which marked the beginning of the great discovery, Dr. Middleton said that he had made no effort to remember the date. "Was it earlier than November, 1895," I asked? "Yes. It was at least two years earlier" and, recalling some incidents to aid in fixing to date, he continued, "It was soon after the opening of the autumn semester. It could not have been later than October, 1893. Possibly it was in 1892."

Professor Röntgen, being a reticent man, has not given to the world the details of his discovery. His announcement was that of results arranged in logical not chronological order. This narrative from an authentic source fixes the date of the discovery of X-rays at least two years earlier than that which is commonly accepted. Moreover, it shows us the great German professor in the light of a man who carefully and patiently worked out his problem to his own satisfaction before announcing his discovery to the world.