The New Word

ALFRED BERNHARD NOBEL, maker of dynamite, died in the year 1896, and by his will gave the bulk of his great wealth to benefit mankind, by these remarkable provisions:— “With the residue of my convertible estate I hereby direct my Executors to proceed as follows: They shall convert my said residue of property into money, which they shall then invest in safe securities; the capital thus secured shall constitute a fund, the interest accruing from which shall be annually awarded in prizes to those persons who shall have contributed most materially to benefit mankind during the year immediately preceding. “The said interest shall be divided into five equal amounts to be apportioned as follows:— “One share to the person who shall have made the most important discovery or invention in the domain of Physics; “One share to the person who shall have made the most important Chemical discovery or improvement; “One share to the person who shall have made the most important discovery in the domain of Physiology or Medicine; “One share to the person who shall have produced in the field of Literature the most distinguished work of am idealist tendency; “And finally, one share to the person who shall have most or best promoted the Fraternity of Nations and the Abolition or Diminution of Standing Armies and the Formation and Increase of Peace Congresses.