50 Years Ago

'Self-regulation for children' — In the review of our book “The Free Family” ... Prof. Vernon says that “it is clear that the children experienced considerable difficulty in adapting themselves to the society of children very differently brought up”, and he asks for independent evidence for their “spontaneity, poise and stability”. Allow me to say that Prof. Vernon could only have gained the first false impression because we describe in detail the kind of conflicts one of our children had in a specific instance. This certainly does not imply that our children had more difficulties in 'socialization' than other children. This is particularly true for the second, third, fourth and fifth child. All their school reports have tended to stress their ability to co-operate ... We started self-regulating children when I was a student on a very meagre grant and I have always had little inclination for leisure. Flexibility we have had, more so than the normal parents, and it is useful; but money and leisure are not important criteria.

From Nature 11 June 1960.

100 Years Ago

The investigation of the microstructure of hailstones in summer having proved very difficult, if not impossible, I constructed an apparatus ... for their preservation until winter time. The apparatus consists of three co-axial cylinders; the inner space is intended for hail; the middle space for a mixture of ice and cupric sulphate (approximately in the proportion corresponding to eutectics t = −1.6°); the outer space for ice, forming a sort of guard coat ... For the investigation of the microstructure of a separate hailstone Mr. W. Dudecki and I made a thin section of it by first rubbing one side on emery-paper or by melting it with the warmth of a finger. This side was laid upon an object-glass and frozen to it, after touching for some time with a finger the other side of the glass.

From Nature 9 June 1910.