Illinois Verse/Illinium—Element 61
Illinium—Element 61
Illinium, the first element to be Discovered in America!That it existed, the wise would all agreeBut vainly sought to capture it,—Most elusive of elements,—sixty-one. In our fine rare earths laboratoryAt Illinois the long, hard battle was won And recorded by the faithful X-ray.
For full six years it was the department joke Whenever they thought the end in sightSome delicate piece of apparatus broke But still the persistent search went on,A "trouble book" was kept that showed the pace At which they climbed the upward path,The times the crystal slipped from out its place, The tube broke when success was near.
Faint lines upon a photographic plate, A tiny vial of pinkish yellowAre closely guarded, for these proofs relate The story to the outer world.To Professor Hopkins great the honor due And to his able associatesYntema and Harris. The name rings true, —The metal of the Illini.