Maria’s mother died in May 1878 She was 42 years old
School Maria’s principal had suggested to Maria’s father that he hold her back a year Although Maria was at the top of her class she was very sensitive Instead Wladislaw pulled her out of that school and sent her to a Russian-run school that focused on extremely intelligent children In 1883 Maria graduated at the top of her high school class at the young age of 15
Further study The University of Warsaw did not accept women students at the time Maria was ready to go to college Instead she studied at Warsaw’s floating university This was a set of classes held in secret and in different places so that they would not be caught by the city’s Russian rulers Anyone who took part in the floating university could be punished Maria and her sister Bronya knew they had to study abroad if they wanted to gain degrees but they had no money Maria worked as a tutor and governess for five years from the age of 18 while Bronya studied at medical school in Paris As soon as Bronya was earning enough she would help to pay for Maria’s degree Studying at the Sorbonne In 1891 Maria finally made it to Paris When she arrived to register at the Sorbonne a top French university she wrote the French version of her name Marie rather than Maria From then on she called herself Marie She had very little money and her health began to suffer as she tried to survive on just tea or cocoa and bread and butter Marie had to work hard to catch up with her fellow students as her After she finished school Maria had to study when and where she could As a woman she was forbidden from going to college in Warsaw
