Columbia University - Columbian Yearbook (New York, NY)

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9. K 4gDJmQ v an It was but a natural step for another happy thought-to have a concrete expression of a lion in bronze, and in October, 1923, the Class of 1899 in cele- bration of its Twenty-Fifth Anniversary decided to present to the University a great massive bronze lion. The design was entrusted to the well known sculptor, Fred- erick Roth, former President of the National Sculpture Society and one of the foremost anima- liere sculptors of America. It marked an epoch making period in fostering and emphasizing the new Columbia enthusiasm, and the idea immediately met with an unbounded welcome by the authorities of the University and was gladly acclaimed by the Alumni and Student Body. History and art tell us of many famed Lions. From the old world as far back as the early Renaissance, we find the famous Lions of St. Mark's at Venice, and later during the real Renaissance the Lion at Flor- ence the Bargello of Donatello followed by the early nineteenth century lion of Thorwaldsen, known as the lion of Lucerne, THE LION BANNER IN COLUMBIANA and the great Ffgnqh Belfort Lion, and finally the massive creatures at the foot of the magnificent monument to Lord Nelson in Tra- falger Square in London. In the New World there are the Lions at the Art Institute in Chicago and those curious lions in front of the Public Library in New York City. Today-to this splendid symposium we have added the Columbia Lion of Roth, truly a masterpiece, natural and impressive in design-artistic real and virile and notably marvelous in execution. Its beauty, dignity and power dis- play the satisfying work of the artist. The ceremonies at Baker Field on that eventful day of June 4, 1924 afforded a most impressive spectacle. As Chairman of the Twenty-Fifth Anni- versary Committee the writer announced the invocation by the Rev. H. C. Staunton, Minister of the First Church of Syracuse. The lion was then un- veiled by Otto Hinck, President of the Class of '99 College, and Howard Chap- man, President of the Class of '99 Mines. A dedicatory poem was read by George S. Hellman '99 after which Arthur A. Fowler ,99 presented the gift to the University in well chosen Words: Since time immemorial, man has expressed his aspiration by symbols, and the symbol chosen by Columbia is the Lion. D The Sculptor, Mr. Roth, has vividly portrayed a lion at his most impres- sive and glorified moment. This is not a conventional sculpture, or a mere design. This is a living and forceful creature, typifying the power and vitality f36l

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Q, ,m9Jmx.C?s-X as The original Lion banner, heraldic in character, is treasured among the Columbiana collection. The action of the Fates is sometimes strange. All this seems singularly to have failed to popularize the selection. The late Robert Arrowsmith '82, in an interesting article on 'AThe Genesis of Leo Columbiae published in the Alumni News of May 30th, 1924, states that once accepted the new institu- tion was quickly assimilated into the body of student tradition. This, to the view of the writer, is scarcely borne out by the facts. Diligent inquiry and careful observation has failed to note among the classes of that period any attempt to capitalize this tradition. Possibly this may be ascribed to the absence of any football teams, for football was under a faculty ban. Perhaps it may have been due to the fact that all attention was focussed upon, and all thoughts centered in and about the World War. Still again there may be said to have been a student apathy upon the subject. Whatever the reasons, there is little evidence that the Lion was popularized from the time of its selection in 1910 to at least until after the close of the war. About this time a new and more vigorous attempt is evident to bring the Lion into popularity. Football which had been resumed as a major sport re- ceived a hearty support from an anxious and eager Colum- bia multitude, and by 1920- l92l, the Columbia teams were heralded by the press and the public as the Lions With the writing and pub- lication of the now famous 'Roar Lion Roar song in 1920, a newly added and much needed stimulus to the Lion movement was given. The inspiring music of the song was composed by Roy Webb '10 and Morris Wat- kins '24 and the stirring words were written by Carey Ford '23, and for it in 1923 the prize was awarded by the Alumni Federation in its Football Song Contest. Other noteworthy Lion songs have been written by Ray Perkins '17 Fight Lion THE L1oN IN COLUMBIA ARCHITECTURE Fight and ffwhen the CO, lumbia Lion Roars by Leon Davidow, dedicated to the Class of 1899. I The Lion mascot for Columbia was now vitally crysta1l1zed. l35l

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es- 1-a9JwsC?a-C of our University. The Lon is roaring: he is roused and aggressive, his courage is raised to its highest pitch. He is about to charge. Let his foes beware! Here he stands at the gateway of Manhattan, an emblem of the best and bravest that is in Columbia and in America-courage, power and will to overcome. On the pedestal we read the inscriptions chosen from the Scriptures. From Amos- 'The lion hath roared, who will not fearl' Predicting the aggressive- ness of attack and the courage that will win for Columbia teams many a victory on this field , From Proverbs- The slothful saith-'There is a lion in the way' . But it is only to the slothful that the lion of Columbia will stand as an obstacle, while to the ambitious he will blazen the way to greatness. And again from Proverbs- But the righteous are bold as a lion. An allusion to the soundness of the principles on which Columbia was founded and the assurance we may well feel in the success of those principles in the future. In his felicitous speech of acceptance, President Butler said, I trust that we shall all see, and not when years or even months have passed about this granite and bronze, about this stately and beautiful figure, many a gathering of excellent and exuberant youths who are expressing some faith, some satisfaction of achieve- ment in the college life of today and of tomorrow. You put it on this high plane. It will overlook for generations not only the whole of Baker Field, but it will overlook the setting sun of centuries. Some famous thoughts that have been inspired in the minds of poets and masters of prose have been suggested by the fact that the Sphinx has been sitting for hundreds of years facing the rising sun. Why should not our Lion, facing the setting sun, be the suggesting power for poets and writers of prose in and out of Columbia for a long time to come, portraying those very quali- ties which you have described, those very traits which you would symbolize and with it the burden of affection and generous regard and loyal devotion to Alma Mater of the Class of '99. 2 2,3 A .fHere it stands, my friends of '99, overlook- ,kk ing this athletic field and beyond to the Hud- some banks, the iron will watch if au. T' The exercises were ended. As the rays of at the afternoon sun shone down on the glisten- A ff' ing bronze, the Lion was silhouetted against the gf, .x p i'2Q,g:?,i,,,,,,Q9 sky-a lasting monument for the ages, of the ji embodiment of true College Spirit. The story of the Lion has been unfolded. r, g 3, . Around this statue rallies and reunions will be ii , ' 5 '.'A' i7'5iQ.m x Of4Zfm,,4 held. The cheers of the students and Alumni ff' if 'iilli K 'L if shall mingle with that wondrous roar of victory as the teams sweep on to make history and to PRESIDENT OF CLASS OF ,99 emblazon that Columbia spirit, proud and mighty, which must live and exist forever: and while these ringing cheers roll out, along the banks of the Historic Hudson in praise of Columbia they will seem torcarry a symbol-to convey an intangible ideal expressive of that won- derful story that Columbia typifies. OTTO HINCK. E371 A9