BACON MEMORIAL COMES HERE SOON

In a bay of the chapel St. Ansgarius in the Cathedral of St. John the Divine there is a memorial to Robert Bacon '80 and to the Harvard men who lost their lives in the World War. The memorial is intended for Harvard and is in St. John's pending the selection of a suitable site here.

The memorial represents a dead Crusader, such as those who went from Cambridge, England, in the twelfth Century and gave their lives for an ideal, lying upon a cross with his head pillowed in a woman's lap. According to the traditional position of the feet of the Crusader he was one of those who never reached Jerusalem, those who did so being traditionally represented with their feet crossed. The woman may typify Alma Mater as well as those women who gave their best to a great cause and made their lonely grief their glory. The two figures symbolize mutual sacrifice.

Executed by Miss Hoffman

The memorial is executed in Caen stone by Miss Malvina Hoffman of New York and is entitled "The Sacrifice". It was not sculptured with the intention of commemorating Harvard heroes or serving as a memorial to Robert Bacon, but it was purchased by Mrs. Bacon and given for its present purpose.

Robert Bacon graduated with the class of 80 and from that time until his death in 1919 he led an active life, during which he held important government positions and devoted much of his time to the University.

From 1899 to 1901 he was an Overseer and again from 1902 to 1908. He was also a Fellow from 1912-17. From 1901-12 he was United States Ambassador Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to France and was appointed Secretary of State by President Roosevelt in 1909. Four of Bacon's sons have been Harvard graduates and were prominent in athletics.

A site for the memorial has been under consideration for several years but as yet no satisfactory conclusion has been reached. At one time two different places in Widener Library were considered but the floor supports were believed inadequate to bear the weight. At another time it was proposed to rejuvenate Bolden Chapel and make of it a War Memorial, sheltering "The Sacrifice". It is probable, in view of the present discussion in regard to a memorial, that some disposition of the statue will be made.