A massive, dark bronze statue sits proudly in the center of Old Campus, a courtyard surrounded by eight to ten brick and stone structures. The courtyard is passable through one of those lovely, Yale iron gates. Lindsey said she imagines this to be a safe place that could be held as a fortress against animals or foes in the late 1700’s when those forces were indeed reality.
The statue is Theodore Dwight Woolsey, former professor of Greek, and the President of Yale from 1846-1871. The sculptor emphasized Woolsey’s academic career by seating him on a Greek Revival klismos chair. The Greek inscription on the back of the chair reads “the most excellent, the most wise, the most just.”
A notable and noticeable aspect of this formidable piece of art is the shiny, gold toe of one shoe. Generations of students have rubbed the protruding foot for good luck.
Every one of us wants good luck. However, we must go back to the inscription; “The most excellent, the most wise, the most just.” Those things do not come along by luck. Thank you, Mr. Woolsey for your wisdom and excellence and justness so that thousands may come along and rub your shoe, hopeful for a little bit of those things, too.
It is Sunday evening. I am thankful to be home safely after traversing five states, a traffic jam in Harrisburg, the fierce rainstorm in Wheeling, steamy creamy coffee, bad radio preaching, unhealthy snack choices at several road stops and the USA Today crossword puzzle.
There is a sadness to leave behind those I cherish. But what a gift it is to leave them in their happiness. The greatest treasure is the twinging of the heart at goodbye; the wish for more.
I indeed did rub the bronze shoe. Though I believe in more than luck, I am certainly not above accepting it with gratitude.