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GRAY LINE SIGHTSEEING TOURS
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FOUNTAIN OF TIME-Located in Washington Park
This beautiful “Fountain of Time” is one of the greatest pieces of
sculpture of our time. It was created by Chicago's famous sculptor,
Lorado Taft (1860-1936).
He was the Dean of Arts at the University of Chicago. This Monu-
ment was dedicated to over 100 years of peace between the United
States and Great Britain, and it was inspired by the lines of the great
British poet, Austin Dobson: "Time flies, you say? Alas, ah no! Time
stays — for 'tis we who go.” Dominating the foreground is a lone
figure with his back toward our bus. This is Father Time. He stands
there motionless, with his chin in one hand, his immortal staff in
the other, looking cynically across the waters of life at the passing
of humanity. On the far right of the work he sees man emerging from
the great unknown -- from the darkness into the light. Little children
being cast into the chaos and turmoil of this life, helpless, innocent and
unknowing. Here, too, we find the survival of the fittest, for all those
not able to cope with realities and materialities of this life are elimi-
nated at an early age. The second group represents the family group,
the family being the basis of our civilization. You can see the little ones
as they play happily at the feet of their parents, as their mother and
dad go through life side by side. Next we find the two monks, which
gives us our religious motif. The hooded monk with his eyes downcast,
representing the dogmatic creed and the intolerance of religion. The
bareheaded monk with his eyes cast towards the heavens, represents the
finer, the more humane, the more charitable phases of religion. Next we
see the man on the horse — the conqueror. Having achieved the pin-
nacle of life he sits there very haughtily upon that steed, followed by
his camp followers and preceded by his trumpeteers. Just below the
trumpets are the two lovers in fond embrace. Looking closely, how-
ever, you can see the head of the third and jealous lover peering over
their shoulders, completing the eternal triangle.
Ahead of those, you see an old man and old woman, bent over with
age, leaning on the shoulders of a youth. These two old folks are no
longer attracted to one another by the physical bonds of love, but they
are bound together by the spiritual bonds which will take them, as you
see them, hand in hand, to the last mile into the great unknown. Lean-
ing on the shoulders of the youth reminds us that the aged must look
to youth for material support as surely as youth must look to age for
guidance and for knowledge. Then we see the three girls, who were
posed for by the daughters of Lorado Taft, and they represent the three
graces, Faith, Hope and Charity. Following them you see what seems
to be a void in the Statue. Looking closely, however, you can make out
the outline of an arm. This void represents a derelict, a wash-out. One
who was born and went through the whole course of life without doing
himself, his fellow man, his brother any good; without leaving a name
behind for posterity. We next see the old man with his arms out-
stretched, his palms upward, supplicating death. His life has been full,
and good. He leaves his name for posterity and is ready and willing now
to step off into the great unknown from whence he came, and claim
whatever reward he may have earned. I repeat — "Time flies, you say?
Alas, ah no! Time stays, for 'tis we who go.”
Thank You - Your GRAY LINE Guide
