THE DECORATION OF THE
STERLING MEMORIAL LIBRARY

       MUCH symbolical and illustrative ornament is found in 
the Sterling Memorial Library, and we give here a summary 
of the decoration.

EXTERIOR

HIGH STREET FACADE

(Main Entrance, with Reserve Book Room to the left and Linonia and 
    Brothers Library to the right, and, at the Wall Street corner, Exhibition 
    and Rare Book rooms.)

       Inscription above the main entrance:

STERLING MEMORIAL LIBRARY

       The main entrance is symbolic of the ancient civilizations, 
based upon written records. The sketch model was 
made by Mr. Lee Lawrie, of New York City, while Mr. 
René P. Chambellan followed this sketch in his own way in 
doing the full size sculpture. The doorway is divided into 
two parts by a figure of a Mediæval Scholar, the central 
panel over the left door representing the more ancient 
civilizations: the symbol of Egypt, the PhÏnician ship, and the 
winged bull of Babylon. On each side of this central panel 
are two panels with Cro-Magnon, Egyptian, Babylonian, 
and Hebrew inscriptions, with typical scribes below. 
Identifications and translations of these inscriptions are as follows:

Cro-Magnon.

1. Wall engraving of a bison and horse from Les Combarelles. Second 
        phase. Aurignacian epoch.
2. Wounded bison and claviform signs in the Cavern of Pindal.
3. Engraving on a mass of stalagmite in the Cave of La Mairie at Teyjat, 
        Dordogne, France. Third phase. Magdalenian epoch.