The New York herald., 1874-11-12
THE CENTRAL PARK MEIAGERIE.

THE CENTRAL PARK MEIACERE.
A Sensible Letter on It's Requirement..
To rHE EDITOR OF THE HgRALD:-
l can indOrse your remarks in this days issue
respecting the present condition OF the Central
Park menagerie; as public cOlec tion It's value s
educational or nothing l believe the present
Superintendent Colonel Conkln) Is iuily alive to
the many improvements Is that are apparent even
to the most casual observer. He has visited and
studied every collection OF note throughout
Europe, and has matured plans which would rem
der collection all that could be desired; but
series OF the most provoking circumstances. over
which ne had no control, has hitherto placed in.
surmountable obstacles against the developments
he would desire and prevented any progress or
Improvement.
These lacts CLEANED many months aga, when,
as y perfect stranger, I had . conversation
with Colonel Conklin. In the menagerle, on the
subject OF the management OF the collection. 1t
was tDe first time ever met Colonel Conklin, and
the last so my remarks will be perfectly impartial
The circumstances which led TO the interview may
be worth stating. As q great lover OF natural
history in all its branches, from the huge elephants
to the little creatures tnat animate my micro
scopical aquarium my visits to the collection were
as frequent as my leisure would permit, and dur
ing the latter part 0. last winter my attention
was drawn to a cage IN which, crouched in q COR
ner, lald as perfect . sspeclmeh Of brute VIE lched
ness as was ever presented to human eye. Tie
object OF my commiseraton was young
IN ms teens. lie appeared to have been
weaned, but was not equal TO the splendid bones
on which his elder brethren regaed; nice JUICY
piece Of SOFT liver appeared to meet ms require
ments, aud was daily provided. But even this de-
lcious diet appeared often neglected, and no won
der, ior one day when his valet had placed the
meat beyond nls reach discovered IN his lruitless
endeayor to reach 1t that his hindQuarters were
parayzed His general condition can be imagined
when state that the whole OF has fur was matted
together in one mass OF apparent fifth. Tnis
coupled win his intense lameness, gave him a
wolul look. IN which sickness and neglect ap-
peared to have combined 10 reduce the little SUI
ierer to the last stage OF despair. l watched
my little friend for some weeks. He pre-
sented much the same appearance; ne neither lnl-
proved nor died. had made one or two attempts
to gatner rom the attendants the cause oil tne
animal Delng allowed TO get into such fearful
state; but an intelhgibie reply being beyond the
or learning the cause OF the premature decay Of
the royal youth. But one day returning to the
charge, the keeper addressed turned sharply upon
me, aud pointing to a gentleman in the yard said,
"rnats the Superintendent; go and ak him."
Intruding myself on Mr.. Conkiin was one OF the
last things contemplated; but on the spur Of the
moment thought would take the mans advice.
The pc iect courtesy OF Mr.. Conkhn Was pleasant
balm Tor the shortcomings oil ais subordlnates and
he not only cheeriuly gave me the lniorma,
tion l desired, but very kindly entered
dition OF tie gardens, and told me oil mis-
past oisappointmens and hopes lor the iuture.
Ine explanation respecting the SICK non q, wa, was
down with the cold, and arrived IN New YORK IN
the helpless condition have described. Mr.. Conk-
lin prescribed so skifuy tnat the royal beast has
been iully restored to Dls original vigOr Part or
the treatment consisted IN the application OF
and wretched look OF his fur and general dilap-
dated condition. 1 further understood that a plan
upper part OF the Park. where ample space could
be spared that the works were actually IN pro-
gress when the fall oi Mr.. Tweed and his foiioWers
put stop TO further progress.
The action vi the Board has been impeded BY
two causes-frst. the supposed necessity Tor
economy, and, second, divided opinion among
tae members OF tne Board, some advocating
breaking up the collection and locating the anl-
mails all over the PARK. IN suitable and picturesque
spots wnlle others entertained the more rational
view OF keeping the menagerle intact. These and
other circumstances have had the effect OF max ng
deadlock-to put stop to any advance. Bearing
In mnd that the present arrangements are merely
oil temporary character think great tact has
been shown, with the limlt ed space and & ccOm-
modation, to display the collection to the best ad
vantage, and the disposition OF the animals and
BIRDS during the summer was most picturesque.
Much OF the practical ana educational advan-
tages are lost by the want OF proper system of
nomenclature, or rather or any. Many Oh the
cages have not the name OF the animal written
upon IT. while others give merely the bare name
and nothing else. Now the collection OF hons DUR
ing the last nine months at CenJral Park has been
the finest nave witnessed in one menagerIe.
think have noticed eight or ten exhibited male
and female. What was more interesting was the
but III the absence OF any descriptive notice tile
educational and instructive lesson which might
have been impaired to the thousands OF visitors
has been lost To artists, sculptors modelers and
art Students this valuable collection OF lions would
appear to oner Iacities Tor study the Importance
OF which cannot be overrated.
The true and perfect presentation OF an imal
life IN bronze or on canvass IL known to be one OF
the most difficult branches OF art. Few excel IN
THE role. Those wno have succeeded have reachel
tbs highest position In their profession. When
La1dseer accepted the commission 10 model the
Trafalgar lions he TOOK SIX years 70 study the
animal, even with over thirty years experience
OF previous labor IN the same fed.
Have our art students avaied themselves OF the
opportunity lately offered them OF studying so fine
collection at their very dOorSy l confess TO
have visited the menagerle very frequently with
out seeing the well known form OF the artist Sit
ting on his little camp stool hard at his work.
The mere form OF animals Is not diffcuIt TO copy,
but the true and perfect delineatlon OF the ex-
preston o. animals can ouy be obtained by con-
stant and diligent study Of the living subject.
Landseer possessed this lower to degree tnat
rendered his merest sketch q cher-d'RuUre but
Whatever original SEPARATION guided his pencil it
was sneer hard work and study from life that
gave the magical perfection to his works. Your
obedient, JOHN MICAEIS
NEW YORK, Nov. IL, 1874.