The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1902-12-28
new Y0RK'S LION
HOUSE De Luxe
Structure Is Two Hundred and
Forty Feet Long and One
Hundred Feet Wide.
SLEEPING DENS ARE PROVIDED.
Graceful COrnices of Building
Rristle With Lion, Tiger, Loop
ard and Lynx Heads
From End to End.

New York. Dec. 2T.-The new Toulouse
soon TO be opened in the New York Zoo
logical Park will be the finest in the world.
A building which is little less than a
palace in design and rather more in the
modernness of its conveniences will short
ly be thrown open to the lion family and
its guests.
The experience of geological gardens tho
world over has been drawn upon in arrang-
ing the new house. the best architectural
talent has been engaged. every comfort of
the lions has been anticipated. and the fin
ished structure is populated with the finest
specimens of the huge cat family obtain
able.
It will be an important addition to the
New York Geological Park.
The new lion house has been built by
funds supplied by the city. while its in
mates have been presented by wealthy and
philanthropic members of the New York
Geological Society.
Some idea of the scope of this plan may
be judged from the fact that $685. 600 has
been expended on the building alone.
The lion house. which is Of classical de-
sign. measures 240 feet in length. its great
est width being 10 feet. 1t will contain.
when opened to the public. more than a
dozen animals. each of which will be an
entirely worthy representative of its par
uculdT species. tach OF these species VIII
occupy u private suite, so TO speak. I'M
Iiyalled in beauty and conveniences in any
other similar lion house in the world.
The nature of the tenants of the new
house Is advertised from afar. There are
many more lions of terra Gotta and stone
on the facade of the lion house than in its
cages within. Four magnificent lions guard
the main entrances-two at either DOORWAY
The graceful cOrnices of the building are
bristling with lion, tiger. leopard and lynx
heads from end to end. while other near
members of the cat family have been util-
lied in the wealth Of decoration. The sculp-
tured lions are the work Of Mr.. Eli Har-
vey. the w~ell-known artist, whose animals
have won laurels at Paris. the Buffalo Ex-
position and elsewhere. The lion house was
designed by Helms & La Fargo, on ground
plans drawn by Mr.. William C. Hornaday.
The setting of the building among the trees
and its location, with respect to the other
buildings and the general contour of the
park Is also very successful.
One enters the lionhouse through wide
doorways at either end of the building. to
traverse a, board hallway or pubic space.
fwenty-eight feet wide. running the entire
RICHLY FINISHED INTERIOR.
The interior is richly finished with stone
and thing.
The twelve lion suites-they are more
than mere cages-occupy one side of the
public square. On the opposite side a stone
platform extends along the wall, lined with
seats from which one may watch the ami
mails at leisure. The interior gives one q
gratifying sense of artistic spaciousness.
The entire effect is extremely light and
airy.
On entering the main hallway ones at
tention Is attracted and held by the lions
cages Sucn luxury. 1t is safe to say, has
never been enjoyed by lions heretofore, The
cages have unmiStakable advantages. even
over the native iungles. The floors of the
the main floor. so that the entire cage is
clearly visible. even to the smallest chill
S ebfRl WR Rfsit Is tn there cfrc Wlth 5 the m msnsssr,e of
that will not welcome this innovation?