New-York tribune., 1907-09-30

OF Louis XIII, enlarged by Colbert. and man
aged by Button in 1889. when It the model
institution of the kind in the world. The Paris
Zoo" presents now. however. a neglected and
forlorn aspect. For some hours in the after
noon 1t is the playground Of few children and
their nurses from the nearest streets, but these
visitors confne themselves almost exclusively
to playing 'Dabolo'' on the graveed walks, and
rarely turn aside TO visit the animals. one
glance at the first section will show how little
interest and pride the city takes in It's
nagerie. No wonder the baby hippo" which
was born three weeks ago in the dismal tank
decided that he preferred death 10 existence in
such cherries conditions. and closed his eyes
after fourteen days OF the hospitality OF the
garden.
When first constituted in its present form and
quarters il was intended that the student Of
natural history should here find every kind os
document required both living and dead Ac-
cordingly to the left Of the main entrance is the
large museum. containing a superb collection Of
fauna their well mounted skeletons filing the
vast nave and conveying in the sunlight as seen
; from the door ghostIy vision of animals. far
better housed than the living beasts on the op-
posite side OF the garden. The majestic African
lion must have had a severe shock when he
first saw the mean and narrow cage in which
his life is passed. He sits with half closed eyes
listening to the nervous tr-SrltSS pacing pI bilt
uoness next door and watches the visitors who
defIe before him and throw bits Of bread be-
tween the bars of his cage. He has the air OF
knowing perfectly we'll that they bought those
stodey rolls Of yeowish, evil smelling bread at
the cake stall by the gate. and that 1t was
baked for the elephant and not for him The
Partisan children understand his tastes far bet
ter than their elders. I do not care TO stand
lust here" said a small boy. mis- teeth chatter
ing with fright IF he broke his cage where
the wood is splintered and jumped out.--
But if the great cats are i'll lodged, the boar,
close by is much better off. He is gentle
manly looking beast. with a slender snout and
small feet. and instead Of dirty boards to walk
on he has a miniature forest at his disposal
It is not impossible. too. that the foxes and
iackals have been able TO retain some of their
allusions 50 carefully are their rocky fastnesses
Cn wood and plaster) designed. They are COM
mon foxes, having been caught in the home
woods and commons. and seem to enjoy life in
Paris; and the same may be said of the wolves.
But everywhere the buildings are dilapidated.
their proportions such might expect to
find in a thrd-rate provincial town. and the col
lection in every section Is incomplete.
Yet two hundred and fifty years ago Paris
had a menagere which considered one of
the wonders of the world. 1t not, how
ever housed in this secluded corner. but the
beasts and birds Were placed in sumptuous
quarters in the magnificent park Of Versailles |
where Louis XIV could visit them constantly !
He took great pride in his menagere. and all |
his visitors. whether foreign potentates his |
own subjects We're taken to the lions and |
pelicans. the tigers and pigeons. The Grand |
Monarque did things in royal fashion. and his |
pigeon house large enough to contain three
thousand of those birds. The distance from the |
naIace to the menagerie traversed In gon- |
dolas q small fleet of these boats covering the |
larger canal which. divided the park in two.
It was enough that King Louis loved his |
menagerie for the ZOO" 10 become the fashion. |
and all Paris used to pour into Versailles to see
the animals Coaches brought in parties pro
vided with lunch baskets. and innumera BILE |
picnics were held in the latter half of the
teenth century near the cages of the animals.
1ouis XIV cared less for the royal collections of
birds and beasts: the animals died and were not
replaced the buildings fell into disrepair. though
the nenage-.e still figured largely in the royal
housekeeping books. Thsre is an entry In the