CHAPTER XVII
ZOOLOGISCHER GARTEN, HANOVER: DIRECTOR, DR. SCHÄFF
The origin and the flourishing continuance of Zoological Gardens in other great towns inspired the wish for a similar institution in Hanover, and ever since 1850 people were endeavouring to bring the idea to realization. Especially active in this respect was Dr. Schlager, with whom Herr George Schultz heartily collaborated.
In 1866 a company was formed for the laying out of a Zoological Garden, at the first meeting of which Baron von Munchausen, Herr Rasch, Dr. Schlager, Professor Gerlach, and Mr. ‘Wine-merchant’ Schultz were chosen directors.
On a plot of ground given to them by the Town Council in the town forest sprang up the first buildings, made after the plans of Architect Lüer, which consisted of aviaries, a bear pit, with ponds, etc. In May, 1865, the Garden was opened to the public, which gave the liveliest sympathy to the budding undertaking. The Garden did not escape hard times on account of the wars in 1866, 1870 and 1871, but it finally overcame all difficulties. Especially after 1870 rapid progress was made; paths and roads were improved, and an elephant house and a new concert-hall were erected, gas and water were laid on, the approaches from the town were brought into use for heavy traffic, and the laying down of a tramway made it much easier to reach the Garden. Mention must be made here of a generous present of 15,000 thalers from the Emperor William I. on the occasion of his visit to Hanover, given after an inspection of the Garden. This money was spent in building the lion house. Herr Theodor Ostrogge, for a long while the Chairman of the Council, and Herr Schluter must also be mentioned as especially warm supporters and generous friends of the Garden. In the first few years a change in the direction twice took place. Veterinary-surgeon Christoph Kuckuck was Director in 1874, and filled this office to the great benefit of the Garden until his death, after a long illness, in 1893. After the death of Director Kuckuck, Dr. E. Schäff, the present Director, was appointed.
Yearly season tickets for a family cost 15s. By a family is understood husband, wife, and children. A necessary servant with little children enters free. Sons who have left school enter by single tickets at 7s. 6d. a year each. Female companions, nursery governesses, and pensioned servants are not included in the family ticket; they must pay 3s. extra a year in addition to the family ticket. A ticket for two persons, comprising a family, such as a man and wife (without children), two sisters, mother and daughter, etc., 12s.; for single person, 7s. 6d.; for high school and military school students, 5s.; for strangers (fortnightly), 3s.; for strangers (monthly), 5s.
Herr Hilpert’s philharmonic orchestra (wind instruments), under the Imperial Music Director, Bruno Hilpert, performs in summer (on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays) in the afternoon from 4 to 8. On Tuesdays, Fridays, and Sundays there are two concerts, from 4 to 7 p.m. and from 7.30 to 10 p.m. In the winter string-instrument concerts, Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, from 3.30 to 7; on Fridays symphony concerts from 3.30 to 6; on Sunday 3.30 to 6.30, and from 7 to 9.30.
Dogs, parrots, ornamental birds and animals are for sale in the Garden.
How wonderfully well built these German cities are! There is scarcely a town in England which can compare in beauty and picturesqueness with such cities as Düsseldorf, Cologne, Hamburg, Berlin, or Frankfort-on-the-Main, with their great wide streets avenued with trees, their artistic buildings, the lavish display in public places of statuary of a high order, and the ease with which one can find one’s way about.