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The Buffalo Bill Combination.
Last evening the Buffalo Bill combination played "May Cody" to a very large audience in Recreation Hall. The auditors were highly interested in the romance and the various feats of the play, such as scalp lifting and rifle shooting by Buffalo Bill, the hero of the play.
Mr. Cody's own part consists of the Indians and two Burgess brothers; the balance of the troupe are from N. C. Forrester's troupe of Denver. The Burgess brothers were raised among the Indians, and in fact understand the Indian language and customs as well as the Indians themselves. Eddie, the "boy chief," has been regularly admitted into the Pawnee tribe as a chief, and speaks, besides the Pawnee, four other Indian languages; in fact he can talk to any plains Indian through the sign language, which is full and complete, yet not understood by any except those regularly admitted into a tribe. Through this sign language all plains Indians can communicate, although their own tongues may be as different as German is from English. Old plainsmen may gain a smattering of the sign language, but can never become perfect unless they become regularly admitted into a tribe. It must be understood that the wigwam where this language is taught is as secret as Masonry. Even the brother of the "boy chief" has failed so far to coax or extort anything from him concerning the secrets of the medicine lodge, where young warriors are taught. It is possible to be an Indian and yet not understand any more of the secrets of Indians than a tenderfoot from New Jersey.
Chas. A. Burgess, a brother of the "boy chief," has also been with the Indians from childhood, and has acted as interpreter on many occasions. He is a good scout and a thorough plainsman.
White Eagle is a young Pawnee chief. He has never visited the Rocky mountains before, and is more than astonished with the wonders he sees. His father, who has often been from the Missouri to Pike's Peak, has told him about the snow found all the year round on the summits of the ranges, and the clouds floating below the different peaks. Yet he thought his father stretched the truth, and he could not believe. The Pawnee word for wonderful, is "temarecksty," yet this young chief has had to invent another word which means "poison," as near as can be interpreted. He invented this word after riding over the railroad from Denver to Georgetown, Black Hawk and Central. He says white men are "tekittowe," which literally interpreted, means "boss."
The performance of this portion of Buffalo Bill's troupe is well worth the money to anybody, let alone the acting of "Bill" himself, which, when considering the fact that he is an old scout, is remarkable.
To-night there will be a different play. to-night, "The Knight of the plains," in which Mr. Cody is the leading character. This play is equally as good, and considered by many better, than "May Cody," and cannot fail to please the most fastidious.
The troupe with disband here to-night, Mr. Cody and group going east, while Mr. Forrester and party will return to Denver.
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