75

...neither the traits of a tragedian or a
comedian, merely talking his part off as a
schoolboy would, but still, when he would
rush on the stage, fire off a pistol, and perhaps
slaughter an innocent red man,
the gallery gods, as well as those seated in
the parquette and dress circle, applauded
till they were hoarse and could yell no
longer. It is well that Cody lays no claim
to histrionic ability. Hule Keen, as Hans
the dutchman, was the most disagreeable
feature of the programme. His mouthings
were most disgusting, and his impersonation
was sappy and soft. Misses
Jennie Gilbert and Nellie Lingard, as
Onita and Sadie respectively, were very
inefficient, producing no effect whatever
by their lines upon the audience. The remainder
of the cast was in accordance
with the above. The Indian war dance, in
which Sin-se-retch-kaw, Ma-he-ut-un-kaw,
De co-ray, Hoo-wa-het-fa and Wau-kon-chaw-nik-kaw
participated, would cause a
leather-lunged and calliope throated Zu'u
to be ashamed of his wildest war hoop,
and done more than infinite credit to a
chorus of carousing locomotives. If Buffalo
Bill possessed a first-class support
his own defects could be overlooked, but
he is surrounded with an inferior class of
men who have no more life or animation
than a cordwook stick. The performance
of the trick donkey, "Jerry," was the
most creditable of the whole entertainment,
which ought to be considered quite
a compliment to the support. The shooting
of Mr. Cody was good but nothing
supernatural, as a man with a glass eye
could not well miss a mark with a
black background at the distance Mr.
Cody did his shooting. In the audience
there many undoubtedly who
felt amply repaid for their expenditure of
time and money, but we did not. To
fathers and mothers who desire to refresh
the minds of their little sons and daughters
with blodd curdling deeds and give
them a stimulus to the perusal of dime
novels and other trash literature we heartily
recommend and endorse the performance
of Buffalo Bill.