105

Buffalo Bill.

The Hon. W. F. Cody, he of the
long hair, sombrero and dubious histrionic
qualifications, appeared last
night at the Academy of Music to a
good audience, yet the smallest
which he ever corralled here. To
Mr. Cody a flavor of romance attaches.
He has performed excellent service as
a military scout, and while the number
of savages he is credited with
having slain, may not be correct, yet
he unquestionably has scalped a
few of the "varmints." "Buffalo
Bill," the title by which Mr. Cody is
best known, is a picturesque looking
fellow, just the sort of man to pierce
to the heart the susceptible female
readers of the nickel literature of the
plains. For some years yet, this kind
of hero will be more or less popular.
Not until the belt of civilization
extends thoroughly from the Atlantic
to the Pacific and when Indians
are but a legend told by grandfathers
to their grandchildren will border
dramas and novels - lose their fascination
for the portion of the community.
Mr. Cody, we are told, is a modest
gentleman and rather deprecates his
own ability as an actor. He is, we
must confess, always pleasing, and
his varied accomplishments command
a certain respect and admiration.
His feats of marksmanship are
always popular and are surprisingly
well done. The Indians, of whom
there are six or seven, delighted the
small boy who yelled with ecstasy as
he saw in propria persona the ferocious
red-skin so familiar on paper.
The support is very fair and includes
one or two old favorites of last season,
notably the comedian, Jule Keen,
who used himself to be a star in a
"Dutch" drama called "Chris and
Lera."