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Buffalo Bill's combination appeared in City Hall, Saturday evening. This evening they will present an entirely new drama, entitled "Life on the Border."
27
Buffalo Bill, or the Hon. William F. Cody, as he his known to his fellow legislators in Nebraska, appeared again at Lyceum Hall last evening. Cody is physically a fine specimen of humanity, and there appears to be no doubt that he has undergone frontier experiences fully as heart-thrilling and hair-raising as those which he reproduces upon the stage. The "new drama" given last night contain an assortment of bloody encounters with demoniacal savages, noble rescues of captive maidens, and narrow escapes from torture and death, at which the most exciting and gory-minded spectator cannot grumble; while the manner in which Buffalo William dispatches aborigines after aborigine to the happy hunting grounds must be highly satisfactory to those who regard extermination as the true solution of the Indian question.
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CITY HALL.
"JUST RETURNED FROM THE BLACK HILLS."
CHANGE OF BILL EACH NIGHT.
ATTRACTION EXTRAORDINARY!!
TWO NIGHTS ONLY.
Saturday & Monday, Jan 9 & 11
THE GREAT AND ONLY
BUFFALO BILL!
[Hon. W. F. Cody.]
He will appear in the startling and realistic Drama, founded on facts and incidents in his own life, entitled,
SCOUTS OF THE PLAINS!
AND
Life on the Border.
Supported by
KIT CARSON, JR.
THE RENOWNED TEXAS RANGER,
And a new company of Metropolitan Artistes. Prices as usual. Reserved Seats may be had at French's Book Store six days in advance. JOSH. E. OGDEN, Gen. Agt.
jan4ed7t
29
Amusements.
The Buffalo Bill company appeared at the Opera House last night to the best house of the season, fairly full in the dress and family circles, and a good sprinkling in the chairs and parquet. Had the fact been realized that the company was so excellent and the play so full of interest, a crowd could not have been kept away. Though the house was good, it was the lightest the company has played to this season. In Scranton they had an $800 house Saturday night, and in Wilkesbarre on Monday a $900 house. The company since its first appearance here has been essentially modified in material, as well as the character of the play it renders. Formerly the drama was a succession of imminent encounters, with unlimited gunpowder and slaughter. About 90 per cent of the powder encounter has been cut out, and the balance would be tolerable if only the red light nuisance at the climaxes were entirely abated. It is not an accessory of any border fight, and the pungent offense is enough to strangle a white man or kill Injun quicker than trader whiskey. Aside from this, the play is well constructed, and is full of interesting and exciting incident, and is rendered by a company that has not a single weak member in it, but on the contrary has more uniform strength and talent than is usually found in a city stock comany. The chiefs of the company - Buffalo Bill, Texas Jack, Arizona John, and several other of its members - are exceptionally large, fine-looking men, and they have been on the stage long enough to free themselves of all hampered movement, spirit or speech which the "stage" situation would naturally give a border rover. On the first tour there was a certain repression noticeable; a power fretted by its novel and cramped surrounding, as of a whale in an aquarium, but this is all gone, and in its place the freedom and natural grace of movement and blunt, firm speech that have the true flavor, and give some very real pictures of frontier life. After the above border characters, J. V. Arlington, as Old Scout, made a capital old man and trapper; J. Z. Graham, as Jedediah Broadbrim, was a very Aminidab Sleek; H. Moreland, as General Duncan, made a bluff and dignified officer, and Irving, as Grasshopper Jim, as thorough a villain as could be desired; in fact, we could name the entire cast with credit. Miss Laura Fay was spirited, cute and pretty Irish girl. Miss Waite's old woman was
30
The chiefs of the company - Buffalo Bill, Texas Jack, Arizona John, and several other of its members - are exceptionally large, fine-looking men, and they have been on the stage long enough to free themselves of all hampered movement, spirit or speech which the "stage" situation would naturally give a border rover. On the first tour there was a certain repression noticeable; a power fretted by its novel and cramped surrounding, as of a whale in an aquarium, but this is all gone, and in its place the freedom and natural grace of movement and blunt, firm speech that have the true flavor, and give some very real pictures of frontier life. After the above border characters, J. V. Arlington, as Old Sloat, made a capital old man and trapper; J. Z. Graham, as Jedediah Broadbrim, was a very Aminidah Sleek; H. Moreland, as General Duncan, made a bluff and dignified officer, and Irving, as Grasshopper Jim, as thorough a villain as could be desired; in fact, we could name the entire cast with credit. Miss Laura Fay was a spirited, cute and pretty Irish girl. Miss Waite's old woman was satisfactory, and Miss Ada Forrester, as the heroine, with her black eyes, long hair and trim figure, is as handsome as was her acting correct and intelligent. The drama was preceded by the farce of the "Widow's Victim," in which M'lle Morlacchi, Miss Fay, Messrs. Graham and Mainhall stirred up laughter rather steadily. M'lle Morlacchi also took a few steps, which she can do in a manner that very few can approach. Aside from her mere skill of execution, she has perfect grace of movement in poise and counterpoise, and her art thoroughly conveys the sentiment she seeks to express. The enthusiasm of the audience was steady and unbounded, and shouts of applause or laughter was the order of the evening.