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OPERA HOUSE

Knight of the Plains, Last Night-Immense Success

The audience that assembled last night to greet the Buffalo Bill combination was the largest that has yet gathered in the Opera House. Parquette, dress circle, balcony and gallery were all filled to their utmost capacity, and a great many must have gone away who were unable to gain admission. At about half- past 7 o'clock there was an absolute crush at the entrance. The crowd was so dense that it was found necessary to close the doors and cease, temporarily, the sale of tickets. They were soon reopened, however, and the more persistent of the crowd pressed in until over 1,400 people, who paid eight hundred and twenty-six cold dollars into the treasury, had assembled. And right here we may remark that this is the fifth time that Bill has played to a house yielding over $800 during the present season, and he has not yet been three weeks on the road.

Promptly at eight o'clock the curtain raised on the "Masonic Secret," an abominable little farce that is wholly lacking in point, and that bored the audience terribly. Fortunately, however, this was soon over, and then commenced the attraction of the evening--"The Knight of the Plains, or Buffalo Bill's Best Trail." This is a new piece, written expressly for Mr. Cody by Col. Prentiss Ingraham, and there can be no doubt that it is indeed Buffalo Bill's "Best Trail," and that it will "trail" more ducats into his treasury than anything that he has heretofore "struck." It is a magnificent border play, and Col. Ingraham may justly congratulate himself on the production of one of the greatest sensastions of the day. It is replete with "thrilling situations," and affords a fine field for the exercise of Mr. Cody's peculiar talent. It introduces him on the prairie; he then "turns up" in a New York parlor, then again in a Cheyenne gambling hell, and finally in the far west again, as a pony express rider. He always appears, of course, as the dashing, chivalrous defender of innocence, and at last marries the woman whom he rescues from death in a railroad accident. Cody has a fine stage presence, and does some really effective acting. He is the great attraction of the play, but it has other features that are decidedly taking. There are a number of fine tableaux incident to the piece; one in particular is very effective, that of a prairie on fire, with a herd of "buffaloes fleeing before the flames. A number of Indians (?) are introduced, some fancy rifle shooting is done by Bill, and a diminutive live donkey is introduced on the stage, which creates a world of merriment. Some clever acting is also done by Alf. Beverly, "Shyster"; L. R. Willard, "Moloch"; J. J. Louden, "RalphRoyston" ; Miss Lydia Denier "Wild Nellie"; Miss Nellie Jones, "Rose Melton." Indeed, the company as a whole is a strong one, and it gave the play so effectively last night, that the audience was at times worked up to a pitch of excitement that bordered on wildness. The piece seems destined to have a long and successful run.

AMUSEMENTS.

KNIGHT OF THE PLAINS.

To night the Buffalo Bill Comination will appear at the Opera House in the thrilling drama of border life, "The Knight of the Plains," the famous scout and fine actor, Hon. W. F. Cody, the "Buffalo Bill," appearing as the Knight, supported by a company who will present the minor characters in good style. There is a prospect that the Opera House will be packed from "pit to dome," and those who desire a good seat should go early. The Philadelphia Times thus speaks of the play and its reception in that city: "Long before the rise of the curtain every seat, yes, and every available space of standing room, was occupied; all anxious and watching eagerly for the play to commence, and when the popular scout Buffalo Bill did appear, such an outburst of enthusiasm arose as is seldom hear in any theatre. The drama produced, the "Knight of the Plains," in far ahead of anything Mr. Cody has heretofore presented, and he is ably supported by a first class company, each one seeming peculiarly adapted to the part assigned them."

GRAND OPERA HOUSE-- "THE KNIGHTS OF THE PLAINS."

If any sceptic doubted the power of "Buffalo Bill" (or Hon. Wm. F. Cody, in proper person) to amuse the masses, he should have visited the Grand Opera House any night during the past week and witnessed galleries packed with delighted humanity, who did not confine their enthusiasm to mere clapping of hands and stamping of feet, but gave further vent to their caloric in shouts and exclamations. That the actors are used to receptions of this kind, was evident from the fact that their tranquility was not disturbed in the least, and they stood the storm with admirable nerve and steadiness. "Buffalo Bill" is a veritable hero in the eyes of the masses, and there is an odor of reality about everything he does, which creates demonstrativeness in those who base their ideal of manhood upon such basis. There is a fascination in knowing that the man has passed through the scenes of daring and peril as he represents them.

Mr. Cody deserves great credit on several accounts. Gifted with a fine stage presence and being a fairly good actor, he never attempts to over act or go beyond his capabilities. He has made decided improvement in his knowledge of the stage since his last appearance here, and does some excellent work outside of those mimic productions of prairie and forest adventure with which his personality is so closely associated. During the action of "The Knights of the Plains," Buffalo Bill introduced some splendid feats of marksmanship of forward, backward and fancy shooting, which were none the less interesting and admirable, from the fact that there were no danger associated from the exhibition. Another interesting feature was the aborigine supernumeraries who as-

CHATTERTON'S OPERA HOUSE

Buffalo Bill-Tremendous House

Last night the new house was fully tested as to its seating qualities, and Buffalo Bill can boast of putting over 1,400 people within its walls. The receipts were $826, a fact pleasing to both proprietors and players.

The play is one well calculated to display the peculiar qualities of the border character, of which Hon. W. F. Cody is one of the finest living specimens. The "Knight of the Plains" is admirably adapted to the intrigues of the unprincipled and the romance of hunter life. The introduction of the Comanche chiefs and their war dances; the splendid rifle practice of "Bill," when seasoned with the "characters" found in the "Shysters" and "Moses Molohc's," the "Ralph Roystons," "Marmadukes" and "Rose Meltons" of society, make the play a very pleasing one for an evening's entertainment. "Buffalo Bill" has lost nothing in popularity since his first appearance on the stage and has improved in his stage manners, and gave to the people of this city, who crowded the Opera House to hear and see him last night, a full retnrn for the outlay of time and money.

BUEFALO BILL

A Crowded House to see the Knight of the Plains

The thrilling melo-drama which was written for Hon. W. F. Cody by the popular author, Col. Prentiss Ingraham, seems peculiarly adapted for the actor and his troupe. The many thrilling scenes, hair-breadth escapes, rescues and contests keep the excitement up to fever heat from first to last. The play is well written and is given by Mr. Cody and his company in an unexceptionable manner. We have little room to particularize, but the acting of Mr. Cody and of Miss Lydia Denier, as Wild Nellie, were highly spoken of and warmly applauded. The support was also good, Willard making a capital Jew and every one "should smile" at Judge Chincapin Shyster. Buttermilk and his donkey brought down the house, and the cheers were loud and long at the close of each act. The fancy rifle shooting by the Knight of the Plains was applauded, as it well deserved. Mr. Cody may rest assured of one fact, that so long as he gives a play as respectable and free from anything low he will be greeted by a rousing audience when he visits Jacksonville.