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Buffalo Bill.
Hon. William F. Cody (Buffalo Bill) with a strong company, commenced a threee nights' engagement at the theatre last evening to a pretty fair audience, which made up in enthusiasm what it lacked in numbers, and frequent rounds of applause greeted the hero whenever he appeared in his several characters.
The play is a melodrama written and dramatized expressly for Mr. Cody by Colonel Prentiss Ingraham. It possesses considerable merit and abounds with numerous comical and pathertic scenes. The field of action is laid on the plains of the far West, with the exception of the second act, which lies in Chicago and intoduces the heroine, Rose Melton, whom Buffalo Bill has met and saved from death some time previous but in doing so had lost his heart and fallen in love with the fair Rose, the feeling being reciprocal on her part.
Complications arise though the action of the outlaw Ralf Royston, who is ever seeking to take the life of the brave and noble scout on whose death his safety and fortunes depend, but a happy culmination is reached in the final act in the overthrow of the outlaw and the triumphant vindication of honesty and justice, with the union of the two loving hearts. The scenery used in the production of the play was made exclusively for use in its presentationl. That used as the background in the first act is so arranged as at its close to vividly and strikingly represent a prairie on fire, with a herd of maddened buffaloes rushing wildly before it direct upon the Indian camp at which the scout is held a prisoner, bound hand and foot. In the last act the representation of the stage coach stopped by a gang of robber outlaws is very lifelike, and adds much to the effect of the scene. It can be truly said that since his last apearance in this city "Buffalo Bill" has greatly improved in his character of an actor, and where he is called upon to act a thrilling scene of border life his interpretation of the part is so real and true as to call forth a marked acknowledgement of his talent. His feats with the rifle are truly wonderful, but must be seen to be appreciated, as it is impossible to draw a pen picture of the situations under which he sends a ball true to its aim.
Miss Nellie Jones' acting of Rose Melton is well performed, and the Wild Nellie of Miss Lydia Denier could hardly be improved. Being the wife of Royston, wronged and deserted by him, her strong love turned to hate, and living the same wild life as her male companions, she carries the sympathies of the audience with her until his tragic death from her own hands. Mr. J. J. Louden as Ralph Royston is somewhat deficient in force, and his execution fo the character is rather labored. Mr. Alf. Beverly as Judge Chincapin Shyster and Mr. L. R. Wilard as Moses Molock, the scheming Jew, create considerable amusement, and they are continually getting out of one scrape only to fall into another. The negro Buttermilk, by Mr. Harry Irving, together with his obstinate little donkey, also comes in for his share of applause. Another feature of the play is the introduction into the first act of a group of genuine Indian chiefs, and their war-dance and other antics seemed to be highly appropriated, [especin?] the gallery. In view of the immense success of the programme last evening, "Knight of the Plains" will be repeated throughout the week.
BMFFALO BILL.--Buffalo Bill has so long been the synonim for a mighty, far-famed Western chvalier, a a man whom honor loved and cowardice abhorred, that every man, woman and child in the large audience at Millett's Opera House last night went to see embodied the hero of a thousand tales who, by their pleasant firesides, have pictured in all the amplified and varied forms that imagination will ever bring before the gigantic multiplicity of human minds. And in the thousand written stories not one could be brought to mind which exceeded in interest the beautiful drama played last night. Major Burt, the author of "May Cody," knew Buffalo Bill, and knew his wonderful, enchanting powers, and brought them to the test in the play. Mr. Cody's histrionic talent is of a high order, and his displays of wonderful dexterity with the rifle, the whip and on the trail are awe-inspiring, causing open mouthed amazement in old and young. Mr. Cody was well supported by his talented company, and Miss Lydia Denier as Mar Cody, Miss Nellie Jones as Mrs. Stoughton, Mr. Chas. Wilson as Darby, Mr. Louden as John D. Lee, and Mr. Willard as George Stoughton, deserve especial mention. It were tedious for a scribbler to attempt to tell the story of May Cody's misfortunes, capture and rescue--be it sufficient to say that it did not fail for [?] instant to draw the rapt attention of all the intelligent audience from first to last, but we cannot pass over Mr. Cody's marksmanship without a passing tribute. He shot object form Miss Denier's hand and from [?] head, snuffed out a candle and put out a bullwhacker's cigar, shooting in various natural and unnatural positions, including a shot at a potato on the lady's head, she standing behind him, while he aimed with the aid of a small mirror. A goodly audience greeted [the?] company and showed their delight in mannder from the sedate smile to the gamin's exuberant applause. The people of Austin will never tire of dramas such as these. They go from here [today?], but will come again when the leaves begin to fall, and a hearty welcome awaits the.
Buffalo and his Border Braves will give a parade though our streets on Monday next, fully equipped in war-paint and feathers, and led by a brass band.
Buffalo Bill will have a matinee this afternoon, and the juveniles are in ecstacies.
Buffalo Bill made his reappearance in New York, last night, at the Windsor theatre, formerly the Stadt, which Mr. John A. Stevens has taken on a long lease. The house was crowded in every part and the performance went off well. There is a peculiar romantic interest about Buffalo Bill that always attracts the crowd.
Buffalo Bill Arrested.
Constable Joe Rosenberg, who is noted as the best bail-writ server in the city, had an occasion to pay his respects to the Hon. W. F. Cody, better known as Buffalo Bill, on Friday night. It seems that Buffalo Bill's advance agent had hired a hall in Beliot, Wisconsin, some time ago of a man by the name of S. J. Goodwin, and that the company took another route, failing to either play in the hall or pay the bill as per contract. Friday, Rosenburg, through Justice Speed Peay's office, received the process coming from Goodwin, and at 6 o'clock that same eveing waited on the distinguished scalp-taker at his quarters at the Louiscille Hotel.
When presented with the write Bill asked what in the h--l he was to do, and the constable told him he would learn to do one of three things:
"Pay up, give security, or go to jail."
Bill said: "I'll be damned if I am goin' to jail; I swear I won't ask anybody to go my security, and I hate like h--l to pay it."
The constable said "all right, Bill, take your choice," whereupon the illustrious Mr. Cody planked up the necessary funds as security until 11 o'clock yesterday, when the case would be heard in Speed Peay's court. He come around at the appointed time and setled up. As he paid the money [Jill] said he wished by G--d he only had a chance to put a head on that fellow Goodwin.
Bill says Rosenberg is the best constable he ever saw.
AMUSEMENTS.
Ford's Grand Opera House.
Buffalo Bill continues to be a big card at Ford's Opera House. His remarkably realalistic delineations fo the ways and manners of our sturdy frontiersmen have a charm that irresistably appeals to all lovers of nature untrammeled by the staightlacedness of modern civilization. His support by the little band of untutored red men is, next to Buffalo Bill himself, the msot attractive feature of the "Knight of the Plains," and is better than any circus the "gods of the galleries" have ever patronized, as is abundantly testified by their nightly whoops of appreciation whenever Mr. Indian shows himself on the stage in all his war paint and savage bedizenments. The drama will be represented each night this week and at matinee on Saturday.
The Theatre--Last Appearance of "Buffalo Bill.
A crowded gallery and a fair parquette and dress circle greeted the second presentation of "The Knight of the Plains" by the "Buffalo Bill" Combination last evening, and the entertainment gave general satisfaction, judging from the applause. "Buffalo Bill's" wonderful marksmanship, and his happy knack of turning up just in the nick of time to frustrate the schemes of villains, took immensely with the house, and the approbation of "the gods" was most vociferous.
This afternoon a grand matinee will be given, and to-night Buffalo Bill will make his last appearance in the drama entitled "May Cody." During the piece he will shoot potatoes and apples from the head of Miss Lydia Denier, holding the rifle in various position. This feat will be sensaitonal enough for the most exacting, and will likely call out a good house.
AMUSEMENTS.
FORD'S GRAND OPERA HOUSE.--Buffalo Bill will close his highly successful engagement at Ford's Grand Opera House this evening. The usual matinee performance will be given this afternoon. Mr. Cody's new play, THE KNIGHT OF THE PLAINS, has made a decided hit and will doubtless have an extensive run. Next week Tony Denier's famous Humpty-Dumpty Pantomime Troupe will begin an engagement of one week at the Grand Opera House. The Company is one of the best of its kind in the country and its repertoire is fresh and remarkably varied.
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