Page 34

AMUSEMENTS.
BUFFALO BILL AND HIS AUDIENCE

As a young gentleman of tender years, and countenance very much tougher than his raiment, was coming out to the Comstock last night he exclaimed to another young gentleman, who was his counterpart. "I tell you, Cully, Buffalo Bill's a daisy. I'd bum my chuck for a month to see him again." The criticism thus expressed in the vernacular being translated freely meant, that the Hon. William Cody was an ideal actor, worth making some sacrifice to see. The opinion was that entertained by nine-tenths of the immense audience; and it was an immense gathering. It was most likely as large an audience as the building ever held. The orchestra was crowded, the dress circle was packed, the lobby was thronged, ladies stood on the window sills. men covered the stairs leading to the gallery and the gallery itself was a dense mass of humanity. Each box had a large party, too. When the farce was over and the play proper began the vast mass of people were agog for the first sensational incident, and when Buffalo Bill's magnificent proportions clad in long black coat, gray pants, and extensive hat, dashed between the lively heroine in tears and the base rogue who would have abducted her, the enthusiasm was tremendous.

"Hit him! Bill," yelled a gallery boy.
"Knock him down, Bill" yelled another.
"Scalp him, Bill," suggested a third.

The curtain had to be rolled up on the tableau and held up while the crowd vented their admiration on the tall hero with the sobbing heroine folded to his broad breast and one scornful finger presented at the cowering rogue near the proscenium box.

So the play ran. Buffalo Bill in good luck was the object of glorious enthusiasm. Buffalo Bill was the source of all the emotions. The drama ran on replete with incidents the most appreciable of which, to a large number was his magnificent marksmanship in the camp scene. As a whole it was enjoyable to the audience. They went to see the man who had been the hero of many a hunt and scout, and the tale of whose perils was as long as his hair. They wanted to look on the Buffalo Bill who had wrenched scalps off real Indians, admire his proportions and realize from the mimic what the actual was like. If they weren't satisfied it was their own fault.

Buffalo Bill, the famous scout, guide, trapper, pony express rider and Indian fighter, who lifted the hair of the celebrated chiefs Yellow Hand and Tall Bull, arrived in the city to-day, with his band of Indians and dramatic company. A street parade was made during the afternoon, and this evening "Buffalo Bill at Bay" will be played at Music hall, to a crowded house.

Martin Hall.
Buffalo Bill and his company had a crowded house last night, as was to have been expected. For once Martin hall was too small to admit the numbers who desired to gain an entrance. The play is founded upon the experiences of Buffalo Bill as a hunter and trapper. The remarkable rifle-shooting of Hon. W. F. Cody (Buffalo Bill) was the chief feature of the entertainment. Buffalo Bill has improved in his acting most decidedly, and last evening proved himself an actor of no mean powers. The performance was applauded throughout most enthusiastically. It was repeated at matinee this afternoon, and the last performance will be to-night, when a crowded house will certainly greet Buffalo Bill and his companions.

AMUSEMENTS.
LEUBRIE'S THEATER.
Another good audience greeted Buffalo Bill and his Combination last night in "Knight of the Plains," and the uproarious applause of the audience at every telling hit of the play showed that it was fully appreciated. The most significant proof of the prestige gained by the great scout and frontier hero was that the majority of that audience were people who had attended the first performance. The central figure of the play, the Knight himself, was applauded to the echo whenever he came on. He is not a professional actor, and for that reason is always natural, even if he did not conform, in every instance, to stage rules. Miss Lydia Denier, as "Wild Nellie," confirmed the favorable impression she had made in her previous performance. She is graceful, and entirely devoid of heckneyed modes of expression, and false sentiment. Miss Nellie Jones as "Rose Melton" is a success. She is especially strong in society business and in the scene with Noel Marmaduke who wants to court her, but hasn't sense enough to do it. She is the ideal of a keen witted girl imbued with an intense appreciation of the ridiculous, who is bothered by a suitor whom she deservedly hold in contempt.

Alf Beverly as "Judge Chincapin Shyster," gave as an exhibition of character acting as has been seen in Memphis for many a day. He showed up the tricky, hald drunk and wholly villainous jackleg lawyer to perfection. Harry Irving made a decided hit as "Buttermilk," and his scene with the trained "gentleman mule" on the stage kept the audience in a roar as long as it was on. The rest of the support did well, but their parts were not of sufficient importance to warrant special mention.

Matinee to-day at 2 p.m., when "Knight of the Plains" will be presented.

To-night the new frontier drama, May Cody; or Lost and Won. Monday night, December 1st, Lotta in "Musette,"

Buffalo Bill's Show.
A rousing audience, filling Smyth's Hall to overflowing, greeted Buffalo Bill and his company Saturday night. The drama of "Buffalo Bill at Bay; or the Pearl of the Prairie," was presented after the manner of other plays which this combination has given heretofore. It was received with much favor, Buffalo Bill in every instance eliciting the heartiest of applause. His rifle-shooting was a feature of the play that was very much admired. In addition to the above four-act drama the laughable farce "Turn Him Out" was presented.

Hon. Wm. F. Cody ("Buffalo Bill") and his dramatic company, which have been meeting with their usual success everywhere this season, present a new drama, devoid of the old blood-and-thunder features, at the theatre to-night. Still the play is by no means a tame one, and a band of "big Indians" (chiefs and braves of reputation in the far West) incidentally illustrate the customs of the red men, and Buffalo Bill enhibits and skill with the rifle, by introducing a number of difficult feats of marksmanship.

"THE Knight of the Plains" is not a "flash and fire" drama, but one that has refinement and pathos in it, intermingled with border scenes that are from real life.

-- The drama Buffalo Bill plays to-night is founded upon incidents in Mr. Cody's life and the author is Col. Prentiss Ingraham.

--"The Knight of the Plains" is pronounced by dramatic critics the best sensational melodrama now before the public.

AMUSEMENTS.
MARTIN OPERA HOUSE.
Hon. Wm. F. Cody and company appeared at Martin Opera House last evening in his new play of "Buffalo Bill at Bay." While the piece is devoid of literary merit, it abouds in striking and picturesque tableaux, which bring down the house, so to speak, every time, and set the gallery crazy with excitement. The play also serves to introduce the famous scout in some of his marvelous rifle practice, which also attracted applause. The war dance of the noble savages who accompany Buffalo Bill, was also a good feature. Miss Lydia Denier made a good looking Pearl of the Prairie, and Miss Nellie Jones as Corinne Kendall, was also received with much favor. The gallery was thronged last evening, and there was a large attendance on the main floor. There will be another large audience present this evening, when "Buffalo Bill at Bay" will be repeated.

As usual Buffalo Bill had a large house at the theatre Saturday night, the gallery being packed very much on the sardine plan. The leading actor was received with most enthuiastic applause, and the entertainment was evidently a source of delight to many.

"Buffalo Bill,"
The trapper, scout and successful actor, makes his annual visit to Manchester tomorrow evening. Ever since "Bill's" life and startling adventures on the plains among the Indians were so vividly depicted by "Ned Buntline" in the New York Weekly, he has been the idol of a certain class of the community, and has rarely failed to command enormous audiences wherever he has appeared. The story of his life seems to be invested with an indescribable charm, and is full of wondrous interest to thousands who have studied it. Possessing a magnificent physique and a dashing style, he is a character well calculated to attract crowds of people by the bold and exciting dramas in which he always figures as the hero. In Manchester he has a warm and numerous number of admirers, who never fail to evince their delight at his coming, or to accord him a rousing greeting. In the drama of "Buffalo Bill at Bay" he has never been seen here, and its presentation to-morrow evening is sure to be witnessed by an audience limited only by the seating capacity of the hall.

Josh Ogden.
Every year he comes-- this pleasant showman-- and every year he is followed by W. F. Cody's "Buffalo Bill Combination." Mr. Ogden says that in the new play by Colonel Ingraham, entitled "The Knight of the Plains," Buffalo Bill has the finest show yet-- and we have known this man Josh, lo! these many years, and he always makes it a point to tell just what his show is in advance, and-- who was ever disappointed in Buffalo Bill?

IF you never saw a gambling hell, you can see one in full operation in the play of the "Knight of the Plains."