54

Buffalo Bill.

On Friday night the only and original Buffalo
Bill, prince of border men, ex chief of scouts
under General Custer, ex member of the Nebraska
legislature, actor and ranchero, appears
at the opera house in the new drama written
for him by Mr. John A. Stevens, formerly of
St. Joseph, entitled "The Prairie Waif." The
Utica Observer says

A large audience enjoyed the Prairie Waif
with Buffalo Bill as the hero, at the opera
house last evening. The gallery alone was occupied
by over seven hundred people. The
play, which was written by John A. Stevens
and for Mr. Cody, is admirably adapted for the
purposes of the well known scout. The scene
is laid on the Western plains and the developments
are such as to satisfy the most enthusiastic
admirer of Indian fights, bowie knife
encounters, feats of marksmanship, &c. It was
easy to perceive that since his last visit here
Buffalo Bill has made a marked improvement
in his acting. This, added to the merits of the
new drama as compared with his others,
had the effect of leaving the audience well
satisfied with his efforts last evening. His skillful
shooting in the second act called out the
wildest applause. Mr. Cody has realized largely
from his performances during the season,
and it is evident that he is always sure of a
paying house in Utica. His support was the
best he has ever brought to this city. Jule
Keen, as the Dutchman, kept the gallery in
manifest good humor. The dramatic honors of
the evening were [?] off by R. C. White,
Mark Stanley, who is well known in Utica and
who is, we think one of the best stock actors in
the country. The donkey of course, created
more than his snare of merriment.