42
Facsimile
Transcription
62
a man in two short months transported from the indescribably desolate, almost inaccessible natural fortresses of the Bad Lands (Mauvaise Terre) of Dakota to the Ancient City of Antwerp, gazing spellbound on the artistic reproduction, by the renowned artist, of the red man's late dream, "The Messiah." Respect for his thoughts and the natural stoical nature of the Indian leaves to future oppurtunity an interesting interrogative of what passed through the mind of the subtle chief. Suffice it to say that surprise at the white man's many-sided character, and the greatness of his resources in the past and present, was beginning to dawn more and more on the new tourists. Arriving the next day at Strasburg--introduction to the cow-boys, the camp life, the Cathedral, the great clock, the fortifications, etc., was followed by the delight of each brave on receiving his pony; and once more with his trusty friend, the horse, the Ogallalla and Brule in a few days felt as though "Richard was himself again."
Joining more heartily than was expected in the mimic scenes of the "Wild West," soon the ordinary routine of daily duties seemed a pleasant diversion. A grand reception in Strasburg, the tour resumed to Carlsruhe, Mannheim--including a visit to Heidelberg Castle--Mayence, Wiesbaden, to Cologne (the Rhine legends of Lurline, etc., giving interest to the Peau Rouge en route), Dortmund, Duisburg, Crefeld and Aix-la-Chapelle terminated a tour of Germany filled with the most pleasant recollections. The tomb of Charlemagne ! (Carlo Magmo). The history of this great warrior was interpreted to attentive ears, a lesson being instilled by the relation that after all his glory, his battles, triumphs, and conquests in which he defeated the dusky African prototypes of the present visitors to his tomb, peace brought him to pursue knowledge, to cultivate the arts and sciences, and that after two hundred years of entombment his body was found by Otto, the Saxon, sitting erect upon a granite throne, the iron crown upon his head, imperial sceptre in right hand, while his left rested on an open volume of Holy Scriptures, the index finger pointed to the well-known passage, "What will it profit a man if he gain the whole world and lost his own soul?" Her, by the grave of the founder of Christianity, stoof the latest novitiates to its efforts, who may yet, in following its teachings, it is hoped, make such progress through its aid and education as to furnish one of their race capable of holding the exalted chieftainship--the Presidency of their native land--the Empire of the West. Who can say--why not?
Belgium--Brussels, its Paris, brings vividly to mind, in its semblance of language, people, habits, beauty, wealth, culture, and appreciation, remembrances of our delightful sojourn in the capital of the how-truly-named La Belle France. Visit Waterlook. From Pine Ridge to historic Waterloo! Our immense success, courteous treatment, the repeated visits and kindly interest of the most amiable lady, the late Queen of the Belgians, an enthusiastic horsewoman, her pleasant reference to London in the Jubilee year, increased the gratitude the Wild West voyagers feel for the treatment everywhere recieved in Europe since, in 1887, we invaded "Old England," and pitched our tents in the world's metropolis--London. So, after a short season in Antwerp, our motley cargo set sail across the North Sea to make complete our farewell visit to our cousins of the Isle, revel in a common language (bringing a new pleasure to the ear), hoping to receive a continuance of that amicable appreciation of our humble efforts that the past seemed to justify. Landing at Grimsby and proceeding to Leeds, in Yorkshire, we commenced a provincial tour of Great Britain. The reception everywhere accorded us was so hearty in its nature that a sentiment of relationship insensibly permeated the Yankee exiles. From Leeds we went to Liverpool, the great shipping port, thence to Manchester, where old friendships were renewed and new ones formed--a notable event being a benefit to nineteen of the Balaclava survivors (who were indigent), resulting in great success, not only financially, but from an historic point, because of the participation in our performance of three generations, the past, present, and future English soldier--in the battle-scarred veterans, the Prince of Wales' Own (Lancers), and the boy cadets of the city. Sheffield, with its busy factories, was next visited, and the Indian found a new cause for amazement in the world's cutlery city. Stoke-on Trent, with its marvellous Wedgewood ware works and other innumerable pottery industries, gave another lesson in Cancasian progress, and opened to the red man new wonders in the art of table decoration. Nottingham, with its busy lace looms, Leicester, of historic interest, and Birminham, with its mammoth iron plants, in order challenged the admiration and assisted to educate the son of the forest.
Cardiff (Wales), in energy and "git up," quite American city, having increased in population and wealth 55 percent. in nine years, remains on our ledger as a banner six days' stand, the receipts exceeding ($) 10,000 ($50,000), the R. R. stocks rising on the market, and one restaurant alone feeding 15,000 extra dinners to the visiting Welshmen. To Bristol, the famous West of England seaport, and thence to Portsmouth Devonport, the great
63
naval-military-commercial twin cities combined to render our visits to the South of England profitable and enjoyable. Brighton with its beauty in repose and its terror in a cyclone will long be remembered as our last stop before going to Glasgow (Scotland), where the winter was spent in a specially arranged building. Here we made acquainted with the many sturdy virtues of the Scot, and here 6,000 orphan children, impromptu sang, "Yankee Doodle" on appearance of the starry flag. Glasgow will ever be remembered for the many public and social courtesies extended.
A return to the scene of our London triumphs brought a renewal of all that was pleasant and agreeable in our former experience, and brought our visit to the Old World to a close with the bright compliment under the circumstances (the Court in the mourning for Prince Albert Victor) of a Royal request to exhibit before her Most Gracious Majesty the Queen of England and Empress of India, at Windsor Castle, who was thus the first and only potentate on earth to view, as yet, the Wild West in conjunction with the Rough Riders of the World.
Leaving England with genuine expressions of regret from thousands who witnessed our departure, we boarded at Tillbury Docks in London the good American Liner, Mohawk, traversing the North Sea, the English Channel and the broad Atlandtic. Landing at Jersey City, the usual scenes attendant occurred, with nothing to mar the occasion, if I may except one instance in our little circle, which to a certain extent had its tragic side. It was only a white horse, but a well-known horse; a horse whose picture and public will remember in conjunction with Colonel Cody's, placarded on the walls and exhibited in all windows; a horse who possibly, with his rider, appeared in more cities and before more people of distinction, rank, wealth and character, then ever did steed before. The fact that he was the companion of Colonel Cody's last war horse, "Charley," who died and was buried at sea upon our first return voyage, and the, singular to relate, without any premonitory symptoms of sickness and never looking better in his life, "Billy" walked off the gang-plank, neighed as his hoofs struck his native shore, and dropped dead--is food for thought that each one may assimilate. However small it may seem, this pathetic incident will always be remembered by the returning voyagers as "Billy" and "Charley" were favourite members of the "Old Guard."
The writer followed the sun on its westward course with his Red Brother, and it would take a chapter to describe the scenes at the grand reception at the foothills of the Rockies upon the return to the Ogallallas of the various bands--
Since then, for seven months each year, this Exhibition has toured so thoroughly, as to have visited every portion of the vast North American Continent. For the last two years it invaded the very sections where its story was transacted and which was twenty-one years ago the "Unsettled West"--now developed into one of the richest of nature's gifts to the great Republic.
Its mission being nearly ended, its story will be relegated to the painter, historian, romancer, and to legendary lore--AS THE PRESENT TOUR IS ABSOLUTELY ITS LAST.
Image Left
SIOUX BELLE, "SHOOTING STAR."
Notes and Questions
Nobody has written a note for this page yet
Please sign in to write a note for this page
