| 6254
world. We have watched with personal interest your career and your movements, and it is
a source, I know, of personal pleasure to a large numver of the citizens of Nebraska to see
you, whom we look upon as one of our fellow citizens, return again and make a triumphal
entry into the metropolitan city of the State and into this great exposition that has sprung
up here in the last few months. It is fitting, it seems to me, that you should come here at
this time, represented as you are by these people from all countries. This entertainment
and exhibition which you give, which has been denominated and known as a Wild West
show, is an entertainment started and having its inception on Nebraska soil many years ago
begun by a Nebraskan who in his early manhoo came into the State in its earlier years,
when it was indeed a wild and western State, and few persons perhaps were in this entire
western country, this magnificient domain that has developed as no other country under the
sun has developed in the last quarter of a century. In your earlier days, Colonel Cody
throughout this western country, you knew what the wild west was, and yet you have seen
it gradually subdued by the civilizing influence of mankind, until we have to-day a civili-
zation, not as you give it, showing that which existed a quarter of a century ago, but a
civilization embracing all that is best for mankind. I dare say we witness here to-day
what perhaps we will never again witness in the State of Nebraska, or in the western
part of our grand United States. We see here the representatives of so many people of
so many different countries; we may never again see so many different peoples assembled
together as we witness here to-day--the representatives of the original aboriginal tribes
of these United States, two dozen or more of those who in years gone by inhabited these
broad prairies, chased the buffalo and the deer undisturbed, who have been going further
and further toward the wetting sun, until to-day we see them here under such circumstances
as we now witness. It is an inspiring, an instructive, an educational scene, and we draw
lessons from it and appreciate the cause of it. There is a constant change and evolution
in the progress of human society, and it more firmly impresses itself upon our minds
when we witness this gathering. I extend to you, Colonel Cody, on behalf of the people
of the State of Nebraska, your own State, a most cordial welcome on your return to our
borders." (Great applause.)
In introducing the next speaker, General Clarkson said: "Here is
THE FATHER OF THEM ALL,
Alexander Majors, connected with the very earliest history of Nebraska, and the busi-
ness father of Colonel Cody."
Mr. Majors was given a reception only second in enthusiasm to that which was
accorded the hero of the day as he grasped Colonel Cody's hand and turned to speak of
the man from the intimate acquaintance of life-time. He said:
"Gentlemen and my boy, Colonel Cody (laughter)--can I say a few words of welcome
Friend Creighton and I came down here together to-day and he though I was not equal
to the occasion at this time, but I am going to do the best for you that I can. Give me
your hand, Colonel. Gentlemen, forty-four years ago this fine-looking physical
specimen of manhood was brought to me by his mother--a little boy 9 years old--and little
did I think at that time the little boy that was standing before me, asking for employ-
ment of some kind by which I could afford to pay his mother a little money for his services
was going to be a boy of such destiny as he has turned out to be. (Applause.) In this
country we have great men; we have great statesmen; we have had Jackson and
Clay, and we had a Lincoln. We have men great in agriculture and in stock growing, and in
the manufacturing business, who have made great names for themselves, who have stood
high in the nation. We had a Barnum in the show business. Next, and even greater and higher,
we have a Cody. (Tremendous applause.) He, gentlemen, stands not at the head of the
showmen of the United States of America, but of the world. (Great applause.) Little did
I think this, gentlemen, at the time this little boy came to me, standing straight as an
arrow; and he came to me and looked me in the face, you know, and I said to my partner,
'We will take this little boy--Mr. Russell was standing by my side--and we will pay him a
man's wages because he can ride a pony, just as well as a man can.' He was lighter and
could do just the same service, just as good service of that kind, when he was a little boy,
just 9 years old. I remember when we paid him $25 for his first month's work; he was paid | 6254
world. We have watched with personal interest your career and your movements, and it is
a source, I know, of personal pleasure to a large numver of the citizens of Nebraska to see
you, whom we look upon as one of our fellow citizens, return again and make a triumphal
entry into the metropolitan city of the State and into this great exposition that has sprung
up here in the last few months. It is fitting, it seems to me, that you should come here at
this time, represented as you are by these people from all countries. This entertainment
and exhibition which you give, which has been denominated and known as a Wild West
show, is an entertainment started and having its inception on Nebraska soil many years ago
begun by a Nebraskan who in his early manhoo came into the State in its earlier years,
when it was indeed a wild and western State, and few persons perhaps were in this entire
western country, this magnificient domain that has developed as no other country under the
sun has developed in the last quarter of a century. In your earlier days, Colonel Cody
throughout this western country, you knew what the wild west was, and yet you have seen
it gradually subdued by the civilizing influence of mankind, until we have to-day a civili-
zation, not as you give it, showing that which existed a quarter of a century ago, but a
civilization embracing all that is best for mankind. I dare say we witness here to-day
what perhaps we will never again witness in the State of Nebraska, or in the western
part of our grand United States. We see here the representatives of so many people of
so many different countries; we may never again see so many different peoples assembled
together as we witness here to-day--the representatives of the original aboriginal tribes
of these United States, two dozen or more of those who in years gone by inhabited these
broad prairies, chased the buffalo and the deer undisturbed, who have been going further
and further toward the wetting sun, until to-day we see them here under such circumstances
as we now witness. It is an inspiring, an instructive, an educational scene, and we draw
lessons from it and appreciate the cause of it. There is a constant change and evolution
in the progress of human society, and it more firmly impresses itself upon our minds
when we witness this gathering. I extend to you, Colonel Cody, on behalf of the people
of the State of Nebraska, your own State, a most cordial welcome on your return to our
borders." (Great applause.)
In introducing the next speaker, General Clarkson said: "Here is
THE FATHER OF THEM ALL,
Alexander Majors, connected with the very earliest history of Nebraska, and the busi-
ness father of Colonel Cody."
Mr. Majors was given a reception only second in enthusiasm to that which was
accorded the hero of the day as he grasped Colonel Cody's hand and turned to speak of
the man from the intimate acquaintance of life-time. He said:
"Gentlemen and my boy, Colonel Cody (laughter)--can I say a few words of welcome
Friend Creighton and I came down here together to-day and he though I was not equal
to the occasion at this time, but I am going to do the best for you that I can. Give me
your hand, Colonel. Gentlemen, forty-four years ago this fine-looking physical
specimen of manhood was brought to me by his mother--a little boy 9 years old--and little
did I think at that time the little boy that was standing before me, asking for employ-
ment of some kind by which I could afford to pay his mother a little money for his services
was going to be a boy of such destiny as he has turned out to be. (Applause.) In this
country we have great men; we have great statesmen; we have had Jackson and
Clay, and we had a Lincoln. We have men great in agriculture and in stock growing, and in
the manufacturing business, who have made great names for themselves, who have stood
high in the nation. We had a Barnum in the show business. Next, and even greater and higher,
we have a Cody. (Tremendous applause.) He, gentlemen, stands not at the head of the
showmen of the United States of America, but of the world. (Great applause.) Little did
I think this, gentlemen, at the time this little boy came to me, standing straight as an
arrow; and he came to me and looked me in the face, you know, and I said to my partner,
'We will take this little boy--Mr. Russell was standing by my side--and we will pay him a
man's wages because he can ride a pony, just as well as a man can.' He was lighter and
could do just the same service, just as good service of that kind, when he was a little boy,
just 9 years old. I remember when we paid him $25 for his first month's work; he was paid |
