Page 27

A NOTEABLE MAN.

Some Interesting Passages in the Life of W. F. Cody--Col. Prentiss Ingraham, Dramarist and Novelist--Buffalo Bill's forthcoming New Border Drama.

The eighth annual visit of Buffalo Bill (Hon. W. F. Cody) and his dramatic combination to Baltimore, thus far, has been the most successful and satisfactory that he has ever made here. The entertainment given by this remarkable man illustrates the often asserted fact that truth is stranger than fiction. The dramas in which he has appeared are simply the stringing together with skillful effect of the actual scenes in which Mr. Cody himself has been the principal actor and hero. He is really the only man on the stage who gives representations of himself.
The leading freatures of the well known drama "May Cody" and the still better drama "Knight of the Plains," now being performed at Ford's Opera House, are made up of actual occurences in the dangerous life led by Mr. Cody, or "Buffalo Bill," as scout, guide and hunter on teh great Northwestern frontier. Mr. Cody's splendid figure, manly and gentlemanly bearing, and fine, frank open countenance, is familiar to most every body here. He is the only true type of the frontiersman, as we have been taught to regard him by writers of travel and adventure. Born in Iowa, when it was almost the western boundry of civilization, he grea up with the rifle in his hand and thoroughly accustomed to the dangers of the border. He is said to have killed his first Indian when only ten year s of age, and since that time has ben a prominent figure in most of the thrilling and terrible conflicts with the Indians and blood-thirsty road agents of the North-west.

Mr. Cody is now about thirty-six years of age. His home is at North Platee, Nebraska, where he owns a fine farm improved by an elegant mansion, and sixty miles distant on the Dismal river, he owns a ranche of several thousand acres upon which he maintains 10,000 head of cattle. His home is the centre of refinement and comfort and is presided over in his absence by his wife and two interesting daughters. Mr. Cody devotes about nine months in year to the road with his company and the remainder to his home and farm.

For his recent unexampled success in the dramatist and business manager. Col. Ingraham belongs to a family famous as writers of realistic fiction. His father, the late Rev. J. H. Ingraham, of Mississippi, the friend and contemporary of Cooper, Iriving and Willis, was the author of some of the best known and most widely read works of the time. As the author o the biblical story, "The Prince of the House of David," Mr. Ingraham is probably best known. He also worte "The Pillar of Fire," "Lafitte," "Captain Kidd" and many stories of sea and land. Col. Prentiss Ingraham, the son, is scarcely less widely known as a writer, his name having so often appeared int he New York Ledger, and other popular weeklies, that it is familiar to nearly every child. His more popular works are "Merle," "Without Heart," "The Flying Yankee," "Fettered with Fate," and recent novelettes in the "Star Journal."

His life is filled with adventure, for although less than forty, he has been a participant int he late civil war between the States, the Creten war with the Turks, and, in 1870, he commanded the steamer Hornet in an expedition to aid the pratiriot cause of Cuba. Two years ago Col. Ingraham, by invitation of the Grand Army of the Republic, read an original ode at the momorial decoration at Gettysburg. This is a distenction not often conferred upon one who served in the Confederacy, and was a flattering tribute to his talents.

Having spent much of his time on the plains and in the mountains Colonel Ingraham is well qualified as a dramatist of the order adapted to the talents of the great scout and hunter. He is the author of Buffalo Bill's present successful drama "Knight of the Plains," and has just completed another new play for Mr. Cody enttiled "Buffalo Bill at Bay, or The Pearl of the Prairie." The new drama in some of its scenes resembles the one the company is now playing, but is much stronger and presents the hero in new characters. The scenes are all from actual occurrences.

In the new drama, Cody is represented as attempting to drive out the road agents and renegades which infest the borders imperiling the lives and property of settlers and travelers. His attitude toward these lawless men engenders the bitterest hatred against him, and plots are laid to convict him of colusion with the hostile tribes and to implicate him in crimes committed by them. His enemies are greatly aided by one Captain Hart Moline, who is in love wiht Cody's sister, Nellie Cody, "the pearl of the prairie." Buffalo Bill suspects Moline;'s villiany and opposes his union with the "Pearl." In the development of the plot and to give zest and variety to the piece, a negro servant of Buffalo Bill's, and an old quack doctor and pretended naturalist, are intoduced. The Indians are also introduced with their war dances, besides other specialties of the company. Among the charactrers,a re officers of the fort, scouts and guides, the daughter of the Post Trader, the real live Indians and the intelligent donkey Jerry.

Buffalo Bill is outlawed through the connivance of Captain Hart Moline, and in circumventing the designs of his enemies and vindicating himself he assumes various disguises, among them that of an old trapper, a captain of calvalry, and agent of the secret service, &c. He finally unravels the difficulties surrounding the situation and the drama ends in his triumpnat vindication and the confusion of his accusers. The post trader's daughter is a strong character; exhibiting the result of a woman's ambition, hatred and love. The new drama will be put on the stage first in New York in about two weeks, and will be given for the rest of the season in what is known as the Eastern circuit. The characters are all written with special reference to the talents of the several members of Buffalo Bill's combination, which is one of the best on the road.

Ford's Grand Opera House.
Buffalo Bill, the big Indians, the donkey, Bill's rifle, and all the other interesting performers in the "Knight of the Plains," can be seen again to-night at Ford's Opera House in the msot civilizedly savage style. The boy chief of the bloodthirsty Pawnees will wear his best suit of paint, and there will be a prarie fire of lurid style. The entire entertainment is a successon of surprises, and will well repay a visit by all who enjoy the wonders of which the scenic artists capable. The last Buffalo By for thill matinee tomorrow.

OPERA HOUSE.
Buffalo Bill.
The sensational drama generally attracts a numerous crowd in Wilmington, and last night, supplemented by a brass band and several real Indians, the size of the audience in attendance was proportionate with the additional inducements then offered. The piece is entitled "The Knight of the Plains, or, Buffalo Bill's Best Trail," and it served its purpose very successfully by afording abundant opportunite introduction of an unlimited amount of sensatinoalsm of every description. The audience (an exceedingly large one) was apparently well pleased with the performace, and the performers were by now means backwards in manifesting their appreciation.

The scenery and stage effects were of a novel and realistic character, and added much to the interest of the occasion. Altogether we were agreeably disappointed, and of its class the etertainment was far above the average and well worth seeing.

KNIGHT OF THE PLAINS.
Buffalo bill fairly galloped into popular favor last night. From the moment of his appearance on the stage, mounted on a magnificent bay, until the very last scene, inthe last act, he was treated to a reception of which he may wll fell proud. The house was packed; literally packed, and it takes a large number of people to fill the old St. Charles. But when it is crowded, as it was last night, we doubt if any theatre in the South looked as grand and comfortable.

The play, the "Knight of the Plains," written expressly for Mr. Cody by Col. Prentiss Ingraham, is not without merit. the scenes are founded on actual occurences in the life of the great schout, and are at times very exciting. Blood and thunder is carefully excluded, and duruing the entire play only one man, the villain, is killed. This is a pity, for the audience by a large majority agreed that it would have been a great satisfaction if Bill had shot Moses Moloch, the Jew, who is, by the way, a very bad Isrealite, when he first appears in the sencond act.

In the first act the Indian war dance, by genuine Indians, is intoduced, and is quite pleasing feature, proving highly interesting. The fancy shooting by Mr. Cody was received with well-merited expresions of appreciation. This exhibition of skill in rifle shooting is neartly workied into the play, and shows good judgement on Col. Ingraham's part. The closing scene in the first act, represneting a prairie fire, is strikingly realistic.

The scenes in the second and third acts are laid in Chicago and Cheyenne, and introduce the other members of the company, who, with one exception, ably sustain their parts.

The third act opens on the plains, where Mr. Cody again appears to advantage in his character of the scout.

Miss Lydia Denier, as Wild Nellie, and Mrs. Nellie Jones, as Rose Melton, play thier respective parts remarkably well, while Harry Irving, as Buttermilk, assisted by his trained donkey, contributed much to the enjoyment of the audience. Mr. Louden, as Ralph Royston, and Mr. Barclay, as Red Eagle, are careful actors, and will no doubt become favorite with our theatre going people.

Taking the performance as a whole it is very acceptable, and will have a good run. The "Knight of the Plains" will be repeated to night.

ST. CHARLES THEATRE.
The opening of Buffalo Bill and his dramatic combination last ight drew to the St. Charles Theatre an audience which reminded one of the days when the "Old Drury" was the favorite resort for the amusement seeker and the lovers of the drama. The house was packed form parquette to fallery, and throughout the performance the audience was enthusiastic in its evidences of appreciation.

After a farce, which was well played, and servred to put the house in a good humor, the curtain rose ont he play of the evening, a four-act one, entitled "Knight of the Plains."

The drama is a smooth-running one of no very great depth, but of fair literary merit, and is throughout stirring and pleasantly exciting. Although it is a tale of the frontier, and unmistakably real Indians are intoduced, there is no blood and thender, and rthe only discharge of firearms is by Buffalo Bill in the first act in displaying his markmanshipm, and in the third act, in a very legitimate duel scne, which is artistically introduced.

The company, as a whole, is a good one. Buffalo Bill is simply himself, and therefore fills the part to the letter. He is perhaps too natural for a certain class of theatre goers, but in maintaining his identity, despite the temptation to make a display, there is true art, which can be appreciated best by those who understand it best.

Miss Nellie Janes, as Rose Shelton, had a pleasing and attractive part, which she sustained with no little ability: and Miss Lydia Deiner, as Wild Nellie, was all that could be desired.

The Moses Moloch of L.B. Willard was also a fine piece of acting.

The Knight of the Plains will be repeated this evening and should draw a good house.

Buffalo Bill's Shooting.
The Fancy Rifle Shooting of Buffalo Bill is not offensive to ladies or sensitive people as might be supposed. The rifle he uses does not make a loud report. He shoots with marvelous accuracy, standing, sitting, lying and stooping, backward and forward, taking aim backward from a looking glass, etc.

A NOTEABLE MAN.

Some Interesting Passages in the Life of W. F. Cody--Col. Prentiss Ingraham, Dramarist and Novelist--Buffalo Bill's forthcoming New Border Drama.

The eighth annual visit of Buffalo Bill (Hon. W. F. Cody) and his dramatic combination to Baltimore, thus far, has been the most successful and satisfactory that he has ever made here. The entertainment given by this remarkable man illustrates the often asserted fact that truth is stranger than fiction. The dramas in which he has appeared are simply the stringing together with skillful effect of the actual scenes in which Mr. Cody himself has been the principal actor and hero. He is really the only man on the stage who gives representations of himself.
The leading freatures of the well known drama "May Cody" and the still better drama "Knight of the Plains," now being performed at Ford's Opera House, are made up of actual occurences in the dangerous life led by Mr. Cody, or "Buffalo Bill," as scout, guide and hunter on teh great Northwestern frontier. Mr. Cody's splendid figure, manly and gentlemanly bearing, and fine, frank open countenance, is familiar to most every body here. He is the only true type of the frontiersman, as we have been taught to regard him by writers of travel and adventure. Born in Iowa, when it was almost the western boundry of civilization, he grea up with the rifle in his hand and thoroughly accustomed to the dangers of the border. He is said to have killed his first Indian when only ten year s of age, and since that time has ben a prominent figure in most of the thrilling and terrible conflicts with the Indians and blood-thirsty road agents of the North-west.

Mr. Cody is now about thirty-six years of age. His home is at North Platee, Nebraska, where he owns a fine farm improved by an elegant mansion, and sixty miles distant on the Dismal river, he owns a ranche of several thousand acres upon which he maintains 10,000 head of cattle. His home is the centre of refinement and comfort and is presided over in his absence by his wife and two interesting daughters. Mr. Cody devotes about nine months in year to the road with his company and the remainder to his home and farm.

For his recent unexampled success in the dramatist and business manager. Col. Ingraham belongs to a family famous as writers of realistic fiction. His father, the late Rev. J. H. Ingraham, of Mississippi, the friend and contemporary of Cooper, Iriving and Willis, was the author of some of the best known and most widely read works of the time. As the author o the biblical story, "The Prince of the House of David," Mr. Ingraham is probably best known. He also worte "The Pillar of Fire," "Lafitte," "Captain Kidd" and many stories of sea and land. Col. Prentiss Ingraham, the son, is scarcely less widely known as a writer, his name having so often appeared int he New York Ledger, and other popular weeklies, that it is familiar to nearly every child. His more popular works are "Merle," "Without Heart," "The Flying Yankee," "Fettered with Fate," and recent novelettes in the "Star Journal."

His life is filled with adventure, for although less than forty, he has been a participant int he late civil war between the States, the Creten war with the Turks, and, in 1870, he commanded the steamer Hornet in an expedition to aid the pratiriot cause of Cuba. Two years ago Col. Ingraham, by invitation of the Grand Army of the Republic, read an original ode at the momorial decoration at Gettysburg. This is a distenction not often conferred upon one who served in the Confederacy, and was a flattering tribute to his talents.

Having spent much of his time on the plains and in the mountains Colonel Ingraham is well qualified as a dramatist of the order adapted to the talents of the great scout and hunter. He is the author of Buffalo Bill's present successful drama "Knight of the Plains," and has just completed another new play for Mr. Cody enttiled "Buffalo Bill at Bay, or The Pearl of the Prairie." The new drama in some of its scenes resembles the one the company is now playing, but is much stronger and presents the hero in new characters.

In the new drama, Cody is represented as attempting to drive out the road agents and renegades which infest the borders imperiling the lives and property of settlers and travelers. His attitude toward these lawless men engenders the bitterest hatred against him, and plots are laid to convict him of colusion with the hostile tribes and to implicate him in crimes committed by them. His enemies are greatly aided by one Captain Hart Moline, who is in love wiht Cody's sister, Nellie Cody, "the pearl of the prairie." Buffalo Bill suspects Moline;'s villiany and opposes his union with the "Pearl." In the development of the plot and to give zest and variety to the piece, a negro servant of Buffalo Bill's, and an old quack doctor and pretended naturalist, are intoduced. The Indians are also introduced with their war dances, besides other specialties of the company. Among the charactrers,a re officers of the fort, scouts and guides, the daughter of the Post Trader, the real live Indians and the intelligent donkey Jerry.

Buffalo Bill is outlawed through the connivance of Captain Hart Moline, and in circumventing the designs of his enemies and vindicating himself he assumes various disguises, among them that of an old trapper, a captain of calvalry, and agent of the secret service, &c. He finally unravels the difficulties surrounding the situation and the drama ends in his triumpnat vindication and the confusion of his accusers. The post trader's daughter is a strong character; exhibiting the result of a woman's ambition, hatred and love. The new drama will be put on the stage first in New York in about two weeks, and will be given for the rest of the season in what is known as the Eastern circuit. The characters are all written with special reference to the talents of the several members of Buffalo Bill's combination, which is one of the best on the road.

Ford's Grand Opera House.
Buffalo Bill, the big Indians, the donkey, Bill's rifle, and all the other interesting performers in the "Knight of the Plains," can be seen again to-night at Ford's Opera House in the msot civilizedly savage style. The boy chief of the bloodthirsty Pawnees will wear his best suit of paint, and there will be a prarie fire of lurid style. The entire entertainment is a successon of surprises, and will well repay a visit by all who enjoy the wonders of which the scenic artists capable. The last Buffalo Bill matinee tomorrow.

OPERA HOUSE.
Buffalo Bill.
The sensational drama generally attracts a numerous crowd in Wilmington, and last night, supplemented by a brass band and several real Indians, the size of the audience in attendance was proportionate with the additional inducements then offered. The piece is entitled "The Knight of the Plains, or, Buffalo Bill's Best Trail," and it served its purpose very successfully by afording abundant opportunity for the introduction of an unlimited amount of sensatinoalsm of every description. The audience (an exceedingly large one) was apparently well pleased with the performace, and the performers were by now means backwards in manifesting their appreciation.

The scenery and stage effects were of a novel and realistic character, and added much to the interest of the occasion. Altogether we were agreeably disappointed, and of its class the etertainment was far above the average and well worth seeing.

KNIGHT OF THE PLAINS.
Buffalo bill fairly galloped into popular favor last night. From the moment of his appearance on the stage, mounted on a magnificent bay, until the very last scene, inthe last act, he was treated to a reception of which he may wll fell proud. The house was packed; literally packed, and it takes a large number of people to fill the old St. Charles. But when it is crowded, as it was last night, we doubt if any theatre in the South looked as grand and comfortable.

The play, the "Knight of the Plains," written expressly for Mr. Cody by Col. Prentiss Ingraham, is not without merit. the scenes are founded on actual occurences in the life of the great schout, and are at times very exciting. Blood and thunder is carefully excluded, and duruing the entire play only one man, the villain, is killed. This is a pity, for the audience by a large majority agreed that it would have been a great satisfaction if Bill had shot Moses Moloch, the Jew, who is, by the way, a very bad Isrealite, when he first appears in the sencond act.

In the first act the Indian war dance, by genuine Indians, is intoduced, and is quite pleasing feature, proving highly interesting. The fancy shooting by Mr. Cody was received with well-merited expresions of appreciation. This exhibition of skill in rifle shooting is neartly workied into the play, and shows good judgement on Col. Ingraham's part. The closing scene in the first act, represneting a prairie fire, is strikingly realistic.

The scenes in the second and third acts are laid in Chicago and Cheyenne, and introduce the other members of the company, who, with one exception, ably sustain their parts.

The third act opens on the plains, where Mr. Cody again appears to advantage in his character of the scout.

Miss Lydia Denier, as Wild Nellie, and Mrs. Nellie Jones, as Rose Melton, play thier respective parts remarkably well, while Harry Irving, as Buttermilk, assisted by his trained donkey, contributed much to the enjoyment of the audience. Mr. Louden, as Ralph Royston, and Mr. Barclay, as Red Eagle, are careful actors, and will no doubt become favorite with our theatre going people.
Taking the performance as a whole it is very acceptable, and will have a god tun. The "Knight of the Plains" will be repeated to night

ST. CHARLES THEATRE.
The opening of Buffalo Bill and his dramatic combination last ight drew to the St. Charles Theatre an audience which reminded one of the days when the "Old Drury" was the favorite resort for the amusement seeker and the lovers of the drama. The house was packed form parquette to fallery, and throughout the performance the audience was enthusiastic in its evidences of appreciation.

After a farce, which was well played, and servred to put the house in a good humor, the curtain rose ont he play of the evening, a four-act one, entitled "Knight of the Plains."

The drama is a smooth-running one of no very great depth, but of fair literary merit, and is throughout stirring and pleasantly exciting. Although it is a tale of the frontier, and unmistakably real Indians are intoduced, there is no blood and thender, and rthe only discharge of firearms is by Buffalo Bill in the first act in displaying his markmanshipm, and in the third act, in a very legitimate duel scne, which is artistically introduced.

The company, as a whole, is a good one. Buffalo Bill is simply himself, and therefore fills the part to the letter. He is perhaps too natural for a certain class of theatre goers, but in maintaining his identity, despite the temptation to make a display, there is true art, which can be appreciated best by those who understand it best.

Miss Nellie Janes, as Rose Shelton, had a pleasing and attractive part, which she sustained with no little ability: and Miss Lydia Deiner, as Wild Nellie, was all that could be desired.

The Moses Moloch of L.B. Willard was also a fine piece of acting.
The Knight of the Plains will be repeated this evening and should draw a good house.

Buffalo Bill's Shooting.
The Fancy Rifle Shooting of Buffalo Bill is not offensive to ladies or sensitive people as might be supposed. The rifle he uses does not make a loud report. He shoots with marvelous accuracy, standing, sitting, lying and stooping, backward and forward, taking aim backward from a looking glass, etc.