Page 17

New York Despatch

WINDSOR THEATRE.--A new play written expressly for Mr. W. F. Cody ("Buffalo Bill") is to be played at the Windsor Theatre to-morrow evening. The title of the drama is "The Prairie Waif; A Story of the Far West," and is from the pen of Mr. John A. Stevens. The following is the story of the drama: The curtain rises on the twenty-fifth anniversary of Gen. Brown's wedding day, who, some ten years previous, had lost his daughter named Bertha, some five years old, who, while walking with her nurse one day, was stolen by concealed men, and the nurse killed. The disappearance of the child was to the father a dark mystery. An adventurer named Hardi, a territorial official under Mormon sway, had, by a dying confession, obtained the secret to the girl's history, and tracks her to her concealment. He determined to gain possession of her person, marry her, and thereby gain position and wealth. To accomplish which, by threats and bribes, he acquires the agency of a worthless drunken renegade. He finds finds the girl under the protection of an aged Indian chief called Lone Deer, who is on his way with the waif to the fort to seek the protection of the commandant. On their way they are intercepted by Hardi and his satellites, who are about to seize the girl and carry her off, when Buffalo Bill suddenly appears, a fight ensues, and in the struggle Lone Deer is mortally wounded. The ruffians being discomfited run away and leave Buffalo Bill and the little waif, who sadly bemoans the death of her faithful Indian. Bill, being touched by her lonliness and grief, offers her his protection, and brings her to his homestead, and places her in the charge of his mother, who faithfully and affectionately watches over her while she lives. But at length the old lady dies, and the little waif having developed into a beautiful girl, is sincerely beloved by Bill. She reciprocates his affection and they become man and wife. The villainous Hardi, relentless in his hatred, with his Mormon Danites set fire to the homestead and burn it to the ground. Bill fights his way out and with his wife and a couple of companions make a forced march across the Plains. At length, after many vicissitudes the waif is restored to happiness, and a doting father regains his lost child. Mr. Cody will sustain the character of Buffalo Bill, and the other characters in the drama will be sustained by an efficient company.

Ottawa Herald

The Prairie Waif.

One of the finest houses of the season greeted Buffalo Bill and his combination last night in the new drama of the "Prarie Waif; and the frequent and hearty applause showed that the audience fully enjoyed the excellent entertainment provided for them. The piece differs materially from the usual border drama, in that it has very much less "blood and thunder" than is usual, and a great deal more fun. Buffalo Bill himself is the central figure and acts with much eas and grace, while his exhibition of fancy rifle shooting in the second act fairly delighted the audience. The support was excellent, especially that of Miss Fletcher, Miss Thompson, and Messrs. Keen and Charles. The performance will be repeated tonight and tomorrow night, and at the matinee tomorrow.

Williamsfort Banner

A NOVEL SIGHT.
Hundreds of Spectators and a Scene that Beat the Buffalo Bill Company.
A short time before 12 o'clock m., today, Buffalo Bill, who performs at the Academy of Music this evening, passed down Fourth street with his Indians, headed by a full brass band. The Indians were on horse back, dressed in their native costume, marching along single file.
This being the day set apart since the Seminary was founded for campus-cleaning, the students were at work as busy as bees in clover time. Each student had his or her part to perform, and each one was dressed a little on the fantastic style. Hearing Buffalo Bills' procession and music they shouldered their brooms, rakes, shovels, hoes and similar implements of war, and marched down Academy street to Fourth to see their rivals, the Indians. About this time the public schools of the Franklin building were dismissed, and two or three hundred boys and girls rushed down the street yelling and whooping like natural-born red men. For a little while it was nip and tuck, hard to decide which was the greatest show. There were few elements of difference save that the Indians were on horse back and single file, While the whites were on foot and in somewhat promiscuous file.

Buffalo Bill.
At the Opera House last evening a very good audience were present to witness the representation by the "Buffalo Bill" Company of the thrilling drama of the "Prairie Waif." The piece was very interesting and exciting, while the scenic effect was admirable and well adapted to the play. The drama deals with life on the frontier, and, as a consequence, is full of stirring scenes, which are relieved at times by quaint humour and touching pathos. The plot is the capture by the Indians of a little child, her rescue after years by the the guide ("Buffalo Bill"), who carefully protects her till she becomes a loving and beautiful woman, and in the end is rewarded for his kindness by the hand of the "Prairie Waif." The caste was a good one. Mr. Cody, as "Buffalo Bill," showed to advantage, his fine figure and appearance being greatly in his favour, while the rendition of his part vividly placed before the minds of his audience his daring and thrilling life in the far West. He was loudly applauded in many instances. Harry Clifton as "Jim Hardy," played the villian to perfection, and at times a feeling of relief seemed to pervade the audience when his well-laid schemes were blown to the winds and his villainy laid bare. "Hans" (Jule Keen) was brimful of fun, and kept the house convulsed with laughter by his facial contortions, witty sayings, songs, and dances. He was well assisted by his brother, as he called him, "Jack Cass," a lively little donkey. "Onita" (Miss Fletcher) performed her allotted part as the "Prairie Waif" with good effect and gave general satisfaction. Miss "Saddie" was very amusing, and her love for "Hans," the Dutchman, was of a very original nature. The rest of the company rendered valuable assistance in carrying out the play. Many of the scenes were warmly applauded, and the curtain was raised several times to admit of the audience getting a view of the beautiful tableux represented. the shooting of Mr Cody was really marvellous, and showed great skill and dexterity. We bespeak a bumper house for the company if they should return to Kingston.

The Buffalo Bill attractions at the opera house last night filled the building, literally from pit to dome. The galleries were black with people, the juvenile element of the population being largely represented, and the noise and hubub from this upper realm was suggestive of a Dublin theatre, bearing the wit of the Milesian gods, which was wanting. The house was a paying one, and "Bill's Best Trail" as a pecuniary card, proved what the traveling agents would style "immense." The supporting company is not an inferior one, and a diverting farce, which was the prelude to the "Knight of the plains," developed some quite respectable talent for comedy. After this the curtain was rung upon the opening scene—a pretty fair picture of the prairies—a four-act play in which Cody personates the "Knight of the Plains."
Col Prentice Ingraham, the author of the melodrama, ought to feel at home in Nashville, of which city he was a resident in his earlier years. His father, the late Rev J H Ingraham, was the principal of a prosperous female seminary in this city, and we believe was at one time rector of Christ church. Col Ingraham's literary qualifications are inherited. His father was a prolific writer and the author of quite a number of works of fiction which had extensive circulation, as the average of America border life dramas essentially are. But there is less of the harrowing, blood-curling gunpowdery rant and fustian than might be expected from its title. Written expressly for the prominent part, that of "Buffalo Bill," ample scope for the histrionic capabilities of Mr Cody has been judiciously afforded by the author in the arrangement of the play. It is true there is nothing striklingly original in the plot, and the situations are somewhat after the dime novel order of suggested romance, but the language is devoid of coarseness, and while, in the play, a good deal is left to the imagination, there is enough in the action and spirit of the interpreter to furnish an entertainment of a popular kind, and if there is nothing positively demoralizing in the story. For the purpose for which it was written, namely, to introduce the famous scout and his specialties it is a success. The marksmanship of he latter, in the first act, and a unique barbaric dance in native costume by the copperhead children of the prairies, constitute the best features of the entertainment. An appropriate climax to this scene was the rescue of her lover—the scout—by Wild Nellie—(Miss Denier) in a striking tableau which brought down the house, especially the upper portion of it. Buffalo Bill makes his first entrance mounted on a superb charger, which mute actor acquitted himself with as much credit as any of the rest of the company. Buffalo Bill has a fine stage presence, and, with the exception of a little of the stiffness and elocutionary deficiencies which mark the amateur, is not a bad actor. The support was fair, and the performance was repeatedly and heartily applauded at the close.
The same play will be presented at the matinee to-day, and Buffalo Bill's marvellous rifle shooting is in itself alone, a sight worth seeing. The closing performance of the engagement will be given to-night.
The receipts last night were $1,080.25 the largest by nearly $100 taken in for two seasons past.

"PRAIRIE WAIF."
Buffalo Bill and his Braves in Rather Entertaining Mood.

Buffalo Bill's Company performed the "Prairie Waif" in the Opera House last evening to an audience respectable in size and satisfied in feeling. Hon. W. F. Cody is the central figure in the play. For him it was expressly written and in it he assumes the role of Indian fighter, Government scout, hunter and hero, and in dramatic form gave an exhibition of some scenes very like those through which he has passed in the execution of important commissions. There are four acts in the drama, representing four different phases of a plot whose origin, development and final collapse, by force of adverse circumstances, constitute interesting details. At different times there are hostile meetings when rifles, pistols and bowie knives flourished in a manner that would be decidedly unpleasant to contemplate were the weapons in other than expert hands. As the saviour, protector and husband of the prairie waif (Miss Lizzie Fletcher) Buffalo Bill merited favous, has fine physique, fair acting, but specially his fancy shooting being features that elicited general compliment. The support was passable good, the orchestra far above the average.

Rochester NY Sunday Herald

Buffalo Bill at Bay.
The noted scout, known the world over as Buffalo Bill, has made a dramatic hit, receiving great suc- in the new melo-drama of "Buffalo Bill at Bay; or the Pearl of the Prairie" a play written especially for him by the well-known author, Col. Prentiss Ingraham, or Mississippi, whose works of fiction and poems are even more widely read than were his father's works some years ago. This new drama though possessing a sensational plot and filled with scares of thrilling interest is not one to cause "each separate hair to stand on end" a la porcupine, with blood-curdling acts, and no firearms disturbs the even and interesting tenor of its way, for though founded upon facts and a play of the border, it is devoid of the terrifc, and life as it really is and has been upon our wild western frontier, bringing into its plot characters met with in the far west of both good and bad, eccentric and decidedly funny, while pathetic scenes, amusing situations and striking tableaux are freely intermingled in a way that does credit to the author, and gives proof of his intimate acquaintance with life of the plains.

Of course Buffalo Bill is the central figure, the star around which the lesser lights revolve, the hero of heroes, and certainly he plays his part with a naturalness that carries the audience with him, and proves himself an actor of no mean talent when he impersonates old Denver Dick and the dashing young officer, Captain Frederick.

Well supported throughout, and in the characters of Corrine Kendall, Miss Nellie Jones, Dr. Boniface, Mr. Alf Beverly, Michael Mullaney, Mr. Charles Wilson, and Old Solitary. Mr. C. R. Willard strongly supported, the piece glides smoothly through unto the end, amusing and entertaining the audience in a manner that wins enthusiastic applause, which cannot but be most gratifying to both author and actors, and will bring to it a successful run as long as Mr. Cody desires to keep it before the public, for, independent of preventing a strong attraction with his company, Buffalo Bill possesses a magnetic presence that can never fail to draw.

Mancester NH Daily Minor

To-morrow evening the far-famed scout and actor, "Buffalo Bill," will appear in the operahouse, in his new border drama, "The Prairie Waif." The play is said to be a capital one, replete with strong situations and dramatic effected, and the Indians in the company are reported to be the genuine article. Look for the street parage to-morrow.

New York Despatch

WINDSOR THEATRE.--A new play written expressly for Mr. W. F. Cody ("Buffalo Bill") is to be played at the Windsor Theatre to-morrow evening. The title of the drama is "The Prairie Waif; A Story of the Far West," and is from the pen of Mr. John A. Stevens. The following is the story of the drama: The curtain rises on the twenty-fifth anniversary of Gen. Brown's wedding day, who, some ten years previous, had lost his daughter named Bertha, some five years old, who, while walking with her nurse one day, was stolen by concealed men, and the nurse killed. The disappearance of the child was to the father a dark mystery. An adventurer named Hardi, a territorial official under Mormon sway, had, by a dying confession, obtained the secret to the girl's history, and tracks her to her concealment. He determined to gain possession of her person, marry her, and thereby gain position and wealth. To accomplish which, by threats and bribes, he acquires the agency of a worthless drunken renegade. He finds finds the girl under the protection of an aged Indian chief called Lone Deer, who is on his way with the waif to the fort to seek the protection of the commandant. On their way they are intercepted by Hardi and his satellites, who are about to seize the girl and carry her off, when Buffalo Bill suddenly appears, a fight ensues, and in the struggle Lone Deer is mortally wounded. The ruffians being discomfited run away and leave Buffalo Bill and the little waif, who sadly bemoans the death of her faithful Indian. Bill, being touched by her lonliness and grief, offers her his protection, and brings her to his homestead, and places her in the charge of his mother, who faithfully and affectionately watches over her while she lives. But at length the old lady dies, and the little waif having developed into a beautiful girl, is sincerely beloved by Bill. She reciprocates his affection and they become man and wife. The villainous Hardi, relentless in his hatred, with his Mormon Danites set fire to the homestead and burn it to the ground. Bill fights his way out and with his wife and a couple of companions make a forced march across the Plains. At length, after many vicissitudes the waif is restored to happiness, and a doting father regains his lost child. Mr. Cody will sustain the character of Buffalo Bill, and the other characters in the drama will be sustained by an efficient company.

Ottawa Herald

The Prairie Waif.

One of the finest houses of the season greeted Buffalo Bill and his combination last night in the new drama of the "Prarie Waif; and the frequent and hearty applause showed that the audience fully enjoyed the excellent entertainment provided for them. The piece differs materially from the usual border drama, in that it has very much less "blood and thunder" than is usual, and a great deal more fun. Buffalo Bill himself is the central figure and acts with much ease and grace, while his exhibition of fancy rifle shooting in the second act fairly delighted the audience. The support was excellent, especially that of Miss Fletcher, Miss Thompson, and Messrs. Keen and Charles. The performance will be repeated tonight and tomorrow night, and at the matine tomorrow.

A NOVEL SIGHT.
Hundreds of Spectators and a Scene that Beat the Buffalo Bill Company.
A short time before 12 o'clock m., today, Buffalo Bill, who performs at the Academy of Music this evening, passed down Fourth street with his Indians, headed by a full brass band. The Indians were on horse back, dressed in their native costume, marching along sinlge file.
This being the day set apart since the Seminary was founded for campus-cleaning, the students were at work as busy as bees in clover time. Each student had his or her part to perform, and each one was dressed a little on the fantastic style. Hearing Buffalo Bills' procession and music they shouldered their brooms, rakes, shovels, hoes and similar implements of war, and marched down Academy street to Fourth to see their rivals, the Indians. About this time the public schools of the Franklin building were dismissed, and two or three hundred boys and girls rushed down the street yelling and whooping like natural-born red men. For a little while it was nip and tuck, hard to decide which was the greatest show. There were few elements of difference save that the Indians were on horse back and single file, While the whites were on foot and in somewhat promiscuous file.

Buffalo Bill.
At the Opera House last evening a very good audience were present to witness the representation by the "Buffalo Bill" Company of the thrilling drama of the "Prairie Waif." The piece was very interesting and exciting, while the scenic effect was admirable and well adapted to the play. The drama deals with life on the frontier, and , as a consequence, is full of stirring scenes, which are relieved at times by quaint humour and touching pathos. The plot is the capture by the Indians of a little child, her rescue after years by the the guide ("Buffalo Bill"), who carefully protects her till she becomes a loving and beautiful woman, and in the end is rewarded for his kindness by the hand of the "Prairie Waif." The caste was a good one. Mr. Cody, as "Buffalo Bill," showed to advantage, his fine figure and appearance being greatly in his favour, while the rendition of his part vividly placed before the minds of his audience his daring and thrilling life in the far West. He was loudly applauded in many instances. Harry Clifton as "Jim Hardy," played the villian to perfection, and at times a feeling of relief seemed to pervade the audience when his well-laid schemes were blown to the winds and his villainy laid bare. "Hans" (Jule Keen) was brimful of fun , and kept the house convulsed with laughter by his facial contortions, witty sayings, songs, and dances. He was well assisted by his brother, as he called him, "Jack Cass," a lively little donkey. "Onita" (Miss Fletcher) performed her allotted part as the "Prairie Waif" with good effect and gave general satisfaction. Miss "Saddie" was very amusing, and her love for "Hans," the Dutchman, was of a very original nature. The rest of the company rendered valuable assistance in carrying out the play. Many of the scenes were warmly applauded, and the curtain was raised several times to admit of the audience getting a view of the beautiful tableux represented. the shooting of Mr. Cody was really marvellous, and showed great skill and dexterity. We bespeak a bumper house for the company if they should return to Kingston.

The Buffalo Bill attractions at the opera house last night filled the building, literally from pit to dome. The galleries were black with people, the juvenile element of the population being largely represented, and the noise and hubub from this upper realm was suggestive of a Dublin theatre, bearing the wit of the Milesian gods, which was wanting. The house was a paying one, and "Bill's Best Trail" as a pecuniary card, proved what the traveling agents would style "immense." The supporting company is not an inferior one, and a diverting farce, which was the prelude to the "Knight of the plains," developed some quite respectable talent for comedy. After this the curtain was rung upon the opening scene-- a pretty fair picture of the prairies-- a four-act play in which Cody personates the "Knight of the Plains."
Col Prentice Ingraham, the author of the melodrama, ought to feel at home in Nashville, of which city he was a resident in his earlier years. His father, the late Rev J H Ingraham, was the principal of a prosperous female seminary in this city, and we believe was at one time rector of Christ church. Col Ingraham's literary qualifications are inherited. His father was a prolific writer and the author of quite a number of works of fiction which had extensive circulation, as the average of America border life dramas essentially are. But there is less of the harrowing, blood-curling gunpowdery rant and fustian than might be expected from its title. Written expressly for the prominent part, that of "Buffalo Bill," ample scope for the histrionic capabilities of Mr Cody has been judiciously afforded by the author in the arrangement of the play. It is true there is nothing striklingly original in the plot, and the situations are somewhat after the dime novel order of suggested romance, but the language is devoid of coarseness, and while, in the play, a good deal is left to the imagination, there is enough in the action and spirit of the interpreter to furnish an entertainment of a popular kind, and if there is nothing positively demoralizing in the story. For the purpose for which it was written, namely, to introduce the famous scout and his specialties it is a success. The marksmanship of he latter, in the first act, and a unique barbaric dance in native costume by the copperhead children of the prairies, constitute the best features of the entertainment. An appropriate climax to this scene was the rescue of her lover-- the scout-- by Wild Nellie-- (Miss Denier) in a striking tableau which brought down the house, especially the upper portion of it. Buffalo Bill makes his first entrance mounted on a superb charger, which mute actor acquitted himself with as much credit as any of the rest of the company. Buffalo Bill has a fine stage presence, and, with the exception of a little of the stiffness and elocutionary deficiencies which mark the amateur, is not a bad actor. The support was fair, and the performance was repeatedly and heartily applauded at the close.
The same play will be presented at the matinee to-day, and Buffalo Bill's marvellous rifle shooting is in itself alone, a sight worth seeing. The closing performance of the engagement will be given to-night.
The receipts last night were $1,080.25 the largest by nearly $100 taken in for two seasons past.

"PRAIRIE WAIF."
Buffalo Bill and his Braves in Rather Entertaining Mood.

Buffalo Bill's Company performed the "Prairie Waif" in the Opera House last evening to an audience respectable in size and satisfied in feeling. Hon. W. F. Cody is the central figure in the play. For him it was expressly written and in it he assumes the role of Indian fighter, Government scout, hunter and hero, and in dramatic form gave an exhibition of some scenes very like those through which he has passed in the execution of important commissions. There are four acts in the drama, representing four different phases of a plot whose origin, development and final collapse, by force of adverse circumstances, constitute interesting details. At different times there are hostile meetings when rifles, pistols and bowie knives flourished in a manner that would be decidedly unpleasant to contemplate were the weapons in other than expert hands. As the saviour, protector and husband of the prairie waif (Miss Lizzie Fletcher) Buffalo Bill merited favous, has fine physique, fair acting, but specially his fancy shooting being features that elicited general compliment. The support was passable good, the orchestra far above the average.

Buffalo Bill at Bay.
The noted scout, known the world over as Buffalo Bill, has made a dramatic hit, receiving great suc- in the new melo-drama of "Buffalo Bill at Bay; or the Pearl of the Prairie" a play written especially for him by the well-known author, Col. Prentiss Ingraham, or Mississippi, whose works of fiction and poems are even more widely read than were his father's works some years ago. This new drama though possessing a sensational plot and filled with scares of thrilling interest is not one to cause "each separate hair to stand on end" a la porcupine, with blood-curdling acts, and no firearms disturbs the even and interesting tenor of its way, for though founded upon facts and a play of the border, it is devoid of the terrifc, and life as it really is and has been upon our wild western frontier, bringing into its plot characters met with in the far west of both good and bad, eccentric and decidedly funny, while pathetic scenes, amusing situations and striking tableaux are freely intermingled in a way that does credit to the author, and gives proof of his intimate acquaintance with life of the plains.

Of course Buffalo Bill is the central figure, the star around which the lesser lights revolve, the hero of heroes, and certainly he plays his part with a naturalness that carries the audience with him, and proves himself an actor of no mean talent when he impersonates old Denver Dick and the dashing young officer, Captain Frederick.

Well supported throughout, and in the characters of Corrine Kendall, Miss Nellie Jones, Dr. Boniface, Mr. Alf Beverly, Michael Mullaney, Mr. Charles Wilson, and Old Solitary. Mr. C. R. Willard strongly supported, the piece glides smoothly through unto the end, amusing and entertaining the audience in a manner that wins enthusiastic applause, which cannot but be most gratifying to both author and actors, and will bring to it a successful run as long as Mr. Cody desires to keep it before the public, for, independent of preventing a strong attraction with his company, Buffalo Bill possesses a magnetic presence that can never fail to draw.

To-morrow evening the far-famed scout and actor, "Buffalo Bill," will appear in the operahouse, in his new border drama, "The Prairie Waif." The play is said to be a capital one, replete with strong situations and dramatic effected, and the Indians in the company are reported to be the genuine article. Look for the street parage to-morrow.