70

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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 number 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 manhood 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 magnificent 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 civilization, 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 setting 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 behalł 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 business 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 a 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 today and he thought 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 day 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 that the little boy that was standing before me, asking for employment 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 men at Washington; we have men who are famous as politicians in this country; 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

60
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 number 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 manhood 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 magnificent 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 civilization, 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 setting 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 behalł 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 business 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 a 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 today and he thought 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 day 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 that the little boy that was standing before me, asking for employment 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 men at Washington; we have men who are famous as politicians in this country; 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